The Greedy Frog
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DC: The Enchanter Chapter 66
🕑 Added 2023-09-26 17:50:47 +0000 UTCChapter 66: Harleen Quinzel (2/3)
People said that eyes could speak and looking at her I knew that those words held more truth than what people gave credit for. Her bright blue eyes which were now covered by a white film of dullness spoke of the pain that she felt and the hope that she had lost.
“A-Are you here to hurt me too mister?”
Those words were painful to hear but it was a part of her mind that explained a lot to me about her childhood even without saying anything.
And childhood trauma was an extremely fragile topic, which given the scenario - could be extremely bad for me.
“No,” I answered honestly. “I am here to take you out of this place.”
She looked at me curiously.
“Really?” She sounded hopeful, as if waiting for someone to come and tell that to her.
This was something that I couldn’t help but show a comforting smile at.
“Really.”
This brightened her mood for a second as her face glowed in joy. But that look was temporary and was replaced but a look of fear almost immediately.
“B-But daddy will be angry if I leave.” She looked down with a bitter look on her face.
Harley’s family was not something that I was familiar with and so I did not know who her father was or what he did to her. But one thing was as clear as the bright day - her father was one of the root causes of her trauma.
“I will make sure that your father won’t get angry or hurt you, okay?”
I did make the claim but I was not certain as to how I was going to pull it off. But I had to do it and I had to do it now.
"My daddy hits people when he gets angry…" Her eyes were wet, "He will hit you too."
I kneeled down to match her height and placed my palm over the top of her head –her body felt ice cold, making me remember that it was not her but a portion of her trauma and memories.
No one could be that cold.
But if I could feel cold in here, it also meant that I could feel pain –which wasn't something that I was excited about.
"I promise you, he will not be able to hurt me." I kept my smile, "I am strong."
She looked at me with hope, trying her best to trust me.
"Really?" She asked again, a sign of her childish nature and the trauma she carried.
"Mhm."
This gave her a bit of courage as she stared at me with hopeful eyes.
I extended my hand, in a way that expressed I was going to take her out to safety.
Slowly, but surely she took my hand and finally gave a little smile.
"I hope you keep your word, mister."
Saying this, she gave the brightest smile that I had seen anyone show in a long time.
A smile so bright –that it changed the scenario around me.
The white void started to bloom in a spiral of colors –twisting and turning to take shape and form structures.
Walls, doors, windows –it started forming a house and I witnessed it all from where I stood.
The white void that I stood at now turned into a gallery type room which stood separated from the main room in front of me.
There was a thin sheet of glass separating the two areas, but how and for what? I did not know.
Not until I heard something and realized something bigger.
"You little punk! Who told ya to scram again?!"
An authoritative yet goonish voice echoed around me. It was surprising to hear a voice when there was nothing around me just a minute ago.
But now, there was.
And it was unpleasant.
"Aw, because a' youse, I gotta pay 'em back now!"
He wasn’t happy and mixed with his thick accent, I could sense the rage that was boiling in him.
"You had just one easy gig, and it was to hang out in that swanky rich people's cage!"
The one to say these words was a fat man, borderline obese that seemed like he could contract diabetes any moment. He had an average height with gray hair and glasses. His clothes were greasy and his falling hair was unkempt. He was in no way or form healthy or good looking.
And it makes me wonder.
Like it really does.
"S-Sorry daddy…"
How can someone like him be the father of Harleen Quinzel, a woman known to be a top class beauty.
"You call yourself my daughter? Then shaddap and go live with those rich idiots!"
I didn't have the clear picture about the scenario, but the man was painting the entire picture in front of me.
And all that I could do… was to watch and understand.
"They paid me three grand for you, and ya decided to ran away! Now they're huntin' me for that dough!"
This can't be real…
"B-But D-Daddy… they hurt me," The little girl cried, "Their s-son used me as a dart board and threw darts at me…"
My eyes widened, almost popping out of the sockets.
Her arms, legs and stomach were entirely covered in cuts and bruises and in a few places… there were even stab wounds.
If anyone for a second thought that he sold his daughter to the rich for her to live a better life, their delusions were cleared immediately with his next words.
"That's what they bought you for! And you'll do as they say! Now, go and live with 'em!"
Saying this, he grabbed the girl by her arms and pulled her with his might –hurting her in the process.
It infuriated me but I could not do anything.
As despite my presence, they could not sense me.
But when I decided to make a move, the room changed again.
This time, it wasn't suffocating and caged like the tiny room –but a nasty smelly alleyway.
What is it this time?
Truth be told, in a way I knew that whatever it was –it was not going to be good.
And I wasn't far off.
"Fuck!"
I heard and when I turned, I saw a now teenage Harley running with a book wrapped around her arms.
"Come back here, ya' lil' twerp!"
Men, multiple of them with bats and sticks ran behind her, cursing and howling at her with each passing second.
"Return the money that your fookin' father took from us, you betch!"
That was unlike any American accent that I have heard, which makes me belief that her father got involved with some European goons as well.
The goons passed right through like apparations, leaving a cold sensation behind.
But what did that mean?
It meant that they those people can neither see, feel or hear me.
And I cannot touch them either.
However, this helped me understand that even after getting older, the shit her father pulled has been haunting her.
However, her father was only a catalyst for the psychological downfall that she went through.
There were multiple people responsible for destroying Harleen Quinzel and creating the one we all know as Harley Quinn.
"S-So we can go to the prom together?"
The setting changed again and I was standing around the doorway of what looked like an empty library.
Harley was much better looking now with healthy skin and no bruises or cuts.
Either her father is no more or she escaped that hell.
"Yeah?"
It was a boy that said that. He seemed to be the same age as her and was rather handsome for his age. I could see him being popular.
And popular he was as I saw a few girls hiding around the corner and biting their nails with a frown.
This cannot end well, now can it?
The happy Harley gleefully ran out of the library while the boy stood with a smirk.
A sigh left my lips as I knew she was going to go through another trauma inducing moment.
And with that, I walked out of the library which also helped in changing the scenario around me.
The room was now filled with sparkling lights, mellow music and a laughing crowd.
Alongside a teary eyed Harley.
"Did you really think I was going to go out with the college dork?"
It was a disaster.
"What made you think that Brad would go out with a dork like you, bitch?"
Bullying is an universal event and it is only the authorities that are oblivious to it.
"Have you seen your dress?" Another girl said, "How do you even come to a prom with such a cheap dress?"
Her dress wasn't bad.
It was an adorable green dress that did not show much skin unlike the other girls.
But I guess…
At an age such as theirs they would find the other dresses much more attractive.
"I-I–"
Harley bit her lips and broke down in tears. I wanted to at least put a hand over her shoulder but alas…
"Know your place, Harleen." The boy said, lowering himself to match her height, "You were never a part of this circle."
I closed my eyes as I saw Harley running out of the venue while the crowd laughed at her.
College just wasn't helping her.
But university wasn't any better.
"You know~"
A very unpleasant voice fell on my ears, making me open my eyes and look at the new scene hopelessly.
A greasy old man with crooked teeth grinned as he grabbed Harley's hand.
"You just have to follow me." He said with his nasty grin, "And you will have all the connections you need. You will graduate with all the fame and credentials that you need to start out as a clinical psychiatrist."
His hand slid past the bench and moved to her hips as his ugly semi-bald head moved towards her face.
"S-Sir, y-you are hurting me."
But the man didn't listen and tried to force himself onto her.
"You know what will happen if you don't listen right, Quinzel?"
But there was a limit till which a person can handle.
And maybe Harley was starting to crack.
"L-leave me!"
She said a little sternly, but this made the professor simply grin.
"I do like my girls to struggle a little." He chuckled, "It makes the moment a little more… enjoyable~"
But…
Sometimes people just didn't care about what their actions might result in.
And when it was one's dignity in question, most didn't think twice before taking action.
"MOVE!"
And that was exactly what Harley did.
"Ahhhh!"
Taking a massive hardcover book with her free hand, she slammed it over the man's head –making his spectacles fly away and blood splurt out of his forehead.
The man fell on the ground crying and shouting in pain. But Harley did not wait for a second and rushed out of the room.
"Y-You will pay for this bitch!"
Hearing the man shout, I sighed and looked at the roof.
How bad can her life go?
Oh, wait.
She hasn't even met Joker yet.
Shaking my head, I moved out of the room before quietly closing the door.
I was moving closer to her current self but there were still a few events that I had to witness.
"W-What do you mean that my license doesn't let me work in the central city?"
She looked closer to her appearance that I knew –minus the white bleach and coloured hair.
"I do not know, Quinzel."
The one to say this was a woman with gray hair.
"I do not know what you have done but most of the board members do not want you to work in the Central City," The woman sighed, "They said they have too many people already working in the Central City and that you lack the experience and expertise to work there."
"B-But–"
"I cannot help you, Quinzel." The woman said, "You will have to solve this issue on your own. Whatever you have done or whoever you have offended… you need to solve this situation on your own. I am sorry, but this is all I can do for you."
Harley's face dropped and so did her hands, her dreams seemed to have been torn apart. But despite it all…
Despite all the discrimination and all the pain, she gave the woman one final smile.
"T-This license is enough, m-ma'am." She said painfully, "I will do my best to make a name for myself."
Seeing this, even the woman could not help but give her a pained smile, "I will pray for you, child. May you find the happiness that you are looking for."
Harley nodded and the woman said one final sentence.
"I wish you the best, Dr. Harleen Quinzel."
I watched it all with a sad smile, finding quite a lot to respect about Harley and unintentionally speaking out loud.
"You have done your best, Harleen… You have become a respected figure despite the world being against you."
Despite everyone going against her.
She now had a Ph.D.
She was a clinical psychiatrist.
However…
Her misery was only just beginning.
"Ah, darling. You truly are a hopeless sheep."
Because the biggest player in her downfall had just been introduced.
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[[A/N: Boom! I am back.
Sorry for vanishing, I was busy with interviews. It was extremely stressful but you will be happy to know that I did really well in the interviews hehe.
I turned off every social media and internet releated app for the time being so I wasn't posting. But I am back once again.
Anyways, enjoy the new chapters.]]
