All Chapters of Night Gaze The Redemption of Joker: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

33 Chapters

Chapter 21 How Much I Hate Him

The preacher approaches the pulpit, clears his throat, and puts on his glasses. Everyone falls silent, the weight of the moment settling over the room like a heavy fog."This, is, a tragedy. How cruel the world can be. We all take life for granted, not knowing if the next day will be our last. A few weeks ago we said goodbye to our sister Mirah, and today we bid farewell to our brother Frank. We have lost two good people, people of this church. I can't say that my heart isn't heavy, but I stand here today. I look into each one of your hearts, and I can see that you all are deeply troubled as well. At this time, let us pray."Everyone's head hung low except Jack's. His eyes remained fixed on his father's body lying in the casket, unmoving, unnervingly still. He kept staring at his father's chest, watching for the faintest rise and fall, needing to be certain that no breath stirred within it. Thomas, Ricky, a few women, and Mrs. Anne rose and made their way to the front. One by one, the

Chapter 22 A Mother's Farewell

The two men sat down as the organ began to play, its low notes filling the church with a mournful hum. The pastor's voice rose above the music."Will the pallbearers please come forward," he said.Rick and Thomas got up. So did a few of Rick's men, their faces set in grim, practiced solemnity. They turned the casket to face the door, and the eight men grabbed a handle on either side, knuckles whitening under the weight."You didn't have to come, you know," Thomas muttered to Rick as they lifted."He was my brother too," Rick said, smiling smugly, as if the moment were some private victory only he understood.The men moved slowly toward the door, their footsteps echoing against the silence. Everyone stood. Anne wrapped her arm around Alice, whose head came to rest on her shoulder, trembling with quiet grief."I can't believe he's really gone," Alice whispered, wiping her face with her black handkerchief, the fabric already damp from the effort."I know," Anne said softly. "Just hold ont

Chapter 23 Her Name Is Harley Quinn

Sharon noticed a strange lump buried in the children's laundry. She pulled back a few sheets and found a bear with a missing eye, its fur worn soft from years of hugging."So, that's where you've been hiding, Mr. Bear," she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I know a little girl who has been looking for you."She tucked him under her arm and left the laundry room. In the hallway, a girl with blonde hair ran past her, pigtails bouncing with every stride."Harley!"The girl kept moving, seemingly lost in her own world."Harley Quinn!"That did it. The girl skidded to a stop and turned, breathless."Yes, Miss?""Can you please tell Pamela Li I found her teddy bear, and also tell her that I am putting it in the office?""Yes, Ma'am." Harley beamed, clearly pleased to be the bearer of good news, and took off again before Sharon could say another word.Pamela Lillian Isley was the girl's real name, though everyone called her Pamela Li for short. She was a fiery little redhead wit

Chapter 24 Fight!

Jack finally made it to the boy's floor, only to find a large kid blocking the doorway, arms crossed and eyes narrowed."Hey you!""Me?" Jack pointed to himself, feigning innocence."Yeah, you. I saw you talking to my girl.""Who's your girl?""Harley."Jack couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing down the hallway."What's so funny?" the boy demanded, his jaw tightening."You want me to believe that she's your girl.""Yes.""Yeah, right. How could she ever be interested in a big hairy doofus like you?"The boy's face darkened with anger, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "Now you did it. I was going to just warn you, but you had to go and say that! I'm going to mess you up," he growled, smashing his fist into his open palm for emphasis."I'd like to see you try," Jack replied evenly, refusing to back down."I'm going to make your life here a living hell.""I doubt that. I'm not afraid of you. No one tells me what to do or who I can speak to."Jack took off his tie with del

Chapter 25 I Could Pass Out

The stairs cleared quickly. Sharon and Mr. Lyle ushered the children to their floors, their footsteps fading into separate corridors. The boys entered Alice's office, and she shut the door behind them with a firm click that seemed to settle the tension in the room."Jack, I'm really disappointed in you, and you as well. I want you two to explain to me what happened.""It wasn't my fault," Mike said, crossing his arms. "He came at me first. I was just standing there, minding my own business, and he shoved me."Alice raised an eyebrow, glancing at Mike's considerable size compared to Jack's. "Is that so?""That's not what happened," Jack said, his voice steady despite the anger still simmering beneath his calm exterior. "He blocked my way on the stairs. Wouldn't let me pass. I asked him twice to move.""He's lying," Mike said."I'm not the one who's lying," Jack said, "you know I'm not."Alice studied both boys carefully, weighing their words against what she already suspected to be tru

Chapter 26 I Feel LikeTrash

"I'm so tired. It was so boring hearing a bunch of old men talk all morning."“Where’s Jack?”“He is with Officer Gordon. Gordon said he was going to talk to him.”“Well, that's a waste of time. You know he’s not going to listen.”“I know,” Alice sighs, rubbing her temple as if she could massage away the entire morning.Mr. Lyle grabbed his mop bucket and headed down the hall, his shoulders stooped with the weariness of a man who had swept these same floors for decades. Sharon was comforting the little girl who had her hair pulled, murmuring soft reassurances as she smoothed down the child's tangled braids. Alice went to her office and shut the door, grateful for the momentary silence. She sat down and kicked off her shoes, wincing as the fabric caught on her heel. Her big toe was poking through the nylons, a small indignity that seemed to sum up her whole day. Alice threw her leg up and placed her heel on her desk. Her thumb caressed the top of her foot while her fingers massaged the

Chapter 27 In One Ear Out The Other

Gordon and Jack were taking the long way back to the orphanage. Jack stared out his window, watching the streetlights blur past, while Gordon reached over and turned off his radio."Do you ever get tired of this?" Gordon asked, keeping his eyes on the road."Of what?""This routine we have. I thought you wanted something more for yourself. I thought you wanted to be better than your father."Jack's jaw tightened. "I do, but these are the cards that I've been dealt. I'm an orphan. Who's going to take me seriously? This society is made so I can fail no matter what.""I hear what you're saying, but you gotta want more for yourself." Gordon's tone softened. "You know we are here to help you if you need help.""Yeah, I know." Jack didn't look at him."Well, we are here. I just want you to think about what I said. Okay?""Okay."The car rolled to a stop in front of the orphanage, its brick facade dark except for a single porch light. Jack got out without another word, and the door slammed h

Chapter 28 I Have A Plan

Jack and Harley hugged the shadows along the rooftop, moving carefully until they reached the fire escape. Jack set his bag down and pulled out three sheet ropes, his hands quick and practiced despite the darkness. He had clearly rehearsed this moment in his mind, running through every knot and every step until the motions felt like second nature."What are those for?" Harley tilted her head, curious."I came up with this idea last night," Jack said, testing the knots with a firm tug. "It should make things a little easier. We're going to use these three ropes to pull up our bags instead of carrying them up.""Oh, I was wondering how we were going to get our stuff on the roof." Relief softened her voice; the climb had already left her arms aching, and the thought of hauling a heavy bag up a ladder had been gnawing at her since they started.Jack tied the three ropes to the chimney shoots and tossed the slack over the edge, watching it unspool into the darkness below. There was a quiet

Chapter 29 Split Up

The floor creaked. Harley's eyes snapped to the doorway; Mike's darted to the stairs. Both froze, straining to hear if the sound would come again."Harley, Mike," Jack whispered, waving them over, his hand cutting through the dark in a quick, urgent motion. "Here."He handed them a flashlight and one list each, his fingers brushing theirs in the exchange."Each of you look at your list and only grab the things on it. Don't make trouble for anybody else. Let's keep quiet and get done as fast as we can." He paused, concern softening the edge in his voice. "Harley, Mike, be careful.""Okay, J.""Yes, Boss."They filled their burlap sacks with food and other items, moving carefully between the shelves, while Jack filled another sack with random things, glancing over his shoulder every so often. They met back in the last aisle, all three a little breathless from the effort and the fear of being caught."Did you get everything on your list?" Jack asked."Yes. Boy, is this sack heavy," Mike

Chapter 30 A Familiar Voice

Harley and Mike made it back to the Orphanage, ducking into the alley where three ropes hung from the side of Moe's Bakery, worn from countless nights of secret comings and goings."Race you to the top," Mike whispered, already reaching for the second rope."You're on," Harley said, tying her bag to the first rope before hauling herself up, her arms burning with the familiar strain.They scaled the ropes with practiced ease and crossed the roof to the windows. Mike swung a leg over the sill of the boys' window and paused."You coming, or are you gonna stand there all night?" he asked.Harley didn't answer right away. She stared toward the street, a knot forming in her stomach."Harley?""I'm just thinking about Jack," she said finally. "Where do you think he is?""He's probably already back, laughing at us for taking the long way," Mike said, though his voice lacked conviction."Yeah," Harley murmured. "Probably."She climbed toward the girls' side, but her eyes lingered on the empty

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