Chapter 1: Tell Me Your Story

The rain pelted against the glass. It was another dreary day in this city that saw more rain than the sun. The high-rise apartment building was one of the few remaining structures left standing to shelter anyone from the rain.

However, for a building that could house many occupants, only one man was indoors. Sleeping soundly on one of the higher floors. The decor was as bleak and lifeless as the weather outside. Not an ounce of a personal touch made to the place. Usually a reflection of the occupant or the occupant simply never spent enough time in the room to care.

“Wake up my love.” A whisper was heard in the bedroom. Feeling as though it came from nowhere and everywhere at once. But as soft as a caress made to the listener.

The man that rested soundly in bed till now began to stir awake. Immediately bringing his hand up to his head he sat up with a groan. The blanket that covered him fell away to reveal a muscular physique riddled with scars. The most prominent one started at the center of his chest and trailed down his torso ending at the bottom of his stomach.

“I really need to stop drinking.” He groaned to himself as he threw his legs over the side of the bed.

It was a wonderful display of self-awareness. Though a change very few have been able to follow through with.

After rising to his feet he had made his way towards the living room. An open floor space that was connected to the kitchen just next to the front door. All white marble which was clean, a cleanliness that the rest of the apartment reflected. Unlike the small mess that could be found on the island in the kitchen.

The items had incidentally caught his attention. After walking toward the white-marbled counter. The mysterious man had picked up an ID card from the scattered items. It displayed a photo of himself with the name Joker beside it. On the top in bold letters wrote out; Hades Company. Glancing down at the other items on the counter, it was easy for Joker to discern that they were playing cards. Three cards to be exact, one with a picture of a wolf, another with an image of a harpy, and lastly a jester that looked to be snickering.

Joker returned the ID card to the island and then made his way towards the window. Looking out at the view before him with a critical eye. Rain hammered the pavement, and heavy winds brushed trash and dust across the streets. Buildings and structures were destroyed beyond recognition as if a war had taken place there. Beside the building he currently stood in he could count the few remaining buildings that were undamaged on his fingers.

“Where on Earth am I? This doesn’t look like Korea.” He said to himself.

It was clear that Joker didn’t recognize any of his surroundings. Possibly not even his ID card. Though there wasn’t a hint of confusion in his stoic expression.

“You’re finally awake.” A feminine voice broke the silence that fell over the room.

Joker whipped around toward the direction of the voice and reached for something that should be attached to his hip. A purely instinctive action. However, due to there being nothing there, Joker was left grasping at air. Joker glanced down at his hands with his brows furrowed together. He was confused by what he had been reaching for.

Once he had finally straightened his posture and looked forward he made eye contact with the woman before him. Dressed in a peculiar purple and yellow striped outfit. With bells attached to her hair ties that pinned her teal hair up in high, short pigtails. Her blue eyes bore into him with a wide and expecting gleam.

“Finally?” Joker repeated as he crossed his strong muscular arms over his chest. “Mind telling me who you are?”

“Aww, you forgot about me?” She asked as she jutted her bottom lip out in a playful pout. “And here I was so excited for my favorite person to wake up after so long. I can’t believe you’d forget about lil’ ol’ me~.”

With a sigh, the lady dropped the act and her shoulders. She turned around to retrieve one of the items from the island in the kitchen. When she came back she stopped only a foot away from him, his tall and muscular frame towering over her. In her hands, she held one of the playing cards. She flipped it around to show him the image of a jester on the card.

“Did you really forget me, Joker?” She asked with a hint of genuine sadness coloring her tone. “You were the one to give me my name too.”

Joker examined the card in her hands for a moment in silence. His mind most likely trying to figure out what he could have possibly named her.

“Jess.” He guessed confidently as he lifted his gaze from the card to meet hers.

Her eyes lit up at the name. A smile that was a little too wide to be normal appeared on her face. “Yes! Yes, you remembered! I knew you wouldn’t forget about me!” She squealed as she bounced from side to side in manic glee.

Though Joker simply knew what his weaknesses were. Giving someone a well-thought-out name was far too difficult for him. So he figured that if she had something to do with the jester card. Then he knew that he would have just shortened the word to name her.

Jess stopped her celebration and a childish frown colored her features. “You talk too much.”

“Excuse me?” Joker raised his brow at her.

“Oh nothing, silly. Just the voices in my head.” She answered playfully while twirling her finger at her head.

“Do you mind giving me an explanation now? You still haven’t answered my question on who you are.”

“Just how little do you remember?” She asked as she crossed her arms underneath her chest, purposefully pushing them up for him. “But I guess if I would explain it simply, I’m like your caretaker. I’m by your side constantly, I work with you constantly, and I protect you and care for you. I’m practically like your wife.” Her voice took on a dreamy quality as she spoke about her being his wife.

“I’ll take the lack of a ring on both of our fingers to mean you’re not my wife.” He said bluntly, earning a tsk from Jess. “Though I don’t remember much of anything-”

A loud crash of lightning interrupted their conversation. The bolt of light struck close enough to shatter the glass window behind Joker. Causing him to reach out and pull Jess in close to his body to shield her from the blast.

“Are you alright?” He asked as he glanced down at her.

To his surprise, Jess’s eyes were wide and held a manic gleam to them. Her breath came out in short and hot bursts as she clung to him. Her nails slightly digging into his back as she refused to let him go.

“Perfect.” She responded breathily without breaking eye contact.