I am Harley, and I am twenty-two years old.
Before yesterday, I was just an assistant psychologist, working toward my license. Now, only a day later, I am not just licensed, I am running Arkham Asylum.
Sitting behind the director's desk, Harley could not help but entertain the thought.
Arkham's Queen.
Maybe from now on, they should call her Harley Queen.
Before being pushed into this position, she had never imagined the role would feel this easy.
Arkham had been thrown into chaos. The attending physician and the director, Jonathan Crane and Hugo Strange, had both been killed by Wraith. Yet after taking over, Harley could not understand how such major failures had occurred in what now seemed like a perfectly manageable institution.
She pressed the service bell.
Almost instantly, a security guard and an assistant stepped in, standing respectfully before her.
Harley smiled.
"Take me to see my hospital."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The guards eagerly escorted her, giving her a full tour.
For the next thirty minutes, Harley saw everything functioning normally.
Patients were calm and receiving treatment. Doctors, even those who had fled earlier, had returned to their duties. Security staff maintained order, and some had even started repairing the damaged sections of the building.
Everything looked stable.
Even she carried out her role with confidence, inspecting Arkham as if it truly belonged to her. The sense of control was intoxicating.
Despite staying awake all night, her energy held until morning.
At nine o'clock, she received a call from Wayne Enterprises.
"What? Bruce Wayne is coming to inspect Arkham as a shareholder? And Wraith will be with him? Alright, I understand."
After hanging up, she rubbed her temples, feeling a wave of exhaustion.
"Why now… I'm so tired.
Is it from last night?
No… I can't fall asleep now…"
Her head dropped onto the desk.
Thud.
In the quiet office, a security guard wearing a top hat watched her with a faint look of displeasure.
"Wraith…"
He spoke softly, then shook his head.
"You interrupted my game."
The annoyance disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. With a light chuckle, he left the office.
Soon after, he changed back into patient clothing, returned to his room, and secured himself to his bed comfortably.
At the same time, the entire asylum shifted.
Those who had worked tirelessly through the night suddenly felt overwhelming exhaustion.
Patients fell asleep in their beds. Doctors retreated to their offices to rest. Only a few, accustomed to staying awake, remained to maintain basic order.
By ten o'clock, Arkham had grown unusually quiet.
Outside the asylum, Axel and Bruce arrived.
Bruce frowned as he looked at the building.
"Axel… don't you think it's too quiet?"
Axel smirked and patted his shoulder.
"So what, were you expecting screaming?"
He walked inside with Bruce.
They had barely entered the corridor when staff hurried over.
Harley stood before them, rubbing her eyes, clearly exhausted.
"Sorry, gentlemen. I just took over Arkham, I've been working all night."
Axel glanced at her, then pointed at the director's badge on her chest.
"You look half asleep, and yet you're running a place like this?
Why is someone your age the director?"
Startled by his gesture, Harley stepped back slightly before steadying herself.
"I only became a licensed psychologist yesterday, but I handled everything last night.
I don't know why they chose me after Dr. Hugo died, but sometimes you don't realize what you're capable of until you're forced to act.
I was busy all night, but seeing Arkham stable makes it worth it."
She smiled, a hint of pride in her expression.
Axel responded with a dismissive look.
"Do not act like I don't know what this place is.
You think you're managing Arkham? With you in charge?
Anyone could tell you're being played, and badly.
Move aside. Bruce and I are here to take control.
Replacing the director and pulling you out of this mess would be doing you a favor."
He waved his hand, signaling her to step aside.
Harley froze for a moment, then frowned.
She stepped forward instead.
"So what does proper management look like to you?
Look around. After what happened last night, Arkham stabilized within hours.
And I made that happen."
Axel let out a low laugh and nudged Bruce.
"Bruce, want to make a bet? The more confident she is now, the worse she'll regret it later."
"I'm not interested."
Bruce shook his head, then addressed Harley.
"I will inspect Arkham myself.
If things are as stable as you claim, you will receive proper recognition."
With that, he left, accompanied by security staff.
Once he was gone, Axel sat down in the director's chair.
He casually flipped through the files on the desk.
"What's your name, and how old are you?"
"I am Dr. Harley Quinzel. I'm twenty-two."
Axel paused, then looked up at her more carefully.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Interesting.
Hugo Strange may have been a problem, but in psychology, he was one of the best.
With him around, Arkham rarely slipped out of control, no matter how dangerous it became.
There are not many people capable of managing this place properly.
Even fewer women.
But you…"
He grinned, standing up as he lightly tapped her shoulder.
"This might be more entertaining than I expected."