Elliott rose to his feet, brushing off the dust from his clothes and preparing for the next round. His eyes flicked toward Joker, who had launched a series of cards toward Bellatrix, each one sharp and whirling in the air with deadly precision.
But before the cards could reach her, Bellatrix snapped her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, she swapped places with the cards themselves. Using their momentum, she kicked off mid-air and sent a powerful foot slamming straight into Elliott's face. The force was enough to knock the wind out of him as he was sent hurtling back into the nearby wall, his body slamming against it with a sickening thud.
As he struggled to regain his bearings, Bellatrix landed gracefully on her feet, her grin wide and mocking. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she took a step forward, placing her foot firmly on Elliott's chest to pin him to the ground.
Elliott winced, but her weight was nothing compared to the weight of her teasing words. Leaning down to him, her voice oozed with playful, inappropriate jest, her breath hot against his ear as she whispered, "You know, you're looking a little... helpless right now. How does it feel to be trapped under me, hmm? Seems like all your strength's gone to waste."
Her teasing laughter filled the air as she swirled her foot slowly over him, pushing down just enough to remind him of his helplessness. "Bet you never thought you'd be pinned down like this by a girl, huh? A couple of strong men, and neither of you can handle me." Her voice was teasing, dripping with confidence and mockery as she reveled in the control she had over both of them.
Elliott's frustration grew, his body surging with electricity, but her constant teasing only made it harder to concentrate.
Elliott, fed up with the relentless teasing and feeling the pressure of her foot pinning him, lashed out with his hand, grabbing hold of her ankle. With a burst of determination, he attempted to twist and yank her foot in an effort to make her slip and lose her balance.
But before he could react, Bellatrix snapped her fingers again, and with a playful grin, she swapped places with a nearby lifeless corpse, leaving Elliott holding a lifeless ankle. The corpse, devoid of life, slumped under his grasp. Bellatrix, now standing a few feet away, snickered at his failed attempt.
"No need to get too rough, darling," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "You were having fun, weren't you?"
In the blink of an eye, she swapped places once more—this time with Joker, who had been standing at a distance, preparing to throw another set of cards. Bellatrix now perched herself casually on the sofa, crossing her legs and leaning back as if she had all the time in the world.
"Such a shame," she sighed, her tone far too sweet for the situation. "Two boys, all worked up, and yet neither of you seem to be able to land a hit. It's almost adorable."
Her gaze swept over both of them with a smirk, and she raised one eyebrow in playful challenge. "You really think you can take me on? Why don't you relax, boys. Sit down. I'll make it easy for you."
With a swift motion, she adjusted herself comfortably on the sofa, leaning back with her arms behind her head, smiling at them as if she were the one in control—because, for the moment, she was.
"Damn it..." Elliott muttered, pushing the lifeless corpse aside and standing to his feet. Frustration etched across his face. "What the hell are we supposed to do? She can keep swapping places with us and the corpses endlessly. It's like she has no limit to her power."
But then, a spark of realization flickered in his eyes. His gaze shifted toward Joker, who was still recovering from Bellatrix's teasing.
Elliott leaned in close to him, speaking in a low, urgent whisper, just out of Bellatrix's hearing range. "I've got an idea. We need to take her somewhere she can't swap with anything."
Joker's brow furrowed in confusion, but Elliott's next words clicked into place. "You remember what you did to those marines back at the docks? You pulled one of them into the mirror dimension. We need to do that. Trap her in there. If she can't swap places with anything, she won't have an escape."
Joker's eyes brightened with understanding, his fingers twitching as he recalled the technique. He hadn't used it in a while, but now felt the urgency of the situation. He gave a quick nod, signaling he was ready.
Bellatrix, oblivious to their plan, continued her mocking singsong, almost taunting them with her carefree demeanor. "Oh, come on, boys. You're not even trying to entertain me anymore. Where's the fun in that?"
Elliott's fingers crackled with lightning, preparing for the moment when Joker would create the opening. They couldn't afford to waste another second.
"On three," Elliott muttered, his body tensing, ready for action.
Bellatrix's voice faded into the background as she twirled a strand of her hair, still unaware of the trap closing in.
Joker's eyes narrowed, his mind quickly working through the plan as he adjusted his stance. "I can pull us into the mirror dimension," he explained in a low voice, keeping his gaze fixed on Bellatrix, "but I need to come in contact with whoever I want to pull in. That means one of us has to grab her before I can pull us all in. It's risky, but it's the only shot we've got."
Elliott nodded, his jaw tightening. "Then we need to catch her off guard. She won't make it easy."
Bellatrix, still lost in her playful teasing, spun around and hummed to herself. She was almost too quick, dodging their every attempt to corner her. Her laughter echoed as she swapped places with a nearby vase, then with a lifeless corpse that lunged toward them. Every time they tried to get close, she was already somewhere else, effortlessly eluding their grasps.
"Catch me if you can," Bellatrix taunted, her voice dripping with amusement. "You're both so slow."
Elliott gritted his teeth, frustration mounting as she toyed with them. "She's fast, but she can't keep this up forever."
The seconds stretched out, and they continued their chase. Finally, just as Bellatrix swapped with another lifeless body, they saw their chance. She was momentarily off-balance, standing still for just a fraction of a second.
Elliott sprang forward, using the opening to lunge at her. But she was already shifting again, expecting another easy escape. This time, though, she didn't anticipate Joker's quick thinking.
With a flash of motion, Joker darted forward and grabbed Elliott, pulling him into a close hold just as his hand made contact with Bellatrix's form.
"Got you," Joker muttered with a grin, his hand gripping hers firmly.
In the same instant, everything around them shifted. The world they knew—filled with corpses and endless corridors—faded away, replaced by the eerie, reflective expanse of the mirror dimension. The ground was covered in fractured glass, and distorted reflections of their own faces stared back at them from every direction.
Bellatrix's mocking laughter quickly turned into a surprised gasp as she realized the trap they'd set for her. "What is this?" she hissed, looking around at the endless mirrors surrounding them. "This isn't fair!"
But it was too late. Joker had made the switch, and now they were all trapped in a dimension where Bellatrix could no longer rely on her swaps. The air felt heavy, the stillness overwhelming. The trio stood amidst the glass shards, the only movement the faint reflection of their own struggle.
Joker's grip remained firm, his calm demeanor never faltering as he looked at Bellatrix, still holding both her and Elliott in the mirror dimension. He leaned in slightly, speaking in a low, steady voice, explaining the plan.
"You may think you're in control, Bellatrix, but you're not. In this dimension, you can't hide, you can't swap places. You can't use anyone or anything else. That's why I needed to touch both of you—once I had a hold, we were all brought here."
Bellatrix, despite being trapped, seemed unfazed. She smirked and took a leisurely step toward them, her movements sultry, as if toying with them. "Oh, so this is your big plan? You think this little mirror world is going to be your victory dance?" She leaned in close to Joker, her voice dripping with mockery. "How cute. You think this is going to work, and now... you're stuck with me."
With a dramatic flourish, Bellatrix reached down, adjusting her clothes in a way that was clearly meant to unsettle, her fingers teasing at the fabric in all the wrong ways. "You know, for two boys who look so tough, you sure don't mind getting caught up in a girl's little game," she purred, her eyes glinting with mischief as she eyed them both.
Joker maintained his composure, though her antics clearly weren't lost on him. "We didn't bring you here for fun. This is a trap, Bellatrix, and you're in it."
Bellatrix let out a high-pitched laugh, leaning back against the glass walls, arching her back provocatively as she stretched. "A trap, huh? Is that what you're calling it? It seems like I've got you two wrapped around my finger. You really think this is what's going to stop me?" Her voice lowered, her tone turning more teasing, "I'll tell you something, boys. If you think this little play's got me cornered, then maybe you should take a closer look at what's in front of you."
With a mischievous grin, she placed a hand over her chest, her fingers tracing her curves, making sure both men were watching. "Don't worry. I'm sure I'll make it very clear just how little power you have over me." Her eyes flicked between the two, teasing their reactions, her taunting laughter echoing through the dimension.
Elliott clenched his fists, visibly frustrated by her words, but Joker remained unflinching, even as Bellatrix's behavior grew more inappropriate. He straightened his posture slightly and addressed her again. "It's not about games, Bellatrix. You've crossed the line. This isn't something we'll let slide."
Bellatrix's smile faltered for just a moment, though her gaze never wavered. "Is that so? Well, then I'll just have to make you try harder, won't I?" Her voice was laced with venom now, her smile turning sharp as she stood tall, still clearly unwilling to admit defeat.
Joker's voice remained steady. "We're not playing your game anymore. This ends now."
"Though I must admit," Bellatrix mused, eyeing Elliott's careful observation of the dimension, "having only two options to swap with does make this a bit more challenging."
Elliott glanced around, taking in the mirrors that lined the entire place. "So, this is the mirror dimension?" he asked. He paused, then raised an eyebrow. "Might be a stupid question, but what exactly do these mirrors do?"
Joker snapped his fingers and adjusted his hat, his tone calm as he explained. "It's a kind of network. Step through one of these mirrors, and you'll come out of another, all within this dimension. It's a pretty fun little playground, really."
Elliott's grin spread across his face as he glanced around the dimension, clearly amused. "Oh, now I get it. That's why you're the trickster, huh? You've got all these tricks up your sleeve. I should've known. Our crew's definitely got some real unique talents." He laughed, cracking his knuckles as he braced himself for whatever came next.
But then, with a sudden spark of curiosity, Elliott turned to Joker with a raised brow. "So, how do we get out of this dimension? I mean, we can't be stuck in here forever, right?"
Joker's eyes flicked to him, and with an exaggerated shrug, he casually dropped the bombshell. "Well... You can't."
Elliott's expression froze, his jaw dropping so dramatically it looked like it might hit the floor. "What?!" he gasped, eyes wide in disbelief. "What do you mean 'you can't'?!"
Joker coughed into his hand, trying to stifle a chuckle at Elliott's horror-stricken face. "Well, yeah. You can only get out if you find the mirror to the exit... or if I get knocked out."
Elliott blinked, processing the information as if it were some kind of twisted joke. "Wait, what? So, we're stuck in here unless you, what, trip and fall unconscious? That's... that's your exit plan?"
Joker smirked, adjusting his hat like a magician revealing a trick. "Yep, pretty much. It's like a ring, really. Once I'm down, the exit's open for anyone to walk through. But until then? Well, looks like you're stuck with me."
Elliott stared at him for a moment, his face going from shock to sheer frustration. "You've gotta be kidding me!" he yelled, grabbing Joker by the shoulders and shaking him back and forth. "What do you mean we're stuck in here?!" His voice was a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "You're telling me we can't get out unless you fall down? That's your plan?"
Joker, completely unfazed, just gave a small chuckle as he let Elliott shake him around. "Well, you're the one who asked, my friend. You'll get out eventually, if you figure it out."
Elliott stopped shaking him and threw his hands up in the air. "This is insane! We're stuck in this creepy dimension and your only plan to get out is hoping you trip and knock yourself out? What kind of trickster are you?!"
Joker raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Oh, trust me, I've got plenty of tricks to keep you busy. But the exit? That's all on you, my friend."
Elliott sighed dramatically, pretending to be defeated. "Well, this is just fantastic. Trapped in a dimension with a trickster who can't even let us out... Where's the fun in that?"
Bellatrix, still perched comfortably on her imaginary throne, gave a slow clap. "Oh, this is just adorable. You two, so full of hope, and yet... so utterly hopeless. Just enjoy the ride while it lasts!" she taunted, rolling onto her back in mock delight.
Elliott shot her a look. "Yeah, we'll see who's hopeless when we get out of here," he muttered, already plotting his next move.
Joker chuckled to himself, knowing this game was far from over. "Well, you wanted to come here to decrease the number of swappings Bellatrix could do," he teased, his grin widening.
Elliott blinked, then gave him a sheepish look. "Yeah, I didn't think it'd be this hard. But hey, at least we've got her cornered for now."
Joker raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing. "Let's just hope you're ready for what comes next."
Elliott sighed, already preparing for whatever new trick the dimension—and Bellatrix—had in store.
To be continued...