"The Joker of Death"

"The Joker of Death"

A perverse legend had started to circulate—The Death Joker—in the center of the metropolis, where the streets were constantly bustling and the neon lights never slept. It was not an old story recounted around campfires or handed down through the generations. No, this was a terrifyingly genuine living nightmare that had been brought to life in the digital age.

All of it started with a video. A shaky, grainy video that was shared late one night went viral on social media. In the video, a man with a constant smile etched on his face was seen wearing ragged clothing and having his face painted in hideous black and white hues. He was carrying a deck of playing cards while standing in the center of a packed metro platform.

It was the sound, not his appearance, that made the video terrifying. His voice brimming with hate, he muttered into the camera as he shuffled the deck:

"One life, one card. Choose wisely.

And then, with a flick of his wrist, he hurled a card into the crowd. It wasn’t apparent who the card hit, but the next thing anyone knew, a man yelled. He threw the card, and the victim fell, jerking wildly, then became motionless. The Joker laughed, his twisted grin spreading.

He disappeared into the sea of commuters before anybody could respond, leaving behind only the loud scream and a huddle of frightened bystanders. The video terminated suddenly.

It was everywhere in a matter of hours. It was reported by news outlets as the "Subway Incident." It kept coming up in conversation. Then, however, other videos began to surface. The Joker would appear in a public setting, shuffle his deck of cards, and then toss one to an unwary victim. This was the pattern shared by all of them. Whoever the card hit will experience a harsh and inexplicable demise. Others would be driven insane by seeing things that were not there, while others would convulse and instantly die.

The media failed to provide an explanation. Nobody was able to. While some believed it to be a hoax, others were afraid of a much deeper motive.

The city was becoming haunted by the Joker. Numerous bizarre death reports were sent to the police, all of which were connected to the same uncanny signature. One joker card was left as the calling card in a deck of cards.

Every death was grisly, even though the victims were invariably random, everyday people—men, women, and kids. When the Joker threw a card onto a man's lap, he suffered a heart attack and died in his vehicle. Another was discovered in his flat, his body covered in odd markings, his eyes wide open in fear, as though he had been forced to some unfathomable conclusion.

Nobody knew where he would attack next or when.

The entire scope of the Joker's terror was only revealed when Emily, a teenage reporter for a local news station, found herself in the center of the mayhem. Even though she had been following the news for weeks, she never imagined that she would be targeted.

She had spent the night at the police station reviewing reports in an attempt to identify the Joker. Around midnight, exhausted and unkempt, Emily decided to take the subway home after leaving the building. The city appeared to be a ghost town, with the streets strangely quiet and a dense fog clinging to the pavement.

A chill went down her spine as she stepped into the subway. With the exception of a lone individual standing in the shadows, the platform was almost deserted. Emily sensed his gaze on her even if she could not see his face. It was the Joker, him.

With that hideous smile, his painted face taunted her as he walked into the light. Her heart thumping in her chest, she froze.

"One card, one life," he said in a low, playful tone. The sound of him shuffling his deck of cards was unsettling in the quiet night, and Emily's throat became dry.

"Please, don't—" she muttered as she gradually retreated.

He did not answer. Rather, he gestured toward her with a card.

All appeared to slow down as the card whirled through the air. As the card drew nearer, Emily could see its face. The Joker's eyes gleamed with ill intent as his visage scowled back at her. She shrieked as soon as it touched her flesh.

However, nothing took place.

The world fell silent for a minute.

Then something changed under her feet. As though reality itself were collapsing around her, the subway station's walls started to flex and twist. Emily's vision flashed with awful images: a mutilated and wounded body, another card, and finally the Joker's giggling face.

The lights in the subway flickered. She was unable to determine if she was having hallucinations or whether the environment was actually changing around her.

By the time the lights stabilized, Emily was not alone.

There was something new in the Joker's black eyes as he stood in front of her: a perverted sense of fulfillment. "Your turn," he whispered gently, and his smile vanished for the first time.

Emily became acutely aware of the Joker's actions.

Chance has never played a role in the deck of cards. It was not arbitrary. In addition to taking lives, the Joker played with them, influencing their outcomes in a way akin to a deranged puppet master.

She was now a player in his game.

That evening, a fresh video came to light. It was of Emily, her voice shaking as she looked into the camera with wide, panicked eyes.

"One life, one card..."

The video came to an end.

The Death Joker was far from finished with his game, though.

He continued to watch.

-I hope the spooky story was enjoyable! If you require any changes or another story, please let me know. Thank You.-