In an empty hallway in the Hub, Vergil and Harley cross paths.

 

“Oh my! Look at you, Ms. Quinn, dressed so conservatively. All black, a pencil skirt, a button-up blouse, hoes and heals, your hair in an updo? And your red lipstick really brings out that blood all over your whimsical mallet today. Oh and that hint of pink from… are those brains too? Lemme guess…”

 

He peaks into her office, then puts his hands on his hips and teases her.

 

“That’s an awful big mess ya made in there. Did you murder another client, Doctor Quinzel?”

 

She sneers, “He was defective.”

 

“How so?”

 

“He had a thing for touching kids. Said he wanted to touch me, so I mashed him when he tried to test me. I ain’t in trouble, am I?”

 

“You’ve been giving this new job your best for three weeks now. I’ve seen the fruits of your labor. I trust your judgement. Keep up the good work.”

 

“Wait, that’s it? You don’t care that I pulverized another patient?”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Hold it, are you sending me the ones you wanna execute? Like how you made Killer-Red go after Zsasz?”

 

“I’m sending you anyone that’s requested therapy. I see your office needs to be cleaned again. While my custodians take care of that, follow me, Ms. Quinn. I’d like to show you something.”

 

He guides her into a laboratory, unlocking the door via an eye scan, and letting her into a top secret space. 

 

“See this saline chamber-“

 

“Kinda hard to miss. Looks like something out of a horror movie.”

 

“I understand why you feel that way. We used the same blueprints from the Virility Energy Drink factory to construct this machine. But I assure you, it has a very different purpose.”

 

“Those are words.”

 

“Oh, that’s right! Gotham was never exposed to Virility. My mistake. All you need to know, is that this is Dracula, a blood harvester.”

 

“Kay.”

 

“You’re not impressed.”

 

“No, why the hell would I be?”

 

“I use Dracula to harvest blood to heal my subjects.”

 

“Whose blood?”

 

“Mine obviously. Nephilim blood can heal humans. That’s all.”

 

“You gonna bring that sicko in my office back to life? I’m just gonna kill him again.”

 

“Not at all. I wanted to show you where medicine in Limbo City comes from. If Riddler and Deathstroke get to have this knowledge, surely you should have it too. I’d really like to show Dracula to Killer-Red one day."

 

With great suspicion, she looks him dead in the eye.

 

“Why?”

 

He glares right back.

 

“If you need to get into this lab, find Riddler or Deathstroke. Or even, Frisky Frances. The new model is such an improvement, Harleen.”

 

She pauses, putting some nauseatingly ugly pieces together in her head. With a bubbly smile, she shrugs.

 

“Good for you! I’m hungry. I’m gonna go eat.”

 

She exits the laboratory, glancing over her shoulder with piercing disgust, but he was waiting for it, knew she was gonna do it, wanted it even.

 

“Why so serious, Harley Quinn?”

 

With a huff, she mutters.

 

“I’m onto you, creep.”

 

“I know!” he loudly calls back, startling her. She picks up the pace, eager to get away from him.

 

When she makes it to her penthouse, she immediately calls Dante. He answers with a question.

 

“Vergil still making you wanna rip your hair out?”

 

“He’s getting worse.”

 

“You wanna come back here?”

 

“I do but now he trusts me. He let me in on something real demented just now. That’s why I called.”

 

“What’s he doing?”

 

“Honey, he’s got this demented machine. It’s a man-sized capsule with green water and it’s got all these cords in it. He says he’s using it to harvest his own blood to heal humans. I’ve seen him do that, I’ve seen him cut himself and give humans the blood.”

 

“That doesn’t seem like something he would do. Humans are nothing but pawns to him.”

 

“Trust me, he wasn’t humble about it. I think this machine’s for you.”

 

“I’m picking up what you’re putting down. Can you meet us by the woods?”

 

“Yes. When I get off at six. I got one more client.”

 

“Call me before you leave so I know you’re safe.”

 

“You got it. See you soon.”

 

They hang up, she throws together a turkey sandwich, scarfs it down with a bottle of water, spruces herself up, then heads back to her office on the ninth floor. When she opens the door, the dead patient is gone, the patients’ recliner has been replaced. Lying comfortably on the velvet upholster, waiting for her… it’s the Riddler!

 

“Hello, Doctor Quinzel.”

 

“You my last patient for the day?”

 

“Indubitably. Don’t bludgeon me with that mallet of yours. I’m one of Vergil’s favorites, kinda like you!”

 

She sits in her upholstered chair, leaning her weapon against the wall and rolling her eyes.

 

“Yeah yeah, what’s on your mind?”

 

“Well, it all started when the Batman ruined my first maze. I spent months on all those puzzles. Get comfortable, our session is going to be a loooooong one.”

 

“You get one hour.”

 

“We’ll see about that.”

 

Back with Dante, his phone rings. 

 

“Harley?”

 

“Looks like I’m gonna be late, Vergil said I have to-“

 

BANG. Thud. Thumping around.

 

“Harley?!”

 

Vergil’s voice, “Ugh, I should have slit your throat. Guns make me feel so dirty. Awe, don’t look at me like that. We’ll just close those eyes real quick. There we go. Much better.”

 

“Harley!”

 

"Now let’s see who you were talking to, Ms. Quinn. Is this my dearest brother? Let’s make this a video call.”

 

Boo-beep. He switches their cameras on.

 

“What the fuck is going on, Vergil?!”

 

“Hi, Dante! It’s so nice to hear your voice and, oh you look stressed. Don’t be upset, but I don’t need Harley anymore. So she’s gone now.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

He points the camera at Harley lying lifelessly on her back. The track lighting in her penthouse, shining pink across the opal vinyl where she’s fallen, giving her pigtails a magenta wash to match the bright blood oozing from a fresh hole between her eyes.

 

“Vergil, what have you done?!”

 

“Brother, I have my very own Frisky Frances. I’m sure you two will get along, but don’t expect to carry on with that whole friends with benefits thing. She’s very loyal to me.”

 

“No-“

 

“Remember that time I used the Yamato to open a rift to the Angel Realm? That was whacky!”

 

“Vergil-”

 

“You and Kat showed up at the Hub and those pesky angels snatched her right out of your arms!”

 

“Stop-“

 

“Boy, you were really upset that day, but it’s all about perspective, brother. I’m sure your former partner in life is in a better place, in Hell.”

 

“Harley!”

 

“She can’t hear you. But I mean, if you want her body, it’s right here. I’ll send you a pic so you can remember her face, before I disconnect her wireless services of course. You understand, I’m sure.”

 

Ding. A photo of the dead Gothamite consumes Dante’s screen.

 

Bee-boop. “We’re sorry, the number you are trying to reach is no longer active. Goodbye.” 

 

Beep. Disconnected.

 

“VERGIL!”

 

Upon entering the sanctuary, Killer-Red hurries to his friend with worry.

 

“Dante, what’s wrong?”

 

Dante passes him the phone, then runs his fingers through his own hair in a frenzy.

 

“Vergil killed Harley! We gotta go to the Hub! We gotta go right now!”

 

Killer-Red glances at the photo then sets it on a pew and grips Dante’s shoulders.

 

“Hang on, hang on. Calm down. Are you sure he’s not trying to scare you?”

 

“Maybe, or maybe he killed her!”

 

“Focus. This could be a setup. Bats taught me criminals will make up all kinds of bullshit to lure somebody in-“

 

“We let her go there! I let her go there! We said we’d protect her, we promised her that!”

 

“Let’s pause and think though. He could be lying.”

 

“He showed me her body! He shot her!”

 

“I believe you but we know he made a copy of her.”

 

“I can’t leave her there in the Hub! He’ll throw her in a trash bag, she’ll end up in a dumpster!”

 

“I won’t believe it until I see it.”

 

“Here, look!”

 

He grabs the phone and holds it closely to Killer-Red’s face. Suddenly, the image is triggering.

 

Gasp. “Wait, what is this? J-Jinx? He-he shot her in the head? No, pull it together. That’s not Jinx. Jinx is safe. She’s back in Jump City.”

 

“Jason, Harley is dead!”

 

“And-and I’m not convinced that’s really Harley either.”

 

“God, I let her down! We have to go! We have to go now!”

 

“Alright, we’ll go right now. Take a deep breath. We’ll find her we’ll bring her home.”

 

“Come on, let’s go!”