Get Happy

Patient #4079 had been catatonic for six months, stashed in the basement level of Arkham Asylum and hopefully forgotten about. He was spoonfed and bedpanned twice a day because that was the law, but if it were up to the staff alone, they'd be happy just to let him rot. He never moved – even when the attendants came in. He sat in a chair fully shackled, staring at a corner of the cell, humming old show tunes at a barely audible volume. 

8:30 PM, second feeding of the day. It was Nurse Forster's turn tonight. She'd done this many times. She knew that if you treated him with respect, he would treat you with respect. For a multiple murderer, he had a strange sense of courtesy. "Evening Jack," she said, out of habit, and began the evening meal. Tapioca tonight. 

His mouth moved to accept the food but other than that, no movement at all. Still staring at the corner, humming that same tune. She shouldn't have said anything. She should have kept her mouth shut. But it just slipped out. "What's that song?" She said, more to herself than to him.

She really, really should have kept her mouth shut.

He moved. For the first time in months. Just the eyes. They rose to meet hers. "Get Happy," he said. She looked at him in alarm, he never said anything to her before. She foolishly thought she was making some kind of psychological breakthrough when she asked him, "it's pretty, how does it go?" That was her death warrant.

He stared at her and started to sing. Slow and soft at first. "Forget your troubles, come on get happy... you better chase all your cares away.... shout hallelujah, come on get happy...." he suddenly snatched the spoon out of her hand. "Get ready for the judgement day!" She nearly stumbled in in shock as she stood and ran to the cell door, but in her panic she dropped the keys. He was on her in an instant, grabbing her by the back of the head and slamming her again and again into the wall. His singing rose to a shout. "The sun is shining, come on get happy! The lord is waiting to take your hand! SHOUT! Hallelujah, come on get happy!" Her lifeless body fell to the floor as he stood over her, grinning. "You're headed... for the promised... land. HAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA!" He picked up the keys and tossed his shackles on top of her corpse. He danced down the hall towards the evidence room. He had his suit to collect. He hadn't worn it in a long time and he missed it.

Jack was back.