**LAURA'S POV**
I woke up to the smell of smoke and alcohol. Everything was black, and my arms were tied to some metal pole behind my back as I was sat on the floor. The room was echoed with every breath I took. As soon as I realized what had happened, I quickly started panicking.
Suddenly, the bag was taken off of my head and there was a blinding glare, causing me to squint.
"Welcome to Arkham, baby." I heard a familiar voice say.
I blinked and looked up at the man hovering over me with a scarred but evil smile.
"Jerome..."
He winked then sat up straight.
"Yeah, no, I changed my mind last minute.....just incase you're wondering."
I slightly shook my head, lips quivering at the sight of the skin grown over the cuts on his face. I didn't mind it before...but what the hell was wrong with me?
Jerome smiled again.
"What's wrong? Clown got your tongue? HAHA! Well I can't say I didn't expect you to act like this...mostly since you've always and I mean always been like this."
I stared up at him, eyes glistening in the light.
He softly smiled and reached over, gently running his fingers through my hair, causing me to shudder.
"Oh, Doll, why'd you have to fall out of love so soon....?" He whispered in a raspy voice that sounded painful to speak in.
"You're insane." I stated, pushing his hand away.
He didn't move, still slightly leaning towards me, and only inches away from my face, glaring up into my eyes.
"And you're not?" He asked.
I didn't answer him. I refused to even let him have the comfort of knowing that he wins.
He smirked. "Cmon now, we all know it. Even Harvey himself accepted the fact that you are just as crazy as me."
"I'm not crazy!" I snapped, leading me to get a tight, strong hand wrapped right around my neck. I softly gasped.
"There's no point in denying it." He muttered as I watched his eyes switch from each of my pupils, going left to right and back again.
I softly whimpered. "It hurts..."
"And it'll hurt alot more. Whether you like it or not, whether I hate you or love you. We both have no choice."
Then he finally released his grasp and sat back, doing what seemed to be manspreading. Ugh, it reminds me of Jeremiah.
"Let me go." I whispered, resting my forehead on the metal pole, which was the only thing restricting me from bopping Jerome right in the head.
He pulled a cigarette and a lighter out from his pocket. Of course he did.
"You know," He said, while lighting the cigarette. "Don't you miss the old days at all? Hiding in abandoned buildings....running from cops....mmmhh..the luxury.."
"No. I don't." I muttered.
He smiled and slipped the end of the cigarette between his lips, inhaling and then removes the cig, and leaning forward, puffing smoke in my face. My eyebrows furrowed and I closed my eyes while holding my breath.
"You look just as beautiful as the day we reunited." His gaze shifted to my chest.
I glared at him, then turned away.
"Awe c'mon....you know you want me back. Whether it's..innocent Jerome, or psycho Jerome..."
I looked back up at him. "What do you want from me anyway?"
He chuckled. "Nothing. I just wanted the comfort of having you in my possession."
"I'm not an item you get to admire, Jerome."
His eyebrows raised as he tilted his head. "Oh no...so much more than an item. And there's much more to admire than you think." He winked.
Gross.
___________________________________
**JEROME'S POV**
I left Laura alone locked in my cell. She wouldn't stop complaining about how her arms were tired. That's when I finally got a conversation out of her. She told me how much she hated my guts. Sometimes she's just a stranger to me. I don't know if she loves me or she wants me dead.
I sat on top of one of the tables in the cafeteria twiddling with a plastic spoon. Jervis finally stumbled up to me and sat next to me. He had a heavy looking mask over his mouth to keep him from talking. Or to atleast keep others from understanding what he was blabbering.
I looked at him, and he stared at me like it was my fault he got thrown back in this junkie.
"What?" I asked.
His eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes said it all. Then suddenly, he exploded with a tantrum. He exclaimed a few angry words. I could tell he was mad because his voice cracked twice.
I'm pretty sure he said, "Why didn't we get some ice cream?!"
He really said, "What the hell were you thinking?!!"
"It's been awhile since she's seen me. She probably wasn't prepared to be here." I smiled in a childishly cocky way.
Jervis started staring at me again. I stayed facing what was infront of me, but my eyes shot at him, waiting for his reply.
"....YA THINK?!" He blabbered again. I could actually understand and make out what he was saying. I couldn't tell who's attitude was worse. Laura's, or Jervis'. No...definitely Laura's. But I tolerate hers....sometimes.
I sighed.
"All we have to do is be patient and wait for her to snap."
___________________________________
**LAURA'S POV**
It's been almost a week.
I was laying flat on my stomach on top of Jerome's bed. I have no idea where he's been sleeping because it's not in here. Sometime's I really miss him. I miss Jeremiah, too. God, I'm so sorry Dad..
I missed Harvey the most. I just feel like I wasn't enough.
I sighed and sat up as I looked around for any signs of Jerome's presence. All I heard were heavy footsteps down the hall, but they definitely weren't his. I stood up and turned to the slightly broken mirror attached to the wall and fixed my hair and brushing it out with my fingers. Then I stepped out of the room and walked down the hall, heading for the cafeteria, where Jerome would always hang out. As soon as I walked through the tall and wide doorway, I saw him sitting there with a bunch of "fangirls" around him. Strangely, I started to feel small hints of aggression in my system.
Jerome smirked in a cocky way as he sat back and enjoyed the attention. Then finally, one of those dumb girls decided to put her hands on his chest and stomach, closer and closer to his hips. That's when his smiling turned into a dirty and unappreciative look. He avoided eye contact with her but he looked out into the cafeteria slightly frowning. She leaned down and seemingly tried to bite his leg. That's when my anger finally set in.
I clapped my hands twice while making my way towards them. The sounds echoed through the cafeteria and everyone stopped chattering. I smiled.
"Hey, Barbie!" I called out.
Jerome lazily dragged his head up straight, and turning it towards me.
The girl looked at me from the corner of her eyes, but not lifting her head up. Then I grabbed her by the hair on the back of her head, yanking her head up, and grabbing one of the steel lunch trays off of the table and smashing it into her face, not once, but twice.
"Ooh!!" Everyone murmured. Jerome stayed still and silent.
She fell onto the floor, holding her nose. "WHAT THE HELL?!?" She squeaked.
I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my face.
"Have you not any manners? Don't touch things that aren't yours, bitch." I said, dropping the tray next to her. Some other girls quickly dragged her away to the nurse.
"That's the hottest thing you've done this year, Doll." Jerome chuckled.
I turned my head to him, placing my hands on my hips.
"Shut up, you can't even speak up for yourself."
He kicked his legs up, and jumped up and off the seat, taking his steps towards me and staring down at me with those sharp, minty green eyes.
"Now, was that you caring about me, or was that just jealousy...?" He muttered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
I scoffed. "Neither, I just hate those kind of girls."
"Well in that case, I hope you know, I am yours...just patiently waiting for you." He smiled.
I blushed and looked up at him. I was starting to develop a crush on him. But these feelings are stronger than before.
"The reason that girl didn't fight back was because of me." He added.
I stared at him, confused. "What?"
"You really think I'd let you just 'survive' in Arkham on your own? You wouldn't make it past a day. Nobody ever dares to lay a hand on you because they know I would burn their world for yours. And you know it too." He muttered, gently caressing my cheek.
I stayed silent, staring up at him, lips parted. My mind was gone. It was so hard to even digest what he had just told me. But it was so easy to believe. But then Harvey flashed through my mind. Then Jeremiah. And everyone else.
I tried to turn away but he grabbed me by my chin.
"Don't you DARE turn your back on me this time." He barked. "I may ruin others for you but there is a whole 'nother world of PAIN waiting for you. I'm tired of waiting on your word."
My lips quivered. "When do I get to go back?" I asked, looking back up at him, eyes glistening.
"Why? So you can go back to that backstabber?" He growled. I stayed silent, hoping he wasn't talking about who I thought he was talking about.
"Yeah, that's right." Then he pulled me closer, his lips barely an inch away from my ear. "I know he's alive. And I know he's here." He muttered quietly and shakely. My heart dropped.
Jeremiah was in danger.
He stepped back and let me go. "You know, it's quite funny honestly. Actually a little crazy, moreover. You're boyfriend gets murdered so you go to his twin brother. Does that sound fair? Let alone right?" He asked.
I crossed my arms, determined to trick him. "I don't know what you are talking about.."
"Awe, don't play dumb with me, Laura. Xander Wilde? Really? And you think I haven't seen the contracts your business had with him?" He asked again.
"I'm done with this topic!" I cut him off, glaring at him.
He stared at me wide eyed. Then he smiled and crossed his arms. "Alright then. Let's move on to taming that psycho of yours. And don't say you're not crazy because I saw it in you, beating that girl's face with the tray till her nose was completely messed up."
I glared at him.