The Three Riddles| LeThA

(A Gotham Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: 46

It feels so warm in here. The liquid surrounding me like if I'm inside a womb. It's so peaceful that I don't mind staying in here forever. Until suddenly my sleep was disrupted by a voice talking to me. It sounded like a man's. Who is it?

The voice of the man said, "Hey, can you hear me?"

Slowly I nodded. I can't tell if I'm dreaming or not. It feels like I'm half asleep and half awake. This man's voice, though, it's full of curiosity. He said, "Wow, amazing! What's your name?"

My name?... I don't know my name. I'm trying to remember but nothing is coming up.

"Oh wait, do you not know your name perhaps?" He asked.

I shook my head to respond to him no. When I was slowly opening my eyes I finally looked at the face of the man who's talking to me. He's kneeling beside the small pink pool I'm resting in. His hair is dark brown and so are his eyes. He wears glasses and some strange looking outfit that has horizontal black and white stripes along with a red letter and three numbers over his heart.

I rose up my hand from the water and point at him curiously. He smiles as he said, "You want to know my name?" I nodded, "I'm Edward Nygma. Would you like some help in getting out of this pool?"

Getting out? I've never been out of the water before. Is it even safe for me to be out? Edward said, "Don't be afraid. It's actually quite nice out here once you come out of the pool." He outstretches his hand for me to grab it, but suddenly something caught his attention. He hurriedly got up and run.

What is he running for? Wasn't he about to help me out of the pool? I got my answer when a few men in white coats walked over here. They were the one who pulled me out of the pool, but once I was out of the pink water I've felt extremely cold. One of them draped a towel over me and picked me up. One of the men said, "Tell Dr. Strange that number 46 is awake."

46? Is that supposed to be my name? But isn't that just a number? Who is Dr. Strange? So many questions and I can barely even move my lips to ask them. My whole body feels so weak and tired that I can barely move any of my limbs. I'm surprised that I could even keep my eyes open.

When I look at my surroundings I've realized there are more pools with other people sleeping in them. Are they like me? If so how long have they been asleep? How long have I been asleep? What exactly are we?

The men brought me out of the cold room and bring me to a different room that looks like the washroom. I believe they're called showers, though. Wait a second how I know these other things if I just woke up? My mind is so muddled I can even remember the last time I woke up. Am I what they call a newborn?

They took the towel off from me and began to turn on one of the shower stalls to clean me up. The water felt cold at first but it warmed up after a few seconds. Once they were done she dried me with another towel and dressed me in a white shirt, white pants, and white shoes. I wonder why white? There are other colors I can wear right? Perhaps green would suffice me?

This time, they let me walk and they told me to follow them. I obeyed and they lead me to a room with a bed, and a bathroom. One of the men said, "Wait in here, Dr. Strange will be with you momentarily." I nodded in response and they left as they closed the door. I think they locked it because I heard a metal click afterward.

I looked at the bed and run my hands on the covers to find out how it feels. It's soft, dry, but it's not warm like the pool I was sleeping in. Perhaps it will get warm once I'm sleeping in it. I sat down on it and realized how comfortable it was, but I don't like how my legs are dangling off from it. Maybe having my legs crisscrossed over each other will be more comfortable? I did just that and I was correct. Sitting my legs crisscrossed is more comfortable.

The door suddenly was unlocked and it opened as a man enter the room. He's bald but he's got this thin beard going on from his sideburns down to his chin. He's wearing round glasses, and he has a white coat on too. Is he the one the men called, Dr. Strange? He asked me, "How are you feeling, 46?"

How am I feeling? I don't know I guess I feel fine but confused. I finally move my lips so I can talk, "Confused". He chuckles at my response. Whoa, my voice. It sounds so feminine. Then again I should have already known because I did saw female parts on my body. That reminds me, hold old, am I?

Dr. Strange said, "That's normal that you would be confused."

"How old am I?" I asked him.

"Well, you did just wake up so you are a newborn. You are my creation."

His creation? So does that make him my father? "If I'm a newborn, shouldn't I be and infant?" I asked him.

"...How strange you would know what an infant is. But you are not born from a womb, you were created. Yes true, you do look like a young lady, possibly at the age of 18."

"18? So I'm a young adult then."

"Would you like to see what you look like?" I nodded, "Come here." I stand up as he brought me to stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom. I see that I have long straight black hair, pale skin, and green mint eyes. I'm not liking the long hair, though. It feels like it doesn't suit me at all.

Dr. Strange said, "You look absolutely beautiful my child."

I said, "Can I request to have my hair short?"

"Of course, I can have it cut to you liking."

When I smiled I saw how charming it looked in the mirror. I have a beautiful smile. I looked at Dr. Strange and asked him, "How come my name is a number?"

"Because you are my 46th creation" He answered.

"Are there others like me?"

"Yes."

"How many are awake?"

"So far just you, but don't worry my child. The others will awake in time."

I hope so, I don't want to feel like I'm the only one. Oh wait a second, I just remember the man who was there first to see me awake. I asked him, "Who was the man who wears the black and white stripes clothes?"

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"When I woke up the first man I saw was wearing black and white stripes. He had a letter and numbers on his shirt. I believe it was D-171. Is he like me? Did he awake too and that's why he has a number?"

He smiles as he said, "No my child, there is no one here who fits that description. You probably have dreamed it."

"Dreamed it? But it felt so real."

"Do not worry about it. I'll be back with hair style magazines so you can choose what kind of haircut you would like."

I smile as I said, "Thank you, Dr. Strange."

"Please, call me Father."

"Okay, thank you, Father."

Once he leaves for the moment to get the magazines I thought about the man that I saw. I remember him telling me his name. I said his name to hear it in my voice, "Edward Nygma." That's such a lovely name. I wonder if I'm allowed to have a lovely name like his? I don't want to be called 46 for the rest of my life.