Chapter 9: Mayor Cobblepot and CrimsonGhost's Calling Card
When we came back home, Oswald called a doctor to perform a check up on my health. Once the doctor arrived he took me to one of the bedrooms so he could perform the checkup privately. The first thing he said to me though was, "I was sent by Cathrine to take a look at your health."
"Oh, then you're from the court then?" I asked.
"Yes, now let's get started." He opens his bag and brought out a silver looking pen as he pricks my finger with it. I wince a little from the pain as I said, "Ow, what did you do that for?"
"To take a blood sample so this device could analyze it." He takes a look at his pen and the top of it suddenly turned red. "Sigh, oh dear. Not another one."
I looked at him oddly, "Another one? What do you mean by that?"
"This keeps on happening with the other clones. Your body is degenerating itself. This medicine here though will keep you stable, but it's only temporary."
He brings out a syringe with red liquid inside it as he rolls up my left sleeve and sticks it into my arm. I looked at him wide-eyed, trying to process what he has just said to me. I took a moment and asked him, "Are you saying... that I'm dying?"
He looks at me for a moment and nodded as he said, "Yes."
"But... I can't die... I was just beginning to live! There's no why I can die!"
"Calm down, Letha. We are finding a way to keep the clones from dying. You just have to be patient."
"But if you don't find a way; how long do I have then?"
"Well, it's hard to tell. This is your first time having a nosebleed right?"
I nodded and he said, "Yes it's still too soon to tell. I'm going to leave you with this small case of the medicine. If you start having nosebleeds again inject yourself with them."
"But what happens if I just have a regular nosebleed?"
"Then don't. If your body starts to feel worse than usual. Call me from this number."
He hands me his business card as I read it and said, "You own an ice cream shop?"
"What? Oh, I'm sorry. Wrong business card. My daughter owns an ice cream shop so I hand these out to whoever to help her get customers for her business."
"Is her ice cream good?"
He nodded, "Yeah it is. You want to keep it then?"
"Yeah, maybe once Oswald wins the election. Edward, Oswald, and I can go eat ice cream together."
The doctor gives me his other business card which has the right number. He said, "Well I hope he wins then. Have a good day, Letha." He gives me the small case that contains the medicine and he leaves. I look at the case as I began to cry and said to myself, "I can't be dying already. I was just beginning to live. Oh dear, what am I going to tell my friends?"
...
After I calmed down I walked back out to find Edward amongst the crowd inside Oswald's mansion. I found him just standing around until Oswald walked up to him and started a conversation. I couldn't hear it since I was still a bit far from him. Once I walk towards them suddenly I heard Butch shouting, "YOU!" I see him going toward Edward as he grabs him by the throat and shoved him against the wall, "YOU, YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
Oswald said, "Butch, released him this instant what is going on?!"
"I'll tell you what's going on! He just cost you the election! He went to every district official and took the money back! Said you want to run a clean election!"
Oswald looked at Edward wide-eyed as he said, "Tell me this is not true."
Edward said, "I'm afraid Butch is right. For once."
Butch's grip tightens around Edward's neck as it hurt my heart hearing Edward groaning in pain. Oswald said as it almost looks like he's about to cry, "Why? After everything that I've done for you. Everything we could've done together. You betrayed me. Butch!"
The moment Butch brought out a gun, was the moment I unleashed my centipede legs and quickly got in between Edward and Butch to protect Edward. I glared at Butch coldly as I said, "I'm not going to let you hurt him!"
Oswald shouted, "Letha! Stand aside!"
"He didn't betray you, Oswald! He did what he thought was right! He believes that you can win this election without having to cheat by paying off the district officials! If you can't understand the good he's doing for you then you have to kill me to get to him!"
Suddenly Edward smiles as he said, "I think he can understand now, Letha. Oswald look." He points at the T.V that shows a woman announcing the final results.
The woman said, "In what can only be viewed as a seismic shift even by Gotham standards. former underworld kingpin Oswald Cobblepot has won the mayor's office by a landslide."
The crowd in the house was clapping and cheering for Oswald. Oswald shushes them so he can still hear the wonderful news. Oswald said, "I still won." He turns to look at Edward, "They really want me as mayor."
Edward said, "Yes."
Oswald walks over to him as he said, "I can't be bought, but I can be stolen with one glance. I'm worthless to one, but priceless to two." Edward made a heart shape by moving his two fingers. Oswald smiles and looks at him, "Love," Oswald moves Butch's hand down, the one holding the gun, "They love me."
Edward said, "If you would've bought the election, you would've never known. But now you do. Feels good, doesn't it?"
"How did you know I would win?"
Edward took a step closer to him as he said, "I believe in you, Oswald. Even when you don't believe in yourself."
Oswald turns to Butch, "You... You never believed I could win this election on my own. I think maybe you're not cut out for this after all."
"What?!" said Butch in disbelief, "You got to be kidding me. This guy-"
"Don't worry. I still need someone to crack skulls." Oswald turns back to Edward, "Come Ed. We have plans to make."
As the two walk away I looked at them oddly. I put away my centipede legs and looked at Butch as I said, "I know what you're thinking, but Butch believe me. Edward is not a bad guy at all."
"Oh and I'm the bad guy?!" He snaps at me.
"No no no no, not at all. That's not what I'm saying. Look I know how much you dedicate yourself to work for Oswald, but-,"
"But nothing! You don't know shit, Letha, so back off."
He walks away... Wow... For the first time, I feel like shit.
...
After Oswald has given his acceptance speech and officially made Edward his Cheif of Staff. The three of us went out to get some ice cream. While we were sitting down at a table and eating our ice cream they took notice of my silence. Edward was the first to ask, "What's wrong, Letha?" I look at him. Well, there's a lot of things going on in the mind, but I can't tell them about my health nor about my conversation with Butch. Although there is something that I must ask them. I look at them and said, "Are you two together?"
Their cheeks flushed bright red as their jaws dropped and looked at me wide-eyed. Oswald said, "N-no! Wh-what gave you that idea?!"
"Well, what was up with the love riddle? Is that something that you two just share to one another to show that you love each other? And why were you two standing so close? Also what was up with Ed forming a heart?"
Edward wave his hands as he shook his head and said, "No no no no no no! You've read it entirely wrong! I've told that riddle to him because it was supposed to represent about the people loving and trusting him! There's nothing going on between us!"
"Ohhhh, now it makes sense. Sorry that I've assumed that you two were a couple."
Oswald said, "Well don't assume that again! My goodness, I can't believe that you were even thinking about that this whole time."
"But just to let you guys know, I am totally okay with it if you guys get together. I judge nothing."
"IT'S NOT HAPPENING!" They both said.
I couldn't help but smile about it. I said, "Hey guys? Butch isn't bad right?"
They look at me oddly for a moment and Oswald asked me, "Why do you ask that?"
"I mean, I do see Butch working hard for you, Oswald. I think... sigh, please don't be angry with me about it, but I think Butch just wants you to know that he is working hard for you. Even if he didn't believe that you could win on your own, he still wanted you to win the election either way. Do you get what I'm trying to say here?"
He rolls his eyes as he said, "Letha, Butch is not some kind and honorable man. Yes, I agree that he's a hard-working man, but he does not need your sympathy."
"Sigh, okay. Sorry that I brought it up."
Edward decides to change the subject, "So what did the doctor say during your checkup?"
I said, "He said that it was just a regular nosebleed. Nothing to worry about. Hey um, I'm going to go for a walk. I'll come back to the estate later."
"Why are you going for a walk?" said Edward.
"Just to get some fresh air. Anyway thanks for the ice cream, Oswald. I'll see you guys later."
I stand up and head out the door to walk down the street. I rub my face as I run my fingers through my hair. I let out a big sigh as I look up at the sky... Gotham City... What's up with this place that makes people turn so coldhearted? Oswald didn't seem to care how Butch feels nor appreciate the work he's done for him, and Ed just smiles about it. I guess I need to learn to break the habit of seeing the good in everything. It's not like I know the history between the three, so I really don't have any room to talk.
Suddenly I heard someone running towards me. When I turn around to look, someone had already placed a cloth over my mouth and nose. I struggled to get away but I ended up passing out. When I woke up I was sitting down in a chair with my hands tied behind my back. I've felt dizzy and my head felt heavy to lift up. Suddenly I heard the sound of a power drill being used. I forced my head to look up and I released I'm in some kind of basement. Across from me is a man who's sitting down and tied to a chair too. Although he looked really out of it. Like if he was drugged too many times. I look around and see our captor testing out a power drill. I shake my head trying to shake off the dizziness. I can't seem to keep myself focus. What else has that guy drugged me with?
The man turns as he smiles and said, "Don't worry my lovelies. I'm just going to make a few adjustments and then we'll have some fun."
"F-fun?" I said as he looks at me.
"Oh dear, looks like I didn't give you enough of my medicine. Don't worry. Once I'm done with him I'll give you another dose."
What the hell is going on here? What the... Oh no. WHAT'S HE DOING?!
He uses the power drill to drill a small hole into the man's head. The man didn't even seem to notice that his head is being drilled. How much drugs did this psycho given him?! Once he was done he put the power drill down as he picks up a syringe and sticks it in the small hole in the man's head. I said, "Wh-what are you... injecting him with?"
He said, "Acid. This is the stuff that will turn you and him into my personal zombies."
"ZOMBIES?!" No no no no I have to get out of here!
As I struggle I tried to use my White Centipede to get me free, but my legs weren't coming out. I frantically looked around and saw my White Centipede on the table near the other tools. Once the psycho was done injecting the acid into the man's brain he starts walking over to me with the drill. I panicked as I start struggling real hard to get out of the ropes.
I can't die here! I can't be killed by this psycho!
He smiles wickedly at me as he grabs my head. He said to me, "Don't worry baby. Once I'm done, you wouldn't want to ever leave me."
Suddenly my mind went completely blank as if I blacked out for a moment. Once I was conscious again my eyes widen in shock as I see the entire basement covered in blood. The man was already dead in the chair, but the psycho was in pieces on the ground. I look around and see the huge letters of CG written in blood on one of the walls. I panicked as I grab my White Centipede and ran out the house.
I dug through my pockets bring out my cell phone to call Edward. Until I stop myself and think about the situation. I can't call him just yet. I started running to the bar where Edward and I visited. I quickly knock on the door and once the peephole slide open I said, "I'm here to see the Wizard of Oz"
