Chapter 12: Alastor Harrison
When they took me to see him in jail. I ask them to leave me alone with him for now. I was sitting on the other side of the glass window. Waiting for Mr. Harrison to come in from the other side. I was getting nervous waiting for him. I can still feel the tape around me. I have a feeling I'm going to have to go back to that nightmare.
Finally when he arrived he looked happy to see me. He immediately picked up the phone, and I picked up the other to speak with him. He spoke first, "Hello, Nero. Where have you been? You went missing for a while."
"You remember Hanna Becker right?" I said.
"... Yes."
"Do you have any possible idea who might've taken her?"
"... Nero you shouldn't be involve in this. They will kill you for trying to find her."
"Do I look like I give a shit? My closest friends are dead. One of them caused by you. Remember Jane Thomson? I know you fucking drugged her. Did you had any idea how humiliated she was? I am trying my fucking best right now to not yell at you because I need answers. I don't care if I had to die just to get them."
"... Nero please don't do this. I care about you."
"If you do then tell me who kidnapped her. I can't lose Hanna, Mr. Harrison."
"...You're really willing to die for Hanna?"
"If I have to I will."
"I'm sorry..."
He hanged up the phone. No! I can't lose this now! I rewind time to think up another way to get him to answer.
"Why do you care about me so much?" I asked him, "What makes me so special from Hanna?"
"... You don't involve yourself with crimes. She was innocent in her own way but she worked for Falcone. Your work is so beautiful you capture the light of things yourself. We're the same and I don't want to lose that."
Suddenly my nose started bleeding. Shit I think that big leap into time earlier kind of damage me. Since I've only rewinded once I seem to hit my limit again.
"Nero, your nose is bleeding! Are you alright?!"
"...Truth be told... Alastor... I don't have a lot of time." If I convince him I'm dying maybe he'll give in. It's worth a try; if not I'll just rewind again. "There's no use keeping them a secret anymore now is there? You were protecting me from them. Now please help me bring them down. Who are they?"
"... Okay... For you. But after you bring them in. Can I see you again?"
"Yes."
"... The night you disappeared was also the night I captured her and her boyfriend. Only because I was asked to. After I took the pictures they showed up and took Hanna away only. I asked him why he needed their pictures and her boyfriend. He said it was for insurance. He also said if I told anybody he would kill me, but since you're dying that doesn't matter now."
"What's his name? Why did he needed Hanna?"
"What he needed Hanna for I don't know. His name is Theo Galavan."
"Thank you Alastor. I'll see you again." Sadly.
Once I've left the visitor's room, Oswald noticed the nosebleed and he hand me a handkerchief to clean it up. "Are you feeling okay?" asked Edward.
"Sort of. I've finally know who has Hannah."
"Who?" said Oswald.
"Theo Galavan, but before you guys do anything. I have to do one more thing. Let's get back to the safe house."
...
Once we were there I took out the black book with all my pictures in it. Believe it or not I was crying. Edward sat by me as he put an arm around my shoulders. He said, "You don't have to do this. You don't have to go back to the Dark Room."
"I know but... I have to save Alex and Jane. They're dead because of me."
I open the book and turn the pages to the picture of Edward again. "I love this one so much." I said, "I've captured the light of you pretty well."
He smiled slightly as he said, "Yeah you did."
"Hey Nero." said Oswald, "The second Dark Room is 20 miles east from Crime Alley. Make sure to tell him that once you go back."
"I will, don't be late okay guys?"
"Never." said Edward.
I gave Edward a big hug and Oswald actually asked, "Mind if I have a hug too? You've been quite a good friend to me."
"Of course." I said.
I stand up to hug him too. This is just making me want to cry more.
"Come on, Nero." said the other Edward, "It's time to go back."
You're a dick you know that?
"I know I am."
So you can read my mind, tch asshole.
I let go and focus on the picture to get back to that precious moment. After I've fixed everything and told him what to do. All of a sudden time yanked me to the future. I was back on the shore of Gotham watching the hurricane heading towards it.
"What the hell is this about?!" I said.
Edward stood next to me as he said, "There's something wrong with time. Can't you tell?"
"But what am I doing wrong?! When the hell does this happen anyway?!"
"October 15th." said my other self who just walked by, "The end of Gotham."
"All this because of me changing time? Why?"
"Well think about the beginning where this all started. Didn't the snow happened after you stop Edward from killing Dougherty?"
"... What?"
I blink just once and all of a sudden I'm back in the Dark Room. I'm tied differently though. I'm sitting in a chair with my hands taped to the arm rests, and my ankles are taped to the chair's front legs. Again I have tape over my mouth. Fucking shit what's the point on keeping me quiet?
"Huh, your tie is off." said Edward who appeared in front of me. "Either he wanted to make you comfortable, or wanted to see a little more."
Shut up.
"Oh relax I'm only playing with you. Huh?"
We heard someone coming into the room. When I thought it to be Harrison it was Dougherty instead. He smiled as he look at me. "Ahh so the little one is awake, huh?" He walked towards me as he said, "Don't take this personally, but." He punched me in the right side of my face pretty hard that it did hurt more than Kristen giving me that slap, "You've should've stayed out of my business with Riddle Man."
"Mother fucker." said Edward clenching his fist pretty tight, "You've should've let me killed him."
This feels weird. I'm feeling this weird vibe from Dougherty. Is this?... Barrowed time?
"Now you've figured it out." said Edward.
No way! This guy was supposed to die from the start! That's why all this shit is happening?! But... That means he has to do by Edward's hand... No, there has to be another way! What if?!... What if?
"Nero what are you thinking?" said Edward.
"Want some more?" said Dougherty as he yanked my head back and punched me in the stomach.
"STOP IT!" shouted Harrison as he pushed him away from me. "Get the fuck out right now."
"I don't see why you're keeping this one alive, Alastor." he said, "She's the one who cost me my job."
"Did you not here me earlier? Get the fuck out right now. We'll discuss this later."
"Tch, you're very lucky, Nero."
Once Dougherty was gone. Harrison immediately took off the tape from my mouth and tend to my aid. He said, "I'm so sorry, Nero. I'm not going to let them near you again." He took a towel and wet it in the sink to dab the fresh bruise on my cheek. "Dammit he made a small cut on your beautiful cheek. Does your stomach still hurt?"
"I've dealt worse." I said trying to act tough, "Mr. Harrison, who's Theo Galavan?"
He stop dabbing my cheek as he looked pretty shock to hear his name. "How did you know that name?"
"He's the one you're protecting me from isn't it?"
"... Yes."
"You know you can't protect me for long. So why don't you let me go so we can take him down together?"
"... I can't he's too clever to even be brought to jail."
"Then how long do you expect to keep me here, Harrison? You can't keep me captive forever."
"..."
He put the towel down for a second. He put one hand behind the back of my head and suddenly placed his lips over mine. Oh my gosh this feels really weird. I don't feel the same for him. He's my professor for heaven's sake!
"I know this make me sick too," said Edward, "Just hold out a little longer until I arrive."
When Harrison pulled away he said, "I love you too much to let you go. We'll work it out some how."
Suddenly I've felt something warm crawling down my nose. Dammit another nose bleed? Am I bleeding from my brain or what?
"Your nose is bleeding." said Harrison, "Did Tom punched you harder than I thought? Damn that bastard is going to pay for that."
That's Dougherty's first name? Tom?
Harrison cleaned up the blood from my nose this time. "You know when they found you on the roof with Jane. They had to take you to the hospital because you were bleeding from the mouth and nose. Is there something wrong with you, Nero?"
"... I really don't know." I said, "All I've been told is that I'm creepy."
Edward couldn't help but laugh as he said, "Because you are, dork."
Jerk.
"Creepy?" said Harrison sounding surprised, "Who told you that?"
"By some other creep."
"And don't forget it." said Edward.
"Well you're not." said Harrison, "At least not in my book. Are you thirsty?"
"Yeah."
When he went to the fridge to get a bottle of water I asked him, "So who is Theo Galavan anyway? Is he another person who does the same thing as you?"
"Not even close." he said as he brought the water to me. After I took a drink he said, "He's more of a business man who I've heard will take over Gotham. He's much more scarier and powerful than Falcone and Maroni. Of course now some new hotshot is running this city. What was his name again?"
He must be talking about Oswald.
"I don't know someone who goes by the nick name, Penguin. Want some more?"
"Yes, please." I took another drink.
"Why are you being nice to him?" said Edward.
I can't just tell him off Edward. In kidnapping situations you need to be cooperative if you want to survive. Even though I do want to punch Alastor in the face.
He put the bottle down on the table as he sat on a stool he brought over in front of me. "So why are you dressed up like this?" he asked, "I barely recognize you in that nice suit. Looks expensive too."
"I was getting in too deep with this case. If I was going to walk around the city I had to not be too obvious."
"What's with the mask then? Wouldn't that give you away?"
"You'd be surprised the places I had to go to, Harrison. This face can't be seen by many strangers. Especially within the dark realms of this city."
"Creepy," said Edward.
"Such as?" said Harrison.
"Well, this city is riddled with fear, Harrison. You have to figure that part on your own."
Suddenly we heard someone coming in. "That better not be fucking him." said Harrison as he stand up.
"GCPD!" shouted the voice of Gordon as he came in with Harvey, and Edward.
"About time." said other Edward.
"On the ground right now!" Gordon demanded Harrison. He did as Gordon cuffed him and gave him his rights.
Edward rushed towards me and cut the tape binding me to this chair. "Are you okay, Nero?" he said who looked very worried. "Did he hit you?"
"No," I said, "Tom Dougherty did, so did Kristen earlier."
"Kristen?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry Edward. But she's a part of this whole kidnapping girls and taking their pictures for money business."
He helped me stand up. "Nero I'm begging you don't go after him!" shouted Harrison, "He will kill you!"
I walked over to him. "Do you mind?" I said to Gordon. He helped me get him sitting on his knees. I place my hands on his shoulders as I said, "Riddle me this, Alastor. What kind of hate runs through the veins between two lovers?"
He couldn't answer because he didn't get it. "Bad Blood." I said, "I looked up to you as a teacher, Mr. Harrison. I've never thought of you that way. You doing this to me made me hate you, but I'm willing to forgive you. Because you helped me figure out who kidnapped Hanna."
"But I've never told you anything about him before."
"Actually you did. You just didn't know it. Goodbye Mr. Harrison."
I took my stuff and we've finally left the Dark Room. "When did you got into riddles?" asked Edward.
"I thought of you while I was trapped in there." I said, "Next thing I knew I was coming up riddles."
