Chapter 20: Arkham Inmate D-171

It's the eleventh day of December, and while at work I heard a commotion going on in the main hall. It was so loud that I heard it all the way from the Annex Records room. I got up quickly and run to the main hall where I saw two officers arresting Edward. He shouted, "I DIDN'T DO IT! I DIDN'T KILL KRISTEN!"

Oh no, how did they find out?! "That's enough, Ed!" shouted Captain Barns as he stood in front of him, "We've got an anonymous tip and evidence that you killed Kristen Kringle."

"Captain Barns he didn't do it!" shouted Gordon, "Leslie got a call from Kristen long ago confirming that she ran away with Dougherty."

"That call was staged from the evidence we received, and we've found her body chopped up in a suitcase in the woods. Still think he didn't do it?"

Oh no, they're going to send him to prison. Bookworm staged this didn't he? I bet he's watching right now enjoying this. I have to do something. "Vital, you're not going to do what I think you're doing are you?" said Eryx in my mind.

"... I have to." I said.

"No, please you have to believe me!" Shouted Edward "I'm being set up!"

I didn't hesitate, I ran towards them as I shouted, "I DID IT!" Everyone froze as they all stared at me. "I-," I began, "I killed her."

"What?" said Captain Barnes, "Vital stop it. There's nothing you can do to protect him."

"You need to convince them that you did it, Vital." said Eryx, "You're getting nervous and about to breakdown. Switch with me, I can make it convincing."

"...Okay," I said in my mind, "Please we have to take the fall for him. We can't let Bookworm have the satisfaction."

Once we switch I fell asleep.

... (Eryx's Narrative)

I started laughing as I said, "Really Captian Barnes? Whoever tipped you off has given you false information. As for this so-called evidence, you received is all wrong. I am the one who killed Kristen Kringle and Tom Dougherty. To remind me of their deaths I kept Kringle's glasses, her diary, and Dougherty's badge."

"Why did you kill them?" He asked.

"Ha! Isn't it obvious?"

I walk over to Edward as I grab his chin, "I'm madly in love with him." I looked at Edward's shocked expression as I said, "You should have heard her scream, Edward. I enjoyed myself chopping her up into tiny pieces."

To make it authentic I forced a kiss upon his lips. "Get him off him!" shouted Captain Barnes and two other police officers Drag me away from Edward. I started laughing as I said, "They should have never even come near you, Edward! I killed them for you! I Killed Kristen so I can have you to myself!"

To give the officers a hard time, with my strength I flip both officers over as they hit the ground with their backs. The officers pulled out their guns and pointed them at me, including Captain Barns. He shouted, "Get down on the ground now!"

"Alright alright," I said with a smile as I held my hands up in the air and I slowly got on my knees, "Go ahead and arrest me if it makes you all feel safer."

Vital you owe me big time.

...

They kept me in the interrogation room for now with my wrists handcuffed to the table. When Captain Barns came in he place the evidence I have from Kristen and Dougherty on the table. I told them to go ahead and check my apartment to find the evidence. He sits down across from me as he said, "Mind explaining yourself why you killed them?"

"Well Dougherty was an asshole to Ed," I said, "Kristen decided to fall in love with him when she shouldn't. So besides killing her for that, I took her job so I can be closer to Ed."

"What about the other guy you killed in the woods?"

"I can't have someone walking around witnessing that I was burying Kristen's body."

"How long have you been infatuated with Nygma?"

"Who knows at least about a good year or two."

"You're insane."

"Ah, how rude! Well, actually though that may be true, but love can make you do a lot of crazy things. I just don't look crazy because of my charming good looks and bow tie. Bow ties are cool you know? You should get a bow tie."

He slams his hands on the table as he shouted, "I'm not playing games with you!"

"Really? Was that suppose to scare me, Captain Barns?" I couldn't help but laugh, "No no no, Captain Barns. That's not how to scare people. This is,"

I broke the chains that were attached to the table and quickly grab Captains Barns by the jacket as I yank him towards me over the table. Jim and Harvey came in here with their guns aimed at me. "Let him go kid!" shouted Harvey.

"Don't worry officers," I said so innocently, "I was only trying to scare him."

"Let him go, Vital." said Jim in a serious tone.

"Fine fine, I was only trying to have fun."

I shove Barns away as he stumbled back till he hit the wall. "Hands over your head," demanded Harvey. I did what he said as I thought to myself, 'it seems I'm going to be controlling this body for a while. Vital isn't going to wake up for a long time.'

...

They put me in the holding cell while they sign me up to go to Arkham. I was about to doze off while sitting on the bench until someone psst at me. I turn my head to see Edward Nygma behind me sitting on a stool. I sat sideways on the bench so I can face him partially. "What's up, Ed?" I said with a smirk.

"How can you be smiling like this, Eryx?" He said with a tone of annoyance, "Do you have any idea what you're putting Vital through? He's going to be sent to Arkham."

"Tch, I thought you'd be happy since you're the one who was accused first. You said nothing when Vital took the fall for you. Ha! Some friend you are."

"I would have said something if I didn't have a knife pressed against my hip. Bookworm set all of this up so one of us is sent to Arkham."

"Yup and all of a sudden everything turned into a Hunger Games scenario except we're not starving or trying to kill each other. Vital volunteered as tribute to take your place in Arkham."

"Mind if I speak to him?"

"To Vital? No can do, Ed. He can't handle this type of stress, and he breaks down real easy. He's better off sleeping while spending time in Arkham."

"Just bring him out for a moment," He demanded, "... I want to talk to him."

I furrow my brow in puzzlement as I came to a realization, "So he's not the only one who feels that way?"

Ed blushes a little as he adverted his eyes from me. I couldn't help but chuckle as I said, "That's funny. I guess I could wake him up." Even though I know he's going to be crying like a baby, but if he really can't handle his stress I'm going to have to pull him back in.

... (Vital's Narrative)

I open my eyes to only find myself in GCPD's holding cell. Oh no, it really happened didn't it? I thought I was only having a nightmare?!

"Vital?" said Edward who was sitting on a stool on the other side of the bars right beside me. When I saw him I couldn't help myself as I started crying. I turn my face away so he wouldn't see my tears. "Vital please look at me." He said.

"Edward," I said his name in such a broken tone. I didn't turn to face him, though, "I had to do it. Bookworm wants you to go to prison. I can't let that happen."

"They're not sending you to prison, Vital."

I was quiet when he said that. Don't tell me that they're going to send me where I think they're going to send me?

"They're going to put you in Arkham."

"... They find me insane?"

"That's the impression Eryx given them. He said he killed Kristen because you're in love with me."

I felt hot and sick when I heard him say that. I'm so embarrassed by the fact that that's the reason Eryx given them. "Is that true, Vital?" said Edward, "Do you have feelings for me?"

"..." I can't believe this is the only chance I'm able to admit my true feelings for him. Why did it have to be a troubling situation?

"Vital please look at me."

I hesitated to face him but I turned anyway as I look at him with eyes full of tears. I grip the cold bars as I tried to smile but it was broken. I chuckled but it didn't hold up to give either of our comforts. I said as I look at him in those sad brown eyes of his, "Yes I do... I..." I choked on my confession for a moment but I got back my voice again to finish it, "I care about you so much, Edward."

To my very surprise, Edward was getting teary-eyed himself. When one tear fell from his left eye he opened his mouth to say something but an officer slap a hand on his left shoulder startling him to look up at the officer. He gripped his jacket tightly as he roughly made him stand up from the stool and said, "What do you think you're doing, Nygma?! Come here!"

When he dragged him away another police officer opens the door of the holding cell. The officer who opened it was Ingram N. Kingor. He ordered me, "Stand up and place your hands behind your back."

"Where are you taking me?" I said.

"Arkham Asylum."

"Eryx?" I called out to him in my mind.

... (Eryx's Narrative)

When Vital and I switched I stopped crying and wipe away Vital's tears. I brought back my smug smile as I said to Officer Kingor, "Take me away then."

... (Edward's Narrative)

I was dragged away from Vital by the same officer who held a knife against me earlier when I was the one getting arrested. He brought me to the back outside of GCPD. He shoves me against a brick wall with his hands gripping my jacket as he said, "There's nothing you can do to stop this, Nygma. Bookworm did had plans for you, but since your bastard friend saved you from being sent to Arkham. Vital is the lucky winner to die along with the Sagittarius."

Vital is going to die?! Bookworm was planning to kill me off in Arkham?!

"What's the matter Nygma?" He said in a mocking tone, "Did I touch a nerve?"

"A nightmare for some, for others a savior I come, my hands cold and bleak, it's the warm hearts they seek," I said a riddle to him.

"What?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Having a problem, Ed?" said Detective Gordon when he came outside. "Officer Hanks, why are you bothering our Head Forensic's Scientist?"

"Found him talking with Vital Eryx, Detective," said Officer Hanks, "Thought it was suspicious."

"Let him go, or else I'll report harassment to the Captain."

Officer Hanks let go of my jacket as he walks back inside. I was left alone with Gordon giving me a stern look as he said, "I know Vital was your friend, but he was the one who killed your girlfriend."

"How could you even believe that?!" I snapped at him, "Bookworm set all of this up! He framed me for Kristen's murder and now Vital is taking the fall for it! He didn't do it, Jim!"

"If he didn't kill Kristen why would he confessed and have her stuff at his apartment? If Bookworm was really setting you both up he wouldn't say anything about her diary and glasses and Dougherty's police badge. Bookworm probably figured it out and put the blame on you just to see if Vital wouldn't let you take the fall for him. The one good thing Vital has done for GCPD is admitting his guilt."

I vent my anger as I kicked a trash can over violently as I shouted, "DAMMIT!"

"I'm sorry, Ed." said Gordon with empathy this time, "I knew you two were close friends."

I took a moment to calm down as I said, "I'm going home. I can't work right now, not after that this shit has happened."

"I understand."

I walk past him to get back inside the GCPD building and gather my stuff to go home. But before I walked out I went into the Annex Records room to see that Vital's stuff is still here. I made a decision to take them with me.

... (Eryx's Narrative)

While I was riding in the backseat of the police car my hands were handcuffed behind me, and I N. Kingor is in the driver's seat taking me to Arkham. Kingor said to me, "Bookworm says that you surprised him. He only wanted Edward to take the fall."

"So you're working for Bookworm huh?" I said, "Exactly how many of the GCPD officers are working for him?"

"About a good handful."

"Okay, so why are you working for him?"

"He pays us well."

"Alright, makes sense. Why does Bookworm bother sending Edward to Arkham?"

"To see if he can kill him and the Sagitarrius. But also giving you guys a chance to save the Sagitarrius. Hugo Strange has really gotten Arkham's security quite tight lately. So it will only be hard for you to try and save him if one of you isn't inside. Think you have what it takes, Vital?"

I couldn't help but laugh, "Are you kidding? Of course, I have what it takes. Bookworm is making a big mistake sending me to Arkham."

"Heh, we'll see."

The moment we arrived at Arkham they immediately gave me an inmate uniform and number. The number they gave me is D-171.