"Where is she?" Crane demanded as he slammed the door open.
"How the hell should I know, I've been in here with you!" I yelled back, not understanding what was going on myself. He grabbed the chair he had been occupying and threw it against the wall. Hard, so hard it shattered into wooden splinters and I couldn't help but jump at the sudden sound. What was worse was the silence after.
He paced back and forth in front of me as I stayed on the floor staring up at him with wide eyes. He was running fingers through his dark hair before he turned back to me.
"Jessica, you are testing my patience." He growled. I tried my best to look innocent, but I finally clicked onto what Ellie had done.
"I've been in here with you, how would I know what goes on in the other room?" I tried to keep the smile off my face but I couldn't hide it in my voice. I couldn't hide the small quiver in it either.
He growled at me again, knowing I was lying somehow. He just couldn't figure out how. And I think that's what angered him the most.
He grabbed me by my arm and forced me upright to my feet, dragging me through the door and back to the first room we had been in. I wasn't surprised at what I was greeted with. The mattress had been pulled and pushed against the wall, the window pushed open and a pleasant breeze blowing in. Ellie faked fainting so she could escape, not bad little sister. No bad at all.
But for fucks sake. She could have at least closed the window. I raised her better than that.
"Now Jessica. Your sister is a cute little princess, but I would wager she wasn't gifted with brains. Not like yours anyway." He mocked. Still holding onto me he turned me to face him and I couldn't help the smile that was plastered on my face.
"So, I don't think she came up with her little plan by herself." He was staring deep into my eyes, so I returned his glare as I spoke.
"That's what you think, that's what every ass hole thinks when they see a pretty little blonde girl. She faked fainting, so she could get enough time alone to get out of here and you fell for it. Hook, line and sinker. I didn't even know." I laughed as his jaw set and I carried on. Knowing now I was poking the bear.
"Your first mistake was underestimating us, underestimating her. And the worst thing is, you've been wasting your time with me for so long Batman's probably already on his way. How fast does the Batmobile go do you think?" I asked laughing.
He roared in anger. Grabbing onto me with both hands now and slammed me into the nearest wall, my head slamming into the concrete.
"This feels like déjà vu, isn't this how we met?" He asked a smirk on his face, but I could see his teeth grinding together in frustration. There was anger boiling underneath, dangerously close to erupting.
And I was in the danger zone.
"Oh, you remember." I left out the 'You mean when you broke into my apartment, which went off without a hitch also… how's the foot? Hope I didn't slam that door on it too hard.'
"I remember Jessica, I was hoping we could pick up where we left off, now that we're alone at last." He said stepping closer to me which pushed me into fight or flight mode. I struggled as he pinned my arms beside my head.
"I do like it when you struggle." He whispered his teeth grazing my ear, I wasn't all too sure he wouldn't do a Mike Tyson on me and bite it off. He pushed up further against me, his body touching mine in places I wish they wouldn't.
I could feel myself shaking in fear but mostly out of anger, how dare he think he can just force himself on me. I fought against him still, not willing to give in without fighting with every molecule of me, even if it meant dying.
He buried his face into my neck and taking a deep smell, I could feel his chest filling with it. Then suddenly he sunk his teeth into my throat.
"Get the fuck off of me!" I screamed trying to buck him off with my hips.
"Someone's beginning to enjoy it." He said letting go of one of my arms and forcing his lips onto mine. He didn't kiss like he meant it, he kissed as if he thought if he did it hard enough something would happen. Shake the vending machine plenty and free candy comes out. Not today sunshine, dream fucking on. With my arm now unrestrained I used the wall and I pushed him with every ounce of strength I still had. Back just enough for my leg to come up between his legs. Hard.
He doubled over and backed away, no doubt every man in Gotham would feel pity for the Scarecrow in this second but I won't lose sleep over it. I turned toward to door and began to run toward it when a strong hand gripped like iron onto my wrist.
I turned in horror, he was standing straight and didn't look at all in pain.
"You know, great advice from the Joker while he stayed with us in Arkham. Wearing a cup after one too many kicks from patients while I pumped them full of fear toxin. Don't worry I'll take it off when you can behave." He growled before he ripped me away from the door. And dragged me further into the room, I heard the thud of the mattress hit the concrete floor before I was thrown down onto it.
"Jessica Jessica Jessica." He tutted as he stared down at me.
I got up onto my elbows and tried to back away from him, my thigh protesting at the exertion. Still hurt from the needle slamming into it. But I would rather have a sore leg than no breath in my body. But I felt a hand on my ankle as the Scarecrow jerked me back. I landed on back with a thud and was dragged over back towards the mad man. I screamed as the Scarecrow straddled me. He was grinning down at me as I struggled, the smug bastard.
"Jessica, I'm starting to get the impression you don't wanna be here." He pouted as I kept struggling, but he wasn't able to keep the smirk fully off his face. There was something different about him, his eyes were wider, his smile more manic. I didn't feel as if this was the same Crane I had been dealing with earlier.
"I get the impression, you can't take a hint!" I screamed as I tried to buck him off again. But he only laughed manically.
He had more strength than me, it wasn't even a competition. I stopped struggling, best to save my energy for any opportunity, trying to get out from under him wasn't going to work.
"Stopping so soon?" He asked, his head tilting to the side. He grinned when I was silent, just glaring at him in silent protest. He grabbed my wrists and forced them above my head. I made myself remain still, even though I wanted to go full banshee mode and scream until his eyes popped out from his skull. He hovered above my face.
"How's the leg?" He asked, the question surprising me. I took a second too long to react, confused over the change in conversation. But by then he had both my wrists in one hand and the other snaking down my thigh.
I felt his hand squeeze my leg where the needle had been slammed in. Laughing when I screamed at the pain. Why did it hurt so badly? I tried to kick my legs, to get them out of his grip. But he held on.
"That's right Jessica. SCREAM!" He yelled over my screaming, manically laughing when tears erupted from my eyes.
"You son of a bitch!" I spat back at him through my tears, but he only smiled.
"Oh Jessica. You have no idea." He whispered, his face coming close to mine. "Now where were we before?" His lips came dangerously close to mine. Barely a centimetre apart and I could feel his breath on my face.
"You were about to give my sister a shot of your poison. How did that go again?" I asked, I would rather piss him off than kiss him. I thought it had worked when he smiled, baring his teeth.
"Funny Jessica."
"I'll give you one more chance Jessica. One more chance to tell me who the Batman is." The Scarecrow pushed himself slightly off me, looking down at face. But I kept my face looking to the door, not turning to meet his eyes.
I was hoping if I stared at it long enough someone, anyone, would burst through to save me. But it was all silence. Not a footstep, not a noise. Only the Scarecrow breathing heavily above me.
"How about you sleep on it?" He began to move away from me. As soon as my hands were released I used them to drag myself out from under him, moving fast despite my leg. Going back until I hit the wall.
I kept my eyes on him then, watching for a trick. Watching for a hand to reach out and grab my ankle. But he just stood up, dusting himself off and smirking at me.
"Sweet dreams Jessica." Brushing back his hair before he turned, leaving through the same door. The door closed gently, but I could hear the lock slide into place.
As soon as it did I turned to the wall, letting sobs out the sobs I had been holding in since this whole ordeal began. Now that they had begun I couldn't stop them, they just kept going. It was the fact I didn't want to be here, I shouldn't be here.
I wasn't involved with Bruce Wayne, I hardly even seen the man. We didn't say much apart from the occasional hello or small talk. So why am I going through so much pain just to save his skin?
But I knew, I would do anything for Ellie.
Even go through this. Because I loved her, more than I think I could ever love anything. She was my world. I raised her since she was a child even though I was one myself, I fed her in the night, changed her diapers, dressed her, burped her.
I taught her everything, how to walk, talk. We don't talk about potty training… those were dark times.
But I sacrificed my childhood, so she could have one. I didn't regret it, how could I? I loved her, and you do everything you can, everything in your power for the people you love.
I have sacrificed everything, so she could grow up.
Well… I thought I had sacrificed everything, but it seemed I had one more thing to give. My life.
I'm sacrificing the last thing I have, so she can be happy. I hope it's worth it. I hope she is happy. That's all I've ever wanted for her.
To be happy.
She would be okay without me, under all that softness, she has an iron centre. Under all the blonde curls and long eyelashes is a strong woman. That's how I raised her.
I know she would miss me, because I would miss her too.
But she would have to be okay without me. I knew she was safe right now, either with Batman or the police. I knew she had gotten help. Because she was strong, she was brave, she was resourceful and she had proved that today But this was just one abandoned building in a maze of them. And this was one small basements of hundreds. And I didn't have the time.
I don't think I'm ever leaving this basement.
I don't think the Scarecrow will let me live much longer.
I don't think Batman will get here in time.
I think it all ends here.