AN: Okay so this chapter I have had written for a WHILE. The idea was there for a bit and then I decided that it would just work really well. This chapter does involve torture and it's the first time I have ever written a torture scene. So be wary! Please review! Enjoy!

Playlist:

Within Temptation-What Have You Done

A Perfect Cirlce-Pet

Bullet For My Valentine-Breaking Point

Evanescence-Sweet Sacrifice

Chapter 16

Isabelle backed up.

"You've been lying to me," Miss Mooney wagged her finger and tsked as she walked towards Isabelle.

Isabelle kept her mouth shut.

"You were seen with Oswald Cobblepot. On his very arm as he revealed himself. Why would that be?"

Isabelle was quiet. Butch Gilzean had shown up with some of Mooney's men at Barbara's apartment and taken her back to Mooney's, leaving Barbara alone with Butch. Barbara had pleaded with them to leave Isabelle alone only for her words to fall on deaf ears.

"Now imagine my surprise when I found out he was back and then when I found out just this morning that my favorite employee is his girlfriend. How about that?" She practically hissed the last few words.

Mooney was in her face now. "Hmmmm? No answer?"

Isabelle reared back after Mooney smacked her hard across the cheek.

Mooney grabbed her roughly by her chin, her long nails scratching her cheek. "Tell me why?" she ordered, letting go of her chin.

"I…I met Oswald after Gordon supposedly killed him. He saved me from two of Falcone's lackeys, although I didn't know who they were until he beat it out of one of them. They said Falcone sent them to get me but they didn't say why. Oswald told me you were close with Falcone so I thought I could learn why Falcone wanted me if I worked for you," she admitted quickly, but omitted the part about spying for Oswald.

Mooney crossed her arms.

"I didn't tell anyone anything, I swear. I don't know anything," Isabelle said, panic starting to show in her voice.

"You see I don't believe you. I think you've been spying for your little Penguin."

"That is not his name," Isabelle braved.

"Oh you don't like it either?" Isabelle watched as Mooney's eyes brightened menacingly. "Well I'm in a bit of a predicament and I think I just realized how to solve it. You see Falcone knows you work for me and he knows that I know he was interested in you and what you've been up to and well now that we know you're with Oswald he can't use you anymore. But I still have to show my loyalty to him and he wants you punished and for me to do it. I have the perfect idea," she grinned. "Boys, follow me."

Mooney led the men holding a struggling Isabelle down a hallway and to a room. Mooney unlocked a door at the end of the hall. "Bring her in here and hold her down."

"Wha-what!?" Isabelle asked panicking as the men roughly carried her in to the empty room where Mooney told them to. "Please Miss Mooney don't kill me!" she begged. "Please!" She kicked her legs, flashing back to when Falcone's lackeys had kidnapped her, as she tried to get out of Mooney's men's grasps but they held her down firmly.

"Oh I won't kill you." Miss Mooney said as she swung a heel clad foot over Isabelle splayed out on the hard floor and kneeled down over her. "I'm just going to send a message to Oswald about what he's up against and perhaps you'll learn to stay away from him and all of this if you know what's good for you. You're a good girl Isabelle," she added, feigning as if she was going to regret what she was about to do.

"For the most part." Isabelle's eyes widened when someone handed Mooney a blade. "You don't like the name Penguin and neither does Oswald. I've thought of the perfect way to send him a message."

Isabelle watched as Mooney leaned down over her and brought the knife to her left forearm, cutting the sleeve of her uniform. Isabelle clenched her teeth as the tip of the blade cut into her skin.

Mooney leaned back after a moment. "Such a pity, you're so young," Mooney said, dragging the now blood-covered tip of the blade across Isabelle's cheek, smearing the blood. "And you have such soft, pretty skin. Oh well, I don't half-ass my work dear in fact it's guaranteed, you'll have scars to show for this," she said before focusing back on Isabelle's forearm.

Isabelle managed to keep quiet as Mooney continued to carve into her arm. She couldn't keep the tears from slipping out of her eyes and rolling down the sides of her face. When she thought she was going to bite her tongue off she let out a scream, causing Mooney to stop.

Mooney smiled down at her, looking like a snake that had just captured her prey. "That's it dear, feel free to express yourself. No one can hear you but us."

Isabelle cursed herself, she hadn't wanted to give Mooney the satisfaction of hearing her voice her pain. Now that she had though, she didn't hold back as Mooney cut deeper into her skin. Isabelle could feel the warm blood dripping down her arm but she refused to look at the damage.

After what felt like ages Mooney sat up again. "Would you like to see my work?" she asked Isabelle. Not waiting for an answer she picked up Isabelle's arm, the motion eliciting a groan of pain from Isabelle, to show her. "Oh sweetie can you not see through your tears? Hand me a tissue," she ordered someone.

When she had the tissue she dabbed at Isabelle's eyes. "There now that's better."

Isabelle could see droplets of blood running from the cuts in her arm as they ran together like little streams until they met up at her elbow in one, slowly dripping onto the floor. The word "Penguin" was carved into her arm and she couldn't hold back the sob that left her.

Mooney dropped her arm, causing another wince of pain to come to Isabelle's face.

"Are…are you going to let me go now?" Isabelle sobbed.

Mooney smiled. "Oh no, I'm not quite done with you yet. There are a few more places I'd like to leave my mark at on you. Or should I say Penguin's mark? Hmmm, well there are seven letters in Penguin so I think I'll put it on your pretty skin seven times. How does that sound?"

When Isabelle didn't respond Mooney chuckled and yanked open Isabelle's blazer, sending buttons flying. She pushed Isabelle's shirt up her stomach and immediately went to work. Isabelle felt the blade pressing into her hip and the start of the uppercase P. Mooney delighted as Isabelle screamed and struggled against Mooney and the men holding her down. Isabelle quickly realized this only made the pain worse and stilled herself. She wasn't going to get out of this. She'd have to bare it but she would get through it. She kept trying to keep that thought over the pain and the sound of her own screaming as well as the pounding of her heart in her ears.

She would get through this and she would tell no one if she could. Another thought occurred to her. She couldn't tell Oswald if she could prevent it. That's exactly what Mooney wanted, not to just teach him a lesson but to incur his anger, to get him to let his feelings for Isabelle blind him into seeking his revenge and, his feelings clouding his judgment, make a rash decision. She wanted him to make a mistake, to do something stupid. Isabelle was not going to let that happen she decided as she screamed through gritted teeth. Mooney could torture her, make her bleed and scream but she wasn't going to get what she wanted.

When Mooney was done with her hip she moved on to the top of her right thigh, then to the inside of her left calf, the outer side of her right foot. She took her time, wanting to get the letters just right and drawing out the torture. By the time Mooney had her men turn Isabelle over so she was on her stomach Isabelle was only half-there. Her sobs still escaping passed her lips but she was barely aware she was still doing so. Mooney wasn't happy with that so she proceeded to press the knife deeper as she started on Isabelle's back, getting the screams she wanted. "That's right dear," Mooney said, "Can't have you blacking out on me. You need to be awake for this; otherwise my lesson may not sink in."

Isabelle didn't respond, only sobbing harder.

Mooney had her turned back on her back, Isabelle screaming as her cut flesh met the hard floor.

"Just one more sweetheart," Mooney crooned as she cut halfway down Isabelle's shirt with the blade. "I'll put Penguin right over your heart, so you can hold him close," she grinned, looking as calm as someone who was relaxing, not maniacal like Isabelle expected.

Isabelle's vision was blurring, how was it possible for this one to be the most painful. The rest of her body felt numb with pain and her throat ached as she screamed for what felt like the millionth time.

Finally Mooney stood, dropping the blade with a clatter onto the floor. Her hands were covered in blood but she placed them on her hips. "Okay boys; drop her off at the police station for her uncle to find her."