Author's Note: So, since my word processer is being a little bit of a 'tard, it looks like one of the reviewers from Chapter Two didn't get their name in there :( so, thank you so much . for the review!
And thanks to vanillaninja2032 for the review that I got literally as I updated DX sorry dear!
NinjaPoke: Dear sweet baby Jesus in a hand basket, tell your friend I'm going to borrow that comment for a future fluff chapter! That had me rolling in my chair!
Disclaimer: Yeah yeah, anyone getting tired of writing this? Lord…you know I don't own a damn thing…
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Chapter Four: Nightmares, Needles, and Nothingness
It was dark when Cecily opened her eyes, and the only light came from a yellow street lamp outside the window. Her head ached less now, the only real pain she felt was the deep aching in her chest. 'Did I have a panic attack?' She began to stretch her legs and arms, relishing in the popping her joints made. Slowly sitting up, Cecily noticed that Dr Crane wasn't anywhere to be found. She contemplated going to find him, but a wave of discomfort hit her lower stomach; bathroom first, then boys.
There were two doors, one she assumed led outside, the other she hoped was a bathroom. Slowly getting to her feet, she padded softly on the cold concrete into the bathroom. It was all white, but the slight dust and grime in the grout made it seem greyer. After relieving herself, she washed her hands and walked back. As she opened the door, she almost ran smack into the chest of Jonathan.
"Oh my, did I startle you?" His tone was that of an older sibling who had just pulled a nasty prank. Cecil slowly sank to her knees, looking up at him with a mixture of fear, anxiety, and curiosity.
"I'm sorry." She didn't know why she was apologizing, but she blurted it out before thinking. Jonathan smiled down on her darkly, slowly getting into a crouching position.
"Now, why are you sorry child?" He looked over his glasses at her, slightly amused. "Have you done something you shouldn't have?" Cecily shook her head, feeling like a cornered bird facing off against a cat. Jonathan's demeanor changed, and suddenly he was clipped and cool. "Then I think it's time to get off the floor." With that, he stood and offered her a hand. Cecily, not wanting for that hand to hit her, grabbed it gently and was hoisted up.
"Thank you…" Still as timid as ever, she was conflicted over what to feel for this man. His alter ego had tried to kill her, and now he acted as if he wanted to help.
"Now, I think it's time for some ground rules." He sat at the desk, and Cecily took her seat on the bed. "First, you are not to leave this warehouse unless with me. None of my henchmen will be allowed to take you anywhere, talk to you, or interact with you unless directed by me." Cecily nodded, and Jonathan gave a curt nod back. "Second, if I or Scarecrow instruct you to do something, you do it. No arguing, no back talk." He gave her a stern look, and she shrunk into herself. "Third, if you need anything from outside, ask only if I am not busy or it is an emergency. I don't want you coming to me every thirty seconds asking for things." He folded his arms and looked at her over his glasses. "Do I make myself clear, child?" Cecily nodded quickly, not wanting to invoke a beating. Jonathan smiled. "Good. Now, it's late and you have things to do tomorrow. So I'm going to sedate you so you can sleep." He pulled out a box from his jacket pocket and lifted out a hypodermic needle.
Cecily froze. As he started walking towards her, she backed herself into the corner, digging her feet into the blankets and pressing herself into the wall.
"No…no…no!" She was crying by now, looking at the needle with wide eyes. Jonathan rolled his eyes and crawled onto the bed.
"Calm down. It's a sedative." He reached for her with his free hand, and she screamed, thrashing her head. Jonathan growled and swiftly grabbed her by the waist. She screamed harder, thrashing against him until he got a grip on her whole upper body. He plunged the needle into her arm, depressing it quickly and waited for her body to go limp.
"No….please…no…" Her voice was getting weak, and she slumped against him. Jonathan laid her back on the bed, brushing her hair from her face. Her eyes moved rapidly behind her lids, signaling sleep. He sighed, tired and mentally exhausted.
'I'd stay here. Maybe she'll have a delicious nightmare for us, hmm?' Jonathan sighed at the obvious sexuality in Scarecrow's voice, and stood up to remove his jacket.
'That would be interesting…' He slipped off his shoes and crawled in the bed, taking the side closest to the floor so she couldn't escape. As he closed his eyes, he heard her mumble in her sleep.
"Gramma…"
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A ten-year-old Cecily was walking home from school. The sun beat down on her like the parent of a redheaded stepchild. This part of Gothem was nice, the typical suburban city life with low fences and gardens. She and her grandmother lived in a buttercup yellow house with a white picket fence and daisies in the garden. As she walked inside, her grandmother was packing up her purse.
"Dear, I have to go to a town hall meeting, so you're going to Jackie's house." Her smile was kind, and Cecily nodded and rushed up the stairs to drop off her things. When she came back down, her grandmother was walking out the door. She turned and hugged her, her big soft arms cradling Cecily like clouds.
"Be safe for Granny, ok?" Cecily smiled, showing off the gap in her mouth.
"I always am!" Her grandmother kissed her head and walked out the door. Cecily wasn't far behind, locking the door, and skipping off down the street to her friend Jackie's house.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and Cecily was frightened. She ran up to Jackie's front door, which was ajar. The wood around the doorknob was splintered and cracked, and Cecily noticed there was mud going inside the house.
"Jackie's mommy doesn't like mud…" she thought as she opened the door. It was quiet, no lights, no T.V., no parents. The trail of mud led upstairs where Jackie's room was. Cecily thought that maybe Jackie could have gotten dirty playing outside with her little brother and ran inside to change. In the back of her mind, however, something told her she was wrong. She climbed the stairs, and as she climbed, she thought she heard the sound of crying.
At the top of the stairs, she looked into Jackie's room where there was a man holding Jackie down on the bed. Jackie was bleeding from under her skirt, and Cecily let out a gasp. The man turned sharply, looking at Cecily through a ski mask.
"Another one?" His voice was rough, like he ate cigarettes. "Guess I'll get to have more fun…" He let go of Jackie, and Cecily saw how her body just fell to the ground.
"J-J-Jackie?" The man grabbed her by the hair and lifted her up off the ground, and Cecily screamed.
"Scream all you want little cunt, no one can hear you." With that he ripped her dress and underwear off, let himself out of his pants, and Cecily saw he was covered in blood. "I'm going to have so much fun."
"Cecily!" His voice broke her out of the nightmare, a scream still coming out of her mouth, cheeks wet with tears. Jonathan was leaning over her, one side of his cheek was red, and he was shaking her shoulders. "Cecily, it was a nightmare, alright? Can you hear me?" She nodded, trying to slow her breathing and her heart. He sighed, slightly relieved. "You were thrashing so hard you hit me." She looked away.
"I'm sorry." He laughed.
"Don't worry. It was a nightmare. I get it." She nodded, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She felt him let go of her and get off the bed. She watched him walk into the bathroom, heard the facet run and shut off, and him emerge with a glass of water. She realized just then how thirsty she was, and how long it had been since she'd had anything to eat. She greedily took the water from him, drinking it as fast as she could. "Slow down or you'll choke." He reprimanded, and she slowed. When the glass was empty, she let out the breath she didn't know she was holing in.
"Thank you Doctor Crane." He took the glass from her.
"Please, call me Jonathan." He looked back over his shoulder, a wicked smile on his face. "Since we're going to be spending the rest of your life together, why be formal?"
Cecily tensed, realizing just what he had meant. '"Rest of my life?" What did he mean by that?' Her heart quickened as it dawned on her; Jonathan Crane wasn't intending on letting her go, or letting her live.
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The rest of the day was spent in a world of nothingness; nothing spoken, no talking, no eye contact. Jonathan spent the whole day in the "chemical room" working on toxins, and Cecily tried to read away her fears. He had left her in what could be called the Living room, where a small T.V., bookshelf, and couch were the only things in there besides the tiny woman. She negated the T.V. simply because there was no History Channel, only news. Instead she read the book of poetry as think as her waist. Robert Frost seemed to be quite popular with the authors of this book, because he was in every category.
It had been hours since anyone had come in the room to check on her, and the eerie silence was making her nervous. She nibbled at the crackers laying on the arm of the couch, and took a sip of her water. Just as she was getting into a piece of poetry, a loud bang rocked the warehouse. She jumped up, gripping the book to her chest. Cecily listened to the pounding of feet, then slowly the screams hit her ears. Men were screaming like small children, and the pounding feet got closer to her door. She shrunk back into the couch, looking at the door.
It flew open, depositing a masked Scarecrow, and slammed shut. He leaned against the door, cackling like mad, and breathing hard. He looked up at her, body still shaking with laughter.
"Oops." She let out her held breath, smiling nervously.
"Are you ok, Mr. Scarecrow?" Scarecrow stopped laughing abruptly, cocked his head to one side, and resumed laughing harder.
""Mr. Scarecrow?" That's ridiculous!" His laughter was loud and hard, and seemed to last forever, but when he stopped, he seemed to be looking into her soul. "Call me Scarecrow toots." And with that, the Doctor was in the building.
Taking off his mask, Jonathan sighed tiredly. He looked at Cecily quickly before putting on his glasses.
"Come on. Time to get to work." He opened the door, and waited for her. She shifted from foot to foot, looking down at the book.
"Um, may I take this with?" She looked up at him shyly through her bangs. He extended his hand out to her with a sigh.
"Yes yes, of course. Just hurry; we need to find you suitable clothes." She smiled and walked quickly over to the door, and tried not to jump as his arm was placed on the small of her back. He led her back into the room with the bed-which she guessed was his room- and over to the closet. After searching for a few minutes, he pulled out a white tank top, black cardigan, and khaki pants.
"They're going to be big on you, but they'll work until I get the payment. Then you'll get fitting clothes." He handed them to her, and ushered her to the bathroom door. "There's a towel in there, along with cleansing supplies." He glanced at his watch. "We're leaving in 45 minutes." And with that, he was gone.
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AN/: Ehh, in my opinion that chapter could have been a little better, but I'm saving a little excitement for chapter five, when we see the romance starting to really kick off. This was a filler chapter, because I needed to introduce her real fear towards men. So..meh.
Review pelase!
