"So, matricide." Albany opened his eyelid with a finger and shone a light into his eye. "What did Mommy do that was so bad?" she let go of the eyelid. "Not much of a talker, are you?" she made a note of her observations. "Well, what you lack for in speech you sure do make up with dreams. Is that your doing or am I finally cracking up? I've heard people sometimes have dreams about a book or a film they have recently seen. But I'm pretty sure my research wouldn't result in me dreaming about you every night," she laughed. She reached up and replaced the drip which stood next to the table, then looked back at him. "Hey, don't flatter yourself they're not those kind of dreams."
Albany flicked through the file and munched on her dinner. She had pulled out her research on matricide in an effort to determine Jerome's motives. The medical records from Arkham had made a note that during the initial assessment. He had mentioned some kind of abuse between his mother and him. Although at that time it was unclear if it was a joint effort of abuse between the two, or if one of them was abusing the other. She had decided on the latter, the abuser being his mother. It didn't surprise her. She had heard many horror stories about individuals who travel with circuses or sideshows. The performers at Haly's circus were close knit, a family. She had found information to suggest the performers knew of Lila Valeska's death, but covered it up to protect Jerome. Whether this was completely true or not, she didn't know.
She began to wonder about Jerome's mental state. What would he be like upon his awakening? It may be possible that he would remember everything, only some things or even nothing. From other clinical trials she had participated in the results seemed to be a mixture of the three. Some patients were responsive and alert as soon as they awoke. Others not so much and many never woke up despite the appearance of a heartbeat and pulse. That was why she always talked to her patients. Many doctors believed the patients couldn't hear anything until they awoke. But Albany had read many papers on comatose individuals who could hear and even respond to questions. She hoped this would be the case with her current patient. The more she learnt about him, the more intrigued she became.
The sound of a faint heartbeat met her ears. She opened her eyes to find herself looking upon Gotham out of an unfamiliar window. Immediately, her nose was hit with the distinct smell of cigarettes. She felt a presence of another. Before she was able to turn around, she felt two arms wrap around her waist from behind.
"Hey doll..." a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
She turned her neck a little in an attempt to see the figure. She froze when she felt small butterfly kisses on her neck. It was clear it was this individual who was the cause of the cigarette smell.
The figure span her around to face him. His features darkened to a point they couldn't be seen.
"Jerome?"
The figure smiled, then disappeared in a blink of an eye.
Albany looked around at the apartment. It was messy and looked as if it hadn't been lived in for a while.
A sound came from opposite her.
She looked over to the door handle, it was shaking. She placed her hand on the moving item.
The door flew open.
Her father stood in the doorway.
Albany's eyes shot open. She looked over at the clock. It was still early, but she couldn't sleep any more, not after that dream."Maybe I will be visiting Arkham after all."