A Storm Rising

Chapter 18

Nygma 

"Is he going to be okay?" Gordon asked me at the hospital. I was in the waiting room picking through magazines laying on the table. 

"He should be," I responded looking to him. "Once they figure out what happened anyways."

"Who is the Riddler?" Was his next question almost cutting off my last comment. 

I blinked and just shrugged, " Honestly I don't know. Probably something the drug made him visualize I am assuming." 

Jim nodded. "Well you don't need to stay. I am going home."

"I will head out in a bit, I am curious on what kind of drug he was injected with." 

After Jim left, I went to his room just staring in the windows at the Doctors with him.

Oswald 

The doctor told me that whatever drug I had been injected with caused a fear induced psychosis. They were unsure how to help me.

Even after the effects of the drug wore off, I still saw the dead bodies of my loved ones behind closed eyelids. 

Sleeping at this point was damn near impossible. So the doctor's choice was to sedate me. It relaxed me a bit, but the nightmares still came. I would awaken with a cold sweat dripping down my face, scanning nervously around. A few times, I even saw the Riddler standing over my bed with that kitchen knife and crazed smile. I put up my hands to shield myself from the abuse.

When the doctor left the room, Nygma or Gabe would come and watch over me. Gordon even checked up on me on a few occasions. I was not sure why, but I as much as I hated it, he saved my life this time. Now, I owe him.

I can only imagine the hell I was putting Nygma through right now. I mean my nightmares were haunted with visions of his Riddler persona brutally murdering everyone close to me. Even still, he stayed beside me through it all.

When I was feeling a bit better, I sat down with Gordon, Nygma, and a GCPD sketch artist and told them everything I could remember of that night, but without a name to go off of the case could go cold really quick.

Nygma 

I had not slept at all while Oswald was in the hospital. I stayed there in the waiting room only disappearing when Gordon was there so I wouldn't get questioned further from him about my relationship with Oswald. 

I felt terrible after listening to him and the doctors, learning that it was me that he was terrified of. Well, the Riddler but he was still me. The voice however thought it was the highlight of my life, but of course he fed on fear. 

I drank a cup of coffee as we sat with the sketch artist. I was exhausted and looked the part. The drug this man used on Oswald fascinated me though, it purposely induced fear on people. I would definitely have to look into this more. 

Gordon and I left the office when the artist was finishing up with Oswald and Jim looked to me. "You need to go home Ed." He stated turning to me. 

I shook my head, "I am fine."

I was extremely grateful he was able to save Oswald. Words couldn't describe it, I had been so scared. I extended my hand to Jim. 

"Thank you so much Detective." I nodded. 

"No problem," he nodded taking my hand and shaking it. "Anytime," he smiled to me patting my shoulder firmly before walking off. 

I wondered if my speech from that night affected him in some way. I admit I made it out of anger but it still stood true.