MANIACS || Gotham³

Verisimilitude

[No Man's Land - Day 97]

Everything was blurry. But she remembered being in this exact place - The rooftop on that cloudy day, with a bullet lodged in her shoulder, again staring at his beautiful green eyes. It was impossible to forget them. A glint of mischievousness shined in them, making her realize what was happening. The nightmare had returned. She became misty-eyed, a sniffle struggling at her nostrils. "Don't." The words like a script to her. Her head shook violently, lips quivering helplessly. He wanted to do this. "Please, don't."

But he didn't listen. "Bombs away!"

Another shot came. As if practiced, Reese gasped, feeling fresh blood splatter on her face. She looked at him, the bullet wound ingrained at the core of his stomach. His throaty groans made her shudder inside, tears streamed down her cheeks. He began to lose his balance. "Funny." He breathed and connected gazes with his distressed girlfriend.

But then something changed. He smirked. "Gonna help me, or just stare?" Reese became breathless at his attacking words as she glanced beside her. James Gordon stood there, no emotion on his face, with the gun still pointed at the culprit - Frozen in time. He wasn't moving or saying anything. She turned back to the grinning Jerome, clueless as to what was happening. "You coming home or what?"

"W-What?" Reese blinked with confusion.

The ginger tilted his head to the side, shaking it disappointed. "I guess not." He mockingly began stumbling back. "Uh-oh."

Her eyes widened. "Wait!" She screamed and lunged forward, reaching to grab his hands. This time, their hands gripped each other. He felt lightweight, even his mass was nonexistent now.

Jerome breathed weakly, smiling. "Baby doll, you got me."

"Yeah... always." She nodded, forgetting about the reality. This was not real but the ability of  being able to see him one more time felt incredible.

"I love you." He responded, squeezing her hand.

Her eyes burned with tears. "I love you too. Please come down." Reese whimpered.

His eyes softened. "I chose this. I can't."

"Y-You can! You can!" She screamed hysterically.

There was a small moment of silence. "I'm sorry."

"No..." She whispered. Gravity seemed to return and she felt his weight tug her forward as he began falling backward. Instead of letting him go, her hands only gripped his tighter and soon, she was yanked over the edge with him. His laughter rang in her ears as the once-known dynamic duo fell to their death. It went in slow motion, their eyes connecting - He was having the time of his life freefalling, but she was filled with dread. An intense feeling gripped her chest and squeezed, the rooftop of the vehicle coming closer and closer. She shut her eyes.

The impact came soon.

"Reese?"

Her eyes opened, she was standing once again in the blue-hued tunnel. Jeremiah Valeska was standing before her, talking to his workers about persistence. In the background was standing his very much alive brother, smirking cockily. He pointed at something behind her, his eyes glossed with expectancy. When the brunette turned to see, Selina Kyle, who was dressed as Ecco jabbed the knife into the man's stomach, thrusting in and out repeatedly. Without Reese intervening, the weapons slashed her throat and once again she fell to her knees, gasping holding her throat. Her vision becoming blurry. Instead of looking at Jeremiah, she looked at Jerome, who was now walking toward her.

"Wake up, Reese."

"Reese, honey, wake up." The person's voice slithered quietly through the air with the smoothest tone.