My Ginger Maniac

Curious Insanity

"I still think this is a shitty idea."  Lauren said, staring up at the Arkham gates with disgust on her face. I just rolled my eyes.

"Of course you think this is a shitty idea. You think everything's a shitty idea." I sighed and we sat in silence for a little while, staring up at the gates. After a while, I finally spoke.

"Just stay here, and when I come out, have the car running, okay?" With that I got out of the car and closed the door, making sure not to slam it. Lauren was one of those people who if you slammed the car door she'd
1. Be upset that you slammed the door and
2. Think you're mad at her and get all pissy about everything.

I slowly walked up to the gates of Arkham, taking a deep breath before walking inside to find the main entrance.

It was dark and grim inside, even in the main office, the waiting room, where there was only one, dimly lit lightbulb as the source of light, and that made the room look even grimmer.

I ignored everyone else in the waiting aisle and I walked up right to the front desk, looking at the lady there who I'd seen not even a week before.

"I'd like to see an inmate." I said, trying to sound as sophisticated as I could. The lady didn't even look up from her computer.

"And you are?" Her voice was like the sound of nails scraping a chalkboard, and just hearing it made me angry and frustrated.

"Reyna Night." I said, sighing. She then looked up at me, frowning.

"Are you over eighteen?"
"Yes."
"Does your father know you're here?"
"I hope not."
"Should I call him?"
"If you want to be a snitch."

I stared her down and kept going back and forth like this for at least ten minutes, getting anxious now. 

"Which inmate?" She said, sighing in defeat.

"Jerome Valeska."

When she finally let me in she did it without a word, just unlocking the door with a buzz.

"Cell 38." She said quietly.  "I'll have one of my assistants take you there." 
I nodded in silent thanks and then walked to the main room with all the tables, where I was the other day with my father.  One of the assistants came up to me and led me to Jerome's room. They told me to wait outside while they walked inside to go get him. I patiently did.

It took a few minutes, but eventually the lady came out and led me to another room, where Jerome was, except we were separated by a glass.

"Alright. Press this button when you want to leave and if things seem to get too rough we'll pull you out ourselves.  Understand?" The lady stared down at me with sincerity and I just nodded, sitting down in front of the glass frame.

And there he was, sitting across from me. That blue eyed, ginger haired bundle of insanity, smiling at me. Though it wasn't a warm smile. It was filled with insanity, filled with evil, filled with danger.

And it was so goddamn attractive.

"Hey there, princess.  What did ya come back here for?" He asked, speaking in a tone most would not enjoy.

"I came back to see you."
"See me?! Oh, you shouldn't have.  Well, I'm not all that interesting, doll. Maybe you'd find an interest in another inmate."

I just shook my head, glaring.

"No. You. Why'd you first talk to me when you saw me? Hm? And how do you know who I am? How do all these people know who I am?" I started asking questions quickly, as if I was put in rapid fire mode.  He just started laughing.

"Woah, hey, calm down, doll. Too many questions."

"There isn't such a thing as too many questions." As I said that, Jerome smirked at me and leaned forwards, closer to the glass.

"Ooh, there it is. The daughter of a GCPD officer. Natural instinct to ask lots of questions, eh? Like an interrogation?" I snarled and just stared him down.

"He's my adopted father. If you were smart enough, you'd realize those numbers don't add up." I said, glaring. "And I'm nothing like my father. So don't go there." Jerome just laughed again, nodding, and he leaned back.

"Look, sweets, I'm just gonna tell you the basics. You're famous around here.  Well, your father's famous, rather.  And people here just loovve your daddy." He said, his voice filled with sarcasm.  "Most of 'em want revenge. And what's the best way to get revenge on a loving father? Capture daddy's little girl." He leaned in and stared right into my eyes.  "Lot's of em here are just itching to capture you, doll." He leaned close so his face was almost pressing against the glass, close to mine. "Scared?"

I paused. I was many things; anxious, curious, furious, defensive.. But I was not scared.

"No. No way." I said, leaning back, looking relaxed. Jerome did the same, looking slightly.. Impressed?

"Gotta hand it to ya, doll. The normals would've run outta here five minutes ago. And yet you're still here." 

"So I am." If Jerome wanted to play this little game, I was down. I didn't back away easily; I wasn't scared of much.  My fears were limited, and they certainly did not include the ginger haired boy sitting across from me.

"Why are you still here? I told you what you wanted, didn't I?" I smirked and stared at him from afar.

"Maybe I find you interesting."
"Oh, doll, everyone finds the insane interesting. The real question is, is it a good sort of interesting?"

I paused again, trying to think of an acceptable answer. When I finally came up with one, I leaned forwards.

"Guess it just depends on how insane I am." I then pressed the buzzer, and before he could reply, the aid came in and brought me out of the room.

The question still hung there in the air, surrounding the both of us, no matter how far apart we were.

Was I truly insane?