Between Stripes

T W E N T Y S I X

"Good evening, I'm Dr Lee Thompkins. For the past five years I've had the honor of being part of the Children's Hospital. Thank you for your support, and thank you so much for coming out tonight," she paused to smile some stupid smile. Her eyes darted down to the glass or sparkling champagne which was held in her hands.

"Over the years, we've had magicians come and entertain our children. And so tonight, we have one of the magicians here for you. Without further ado, please allow me to present to you the Great Rodolfo."

Galavan hadn't warned me how annoyingly motherly Lee Thompkins was. Which he should've done because it was just ever so slightly sickening. She somehow reminded me of my own mother, but a sweeter version.

Music and applause surrounded my senses. I rolled my eyes and sipped the drink which bubbled in front of me. It was fascinating. They went up, up, up and then vanished...

"Greetings, ladies and germs!" His voice shook me from the bubbles. I looked upwards to see my baby. On the stage. At home. "I am indeed the Great Rodolfo! Please ogle my lovely assistant."

Jerome smirked, throwing his arms in the air as a drumroll grew louder and louder. Good ol' Barbs slunk to Jerome's side. She wore a revealing outfit which was a poor cry for attention - albeit she looked incredibly gorgeous.

"For my first act, I'll require a volunteer! Let me see..." Jerome's eyes scanned the crowd. They met mine for a mere second before he found his target. My attention fell back to the glass in my hand.

"Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck...goose!"

"Go on, Master Bruce." A scratchy English voice was apparent somewhere nearby. I simply ignored it. I simply ignored everything. That was the plan for tonight. It wasn't too difficult either.

Everything seemed to be just a buzz around me. The drinks dulled my senses. There seemed to be an endless supply of them, coming at me from all directions. Slowly though. Occasionally, a small laugh escaped my mouth. Probably just the madness. It had seemed I'd caught a small case of it, like a cold.

"Here you go ma'am." Someone said placing another drink onto the table and taking my empty glass away.

The new cup was tall, thin and was filled with more of the bubbling liquid.

Smiling, I raised the glass to my lips and let the liquid seep past my lips. The bubbles tickled my throat and, well, everything was a blur after that...

It was all ever so strange. I could barely see straight. All noise was just a loud buzz in my ears. My head span. It seemed impossible to focus on just one thing. Time seemed to go quicker than usual. And all of this just maximised after each drink which Galavan handed me.

At one point he left my side to go somewhere - probably on to the stage. The strange sensation subsided a little, everything stopped spinning and I could see the blurry figures surrounding me. 

The sound of gunshots shook me out the daze. Spinning round I saw various people stood up all around the room; guns clenched between each of their palms. A sly grin grew onto my face. They provided such good entertainment for me, this was a totally new level of appeasing the customer.

"Drop the knife!" The commanding voice from years ago snatched my attention with a firm grip. Good ol' Jimmy was here. James Gordon. I longed to see the fear in his eyes again... or was it disgust?

An outburst of maniacal laughter followed the loud demand. Jerome, himself, was stood at the front of the room. One arm was wrapped around Bruce Wayne (billionaire baby boy) and the other held a deadly blade. It hovered close to the boy's neck. Jerome's hand wavered in excitement.

"I don't have a clear shot." Jimmy Gordon announced to some old British bloke who had his gun aimed at Jerome, like some others.

"Stay calm Bruce." The British bloke said but it sounded like he was saying it to himself as well. The statement caused Jerome to burst out in another fit of laughter which suddenly switched to a fairly serious tone.

"Hmm it seems as if we've got ourselves a pickle." Jerome moved his face close to Bruce's. "Whadda ya say Brucey boy, wanna boost our ratings?"

Then he broke out, again, into a fit of laughter. He had surely lost the plot now. Usually Jerome had more control when doing a silly performance. But right now? Well, he was certainly the opposite of that.

As everything unfolded I snuck my own gun out from beneath my dress. It rested heavily on my thighs along with my favourite knife and a steak knife which had been resting on Galavan's deserted plate.

"You've said enough." A new voice appeared. The new voice, which I knew too well, had taken a whole different tone in front of this particular crowd. Its old arrogant, powerful demeanour was gone. Now, a (obviously fake) heroic and hopeful demeanour replaced it in hope of impressing the crowd which surrounded me. It was pretty pathetic of Galavan if you'd asked me.

I needed not to bother to look up from my lap to know it was him. But gasps erupted around me as the gun found its way into my palm. Looking back up at the stage I saw Galavan plunge a knife into Jerome's throat.

Things then clicked.

Standing up, the chair shrieked beneath me.

"How dare you?" I screamed, glaring at Galavan. The gun was loose in my hand. I couldn't find the strength to raise my arm. All I could do was focus on two things. The deep pain in my chest and the indescribable loathing I felt for Galavan.

"Put the gun down missy." The British bloke's voice sounded distant but I knew he wasn't far away.

"How about no." I murmured as Galavan's eyes locked with mine. 

"Ma'am-" Jim Gordon's voice rang out but my own interrupted him.

"You hurt my baby." I croaked, letting the weapon fall out my hands as I rushed towards Galavan. He sneered at me as I knelt beside Jerome.  My fingers intertwined with his hair as his head was propped on my lap. The pounding in my chest and head dazed me, but one thing clear in that daze was my scream.

A.N. 

Hey, it's me. The worst human ever. I've let everything catch up with me since last time and haven't had time for anything so I'm sorry!!!! And boys have been an issue. The guy who I told you about was great apart from in arguments... We broke up and as awful as it sounds I'm with someone new. He's nice.

So as usual, I'm sorry and will try and get the new chapter out soon. See ya'll later!!!