Between Stripes

T H I R T Y T H R E E

I didn't know how long I was in the bath for, but by the time I got out, well, my mind had taken a turn for both the better and worse. The voices were back and bigger than ever. The bloodlust was like a headache; it pounded against my temples, demanding to be fed.

These familiar feelings had taken over my (previously believed to be) undying love. I had no room for love anymore. It was far far away. I simply had an empty space and passion to kill. Ooh and a burning hatred.

And before, if anyone stood in the way of my baby then they'd be slain quicker than you could scream for mercy. Now, I'd happily kill anyone on sight. No matter what reason; I simply had to quench my thirst for blood. I was dying for some death. Maybe it was barbaric but I didn't care.

It'd been hours since the broadcast, since I'd last seen Maureen, since my mind had last been at ease. Irritation was starting to nibble at me; it was behind me at all times, perching at the back of my neck where I couldn't see but could sense. Pecking away at my remaining sanity.

Maybe this was my ultimate fall. Into insanity. Maybe I'd been teetering at the edge all along and now I'd fallen into the pit. Yes. It seemed to be like that.

***

I don't know how long I'd been unconscious- heck I didn't know how long I'd been awake! But I'd woken to find the air filled with smoke. Smoke usually meant fire. Fire was never good.

Bolting up I searched the apartment with my eyes, nothing was on fire. Shame. Smoke was seeping through the windows. I got up and cracked the window open wider to find the apartment complex across the road in flames. No do-gooder firemen were parked outside like expected either. Weird. Real weird. Normally they'd be fighting the flames at the mere sniff of smoke. Maybe they'd been delayed by something?

Ignoring it I sunk into one of the ageing armchairs.

You're surrounded by smoke and chaos and all you're going to do is sit there and twiddle your thumbs?

How pathetic. You've got a brilliant opportunity in front of your eyes.

But it does seem ridiculous that the city is in these conditions. That nothing is being done.

So what? I doubt there's an apocalypse, you're fine.

It sure does look like one out there though.

It's highly unlikely there is-

I'd advise to stay inside till the red tint on everything is gone. You saw what happened on the news.

After the voices had their discussion I decided to stay inside. The news could be corrupt sometimes but it was unlikely they'd joke about some sort of apocalypse. Even I knew that and I was insane.

I didn't know how long things would be like it for though, and I didn't know how long I could clamp a hold onto the bloodthirsty urges. Even then, My limbs twitched and were on edge. It was like I was like a recovering drug addict - minus the recovering part. I needed  to sort it out. I couldn't just sit there.

Then I remembered the pills, the sleeping pills. I could just sleep again. That'd put it off a little longer. Yes. That was good.

Standing with a glass of water and a handful of the pills in my palm, I sipped the drink; throwing my head back I let the pills fall down my throat. The effects were almost instantaneous. Stumbling in the direction of the armchairs my vision faltered, the familiar blackness surrounding the edges before taking me completely.

***

The next time I woke up, it was different. I opened my eyes to see a distant ceiling and nothing else.

First things first, I was cold.

Secondly, I was restricted.

Third, I heard an undeniably familiar voice, albeit distorted but I knew it well. One I'd grown to hate. One I'd thought had left me forever. One I'd craved to hear again for so long. But one I hated.

Everything came into focus only a few seconds later.

"Sir, she-she's awake." a voice gasped. A low and surprised grunt escaped someone's mouth - probably the single voice from before. I assumed that the 'sir' had pushed the other person or something.

"Oh how I've missed you princess, I've missed you so  much." He said, coming into sight. He was different.

My eyes, with a mind or their own, scanned every detail of his face; imprinting it to my mind forever. But, it was unlikely I'd forget it anytime soon. It was twisted but still beautiful. It was as if someone had stolen his face and then it'd been sewn messily back on. His mouth stretched at the corners; they were startlingly bright red.

"Have you missed me princess?" He asked, his voice was a little deeper. Huskier.

I didn't reply, clenching my jaw and trying not to look at him.

"Oh come on Georgie, talk to me." He said before moving his face closer to mine, so our noses touched briefly. "I heard you've got a lot to say to me."

Headbutt the bastard.

And so I did. With great difficulty.

He shot back, surprised. Then he frowned. I'd pissed him off. Greatly.

"Now now now Georgia, don't be like that. You're the one who's tied down, for once." He said before smirking at me. "Come on, talk to me. Tell me what you've been doing while I've been gone."

"I was in Arkham." I grudgingly said, my voice filled with poison and hostility. He'd left me.

"I sincerely apologise baby, I've been so busy. But now I've gotcha back and well," he paused to move close to me again but he brought a hand up to hold my jaw, "I ain't leaving anytime soon."

But he said that last time.

A.N

After a million years of procrastinating, here's the newest chapter! And Jerome is back! Better than ever too!

But tbh this began as a filler chapter, as you may've realised but then the end took a turn that none of us saw... hopefully.

Anyways, I'll try to be back asap with the next chapter!

See you little lemons soon!