Between Stripes

F O U R T Y

It felt so familiar, too familiar to open my eyes to see flickering, fluorescent lights. To feel the straps across my body. To know that I was restricted. Stuck to the metal slab which was a table. I'd been in the exact same place not too long ago. A couple of months, take or add a couple of weeks, ago.

And if he planned to replicate the scene, at any moment he'd begin to talk. He'd tell me he missed me. He'd call me all of those names. Those names I'd fallen victim to a long time ago. Then, I'd see his beautiful face. The face I'd never forget.

Suddenly everything began to move. The ceiling and it's lights soon disappeared as I began to face a series of machines and patches of the brick wall behind them. Then he came into view. I couldn't see his face. He walked slowly, his head down.

"I've missed you princess, oh how I've missed you. I've missed you so  much." He turned around, looking no different than he did the last time I saw him. Sickeningly beautiful. Something twisted inside of me.

"Y-you said it wrong." I replied. My voice cracked and hurt a little from disuse. How long had I been here?

A grin blossomed on his face. The bright lips stretched tight as they widened. His head tilted forward, making it seem ever so slightly unsettling. My chest tightened at the sight.

"Oh baby, how I've missed you." He sneered, coming closer. His rough fingertips traced under my jaw. They lingered beneath my chin. I couldn't help but move toward him. It was as if we were magnets, always being drawn back together. 

Wait what?

Bitch what you saying?

"I-I missed you too J." 

As the words left my mouth, everything split.

Half of me was on fire with rage, that part wanted me to put my hands round his neck and squeeze until his last breath escaped his lips. Watch as the life left his eyes - again.

The other half wanted to lunge forward and brush my lips against his. To feel his touch again. To hear his sweet pet names. To be with him.

And the second half completely took over. I lost my grip and couldn't hold on.

"Oh baby I was here thinking that I'll have to teach you how to love me again, but I don't think that'll be necessary." He purred,  hooking his fingers beneath my chin and rubbing small smooth circles with his thumb. I couldn't have but shiver beneath his touch.

"H-how'd you find me?" I whispered.

"Took me a little while baby but I gotcha. And, you see, I've had to go into hiding for a little while. Things in Gotham are good enough without me. But don't you worry, I've got a teeny tiny plan ready. I just gotta wait for things to fall into place." Jerome smirked before pulling away his hand and stepping backwards. "And I gave you a gift."

I raised an eyebrow, suggesting for him to explain.

"You see, baby, some of my men were very, very high up in some projects that went on in Arkham. Remember Indian Hill? Well, some of my men were right hand men of Professor Hugo Strange. And I know that they're highly talented so I told them to give you...powers, if you want to call them that." He explained, not bothering to be cautious about the subject.

Yet again, I was split. I was partly shocked that he'd do such a thing. Yet and overwhelming part of me was itching to see what my abilities were. And more importantly, the damage they could do.

"I know what each and every one of them are, and trust me they're all wonderful." He smiled that familiar devilish smile as he stepped closer to me. He moved a hand forward and a small blade was in the palm of his hand. "This may hurt a little." He murmured before swiped the blade cross my forearm, just above the restraint. It was light so it only pinched for a second. Blood trickled for a second before the skin began to join back together with a tiny slither of new skin replacing the wound.