I'm Not Crazy: Jerome Valeska

Chapter 3

Searing bright lights ambushed your vision, your eyelids red as you scrunched them shut. Groaning, you turned your head away from the source of the blinding light before opening your eyes, the first thing you saw being a pair of striking emerald eyes staring back at you.

Studying his features for a moment, from his lean figure to his fiery red hair lazily slicked back, you startled upon realising it was the boy from Arkham. It took you a moment of tireless struggling before realising the predicament you were in; your arms bound behind your back, cross-tied to the back of a chair and your legs tied together at the base.

"Where am I? Let me go!" you snarled, thrashing about in a vain attempt to free yourself. He just sat there on the bed, legs crossed and head resting in his hands as he stared at you. "Sorry doll, no can do." he smiled back, seemingly enjoying your state of distress.

You huffed, struggling for a moment more before collapsing in defeat. Seeing you'd finally given in, the boy got up from his spot on the bed and slunk towards you, squatting down so he was eye-level with you.

His smile seemed to curl up from the edges of his lips, warm breath brushing against your cheek. "Well aren't you just gorgeous." he breathed, stroking a hand along your cheek only to snatch it away as you lunged at him.

Deranged laughter erupted from his throat, falling back to lean against the cold tile. "Feisty too!" he cackled, standing up and taking a step back, taking in your form.

"What do you want?" You spat, shooting him a whicked glare. "Oh Y/n," Jerome smiled, his whicked grin crawling across his face. "So many questions and such little time." His warm breath brushed up against your cheek as a boyish laugh erupted from his throat once more.

"Jim is looking for me. He'll find you, Jerome." You threatened, glaring daggers into his soul. "Oh I have no doubt he is, princess. In fact, I'm counting on it." He sneered, making his way towards the door. "Now just sit there and look pretty. I'll be back soon."

Now it was just you alone with your thoughts. Looking around as you took in your surroundings, you huffed. The room was vast, a king sized bed with four posters sitting in the centre of the room, set against a large window that spanned across the entire wall, a breathtaking view of Gotham below.

Craning your neck backwards, you found yourself staring up at the ceiling; it was at least 20 feet high, boasting a gorgeous chandelier made of clear crystals, gold lining the rims.

You needed to find a way to escape.

Scanning the room, you noticed a pocket knife sitting on an end table beside you. If only you could reach your leg far enough to kick it off-

The knife fell to the ground with a clang, landing just by your feet. It didn't take long before you'd wriggled it up into your grip and started working on removing your bindings.

You managed to cut your hands free, beginning to work on freeing your legs when the door to the room swung open. The knife dropped at your feet, moving your hands behind the chair in an attempt to conceal your broken bindings.

In stepped a short blonde, long curled hair spilling over her shoulders as she glared at you with venom.

"Y/n. Funny seeing you again, here of all places." Your heart sunk as you recognised the woman almost immediately.

"Barbara." you replied curtly, avoiding eye contact with the blonde. You'd never liked Barbara, from the beginning you could feel there was something off about her.

When you'd heard what she'd done to her parents, any doubts you'd still held dissolved. At least Jim had someone better now.

"You're with Jerome?" you asked, subtly nuging the knife beneath your foot. Barbara shrugged, seemingly uninterested in the conversation.

"You know, I bet Jim is frantic looking for you right now." Barbara said, ignoring your question. "Be a shame if something were to happen before he got to you..." she trailed off, walking up to you and trailing a hand along your neck.

You flinched beneath her touch before your attention was drawn to the door opening again. You were surprisingly relieved to see his wicked smile and ginger hair; Barbara had unsettled you with her last comment.

"I see you've met y/n, delightful isn't she?" Jerome smiled at Barbara, watching as she turned to look at him. She sneered, forcing a smile as she stepped away from you.

"Yes, delightful..." she said as she turned towards Jerome. "I was just saying hello. I've got better things to do." Barbara said as she brushed past Jerome, the door slamming behind her.

"Let me go."

"No."

"Yes. Now."

"Lemme think about it. Mmm, no."

"Why?"

"Because, we have a plan for you."

"Fuck you."

"Ok."

You stuttered, rolling your eyes. Jerome smiled, a devious smirk gracing his lips. He walked back over to the bed and plopped down, all the while his eyes never once leaving you.

"What?" you groaned, glaring at him.

"Nothing, gorgeous."

"Shut the fuck up."

"Make me."

Anger boiled inside you, you had to fight every living fibre in your being to restrain yourself from punching him in the nose.

"Lord, please kill me." you muttered, placing your head in your hands before realising your mistake. You froze, your eyes widening when you realised what you'd done.

"Oh, we're not gonna kill ya doll. We need you alive to get to Jimbo. We're just gonna hurt you real bad." Jerome smiled menacingly, getting up from his spot on the bed and walking towards you, grabbing your wrists and twisting them behind your back.

You screamed in pain, wincing as you felt cool metal caress your skin, rendering you helpless as he handcuffed you to the chair.

"When I tell you to stay, you stay." he growled into your ear, sending shivers down your spine. "Now, stay still." Jerome said as he pressed a rag against your mouth, sending you into unconsciousness.