Terror In Gotham City

Chapter 5

*Accalia*

For once, the sun streaming through a window is not what awakens me in the morning. I wake up encapsulated by warmth, an arm wrapped around me and holding me close to a body radiating a massive amount of heat. A sigh of contentment leaves me and I move closer to the warmth as a brush of cold air hits my back and causes me to shiver. The person mumbles something and tightens their grip on me, making me open my eyes. It's a struggle because I'm exhausted and my body doesn't want to comply with my wishes.

The first thing I see is white. I let out a small groan as I force my head out of its comfortable position, moving it back and trying to get my bearings. I make out blurry shapes, along with a vibrant ginger colour in my vision. I'm not sure why there would be a ginger colour in my bedroom. I am certain that my walls are basically stark white, and that there is either a giant window or a bookcase in my line of vision. Also, I never invite anyone over because I don't have friends that are willing to spend the night with a detective in the same house as them for who knows what reason.

Wait. Ginger... Jerome!

My eyes widen astronomically as the events from yesterday flood into my mind - the murder, the interrogation, all of it. I flush and force myself out of his grasp, causing him to groan in his sleep and roll onto his back. Staring wide-eyed down at my best friend, relief shoots through me when I realize that I am completely clothed, and so is Jerome. A let out a breath of relief I didn't know that I had been holding, and then get up off his bed.

Well, I try. A hand latches itself onto my right wrist and I freeze at the contact, looking over my shoulder to see Jerome's bright, forest green eyes staring at me with the sheen of sleep still dusted over them. He sits up and lets out a groan followed by a yawn, still not letting his eyes leave mine. I give him a small smile and he reciprocates it, but there's a hint of something hidden behind that smile.

"What's wrong, ginger?" I ask, already beginning to worry about my best friend. "Did you have another dream?"

Jerome shakes his head, his smile vanishing. "No. I just..."

"You thought I was leaving, didn't you?"

"...yeah."

"Jerome, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to leave you. I swear on my life I'd never leave you."

"Thanks, Cali."

Nodding, I stand and walk out of his room, his hand falling from my wrist. As soon as I exit the room, something flies towards me and smashes against the wall, shattering and sending glass everywhere. I hiss in pain and glare at the furious woman in front of me, both of our anger's already beginning to boil just at the sight of the other. I hear the knob turning on the door behind me and I grip it tightly, preventing Jerome from exiting the room. He starts yelling for me to open the door, and it is soon accompanied by him banging on the door. I grab the chair closest to me and jam it under the door knob as I turn back to Lila.

"What the fuck was that for, Lila?" I hiss in anger, stepping towards her. "What did I do to deserve that, you drunken whore?"

Lila flushes in anger at my words. "Like you're one to talk, Accalia. You've been whoring around with my son ever since you were a child! He's older than you, and you keep throwing yourself at him! Like he'll touch the tainted goods you have to offer!"

"You're the one with tainted goods. I am as pure as they come in that department!"

"Liar! You think saying those lies are going to make you good enough for my son? You're more of a fool than I thought, sweetheart." She steps closer to me, her beady eyes staring down at me from her slight height above me. "All you're ever going to be to him is a warm mouth if anything."