In Too Deep

17

"Good morning doc" I look up to see Jack being sat down in front of me. Tommy locks him to the table and waves goodbye as he walks out.

I look at J and he smiles.

"When you busting me out sweet cheeks" I furrow my eyebrows and act like I have no idea as to what he's talking about.

"Busting you out....of where?" I ask. He scoffs and leans back.

"You're not much of a good liar. Johnny must have come seen you already" he says surely and I shrug my shoulders.

"I have no idea as to what you're talking about" I say and open up his file.

"Where did we leave off last week?" I say to myself as I read over my notes.

"Ah! So Blackgate"

"What about Blackgate?"

"How'd you get in?" he stares deeply into my eyes, his mouth is in a frown.

"I told you I don't remember" I shake my head.

"Bullshit" he squints his eyes at me.

"I thought you weren't supposed to call bluff on my memories" he says like a smart ass.

"Bullshit" I say again and he huffs.

"Want me to tell you a little story?" I stay silent and wait for him to continue.

"First time I broke out of Arkham was the second day of being instituted here" he laughs and hits his hand on the surface of the metal table.

"I didn't have much time between Blackgate and Arkham to properly set up my buddy Frost and I with a nice roof. So I broke out to do just that" he stares at his hand as if he's diving back into his memory.

"Johnny already had the place I just had to meet with the agent. Funniest joke ever" he says.

"She died" he looks up at me and smiles. 

"How?" I ask, confused at the turn of events.

"It's not about the how Dr. Quinzel, it's more of why"

"Okay, why?" he huffs and leans back in his chair. 

"So many questions. Do you ever just shut up?" he asks and I can tell he's frustrated, no longer in a joking mood.

I stay silent.

"Good"

"I was role playing for the day, you could say. Pretending to be someone else. That mill was supposed to go to someone by the name of Black Mask" his fingers begin to tap on the metal.

"But Johnny saw an opportunity that I simply couldn't resist. It was perfect" he smiles.

"I shook her hand to finalize the deal and like magic she fell down to her knees"

"I watched as blood began to ooze out of every crevice like water" he says.

"When she was down there I took off my mask and with her last breath she gasped in surprise and dropped dead. Priceless" he says as he wipes a tear from the corner of his eye.

"I turned it into my very own funhouse. Modelled after the one I used to go to as a kid" andar that moment his comment brought me back into reality.

"A kid, you say?" he nods and keeps his eyes on the table.

"What else do you remember from your childhood?" he shrugs his shoulders.

"The funhouse. What was your attraction to the funhouse" he looks up at me and tips his head to the side.

"What was your main feature growing up?" he asks me and I'm at a lose for words.

"I...cant remember" I shake my head and he rolls his eyes.

"Well mine was being funny. I could make anyone laugh. And I did on plenty of occasions-" he smiles but he's not actually here, he's in his head.

"So you have selective memory" I come to the conclusion.

"What?" he looks up confused.

"Selective memory. I ask you about the reason you got into Blackgate but you claim not to be able to remember. But when your childhood comes up you remember select things. Most likely things that left an imprint on you" I explain and he shakes his head.

"I know exactly why I got into Blackgate" he says deadpan. I wait for him to elaborate but instead he stays silent.

"Why?" I ask.

"See I used to go to the carnival quite a bit when I was younger. Every time it was in town i'd veg pops to take me. Of course he was drunk and usually throwing his guts into a toilet bowl at time. So I took myself" he says, expertly diverting my question. 

"So you transformed the steel mill into a funhouse because u wanted to be reminded of your childhood?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"You're missing the point Doctor. The steel mill is still there. But the funhouse is my home. And I need to return home" he says urgently and leans over the table.

"That's where you come in" he smirks and I tap my pen against the sheet of papers in front of me.

"Why do I come in?" I ask and he combs through his hair.

"Johnny will explain. You just have to follow through" he says simply.

"And what if I don't?" he stares at me for a minute before laughing.

"I'll kill you"