Gotham: Jemma's Diary (v1)

Chapter Four - Sibling Rivalry

I wrinkled my nose as we turned down the narrow road. You could tell the sewers were just underneath.

"Lovely." I mumbled, watching out the darkened window as Oswald sat in the front of the car, "My brother doesn't live down here, no way." I scoffed, looking over the filled up bins and alley cats surrounded by muddy puddles.

Oh what a joy Arkham had been holding me from.

"Of course not," Oswald replied, "This is where we're meeting him."

"Couldn't have picked a nicer place?" I retorted, glaring at Oswald from the corner of my eye.

He turned to face me as his driver slowed the car to a halt, "It was your brothers' choice."

Rolling my eyes, I cautiously stepped out of the blackened vehicle, my gaze stuck upon the sky above. The pale blue with grey-like clouds scattered everywhere. After months locked away in a cell, this was a sight to be treasured and remembered.

Our attentions switched to the limozine heading towards us from the other end of the road.

I was about to be reunited with my brother.

I watched with eagerness and curiosity as a man stepped out from the driver's seat and walked down the long vehicle to hold open a door for someone.

Sure enough, the familiar redheaded man emerged.

I say familiar, though I hadn't spoken to my brother since before he was sent away by our mother. When I was three years old.

But I'd recognise his face anyway as his was the same as Jerome's.

"Ah, Jemma!" he grinned, strolling towards me in a navy trenchcoat and funny looking hat, "How are you, sister?"

"Jeremiah." I smiled, giving him a half-hearted hug, "It's good to see you, finally."

"And you." He replied, looking at me through his dark sunglasses, "What took you so long to escape Arkham, I wonder?"

Shrugging, I responded simply, "I had no plans on escaping."

His smile faded and was replaced with a stern look. Not a moment later, I felt the cold sting from the back of his hand across my face.

"Do you want to be locked up like a caged animal, Jemma?" He questioned as I held my cheek in my palm.

Tears formed in the corner of my eye but I fought them back, "You can't do that, Jeremiah! I'm your sister, not one of your goons!"

"Sorry to interrupt," Oswald pitched in, moving back to his car, "But we must be going, it was nice meeting you again, Mr Valeska."

"And you, Mr Penguin." Jeremiah replied, watching as Oswald and his men drove away. There lay an awkward silence in that alley. An uncomfortable tension, as I stood no more than two feet away from notorious criminal. "Come now, sister. I can't stand and play catch up all day." He said, turning on his heel and heading back to the limo.

As much as I disliked him and really didn't want to go with him; I thought he might be of some help to me. For a few days, at least.

I hadn't thought much of what I would do with my new found freedom. 

Though I knew one thing that was certain.

The man that murdered my brother must die.