Gotham: Jemma's Diary (v1)

Chapter Fifteen - Smokey Faucets

"Wakey, wakey, sunshine!" 

I didn't have much time to adjust my vision as a darkened cloth was yanked from off my head and the daylight sprung into action.

Nor did it take me long to acknowledge the fact that my wrists were bound tightly together behind my back.

I looked up and could see Jeremiah, Ecco, Victor, and a few others of his henchmen standing before me.

It was at this point I realised I was still half dressed from when Victor snatched me out of bed. I had underwear on, luckily, but my poor legs shivered in the cold air.

The wind was strong and sirens rose from the streets, followed by the horns of busy cars, and strangers yelling.

By now I could tell I was standing on a building rooftop.

I waited, watching my brother as I wondered what he was going to do.

All of a sudden, he raised his gun towards me, "I want you to get up and stand on the ledge." He said, gesturing to the ledge behind me.

I cautiously leaned over the ledge, taking a look at how far the ground was. It's safe to say we weren't on the first floor.

Shaking my head, I turned back to Jeremiah, "No."

I could see Victor watching me with an intense expression as Jeremiah sent Ecco to give me a helping hand.

The strong lady grabbed the thin material of my jumper and started forcefully pushing me slowly over the edge of the wall.

Closing my eyes tightly, and finding it slightly harder to breath from the anxiety surrounding my chest, I agreed.

"Okay, stop, stop! I'll fucking do it!" I shouted just loud enough for Jeremiah to call Ecco off.

As Ecco left my side, I awkwardly straddled myself up onto the ledge, feeling terrified that I was going to fall.

I wondered if anything Victor had said was true - would he still protect me? It seemed as though it was too late now, though.

"Just do it." I cried, my voice tired as I glared at my brother whom still held a gun at me. I'd given up. I didn't care anymore. I just kept thinking how this is the same way Jerome was taken out, and how at least I'd be laid to rest with him. "Do it!" I screamed, anger filling up my words as I added, "You will never be half as great as he was."

I watched as I saw Jeremiah clench his jaw, his glare still stuck on me as I noticed something in him. It felt as almost it was regret? Did he believe in what I was saying? Did he know he weren't as good, or shall I say bad, as Jerome?

"You know, little sis, you and Jerome aren't the only ones with dark, twisted secrets." He spoke up, his tone steady as he lowered his aim by a fraction, "Jerome didn't try to kill me when we were kids, not ever. Oh, but I'd got mummy and uncle Zach and everyone else believing it." He grinned, lowering the gun completely as I started to make sense of things, "Jerome lighting my bed on fire? Lie. Jerome trying to stab me over our birthday cake? Another lie. See, Jemma, it was all just one clever lie."

I stood there in shock, not truly understanding why Jeremiah had done all this. Why had he made those lies? Why did he turn the family against Jerome? Maybe my questions would never get the answers they deserve.

"Get her down." I heard him mumble as my body twitched, feeling myself losing balance up on that ledge as Victor rushed over to me.

"Are you okay?" Victor whispered as he quickly helped me down off the ledge, where I fell to my knees.

Again, the tears were rolling down my cheeks. Perhaps I'd never be the strong, no-tears, woman I'd aspired to be.

My thoughts drifted away as I felt Jeremiah standing over me.

I narrowed my eyes at him as he crouched to my level.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, "If you test me one more time; I'll shoot you."