Gotham: Jemma's Diary (v1)

Chapter Twenty Three - Giggle Gas

My heart was racing in my chest, almost as like a noble steed heading for the finish line, as we pitched up at the Gotham City Police Department.

Victor parked the car right outside the front door; he didn't care who saw us in the streets as he turned and got ahold of his bag, "I'm going to go in ahead. Wait for my cue."

I nodded, smiling wildly as I watched him leave. 

The feeling was exhilarating, and not a moment too long before Victor had stepped inside the sounds of faint screams could be heard.

"Showtime." I mumbled to myself, leaving the car unattended as I found myself inside the GCPD.

Smoke filled the entire room, leaving no person in visible sight, as I stumbled my way through the precinct.

I realised I hadn't been completely prepared for this occasion - noting that I should've worn a mask, as the tear gas started to effect me like it was everyone else.

Along with coughing, crying, screaming, and shouting, I could hear gunshots being thrown from all directions as I stammered in the dark.

The gas began scratching at the back of my throat like a cruel virus - causing me to break into heavy coughing fits as I attempted to continue my job in finding Jim, or to even just get back to Victor as this point.

Another gunshot went - giving me a fright as I quickly ducked down in attempt to dodge any flying bullets. 

As I bent down, though, I felt a hard surface hit me in the back of the head, ending in me stumbling to the ground.

I was coughing hard, and now had the added pain in my skull, as I lay on the floor. My eyes were dizzy and limbs were numb. The breathing got harder as I felt my tired eyes begin to close.

Before I had the chance to pass out, however, I heard a laugh.

A very familiar laugh.

My sight came back vividly, though still hazed by the thick fog in the air, as I climbed to my feet with shock and uncertainty coarsing through my veins.

The tickle in my throat disappeared as quickly as it arrived, as I found the power to take no notice of the gas.

"Jerome?!" I called out into the air. My brother had to be here, I assumed as it was his laugh that I had heard. "Jerome?!" I called again, a little louder than before.

I couldn't be confusing his laughter with somebody else's - that just wouldn't happen.

Jerome had... a very unique laugh.

I continued to call and search for my dead brother, tripping over bodies and whatnot as I climbed through the precinct - occasionally bumping into other blindless people, before I felt two strong arms wrap around me.

I struggled, fighting back as the person dragged me out of the haze.

"It's me, let's go." Victor grumbled through the thick material of the mask he wore to keep himself from breathing in the toxins.

I nodded, catching a breath of fresh air as we headed for the car.

The daylight outside stung my eyes, causing me to have less than good balance as we got into the vehicle.

"I wasn't able to find him." Victor admitted, snatching his mask off and throwing it aside as he began driving away, "We'll have to try again another time."

It took me some time to get my jumbled thoughts together, as I accepted his words. Trying and failing is better than not trying at all, I reckoned as my thoughts went back to my brothers laugh.

"Vic..." I murmured, speaking up out of the silence as we headed back to his apartment, "When I was inside... I heard my brother's laugh. My dead brother's laugh."

"Jerome?" Victor questioned, looking at me with a curious expression upon his face before turning his gaze back to the road ahead, "There was no laugh, Jem."