The Madman's Tale

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Gotham or any of the characters in this story (other than my OC). I made up the plotline but everything else belongs to it's rightful owners.

  "He's in the interrogation room, Bryce." James Gordon, the detective that I interned for here at the GCPD, said to me quickly as he rushed by to break up yet another fight between the Lloyds and Grayson's. "Just please offer him a coffee or something. He's near hysterics and I really need to get him to talk." Gordon turned around for a brief moment to offer me an apologetic look and tight lipped smile to which I returned with a much brighter one before he went back to trying to calm the chaos that currently consumed the precinct. 

****

  I gave a long sigh as the small machine in front of me finished noisily brewing the basic cup of coffee. I took the warm ceramic mug in my hands before carefully making my way to the interrogation room trying to balance the dark liquid I held yet still having some of the drink splash down onto my black dress shoes. By the time I had reached my destination about a quarter of the coffee had made a wet trail behind me, I gave the mess an annoyed look, knowing I was going to have to be the one to clean it up after I finished this errand.

  A single officer leaned against the old gray wall by the door to the room I was supposed to go into, he was staring off into space with a bored look on his face and kept glancing down at his watch, probably counting down the minutes to his next break. I greeted the officer with a small smile before turning my attention to the glass window looking at the young boy who occupied a seat at the table inside. His hands remained uncuffed and in his lap making me assume that whatever he was here for he was probably the victim. The way he held his form slouched forward proved my thoughts further, however, despite his obviously broken demeanor, I couldn't help but take in his pleasant facial features and striking red hair. I faced the officer beside me, who had kicked off the wall and was getting ready to make his leave, as I wondered what someone who looked so innocent could be in here for. Then again this was Gotham, was innocence really a thing here? 

  "Excuse me, sir. What's that boy's name?" I asked, tilting my wrist to point weakly at the sad, redheaded boy. The officer gave me an irritated look, probably annoyed that I had caught him before he could go on break. When he merely raised an eyebrow at me, I held up the cup of coffee in my hand. "Detective Gordon asked me to bring him this." My voice held an uncomfortable tone keeping the unconvinced look on the officer's face. However, he cleared his throat loudly and gruffly said "That's Jerome Valeska." I brought my attention back to the boy sitting just beyond the glass window. "Jerome Valeska." I repeated the name. It felt foreign against my tongue from the strange but beautiful combination of words. The name already felt like a drug I was addicted to as I fought off the urge to whisper it again under my breath.

  "Yeah, but I wouldn't get too attached if I were you, Miss..." I shook my head, bringing me out of the trance the boy had brought me in and looked back to be met with the officer's worried look, I probably looked crazy giving the first boy I saw close to my age googly eyes, but it was kind of hard being the only nineteen year old sometimes, not many kids my age felt brave enough to get involved in this city's crime. Then again, it could always be stupidity that brought me here. "Holler." I finished for him, using a thumb to lift the intern name tag that stuck to my blazer. "And why not?" I questioned, still curious as to why Jerome was actually here. The officer licked his lips and glanced around himself for a second, as if making sure no one was watching us, I involuntarily mimicked his actions before he leaned forward slightly and said in a lowered voice "He's suspected of matricide and if I'm being honest, I say he's guilty."

  My eyes widened at the discovery of that news. "Matricide!?" I exclaimed turning back to the tear stained face of Jerome Valeska. "You mean you think he-" However, as I went to question the officer some more, I realized that he had already gone. My vision danced around the now eerily empty hallway I had been left in before it landed once again on the redheaded boy. A gasp escaped my lips as the corners of the boy's mouth curled upward into a sinister smile, his bright green eyes that had been sparkling moments ago from his tears had now grown dark as he grinned up at me from his hunched position. My heart skipped a beat before rapidly picking up speed. "What the f-?"