LUNATICS || Gotham²

05 || Silence

"How long has it been like this?" Warden Judith asked as the cell creaked open. The sound of its rusty hinges made everyone behind her grimace.

Nick peered into the cold, dimly lit cell where the young girl lay immobile on the bed. "A few days." He replied, his voice heavy with concern. His gaze lingered on the motionless figure, her eyes staring blanking at the ceiling. "She rarely moves. It's like she's lost in her own world. Probably catatonic or something."

Two orderlies flanked Judith, exchanging mischievous glances as they entered the room. One of them smirked and leaned in toward the other. "I kinda want to steal her diary," He muttered under his breath, casting a glance to ensure neither the Warden nor the guards overheard. "Look through it."

The other orderly snorted, rolling their eyes. "Oh no, there might be some painful things in it," they responded sarcastically.

At the doorway, the two guards - Nick and Jones - watched the girl closely. Her lifeless gaze unsettled them; it was as if she was trapped in her body, frozen in a daydream state. It was unnerving to see her like this. Reese Nygma had always been one to fight through whatever pain she endured, always resisting.

Judith glanced over her shoulder at the two guards, her eyes narrowing. She noticed the pity in their expressions. "Don't tell me you feel bad for her?" Her voice dripped with disdain.

Jones shifted uncomfortably, "She doesn't even flinch when they inject her meds," he explained quietly, recalling all the other times she's been held down. "And that says a lot when she doesn't like needles."

Judith scoffed, her irritation evident. "Do you know who she is?" Her cold gaze swept over both guards. Neither of them answered, unwilling to incite her wrath. "Reese Nygma. She and Mister Valeska murdered without a shred of remorse," she spat, her eyes narrowing further as she watched the orderlies shine a light into Reese's eyes. It was more of an annoyance tactic than a medical check, a cruel attempt to force some kind of reaction.

"If she were let loose right now, she wouldn't think twice about killing you." Judith sneered, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "Whatever irrelevant bond you think you've formed with her... it doesn't matter. She doesn't care."

Nick and Jones exchanged troubled glances, their brows furrowing. Despite everything, they'd spent months watching over her, witnessing moments that hinted at a person beneath the hardened exterior.

"She's a criminal, a psychopath. A lunatic," Judith continued, her voice growing louder, clearly wanting Reese to each every word. "She wants you to feel sorry for her. Don't be fooled - she doesn't care about anyone's pain. I assure you that she's never felt pain, never cried, never loved."

Reese felt her heart crack at the Warden's cruel words. She wanted to scream, to move, to shout that Judith was wrong. That she did feel - more than anyone could ever know. But her body remained a heavy, immovable weight. She couldn't explain what had caused her to shut down like this. Maybe it was the loneliness, the endless strong medication, or the relentless therapy sessions that had fried her brain. It was likely a combination of all of it.

As her health deteriorated, not a single person in the asylum had done their job to care for her. Instead, they dragged her around and shoved her like she was a rag doll. They yelled at her, and some even struck her when she seemed too distant, too far gone.

She was miserable...

And it was becoming clear that perhaps they wanted her to die.

"She's unresponsive," Nick interjected, his voice steady, trying to appeal to any remaining sense of decency she might have. "I believe she needs to be treated like any other patient here."