A Little Mad

Chapter 59

Jerome stared out the window at the dark city and sighed. He was getting tired of waiting for Mercedes to come home. It hadn't even been two nights without her yet. A soft pur filled his ears and a tiny, fury body brushed against his leg. He shook his leg.

"Jasper! You pest! What do you want?"

Jasper meowed louder and scratched at his leg. Jerome groaned. 

"Your momma isn't here! Your forced daddy doesn't want to play!"

Jasper insisted on scratching his leg. Jerome yanked his leg away and groaned again. Then he realized what he wanted. Jerome sighed.

"I'm sorry buddy... You're hungry... Come on I'll feed you..."

Jasper ran after Jerome and followed him straight to his bowl. Jerome watched Jasper eat. He huffed.

"You know, you're really lucky. If I didn't feed you or just let you run away, your momma would have my head hanging on the wall."

Jerome gently stroked Jasper's back as he ate.

"She'll be home soon buddy... I know she misses you at least..."

TaTyana closed her bedroom door behind her and Ed. She glared at him.

"Why did you come back? I thought I told you to stay away for awhile..."

Ed grabbed her hand. He sighed.

"I couldn't... I'm sorry... I really thought I was keeping you safe working with Oswald... I didn't know he was planning on hurting you too.."

TaTyana shook her head angry.

"But it was okay that he was going to hurt my best friend and the love of her life?!"

Ed sighed and looked away. He turned back to TaTyana and pulled her close. He gently ran his fingers down her cheek.

"I am so sorry.... I truly am... Please forgive me..."

He swallowed and softened her glare. She leaned in and pecked his lips. She pulled away and gently pushed him.

"I'm still a little mad at you though.. But I forgive you."

Ed slightly smiled.

"I'll except that and I will make it up to you I swear."

Mercedes's eyes shot open to a dark room. Her ears filled with voices. 

"Jerome hates you!"
"You killed the baby!"
"You're a monster!"

The voice rang loudly in her ears and she couldn't shut them out. She stared around the room as dark figures closed in around the bed. She pulled the blanket closer to her. The black figures reached out to grab her and she screamed. She jumped out of bed and ran into the hallway. The voices seemed to follow her. She ran down the hall into another one. She felt like she was running in circles. Every hallway looked the same. She set in the floor screaming. The voices taunted her. She jumped when a hand gently touched her arm. Her vision cleared through her teary eyes. Jeremiah was kneeling in front of her worried. She grabbed on to him. Jeremiah wrapped his arms around her.

"Mercedes what is going on?!"

Mercedes cried and held on to Jeremiah like she was about to die any second.

"The voices! And the... The figures! They were after me!"

Jeremiah gently rubbed her back.

"And the hallways.. They all look the same! I felt like I was going in circles and I was trapped!"

Jeremiah pulled away and gently held her chin. He wiped her tears with his other hand. 

"I'm sorry... I should have given you a tour. This place can be confusing. I'll give you one tomorrow. Come on. I'll help you back to bed."

Jeremiah helped her stand and her grip on him tightened.

"No! I can't go back in there! Please... I can't.."

Mercedes cried in Jeremiah's arm and slowly lifted her gaze.

"Please don't put me back in there...."

Jeremiah placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. He signed.

"Okay. You don't have to go back in there. Come with me."

Jeremiah was realizing how bad the effects of the drug Dr. Strange had given her were. He was terrorizing her to keep control. Mercedes stopped walking and buried her face in her hands. Jeremiah frowned and gently pulled her close to him.

"Come here.."

Jeremiah lifted her up, but before he could put her bridal style, Mercedes wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her face in his neck. Jeremiah cautiously placed his hands on the underneath of her thighs so he wouldn't drop her. Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck. She was silent the whole way to his room. He thought she had fallen asleep. When he opened the door she lifted her head and looked around. Jeremiah swallowed.

"Is this okay...? Is it too awkward...? I can put you with Ecco..."

Mercedes shook her head.

"No.. This is okay..."

Jeremiah gently set her on his bed. Mercedes moved to side farthest from the bedroom door. Jeremiah sighed. He could tell she was frightened. He carefully got in the bed next her and laid down. He cautiously faced her. She laid next to him and turned she was also facing him. He gently brushed his fingers down her cheek.

"How do feel now...?"

Mercedes snuggled deep into Jeremiah and buried her face in his chest.

"I feel safe... Really safe..."

Jeremiah rubbed her back.

"It's okay.."

A few minutes later, he felt her breathing slow down. He gently pushed her back a little and saw she was fast asleep. He pulled her back to his form and held her tight. He knew this was his brother's girlfriend, but she was frightened and begging him for help. He couldn't sit there and do nothing. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it. He had fallen in love with her. The minute he laid eyes on her outside the Wayne event, he knew she was special and his brother was the one who had a hold of her. Jerome was the one who had gotten her pregnant. He got to kiss her and touch her whenever he wanted and Jeremiah hated it, but Jerome had messed up. Jeremiah knew this was his chance to win her affection, but he refused to force her into anything. He wanted to be the safe place she felt she could always run to. He wanted her to love him because he was kind and respected her.