2| 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝘼𝙧𝙠𝙝𝙖𝙢 |

| Chapter XXXIV | more time

The GCPD had gotten to the power plant late, at least late enough to miss Dwight. But he had left Jerome's body there, all except his face. Reine looked horrified as Lee showed her his body.

"Please tell me that's all they cut off."

"I'll let you say your goodbyes." She starts walking away.

"I'll let myself out when I'm done. Thanks again.", Reine called after her.

When she saw Lee close the door, she turned back to Jerome. She let out a shaky breath. It had been too long since she'd seen him.

"Hi.", her voice is shaky.

She coughs before speaking again, to try to get rid of the shakiness of her voice.

"Even with your face cut off you still manage to make me think you're hot." She let out an awkward laugh.

She grabs onto the poker ring she had in her bracelet, the only other thing on it was a bead of the Eiffel Tower.

"I miss you, too much sometimes. You gave me something I thought I would never have. And in one of the most horrible places. I hadn't felt so happy since my mother died. You made me no longer aim survive, but instead to live, to the fullest I can. You made me feel safe and happy. I never imagined anyone making me feel that. I have so much to thank you for. Sometimes I even wonder if I ever did anything for you."

Her voice started getting shaky again.

"And I'm so sorry I didn't want your cult to bring you back. As someone who was forced to die and come back many times, I just wouldn't want that for anyone, as much as I wish I had more time with you." She could feel tears streaming down her face. "I never got to tell you how much I love you. I- I wish I had told you."

She bends down and gives him a kiss. 

When she stands back up she touches her lips.

"That was weird. I don't know why I did that, that's probably not sanitary.", she says as she wipes her mouth.

She takes a deep breath and grabs his hand, she doesn't know if the electricity she feels is hers or his, but thinks nothing of it.

"Goodbye, my gingerbread man, thank you for coming into my life. I will always have you in my heart, mind, and soul."

Before she left she could've sworn she felt his hand twitch. But simply brushed it off as her being insane and all that.

She went to see what James got about the cult, wanting to slit Dwight's throat. Apparently, there was a mole that tipped Dwight off. They were interrogating the man right now. But Reine couldn't wait, she was going to find that Dwight. She knew she could probably find him faster than the cops anyways.

So she went to those she knew were either part of the cult or knew about them. It wasn't hard to find them.
She decided to play along with the cult. She went with them to the Channel 9 News station, even brought the mask she wore for the gala. Waiting for the perfect time to kill Dwight. Though she had to endure many questions by the fanatics.
A man was telling the crew that they had been told to evacuate, then Dwight shot him making the crew scream.

"No one's going anywhere."

The crew gets on their knees as the cult members point their guns at them. 

"We've got a show to do, people. And, as you know, the show must go on."

Dwight starts shooting the roof, making the lights spark. All the cult members laugh, the tv crew cries, and Reine yawns as she sits down in a director's chair.

Back at the Medical Examiner's office, a now alive Jerome holds Lee Thompkins at gunpoint as she catches him up with the whole him being dead and now not, thing. When she's done he gives her a small clap with the gun still in his hand.

"Wow. Well, that is quite a story. You know, I know I've been dead, but doesn't that seem kind of crazy to you?"

"Hey, maybe you're dreaming. Try shooting yourself."

"Huh." He puts his gun on the side of his head, but then points back at her, "Nah. Hey, tell me more about this cult. They think I'm pretty great, huh?"

"They're a bunch of raving lunatics and idiots."

"Lunatics and idiots? Ooh, my kind of people."

As he stands up and walks, he starts gagging. When he finally stops he turns back to Lee.

"Sorry. Head's still a little fuzzy. You know, I was just reborn. Last year was nothing but darkness... as far as the eye can see." He stares at her for a moment. "I know you, right?"

"Yep."

"Hey, did you and I ever..." He makes a humping motion with his gun as he clicks his tongue.

"Oh, god, no!"

"Why? Gingers, not your type? Oh, I remember."

He grabs her neck and points his gun to her face.

"You're Jim's Gordon's little... Twinky."

"Easy."

He let's go of her, but still has the gun pointed at her.

"How's it going between you and Jimbo? Huh? You still together, or..."

"No."

"No? Oh, that's a shame. I really liked you guys. What happened?"

"He killed my husband on our wedding night."

Jerome laughs.

"Glad you find it funny."

"I do.", he says as he continues laughing. "I get why you don't." He starts laughing again. "Wow. You miss a lot, being dead."

"You know what? Go ahead, enjoy it. There's about a hundred cops on the other side of the door ready to kill you all over again."

Jerome let's out one last chuckle.

"I see your point. It's a business. So, when I was last, you know, uh, alive, I was about to kill Bruce Wayne. I suppose I didn't manage to..."

Lee shakes her head.

"No. Right. Theo Galavan killed me, that jug-eared Judas. Well, I suppose I should start by killing him."

"Theo Galavan's dead."

"Oh... Who beat me to it?"

"W- Which time?"

"Galavan came back to life, too?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Mm-hmm? That son of a bitch is always upstaging me. And what, what about Reine? Is she back in Arkham?"

Lee remembered the someone, Reine had to get back to, it had seemed to her like this someone was especially to Reine since she had turned red by just mentioning them. And didn't the maniac ruining things.

"I don't where she is. Last thing I heard she gave Galavan a good beating."

"That's my girl. Well, I guess I'm just missing one thing, then."

He grabs her by the neck and points his gun to her face again.

"Where is my face?"