A Little Sane

Chapter 59

"You came back again.."

Mercedes smiled brightly. 

"Hey dad.."

She walked close to the glass and opened up the drop box. She smiled when she pulled a rectangular-shaped box out of her bag. Her dad's smile beamed.

"You remembered!"

Mercedes laughed and placed the box in the drop box for her dad to recieve. 

"Of course I remembered that you love sour patch kids! I snuck them in on purpose. You better start eating before a guard comes and we both get in trouble."

Her dad laughed and opened the box. He started to eat one and stopped. He stared at Mercedes with a smile. He placed the candy back in the drop box still holding his piece. 

"Dad.."

He nodded. His smile seemed the most genuine smile Mercedes had seen from him in years. She pulled the candy out and grabbed a piece from the box. She placed the candy back in the drop box. She smiled at her father. They both ate their pieces together. Her father laughed at the faces she made.

"Ah! I always get one that has too much even though it's so good!"

She fell in to laughter with her father. When Mercedes was growing up, her and her father would always eat the first one together. They wanted to see if either of them would make a face. Mercedes was always the one to get a strong piece. It was a simple, yet fun and meaningful memory Mercedes always carried with her. They hadn't eaten sour patch kids in a long time. Her father sighed.

"We haven't done that in so long..."

Mercedes placed her hand on the glass.

"Mercedes.. I really am sorry for everything I did... I know I can't take it back and I'll never be able to make up for it... and you will get through this... you will always get through it.."

Mercedes shook her head.

"Dad... I believe you.. They gave you an opportunity, and you were just blinded by Strange.. Thank you for believing in me.."

He looked at his daughter with sadness for the things he had done. He felt horrible about what happened to Ethan. He brushed away his thoughts.

"How... are the kids..?"

Mercedes smiled with excitement. She pulled out her cellphone that she also snuck in.

"Would you like to see some pictures and videos of them?!"

Her father laughed and smiled more brightly than Mercedes had seen in a long time. She clicked through everything she had on her phone. She even showed him videos of Jerome interacting with the kids. 

"Their hair is so..."

Mercedes raised her eyebrows.

"Red dad. Red. They are the most ginger children I have ever seen."

They both laughed. Mercedes looked at the time and frowned. Her father placed his hand on the glass.

"It's okay... I know what time it is... go.. get home to the kids.."

Mercedes thought to herself for a moment and then turned to face her father.

"Even thought I don't want them to see this place, I'll bring them next time I come to see you. You have my word."

Mercedes gave her father a loving smile which he returned. She placed her hand on the glass. 

"Dad... I love you..."

Her father was taken back and shocked. He was trying to hold back his tears. He smiled warmly.

"I love you too baby girl."

Mercedes put away her phone and noticed her father hadn't finished the candy.

"Dad.. I told you to eat those and hurry. I need the box so you don't get in trouble."

Her father shook his head.

"Oh please, let me keep them. I'll keep them hidden I promise. I'll eat them fast and I'll get rid of the box. I can sneak it into the kitchen trash. It's okay for the cafeteria staff to have it. Besides after they find it, they won't know who had it."

Mercedes playfully rolled her eyes.

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you if you get caught. Bye.."

Mercedes turned to leave, but her father stopped her.

"I forgot to tell you that they are going to move me. I get to come out of this gladd box and go to a regular cell.."

Mercedes smiled. 

"That's great daddy! I'll make sure to ask about that next time I come."

"Mercedes!"

She turned back around one last time. Her father looked sincere and serious.

"Bring Jerome disguised too... I'd just... I would really like to apologize to him for how I treated him.. in person.. if he'll let me.."

Mercedes smiled from genuine happiness.

"I'll see what I can do."

That evening at six-thirty P.M. David Dean Helleman set in front of his beautiful wife, Julie Elizabeth Ambers-Helleman. It was dinner time at Arkham Asylum. Everything seemed to be going so well. David was the happiest he had been in years. 

"Why are you so cheerful?"

David smiled at Julie with the most love in his eyes.

"They are moving to a regular cell next week. I don't think our daughter hates me anymore. She snuck me in Sour patch kids.."

Julie smiled plainly. She was studying her husband. He didn't seem to notice or he just didn't mind. Tonight's dessert was some weird form of chocolate pudding. Julie stared at her husbands pudding. He noticed and picked it up.

"Would you like mine too? I don't mind."

Julie shook her head and smiled. 

"Oh, no thank you. Actually I was about to ask you if you'd try it and see if it was even worth me eating."

David smiled warmly. He grabbed his spoon and took an entire spoonful out of the pudding pile. He ate three giant spoonfuls. 

"Honey.. I think you should eat it. It's not that bad. You know what I'm so excited about?"

Julie stared at him through narrowed eyes.

"What's that dear?"

He smiled brightly.

"Mercedes said that she was going to bring the kids to meet me next time she comes which is next week."

"Did she..?"

David nodded. A smile formed on Julie's face. David's smile had faded. He began chocking and gasping for air. He grabbed his throat. He tried to grab Julie, but she pulled away. She stared at him as he fell off the table bench and to the ground. Blood poured out of his mouth. 

"Unfortunately, you just won't be able to meet your grandkids David dear."

Julie smiled and put away her empty tray minus the pudding still left. She walked to the cafeteria door and a guard let her pass. Another guard was there to escort her back to her cell. She smiled the entire way back to her cell.