Silent Whispers

I Have Planned a Series of Events

The group dressed in their nice outfits, with some looking better than others, was brought into the hall to walk to the dining room for the dinner that Isabelle could smell from her room. She didn't have much experience with many types of food so she couldn't tell what it was.

Jerome came up behind her and she slightly jumped as he leaned close enough for her to hear his whisper "Lookin' good gorgeous"

Isabelle glared at him over her shoulder for startling her. "Your shoes untied." she said. 

Jerome looked down to see and remember his shoes didn't have laces. "Oh good one Cherry." he snickered. 

They entered the dining room to see a giant table covered in a wide variety of food. The group stopped to stare at the feast. Isabelle didn't know what half of the food was, but assumed it was all delicious judging by the smells. Jerome had never seen this much food in his life. Barbra was overcome with happiness, she may not have been there long but she'd rather stare than eat Arkham's food. The other inmates were just as excited.

"Right on time" Gavan praised, coming from behind them. He sat in a cushioned chair at the end of the table and motioned for them to do the same.

Jerome sat next to Isabelle for reasons she didn't know. She still had no idea what his problem was. He's hated her guts for two years. How could he change his views so quickly? How could he go from being an abused little kid to a murderer? The old Jerome would have sat as far away from her as the building's walls would allow and give her the death stare from across the room.

"Please, help yourself with whatever you can reach." Galavan said. The group immediately dug in, filling their mouths with whatever could fit.

After a good half an hour Theo tapped the edge of his spoon against his crystal looking glass. As he expected no one looked up from their plates. He continued anyway. "I hope your rooms are to your liking. I'd like to start off and say thank you all for your help. If you do your part, I know you'll do great things. I have planned a series of events for you all to accomplish within the next month. Your first: setting a name for yourselves."

The inmates eyed each other in confusion. Theo noted this and smiled at the fact he now had their full attention. "You will be taken to the Yellen shipyard to retrieve a few captives. Then you will drop them off the Gotham Gazette building." Galavan explained.

He paused and turned his attention to Aaron. "Aaron, due to your impeccable strength you will be tossing the hostages off the bridge. Robert, you can paint the letters onto their jackets." He smiled and gave a dark laugh, excited to stretch his legs after being stuck in Arkham for so long. "Arnold, with your-" he paused, searching for a way to explain a schizophrenic's brain. "'creative' mind I'm sure you can come up with a name for our little team." He giggled with anticipation. "Isabelle, with your experience with 'secret missions' I need you to make sure nothing goes wrong. Keep the boys in check."

Isabelle narrowed her eyes. How could he possibly know about her work in Russia?

"Oh I know all about you and the Turning Project..."

Her eyes widened in fear. An emotion she didn't she'd been trained for years not to show. If anyone, especially someone like him, knew about her old life her new one could be put in danger.

Galavan smiled, amused he had something other than death to persuade her to follow his plan. "Don't worry my lips are sealed. That is if you cooperate."

He turned to Jerome. "Jerome, I'm sure you could add some flare to the whole operation." he was busy gulping away from his glass, but gave a thumbs up.

Barbra waited for her name, but it never came.

"Right then" Galavan said, standing from his chair. "I have some things to attend to so when you're finished my men will escort you back to your rooms."

He made it halfway out of the room when Barbra said "What about me?"

He turned slightly and simply replied "Your time will come."

His absence left an awkward silence in the room. Isabelle could still feel the inmate's eyes on her from Galavan's threat, so she was the one to break it. "I'm finished," she said and stood from her chair.

"Me too" Barbra said, also standing up.

The boys all looked at each other and got up as well. A tall man with a large gun in his hands followed them closely behind out the door. Once they reached the bedroom hall the group departed and entered their separate rooms.

____________________________

Everyone in the Galavan penthouse lay asleep, except two teens with the same topic on their minds.

Jerome's head was full of questions. What the hell is the Turning Project? Why is her hair so pretty? Who the hell is Isabelle Cherry if not the russian girl running the ticket booth? He shook them all off. He didn't like to think about things for too long. It would ruin the surprise if he made conclusions himself. He'd get her to tell him. Like a sort of game. He loved games.

Isabelle laid awake wondering how her life even got to this point and who she should blame. She thought of her father leaving her and her mother with nothing. How a strange man proposed her mother riches in trade for her daughter. Isabelle had so many people to be angry at she couldn't choose. As anger began to make her skin hot, her thoughts and the voice fought for dominance. No voices. There was more than one this time. She couldn't tell if they were male or female, young or old, it was just indistinct chatter. She thought about that too. She'd never heard voices before. Not until Jerome showed his true colors. Maybe it woke something inside her. The voice seemed to like Jerome's idea of revenge. It did tell her to exact the same on Mary. She didn't have to listen. She could have simply slapped Mary, but she didn't.

Her mind somehow drifted to Jerome. What a creepy kid. What an idiot. What a creepy, annoying, stupidly handsome and wonderful insanity inspiring idiot.