Penguin's Majesty

7. Meeting Hugo Strange

It had been a week since being emitted into Arkham. I was slowly going crazy. The screams that keep you up at night. The horrible slop they called food. The nagging question after question from the docs. The bothersome inmates that couldn't or wouldn't take no for an answer.

Of course I had taken care of them but... I had also been put into the isolation ward for nearly killing them.

What? I learned many things during y time with fish. But she always kept telling me about her cute little umbrella boy. A penguin. She said he was. Made me wonder why I never met him. She told me I'd meet him soon. After all we'd make quite the team. At least that's what she said.

I was currently in my cell when a guard came and said, "Alright V-226 no funny business this time! The doc wants to see ya."

"Fine take me away..."

He did just that. Except we weren't going to my usual doc. Her office was in the opposite direction. No we were going somewhere different. We soon came to a door that had the name...

'Dr. Hugo Strange'

Curious. Why was I seeing this guy and not my usual doctor?

The guard knocked and we heard, "come in"

The guard did as ordered and left.

"Please do sit down miss Pennington."

I did as told warily.

"Now I want to ask you a few questions."

I nodded

"Alright before we get started I'm going to ask you about you and your family's medical history. Has anyone in your family died if a heart attack? A deadly disease?"

I shook my head 'no'.

"Alright." He said writing it down. "Anyone died of an overdose of drugs? Drunk driving? Any family members known to have an STD?"

Again I shook my head.

"Okay... have you used any of the following within the past six months? Drugs, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, purposefully harmed yourself?"

"No."

"Alright enough with the medical questions. Now I want to know why? Why did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Murdering your household staff."

"I... I didn't."

"Well if you didn't, then who did?"

"I don't know..."

"Well then tell me what happened."

"ITS RIGHT BLOODY THERE IN THE DAMNED POLICE REPORT!" I yelled at him although he seemed unfazed.

"Yes I know but I'd like to hear it from you."

"I was on my way home from Bruce Wayne's manor. I was visiting and giving him my condolences. On my way however I decided to venture off. I went to a club. I stayed there for a few hours and came home near midnight. When I got home. It was silent... so very quiet. I wasn't used to such eary silence so I went looking for Marcy my maid. I looked in my room, her room and then the kitchen... I found her body laying face first with a knife sticking out of her back...." I cringed as I went into the details of their deaths. And by the end of it I was a crying bumbling mess.

Dr. Hugo gave me some tissues as I cried. Then he began writing again.

"How was your relationship with your parents?"

"I won't talk about it. Anyone and everyone knows how they treated me. They were murdered while I was at home. All my staff have a statement saying as much. I also gave one."

"Yes it appears you did. Have you ever wanted more?"

"Excuse me? I don't follow."

"Wanted to be something more than a little rich girl? Or a young mob boss in the making?"

"Yes... once. There was a certain time in my life where the only thing I wanted was love. But I found out the hard way. Love weakens us. It makes us vulnerable. And vulnerability in Gotham? Is like signing your own death warrant."

"Is it? What I see is a young women scared to reach for what she wants. Too scared of the damage it could cause her. But love is also a strength. It makes us do things we never thought we'd do."

"Why did you ask?"

"I'm required to ask questions. Have you ever wanted anything less?"

"Yes. I have wished I wasn't rich sometimes so that I could find where my true friends are. And I have."

"And who are those people?"

"Fish Mooney, And Butch Gilzean."

"And why are they your friends?"

"They understand me. They helped me embrace who I am today. They helped get through it all."

"So they helped you get away with murder?"

"NO! They helped me through
the fact that I had just lost whatever was left of the few people I considered family!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes and when I get out of here. My number one priority is to find that bastard who did this. And make him suffer slowly until he breathes his very last breath! Then and only then will I be at peace."

"Yes but what happens after that?"

"I don't know... but I'll find out. Maybe I could try to live a normal life. And only kill in defense. I don't know doc. But I do know whatever happens. I'll keeping marching on. Because that's what I do. I'm a survivor, and I will keep fighting until my very last breath."

"Very touching Miss Pennington. And perhaps one day you will live a normal life."

"Thanks doc."

"Anytime. Now I do believe our time is up." He stood from his chair.

"Very well then." I stood up with him.

"I'll escort you to your cell." He opened the door for me and gestured, 'after you'.

"Of course." I said complying with him.

We went to my cell and as soon as he left I hit the makeshift bed and fell asleep.