⬆️ https://youtu.be/fDAEUPpW9xM

Karoline's POV:

I sat in a chair beside Gerald's bed that he laid on in the hospital. He was resting. The stab wound on his shoulder was stitched up, now he was hooked up to medicine to make sure he didn't become unstable from the loss of blood. Holding onto his hand, tears slip down my face. "He told me he wouldn't hurt anyone." I whisper, gripping his hand more.

Hearing a soft knock on the door, I turn around. "My name is Detective Gordan, here to ask you some questions about the incident." A tall man with dark brown hair stepped inside. Holding up his name badge. I nodded my head, walking out of the room with the Detective. I see my mom resting in a different hospital bed next door. The nurses hooked her up, since the knocking gas Jerome poised her lungs with when invading inside our home had raised her blood pressure by a lot.

"Who was the man who did this?" Detective Gordan asked. We had stepped inside a different, empty room. Gesturing me to sit in a chair in front of him. I was silent. I didn't want Jerome to come after my family again. Detective Gordan looked at me. "We were suspecting it was Jerome Valeska. We looked at the camera footage outside the apartment complex you and your mother are living in. He came there... three times. The last time, he was jumping out of your kitchen window." Gordan said, I sighed.

"Yes... I had only learnt his name last night. He brought me to a circus. Where I think he lived with his mother, in a trailer?" I say, still trying to think of all of the events, in vivid detail. "Did you see his mother?" Gordan asked, I nod my head. "She smacked him in front of me after she said she didn't give a damn about me. Jerome told her not to talk to me that way. That's when she smacked him, and he told me to go home." I say, Gordan nods, writing it down on a notepad.

"When was the first time you met Jerome?" Gordan asked me, I look down, fiddling with my fingers. "Four days ago, at night. It was around 11:30, because my mom gets up and ready to leave at 11:40. My window was open, and I was working on my English introduction. Jerome jumped in through my window... and he held a knife up to me. Making sure I wouldn't scream for my mom. Right before he left... he had told me he would be back." I stuttered, tears running down my cheeks.

Gordan sighed, crouching down on his knees so I made eye contact with him. "We will get ahold of Jerome, and we will arrest him in Arkham." Gordan says, rubbing my shoulder. "We have all the evidence we need to keep him in prison after court. Then send him to Arkham asylum." Gordan says. "In the meantime, stay here with your mother and your friend for a few days. Security guards are standing by Gerald, and your mother's room. Nothing will happen to them. After we figure out everything, I will come back and tell you the details." Gordan says, standing up.

I nod my head, wiping the tears off my cheeks. "Thank you Gordan." I say, hugging onto him. This was the savior I wanted to be. I was determined to learn this detective's ways and become a good detective whenever I grow up. Gordan smiles to me. "Stay safe Karoline." Gordan says, walking out of the room. I sigh in relief, walking out and checking up on my mom. She was asleep on her side. I smile, my body feeling a warm comfort. Walking back into Gerald's room. I turn on the TV and keep it on silent until Gerald woke up from his rest.

Jerome's POV later that night:

I step inside the interrogation room. Tears still in my eyes. I needed to be careful with how I spoke, I couldn't show Detective Gordan suspicion. I see Mr. Cicero, and Ms. Lee, along with Gordan standing up by the table. "Hi Jerome. Please, take a seat." Gordan spoke, pulling out the chair for me. I sit down on it, being next to Mr. Cicero.

"You know Mr. Cicero from the show?" Gordan asked me. "Yes sir." I say, looking towards Cicero. "Hello Mr. Cicero." I speak. "Good evening, Jerome." He spoke back. I then look towards Detective Gordan. "Do you know why you're here?" Gordan asked me, I lean in. "Did you find out who killed my mother?" I ask him, waiting for the response. "You killed your mother Jerome." Gordan said, I shift. "Me?" I ask in surprise.

"You killed her up in your trailer, and Mr. Cicero let you clean up in his trailer. He told you to scratch the santanist stuff on the hatchet and throw it off the bridge." Gordan said, I shake my head. "Sir... that's absurd, and offensive." I say, I felt weird inside. But oddly, not scared. "But it's the truth. What I don't know is why this man risked so much to help you. I think he's your father." Gordan says, his elbows again resting on the table. Looking at me dead in the eyes.

I hiss out a unbelieved laugh. "You don't know what you're talking about. My father was a sea captain." I say, Gordan looks at Lee behind him. "Am I wrong, Mr. Cicero?" Gordan asks the blind man next to me. "Yes." Cicero replied, I look back at Gordan. "He was a sea captain. His name was Sven Karlsen, and he died at sea." I say, Gordan looks down, questioning his own thoughts for a moment.

"What was the name of his ship?" Gordan asked me. "He worked on a lot of different ships." I reply back to him. "The one he went down in." Gordan asked me again. I furrow my brows. "She never said." I shake my head, trying to play this off cool. But I could feel my insides boil. I was ready to show my maniac side. "We can do a blood test to prove I'm right. Takes only half an hour to get a full proof result. Isn't that right Dr. Tompkins?" Gordan asked a lady behind him. "Yes." She replied while looking at me.

"Save yourself a needle." Gordan says, eyeing me with his hopeful eyes. "I do hate needles." Mr. Cicero said next to me. I look beside me. "I'm sorry Jerome." Cicero said, fake tears filled my eyes. "What are you talking about?" I ask him. "He's right, I am your father." Cicero said, of course he was! No wonder he was always trying to protect my mother away from me.

"No you're not, why would you say that?" I ask him, my voice cracking. "You must have suspected the truth." Cicero said, I shake my head. "You're not my father, my mother would never-" I said, but Cicero cut me off. "Your mother was a cruel woman. She was often unkind to me. But she did once, love me, in her way." Cicero said, then continues. "And she loved you, very much, that's why she gave you a better father." Cicero said, tapping on my arm for comfort.

I start fake crying, my weeps filling throughout the room. Pointing my head down towards the table. I then started to laugh, sinisterly at the fact of me finally being revealed. I look up towards Gordan with a grin on my face. His face drops from sympathy, now he looked at me in discomfort.

I look towards Cicero. "My mother, was a cold hearted whore who never loved anyone. And she'd never touch, a pathetic, old, creep like you." I say, my voice darkening. Cicero moves his head around. "All these years, do you think I was kind to you because I'm such a good man? If I wasn't your father, would I have helped you with all I have after what you did?" Cicero asked me.

I turn towards the detective. Shrugging my shoulders unbothered. "My father, hmmm I'll be damned." I say, Gordan looking back at Tompkins then me. "No... it's very funny." I mumble, starting to laugh at the detective and Cicero. "Bah dumpshhhh." I say, taking my fist and pulling them apart with a smirk on my face. "Looks like the bitch got me with a zinger in the end." I say, looking at Gordan in satisfaction.

"Why did you kill your mother Jerome?" Gordan asked me, I raise my hand waving around as I rolled my eyes. "Oh you know how mother's are." I paused, looking at him with dark eyes. "She just... kept... pushing. And I'm like, fine mom, be a whore. Be a drunken whore even. But don't be, a nagging, drunken whore, y'know? Don't come yell at me to do the dishes, if you've been banging a clown, in the next room!" I say, slamming my fist down against the table. "You know?" I ask, laughing hysterically at the fact my mother was now dead.

Karoline's POV the next morning:

I sit awake in the hospital chair, a coffee on the bedside table. Keeping my tired eyes on the TV as it plays a cartoon channel. Gerald has been my lifetime friend. The only two people I've shown my love to were Gerald and my mother. They both cared about my well being, just as I did them. I was going to stay awake until I knew Jerome was in jail, and my mom and Gerald were okay.

Hearing low grunts, I turn behind me to look at Gerald. His eyes slowly opened, I jump up. Getting on my knees in front of the bed. "Gerald, are you okay?" I ask him in a low voice. I didn't want to scare him. Especially with how much pain he must be in. "Yeah, I'm okay." I hear his voice speak. I felt my eyes get watery.

"I'm so sorry for what happened to you. This is all my fault. I should have never brought you to my home. I'm so stupid." I say, gripping onto his hand as I felt he was going to be upset with me. Gerald intertwines our fingers. Looking at me with his eyes open. Clearing his throat, he shakes his head a little.

"This is not your fault. It was that maniacs fault. He shouldn't talk to you the way he did. He has no right putting his hands on you either." Gerald says, looking at me as his eyes fill up with tears as well. "We will be alright now. I'm sure he's been thrown in jail?" Gerald asked me, I sit back. Looking at him, he sighs himself. Knowing what my look meant.

"He will be. Has a detective come to speak with you?" Gerald asks, I nod my head. "His name was Detective Gordan. He said Jerome might also be put in jail for murdering his mother. So after court, he has a low chance of ever being able to get out of prison." I say, Gerald smiles, nodding his head at me. "I'm glad he didn't hurt you or hurt your mother the way he hurt me." Gerald says, relieved there wasn't a stab wound that when through our flesh.

"Where is your mother by the way?" Gerald asks, looking around. "She was hooked up to medicine. Jerome used sleeping gas on her to knock her out whenever we came home. It made her blood pressure high, so they're keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn't have a stroke, or a heart attack." I say, hoping my mother was still in a peaceful sleep and not hurting.

"Jerome, that's his name?" Gerald asked me, I nodded my head. "There is something I have to tell you... about Jerome." I say, sighing then beginning. "Sunday evening, around the time my mom leaves. Jerome came through my open window. I was typing my English essay. He had held a knife to me, trying to quiet me. He had said things... before he could do anything. Mom knocked on my door to make sure I was okay before she left. That's how he knew where I lived." I say, Gerald nods his head.

"Then Monday, I was feeling about ready to sleep. So I got up to use the bathroom, and these girls in the bathroom punched my lip, and kicked me in the ribcage, basically robbed me of my lunch money after that. That's why I went home early. And when I got home, mom was sleeping. So I went to cover up my lip. And Jerome knocked on the door. Barging in, and threatening me. Which is why I went somewhere with him. He took me to a circus. He lives in a trailer there. He had introduced me to his drunk mother, but whenever she said she didn't give a damn about me, she smacked him. And Jerome told me to go home." I say, taking a pause to let Gerald take it all in.

"I had ran into a man while walking home before I exited the circus. He warned me about Jerome. And how I should stay away from him." I say, wiping my tears. "Then whenever we went to my place. He was there. The past few days, all he had done was taunt me. He is crazy Gerald. That's why I never fought him. I didn't want it ending like this. But in the end, he hurt you and mom." I say, Gerald nods his head. "But you need to know, I'm not mad at you. I'm just glad you guys are safe." Gerald comments, I nod my head.

3rd's POV later that night:

Jerome was in handcuffs; they were locked to the medal table. "So, Jerome, why have you been taunting around Karoline Manning?" Detective Gordan asked, he was recording their conversation so anything Jerome said could be used against him during his next trial.

"She told you, what a nark." Jerome replied, rolling his eyes. "Why were you doing it, Jerome? She is 18 years old, the same age as you." Gordan said, sighing at how unbelievable Jerome was. "Because I can, Detective Gordan." Jerome gives Gordan a snark smile. "I'm allowed to have fun in this world, just like everyone else." Jerome replies, his hands resting in his lap. He wanted to get his hands on Karoline again.

"This is fun outlaws have, not non-outlaws. Why would you speak to her the way you did? You both are the same age! Shouldn't you feel the slightest bit of regret to what tramua you've caused to the beginning of her future?" Gordan raises his voice, Jerome smirks. "Have I hit a nerve?" Jerome taunted, Gordan stood up. "You will soon be transported to a Insane Asylum; you'll get shock therapy to fix that messed up brain of yours." Gordan curses out, Jerome keeps his smirk towards Gordan.

"She is my doll, I will soon escape, and go after her. Again, and again. Until she's officially crazy, just like me." Jerome spoke, laughing out. Gordan smacks his fists down. "You won't get away with the things you've done. You went after the wrong people." Gordan says, grabbing the tape recorder. Stopping the tape, Gordan walks out of the room. He was ready to take a visit to Karoline.

Karoline's POV the next day:

I was cleaning up the hospital room. Cleaning up Gerald's clothes, tidying up anything that wasn't supposed to be in that spot. My mother had woken up, she ate breakfast, then headed back to rest. So did Gerald.

Hearing a knock on the door, I see Gordan there. Smiling at me. "Detective Gordan? What are you doing here?" I ask him, his smile slowly fades. I could feel my stomach grow worry. I step out into the hall with him. "Can I bring you down to the station?" Gordan asked me, I nod my head. "Did you find something out?" I ask Gordan, I told the nurse if either my mom or Gerald woke up to tell them I went down to the police station.

Gordan and I were walking to the GCPD. "We got evidence on Jerome killing his mother, and we have proof of you being with him the night of Lila Valeska's death." Gordan said, I walk into his office, sitting down in a seat in front of him. He pulls a phone out of his pocket. "This is yours." Gordan said, passing it to me. "Where did you find it?" I ask him, Gordan sighed. "It was on the counter of Lila's trailer. There was no password, and we investigated it. It had Gerald's contact information, along with your mother's. So, I knew it belonged to you." Gordan said, giving me a slight smile.

"Thank you. He took it before he brought me to the circus with him." I say, giving him a smile back. I felt so grateful for all Gordan's help. "I want to offer, if you wanted the tape of Jerome confessing about going after you. It is... graphic, but it's your choice." Gordan says, looking at me. A tape recorder in his hands. I shake my head. "I think I already have an idea of what he said." I say, shivering at the thoughts. Detective Gordan nods. "But there is someone I want for you to meet. He is 19, and someone who i trust very much who have been in similar situations before." Gordan spoke, then continued. "He might understand how you feel, maybe he could help you calm down about the situation." Gordan speaks, I nod my head. "I'll be right back then." Detective informed, exiting the room, then coming back a few minutes later. A tall, but shorter man than Gordon stepped inside. He had neatly styled black hair, and wearing a black suit.

"Karoline, meet Bruce Wayne. Bruce, meet Karoline Manning."

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