Chapter based on confessions of a serial killer episode of Gotham.

Desdemona POV

"Come Desdemona, it's time we were heading home."

"Otay daddy." I replied taking his hand and yawning. "Me sowwy daddy."

At this, daddy cocked his eyebrows at me. "Oh? For what Desdemona?"

"Fowa not staying by the mean wady's home. Me wasn't wunning away. You told me to stay wifth Jewome. He said he was gonna take me to see me mama." I replied and daddy looked at me confused.

Zachary POV

"Your mother?" Desdemona nodded and I looked at her in complete confusion and a slight frown. Desdemona pulled me towards the animal cages and pointed to the cage with the gorillas in it.

As We walked up to the cage the female gorilla started sniffing the air and getting super exited. Desdemona smiled at her. "Mama." She said pointing to her.

"Oh no." I groaned replied rubbing my fingers in circles on either side of my head. I felt as if I were getting a major headache. The gorilla reached towards Desdemonaand I pulled her back towards me causing the gorilla to snarl at me.

"Me want to give mama a hug." Desdemona said sweetly.

"I don't think that's a good idea sweetheart. She could hurt you." I replied and Desdemona looked at me in confusion.

"Why would mama do that? Mama lobes me just like you do daddy." Desdemona replies and I sighed.

"Alright you can go a little closer but not too close ok? I don't want her pulling you into the cage. It would be very hard to get you back out again."

"Why?"

"It's complicated sweetheart." I replied sighing once more.

Despite my warnings, Desdemona ran up to the cage and jump into the gorilla's outstretched arms. I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned in irritation. Then I once again began to rub my fingers on either side of my forehead trying to fight back the headache that was beginning to form as I continued to groan/ growl in irritation.

I resisted the desire to yell at Desdemona I knew that the gorillas would be protective of her should they feel that Desdemona was in any type of danger.

To my surprise the female gorilla didn't try to pull  Desdemona into the cage but rather just rocked her back and forth until she became sleepy. Once Desdemona was asleep she made quite sounds indicating that she wanted me to come get Desdemon . "Thank you." I whisper as I took Desdemona from her arms.

Once I was out of the gorilla's sight I woke Desdemona up and glared at her angrily. This was the second time today that she had deliberately disobeyed me. I had to put a stop to this or she'd continually disobey me and lose all respect and fear of me.

"Uh-oh. What me du wong now?" Desdemona asks worriedly.

"You know the answer to that Desdemona. Think, think real hard.... Now tell me what you did wrong this time."

Desdemona's eyes go wide "me sowwy daddy, me nu mean to disobey you gain."

Daddy sighed and then gave me a slightly creepy smile. "And how do you suggest we deal with your misbehavior?"

"You told Jewome dat you is going to get wid of me. Dat you Nu be me daddy nu mowa." I replied with a sniffle.

"Shhh. Don't cry little one. I have no intention of returning you to the orphanage from whence you came. However, let me make something perfectly clear to you, this is the last time I will ever show you this kind of leniency."

"From now on you are going to have to prove yourself worthy of the life I've given you. If you fail, I assure you, you won't like the consequences."

"Wes daddy." Desdemona whispers lowering her gaze.

I noticed Jeremiah frowning at me from the seat next to Desdemona. "Do you have a problem boy?"

"No. None whatsoever Mr. Trumble."

"Good." It didn't take long before my little Princess had fallen asleep. Which was good since I didn't want her asking questions about Jeremiah. After dropping Him off at the location given to me by my sister I took Desdemona home. I couldn't help but smile as I saw the peaceful look on her face as she slept in her car seat.

As I placed Desdemona in her bed I sighed. I wished that I could keep Desdemona this young and innocent forever. Little did I know that my wish would come true.

Time skip. Jerome POV

The w*o*e was drunk again for the millionth time. As usual she was messing around with "Uncle Marty" having a blast. It was well past midnight. I groaned and pulled a pillow over my head to try and drown them out. As usual I was sore from being beaten by his "mother"'s lover.

Sighing I tried to fall asleep just when I was about too I found myself being shaken awake by A half dressed drunk w*o*e. "Jerome honey are you awake? Could you do mommy a big favor?"

"What is it mom? I'm trying to get some sleep. I have to be up in a few hours to practice for the show tonight." I replied with a groan.

"There's going to be a talent scout in the crowd tonight and mommy needs her beauty sleep. Could you do the dishes for me?" The whore  replied dragging me behind her to the kitchen. Then with a giggle she kissed me on the forehead. "Thanks honey. Mommy loves you." With that she went back to her lover and continued having her "fun."

I scoffed as I watched her stumble back to her bedroom. Get some beauty sleep my fat aunt Harry." I grumbled as I scrubbed the dishes till my hands were raw and bleeding. Later that night both the w*o*r and her lover took turns beating Me until I blacked out from the pain.

"How much longer are you going to let her keep doing this too you?"

"Who?"

"I'm your better half. I'm tired of that wh*re treating us like (bad words.) It's time we taught her who's boss."

"Who are you?"

"Let's just say I'm your conscience."

"If your my conscience why do you sound so evil?"

At this voice laughs "Heee haaa now that's funny. This wh*ore beats us daily and I'm the one who's evil." Grabbing an ax Jerome went into his mother's room.

"Jerome, what are you doing?" Lila asked in confusion.

"Why am I here? It's simple I'm tired of your constant verbal and physical abuse. I'm going to make sure that you can never lay a hand on me again."

"Jerome honey, can't we talk about this?" The w*o*e  replied pleadingly. "Mommy's sorry."

"Liar!" I hissed at her as I brought the ax down upon her leg. As the blood splattered on my face the Lizzie Borden rhyme began to play in me head over an rover again. Lizzie Borden took an ax gave her mother forty whacks when she saw what she had done she gave her father forty one." I hummed as I continued to attack the w*o*r*'s body.

I smiled and let out a laugh after looking at my masterpiece. What Lizzy Borden had done to her parents would seem like child's play by the time I was done with this wh*re of a mother of mine. She didn't deserve the title of mother.

After a few hours I stared down in shock at the now mutilated body. "What have I done?" I moaned dropping the ax.

"We did what was necessary. Now she can no longer abuse us. Go to Mr. Cicero he will help you. If he refuses after you ask politely then I'll have to use a more persuasive means to get him to assist us. But I think don't think he will refuse."

It didn't take me long to reach Mr. Cicero's trailer. After I told him what had happened he surprisingly didn't seem upset by what I told him. In fact, he seemed more then willing to help Me hide what I had done. He told me to carve a hate symbol into the hatchet which would throw suspicion off of myself and then toss it into the nearby river.

Ringmaster POV

"Ringmaster we've got a situation."

"I know, I know, Owen and Al got into another fight."

"No, it's not that... It's Lila sir, she's..."

"She's what?"

"She's been murdered."

"What?" I asked in horror. I stared down at the mutilated body and my stomach churned. The body was barely recognizable.

"Should we contact the police?"

"No. No police. We will handle this as we always have done. If someone from our community has done this justice will be served. If it was an outsider well, there's not much we can do about it. For now, help me hide the body. We will give her a proper burial when we get back on the road. And boys, best keep this to ourselves. The last thing we need is a panic on our hands or the police snooping around."

"As you wish ringmaster."

I groan a fight broke out between a few of the families right in the middle of the show. And of course a member of the GCPD had to be among those in the crowd. He insisted on conducting an investigation as to why the fight broke out. It was simple these two men were hot heads and they both had eyes for Lila. This was the last thing that I needed to deal with right now. Of course the officer demanded to speak with
Lila. I had to be calm or they'd suspect something. So I lead them to her trailer.

Time jump to a few hours later, I returned to to trailer trying desperately to forget these horrible events.

I look out the window to see the Ringmaster leading a cop towards our trailer. I knew instantly that they had found my mother's body. I had to pretend that I didn't know what was going on. Upon hearing a knock on the door I open it to reveal the Ringmaster and two strangers. "GCPD we need to speak to Lila." The man replies.

"She's not here. Why what's happened?" I ask in fake concern.

"Where is she?" Gorden asks.

"I don't know." I reply as I put on my coat. "She was supposed to be home ages ago."

"Are you a relative?" The Detective asks.

"I'm her son, Jerome."

"Jerome, when did you last see her?"

"This morning, she was here when I left for the library."

"Relax Jerome. This gentleman is here because Owen and Al had a disagreement. Your mother's fine, gone on a spree no doubt. You know how she is." The Ringmaster replies I can tell that He knows that this isn't the truth.

"A spree? Without her hat, her coat or her purse? Look at Sheeba she's distraught she knows somethings wrong." I reply pointing towards a boa constrictor in a cage near the trailer.

"The snake does seem to be agitated." Gorden agrees a grimace on his face.

"Sir, she's what you call a Party girl, back in the mourning her knickers in a handbag, sure as eggs." The Ringmaster says somewhat quietly.

"But she didn't take her handbag did she? How fast does an animal like that move?"

"Umm fast walking pace. They rely on surprise mainly." I reply.

"Let her out." Gorden demands with a semi smile.

"I'm sorry?" I asks seemingly confused.

"Let her out." Gorden reply's again.

I do as he asks. We follow the python to the back of a truck which is covered up by a large burlap cover.  The snake slithers up under the cover and disappears.

As Gorden lifts the cover his partner gasps in shock. "OMG." She says as they stare at Lila's bloody body the Sheeba slithering around it.

I let's out a groan of sadness dropping to the ground Gorden's partner placing a hand on my shoulder in support.

Gorden turns to the Ringmaster clearly upset, "you knew. You knew she was here."

"No." The Ringmaster replied closing his eyes.

"Look at me." Gorden demands.

The Ringmaster sighs "she was like that when we found her." He then leads them to where the body had been found. "A couple of riggers found her right here. We decided to hide her on the truck. We were going to give her a proper burial as soon as we got back on the road."

"Decent of you." Gorden reply's sarcastically. "Who's we? Who else knew?"

"Just the head of the families and myself. If an outsider killed her what can you do? An act of God. If it was one of us, we always find out and we make sure they are punished."

"Oh?" The Detective replies with skepticism in his voice.

"We have our ways." The Ringmaster replies. It was true, we did have our own laws and punishments for crimes within the Circus. Which varied from having to do jobs people hated like cleaning the animal cages to exile.

"And we have ours. Cuff him." A little while later several members of circus are lead into the station for questioning. "Good morning partner. We are going to need a little help here."

"Your not kidding." His partner Harvey replies then adds. "Your kidding right? This isn't some kind of elaborate joke?" He asks as Gorden disappears.

Several hours later, I found myself along with Quinn in an interrogation room sitting down next to Mr. Cicero the blind fortune teller. "You know Mr. Cicero from the circus." Gorden said as Jerome and Quinn sat down.

"Yes sir." I reply as I sat down. "Hello Mr. Cicero."

"Good evening Jerome." Mr. Cicero replied.

"You know why your here?" Gorden asked.

"Did you find out who killed my mother?" I reply leaning forward.

"You killed your mother."

"Me?" I repeat looking confused.

"You killed your mother up on that hill and Mr. Cicero helped you clean up in his trailer. He told you to scratch the satanic symbols on the hatchet and throw it off the bridge."

"That's absurd and offensive." I reply with a frown.

"Sir, there has got to be some kind of mistake. Jerome could never do something like that. Despite how his mother treated him Jerome loved her. He could never have killed her. He could never kill anyone." Quinn replied.

The detective gave Quinn a look of sympathy. Obviously she didn't know her friend as well as she thought she did. "I'm sorry but he can and he did. Didn't you Jerome? What I don't know is why this man risked so much to help you." Gorden replied. "You know what I think? I think that he's your father."

"You don't know what your talking about. My father was a sea captain."

"Am I wrong Mr. Cicero?"

"Yes." The old man replied.

"He was a sea captain his name was Sphen Carlson he died at sea."

"It's true Detective Gorden. I was there when Lila told him about his father." Quinn said.

"What was the name of his ship?"

"He worked on many different ships." I replied looking confused.

"The one he went down in." Gorden replied.

"She never said." I replied.

"We could do a blood test to prove I'm right." Gorden replied not backing down. "It takes only a half hour to get a fool proof result isn't that right doctor Thompkins?"

"Yes." The lady in the room replied.

"Save yourself a needle."

"I do hate needles." Mr. Cicero replied. "I'm sorry Jerome."

I looked at Mr. Cicero a few tears in my eyes "what are you taking about?"

"He's right, I am your father." Mr. Cicero replied.

"No, your not, why would you say that?" I demanded angrily. Quinn looked over at Mr. Cicero in confusion.

"You must have suspected the truth." Mr. Cicero replied.

"Your Not my father! My mother would never..."

"Your mother was a cruel woman, she was often unkind but she did once love me, in her way. And she loved you very much." Mr. Cicero replied patting My arm. "That's why she gave you a better father."

At this, I put his head down and started crying or so it seemed. Until I looked upward a sadistic smile across my face. "My mother was a cold hearted wh*ore she'd never touch an old man like you." I  replied coldly.

"Jerome." Quinn whispered looking at me in shock. This was the first time she'd ever seen me being rude to someone.

"All these years do you think I was kind to you because I was such a good man? If I wasn't your father would I have helped you as I have? After what you did?" Mr. Cicero replied.

"My father? Hummm. I'll be (bad word). That's very funny. Budnkshh." I replied pretending to hit a cymbal. "Looks like the (bad word) got me with a zinger in the end."  I replied.

"Why did you kill your mother Jerome?"

"Oh you know how mom's are. She just kept pushing. You know? I like my mom go ahead Be a wh*ore, Be a drunken wh*ore. But don't be a nagging drunken wh*re. Don't come yell at me to do the (bad word) dishes when you've been banging a clown in the next room. You know?" At this, I began laughing manically.

Quinn backed away from Me shaking her head in disbelief. I could see a hint of fear in her eyes and I inwardly sighed. The last thing that I wanted was for Quinn to be afraid of me.

"Jerome Valeska your under arrest for the brutal murder of your mother Lila Valeska. Anything you say and do can and will be held against you in a court of law."

Courthouse Quinn POV

"Jerome Valeska you have been accused of violently murdering your mother in cold blood how do you plead?"

Jerome rises from his seat. "I plead guilty your honor."

"No he doesn't." His Defense attorney replies.

"This is highly irregular. Do you need a moment to speak with your client?"

"Yes sir."

"What are you doing? Are you crazy?! You can't plead guilty!! They will sentence you to death."

"Your point?"

"Jerome please...Let us help you." I beg and he sighs.

"Fine. I'll play along with your game."

"We plead not guilty via insanity."

"We intend to prove without a shadow of a doubt that this young man is a cold blooded murdered and we explore you to find him guilty as charged. Considering the brutally of the murder and the fact that the suspect shows no remorse for his actions whatsoever we are requesting that he be given the death penalty."

"No. You can't!" I reply rising from my seat.

"Order. I will have order. Another outburst like that young lady and I shall have you removed from the courtroom."

"I won't let you sentence him to death. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he didn't commit murder. He killed his mother if you can call her that, in self defense."

My attorney turned to me with a look of confusion on their face. "What is she talking about?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does. It could mean the difference between incarceration at Arkham Asylum or the death penalty. Sir if I may, I'd like to take a short recess to speak with this young lady."

"Very well. Court will reconvene in fifteen minutes."

I have to try my hardest not to smile. Despite what I had done, Quinn still cared about me. "I fail to see why we are discussing this. I'm guilty. I murdered that wh*re in cold blood. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner."

"Jerome you know that's not true. Your mother was abusive not only to you, but to your siblings as well."

"Siblings? What siblings?"

Jerome shrugs "I haven't the foggiest idea what she's talking about. As far as I am aware my only sibling died a long time ago. I murdered that (bad word) in cold blood."

"That's not true and you know it! Lila was a cruel women, who never cared about anyone but herself. She was both an alcoholic and drug addict. She sold his baby sister for money and drugs. When she was drunk which was pretty much 24/7 she and her lover's would take turns beating Jerome until he blacked out from the pain."

"I found him bleeding and almost unconscious multiple times a day. In fact, on more then one occasion she threatens to kill him. In fact, one day when he was unconscious, she almost allowed one of her many lovers to throw him in a river to drown. I am certain that the night he killed Lila, the abuse had been worse then all the previous occasions. So you see, Jerome killed his so called mother for lack of a better word in self preservation."

"Is this true Jerome? Was your mother abusive?"

"Why should that matter? I killed her. End of story."

"Young lady, if this so called abuse happened as often as you claim, why was it never reported to the proper authorities?"

"We grew up in the circus. The circus has it's own way of dealing with things. We have a group of families in charge of determining how to punish wrong doers. The problem was, that his mother slept around with all the men of the circus. The very men who were in charge of those decisions. These men. when drunk, would often help Lila beat Jerome. Do you think they would be quick to admit their own guilt?"

"Of course not. They'd call Jerome a liar. Their wives didn't want to admit that their husbands cheated on them with his mother. So why should they care about Jerome? He was the son of a slut. As far as they were concerned, he deserved to be punished for his existence. My mother tried to involve the police once and they did nothing. In fact, they laughed in her face because she was from the circus." Quinn replied bitterly.

"I see. And you'd be willing to testify to this in court."

"Yes."

"No. Absolutely not!"

"But Jerome...."

"I said no Quinn! I don't want you to testify. I'm guilty. I deserve to be sent to jail."

"No you don't."

Back in the courtroom against my wishes my defense attorney was using Quinn as what he called a character witness.

"Your honor base on this young woman's testimony we request that the charges of first degree murder be dropped. That the case be dismissed and his actions labeled as justifiable homicide."

Time jump

Desdemona POV

Today is my first day of high school and I was nervous. I had been made fun of a lot in elementary and middle school but I never told my dad. He'd have insisted that I remain home. I sighed as I exited the car. "Is something wrong Desdemona?"

"No. Just a little nervous I guess. I'll be alright. I'll see you later." I said giving my dad a fake smile before turning and heading towards the building. I hadn't gotten very far when I found my way blocked.

"I think your lost kid. Elementary school is three buildings over." A young man said with a scoff. I sighed rolled my eyes and continued to try and enter the building. "I don't think you heard me. You don't belong here. Now get lost before you get yourself hurt."

I ignored him and managed to push my way past him. "Excuse me little one are you lost? The elementary school is next two schools over."

"I am not lost and I am not a little girl. I am fifteen. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get to my first class. I don't want to be late on my first day." I replied leaving the teacher speechless.

"Class my name is Mr. Cicero and I shall be your music teacher. We have a new student today please give her a warm welcome. I looked over at Mr. Cicero in confusion. Where had I seen him before?

I heard one of my classmates fake cough and whisper "freak." As I walked past.

"I heard that she was so ugly that even the freak show at the local circus didn't want her." I heard another classmate whisper causing the others to giggle.

Mr. Cicero frowned, he didn't like that the other students were spreading rumors about me. After clearing his throat and getting the other  students attention he turned his attention back to me. "Please take your seat Mrs. Valeska."

"Did he just say Valeska?"

"Yeah why?" Another student asked.

"You don't think she's related to that insane criminal who hijacked that school bus do you?"

I groaned giving myself a mental facepalm. I had a feeling that while Mr. Cicero was trying to help me, he had made things a whole lot worse. Unfortunately, I was right. As soon as class was over I was surrounded by my classmates.

"So your related to that creep who hijacked the school bus and doused the students with gasoline."

"My last name is not Valeska it's Trumble. Please I don't want any trouble. I don't know who Mr. Cicero was talking about."

"My big sister was on that bus." One of my classmates said angrily shoving me.

"My baby sister was on that bus. She's been traumatized ever since the event. She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming."

"Let's teach this brat a lesson in what happens when you mess with our families."

"This is for my sister." One student said punching me in the stomach casing me to fall to my knees.

"This is for mine." Another student replied kicking me in the face and in my side.

I tried to cover my body but the blows just kept coming. "Help me." I pleaded reaching towards a nearby teacher. However, instead of helping me the teacher came and grabbed me by my hair.

"My daughter committed suicide because of that day. You deserve this and much more after what he did. Even if you're not related to that crazy man, you deserve to be punished for having the same last name as him."

The teacher said punching me in the face and then spitting on me before walking away. Leaving me to continue to be beaten by my fellow classmates.

It was only when I was about to black out from
the pain, that a teacher finally stepped in to stop the abuse. "What are you doing? Leave the poor girl alone! Are you alright?" The teacher asked helping me to my feet. I groaned in reply as I wiped the blood from my nose and lip.

"Let's get you to the nurse's station. Then turning to the other students the teacher scolded them. "You should be ashamed of yourselves picking on a defenseless child."

"She's no child she's a freak. She should do the world a favor and crawl into a cave and die." One of the students replied.

The teacher glared angrily at the other students as they lead me to the nurses station. "Nurse this child is in desperate need of attention."

Upon seeing me the nurse frowned and shook her head no. "I'm sorry but I can't help her. Send her to the principal's office."

"This child needs immediate medical attention. Can't you see that she's in pain?" The teacher replied but the nurse shook her head.

"I'm sorry, do I look like I care? I will not help the likes of her. Now if you'll excuse I have other students to assist. Please take that Thing out of here and don't ever bring It in here again." The nurse hissed slamming the door in our faces.

The teacher frowned and lead me to the front office. "I need to speak to the principal immediately."

"What is it Mrs. McKeena?"

"This student has been assaulted by numerous students and I'm ashamed to say the staff as well. She is in desperate need of medical attention."

"So why bring her to me? Take her to the nurses station." The principal replied not looking up from his paperwork.

"The nurse refused to attend to her." Mrs. McKeena replied with a frown.

"That's not my problem. Being bullied is just a part of life."

"There's a fine line between being bullied and being assaulted. Are you going to do something about this or not?" Mrs. McKeena demanded the principal shrugged.

"If Mrs. Valeska can't handle a little bit of bullying, then perhaps she shouldn't be in school at all. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of work to do. I don't have time to spend it worrying about a brat like her." The principal replied. "Besides, I warned her that this would happen."

"From what I've been told, she instigated the fight between her and her classmates. I'm going to have to suspend you."

"I can't have one student upsetting the entire school. I'll be calling your father to come and pick you up. For your own good, I suggest that you do not return."

"This isn't right." Mrs. Mackeena muttered under her breath.

"No please. I'll be good. I'll go to my classes and won't bother anyone. Please don't call my father. Please don't suspend me. He is going to be so angry with me."

"You should've thought about that before starting a riot in my school." The principal replied coldly. "Get me Mr. Trumble on the phone. Tell him that it's urgent. That he needs to come to the school right away."

Zachary POV

As the years pass I have noticed that my niece's body hasn't aged a day past the age of three. She seemed so excited about the idea of going to school but I was very concerned. It turns out that I had every right to be.

I still remember the phone call from the principal. "I'm sorry to inform you that your daughter was in a fight today. A fight from what I'm told she instigated."

I frowned that didn't sound right. "Are you sure? My daughter is very withdrawn and doesn't like confrontation. I find it highly unlikely that she started a fight. If anything, she most likely tried to stopping it."

"May I be honest with you sir?"

"Of course."

"The truth is that she's doesn't belong in a school environment. She's what? Two?"

"I am fifteen." I could hear my daughter telling the principal in the background.

"It seems that she has a problem with lying. I'd appreciate it if you could come pick her up. I don't have time to spend babysitting her all day. It's enough that I have to deal with the students that I currently deal with." The principal replied.

"I'll be there momentarily." I replied hanging up the phone. I growled as I placed the closed sign on the dinner. I hated having to close up early. Desdemona was going to be in for one hell of a beating when we got home.

Upon arriving at the school I was enraged by what I saw. Even from a distance I could tell that my sweet little Desdemona had bruises all over her body from head to toe. "What happened?" I demanded resisting the urge to swear.

Desdemona just looked down at the ground and let out a quiet whimper. As I examined her I glared angrily at the principal. "Just what kind of institution are you running here?"

"Sir, this is the finest school in Gotham. Did you know that she had the audacity to lie and say that she's fifteen?"

I clenched my fist in irritation fighting the desire to deck this arrogant principle. So in instead I gritted my teeth and replied "If you bothered to read your student's files you know that she was born with youth lock."

"While she may look 3, I can assure that she is indeed fifteen. Know this, I shall be filing charges against the school. It is blatantly obvious that you can't control your student and that your staff is made of incompetent idiots."

"I beg your pardon?" The principal replied.

At this point I really wanted to cuss this arrogant principal out but I knew that would only upset Desdemona and she'd been through enough. "Come on Desdemona, Let's go home, before I do or say something I'm going to regret." I replied.

Desdemona took two steps forward but felt something hit her in the back of the head and she fell to the ground. I instantly ran over to her and cradled her in my arms.

"Me sowwy daddy." She whispered as I clicked her into her car seat. I could sense that she was falling into her toddler mindset.

"Shhh. None of what happened today was your fault. We are going to have you looked at to make sure that your alright. Then we are going to file a report with the police." I replied.

"Me is Otay. Me nu need to see a doctoa."

"I disagree. You look like your about to pass out any minute." I replied.

"Me is so sweepy." Desdemona said with a yawn starting to close her eyes.

"Desdemona sweetheart, I know your tired, but you need to stay awake." I replied looking at her in concern.

Desdemona groaned and replied with a "But Me is so sleepy." She replied with another yawn. Within seconds she had fallen unconscious. Immediately, I stepped on the gas in an effort to get to the hospital quicker. It didn't take long for me to be pulled over.

"Sir do you realize how fast you were going?"

"I'm sorry officer, it's just that my daughter is, well see for yourself."

The officer looked in the back seat. His eyes went wide in shock then he pressed his walkie and called his partner.

"Jim you might want to come take a look at this ." The officer who's name was officer Dent replied.

"What is it Harvey?" Jim asked approaching the car. Harvey nodded towards the backseat of the car. Upon seeing Ella in the back he frowned. He nodded toward his partner.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to place you under arrest." Harvey said taking his handcuffs out.

"I don't have time for this. My daughter needs medical attention!" I replied  with a frown.

"Why is that exactly?" Harvey replied looking at me skeptically.

"You think I did this?" I replied with a frown.

"There has been a history of violence in your family."

"Don't compare me with that psychopath. I am nothing like him. If you must know, she was attacked at the local school by the other students. In fact, I was going to come to the station to file a report after I brought her to the hospital. Can I go now please? The longer I sit here wasting time with you the more danger my daughter could be in."

"Fine. Just so you don't get any funny ideas about running we shall escort you to the hospital. Once we ensure that your daughter is safely in the care of the doctors we will be taking you down to the station for some questioning."

"I already told you what happened." I replied with a frown.

"I'm afraid that it doesn't look good. If the child doesn't wake up within the next few hours she may never wake up at all." The doctors informed the officers and I frowned.

"What can you tell us about how she obtained wounds?"

"At this point it's anyone's guess. However, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of child abuse given this families history."

"What do you mean?"

"Legally I'm not allowed to reveal medical reports. However, if you were to come back with a warrant I would Be more then happy to answer any questions you might have concerning how many times we've treated Desdemona and what they were for."

"We Don't have time to waste getting a warrant. Just tell us what we need to know." Harvey replied.

"I can't."

"Then I shall arrest you as an accomplice to child abuse." Harvey replied.

"Alright. I'll tell you what I know. Several years ago this man's nephew, Jerome Valeska was brought to the hospital with third degree burns on his arm. Evidently that man found it amusing to dip the boy's hand in a boiling pot of chicken stock."

"The child in question was also brought to the hospital. She was extremely malnourished and showed signs of being abused as did the young man. He had scars all over his back from what appeared to be from being hit with a whip or a belt or both."

"We've seen Desdemona for multiple injuries over the past several years."

"Desdemona? What kind of parent names their kid Desdemona ?" Harvey stated in disgust.

"Miss Trumble often comes in with bruises all over her body. It's obvious that Mr. Trumble abuses her but she refused to admit it."

"Why didn't you file a report with the police?" Jim demanded.

"The woman who brought them in begged me not too. She said that the abuse would be dealt with. That she's ensure that it stopped."

"Unfortunately, as I've said, we've had to treat Desdemona for multiple injuries over pat few years. If that is all, I would like to check on my patient's progress."

Desdemona POV

I awoke to hear  a funny beeping sound coming from next to me. I groaned and glanced around the room. Where was I? What had happened? Why couldn't I remember anything?

"Hello Young lady. I'm glad to see that your awake. How are you feeling?" The stranger holding a clipboard asked.

"Where am I? What happened? How did I get here? Where is my father?" I asked groaning as I attempted to sit up.

"Your at the local hospital. You were brutally attacked and fell into a coma. You gave us quite a scare. I shall inform the police that you are awake. They would like to talk to you about what happened."

"Hello Desdemona, do you mind if we call you Desi?" I shook my head no. "We'd like to ask you a few questions if you feel up to it."

"Daddy says Me mu is nu supposed to talk to stwangas."

"That's very wise of your daddy Desi, very wise. My name is Detective James Gorden and this is My partner, Detective Harvey Bullock. So now we aren't strangers anymore right?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Me guess. Me want dada. Whew me dada?"

The officers exchanged worried glances and Harvey replies, "Your father has been placed under arrest pending an investigation into how you obtained your injuries and the amount of abuse this man had forced you to endure or the past few years."

"Huh?"

"Your daddy been arrested for hurting you." The one called Jim replies and I frown.

"That stupid. Daddy nu huwt me. He wouldn't huwt a fly. Him neba huwt me, Him lobes me."

"You don't have to be afraid to tell us the truth little one. He can't hurt you anymore." The man named Harvey replied.

I glared angrily at him and let out a low growl of irritation. My eyes flashing in anger. "Me alweady told you, Daddy neba huwt me."

"You don't have to lie and try to protect him. We will take you someplace safe. Somewhere where he can never hurt you again but you need to tell us the truth."

"Him nu huwt me." I replied again the anger in my voice evident. The detectives looked at each other and sighed.

"Why is this kid protecting him? And why is she talking like a toddler? It's obvious that he abuses her I mean just look at this hospital record." Harvey replied.

"I can't tell you why she's talking like a toddler without further exzamination but my guess is that her brain couldnt process what happen. So she's regressed to an age where she felt the safest."

"As for why she won't admit to the abuse, it's called battered child syndrome. If that is the case, then she will never admit the truth for two reasons, one she's afraid of him and two, in her mind, he hasn't abused her."

"Me told you, Me don't know what you talking about. Daddy no huwt me."

"What do you remember about the events of the other day?"

"A huge gwoup of students wanted to make me go bye bye because one of the teachas said that my last name is Valeska. Me twied telling them that the teacha was mistaken but they didn't want to listen."

"They took tuwns beating me up. Eben some of the teachas joined in on the attack. Luckily, a teachea named Mackeena stepped and wescued me and contacted me daddy."

"He immediately left his job to come pick me up fwom the school. If Me hadn't fallen asleep, Me suwa me dada would have gone to the police, to file a wepowt despite me saying I wanted to just Fowget about it. Now can Me see my daddy?"

Harvey looked over at me in concern and then replied "this doesn't seem right. What do you want to do Jim?"

"If she won't admit that she's been abused there is nothing that we can do. We have no choice but to release him from custody." Jim replied with a sigh.

WC 6972