Nothing More Contagious Than Love

Chapter 7

(Quick A/N: For the sake of the rest of the story, I'm going to pretend Barbara already went crazy and is currently at Arkham)

I simply stared out the window at the dark skylines that made up Gotham. Jim Gordon kept his promise and first thing in the morning, he took me to Arkham in his cop car and brought Lee with him. The entire trip was silent, but it wasn't awkward. It was mostly because I liked it that way. It gave me time to think about what I was going to do or say when I got there. I've actually never been there or anywhere around it. The thought of it scared me too much. When we got there, the big black gates opened up to let us in. It wasn't much of a welcome, but it was definitely something. 

"I want you to stay by me at all times" Jim says.

"Jim, I've worked here before, I can handle myself" Lee says.

"I was talking about Isabelle" Jim says.

I gulped. I guess this place really is as bad as they say.

Jim opens the car door for me and practically had his hand on my shoulder the entire walk to the front door. I was happy he was concerned, but it was going to get really annoying fast if he continues the helicopter parent persona. Once we got inside, a guard lead us through the hallway until we got to prisoner hang out area. On the way there, we walked down the hallway where people were in solitary. It sounded like they went insane just being inside there more than anything. We approached the prisoner area and I couldn't help but notice that they seemed to be trapped in a cage more than anything. Some were pretty normal and either staying quiet or talking with others. Some were talking to themselves, and then there were those who were simply just screaming. I wasn't sure if it was symptom or their insanity, or simply because they didn't want to be in here. Probably both. As we waited for the guard to get Jerome, I couldn't help but stare at the insanity that was happening right in front of me. Knocking me completely out of my thoughts, a young blonde woman latches onto the edge of the "cage" and starts rattling it. Jim and Lee didn't even seem the least bit phased, but it caused me to jump a little.

"Hello....James" she says.

Jim doesn't say anything to her, but continues staring at with a stern expression. Lee simply looked away. Seeming like she wanted to look at anything else but the woman? Was there something significant about her? She seemed to know Jim.

"Who's this pretty young thing?" she asks looking at Lee.

Jim doesn't answer, then again, the woman doesn't give him the appropriate time slot to do so.

"Oh right...the bitch you cheated on me with. The same bitch who claimed I murdered my parents, then attacked her and the reason I'm in the hell hole!" the blonde screams.

"Jim what-" I'm about to ask.

But I don't get to finish my sentence because the door opens. Plus, I don't think Jim would've answered me anyways. Out of the door comes not one or two, but 3 guards holding onto Jerome. He stumbles out wearing a muzzle and a straightjacket. He's only been here one day and he already looked like he's been to hell and back. His physical appearance and the amount of guards holding him worried me. I heard him mumbling, but I couldn't make out anything due to the muzzle. He immediately noticed me, and tried clawing towards me, but the guards held him back. They started pushing him down a hallway and Jim, Lee, and I followed after them. We walked towards the end of another hallway where we stopped by a large metal door.

"This is the safest place here for you guys" one of the guards speaks as he opens the door.

"Isabelle, I can't allow you to do that" Jim says.

"He'll talk to me. He trusts me. He feels most comfortable around me. Just let me go in alone" I say.

Jim doesn't argue. The door is now completely open and I peer inside. It was one of those white padded rooms that you often see in asylums. The guards push in Jerome, causing him to stumble and fall. From the way he was positioned and the amount of gear he had on him, he wasn't getting up unless someone helped him. Afterwards, I walk in. Before going completely in, I turn around and say, "Close the door."