Chapter seventeen
Death of the Mayor and the Superhero
Edward's POV:
I took deep breaths as I stood in my apartment, clad in my Riddler outfit. I only had a couple of hours before Juno would show up. Juno. My lovely Juno. I hadn't seen her since I hung out with her, Robyn, and Lena. That was two weeks ago. I grabbed my things and started to make my way to the Mayor's home. I had to make sure Robyn or Lena wouldn't see me. I was perched in a building across the street, watching the mayor play with his son. I noticed his wife take the kid out of the room and the left the house. Robyn and Lena were nowhere to be seen. I knew Lena had some annoyance for her father. I slowly snuck in through the skylight, standing in the room with him. He was too busy watching the voting polls. Bella Rèal was winning. "Why is she still ahead? Something needs to be done. I don't understand." Don said into his phone. God, I hated him. I hated this man. He treated me like I was nothing, trying to get me to talk about my past. I held the carpet tool in my hand. Don turned off the tv and I lunged at him, swinging at his head. He fell to the ground and I continued to bludgeon him. Blood splattered on my clothes and the floor. I exhaled deeply as I finished taking his life. I took out the duct tape and started wrapping it around his head. I placed him in his chair, putting his crimes on display. A soft laugh left my lips as I cut off his thumb. The Batman would be so proud. He was going to see; they're all corrupt. All of them. I was cleaning up this city for the people who struggled like me and for her. My angel. "It's all for you, Juno." I whispered. I placed the card for The Batman on the desk. A thump made me look at the doorway, terrified I'd been caught. "Robyn, come on! My dad won't suspect we're in the theater room!" Lena's happy voice said. I slowly made my way to the skylight, making sure my footsteps wouldn't be heard. Lena's squeals descended down the stairs and I took my chance to escape. The rain was hard and heavy tonight. The rain drenched my clothing, water droplets covering my glasses. I placed the 'thumb drive' in one of the mayor's cars, popping the tire as I finished. I used the shadows to get back to my apartment. I looked at the watch on my wrist. 10:30. I hurried into my apartment and saw that the mayors murder was already being broadcasted on the news. I chuckled, so unbelievably happy that The Batman will see what I've done. Everything was going to come together. What I didn't realize was my girlfriend was walking in the room.

Juno's POV:
I used the key Edward gave me and entered his apartment. Crazed laughter was heard as I closed the door behind me. And there he stood, dressed like The Riddler. That white question mark that had been haunting me for months. "Edward?" I said. His head snapped in my direction and he ripped off the mask, his glasses falling to the floor. My eyes widened at the Saran Wrap around his head. He quickly picked up his glasses and pulled at the Saran Wrap. He was drenched in sweat and I saw the red droplets on his jacket. "Mayor Don Mitchell has been murdered." The news said. I shook my head and said "you killed the mayor?" "I did. Juno, let me explain." Edward said. I felt the whole world crashing down on me. Everything that's happened in these last couple of months. It was Edward. It was all Edward. Edward stood tall in front of me, his breath rasping. "You're the riddler." I gasped. "Yes, I am. I have to rid this cesspool of a city of it's corrupt individuals." Edward said with a deep voice. Edward walked towards me, his boots clunking against the wooden floors. "Are you scared?" He chuckled. I shook my head, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Edward giggled, cupping my cheek with a gloved hand. "You are. You're trembling." I turned away from him and said "you killed Robyn's mom. You killed Harry. Edward, how could you?" "How could I? How could I?! They made this city suffer! They made you suffer! I couldn't let him hurt you! He would've fucking killed you, Juno." Edward sneered. I reached up to push his hand off my cheek. He grabbed me by my arms and I yelped in fear. I kept my eyes closed and awaited for him to hurt me. "Edward, please. Don't film how you kill me. It'll kill my father. Please. Please don't, Edward." I felt the tears welling up into my eyes. "Kill you? I'd never kill you. How could you say that? Why would you say that?!" A soft sob left my lips and I kneed him in the groin, causing him to let go of me. I scrambled away from him and Edward said "Juno!" I stopped and looked at him. "I did this for you. All of it. What I'm going to do. It's all for us. The city needs to be safe. You have to believe me." I looked down and said "Edward, I loved you. You were my superhero." "Superhero." He said. I looked at him and he was shaking his head. He stood up with and eyed me with such anger and hate. "Why do you have to make everyone hate you?" Edward asked. My lips parted and I said "w-what?" "Harry hated you. Why is that? Why'd he hate you so much? Maybe it's because you never accepted him. Just like you're not accepting me. You never have. You're a liar." "Edward, what are you talking about? I've always accepted you. I loved that you weren't like my social circle. You understood that they were rich and selfish and you're so sweet. Edward, I accepted you the first night I met you." I said. Edward shook his head with a scoff. "Don't pretend that you cared about me. You never have. You find out I'm the riddler and now you want nothing to do with me. Well, guess what? You're just like the rest of them and I want you to go. I don't want to see you." I could feel my heart breaking as he spoke. "Edward, I've always cared about you. I love you." "No! No! No! Earlier you said loved! You loved me!! You don't love me anymore..." I whimpered and said "I take it back. I do love you. Don't do this. Please." "You're a liar! You're just like the rest of them! You won't accept that I am the riddler! I want you to go! GET OUT, JUNO!" Edward screamed. I approached him slowly, reaching for him. Edward raised his hand and I immediately cowered, falling onto the floor. "Eddie, please!" I said. My hair hung in my face as I sat on the ground, panting. A shudder left Edward's lips and I looked up at him. "Juno..." He reached for me and I flinched. Confusion swirled around in his eyes and that was quickly replaced with anger. "GET OUT! I WANT YOU TO GO! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" I slowly got to my feet, tears blurring my vision. "l-love you. I h-hope you succeed as the riddler. I really hope you do. I w-won't tell the police. I promise. I p-promise I won't tell." I sobbed. Edward stomped over to me and said "get out." I cupped his cheek hesitantly and his face softened. "I'm sorry. I wish you the best." I pulled away from him, Edward chasing after the touch. I turned away from him, going to the front door. He screamed and flipped the coffee table in the living room. I rushed out of the apartment, slamming the door. Edward continued to scream and crashing sounds entered the air. I took the stairs down and got outside to the parking lot. As if this night couldn't get any worse, I slipped and fell into the biggest puddle you could imagine. The rain poured from the sky. It was as if someone was dumping a bucket of water onto me. I slowly got to my feet and unlocked my car. I sat in the driver's seat, sopping wet with a broken heart. I should hate Edward right now. I should hate his guts. But, I didn't. Before I knew he was the riddler I basically supported him. It was Edward who got rid of my ex. It was Edward who gave me the money that Robyn's mother owed me. It was Edward who protected me from this city. I looked up at his apartment building, more tears coming down. I figured I'd come and get my stuff while he was at work one day. I'd have to make sure he would be. I don't know if I could deal with the pain of seeing him again.

"Why do you have to make everyone hate you?"

He hated me. He actually hated me. I stuck the key in the ignition and turned my car on. I backed out of the parking lot and started driving to my apartment. I hoped I crashed. God, I wanted to just crash into a light pole and end my pain. But I didn't. And I couldn't bring myself to do so. Once I arrived at my apartment building, I took the elevator up. I knew my father would be working the mayor's murder. I peeled off my wet clothes as soon as I got inside. I didn't bother to pick them up as I locked the door. I trudged into my bedroom and went to change into something to sleep in. Then I saw it. One of Edward's shirts. I bought the shirt to my nose, inhaling his scent. I tried to hold back the tears as they threatened to fall but I couldn't. I shoved the shirt in the drawer and changed into a tank top with a pair of shorts and fresh panties. I laid down in my bed, wanting nothing more than the pain to stop. I made him mad. I made him hate me. It's my fault. I should've never gotten involved with him. He doesn't believe I loved him. I would assume since he hates me he doesn't love me anymore. Edward discarded me. I was nothing to him. Nothing. I reached for the sleeping pills on my bedside table. I took one with some water and closed my eyes. I was praying I slept for hours, days even. I just want to skip the heartbreak, the sympathy, coming to terms with the break up. Skip all this crap. Just skip it.

Edward's POV:
I flipped my desk, the coffee table, the dining room table, and even smashed a few glasses in the kitchen. Gus Gus scurried into my bedroom and I pulled at my hair. Why did I have to fall for Juno? She distracted me from my plans. I could've done all this sooner. Wait, Halloween night was perfect. Everyone was out and about in the city, celebrating what I'd call a very bleak holiday. She was supposed to accept me. Juno was supposed to accept me. Why didn't she? She loved me. As soon as she found out I was the riddler, she was disgusted. She stopped loving me as soon as she realized that. My mind then went back to when she flinched and cowered. "She was scared." I said aloud. I shook my head, trying to make the thought go away.

"You scared her."

"She's scared of you."

"It's your fault!"

My brain screamed at me and I just wanted the thoughts to stop. I relished in how the news was spreading my name like wildfire. The people of Gotham will be shaking in their beds, thinking I might sneak into their apartments. I wouldn't unless they're corrupt. I was going to conquer everything that was wrong with Gotham. "Your lovely mayor is dead! How does it feel, Gotham?! To know The Riddler took his life!" The truth would come out and everyone would see. As for Juno, I didn't need her. I never did. She was a distraction; keeping me from doing what I needed to do. But, why did I still love her? Why did I love and hate her at the same time? No. This can't be. You have to focus on the task at hand. And that was being The Riddler.

Robyn's POV:
Lena giggled as the two of us hurried to the theater room. The cheerleading skirt she wore poofed out around her legs as she ran, her hair up in a high ponytail. We had the house to ourselves, well, mostly. Lena's father was upstairs in his office. He wouldn't bother us at all. The theater room was huge. A large screen sat at the front. It was our own personal movie theater. We had chosen to watch Halloween. The two of us made some popcorn and started the movie. I was unbelievably happy to be spending this time with her. Lena and I very rarely got to do things at her house. And she'd been looking forward to this. I kissed her cheek as she hid her face as Michael Myers appeared on the screen. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close to me. I was grateful that I got to have moments like this with her. Even though her dad didn't approve of the relationship. It was about halfway through the movie the two of us barely paid attention anymore. Lena was scared and the two of us had started making out. Of course it was getting more heated so the two of us went upstairs. Lena wanted to make sure her dad wasn't still awake in his office. I followed her as she walked into his office. Lena gasped and then screamed. I stood next to her, seeing the mayor dead in his chair. I covered my mouth and then looked at the wall. It's as if everything bad he did in his life was displayed for everyone to see. The Riddler. He had to have done this. Archie walked in the room and Lena tried to hold him back. "Archie!" I watched Lena's younger brother start to cry at the sight of his dead father. We were ushered out of the room by Lena's mom. She called the police and Lena and Archie were inconsolable at the moment. I took Lena into her room and held her. "Robyn, he killed my dad." I rubbed her back and said "I know, babe. I'm so so sorry." Lena sniffled and said "is this what it felt like when he killed your mom?" I nodded and didn't say anything. I stroked Lena's head and wished for her to be out of this pain. "Robyn, why'd he have to kill my dad? I thought the riddler only killed bad people." I took a breath and said "he does. Didn't you see everything on the wall?" I said. Lena shook her head and continued to cry. I told her to stay in her bedroom as I slowly approached the mayors office which was filled with police. They had also went into Lena's bedroom to question her. I saw Juno's father standing with the Batman. "Robyn?" He said to me. I half smiled and said "I was hanging out with Lena. We were spending Halloween together." James nodded and said "well, I have to deal with this crime." He held a card in his hand with a riddle on the front of it. Batman's boots clunked against the floors and everyone seemed to stare at him. "From your secret friend, who. What does a liar do when he's dead?" James asked. "There's a cipher too." Another police officer said. James sighed and said "Jesus." "He lies still." Batman's voice said. Everyone looked at him and I furrowed my eyebrows. "What does a liar do when he's dead? He lies still." I looked at the words 'LIE' and 'LIES' written all over the room in red. Even on Mayor Don himself. "Hey, get him out of here! I got the press downstairs!" The commissioner said. James explained the whole situation and how the riddler created a cipher for the card. It was a very colorful cartoony card. "We're going to have to ask you some questions." An officer said to me. I nodded and he took me into Lena's bedroom where her sobs were slowly turning into sniffles. "Where were you tonight?" I cleared my throat and said "I was with Lena. We were watching Halloween until she got tired and wanted to come upstairs to go to sleep. She wanted to check on her dad first and we found him dead." The office nodded at me and took down notes and made sure he got my statement correctly. I wondered if the mayor's death was already on the news. Had Juno heard about it yet? This was the moment that was going to change everything. I just didn't know that yet.

Ok this chapter is a bit shorter than the other ones and this book is known for having long chapters. The way I cried writing this. I hope it was good enough angst and I really hope y'all like this so far!!
~skylar🖤🫧🖤🫧