November 25 2005

Anne entered Crane's office but noticed nobody was there, She looked around and softly called his name, She shut the door and placed the files on the table, Winters fixed her hair until she noticed another paper on the ground which intrigued her, Anne raised an eyebrow, wanting to pick it up and read it, But she was worried to invade his privacy, But the curiosity grew stronger as Anne picked the paper up, It was a note about something.

[Notes]

"Fear is the rawest emotion, the primal force that binds us all. It reveals who we truly are beneath the layers of composure.

"The toxin is close, closer than ever. It targets the amygdala, overriding rationality with pure, unfiltered terror. The subject's subconscious becomes their own executioner. The toxin does more than induce fear. It redefines it. It isn't just terror of the dark or monsters in the shadows. It is the fear of the inevitable, of their own mortality, of choices left unmade"

"Test results are fascinating. Subject #23 collapsed into sobbing incoherence. Seven minutes. Seven minutes to shatter a human mind"

Anne was shocked and confused, Since hanging out with Harleen and Crane, She learned a lot of things about psychology, She could understand what these notes were about but also didn't know what was Jonathan trying to do.

Anne: Fear toxin?. . . . What is that?

It sent shivers running down her spine, Jonathan was a nice yet confusing person, She feels like he hides something from her, something from his employees. She just doesn't know what it could be.

Anne placed the paper back on the table, her mind still spinning with thoughts of the fear toxin and the darkness Jonathan had poured into his notes. Anne noticed something under the table as she slowly took it out, revealing the scarecrow mask.

A crude, burlap mask with hollow, dark eye sockets and jagged stitching running across its surface, She froze, her breath catching in her throat. The mask looked horrifyingly, and the longer she stared at it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

(What is this mask?. . Why does Jonathan have it?)

She began remembering what he said to her a few days ago, He'll show her "What lies beneath this mask" Anne stared for a moment until she heard the door opening as Anne snapped out of her thoughts and immediately placed the mask back in the table, Crane entered the office and noticed Anne as she stood straight as Jonathan looked at her.

Jonathan: Anne, what are you doing?

Anne: S-Sorry, I placed the papers just like you asked me to.

Jonathan: But what were you doing just now, sweetheart?

Anne was staring at him, trying to think of a lie, Crane noticed how terrified she was. he knew she saw something and wasn't telling him about it.

Anne: Uhhh. . . I just noticed the papers under the table and thought they might be important, so I grabbed them for you.

She smiled, but her hands were starting to shake as Crane tilted his head and continued staring at her before he smiled at her, He knew she was lying to him but decided to play along.

Jonathan: Well, I appreciate that.

Anne: N-No problem.

She smiled again, trying not to look at the paper and mask. Crane began walking towards her and pulled her close as Anne was looking at him

Jonathan: Why are you so tense, sweetheart? You look like you've just seen a ghost.

Anne: N-Nothing, I was startled when you suddenly walked in.

He chuckled before slowly kissing her cheek.

Jonathan: Just admit you were curious.

Anne felt her heart drop as he leaned back and continued staring at her, Anne blushed a little and shaked her head.

Anne: I-I didn't do anything, I only placed the papers-

Jonathan: I didn't say you did something.

He smiled, teasing her as Anne felt a little scared but tried to calm herself down.

Anne: I know, I was just worried.

Jonathan: *Caresses her hair* Why don't we go out somewhere?

Her eyes lit up as he smiled, Anne was quiet for a moment before nodding, She was meaning to spend more time with him, Jonathan's smile grew wider before looking at the table, Anne felt a little worried, hoping he wouldn't know.

Eventhough he already knew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anne was seen eating a burger as Jonathan fixed his glasses and watched her while taking a bite of fries, Anne noticed he didn't buy anything except fries for himself.

Anne: Why didn't you buy a burger?

Jonathan: I'm not really hungry right now.

Anne: You barely eat anything, Jonathan.

Jonathan: I suppose I don't need much. But I do enjoy watching you.

She blushed a little as he smiled, finding her adorable when she eats the burger, He took another bite of fries with some sauce as Anne smiled a little.

Anne: Still, You should eat something.

Jonathan: *Chuckles* I think you won't leave me alone until I start eating.

Anne gave an awkward smile as Jonathan sighed and got up from his chair and decided to order a burger for himself.

Eventually, He sat down with his burger as Anne had a small smile on her face. However, those thoughts were still lingering in her head, The toxin, The mask. . . She wondered what was going on.

Anne: You like it?

Jonathan: It's great.

She smiled again and moved a little closer to him, He looked at her and had a smile on his face. She was starting to get comfortable with him again, And he loved it.

Eventually they were done eating as both of them were drinking Pepsi, It was her first time drinking Pepsi and the taste was really different to her.

Anne: I didn't expect it to taste like this. . . It's sweet, but not too sweet.

Jonathan: Harleen never bought you a soft drink?

Anne: No, I preferred the juice she makes at him.

Jonathan: *Chuckles* I see now.

Anne: It's refreshing. . .

Jonathan: There's a lot more to this world than you think, Anne.

He began holding her hand while staring at her as Anne could feel her heart beat faster and held his hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jonathan: *Smiles* It's for you, Anne.

Both of them were outside as Anne looked at the flowers in shock before having a huge smile on her face, It looked really beautiful, She took the flowers, smiling to herself as Crane continued smiling at her.

Anne: They're beautiful, Jonathan. Thank you!

She spoke with excitement as Jonathan smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist while looking into her eyes.

Jonathan: You deserve more than just flowers, Anne. . . much more

The tone was gentle, yet it sounded darker, Anne could feel something was off, yet she also felt comforted by this feeling.

Jonathan: I hope you understand that they're not just a gift. They're a promise.

Anne: A promise?. . .

Jonathan: You don't need to worry about what that means just yet, sweetheart. In time, you'll see.

He took her hand as Anne felt her heart beating faster, but she wondered. . . What does he mean by that?

Eventually, Crane decided to take Anne back to her house, Winters wanted to refuse, but there was something that stopped her from refusing, Maybe it was because she enjoyed spending time with him. . . She was interested in this mystery about him, but every time she thought about it, it made her uncomfortable.

Soon, they made it to the house as Anne convinced him to come inside, He followed her to the house and looked around for a moment, Crane knew that Harleen wasn't home yet. Both of them sat on the couch as Anne was talking to him while she kept looking at the flowers, He smiled, knowing that she loved the flowers.

She continued talking to him as he quietly listened to her before looking at her, up and down. He really wanted to push her down the couch, but another side of him wanted to listen to her voice.

Jonathan: *Clears his throat* Can I tell you something, Anne?

Anne: Yes?

Jonathan: You saw something in the office, Didn't you?

Her eyes were widen as Anne cleared her throat.

Anne: W-Why are we-

Jonathan: Don't be scared. . . Just tell me what you saw.

Anne looked at the ground as he leaned closer, staring at her ominously. Anne swallowed and thought for a moment before finally speaking to him.

Anne: Fine. . . It was the note. . . And i saw the mask.

He tiled his head, feeling satisfied by her response, He leaned closer to her face as Anne felt a bit worried, But he didn't seem angry at all.

Jonathan: The toxin. . . is a tool. A means to an end. It shows people their deepest fears forces them to face what they try to bury. Would you like to know how it feels, Anne?

Anne: I-I don't understand. . . What do you do with it?

Jonathan: You wouldn't understand it right away, sweetheart.

Anne: . . . I'm confused. . .

He smirked and leaned towards her ear as Anne was holding his hand.

Jonathan: If I show you, then promise me you won't be afraid.

Anne was silent until he lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him as Anne held the bouquet tightly, feeling her cheeks warm up.

Anne: I. . . I trust you.

Jonathan felt his heart skip a beat, something he didn't expect to feel. However, he tried to show that it didn't affect him.

Jonathan: Then you should be ready.

He began hugging her as Anne felt her heart skip a beat, He began caressing her arm. Soon, he leaned towards her neck and nipped it as Anne gasped. He grew more aroused but decided to hold himself back for now.

Jonathan: For now, I'll savor the anticipation. . . . You're mine, in ways you don't even understand yet.

He smiled as Anne felt her heart beating faster until he slowly got up from the couch, Anne looked at him before finally speaking to him.

Anne: Where are you going?

Jonathan: Back to the asylum. . . Victor Zsasz is being transferred tonight.

Anne: Okay, But. . .

She quickly got up and followed him as Jonathan looked at her.

Anne: I don't understand. . . What do you want to do with me?. . . What are we?

She needed answers to this question, Crane looked at her before shaking his head while smiling at her, leaving her in confusion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the evening as Crane was looking at the window and saw a police car stopping by the gate, He blankly stared while lost in his thoughts, He knew Victor Zsasz was here.

Jonathan had an evil smile creeping up to his face as he began thinking about Anne, She was so curious to know what he was doing.

Jonathan: You've become my fantasy, my obsession, Anne. . . .

"And I don't think I'll ever let you go"

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and stay strong!!! :)