Rumer used the key she copied and opened the door to the apartment she once called home. She knew Tabitha would be the only one home, probably playing with the mayor.
The door shut quietly and Rumer snuck through the living space, her worn out shoes keeping silent and tool-belt rustle free.
Rumer peeked into Tabitha's room and saw- just as she'd thought - Tabitha was throwing darts at the plush purple rug, causing the mayor to jump in a weird and frightened dance.
Gun first, Rumer turned the corner, shooting Tabitha in the arm instantly, "That's for every time you ever smiled at or got 'physical' with Jerome." Rumer looked to the trembling mayor, "Leave. Run and let everyone know who put you in this predicament and who showed you mercy, got it?"
The mayor nodded his head violently, running as fast as he could away from the prison he'd been kept in. Rumer felt something wrap around her leg and fell to the ground, the whip already cutting into her skin. Rumer shot two more times, one in each of Tabitha's legs, bringing her to her knees.
Rumer unwrapped the whip from her leg and walked over to Tabitha. She snatched the whip out of her hand and drug her by her hair into the dining room, avoiding none of the steps on her way there. Tabitha squirmed, earning her a kick to the head.
Rumer finally got her into the dining room, "Sweet heavenly sky, you weigh a lot!" She panted as she struggled to lift a pained and worn Tabitha into a chair, "C'mon Tabit, I know you have more strength than that." Rumer took a deep breath and lifted Tabitha's upper body over her shoulder, "Give..me..a little...help here." Rumer wheezed as she hefted Tabitha into the chair.
Rumer caught her breath and took the rope from her belt, "Well that wasn't very helpful at all." Rumer said, as if she was scolding a child, "I really needed your help and you just went dead weight on me."
Tabitha was all tied down and Rumer held up her finger as she went looking in wardrobes and chests, "Here it is! Hey Tabitha, how do you feel about family movies?" Tabitha's head rolled as she watched Rumer set the camera up, "I can't wait for you to die a slow and painful death. I don't regret us killing Jerome. Actually, seeing how worked up it's gotten you, I only wish we could go back and-"
Rumer stopped Tabitha's words with a punch to the mouth, leaving Tabitha's lip busted and her knuckles bloody, "It was a rhetorical question." Rumer took a piece of Tabitha's dress and shoved it in her mouth, getting bitten in the process, "Is this because I stole your look?" Rumer asked gesturing to her tight leather pants and leather vest, "Because when I kill you, it won't really be yours anymore anyway. Now,"
Rumer faced the camera, pulling a knife from her belt, "Tabitha has acquired a bullet wound in both of her legs and her left arm. We are going to see how long it takes her to bleed dry if I leave slices up her arm and legs."
Tabitha tugged against her binds as Rumer made the first incision in her shoulder, "Someone seems to be getting a bit feisty." Rumer sang as she sped up the next couple of cuts. Tabitha mumbled something, "Oh, let me guess, when you get down you're really gonna show me who's boss?"
The phrase made Rumer sad and even angrier. So she continued down Tabitha's right arm, scowling and keeping the wounds small enough to just burn.
Once Rumer had finished the one arm, she stuck the blade inbetween her teeth while she pulled out her gun, "Hey Tabitha, you know what courage is?" Rumer asked as she cocked her gun, raising it at Tabitha. Before she could mumble anything through her gag, Rumer answered herself, "Grace under pressure," She shot Tabitha in the stomach and turned towards the camera she'd almost forgotten was there, "There's a new boss now, Galavan. And I'm not as nice as the one you murdered."
Rumer untied Tabitha, her lifeless body weighing less than it had before. She dragged the body to the living room, plopping her on the couch. Rumer situated Tabitha on the couch and went to grab the camera. She put the video in and set it on replay.
Rumer began humming to herself as she appreciated her work. It was a bit sloppy and unfinished, but she was still young. Her favorite part was the smile she'd etched onto Tabitha's face.
Death was said to be Jerome's legacy, and laughter was contagious, so Rumer made sure Tabitha felt it too.
"You're never fully dressed without a smile." Rumer sang as she left, closing the door as quietly as she opened it and heading through the shadows to Penguin's place.