Murder at Midnight

    "Six kills... I have written six gruesome, twisted murders. Me and my hot, muscular, ice blue-eyed.. Ahhh... Oh! I'm distracted again. The juicy man candy I described? He's my roommate, Arthur Denara. I've known him since we were kids. Not only is he my roommate but he's also my murderer. I write novels… and well, he makes them into reality.

Current time: 

    Arthur is getting home from work. He pulls out his keys and unlocks the door, closing it behind himself as he states his presence, calling out to Cameron. "Cammie! I'm home!" Cameron responds, sitting on the couch at the moment. "Hey, Arty! I just got back from classes." Arthur, walking into their mess of an apartment, sees her. The beautiful red-haired, green-eyed, best friend he's had since forever. Always treating her like a little sister though he is still clueless to the obvious crush she has on him. "Oh? How was class?" He says curiously as he cleans Cammie's messes. "Still the boring, usual class. I know that I can't drop out but I want my freedom to write what I want. Not some stupid story they come up with." She replies agitatedly. Arthur, having heard this same thing over and over responds casually. "You're a prodigy. Your professor knows this and allows you to write out of class. What has your publisher said recently?" Cammie sighs, looking a little upset before answering his question. "She told me that it was childish to only want to stay in murder for my book genre. I know that she's been trying to get me to write something different but they're my books. They've gone great so far. I don't want to quit the genre I love but she's starting to force my hand.." 

"Then we'll find another publishing agency," Arthur says, hoping to lift her spirits and he walks over to the whiteboard they have in the corner of their living room and makes sections. "What about that agency that first approached you when you started?"

"Haha, no. They wanted me to write stupid romance novels. Bleh… So gross. It should be my choice to write what I want." She replies, absolutely despising the cheesy writing style. Arthur blushes lightly, putting it in the no column, his secret addiction being romance novels though he never says anything because you wouldn't picture such a tall, muscular, intimidating man to be into love stories and happy endings. "I'm sure we can research some more… You start looking while I cook dinner." Arthur says as he walks over to the kitchen, cleaning up so he can cook. "Okay, but can you make sushi? Please..?!" Cammie asks in a cutesy tone, giving him big, bright puppy eyes, making Art chuckle so he agrees. "Of course. Sushi it is." He makes her requested sushi, plating it, and brings it over. Setting it on the coffee table before grabbing his laptop. Both of them looking for publishers now and go through advertisements while eating. Cameron pointing out one with her chopstick. "What about that one..?"

"Mmm.." Arthur voices as he scrolls through the website "It seems to be more mystery than murder but it's a good agency. I'll place it in the top three." Arthur writes it in the third slot for yes, placing the cap back on his dry-erase marker. He takes a few steps back as he views the entire board, tapping the marker on his index finger of his other hand. "Now to narrow down the list.."

Cameron walks over to the board, looking it over and points. "Well, these two are good. They focus on murder and horror." 

"Yes, but there are other things to consider." Arthur points out. "This one allows you to write at home instead of a studio which is what we looked for last time too." He places his finger on the board to the option he wants Cameron to consider. "This allows you to stay in your genre and stay in this icebox of an apartment" He chuckles, having always teased Cam about the temperature of the apartment though he doesn't mind it. "Ha, ha, very funny." She says, jokingly sounding offended. "I know it's cold but you know I can't work without it. Plus if you want to stay warm just hug or cuddle me." She adds, standing, and boops his nose. Arthur's nose wrinkles adorably and he responds jokingly, dropping a blanket over her head. "Yeah.. I think I'll freeze instead." Cam removes the blankets, acting upset to mess around. "Wow… You could've just said no. It didn't have to be so mean."

"Yes, but it's so much more fun when I get to tease you." He says as he boops her nose with the closed dry erase marker. "Go ahead. Tease me, Arty. See if you get any more hugs." She retorts. Chuckling, he responds, "You need to stop calling me that stupid nickname. I'll draw on you in your sleep." He hugs her, smirking. "Better, princess?"

"You like it when I call you Arty. Don't try to hide it, and yes. This is better." She says as her cheeks flush a rosy color, hugging back. He releases her from the hold, Cam not wrong but he only allows Cam to call him Arty. "So..? Your pick?" He asks curiously. "I'll choose the one you suggested. You know, the one that allows me to stay in my 'icebox' of an apartment." They laugh a bit together, setting up a call, and submitting some work before Cam is accepted. Arthur pays the expenses though they're painfully high and reassures Cam they're not too pricey, not letting her know that he paid more fees than she knew about. "See.? Maybe it wasn't as expensive as we thought." He says as he cleans up.  "Well, I guess not. Thanks, Sir Arty of the Icebox Kingdom." She replies, the title said jokingly. He laughs, joking along. "You're welcome, childish princess of the Icebox Kingdom." She smiles, amused, and pretends to act offended. "Sir Arty has called the princess childish? His punishment no cuddles while I am writing… For a week."

"Oh no..! Whatever shall I do now..? The horror.. It's too much to bear." He says sarcastically as he dramatically flops onto the couch. With a childish giggle, she lifts his sentence. "Since he is being so dramatic about it, I shall relieve him and remove the ban on cuddles." He smirks victoriously and snuggles Cam, feeding her the last bit of sushi. "I'm so full now… Welp, my night to do dishes." She says, having eaten so much sushi. "It's okay, princess. I'll do them. Besides, you have a big day tomorrow." He carries her to bed. "Bedtime."

"Arty put me down. It's not even that late. You've done dishes for the past two weeks. It's my turn." She struggles, trying to move out of his soft but firm grip. "It'll be okay. Just sleep, princess." He tucks her in, plugging in her phone too. He leaves her lava lamp on because she's scared of the dark and leans against the doorframe, smiling softly at her. "Lemme know if you need anything." 

"Hmph. I need you to treat me less like a child. It's not even really that dark." She says as he moves over to her bedside, sitting on the edge of the bed. "It's getting late. Go to sleep… Pwease?" He gives her puppy eyes, the soft look he gives her sweet that she gives in. "Art… Fine. Only because you used puppy eyes. You have to stay with me until I fall asleep though."

"As you wish, princess." He lays with her until she falls asleep like promised and then slips away to quietly do dishes, going to bed in his room. A while later, sometime around midnight, Arthur has a nightmare. He wakes frightenedly and Cameron wakes to calm him, snuggling him back to sleep and they lay together for the rest of the night. At seven in the morning he wakes to his alarm. He quickly turns it off so he doesn't wake Cam and slips out to go run. Cam wakes a few hours later and realizes he went for his run. She dresses herself before going to class, leaving a note for Art so he knows why she's not there. He returns home not too long after she leaves. After reading the note, he disposes of it. He hops in the shower before doing laundry. Today is his off day so he gets some groceries. Meanwhile, Cam has just gotten out of class, having some time before she has to attend one last class so she texts Arthur. "Hey, I got time to spend. Wanna catch lunch with me?"

"Sure, I'll be there soon." He texts back before changing and goes to lunch with her. "Okay, I have one class left so I should be home in one to two hours." She says as she cleans up her small mess. "Okay." He casually responds before smirking and asks. "Want me to walk you to class, princess?" 

"Art, what have I told you about calling me princess at school?" She scolds. "..Yes, I guess I wouldn't mind if you walked me to class." She has him walk with her, secretly using him as protection though he doesn't know. He walks her to class, carrying her bag like a good friend. "Thanks." She says, giving him a hug and takes her bag back before going to class. Arthur smiles, glad to help his best friend and goes home. . He takes a quick nap before making dinner, thinking Cameron would be home soon. Cameron actually limping to the bathroom after being beaten by a couple frat boys for alway rejecting their offers to take her home with them. She covers her bruises with makeup skillfully and goes home, coming in and sees Arthur waiting for him on the couch. "I'm so sorry for taking so long. Class went longer than I thought and I was going to tell you but my phone died and…" Hands gesture around a bit as she talks. "It's okay, princess. It happens."

"I know, I know. It just doesn't normally happen to me. You waited for me and now you're probably starving and you should've just eaten without me." She blames herself, being harsh on how bad the situation is even though it wasn't even that bad. She looks disappointedly towards the floor. "It's okay, Cammie." He says as he walks over and hugs her. "Shall we eat..?"

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feed it all to me out of pity. I'm still so so sorry..." She says, hugging back softly, still slightly upset. "Cammie.." He rubs her back smoothly, holding her gently and being sweet. "Everything will be fine. There is nothing you have to apologize for." He lets go, Cameron a bit calmer now. "Okay.. What's for dinner?" She questions. "Oh, I made pasta!" She sighs amusedly, knowing he always forgets that she's allergic to tomatoes so she can't have pasta sauce. "Arty, I'm allergic to tomatoes." He curses under his breath when she reminds him, and offers to make something else. "I'm not really hungry. I may just not eat anything..."

"Cammie, we talked about this. You're not supposed to be skipping meals. It always turns into not eating at all.." He makes her some food. She barely touches it but at least she ate. "Can I go..? I have homework." She lies, not wanting to eat. "I suppose.." He sighs, letting her off and cleans up. Cameron walks into her room, sitting in her closet and she cries in the dark small area. Arthur walks in, knocking on her closet door. "Cammie.." he says softly as she clears her voice, stopping the tear as fast as she can. 'N-Not right now, Art." 

"Please come out.. Please?" He hears the muffled tears and notes how she'd been crying again. "Why should I? You're just going to get mad at me for hiding like a coward.." Shes says, adding under her breath. "..And lying." With a soft, older brother tone, he speaks to her gently. "I'm not going to be mad, Cammie.. I promise." She opens the closet for him, not getting out. "May I?" He gestures to the closet and she nods, Arthur getting into the closet and ducks under some clothes because he's so tall. "Would you like to talk about it?"

"No.." She fiddles with her half clasped hands and doesn't make eye contact. "You'd know what I lied about." She says sadly. He narrows his gaze on the bruise exposed by the ruined makeup. (She was beaten?) He thinks, wondering what for. "Want a hug?" He asks and she nods, the two now hugging and he holds her close. "Please don't be mad.." She whispers to him. Though furious, Arthur reigns in that anger coolly. Keeping his calm air, he softly responds "You should've told me. I'm not mad but you can't let them keep doing this to you."

"I know but they won't stop.." She says miserably. "Then let me help you." He replies to her sorrowful statement. She looks up at him, a lightbulb going off in her mind. "What if we handle this like our way. Three victims instead of just one." He grins devilishly at her idea and nods. "Challenge accepted, princess." 

"To the whiteboard." She says as she stands and walks into the living room where the whiteboard is still in the corner. Following her, they plan out the book, notes after notes being written, and she gets a general layout finished. "I can't turn it in because I'll need the extra details of you carrying out your wonderful experience.." Cameron grins at him as she says the sentence so coolly. "And don't forget to take your bloody shirt off when you're back!" She warns, not liking the deathly rotten smell, preferring his more natural scent. "I know, Princess." Was the the only thing he responded with as he erased the white board and drew his plan to abduct the targets, immensely focused on the map. He has trouble figuring out how to position his arrival or how he'd drag the bodies to his car. "Dorm 221.B" Cameron inputs. Arthur lights up, adding in the missing piece to his puzzle and looks over his shoulder at Cam with the most evilly, frightening grin. She smirks back. "You ready for this?"

He turns fully. "Born for it."

"Good, don't forget your ear piece." She reminds me. Arther walks into his room, changing into his favorite work clothes. He was glad he had gotten all the blood off of it from the last kill. It was particularly.. Demonic. "Ready." He says to her. "I'll be back before you can finish your court confession." He says, smiling as she giggles at the joke. Arthur goes to the car, changing the license plate and he drives to Keller street, entering the apartment building, and makes his way to apartment 221B. After picking the lock, he enters, his steps soundless. The first target was in the kitchen, downing a can of beer and as he crushed it in his hands with only a slight struggle, Arthur moved up behind him and took him down silently. He didn't kill him.. Not yet at least. The second walks down their hallway and enters. Arthur, needle in hand, stands at the corner and as soon as he walks by, Arthur injects him with the drug. The boy falls but he catches him before he can make the thud, laying him down softly and makes his way to the third target. He has another needle and as he tries to get the third target, he misses where he needed to inject. Well fuck.. he thought. The boy quickly registered he was being attacked but not quickly enough. Arthur bashes the boy's head into his knee harshly, knocking him out. After piling them all in one spot, he duct taped their wrist and ankles before taking them through the fire escape in the shadowed alley to his car, stuffing them in his trunk. He drives to an abandoned warehouse in an area that's been majoritively overgrown with vines and weeds. He chains them to square, concrete pillars, talking through his ear piece. "I've collected the targets. They're chained as requested. How would you like me to start?"

"Start with boy three. Leave boy 1 for last. I want for the torture to be watched as a reminder that.. Well, that they're next. You know the method we discussed for your little bloody game. Don't forget, I need a photo." 

He grins, the boys starting to wake. "Of course.. It'd be my darkest pleasure."