Wants, Tightrope, Spilt Milk

Part Four #57: The Classroom Keys

Arthur Fellmoor had been the school's general caretaker for over twenty years and, though he was not alone in the task anymore, owing to the school's size and the amount of general upkeep that was needed, he remained the person that people went to if they needed any practical help. Kasper had never really had reason to talk to the man, save for the few occasions that an unexpected circumstance had called for his assistance. On those few occasions, Kasper had been very much the teacher, a person removed from such material cares that were the caretaker's concern. He imagined the man to dislike people like himself for this very reason, teachers who called upon him only to fix problems they either didn't know how to fix themselves, or didn't see as their responsibility.

On those occasions he had spoken to the man, the conversations had always been conducted in a non-committal manner, talking either about the task at hand or the school itself, never venturing to ask for personal details nor engaging in anything that might form even the slightest bond. He was, in Kasper's eyes, a fringe element in the school: a necessity but not necessarily one that he need concern himself with. Especially when compared to, say, the reception staff or librarians, both of whom could be helpful in numerous situations.

He thus knew that he would have no qualms killing him. Not that he felt he would have any qualms about killing any of the staff you understand, it was just that with Arthur there would be no need to think of the bigger picture nor how his death would be interpreted. He would be simply another victim, as unnoticed in death as in life.

He headed quickly to Arthur's small room on the top level of B5. The room was more of a storage area than anything resembling an office, but then what need did a caretaker have for an office, owing to the practical nature of the job. Kasper approached the door and waited a few metres away as some students passed by, deep in conversation about something or another. Once they had vanished he knocked gently and fixed a smile.

After couple of seconds, he heard the sound of shuffling and a voice called out for him to wait a moment.

Finally, the door opened and he entered, leaving the corridor outside empty again.

He placed his bag down behind him and asked if he could possibly borrow a pair of B block classroom keys in order to lock up his students' bags while they studied outside. He didn't want the girls to take their bags with them as, with all the books they needed for Year Twelve, the burden would be too much. Equally he didn't want them to go and leave their bags in their lockers for, girls being girls, they would no doubt take their time and cost him his.

Arthur understood of course, having been asked the same question numerous times. After all, he said to Kasper while turning away to search for the keys, the girls all have such expensive items nowadays.

Arthur was stooped somewhat and shorter than Kasper, aged by years of carrying out back-breaking work for those who never appreciated it. He mumbled as he scoured the clutter, an old man looking for something that had been lost long before.

Arthur paused for a moment then turned to Kasper, a coil of keys in his hand.

Kasper asked casually what some item behind the janitor was and as Arthur turned he moved forward swiftly and wrapped an arm around his neck. The old man was surprised for a few seconds before hands grappled at Kasper's head and arms as he pulled his grip tighter. Kasper's left hand, which had been fending off these arms, reached behind to a shelf of tools and cleaning implements. He fumbled for something to use as a weapon, but all he felt was cleaning products slip from his fingers till finally he was able to grab a spray can of some product or another. Hoping that it would be poisonous and led by rising desperation, he aimed and sprayed the can first into the old man's face, spraying his own in the process, before managing to get the nozzle of the can into the man's mouth and spray to the point where he felt the poison rattle around in his prisoner's chocking attempts to breathe. He dropped the can and again reached behind him, this time finding an electrical cable almost immediately. He quickly threw it over the old man's neck and, releasing his left arm, he grabbed both ends of the cable and tightened it till it burnt his hands from the effort.

After a few minutes of struggle, the body began to loosen against him and he let the cable go, sending the old man to his knees in a fit of gasping hampered by the cleaning product still in his lungs

Kasper turned to the small bag he had left by the door and took from it his knife.

He moved quickly and placed one hand over Arthur's mouth before driving the knife into his back.

The old man's body arched with this new anguish and Kasper withdrew the knife before driving it in once again.

He let the body drop to the floor and, turning him over as if he were nothing more than some object to be carried away, he clambered on top of him and stabbed the face and neck, the knife cracking and shattering the bone till all that was left was a bloody mess distinguishable as a man's head only by a section of the lower jaw and the scalp with its thinning hairline.

Kasper stayed kneeling for a minute, catching his breath. He then picked up the keys and searched the room as quickly as he could for some cleaning liquid for his hands, a pursuit that took longer than necessary due to his fluttering heart and the excitement that clouded his logic.

He cleaned his hands madly before taking from his bag the smart clothes that he had so thoughtfully packed earlier. They were a little creased but nonetheless he was glad he had thought ahead and packed such essentials for ,as soon as he left the small room, he saw a number of students milling around, none of whom paid him any attention but who no doubt would have had he emerged covered in blood.

He left the room and closed the door behind him, wasting a few precious minutes finding the right key to lock the small blood covered room before heading to the staff room.

It was 8:23am.