The Eyes at the Foot of the Bed (Sweet Devil!America x Reader)

Chapter 5: Have You Seen Mister Kirkland?

You got out Allen's car and dashed inside and up the building, fully knowing that your thighs were going to make you regret everything later.

   You stopped in front of Arthur's door and lifted your fist.

   "Arthur, it's me, there's something we need to talk about"

   There was no reply.

   You knocked again, but your arm swung faster, more impatient.

   "Arthur?"

   Silence.

   "Arthur. Arthur, let me in! Arthur!"

   You took out your phone and dialed his number, which you have committed to memory the day he agreed to help you.

   Ring... Ring...

   "The number you're trying—"Dammit, Artie" You hissed and turned around. You stopped, a knot forming in your stomach, telling you something was definitely wrong. Arthur was a gentleman. He answered the door before you could deliver a second set of knocks and picked up the phone on the first ring.

   You looked over your shoulder and stared at the door for a minute.

   You sighed.

   Left with no other choice, you looked away and walked back downstairs.

   "What was that about?" Arin asked when you returned, "You and green eyes had a fight?"

   "No" You grumbled, almost slamming the door when you plopped down on the backseat.

   "You did have a fight"

   "We didn't have a stupid fight, Arin" You snapped at her, but both twins were taken aback by your outburst, "Arthur's not home"

   The ride back home was quiet.

***

Days passed without a sign of your incubus or of Arthur. You were grateful that your stalker hasn't made another appearance since prelims were coming up and you needed all your energy to focus on your studies. However, you were worried as well, no one answered the door whenever you went to Arthur's and he wasn't picking up his phone either.

   You dropped your pencil when your phone started to vibrate.

   It was Arthur.

   You didn't bother to hide the relief in your voice when you held the device to your ear "Hello, Arthur?"

   There was feedback and I could barely make out what he was trying to say. You called his name numerous times as though it would help.

   "...Go...I..." his words kept getting cut off, but then finally, the line cleared. However, I almost dropped my phone when Arthur shouted: "STAY AWAY!"

   "Ar—" there was a beep and then the line was dead.

   You called him back.

   "The number you're trying to reach is unavailable or out of coverage area. Please try again later." You cursed and tried to contact him again, wanting an explanation, but the robotic voice was the one that answered.

   Giving up after seven tries, you massaged the sides of your head. You couldn't continue with your studying, not after what just happened.

   Your lids suddenly felt heavy.

   The bedroom door swung open.

   "Eek!" You almost fell off your chair.

   "Arin, what the heck? You almost gave me a heart attack"

   "Have you heard about Arthur?" She didn't even give you a chance to reply as she dragged you out of the room and down the stairs.

   "What is it? What happened?"

   The TV was on. On the faux fur rug were pieces of glass, orange juice soaked into the fabric. Allen was leaning with his jaw wide open.

   "Breaking news: twenty-year-old Arthur Kirkland was found brutally murdered in his apartment on..."

   "Oh my God" The tears came without warning.

   "I'm so sorry, Name" Allen got up.

   Arin pulled you into her arms and started rubbing her hand up and down your back.

   "Arthur... oh, no, no, it can't be...!" You sobbed.

   Nobody was paying attention to the newscaster anymore and none of the three heard of what he had to say: "Discovered by his landlady, Mrs. Nylund, witness says that Arthur's body looked like it was 'torn apart by wolves' and blood covered the living room from the ceiling down to the floor. According to Mrs. Nylund 'the only thing that reassured her that it was in fact Arthur in the apartment was that his face remained completely intact even though it was still attached to his mutilated upper torso'."