chapter seventeen.  

            ARTHUR, AS THEY SAY, woke up on the wrong side of bed today. The irritation he feels is like an itch he couldn't scratch away no matter how hard he tried, and the empty box in his hand only fueled his short temper. His emotions had spiraled out of control after his dad left but he managed to control them but right it feels like he's back at square one.

"What the hell - Alice!" Arthur shouts, cereal box crushed in his fist as he slams it on the black countertop.

A loud grunt is heard upstairs followed by her yelling back. "What?!"

"Get down here!" She takes her time stomping down the wooden stairs, finishing her one side braid, widen her eyes in question. "There is nothing inside so why the hell would you put it back inside the cabinet?"

"Relax, I forgot." Alice retorts tying an elastic band around the end of the braid, rolling her eyes dramatically. "I'll throw it out when I'm done braiding my hair."

The young girl walks back up stairs but pauses hearing him tearing the card box until their in tiny pieces, but the irritation was still evident in his blue irises. It didn't make sense what was happening to him. "Christ, what has gotten into you?" Alice murmures,  face peeking in between the stair railings.

"Mind your own business." Arthur snarls, snatching his bag off the wooden floor. Something was triggering him, maybe it's because he held it in for too long but he doesn't want to resort to that guy ; the guy who could handle getting smacked with a lacrosse stick but not his emotions. It makes him miss Lacrosse, the best place he could release every pent up frustration.

"I don't think you should be driving angry -" Alice's concern suggestion is cut off by his groaning.

Fingers pressed against his temple, he laughs bitterly. "You seriously don't want to hear what I think." Adidas planted to the floors, her opinion is the last thing he wants to hear at eight in the morning before he dragged into some other shit.

"Okay, I don't know what's got you acting like you've a stick up your butt but don't take this out on me." Alice said voice calmer than his, fingers tightening around the railing separating the siblings.

"You're right, you don't even know a quarter of it." The blue eyes hisses, raking a hand through his hair. She acts like she knows every pain you've suffered for her, but she doesn't. Nobody does. Their words are like a fire to fireworks. "Because while everyone is off having a good time I'm the one left bleeding and nobody notices! And who puts back an empty box of cereal unless they want to start a fight!?"

"Suck a dick, Arthur!" Alice snarls. "It's not my fault you're friends with attention seekers, I've tried to ignore you coming home bartered and bleeding on your bed but I've never gotten an explanation! So I stopped caring."

She never cared, she's lying right to your face. He unclenches his jaw, "Don't act you ever did, you won't have noticed me bartered if you didn't need anything." Her knuckles turn white. "Nothing else to say? We're a great pair : I'm visible when needed and you're invisible when not needed."

"Why your you guys yelling?!" Their mother, Ailsa, demands walking down the stairs eyes flickering between both aggravated siblings. "Your voices are louder then my earphones." Their silence and glares that made the room temperature their drop. "Alright, anybody wants to have breakfast with me? We can make -"

"- I'm late for school." Arthur excuses, bag on his back and storms out the front door. Not even himself can understand what's happening to him but it's controlling him in a way he doesn't excactly hate.

*  *  *

             SPEEDING DOWN THE ROAD Arthur has no destination on his mind except not being in art class, it does nothing to improve his artist skills. His mind feels like someone is rummaging through the drawers for loose change and is still searching. His foot presses on the gas petal heavily raising above his usual 62 speed limit, there aren't many vehicles on the road due to people being at work or school. Arthur should slow down, Keep going. His body complies, it's like he isn't in control anymore. Soon enough you will be.

Always treated like a weakling, It whispers. Adidas rams the gas petal. You'll always be second, to Scott, Stiles, Isaac and Lydia. His knuckles white tightening his grip on the steering wheel, the dark words being whispered into his ear like they were right besides him. I can make it better, you won't be second.

"I won't?" Arthur asks out loud, blue irises glancing to the mirror staring back at him.

Yes. It hisses like a snake. Just let me in. Let me - Arthur's forehead smacks into the stirring wheel the balloon inside blowing up soften the blow but his head continued to throb. Groaning, his eyelids weigh down wanting sleep to wash away his headache, he huffs our a breath shoving the car door open throat itching for oxygen rocks stabs his knees as they hit the pavement.

Arthur didn't have a changed to breath before he was hauled up and smacked onto his car door. "What the hell, man!?" The blue eyed grunts.

"Didn't they teach you how to drive?!" The male driver growls in his face, knuckles digging into his chest. The blue eyed nods gingerly unsure what to say. "You ruined my car, so now I'm going to ruin your face!"

Arthur didn't have time to react as pain flares his cheek in circles turning it crimson. "Punching some in the face isn't a very nice way of apologizing  -" he should've kept it closer not because it hurts to talk but because this man looks way stronger than him.

The man flings him on the uneven ground, he winces when his head hits the ground eyelids squeezed shut, opening them in time to catch the fist coming his way. "C'mon man," Arthur pants kneeing his stomach, the man grunts stumbling back. "It's just a car, I'll pay for a new one."

His shout of anger answers him arms clutch his waist banging him onto the ground, knocking the air of his lungs momentarily. His arms raise as knuckles digs into his aching biceps, his neck twists dodging another blow and send two to his rib until his body tumbled off his, but the man gets back up. Arthur heaves a breath trying to catch his, kicking him but he grabs hold of his ankle and flips him back into the ground, grimacing at the rocks digging to his lower back.

The blue eyed is not used to fighting this long, hoodie clings to his heated torso his knuckles burns flexing his fingers. You've done enough. Their body tangles on the ground, punching and somehow kneeing one. fighters grip his shoulders dragging him off the steaming body. He struggles in his arms.

His face profile hits the pavement, grunting Arthur struggles wrists tired behind his back. "Let me go!" Get her key, you need her key. "Let me fuck him up, the little shit asked for it!"

"Calm down, kid." The officer demands waiting for him to stop moving. His fingers reach for her keys, when he stops moving she yanks him up. "Watch your head."

A smile curves his lips as the keys stab his fingers. We make a great team already.

*  *  *

               "ARTHUR ROBINSON, WHAT THE hell has gotten into you!?" The smoky eyed cringes in the cold cell hesitantly meeting her heated glare outside the cell. He thought he was safe but then an officer unlocks the cage.

"It was an accident." Arthur apologies, brown irises glued to the white bandage wrapped around his index and third finger. The splattered blood wouldn't scrub off his knuckles no matter how hard he tries to rub it off.

"Your face is swollen and knuckles were bleeding." His mother argues, racking a hand through her raven hair. "I though you were dealing with this, you were doing so well, babes."

She sits besides him fingers grazing his knuckles, for a second he accepts the warmth of her touch makes him feel even more guilty for making her anxious. "Things happen, mam and people snap." He moves away from her, the warmth fading away. "Can we leave?"

Pursing her lips, she nods. "We can but as punishment you'll be attending driving courses to improve your driving."

He wanted to argue but sought no point in it, so he bows his head trailing behind her outside.  "Yeah."

"And you won't be driving until they give you the okay." She adds. This is just getting worse, he thinks groaning underneath his breath. At times like this, he hates life.

*  *  *

           AFTER THE CAR SITUATION his mother locked him in his room demanding he'd remain in there for two days since he was found in the opposite direction of school. He wasn't annoyed more tired of the day, chaos hadn't been something he relished in doing for awhile but it feels like an itch that can only be satisfied with unleashing it. Sighing, he swings around in his chair glimpsing behind to Lydia flipping through a book of his keeping him company, the only reason she is allowed inside is because she's tutoring with the door semi open.

"Arthur, why do I keep finding Skittles in your books?" Lydia asks, red, green, orange and purple piling on his blue and white covers.

"It's a new studying method I'm trying." The smoky eyed answers, picking up the three colors. "Green is understood. Orange is getting there. And purple," he pauses picking up the treat, "Purple just taste nice. Try it."

She takes the sweet from his hand and bites it, nodding. "Not bad. What does red mean?"

"Red means what the hell." Arthur answers dropping another in his mouth, sweet tooth aching for something good.

"There's so much red." The cherry red notes, ruby red lips pursed in amazement.

"Advanced Biology is as hard as it sounds, brainiac." The blue eyed mocks scooping his sweets and places them on his desk color coordinated behind signs. Only noticing he hadn't seen his sister since the morning, he doesn't want to apologize. It's the last thing on his mind.

She pauses toying around with her words in her mouth. "Does it still hurt?"

"What? When I fell out of heaven?" Arthur counters snickering to himself. Her deadpanned look sobers him, his finger ghosting his swollen jaw. "Course not, I'm a bad boy and bad boys don't get hurt."

Bare feet swinging in the air, Lydia rolls her eyes pointing at him. "You cried when you saw a rat." She exposes.

"Okay, that's totally normal." He retorts hands out in defense. "Mam took my car away until I pass some car seminar about safe driving. It's fine," Shrugging, Arthur wants to deal with something other than himself. "Not as exciting as having the legendary Shrapnel Bomber in the school."

"We couldn't find him, but all day I heard this buzzing noise and Stiles got detention for believing in me, it proved to be pointless." The cherry red mumbles, fingers toying with the cover unable to look at him.

His heart strings tug frowning, he wasn't going to let her doubt herself because she can't sync with her other self. Scouting the spinning chair, his fingers pull away the covers replacing it with his hand capturing her attention, "Lydia, it wasn't your fault. Stiles believes in you and so do I, we make mistakes it's normal."

"But we couldn't find any proof of Barrow being there." Lydia counters, ruby red lips pouting.

"You've been right this entire time, okay? So don't start doubting yourself now." Arthur reasons, without thinking he lifts her knuckles to his lips.

Scarlet spreads across her cheeks avoiding his gaze briefly. His own blue eyes widen stunned he had the courage to do what he done, he gulps peeking at her flushed cheeks, he hits his bottom to keep himself beaming. Lydia might not be regretting giving them a chance.

"No scent. No bomb. And I got Stiles in a week's worth of trouble." Her guilt ridden voice breaks him out of his thoughts.

"Barrow was there, he has to be if you heard him. Is search all night to prove it to you." Arthur insists. He is convinced to the point he'd do anything to prove it, a lightbulb glows in his mind. Her blooming smile was beginning to hurt her cheeks, snatching his jacket from his hanger he lifts his window. "You coming?"

Her lips parted stunned tilting her head before shaking her head, she hints at the door. "Yeah, no. I'll take the stairs."

"C'mon, I'll catch you, cherry bomb." Arthur promises, a smile on his lips holding his hand out.

The corner of her lips quirk a debate goes on in her mind before sighing and drops her heels in his hand. "Hold my heels."

*  *  *

             THE LAB DOOR CLICKS open astonishing the human and semi supernatural duo slipping inside closing the door behind. Being around the school at night gives Arthur ominous vibes, delighted he brought bandages as a weapon. It's a leap of faith assuming William Barrow hadn't made it to the school and everyone had been on a wild goose chase but what if he had been there, hiding in plain sight from the kids with glowing eyes.

"So what are we looking for?" Lydia inquiries, trailing behind Arthur fingers laced to the supply closet filled with chemicals. Hesitantly he twist is open. "That was supposed to be locked."

"Yeah, It is." He agrees, the theory in his mind coming together phone flashing around the tiny closet, the strong smell of a mix of chemicals invading his nose.

She sniffs, leaning against the door. "It smells like chemicals." His eyes reads the different chemicals searching for anything missing or broken for the smell. "They wouldn't have been able to catch his scent."

"Bingo." His eyes widen at the pool of crimson staining the white floor, he should be smiling for finding proof but his stomachs sunk with dread. "He was hiding in here performing a minor surgery on himself. Told you, you were right."

"Then why don't I feel good about this?" Lydia questions, standing over him releasing his fingers from hers despite how cold she suddenly felt.

"Maybe because he was here to kill somebody."

"But who?"

"I don't know." Arthur mumbles getting back up to his feet wishing Stiles was here with them, he would've been able to figure this out faster than he can. Stiles has always been the brains and he's the muscle. He begins rummaging through the labs searching for another clue. "We should, eh, try and figure it? It might be too late but we can do this - Lydia?"

The cherry red had wondered off to the green board, numbers written on by chalk. "They're atomic numbers."

"Some kind of formula?" He asks, stopping besides her, shoulders brushing heartbeat jumping at the softest touch, her sweet perfume making it harder for him to concentrate he wants to inhale deeply but that would be weird. And they're already dealing with something weird.

"Not really." She denies. "19's potassium. The first two make potassium iodide -" she writes the letter K besides the number nineteen, he recognized the writings but he couldn't pinpoint from who.

"K for eh, some scientific latain name, right?" Arthur asks, rubbing the back of his neck. He blames her forest green eyes for making him forget.

Her head tilts nodding glimpsing back to the board. "Yeah, from kalium, the scientific neo-Latin name." The number fifty three besides a capital I.

"And radium, I know this." He wracks his brain humming, his fingers snapping in realization. "R-A. Kira. Kira, holy hell!"

"I guess we know who he's going to kill." Lydia mutters, eyes widen.

*  *  *

            HIS LIMP BODY BOOSTS from the pavement sucking in air coming back to the conscious, relief floods Arthur's bones falling back on his butt. Spotting Scott unmoving on the ground nearly drove him insane prying William hadn't somehow poisoned him with wolfsbane but no, he had been knocked down by a metal pipe. Besides the bloody gash on his forehead, he suffered the least in the hands of the Shrapnel Bomber however Kira, might not escape lightly.

"Barrow, he took Kira!" The words spill from his lips melting together but Arthur understood him.

"We figured." The blue eyed replies, helping Scott to his feet. "He's been after her this entire time, I called Isaac but they found nothing about the whole flies in stomach thing."

"We have to think of something. He's going to kill her." Scott panics, eyes shifting between the two.

The cherry red steps from the two, thoughts running wild. "I knew he was there. How did I know that?" She whispers more to herself.

"Because you heard the flies, right?" The blue eyed suggests, glimpsing at Scott then to her back facing them.

"What do you hear now?" Scott asks.

Lydia purses her lips squeezing her eyelids shut trying to hear anything, a disappointed sigh escapes her plump lips. "Nothing. I feel like I can do this. But I don't know what to do. It's like it's on the tip of my tongue, and I don't know how to trigger it. I just I swear to God, it literally makes me want to scream."

His eyes widens, remembering her superpower : to scream he couldn't understand it back then  but now, he thinks he does. Maybe, her screams  barriers the unimportant stuff letting her concentrate on the voices. "Okay, then scream. Lydia, scream."

She doesn't need to be told twice : lips parting a scream bubbles up her throat bouncing around the night, he could she had been holding it in by the way her fingers clench into a fist letting everything out. It's stabs his ears like bees earning a wince from him and Scott grunts, hands clenched his ears to block it out. At least this time neither are dropping blood.

She says nothing listening to the silence, her head tilts like she heating something. Arthur shares a confused glance with Scott. "It's not flies." Lydia breathes out whipping her body around, both boys flinch back at her sudden movement. A smile blossoms on her lips concluding. "It's electricity."

"Wasn't Barrow was an electrical engineer?" Arthur asks no one in particular, remembering Stiles' obsession with the bomber. "Stiles said he worked at a power substation."

"What substation?"