THE SOUND OF BONES BREAKING WAS LIKE A SWEET SYMPHONY TO ARTHUR DANES — a 25 year old man who you'd never guess was a murderer. The man underneath him screamed in agony and Arthur exhaled in ecstasy — he loved this part — grabbing a pocket knife, he began to slice the mans skin apart. Muscles, tendons, and bones shown through now. "Oh sh, sh, sh — I'm almost finished." He whispered causing the man underneath him to whimper in fear. Oh — the man? You want to know who he is — correct?

He was just some unlucky fellow that Arthur found on the street — he had boyish good looks but Arthur didn't care for doing anything except cutting his skin off and feeling everything underneath. Sure, he had a problem — a giant problem that he needed help for — but that's where his sister Maila came in. She helped him — she was a psychologist after all. "You feel so nice." Arthur whispered and he felt himself tearing up at the beautiful sight of the mans chest.

Taking off his shirt — button by button — he lay against the muscle. It felt right, god did it feel right to Arthur. "Why're you doing this?" The man under him rasped and Arthur smiled, "Cause I wanted to — needed to actually, you see — I like peoples flesh, their bones, everything. To taste them, feel them, it's like pure bliss to me." He looked at the dying man, "I'm sorry," he began to say as he got off of him.

"Oh god — what did I do? You know I didn't mean to kill you — why does this always happen to me? Oh no, please don't be dead, I didn't mean to — Maila! Maila!"

At her brothers screams — the older sibling came into the room and gasped, shielding her eyes from the corpse in front of her. Arthur grabbed onto her desperately, "I didn't mean to." He said again and she nodded, "I know you didn't honey. Come with me." Following her as his bottom lip trembled — the two entered the bathroom and Maila started a warm bath for him — Arthur hadn't even realized his chest was covered in blood along with his hands. Maila looked at Arthur, "I can't keep bathing you — do you think you can do it this once?"

Arthur nodded as he hugged himself. Maila gave him a warm smile as she got up and placed a kiss on his cheek, "How's about I get us some ice cream for dessert? Your favorite — chocolate chip cookie dough." Arthur nodded at her words with a smile, "Okay." He mumbled and Maila repeated him before walking out. Arthur never knew what came over him really — he always acted like this and only Maila knew what was wrong with him — that's why they lived together. He undressed himself and got into the bath — the warm water felt nice against his skin and it became tinted a slight red from the blood.

He cleaned his hands with the bar of soap before grabbing the soap bottle — Maila always did this when he felt like this — a bubble bath. The bubbles foamed almost out of the tub but luckily Arthur stopped before they did. He smiled at the sight and splashed around slightly before a knock came from the door, "It's just me Arthur, can I come in?" Maila called through the door and Arthur hummed a yes in response. The brunette came in with pajamas in her hands, "I see you've had quite the party in here — do you know how to change it to the shower once you're done?"

Arthur shook his head as he placed the bubbles on his head. Maila placed the pajamas down, "Okay, now pay attention." She went through the motions — not literally but pointing at what he had to pull and what he had to push. "Do you got it?" She asked and Arthur nodded with a smile. "Okay, holler if you need me." Maila walked out and Arthur spent a bit more time in the bubble bath before taking a shower. Stepping out onto the bath mat, Arthur chewed on his bottom lip in thought — he used to get dried off by his mom before Maila did it after mom died — should he ask her?

No, he was going to do it by himself, he grabbed the towel and did as best as he could — but his hair was still drenched, it was pretty difficult to dry hair. He dressed himself and placed his towel back on the hook. Standing in the hallway he walked back to his room and saw the corpse — flies had begun sprouting from the maggots on and in the decaying flesh and Arthur smiled, "Have a good nights rest buddy." He turned the lights off and closed the door.

——

Maila was sitting on the couch waiting for her baby brother and Arthur had sat down, "Are you alright now Arthur?" He nodded, "Course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Maila nodded before getting his plate for him, "Thank you, what would I do without you?" Arthur sighed and Maila chuckled slightly, "I don't know Artie." Silence passed by them except for the sound of the tv before Maila spoke again, "Are you sleeping in my bed again?" Arthur nodded as he placed another spoonful of food in his mouth, "And, we're gonna need to move the guy from my room — he can't sleep there all the time." Maila sighed, "Okay Artie."

Maila didn't know what exactly was happening to Arthur — but she wasn't going to leave his side anytime soon.