TW: Blood, Death, Razors, Murder

That night, Virgil couldn’t think about anything except for what Roman had said. 

“I’m willing to cut things off with Virgil indefinitely.” 

How could he say that so easily? Did Virgil mean nothing to him? Roman had his soul in the palm of his hand, and he was able to throw it away so easily? 

No, what was he thinking? Roman didn’t have a bad bone in his body, he wasn’t capable of doing anything wrong. He was a victim of circumstance. 

Janus Orm was the one to blame. 

Since day one, Janus had worked relentlessly to make Virgil miserable. He was a greedy, evil, sadistic snake that had poisoned Roman’s mind with terrible lies. He wanted to ruin Virgil’s already terrible life. 

Virgil hated him. 

He hated him more than he thought was capable of hating a person. 

Virgil paced back and forth in his living room, hands shaking from the outrage he felt. He couldn’t let this happen. He had to put a stop to this, but how? Janus Orm had a chokehold on his relationship with Roman. Nothing he did would change that. 

Unless, of course, Orm was out of the picture. 

Virgil paused. 

It was a crazy thought. 

How could he possibly live with himself if he did it? 

Then again, what did Janus really contribute to society? He wouldn’t be reproducing anytime soon. Not to mention, he didn’t really have any hobbies. He’d overheard a conversation between Orm and Logan Berry in which he mentioned that his grades weren’t exactly top tier. 

What would really be lost? 

Virgil startled, shaking his head. 

What was he thinking? Janus Orm was a person. He had thoughts, feelings, morals, a family, and friends. One of those friends was Roman Prince, who would no doubt miss him terribly. 

But Roman had just met Janus, he would get over it pretty quickly. 

Still, that didn’t excuse the fact that Janus could go on to do great things, and Virgil just didn’t know it. He could become famous, rich and powerful. Though, he doubted it would last if Virgil spoke up about all the things Orm had done to him. 

And there were a lot of terrible things that he’d done. 

Terrible things, unforgivable things. 

“--he’ll end up like your father if he stays with you.” 

Virgil grit his teeth. Orm was horrible, and the world would be better off without him. 

So, really, he would be doing everyone a favor. 

Virgil, with an almost serene calmness, walked up to his room to change. 

If he was caught, he wouldn’t see Roman ever again. 

So, he wouldn’t get caught. 

---

Virgil had worn a black hoodie, black jeans, and black gloves. There was a small hole in the glove on his right hand, right on the tip of his index finger. He contemplated wearing a mask, but there were no cameras in Janus’ neighborhood, and hopefully it would be a quick trip. 

He took his dad’s pry bar. It was dusty from lack of use, but it would serve as his means of entering the room. The tool felt misplaced in his hands. His dad had never taught him how to use anything except for the stove, lawnmower, and gardening tools. 

Virgil had his dad’s pry bar, and there was a hole in his glove. 

He’d learned Janus’ address around two years ago, when the whole school received an invite to his birthday party. That was back before Orm hated him, when they only knew each other through vague descriptions from other people. 

Virgil drove to Janus’ house with his dad’s pry bar, and a hole in his glove. 

The house was dimly lit by the streetlights, giving it an almost eerie glow. No one knew it yet, but something evil was about to take place within that house. Something Virgil would never be able to take back. He sat outside for a bit, just wondering if he should really do it. 

Virgil felt uncertain, his dad’s pry bar in hand, and a hole in his glove. 

Janus wanted to take away his happiness. He was like a leech, draining all the joy from anything Virgil tried to do. Virgil hated him. He wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone after tonight. It would be a favor for everyone when he was gone.

Virgil walked towards the house with his dad’s pry bar, and a hole in his glove. 

He felt like he was in a haze. Nothing seemed real. All that he could think about was Roman’s delicate skin, his soft hair. The way he looked in the morning light, when his eyes cracked open and greeted Virgil with that brilliant green. The feeling of their lips meeting, and it felt like Virgil was burning from the inside out. 

Virgil was in love, had his dad’s pry bar, and a hole in his glove. 

He used the pry bar to gently crack open the window, and then discarded it in the grass. He would grab it on his way out. He used his hands to push it all the way up. 

Janus was asleep on the bed, and there was a hole in Virgil’s glove.

Virgil felt a strangely hollow feeling upon seeing him. It wasn’t guilt, but something else. Something he couldn’t describe. It was like the feeling you get right before finishing your homework. Like when you’re about to reach the finish line in a race. It was a hollow sort of wanting. 

He crept quietly into the room with a hole in his glove. 

He silently walked past Janus’ bed, headed straight for the bathroom that was connected to his bedroom. 

Virgil walked in, looking for one object in particular. He opened the cabinet door, scanning over the contents, moving a few with his left hand. There were pretty standard things inside: prescriptions, band-aids, q-tips. His eyes zeroed in on what he was looking for.

There it was, hidden behind an orange bottle. 

Virgil reached for the razor with his right hand, but there was a hole in his glove. 

He barely had time to process the metal touching his skin, but he quickly yanked his hand away. It was hardly a touch, it was only the very tip of his index finger. He let out a swift curse, quickly wiping the razor with his glove. 

He picked it up with his left hand, before walking back out to the bedroom. 

His heart was pounding wildly in his chest. It was like the world had faded away, and there were only the two people in this room. Still, Roman was the only thing to occupy his thoughts. Delicate skin, soft hair, and the way he looked in the morning light. 

He silently peeled the blanket off of Janus’ still form.

Suddenly, Janus’ eyes snapped open, and he shoved Virgil away. The latter stumbled back, heart practically seizing with panic. The former scrambled out of bed, backing away from him.

Virgil could pinpoint the exact moment he was recognized. Something shifted in Janus’ eyes, and he let out a gasp.

“Pryder?!” He harshly whispered. “What are you doing in my house?!” 

Virgil couldn’t speak for a moment, mind running a mile a minute. 

If he moved quickly, he’d be able to have this over and done with in a matter of seconds. He just needed to get close enough to grab him, and it would all be over. 

Janus wouldn’t be able to interfere. 

“I’m really sorry about this.” Virgil told him, more out of courtesy than any feelings of guilt. He moved towards the boy in front of him, who backed away apprehensively. 

“Wh-What are you--?! Get away!” Janus stammered, eyes darting around the room in a panic. 

“You have to understand, I don’t wanna do this.” He didn’t know why he was trying to explain himself. None of it would matter in just a few moments. “Why couldn’t you have just stayed quiet? You didn’t have to say those things to him.”

“What are you talking about?!” Janus’ back hit the wall. “Is this about Roman?!” 

Roman with delicate skin and soft hair. The one who looked ethereal in the morning light. Virgil loved him.

HelovedhimHelovedhimHelovedhimHelovedhim

“It’s always about Roman.” He sighed, a lovestruck smile forming on his face. “He’s my everything. I love him more than I’ve ever loved anyone.” 

Janus scowled. “You’ve only known him for a few days!” He exclaimed. 

Virgil barely processed what he said, his mind feeling hazy with adoration. “So? Why should that have any factor in our love for each other?” He asked. “We’re perfect for each other.” 

Roman was the only one who could love him. He was his perfect match, his soulmate. The one person who could rip Virgil into pieces and put him back together. 

“He doesn’t even know you for who you really are! He doesn’t know the boy who’s been sending me death threats every day.” Janus glared at him, that familiar venom in his eyes. 

Virgil furrowed his brow. “What?” He muttered. “What are you talking about?” 

Death threats? Every day? He had no clue what Orm was talking about. He didn’t like the guy, sure, but not enough to send death threats. 

“Don’t play dumb.” Janus hissed. 

Was someone framing him? “No, I actually have no idea what you’re talking about.” He shook his head, thinking about anything he might’ve said that could be taken as a death threat. 

Then he remembered. 

Why did he care?

“Well, whatever. It won’t matter in a few moments anyways.” 

He moved closer to Janus, who had gone pale. He tried to back further away, but was met with the wall. “What do you--?!” 

Virgil swiftly grabbed Janus’ arm and put a long, deep cut in it with the razor. It was quick, and didn’t give him any time to think about it. 

He froze for a second, stunned by the sheer amount of blood that began immediately spurting out. That was blood. Real blood. The life force of a human was spilling out rapidly, and the person in front of him was dying. 

When he came back to his senses, he quickly slapped his palm over Janus’ mouth before he could scream. His hands were shaking, he couldn’t think anything. 

Janus’ arm fell limply to his side, his eyes watering, and breaths beginning to come out in shallow pants. He watched as his own blood trailed sluggishly down his arm. Small, painful noises were all that he could say. 

Janus’ pupils went foggy, and his knees buckled. Virgil quickly hoisted him over his shoulder, trying his best to pretend he was somewhere else. The garden, he thought, Ms. Herd’s garden, and he was moving a bag of fertilizer. 

He placed Janus on the bed, making sure he was leaning against the headrest.

Virgil grabbed his other arm, and put an identical slash through it. Orm barely reacted, a small grunt escaping him. His eyes had gone glassy and droopy. 

He blearily blinked up at Virgil, who refused to make eye contact. He placed the razor in Janus’ hand, which had gone limp and loose. 

“I’m really sorry about this.” Virgil mumbled, his voice was trembling. 

“V-Virg--” He tried to speak, but his voice tapered off. His eyes were closing. 

He gently shushed him. “Don’t fight it.” He whispered. “It’ll all be over soon.”

His heart was pounding violently, but he refused to think. If he thought about it, it made it real. 

The sheets were turning scarlet red, a sharp contrast to Janus’ rapidly paling skin. Virgil watched the stain on the sheets grow, focusing on that rather than the shallow breathing that was beginning to slow. 

Janus turned to look at the picture on his nightstand. Virgil instinctively followed his gaze. 

The bright, smiling faces of Patton Libum and Logan Berry stared back at him. Janus was with them in that photo. He looked happy, holding the other two close. They were standing in some sort of park. 

Virgil felt a muted sense of horror as he stared at the photo. 

Janus had gone still. 

The room had gone silent. 

A strong, coppery smell hit his nostrils. Virgil, distantly, felt like he could be sick. 

Forcing his legs to move, he stumbled over to the window and climbed back out. Grabbing his dad’s pry bar, he shut the window and walked back to his car. Staring blankly at the wheel, he did not move for several moments. 

Then, he took a deep breath, and started the car.

Virgil had just killed someone, and there was a hole in his glove.

---

Janus Orm was born to Anna and Beau sixteen years ago on February 3rd. He liked art and poetry, but never showed enough interest in either to pursue them. His favorite color was yellow. 

That was all Virgil knew about him. 

Obviously, there was more to the story. A story that would go unfinished. A story that he would never learn. 

Maybe when Janus was seven, he tripped and scraped his knee while playing soccer. Ever since then he’d sworn off sports, but secretly wished he hadn’t quit. At night, he’d think of starting soccer again. Really, all he wanted was to be part of a team, but he’d never admit that to anyone, including himself. 

Or maybe Janus was incredibly fond of plants. Maybe he secretly wanted to become a botanist, because his mother had taught him to cherish nature ever since he was young. He felt embarrassed by this soft spot, so he kept it to himself. Not even his closest friends knew that he had names for every plant in his house, and knew how much water each needed by heart. 

Or maybe neither of those were true. Virgil wouldn’t know, and he never would. 

When he walked into school that day, the hallway seemed duller. It was also quiet, with everyone speaking in hushed murmurs. Either the news had already come out, or Virgil was just imagining the solemn looks on the faces of his peers. 

He didn’t know why they looked so sad. They knew as much about Janus as Virgil did. Which is to say, nothing at all. 

Was it the concept of death at the age of sixteen? Or maybe it’s the wanting to be seen as morally superior to anyone who didn’t really care. Some of these people hated Janus. He’d heard some of these people talk shit, and others had even approached Virgil, asking if they wanted Orm to be “taken care of.” 

Now none of them spoke a word. 

It’s a funny thing, how people only really appreciate others when they’re gone. 

Bright, bubbly laughter came from the entrance to the school. 

Virgil glanced up, and saw Patton Libum and Logan Berry walking in. They were engaged in friendly conversation, both of them looking like they didn’t have a care in the world. Virgil felt his heart drop with the realization that neither of them knew what had become of their friend. 

The principal walked into the hallway, immediately zeroing in on the two. With a grimace, he walked towards the pair, who were oblivious to the approaching adult. 

“Mr. Berry, Mr. Libum.” He nodded, gaining their attention. They turned to him, clearly confused as to how the principal knew their names. “Come with me to my office?” 

They glanced at each other, then followed him. 

Virgil swallowed heavily, and looked away.

His hands wouldn’t stop shaking. 

A/N:

L for Janus ig