User: 8Umbra

"Did you kill her?" After Miss Blackwell's outrageous accusation I was directed "gently" towards the principal's office where I have been sitting for about...an hour with no company and nothing to do while I wait for Principal Bennett and Miss Blackwell to choose my fate for me.

One of my hands comes to rest on top of my head like it has done countless time in the past hour, I grip my greying hair tightly in distress, oh how would I like to just stand up and yell "I quit!" but to be completely honest I like this new job and hold no intention on leaving any time soon, there is also the fact that if word gets out I will never be hired again. All those years of study are about to be wasted by the accusations of such a bitch! No, no I mustn't think like this, it is unbecoming of a gentlemen to speak about a lady in such a way even when it is not done out loud.

Finally the door open making my eyes snap towards the two pairs of shoes, one with heels and another without, I take a deep breath placing both my hands down on the table making a bane attempt to smooth down my hair where my hands had gripped it.

"We will not call the authorities just yet but we do want you to answer some questions." Oh thank lord Principal Bennett values the school's statue as much as I value my career.

"But an officer is outside the door." Continued Miss Blackwell, hatred written all over her features.

I have to stop myself from baring my teeth at her, taking another breath and giving a short nod placing all my attention the director who now sits in front of me, "so, Arthur, you are new in here, yes?" His eyes scan my figure as if he could read lies from my eyes alone, I give a small huff before answering with as much call as I did when Blackwell backed me against a wall barely an hour ago, "Yes, it is my first year here at Carter Hollow."

Director Bennett gave a small nod before looking down at a small paper page I had missed before, "where did you work before here?" I shrug one of my shoulders diverting my eyes for a second "here and there." Miss Blackwell gave an scorching look and I could feel director Bennett fighting not to do the same, "ah...in Europe." Director Bennett's eyes gave me a look asking to continue my tale but unless he asked I wasn't going to, when I came here they asked me that exact same thing and I hold no desire to repeat myself, finally he seemed to resign himself to my short answers, "why did you leave?"

"I needed a change of scenery." I give a small shrug not explaining any more, it was not a lie I had indeed grown tired of the same dull routine and since I have good recommendations I saw no problem at leaving, just as I will leave this school in a couple of years.

"Oh come on just ask what we came here for!" Miss Blackwell placed her hands on the small white, circular table in front of me, her teeth grinding together as she pronounced every word "why did you kill her?"

I narrow my eyes feeling a growl form in my throat, "I did not kill Beth Rose. Simply because you are eagerly pointing fingers to console whatever traumatic memory you seem to hold inside that troubled mind of yours means not that I am more guilty than you are in this whole ordeal." The last part I said with an indifferent look even going so far as to add a small curve of my lips, "besides is it not supposed to be a first rule for killing? Or anything else for that matter? Don't shit where you eat?" Miss Blackwell slams her palms on the table hoping to raise a reaction from me but before she can yell at me director Bennett seems to have enough.

"Arabella! That's enough!" She shifts her eyes between me and the director as if deciding who is more worthy of her rage, finally she huffs angrily and starts to pace around the room before settling to stand at a corner of the room, her arms crossed across her chest, director Bennett watches her carefully.

"You two seem to know each other for quite some time, am I right?" I place my elbows on the table directing my stormy eyes at the director.

"Where were you when she was killed?" He narrows his eyes at me and I gift dear director a smirk enjoying how he recoils from my question.

"I am terribly sorry but could you remind me when was she killed?" I lay my body back against the chair keeping my eyes on the director's, a silent staring contest between the two of us.

"Between eight and ten." Miss Blackwell answers coming to stand next to the director again, I grin when Bennett diverts his eyes from mine. Heh seems like I win.

I trail my eyes up, towards the ceiling, recalling my night yesterday "At the library getting copies for my class tomorrow. Ask Miss Harkon I am certain she will confirm my stay there, I left at nine twenty five to arrive at my room at exactly nine thirty."

I see director Bennett thinking about my answers before giving a court nod "and then you slept." He meant for it to be a statement but it sounded more like a question, one side of my face turns down almost like wince, "well...not exactly..."

"What do you mean?" Director Bennett tilts his head at a side making a puzzled look but Arabella takes this as his entrance cue.

"At what time did you sleep, Arthur?" Well that was my first mistake in this whole ordeal, well no it was the second the first was to greet Miss Blackwell in the hallway.

"I see not the relevance of it." My eyes bore in hers hopping that she relents but instead it seems to intensify her resolve.

"Well it is relevant because if you did not sleep at nine thirty or ten like all of us then you could well slip out of bed." She smirks at me and for a moment I consider slapping her but no, that is not what a gentleman would do, a gentleman never raises a hand against a lady no matter how much annoying said lady may be.

I keep quiet for a time weighing my options but by the look in their eyes none are about to budge, I sigh more dramatically than necessary "At four." My eyes fall on both their expressions as they try to make sense of my sentence.

"And why so late?" Miss Blackwell's expression is one of twisted glee as if my answer was all she needed to prove the crime she accuses me of.

"I have...insomnia, have had it since I care to remember so it is not unusual for me to sleep at such ungodly hours, I pass my time reading or grading student's papers, nothing that should concern you." I give her a scorching look and it finally seems to work and she backs away from the table one or two steps.

"Is it possible that in one of your insomnia induced nights you had finally grown tired of reading and decided to go for a more...active activity...?" Even so Miss Blackwell continues her interrogation. I frown at her question quickly changing my look to one of indignation and anger, "But of course not! The fact that I have trouble sleeping is in no way a determining factor in whether or not am I the killer!" My voices raises with every word I say and Miss Blackwell seems to start backing down, I take another deep calming breath reminding myself that this behavior is unbecoming of a gentleman, "are we done here or are you calling the police?" Director Bennett gives me one long look before nodding, I stand quickly leaving the room from behind me I hear Blackwell yelling at the director for letting me go but their dispute brings me no glee. Arabella Blackwell I will make you swallow those harsh words you spat today.

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Now, you know Arthur's side of things so what's yours? Comment "yes" if you believe Arthur is telling the truth and he did not kill Beth Rose. Comment "no" if you think Arthur is lying.

Next task goes up soon! Murderers, I have victims for you!