After getting off the taxi, Arthur noticed someone loitering in front of Sara’s apartment building suspiciously. Upon looking closer, that man’s face seemed to resemble Sara’s manager. Thinking he was being paranoid, he called out to Sara to confirm.
Sara took notice of that man only when Arthur pointed at him. She was having a heart felt chat with her siblings. This was the first time they talked this much. Before her mother’s death, they were too small to talk properly, and after they didn’t get the chance to. So seeing their dazzling smiles melted her heart.
She swore to protect them. But her mood instantly dropped after identified the man Arthur was pointing at.
It was the manager. She involuntarily recalled Arthur’s warning and a bad feeling crept into her.
But she didn’t falter because she wasn’t alone. Someone was there to protect them in case of danger. She calmed down a bit. She nodded at Arthur. Confirming that it was indeed her manager.
The kids went quiet, sensing the unsettling tension. Arthur gestured to them to follow. They crossed the road and without paying the manager any mind, they entered the building.
The manager had noticed them as well and called out to Sara. His voice filled with desperation and unmasked urgency.
Sara ignored him and focused on walking ahead with the kids. She was grabbing both of their hands, pulling on them to walk faster.
Arthur made way for them to climb the stairs first at the stair case. In case the manager decided to go feral and attack.
Arthur noticed him standing on the gate, hesitating on what to do. Enter or not. Arthur didn’t linger long. He also followed suit. Whatever or not the manager actually dares to come up, is a different matter. And he has appropriate measures to deal with it.
As he climbed, he noticed a silhouette starting to climb up as well.
But it was for a moment. It got obscured by the stairs. But Arthur knew that the manager was following up.
His eyes sharpened with a cold glint. His hand moving behind his back, going under his hoodie, holding onto the pistol he had bought today. The process was easier than he had initially assumed.
He just went there and bought it.
Arthur pulled it out and checked if it was loaded. He of course wasn’t gonna shoot just because the manager approached them. From the manager dominer, he seemed like a normal person on the verge of obsession. Obsession slowly gnawing at his reasons and sanity.
Otherwise Arthur doubted the manager had that kind of spine. Before long, he reached the fourth floor. He found Sara unlocking the door. He walked slowly, focusing on the almost inaudible sound of footsteps.
The manager was still following. Arthur briefly closed his eyes to mentally prepare himself for the worst
Today might be the day he murders someone for the first time in his life.
Arthur swiftly entered through the door. He left it ajar to see where the manager was.
After waiting for a moment, he saw the manager finally step into the fourth floor. He looked a bit confused.
Arthur sat at the door. A bit loudly. Intending to catch the manager’s attention. To signal to him that this was the door he was looking for, the people knew and were wary of him.
It was kind of a warning to the manager to turn back now before something big happens.
Arthur momentarily turned his gaze to Sara and the kids. She was standing in the middle of the living room with a worried expression. Trying to put on a drive font. While the kids also seemed very unsettled.
Arthur turned his gaze back and looked through the peep hole. There was no one there yet.
Arthur contemplated whether or not he should contact the authorities. But after thinking for a while, he decided not to.
He deemed that if he threaded the manager a bit, he could get him off the hook even for a bit.
After that they will change cities. He had already planned for it, but he needed to push it forward for everyone’s safety.
Arthur waited for a few more moments, there was no one. He wondered if the manager backed down or not. But then, someone appeared in his view. It was the manager. His expression is full of determination.
Arthur sighed. He didn’t want to resort to violence. But he will try to use as less force but as effective methods as possible.
He saw the manager take a deep breath and ring the door bell. Then called out to Sara again in a meek but desperate voice.
Arthur put his hand on the hinge, ready to open it. Then used his right hand to pull out the gun he had tucked back.
He simultaneously pulled out the gun and twisted the hinge, opening the door.
The manager’s face lit up, thinking Sara was ready to talk. But without him getting time to realise that it was not Sara, he felt hard steel getting shoved into his mouth he has involuntarily opened to talk.
Arthur gazed at the manager coldly.
"I don’t know why you’re here. Leave. Now."
He said firmly. Putting his finger on the trigger. The manager’s eyes trembled in fear looking down at the gun. His breathing uneven. Slowly, he regained a bit of self control and backed down.
He walked back slowly, with his hands raised up. Arthur pointed his gun wherever he went. Assessing the situation, the manager realised that there was no place to talk and slowly left.
Seeing that the manager is finally gone, Arthur sighed and put down his gun.
He went inside and closed the door.
Others signed in relief as well. Sara felt tension leave her body and she slumped down on the sofa. Arthur grabbed a tissue and wiped the gun of saliva.
After that, he turned to Sara.
"I will be going out. And follow him to make sure he is gone. I also have some business outside. Keep this gun for now. Use it if necessary. And... I have a few proposals to make. I will tell you after I come back."
Arthur placed the gun on the table in front of the sofa, then walked out.