Chapter 1

Arthur was sitting in the living room while trying to read a book. But it was hard to concentrate as his focus was more on having to be as quiet as humanly possible rather then reading the book. He wasn't even sure what the book had for plot or even what genre it was in. What he knew was that he did not want to be to 'loud' or else he would 'provoke' the mansion's owner. His dead friend Lewis.

It was a little around eight months now since Lewis had been hunting Arthur down the mansion's halls in the attempt to kill the smaller male. Making the small male fall in to a pout of depression and self-blame and hate. Only to snap out of it when the ghost reapers for them a month after that incident, trying again to kill him but was stopped once more by Vivi as well as by Mystery.

That is how they got Lewis back. For under that confrontation that was mostly made of yelling and accusations the ghost managed to give Vivi her memory back. He had done so with the sole purpose to have her believing him when he told her how Arthur killed him.

Vivi of course had been happy for both her memories and for the fact that her Lewlew was back. Though that happiness was interrupted by anger as he accused their scared friend of being a murderer, and she was even more angry when she recalled how he had been the one to try in killing Arthur a month back.

There was some more yelling and accusations thrown after that but it was ended with Mystery telling the tale off what really happened in that cave and who is truly at fault for the ghost's demise. At first the ghost hadn't been open to that fact, that Arthur wasn't the one responsible, and made that clear. But after further argument he came around, making Vivi so happy and Mystery smiled, and Lewis even said that he would get along with Arthur again like before. He even recreated the mansion for them all to live in together. Everyone was so happy. That happiness lasted until nightfall.

When the first night came around Lewis visited Arthur alone in the small male's bedroom. That was the first time he hurt him, hurt him while he explained to him have he had lied for Vivi's sake and how he never would forgive the mechanic for murdering him. At first the hurting had been kept to the nights in Arthur's room and not going farther then some bruising.

But as time went by the mistreatment went to outside the privacy of his room and to beyond just the nighttime. It also progressed from slight bruising to serious bruising together with cuts and burns, there had also been other forms of torture thrown in to the mix. Like being forced outside in the middle of the night or being made to swallow something bad.

That is why Arthur is sitting so quiet trying to read. He hadn't even been close to his workshop in over two weeks, remembering how Lewis had told him he had been to 'noisy' and had punished him for it. Using the toucher to burn him that time rather then his own flames. He didn't want to go to his workshop anymore, at least he now didn't have to walk past those paintings again, didn't have to listen to them blaming him, cursing him for just being there. Though he still had to pretend that he goes there regularly or else Vivi or Mystery could start to ask questions. The only rule Lewis kept to, do not let the other two know what he was doing. That also meant that Arthur couldn't say anything either, not if he didn't want the ghost to become even more angry.

Worrying over how to keep faking that he is using the workshop Arthur didn't notice as Lewis had entered the room. Neither did he notice how said ghost came up behind him on the sofa. He only first knows of him being there when a big hand is laid on his shoulder. Burning him. It was barely the scream was stopped as he bit down on his tongue.

"Vivi and Mystery took the van in to the city to buy some essentials that we where getting low on. That means it is only you and me for a while Traitor." And a second hand was laid on him, this time burning him on his chest.

It hurts, it hurts so much but still he does nothing as his dead once-friend proceeded in harming him. Soon starting to variate between burning and beating all while telling him what a pathetic filth he was.

"Hi guys we are back. And we broth a bounty with us." Vivi walked in the mansion while balancing four bags of stuff needed. Some food, some bathroom thingys, candy and a little surprise. Lewis was soon with her by the entrance.

"Welcome home Vi. Did you have a fun time while out?" He naturally grabbed two tree of the bags, leaving her to carrying one herself.

"Yes we did, it would have been even more fun though if you guys had come with too." They retched the kitchen where they put down the bags. "But instead of us all going in together I got us something that we can spend some time together with here at home instead. Tada." Vivi said as she held up a DVD movie. "I got us that movie with the big headed blue villain with the fish companion. None of us have seen it yet and I think we could all enjoy this one. That or mock it."

"That is wonderful Vivi." Lewis said with great cheerfulness in his voice and a big smile. But after a moment he let his smile drop in a half sad and half concerned look. "Oh but I think it will only be us three though. Arthur wasn't feeling so feel, he looked a bit warm and stiff, so he went to bed early. I'm sorry Vi…"

"Ah okay, that's… that's okay. You don't need to say sorry Lew, if Arthur was feeling bad it was a good thing he actually went to bed. Poor Arthur, maybe we could plan something special for him later. After he feels better."

"Yes maybe we could. If you want we could put up looking at that movie for now, just a little sad that you was thinking of us to enjoy it when you bought it only to put it on the shelf. But as said we can always watch it some time later." Still Lewis was not only looking sad at that idea but also sounded sad by it.

Vivi stood still for a moment contemplating before slowly coming up with a new option. "…We could always watch it a turn by ourselves and then later, when Arthur is feeling better, watch it again."

Lewis stood as if in thought before nodding. "That sounds great and I'm sure that he wouldn't mind. We could arrange for a movie night later where we watch it among with other movies too."

"And we could rearrange the living room to be more like a cinema. With popcorn, soda, and ice cream."

"I don't think you usually have ice cream at an cinema Viv."

"Well then ours will be an even better cinema, wouldn't it?" They was done moving everything from the bags and she made her way towards the living room. Taking the DVD with her. "I will boot up the movie, can you be nice and make me a sandwich meanwhile?"

"Of course Vivi. Anything for you." She didn't see the smirk Lewis was showing as he hummed a tune, starting in making her sandwich.

Just one plane over them, on the far west side of the mansion, was there a bedroom where the only light source was the light coming in past the blinds, light from the sun that was about to set. In the bed of that room was the figure of a small male that was currently curled in to a tight ball. Quietly crying as he was doing his best to ignore the hurt from his resent burns.

"Why am I still here? Why can't he just end it already."

There have been less then a year since Lewis return and yet Arthur was already starting to fall apart.