The Stalker

Theme 182: Stalking

Anti-Arcine Story 1

A/N: Italics represent a flashback. Bolded sections are for notes, letters, texts, emails, etc.

This piece if Rated T for language and violence. Warning: Character death possibility.

Chapter One

Arthur was stacking boxes inside the store he'd started work in just days before. High school was over now along with all of its bad memories, and he desperately wanted to start a new life away from the people he needed to leave behind. This job would be his first shot: He'd work as much as he could, making all the money he needed to attend school outside of Elwood City.

Arthur wondered if his past would come back to haunt him. He dated Francine throughout high school, a horrible mistake in his eyes. She forced him into the relationship then battered him until he stayed and stayed and stayed...until he just couldn't anymore. His breaking point was at the graduation ceremony.

"Arthur, you have to wear this on your sleeve. It's a symbol of your love. Muffy got her boyfriend to wear one," Francine growled, fumbling with Arthur's sleeve as he fought her. He growled, "We're not allowed! Stop it! STOP!" he hissed.

"Oh stop complaining, Arthur," Muffy called. She approached with Fabian, a transfer student she'd dated since his second day at Lakewood High. Fabian didn't seem to like Muffy that much, but Arthur was more worried about himself than that poor sap. With Muffy there, Arthur was sure to lose, at least until a teacher showed up.

"Miss Frensky, what are you doing to him?" she asked, eying the scene carefully. The pin for the red heart-shaped badge was halfway through the fabric. Arthur glared at her and blushed as the teacher pulled her away. "What is this? You're not allowed to have things like this. Stop putting things on your boyfriends, ladies."

When the teacher walked away, Muffy got onto Fabian for removing his. They walked away, leaving Arthur alone with Francine. She punched him hard in the chest, "Thanks a lot you big baby. You could've stuck up for me."

She walked away, but Arthur was done. His chest burned a little as he walked to his spot in line. The pain was the reason he had to leave. It was emotional at first, but now? Now it was physical.

Arthur snapped out of his memory, his chest stinging a little as he lifted another box. He broke up with Francine that night in front of everyone. She was trying to drag him into a side room to join the other couples in a make out session. That's all she wanted, he thought, as he remembered her prying hands grabbing at his wrist.

"Stop pulling me, that hurts!" Arthur screamed, silencing those around me. "You are such a nightmare, Francine! I'm sick of being dragged around, having to play off claw marks on my arm! I'm sick of you! You're such a bitch and I don't know why I ever got with you in the first place!" Arthur yelled. No one said a word as Francine stormed off. But Arthur felt free. He and Buster stepped outside to sip sodas and to talk about his plans to leave...

Arthur missed Buster the most. He was Arthur's ally, even if he too was petrified of disobeying Francine Frensky. They talked often using a secret cell phone Buster got for him. Francine never found it, and after the breakup, he deactivated his other one. He hadn't had contact with her since, and unfortunately, he hadn't talked to Buster since either. He felt alone, but at least he didn't feel like a dog anymore.

Arthur finished his shift a few hours later. He stepped outside and got into his car. He began to call home when he felt like someone was watching him. He shook off the feeling as something else. He was starving, and his call home was namely to check if any dinner was available.

But that nagging feeling didn't leave him until he left the parking lot. He checked his rear view mirror constantly for any following cars, his brow bursting with sweat as his agitation grew. He hated being this way, but he knew it was Francine's fault. He was never this way before, but now, he was a nervous wreck.

Arthur parked on the street when he got home, his mother pulling out as he put the car in park. She waved and he waved back, but he could tell she was distracted again. Tax season was over, but a mound of new clients meant a mound of extra work, and now she spent more time outside of the Read house than inside it. Arthur wished he had some place to go too so he could escape DW, but when he stepped inside, he realized she was gone too.

David greeted his son as he stepped into the kitchen. He slid a plastic wrapped plate towards him, "Sorry I missed your call, but here's a sampling from a job I'm heading too. A lasagna is in the oven. Just turn it off when the timer chimes. And DW is at Emily's spending the night. Oh, and wipe your brow."

Arthur saw his reflection in their new stainless steel refrigerator. He was shocked at how frazzled he looked, and even though he kept wiping his brow, more sweat replaced it. He sighed and took the plate upstairs to his room, trying to keep Kate from seeing him.

Arthur and Kate used to be close, really close, but Francine pulled them apart. Her days of being forgiving of younger siblings ended the day Muffy decided it wasn't okay. While he didn't mind them treating DW like shit, treating Kate like shit was a bigger problem, so he kept his distance from her. He had no choice in his mind, but now that the ordeal with Francine was over, he wanted to reconnect again. He just didn't know how because her side of their room was covered in merchandise from a show Arthur had never heard of. He missed at least two years of her life, so now, catching up felt difficult, if not impossible.

He thought of ice breakers as he booted up his computer. It was an ancient model, the old one from the den, but it worked for what Arthur needed it for. His inbox appeared, and for the first time since he graduated a few weeks before, Buster had sent him a message. The subject, however, was not what he expected.

Re: Frankie Problems

Just wanted to let you know I got a PM from Francine today online. Don't ask where. She wants you back for revenge. You ruined her at the party or something. I don't get half of what she's saying. She sounds crazy so watch yourself.

Busy with travel so don't expect quick replies.

-Baxter Man

Arthur felt himself shiver. The heat from his earlier paranoia was gone. Now, his feelings were confirmed. Francine must've used Muffy's infinite power to figure out where he worked, and now, he knew he had to watch his back. She wouldn't come to his house, and she probably wouldn't try to mess with him with the girls around, but work was fair game if it meant that Arthur could possibly be fired.

Arthur moved out of his email, instead loading up a simple puzzle game to clear his head. He felt someone watching so he turned around. Kate was standing there, another four inches taller. Arthur could barely remember how old she was. Her blonde hair reached her shoulders now, but her face was still as it was when she was a baby: Angelic and beautiful.

"I heard you gasp a second ago. Are you okay?" Kate asked. She eyed his plate of food and smirked. Eating in bedrooms wasn't allowed, but she didn't mind keeping his secrets.

He, however, minded her knowing his, "I'm fine. There was a spider on my desk, but it's gone now. Do you need anything?" he asked.

"I wanted to get an ice cream later when the truck goes by, but Dad didn't leave me any change today or yesterday. Do you mind loaning me a few bucks?" she asked. Arthur pulled a five out of his wallet and handed it to her, "Keep it, a gift from a bad brother."

Kate smiled softly, the evening sun creating a halo around her, "You're not a bad brother, Arthur. We'll reconnect when you get over Francine. I understand."

Kate disappeared as the ice cream truck's song bounced off the neighboring houses. Arthur took a deep breath as he listened to the front door closed. That was why he pushed Kate away: She seemed to understand everything he ever told her. He had no idea that was even possible, but Arthur put it off as the skills of the youngest child in a house with DW.

But DW wasn't dating, and it wasn't like he'd ever been with anyone either. How could Kate possibly understand what was going on between him and Francine?

Arthur shivered again and rewrapped his plate. He could smell dinner cooking, but it almost made him nauseous. He went downstairs to put his plate in the refrigerator. Kate entered, her lips bright red from a cherry popsicle. Arthur watched as she approached him, a small piece of paper in her hand.

"I thought it was over," she whispered. Arthur looked confused as she handed him a note. She left before Arthur could read it, settling in front of the television as some kind of theme music rattled the walls.

Arthur couldn't hear it. All he could hear was a ringing in his head like he'd been shot. The words from the note could barely take hold, but finally, he figured them out:

You humiliated me, Arthur Read, and now you're going to pay.

Arthur dropped the note into the garbage disposal. Pieces of paper flew out, but it was all he knew how to do. He shivered again as he looked out the kitchen window, hoping to see a beautiful bird or something to take his mind off the horror that was just in his hands.

Instead, he saw Muffy's pink convertible driving on the next street, and Francine was sitting in the passenger seat, her face etched with anger.