MURDER!
Chapter 8: Calling For Help
A/N: I think from here on out there are going to be a few scary movie clichés, but please bear with me because without those clichés, this story would probably end here. Also, I'm just going to warn all the readers out there that there are going to be a few extra curse words in these next few chapters. Please enjoy this chapter! Reviews are greatly appreciated!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HEY ARNOLD!
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"I thought he said the spares would be here!" Stinky was scratching his head.
Park sighed in a frustrated manner. There were no keys by the door at all.
"Maybe he just misplaced them or something," Park said.
Stinky's ears perked up.
"Hmm. Sounds like the wind has picked up again."
Park listened, "Um, I don't think that's the wind."
Stinky and Park looked at each other.
"Oh no!"
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"Oh my god!" Gerald slapped his hands to his ears. "What is that horrible noise?"
Phoebe gasped, "HELGA!"
She grabbed Gerald's hand and pulled him with her.
"Come on, Gerald!"
Phoebe followed the sound of the screams. They were close. She lifted the candle so she could see farther ahead. A dim glow could be seen from one of the rooms.
"Hurry!"
"I'm comin'!" Gerald struggled under her grip.
Phoebe and Gerald quickly made it to the study to find Lila sobbing, her face buried into Arnold's shoulder and Helga on the floor next to a desk trying to breathe steadily.
Phoebe let go of Gerald and ran to Helga.
"What happened?!" Phoebe grasped onto Helga's shoulders.
"What's going on?" Park and Stinky made their way into the study as well.
"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" Helga screamed.
"What?" Gerald moved towards Arnold and Lila, but the body on the floor caught his eye. Gerald jumped away. "OH, HELL NO!"
Phoebe stood up and peeked behind the desk. She placed her hand to her mouth and gasped.
"What is it?" Stinky asked before spotting the area behind the desk. "Wilikers!"
"We need to call the police. NOW!" Gerald rummaged through his pocket for his cellphone.
Arnold picked up the phone on the desk. "The lines are out."
"No shit Arnold!" Gerald fumbled with his cellphone. "No! NO! My battery is dead!"
Suddenly, Lila began to gag. Arnold grabbed for a metal trash bin next to the desk. Everyone watched as Lila vomited into the bin.
Helga began grinding her teeth when Arnold took out a teal handkerchief from his shirt pocket after Lila was finished, to soak up the glistening sweat on her face.
"Are you ok?" Arnold asked.
Lila began to nod before she burst into tears and shook her head.
"Curly's dead! He's really dead!" She sobbed, and began to gag again, but nothing else came out.
Park bumped into Stinky before making a break for the stairs.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"I'm getting the hell out of here!"
"To the front door!" Gerald grabbed onto Phoebe who was still looking at the body.
Arnold gave Lila the trash bin and pushed her to go with Stinky before he helped Helga up and followed the group down the stairs.
Park nearly ran into the door before turning on the handle.
"Locked?"
"Unlock it, man!" Gerald caught up with him.
Park looked at the door, confused.
"What the hell, Park! Unlock it!"
"I-I can't!"
Gerald pushed him out of the way, "What do you mean you ca – ."
The doorknob looked extremely weathered and tarnished. Not like the other doorknobs in the house. Where there would be a device to lock and unlock it was instead a couple of keyholes.
"What the – ?"
"What's going on?" Iggy intervened.
"The doorknob has been reversed!" Park exclaimed.
"What happened?" Nadine asked.
"It's Curly!" Helga whimpered. "We found him dead AND NOW THERE'S NO ESCAPE!"
"Dead?!" Iggy's eyes widened.
Helga got up in Iggy's face, "DEAD, YOU MORON!"
Iggy bolted for the door.
"Iggy!" Gerald reached out his arms to grab onto him, but he was too fast.
"IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!"
He slammed his body against the door but it didn't budge. He tried again. As his body hit the door, an awful sounding snap came from his arm.
"ARGH! MY ARM! I THINK IT'S BROKEN!"
"YOU IDIOT!" Gerald grabbed a hold of Iggy. "CALM DOWN! We just need to find a phone."
"Helga!" Arnold exclaimed. "You have a cellphone!"
Helga clammed up. "I, well – well I did."
"What do you mean you did?" A vein in Gerald's forehead looked as though it was about to burst. "YOU TEXTED ME BEFORE YOU ALL CAME OVER!"
The crowd was eyeing Helga.
"Look! It's not like these stupid dresses have pockets! I left my phone in Rhonda's limo!"
"Rhonda!" Nadine exclaimed. "She has a cellphone! It's in her bag!"
"But we'll never find it," Phoebe stated. "Curly was supposed to retrieve it from the cellar, and he most likely did, but then how did he end up on the second floor? If any of you had noticed, there was no bag within the vicinity of his body."
"But what if he never got a hold of it and it's still in the cellar?" Nadine asked.
"Nadine, do you know what was in that tote?" Phoebe almost said it as more of a statement than a question.
"Um, well, there was a lead pipe, some rope, and other things – for the game of course."
Phoebe pondered, "Don't you think whoever is doing this wants that bag of weapons then?"
The group agreed. Phoebe did make a valid point.
"We need to find whoever this murderer is!" Phoebe declared.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" Park exclaimed.
Stinky crossed his arms, "You're right out of your dang mind!"
"Well it can't be any crazier than to be sitting here like a bunch of ducks!" Gerald said.
"I'm not going to get murdered!" Iggy shouted at him, still cradling his arm.
"Then stay here and guard the fire!"
"FINE!"
"Come on, Phoebe, let's solve this mystery."
"Gerald!" Arnold called.
"Yeah, man?"
"I'd like to help. I was thinking I could find a way out."
Gerald looked his friend up and down before clapping him on the back, "You're a bold kid, Arnold. Stay safe."
"I will."
After Gerald and Arnold gave their signature handshake, Gerald and Phoebe were off. Arnold sighed before taking a few steps forward.
"Wait!"
"Helga? Listen, are you alright? Y-you know… from earlier?"
"I – I'll be fine, it was just really unexpected," Arnold could tell Helga's voice was trembling. "That's all."
"Yeah. I'm really sorry," Arnold rubbed the back of his neck. Her big blue eyes bore into his green ones. He had to tell her how he felt now if there was a chance that he wasn't going to come back. "Listen, Helga, I – "
"I'm coming with you," Helga stated matter-of-factly.
"Y-you are?!"
"It's not like I'm going to be enjoying it or anything, it's just that I'm sick and tired of being around these crazies all night long," Helga was referring to the group near the fireplace.
"Helga, I want you to be safe."
Helga lifted her fist threateningly at him.
"And I am this close to bringing Ol' Betsy out of retirement if you make me stay around this gaggle for the rest of the night, now let's go!"
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Thanks for reading this chapter! I hope it was an enjoyable experience! Don't forget to REVIEW!
