MURDER!

Chapter 9: A Mysterious Figure

A/N: So, here's another chapter for you fans! Enjoy and don't forget to REVIEW! I love reviews!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HEY ARNOLD!

xXx

Helga's bullying persona took over. Arnold noticed near the candle light how angry Helga looked just now. Arnold realized it was the first time since they were younger that Helga looked this ferocious. He didn't know whether to be afraid, or to admire her courageousness during such incredible circumstances.

"Okay, Helga, you can join me," he said almost cautiously. "But we need to stick close together."

"Fine by me," Helga whipped around.

Arnold could almost swear he heard her sigh girlishly before swiping a lit candle from someone, but he figured he must have just imagined it.

"Alright, let's blow this joint, hair boy!"

Hair boy? Arnold thought. She hasn't called me that in years! It's much more impersonal than Football-head.

He followed her into the darkness of the first floor.

"Um, Helga?" Arnold started.

"What?" Helga spat.

"Are you sure you're well enough to do this?"

Helga hesitated before opening a random door. Tripping over Curly's dead body did frighten her, but she had to keep face. The fact was she was disappointed that Arnold went to Lila's aid before coming to hers to see if she was ok. Lila, after all, wasn't the one that tripped over a dead, bloody body.

"I'm fine Arnold. Just give me a little breathing room! Criminy!"

They entered a small bathroom.

"Let's try the window," Arnold suggested, still cautious about Helga's state.

Arnold placed his candle down on the sink. Helga folded her arms, letting some of the wax drip from her candle.

"Helga," Arnold said firmly. "Watch your candle."

Helga noticed the puddle of wax on the floor before sighing irritably and placing her candle on the sink next to Arnold's.

Arnold put the toilet seat down before stepping on it in order to reach the window. He nudged the window, which opened easily. The freezing wind blew at his face.

"Great idea, genius!" Helga said sarcastically. "Now who can we fit through there?"

It was then that Arnold noticed the window was extremely small. It was not wide or tall enough to fit anyone through, not even Helga, the smallest of their friends.

"We're going to have to find another window."

"Doi!"

"Helga, I think you're angry."

Helga was taken aback.

"Angry? Why would I be angry?"

"You've been acting like a bully since we've set out! You're treating me the same way you used to treat me when we were nine!"

Helga bit her lip, trying to come up with some sort of excuse.

"You are angry at me, Helga, but why?"

Helga began to sweat, despite the freezing air emanating from the bathroom window. I can't possibly tell him I'm jealous.

"If you're angry, then why did you decide to tag along with me?"

"I am not angry!"

Arnold pondered before asking, "Does this have to do with Lila?"

Helga was stunned.

"L-lila? Wh-wha – ?"

"I know you two don't exactly get along. Every time I see you two together, you can't seem to stand her and I never understood why! Lila's not a bad person, Helga."

Lila's not a bad person? He must be saying that because he still has feelings for her! Helga's blood began to boil until she couldn't take it any longer. Her mouth burst before she could stop it.

"What were you two talking about in the library right before we found Curly?"

It was Arnold's turn to look shocked. He calmly took his candle before beginning to leave the bathroom, followed closely behind by Helga.

"Let's just move on, Helga."

"Just tell me what you two talked about!"

Arnold made his way to the stairs to the next floor.

"No, I-I can't tell you that."

Helga glared at him before pounding her fist on the wall of the hallway in frustration. "NO?!"

xXx

"Some night, huh, Harold?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think we'll ever make it out of this?"

Harold got quiet behind the door. He knew there was always a chance that things would take a turn for the worst. Men always have to think that way. It kept them on their toes for when they needed to defend a lady. That's what his mother told him anyway.

"I think we will," he lied. His mother always told him to keep up a lady's spirits in times of danger.

Rhonda sensed the hesitation in his voice. He doesn't think we will, she thought. He just wants me to feel better.

"Rhonda?"

"Yes, Harold?"

"I know I've already told you this before, but I love you, Rhonda."

Rhonda's heart leapt. She hadn't heard him say that since their Senior Prom.

"I love you even if you don't love me back. And I'm sorry that we're in this mess. I would do anything to fix it."

"Harold – "

"But I just want you to know this just in case anything else happens tonight."

Tears were streaming down Rhonda's face. She squeezed Harold's fingers from under the door.

"Harold, I'm glad you're telling me all of this," her heart quickened. "But now it's my turn to tell you something."

"What's that, Rhonda?"

Rhonda sighed and bit her lip before continuing.

"I've been lying to you for years."

xXx

Arnold and Helga passed the second floor. They didn't want to be reminded of the corpse in the library, so they treaded onwards to the third floor and entered a guest bedroom.

The flames on their candles were swaying maniacally. The wind was pounding on the windows.

"Look, Helga, what Lila and I talked about is our business."

"You're not exactly the type to keep things from me, Arnold. OUT WITH IT!"

"Helga!"

"Were you two talking about me? Is that why you can't tell me?"

Arnold stopped in his tracks and turned to Helga.

"W-well, if you have to know, Helga, then yes, we did."

Arnold looked into Helga's eyes. Either it was just a reflection from his candle, or she really had fire in her icy blue eyes. He couldn't really tell, but he didn't want to find out.

"It's not what you think, Helga!"

"Then what? What is it, Arnold?"

This is it, the moment you've been waiting for, Arnold thought to himself. It's now or never. I need to tell her about how I feel now.

Arnold gulped before opening his mouth, but nothing came of it. Instead he just stared at Helga.

"Any day now, you yutz!"

"Helga, did you hear something?"

"Oh don't pull that one on me – "

"Shh!" Arnold's face turned eerily serious.

Suddenly, Helga heard it, too.

"A-arnold?"

xXx

"Lying to me?" Harold asked. "What do you mean, Rhonda?"

Rhonda expected there to be anger in Harold's voice, but to her surprise, there was no hint of anger at all.

"The last time you told me that you loved me was at our Senior Prom."

There was silence as Harold diligently listened. Rhonda continued.

"You asked me if I loved you as well."

"Yes, and I'm fine with you not feeling the same way about me, Rhonda – "

"But, that's exactly what I lied to you about."

Rhonda felt butterflies accumulate in her stomach. She took a deep breath before uttering another word.

"Harold," Rhonda began, "I have always loved you."

Harold was quiet. The silence was becoming excruciating for Rhonda. She leaned against the door.

"Please say something."

Harold chuckled slightly, "I'm sorry, Rhonda. It's just that this new information makes me so happy!"

Rhonda smiled, "I'm sorry it took me this long to tell you."

xXx

Arnold and Helga stood as still as possible as they heard footsteps from the hallway.

"Is it the murderer?" Helga shivered.

"I don't know. Keep quiet."

"This is it!" Helga was beginning to become frantic. "We're dead meat!"

"Helga – ," Arnold tried to be firm.

Just then, their candles went out.

"Arnold – "

"Shh! There's no reason to be afraid, it's just the wind coming from the window!"

"Arnold – "

"Calm down!"

"ARNOLD!"

"What?!"

From the glow of the window, Arnold could see Helga shakily pointing towards the doorway of the room. There was an outline of a person. He was breathing heavily, as if he had just undergone a race. He stood still for a moment before beginning to move towards Arnold and Helga. Both of their candles fell to the ground before Helga jumped into Arnold's arms and screamed.

There was a blast of light that nearly blinded Arnold and Helga before being directed at the figure's face.

"Uh, hey… it's just me."

Helga stopped screaming.

"Brainy?!" the two said in unison.

Helga looked at Arnold, who stopped to look at her, before she shoved her way out of his arms.

"What are you doing here?" Arnold asked.

Brainy took a breath before swinging the flashlight to his side.

"Uh… the party?"

Helga was furious. She walked right up to Brainy before punching him in the face, knocking him and his flashlight to the floor.

xXx

So that's the end of this chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed it! There are still five chapters left, so stay tuned! Also, don't forget to REVIEW!