Disbelief suddenly began to pool behind the dark mans eyes as he absorbed what Arnold had done. Never in his life had he thought he would be here experiencing this, never in his life did this creature believe that this is where it would all end, at the hands of a 16 year old boy by his own blade, his favourite blade.
"She was chosen" the creature whispered. "I was saving her, showing her love, showing them all love." The whole room seemed to have come to a serene stillness with the man's words.
Arnold didn't move a muscle, he simply stared back into the dark man's eyes with the blade still firmly held in the man's side. A warm stream of blood cascading from the wound down his arm in an almost soothing manner.
"I'm sorry Arnold," the man whispered, his breathing becoming shallow. "She was not appreciated, not loved." His eyes began to flutter, "none of them were…"
"I love her." Arnold whispered.
"Good" the man responded, before releasing the small amount of pressure he held on Arnold's neck, and with one final flutter of his eyes, and with one final breath the beast was no more.
Helga felt as though she had forgotten how to breathe….it was over. It was really over. Arnold was here and she was free. It was over.
Silent tears began to well in her eyes as she looked on towards Arnold, and an unimaginable well of love opened up for him within her, far greater than the love she had felt before. He had come for her and he had saved her. She almost couldn't summon the words to speak.
"Arnold..." she quietly uttered, barely a whisper.
Though clearly struggling with very large and deceased man on top of him, Arnold responded to Helga's call instantly as he attempted to shift the body's weight off him. Upon standing Arnold looked down, blade in hand, at the man now void of life before him. There was no going back, no changing it, Arnold had killed, he had taken a life. A small amount of fear and panic started to form in his chest as the reality of the situation dawned on him.
"Arnold." Helga whispered again, and he turned to her.
She was not the Helga he remembered or even knew. She looked so frail and weak, covered in bruises and chained by bloodied and twisted wrists. It was as though she was on the edge of death and his heart sank as he took in the sight. He had been just in time, he had saved her. He needed to remember that.
Dropping the blade to the ground Arnold took very slow steps towards the mattress. Both simply stared into each other's eyes as Arnold came down to her level and softly sat himself next to her.
"You came" Helga whispered, a tear streaming down her face. Arnold wiped it away.
"Of course" he replied before briefly leaning into kiss her softly on the lips. "I'm broken without you." Another tear fell from Helga's eyes as she smiled at him.
"Stop being so lovey dovey football head," she responded with a grin, showing Arnold that the 'old Helga fire' had not been extinguished.
Grinning Arnold began to lean in for another kiss, only to be interrupted by a loud slam as the door to dungeon like room flew open for a second time that evening.
"Everybody FREEZE," yelled McCann as he and 10 other officers with varying amounts of body armour poured into the room. Both Arnold and Helga watched as the small group of officers took in the room and the scene before them with obvious disbelief.
"What the fuck happened in here?"