Gotham – Old Building in the South Side
The sixth-floor hallway smelled of mold and expired disinfectant. The light near the elevator flickered erratically, casting warped shadows on the peeling walls.
Arthur stopped in front of the cracked hallway mirror. The reflection showed a clown with a painted face, sunken eyes, and crooked lipstick smeared across his cheek.
"It's today, Sophie."
He adjusted the purple blazer on his shoulder, then tugged at the loose green tie, hanging like a poorly executed noose. His freshly dyed green hair stuck to his sweaty forehead.
On the floor, the sound of his worn shoes scraped against the old vinyl.
Sck… Sck…
Arthur began to walk.
His gait was exaggerated. Legs too wide, shoulders swaying. His right hand trembled slightly, clutching a child's umbrella he'd painted red. It wasn't raining. But he thought it looked elegant.
Along the way, he passed a half-open door. He stopped, leaned his face close.
"No one."
He moved on.
He stopped at apartment 606. Tried the handle.
Locked.
"No one locks me out."
He went to 608. Sophie's apartment.
He stopped. Straightened his posture. Adjusted his collar.
Then knocked hard.
Knock-knock-knock.
"Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock."
He made a rhythm.
Started laughing to himself.
"She's gonna love this. A musical number just for her."
Knock. Knock. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Silence.
Arthur pressed his ear to the door.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Come on, Sophie. I brought the opening act."
He grinned, but his eyes were empty.
He pulled a plastic blue flower from his inner pocket. Rubbed it against his nose.
"Smell it, Sophie. It's clown perfume. Signature brand."
He knocked once more.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"The love of my life can't be sleeping. Not on our day."
He pressed his ear again. Eyes fixed on the wood.
Inside, his heart pounded like a drum.
'She'll open it.'
His hand trembled.
His face was sweaty beneath the paint. A trickle of saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, unnoticed.
He pressed his forehead to the door. Whispered with lips against the wood.
"Today, we'll laugh together. And no one else will make you laugh but me."
A click.
The handle turned.
The door began to open.
Arthur stepped back half a pace.
A wide grin spread across his face. Eyes wild. Hands ready.
Sophie appeared on the other side. Loose t-shirt, hair tied messily, a thin robe loosely knotted over it. Her eyes were irritated.
"Do you have any idea what time it is? What the hell…"
She stopped.
Her eyes dropped. Saw the green hair, the face paint, the purple suit. The blue flower in his hand. The gaze smiling without smiling.
"What…?"
Arthur leaned forward slightly.
"Good evening, Sophie. I—"
"Who are you?"
Sophie stepped back.
"What are you doing at my door dressed like that, you freak?"
Arthur stepped forward.
"You know me. You're just pretending."
Sophie reached to slam the door.
"Go to hell."
Arthur wedged his foot in the gap.
Her expression shifted. From anger to fear. Fast.
"I'm calling the police!"
She pushed the door with force.
Arthur pushed back. His body crossed the threshold.
Sophie tripped on the rug. Fell backward into the living room. The robe loosened in the impact. She tried to get up.
Arthur stepped inside.
Closed the door with a snap.
"Don't do that. I just want to talk."
"GET OUT!"
Sophie tried to crawl away. Her shoulder hit the small table. A vase fell.
Arthur knelt in front of her.
The blue flower now damp with sweat. The lipstick smearing down his chin. His eyes unblinking.
"You said you loved me."
Sophie's breathing was rapid. Her hands searched for something to grab. Nothing within reach.
"I've never spoken to you before! Are you sick?"
"You smiled at me. In the elevator. You gave me a sign."
"You're insane!"
She kicked. Her leg hit his thigh. Arthur recoiled slightly but didn't budge.
He pulled the tie tighter around his neck. His breathing heavy. But his face… smiling.
"I forgive you. Just… don't lie anymore."
Sophie screamed.
But no one heard.
The entire building was silent.
Arthur reached out. Touched her face with paint-smeared fingers.
Her skin was damp, trembling, stained by what he wanted to be love.
Sophie turned her face in disgust. Spat near him, shaking.
"You're sick. A piece of trash. Get away from me, you scum!"
Arthur froze.
His hand still suspended in the air.
The smile fading slowly.
His eyes… narrowing.
'Just like Mom.'
'Just like the coworkers.'
'Just like the ones who laughed on the bus. The ones who shoved me on the street. The ones who looked with pity. With contempt. Always the same.'
Sophie's voice cut through everything.
"You think someone like me would look at someone like you? You stink. You look like a circus zombie!"
Arthur blinked slowly.
"You… tricked me. You said you loved me. You said it with your eyes."
"I never spoke to you, you creep!"
The rage erupted.
He raised his hand.
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed in the room.
Sophie's head snapped to the side.
Her face hit the edge of the fallen table.
A trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
She lay still for two seconds.
Then let out a choked groan.
Arthur was panting, his hand still raised.
The lipstick smeared. The blue flower fallen on the floor.
The child's umbrella lay tilted by the closed door.
His eyes no longer blinked.
'I just wanted her to say she loves me.'
And now… the silence said everything.
Sophie spat blood onto the carpet. The corner of her mouth split, her breathing heavy. She tried to crawl, but her leg hit the fallen table.
"You're gonna kill me, is that it? Kill someone you don't even know?"
Arthur clutched his head with both hands. The laughter came in short, airless waves. Then stopped. He looked at her. His face hardened again.
"You know me. You just don't want to remember."
Sophie turned, propping her elbow against the wall. Blood dripped to her chin.
"You sick freak… get out of my house now."
She tried to stand. Stumbled. Grabbed a lamp and swung her body, striking hard toward him.
CRACK.
The lamp hit Arthur's shoulder. He grunted, staggered back. The wall cushioned the impact.
Sophie ran for the door. Slipped. Her trembling hands fumbled with the lock.
Arthur grabbed the umbrella from the floor. Walked toward her. The plastic tip tapped the ground.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Sophie turned, throwing a shoe at him. The sole hit his chest, but it didn't stop him.
Arthur dropped the umbrella. Ran. Tackled Sophie with his shoulder. They both fell to the floor.
She screamed.
"Help!"
The cry sank into the muffled concrete of the building.
Arthur straddled her. His hands pinned her wrists.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"I don't even know you!"
She bit his hand. Arthur yelled, pulled his arm back, and with the other hand slapped her face again.
SLAP.
Sophie grew dizzy. But still fought. Pushed his face with her fingers.
"You don't exist to me! I never looked at you!"
Arthur's body locked.
"Liar."
His hand gripped her throat tightly. Pushed her against the floor.
Sophie arched her back. Her legs kicked the air. Her nails scratched his arm.
"You're mine. You've been mine since the first smile."
She pounded her feet on the floor. The dull sound spread through the apartment. His fingers tightened.
"I did everything for you."
Sophie struggled to breathe. Her eyes wide. Her hands flailed without direction.
"I fixed my hair… for you…"
His words came through gritted teeth. His jaw muscles trembled. Saliva dripped onto her face.
"I painted myself… for you…"
Sophie's legs lost strength.
"You said you loved me…"
Her eyes no longer held anger. Or disgust. Only terror… and tears.
They streamed from the corners of her eyes, staining the floor.
Arthur kept squeezing.
"Just say… you love me…"
Her body stopped fighting.
Arthur stayed over her, panting.
The silence came quickly. Like a siren that never arrived.
His hands released her throat.
Sophie was still.
Her chest no longer rose.
Arthur knelt beside her body. Hands in his lap. Face blank.
Then… he started to laugh.
Quietly at first.
Then louder.
The laughter grew like a spasm. His body shook with it.
The laughter turned shrill. Unrestrained. Tears streamed now, but not for the right reasons.
He doubled over. Laughing against the floor.
"She said… she said she loved me…"
The laughter was relentless. Airless. Painless.
The blue flower lay crushed on the carpet.
The umbrella tilted by the door. The broken lamp. Sophie's body sprawled. The robe open. Her face turned. Purple.
Then…
The door handle turned.
CLICK.
It opened.
Slowly.
Without sound.
Arthur didn't notice. He kept laughing.
The hallway light spilled into the apartment.
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