Silence fills the other end of the line.
Arthur can almost hear Captain Chambers thinking.
Processing.
Then—
"Chief Lutherford is there? What do you mean she's there? Like there there with you or what? Montrose! Are you sleeping with Chief? I swear to God, if you are taking advantage of her—"
Arthur pulls the phone away from his ear and ends the call.
He drops it onto the bedside table.
He yawns again, long and unbothered.
Then his eyes shift toward the corner of the room.
The place where Arthur II has been standing all night.
Watching.
Unblinking.
The corner is empty.
Arthur stares at it for a few seconds.
Still empty.
He exhales slowly.
Relief seeps into his bones.
I can finally sleep.
He lies back down and pulls the blanket over himself.
His body sinks into the mattress.
He closes his eyes.
And this time, there is nothing staring back at him.
------------------------------
