God.  God, was Malachi really going to do it?

There was so way, Arthur was certain.  Even as poor Malachi stepped closer and closer to the door, even as he reached for the knob, and even as he turned it, Arthur was certain he'd stop and turn and apologize, or yell, or hit Arthur again, maybe kill him.

He had not expected Malachi to open the fucking door.

The bright light of the sun spilled in like a flood.  Arthur turned his head away from it, lip curled in frustration and defeat.

And then Malachi stepped outside.

Arthur was frozen for all of a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity.  Had Malachi said something?  Arthur couldn't hear anything over the roar of blood in his ears.  He yanked on the rope to draw Malachi back inside, not caring if he choked him or hurt him or if he killed him.  He'd deserve it, for what he just tried.

Once Malachi was clear of the door, Arthur stormed past him and slammed the door shut before whirling around.

"Are you fucking insane?!" he demanded.  "Have you no shame?  No dignity to speak of?  You'd rather act like a dog than a man and be seen as such?"

The doctor was irate.  How could he have known Malachi would - would be so stupid?

Was this some attempt to humiliate Arthur?  Call his bluff and laugh in his broken face, to say that Malachi knew Arthur wouldn't let him do such a thing.  He shouldn't have stopped the man if that was what he wanted!  He should have slammed the door on him and left Malachi outside to fend for himself!

"I bet you think you're so much smarter than me, so much better, but you're not!  You're nothing!  Less than a dog, less than dirt, do you do what any old person who comes around tells you?  How you're still alive amazes me!"