Arthur Cray an ex-cop and the bestselling author of the novel - Tumbling in the throes is sitting in front of his typewriter, like every day he is at his desk and like every day he is starring outside the window, looking at swinging trees in the summer breeze. The pages are empty.

He gets alert, when he hears some quick steps approaching him. Arthur starts to rapidly type in random words that came in his mind. It's Nadia, Arthur's wife. she quickly puts the coffee mug for her husband and kisses him in haste. She starts tying her hair and tells him that the breakfast is ready. "I have made the eggs; the toaster was not working" Nadia said apologetically.

Daniel, Arthur's twelve years old son call out from the hall – "Mom, let's go, I don't want to be late for my practice!". Mornings are always a rush for Nadia. Nadia laughs "This kid and his soccer practice, anyways you have a big day too, ready for the meeting with the publisher?" "Absolutely" said Arthur hiding the gibberish written on the paper.

Arthur doesn't want to lie to his wife, he didn't want to tell her that it's been five years since his last novel and he has failed to write even a few new chapters for the sequel to Tumbling in the throes. Maybe he shouldn't have left his job. If he had finished his first novel on the job, he could have finished the sequel too. Maybe it would have been easier to think about crime, while pursuing criminals.

He grabbed the coffee mug and Nadia left; he saw her driving out with Daniel. Daniel waved a goodbye to Arthur while spinning his soccer ball on his finger. Arthur waved back through the window. Then he collected some papers that were lying around and put them in his bag.

Arthur stood in front of his dressing mirror. The blue shirt was looking good, he combed his brown hairs and set his moustache. He has changed his style after leaving the cop job but the moustache remained. "You can write a bestseller once; you can write it again" Arthur told himself.

He took his keys and got into his car. The road to the publishing office was almost empty, but Arthur was driving lazily. Trying to avoid the inevitable. He had missed another deadline. "I shouldn't have signed that contract, or not have wasted all my advances on luxury writing vacations."

But he gave an excuse like he always does. "The novel was not supposed to have a sequel, he had made his hero die in the end, but the publisher cut that part and asked him to write a sequel. And Arthur had no idea what to do next, the hero had his revenge, he had killed his wife's killer. What will a lonely cop do now, with his life?"

Arthur had reached the publisher's office. Eagle publishing house – the big fonts on the building made sure that everybody who passed by knew what the building was being used for. The tall glass building looked hideous to Arthur.

It was not a building but a cage of glass and steel. It's interesting how we hate a place like we hate a person. And Arthur hated both the building and the people inside it. Walking in the lobby, Arthur saw copies of Tumbling in the throes in the display section.

"It's a good sign, they haven't given upon me yet. I can ask for some more time and even for some more advance. I can't see Nadia doing any more double shifts. Daniel too wanted a professional coach; the kid is talented. I need to support them; I need to support my family"

Arthur took a deep breadth and knocked on the door. The Editor – Mr. Richard said in a squeaky voice, "Come in Arthur." Arthur got in and sat on the chair kept in front of the editor. "How do you always know, it's me." Mr. Richard giggled, unbuttoning his yellow blazer. "I'm the eagle, Arthur, I see everything"

Arthur smiled but his smile was short lived. "But I am not seeing a manuscript on you." Arthur took the paper he had brought with him. "I have the story; I just need some more time." "What is the story, Arthur?" questioned Mr. Richard clearly knowing Arthur is bluffing.

Arthur acted to read the papers, "Yeah! So, the story is my hero – the cop falls in love once again, and once again his girlfriend is killed but this time the crime lord is bigger and meaner" "How meaner?" intrigued Mr. Richard. Arthur fumbled trying to think something, "He-he shots the girl point blank in her bedroom"

"That's not mean Arthur, that's quick," Laughed Mr. Richard. "And we are not a movie production company, we are Eagle Publications, we write literature Arthur, not some cliché remake. The girl cannot die so easily. We need more blood. Do some research. And no crime lord this time. We want to shake up the audience and random person gone psycho. We don't meet crime lords everyday Arthur, we meet people. People who can kill us. That should be your novel. Every second the Hero loses the girl goes through a hell. Make it bloody Arthur, make it real!"

Arthur was not sure he could write such gore, but he had no option. "Yes, I think. That's how it should be done. I think six months will be required to do everything authentically…"

"One month" ordered Mr. Richard. "What?" Said Arthur shockingly. "You have one month Arthur, submit the manuscript or lose the contract" explained Mr. Richard. "But it's not enough…" "Well even five years are not enough for you, Arthur! This sequel was supposed to come four years ago, we can't stretch it any longer. One month or We will get another to Author to write it."

"It's my story" protested Arthur. "It was, then you sold it to us and did nothing for the last five years. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some other meetings." Arthur stood up and straightly walked out of the building. Looking at humans was feeling too much work right now. He wanted to be alone.

He sat by the beach until it got dark and then started to drive towards home. In the entire drive to home only one word echoed in Arthur's mind. One Month. "How can I finish a novel in a month?"

Arthur reached home. Nadia's car was already in the parking. Arthur was not in a position to face Nadia right now. Nadia had heard Arthur's car coming in and she greeted him on the door. "So…what did they say?" Arthur down put down his bag and started to untie his laces.

"They want it to be more violent" said Arthur slowly. Nadia smiled "That's not a problem…" she hugged him "…you can do it!" Arthur distanced Nadia slowly.

"They have given me a month deadline or else they will ask someone else to write it" Arthur glanced away as he said this. "But you have submitted the manuscript, they can't do this to us" Nadia almost cried. "I have not!" "What?" "I haven't finished it!"

Nadia stood up angry. She was not being able to understand this. "Everyday I go to work, do all the chores, take care of Daniel and you sit on that table drinking coffee, eating the food which you have not paid for, because you have no job and now you are telling me that you have wrote nothing! Nothing"

"It's not easy, Nadia," Shouted Arthur. Nadia was shaking, tears swelled up in her eyes. She walked to the kitchen basin. "You know when I said to my friend joe today that you are meeting the publishers today and I might not be doing any more double shifts, you know what he she said?"

Arthur walked to the kitchen counter, his veins pulsing, eyes getting red. "What did she say, Nadia?" "She said you are just using me and you will never write anything worthy ever" Arthur looks around and grabbed a knife. "You don't know what I go through Nadia, you don't know" The knife was held high and Arthur was walking towards him.

Nadia started crying and shouting, "Help! Help!". Daniel comes running in the kitchen and shakes Arthur. It takes a second for Arthur to realize what he was doing. Arthur puts down the knife. Arthur starts to walk away but Nadia calls him from behind, "Arthur you need to leave this house, you can't leave here anymore"

Arthur is out, putting clothes in the trunk. He looks towards the house; he can see Daniel. Arthur wants to wave goodbye but Nadia comes and takes Daniel away. Arthur doesn't know where he will go now.