Chapter 10: The Reason

Zack stepped through the door and into the kitchen, quickly followed by Cody. Each took a look around as they took a few more steps forward. The cupboards were a light wood color, and covered in dust. Each was closed except for one in the corner. The counters were white and likewise covered in dust. Cobb webs were in nearly every corner in the room. Suddenly Zack's eyes were drawn to one counter in particular. On it was a dark wooden knife block, one knife was missing. Zack's face had a dark look on it before he turned away.

"That must have been what he used," Cody said, directing Zack's attention back. Zack just nodded before turning away. He had that knife pointed at him enough times to last. The twins continued through the hallway and into the living room.

"Looks like it did the last time I was here," Cody muttered, half to himself. He then looked at Zack again. "Is this the room you saw."

Zack didn't answer. His mouth hung open slightly. Every detail from his dream was exactly in place. The design on the walls, the pictures on the fireplace, everything was also covered in dust.

"Zack?" Cody said again. He shook his brother. Zack finally nodded. Cody sighed as he reached for a light switch. The lights flickered a few times but finally turned on. The dust on the cream colored lampshades gave the room a sepia tone to it. Next he made his way over to the fire place as if drawn there by some kind of magnetic force. His eyes scanned the pictures until they finally fell one in particular. It was located in the back and had a large crack across the front of it. Although Cody knew the contents of the frame, his hand, again if guided by magic reached over and picked it up. As soon as his fingers touched the frame, a picture filled his vision.

-Cody POV-

I was still in the same room only it was different. Matthew sat on the couch, contently watching TV. A tall wiry man walked in, a gloom look on his face. Wait that was Theodore, Matthew's father. I braced myself, I knew what was going to happen next.

"Matthew, I have to tell you something." Theodore said hollowly.

"Hey dad, what's up?" Matthew said. "I heard we got the reservations at The Golden Gardens. That's the nicest place in Boston. It'll be perfect for the reception. I…"

"Matthew, your mom's dead." Matthew looked up in disbelief.

"What?"

"She died this morning. She had a heart attack."

"No." Matthew said, his eyes filling with tears. "No, that can't be."

"I'm sorry son." Theodore said grimly. He walked back into the kitchen.

Matthew looked down, his face still filled with disbelief. His hands shook as tears filled his eyes. He sniffled as the tears dripped down his face. "No…mom…no. You promised…mom…" His hands clenched into tight fists as a look of anger swept over his face. "How could you do this?" He said through his tears. He slammed the couch with his fists. "It's not fair."

Suddenly he looked up at the fireplace and ran over to it. He starred angrily at a small picture…one of him, his mom and dad smiling as if life couldn't get any better. The smiles enraged Matthew further. "WHAT ARE YOU SO HAPPY ABOUT?" Matthew yelled angrily. He punched the face of the picture. The picture slammed into the wall behind the fireplace as a large crack formed across the middle of it. A few glass shards flew off, one of which cut Matthew's hand.

I shuddered at the impact.

Matthew stared at the blood as it dripped down his hand. "Blood…" Matthew said softly as he continued to watch it drip. He ignored the resulting pain from the cut on his hand. A new look filed his eyes as he muttered to himself. I had to look away.

"Blood is life…Blood is life…"

-Normal POV-

"Cody?" Zack said softly as he walked over.

A second later Cody shook his head and looked back over at Zack. He held the picture up. "Zack, this is what caused Matthew to change."

"What do you mean?" Zack asked curiously. Cody went on to explain everything he just saw. "So he got mad at a picture?" Zack asked again.

"I-I don't know," Cody sighed as he set the picture back down. "I just know what I saw. I can't really tell you what he was thinking."

"True," Zack said, sighing also. He began to walk away and back down the hall.

Cody followed for a second but then turned around again. He walked back over to the picture and just stared at it. He couldn't explain it but he just couldn't take his eyes off of it. Cody looked from Matthew to his mom, his dad, and back at Matthew again. He stared into each of their eyes. They all looked so happy and innocent. But Cody also knew what would happen thirteen years later…everything Matthew would do…

Cody finally forced himself to look away from the picture "Zack?" Cody asked as he looked around. Soon he realized he was alone. "Zack?" Cody said fearfully, a whisper was all he could manage. "Where are you?"

Zack continued to walk down the hall, thinking Cody was still behind him. He went around the corner towards the staircase. Above the base of the stairs on the wall was another picture of Matthew. Zack recognized it as the one of Matthew that was shown on the news when the boy had first been killed. A flicker of light on the picture caught Zack's attention. Zack blinked as he inched closer out of curiosity. Suddenly, the picture's eyes looked directly at Zack. The temperature dropped rapidly. Zack saw his breath form a cloud of mist as it escaped him and gathered by the picture. Before Zack could scream a white form burst out of the wall, swirled through the mist, and into his body…

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