Chapter Seven

"Papa?…"

"Ah! Y-yeah! I'm here!"

Little Matthew's eyes slowly opened to the image of his father standing over him, his face pale as a ghost and his eyes red like he had been crying for hours. His long blonde hair fell in front of his face in which he had to push it away, he reached his hand down onto the child's little head. "Papa… what happened…"

"I can't… I can't describe it to you…"

"Where's Alfred?… what happened to Alfred?…"

"Your friend is fine, you don't have to worry about him, oui?"

"Where's that guy?… where's the guy with the gun?…"

His father's voice chocked, "H-he's gone, you don't have to worry about him either… M-Matthew, just don't move too much and rest, oui?"

"O-Okay papa…"

OOO

"What's this?" Little Matthew titled his head toward the animal, a small stuffed bear. He was soft, fluffy, Matthew just wanted to hold onto it and not let it go. He looked up to his father. "It's for me?"

"Oui, it's for you." His father said and petted his son's head. "It's a polar bear, you like the artic animals right?"

"Yeah! Polar bear!" Matthew hugged onto it more, it fit perfectly in his small arms. "I'm gonna name him Kumajirou okay?"

"Why Kumajirou?"

"Cause Kumajiri is a good name!"

"I-I thought you said Kumajirou?…"

"Eh? Oh, it's Kumatiro." Matthew smiled. "Right Kumayuro?" he looked at the small bear like it would talk back as he father only stood there in confusion. Matthew smiled and held onto the bear, then looked up at his father. "Papa, when can I take Kumagiro home?"

"U-um… soon." His father's expression changed. "The doctors just want to make sure you're well enough to go home, oui?"

Matthew nodded. "And what about Alfred? Is he home yet? Or is he still around the hospital?"

"He's, um, he's going home maybe tomorrow."

"I want to go home with him! I wanna see Alfred papa."

"You will, very soon…" His father kissed his forehead. "It's late, you should sleep." Matthew settled himself in his hospital bed, he still couldn't sleep on his side without feeling intense pain. He laid there flat on his back with his bear close to him in his arms as his father placed the blankets over him. "I'll be back in the morning okay?"

"Hey papa,"

"Oui?"

"I have a question… I don't think you're going to like it…"

His father sat on the side of the bed and softly smiled "It's okay, you can ask it."

"Why do people do bad things?… you said that guy was a bad guy, why did he do bad things?" Matthew asked innocently but the smile on his father had disappeared, he looked like he was going to cry, like he couldn't handle the question.

"That's a good question…" His father gulped. "Sometimes… Sometimes, people are cruel… Not all of the world is peaceful and spread love like I do…" He took a deep breathe, he couldn't understand how to put this into words to someone who was only six years old. "Some people just want to watch other people suffer… their very bad people… they want to be cruel… they love that feeling. Those people exist, that bad man was one of them… you can call those people… "demons"…"

"Demons are bad…"

"Oui, they are… but that's why we have angels to look after us, understand?" His father said, Matthew nodded. "Good… now get some sleep…"

OOO

Mobs of newscasters was always a familiar sight after that day. After being in the hospital for almost three weeks, the moment Matthew stepped outside a swam of newscasters would surround. The cameras rolling, the flashing going off as they tried to get whatever picture they could of one of the only survivors, the newscasters would surround him with the microphones and quickly rush all their questions at him. "What did the man say? Do you remember what happened? How do you feel about school now? Is it safe? What did you do? Did you see your fellow classmates die?" questions thrown at a child that should never be asked, no matter what the situation.

Matthew would cry, he would scream, he would try to get away, he would slowly begin to lose his mind as the horrid memories came back and haunted him more and more. Those newscasters became what he feared the most, he couldn't even turn on the TV without hearing something about himself or one of his deceased friends. He couldn't see Alfred, the boy's parents and his own decided it was best if they didn't see each other for a while but all Matthew wanted was to make sure Alfred was okay, the same was for Alfred. When he would wake up in the morning and look out the window, they would be there waiting, they surrounded his house so he could never leave…. They eventually had to move…

Those damn flashes and cameras, he couldn't stand them… they would make him go crazy… he didn't want them there, ever, ever again!…

OOO

"Their still there…" Matthew peeked out the window a bit, the curtains still covering him. He looked as there was a set of newscasters outside the small apartment building, all from different channels but all covering the same story: the boy who escaped "the monster's" grasp in the said-to-be-abandoned house. Alfred looked up from his book and toward Matthew and the window. "It's almost been a week… their not gone yet…"

"They don't give up easily, you and me both know that." Alfred sipped some of his soda. "Just let it be, they will find some other story to go after and leave you alone."

"Their only going to leave if there's a brutal murder or some other kid gets kidnapped…" Matthew gulped. "I don't get why they have to just… attack these people… they've been through enough, they don't need cameras in their faces…"

"They will go away soon," Arthur came into the room holding onto his own book. "Matthew, don't worry about it they will leave soon."

Matthew shut the curtains and looked toward Arthur, "Yeah, I know… they just can't leave fast enough…" he sighed. "Um, Mr. Kirkland, thanks a lot for letting me stay at your place… thank you so much… I don't know how they found out I was here though."

"It's fine, I don't really mind having you or them here." Arthur smiled. "Lad, come on, get away from the window." Matthew moved away and sat on the couch with Alfred.

"How's your arm?"

"Oh, it's good." Matthew looked over at his arm that was still in a sling, the bullet that had hit him had hit bone and his entire arm was injured, though now the pain wasn't so harsh and he could move it around. He relaxed in the couch and sighed a bit, there was nothing for him to do, him and Alfred couldn't even go to their classes yet.

"Dad! I'm home! I got a thingy for Mat!" Peter came in through the door and held up a letter. "Oh! And my teacher said that there's a thing on tonight about the monster thing on channel thirteen."

"Of course there is…" Matthew rolled his eyes then held out his other hand for Peter to put the letter in, which he did. "I can only wonder what channel this is from." He did his best to unfold the letter as Peter took his jacket off and Arthur hung it up. Matthew's annoyed expression suddenly turned to shock with the reading of the letter, Alfred tried to reach over and get it but Matthew quickly pulled it away and put it in his sweatshirt pocket. "Don't worry about it."

"Who's it from?"

"U-um, Papa." He lied. "He said he wasn't able to call so he sent this."

"That's bullshit…"

"Shut up Al!" Matthew squealed a bit and Alfred only laughed and fell over a bit. Matthew smiled softly and held onto the letter in his pocket. He then looked over at Peter, "So when is this thing on eh Peter?"

"Teacher said at like… seven I think." Peter jumped onto the couch too next to his step-brother.

"Why? It's not like you're gonna watch it." Alfred stated but then the look on Matthew's face gave a different idea. "Right?"

"I kinda wanna see what these guys have on it…" Matthew sighed. "I wanna see if they have any truth behind it."

After dinner was served, the kids showered up, and the newscast was still outside, the small family and Matthew sat around the TV, though it hadn't been turned on yet. "Are you sure you want to watch it?" Arthur questioned before pressing the button, thinking of the boy's sensitivity. But Matthew only nodded. Arthur turned the TV on and sat with the rest of them as the TV came up with the news broadcast. Matthew wasn't sure how to react, or how he would react, he didn't know what would be told… if they had said one more bad thing about Ivan, he was going to scream.

Two weeks ago, police were called in to investigate the kidnapping of a young man by the name of Matthew Williams. Five days ago, they solved the case when they responded to the call that 01 Maple Drive had been involved. Though the house was destroyed, Williams and his friend, Alfred F. Jones, were found outside the burning house by police. When questioned what happened, the two gave no response.

Matthew watched as images of the burned down house came up, he wanted to look away but he couldn't. Now let's get to the heart of this story. 01 Maple Drive is said to be one of the first houses build in our town, it is also said to be haunted. For years the house was surrounded by a metal fencing in which no one could climb over, also surrounded by stones that covered the lawn of the house. The house was said to be the home of a "monster" who would take in those who tried to cross his fence. The history of the house was completely unknown until our people dug into the town's history. The house was in fact purchased by the Braginski family more than 30 years ago. The three family members, Katyusha, Ivan, and Natalia Braginski also lived with three other members by the names of Toris Laurinaitis, Raivis Galante, and Eduard Von Bock, who all came from Russia before the Soviet Union had ended. Matthew looked as old photographs of each of them came up, he could recognize each of them from the photo in Katyusha's room.

Now, here comes the fact that makes this story a legend: each of those people had died more than thirty years ago except for Ivan Braginski. Their deaths are a complete mystery, even the location of their deceased bodies are unknown but it's believed to be in the house, though nothing was found to support that. It is around the same time that the house's fence and stones were placed around the house, making it impossible to get in. Investigators say it's most likey that Ivan had murdered the other members and burned the bodies, then trapped himself in the house to get away from any police. Matthew's fingers twitched as he made a fist, how they blame Ivan for their deaths! It wasn't his fault, none of it was his fault! Matthew managed to hold down his anger though it was building up inside him.

In the present, they believe Ivan became this "immortal monster" who would live longer as long as he had killed another human being. It's said that the five other teenagers who had disappeared in our town most likey fell into his hands, causing more deaths to be put on this man's list. This is only the legend, the monster would take it's victim's hearts and use them to "replace his own" or eat for meals, many legends have gone around about it. Matthew growled a bit, he didn't like them calling him a monster.

This brings us to our present case. Three young men, Matthew Williams, Alfred F. Jones, and Kiku Honda along with a younger child went to the house as a dare, sending Williams over the fence, but he fell and hit his head, knocking him unconscious in the monster's territory. The two then said they saw a figure standing there, then picked Williams up and brought him inside the house somehow. No one knows what happened in the time Williams was kidnapped inside the house to the time police showed up. Matthew Williams has yet to comment on anything related to this case except for one statement at the police station. Matthew got a angry look on his face, they wouldn't would they? Oh but they did…

The channel played the video, the cameras had crowded him after he was released from the station, all they did were say hateful questions about Ivan. "Who was he? What did he do to you? Did you find any bodies? Did he rape you? Did he abuse you? Did this monster torture you? Was he a demon?" more and more questions came up, all of them calling Ivan the monster, calling him the murderer, calling him the bad guy… he wasn't a bad guy… the man who killed his friends, he was a demon… Ivan didn't do anything… He simply tried his best to ignore the questions, him and Alfred fighting through the crowd to get home, but Matthew snapped. "IVAN DID NOTHING! HE WASN'T THE MONSTER! STOP MAKING HIM OUT TO BE THE BAD GUY! GO AWAY!" He had screamed at all of them and they all became silent, then the cameras went off again as he and Alfred got into the car.

Matthew sat there watching that video, reliving that moment again.

The victim, Matthew Williams, was one of six children to survive the HetaCare school massacre, which killed thirty students and four teachers. Though there is no connection with Ivan and this school, it's said the boy was taken in out of the four children for "special reasons". Police haven't given any comment on the victim, and Williams himself has not given a single comment other than the one he gave at the station. One officer did describe the boy as "mentally unstable" and "afraid" as he was questioned. He was the only one of the six children to survive the school massacre that was mentally stable at the time. Now it's said that the second trauma may of pushed him too far and made him give false or incorrect information if any at all. "Bullshit!" Matthew yelled in anger.

"M-Maybe we should turn it off?" Alfred reached for the remote but Matthew quickly took it away and continued to watch. A psychologist who was there during testing told us that the Williams' memories of what could of happened were most likely fake and no use in this case, making it harder to understand what, if anything, happened inside that house. They would like to say it was all a physiological break and dream of Matthew Williams but because the three other boys that were there saw this "monster", this has become an abduction case.

Matthew's hand twitched a bit, how they call him crazy, they had no clue at all! He felt angry, he couldn't decide who at though… maybe just himself… He took a deep breath and sat back in the seat.

The events that had happened in that house are completely unknown, only adding onto this legend of a monster. When investigators took a look around the remains of the burned down house, they found nothing at all, though it's believed Ivan was in fact inside the house when it exploded. Details of this entire mystery are unknown to everyone, not one person knows anything and it's possible this tale will never have an correct ending. Until Williams gives any response to this tale, it will have to end without an ending, a to-be-continued. It is possible that this "monster" is still out there though, if he really cannot die. He's not a monster… he can die… Matthew frowned as he listened to the ending of the small special. Until we gain more information, this is Amelia sighing off for the night… stay safe everyone. When new information comes out, we'll be the first ones to cover it. Good night all.

"Idiots… all of them…" Matthew wiped his eyes a bit so Alfred or Arthur couldn't see his tears. He quickly stood up. "I-I'm going to bed… g-good night." He quickly rushed toward the bedroom he was sharing with Alfred.

"Hey Mat," Peter's voice stopped him. "Are you ever gonna tell what happened in that house?… what he did to you?…"

Matthew stood silent with his hand on the door knob, then spoke, "He saved my life… that's what he did to me… he saved me…" Matthew quickly went into the room and into his bed.

OOO

"Uncle Gilbert!" Little Matthew quickly ran out of his room and into his Father's friend's arms, who he called uncle because he was like family. The white-haired man only spun the little one around then put him back onto his feet.

"How's my favorite little nephew doing?" Gilbert pet the little one's head.

"Good! Really good!" Matthew giggled.

"That's good, I'm glad you're okay."

"You look very cheerful~!" His father's other friend, who he also called uncle, Antonio smiled.

"I am uncle Anti," Matthew could never say Antonio's full name. "Papa gave me a new friend too!" Matthew quickly climbed onto the couch and picked up his little bear, showing it to the two. "I call him Kumdio!"

"I thought it was Kumajirou." His father corrected again. Matthew only looked at the bear's face.

"Something like that." He said.

"How about you and Kumajirou go play in your room while me and your uncles talk a bit okay?"

"Okay papa!" Matthew carefully jumped off the couch, though his father didn't like him doing that because he wasn't fully healed yet, and ran into his room, closing the door only to the crack. His father turned to Gilbert and Antonio then let out a great sigh.

"Hey, Francis," Gilbert started. "He's fine, you don't have to worry about him anymore."

"He's still having nightmares…" Francis frowned. "Plus I can't even let him outside because those damn newscasters will attack him for an interview… I don't know what to do… they won't leave him alone."

"I know, it was a pain in the ass just to get in here." Gilbert said.

"They gave me this though," Francis held up a little to the two, then Gilbert snatched it from his hands and began reading.

"Your son is one of six children who survived a mass murder, he is also the only one that is well enough to speak as the others are either still unconscious, too shaken up to speak, or are still healing from very serious wounds. We would like to interview Matthew only once in a reserved meeting, no shouting or crazy questions, and will enforce this. We understand the hardships of this situation right now, we give all respects. Once one interview is given though, most channels will leave your son alone. Please respond by contacting the number below." Gilbert read.

"They don't know shit! They don't understand what's going on! My son saw his classmates die in front of him, he was shot and actually died until they revived him!… he's asking when he can go back to school you know? He wants to see his friends and teacher again and I can't bring myself to tell him that he's never going to see them again, that their all dead." Francis held his head in his hands. "So… what? What do I do?…"

"If this will get them away, I say do it." Antonio said. "It'll get them away from Mat, it'll be over for now."

"It won't be over…"

"That part will be over." Gilbert said. "The rest time will just have to sort out." Francis shook his head, he couldn't know what to do, he wanted it to be dealt with though. "Matt is a good and strong boy, he can handle it."

"The flashes of the cameras are bothering him." Francis sighed. "I see it, he gets terrified and he grabs onto my coat…"

"The sound and the flash probably reminds him of the gun." Antonio said, "He'll get over it in time okay? Just let him do it so it can start moving on." Francis nodded and stood up, heading toward Matthew's room to ask him to do it.

That morning, Francis zipped up Matthew's coat and put the boy's hat over his head to prepare for the cold outside. "Now if at any time you feel uncomfortable, you tell me okay? We can leave any time."

"Okay papa."

"You got Kumajirou with you?"

"Yup!"

"G-Good." Francis stood up from his bend. "I'm just going to get my keys okay?"

"Okay papa." Matthew stood there with his teddy bear in his arms as his father left into kitchen to get the keys. Matthew first stood there holding onto his bear but he suddenly had the urge to find it. He quickly ran into Francis's room, standing on his tippy toes to open the door and push it into the room and wondered in. He looked around the room a bit, he had never seen it so messy before. He wondered in toward the bookcase that laid in front of his father's bed, then tried his best to open the heavy case. He looked into the container and down at what he was looking for; his uniform. He could see it in a plastic bag the hospital or police probably gave to him, Francis probably felt like he needed to keep it. He could see the blood that had soaked the blank white shirt he used to wear, though the crimson color had completely faded to a disgusting brown. His face was blank as he reached in and picked up the bag, unsparing it and taking the bloodied shirt out. He gulped a bit and put the bag and pants back into the case, then stepped away. He moved his finger across the bloodied stain, he felt like he needed to cry but he wouldn't do that, not now. He folded it up as much as he could to the point where it could actually fit in the pocket of the inside of his coat. He quickly ran back to the door once he heard his father calling him.

"I will remind each of you that this is a young child we are dealing with, a child who had gone through a terrible tragedy that should of never happened." He could hear the announcer say inside the meeting room. "You will stay calm, you will not flash your cameras unless you are allowed to, there will be no overwhelming questions and that means if he can't or don't want to answer a question, you will not pressure him. If you all do not obey these rules, you will be taken out of this room and anything obtained today will be taken. Understand?" Matthew peeked out of the crack of the door into the room where a little more than a dozen newscasters sat. He felt uneasy and nervous, tightening his grip onto his bear and taking a deep breath. Those cameras, he could see them… he hated them so much…

Slowly, holding onto Francis's hand, he came out into the room. He felt small compared to everyone, he was the only child there and he simply didn't know how to act. Francis sat him down on the seat facing the crowd, then sat closely next to him. He looked as the announcer started again, "We will begin, please raise your hands and do not start chaos." One by one hands quickly went up but it continued to stay silent as Matthew's eyes gazed each of them. He slowly lifted his hand up and pointed to one of the ladies.

"How did you feel during your experience?" She asked.

"Scared." Matthew simply said. He wanted to change the subject quickly, he quickly pointed to another woman.

"Where did you hide?"

"Under the tables." His voice stayed low as they barely heard a word he said. He quickly pointed to a man.

"Did the bad man say anything to you?"

"Yeah, we were gonna be punished." Matthew said simply. The eyes of some of the casters seemed to quickly fill with sorrow, some even looked away or put their hands down as he pointed to another person.

"Did the teacher say anything to you when the man came in?"

Mathew gulped a bit, he could re-imagine the teacher falling into the wall, her head covered in blood. "She didn't have a chance." He said and pointed to another man.

"What were you doing when the man came in?"

Matthew drew to a blank. "Counting…" his voice dropped and he gulped. He suddenly froze, three, two, one, he could remember counting backwards, simply to prove a point… but the door broke down, he came in, and everything changed… it was just a coincidence… right? "Did I do it?…" he whispered to himself. Francis looked over at him as his eyes widened. "P-Papa… did I do it?… I am why he came in?… I-I… am I why he came in?… It's my fault?…" he couldn't get the thoughts out of his head, maybe if he hadn't counted the man would of never came in. Maybe this, maybe that, he couldn't take the thoughts. He couldn't breathe, he panicked. "It's my fault! ?" He cried.

The newscasters reacted like animals. They quickly raised up and pinned questions onto him, they overwhelmed him, their voices echoed in his head as he slowly lost control of everything he once had. He didn't understand, he couldn't understand, he panicked, he couldn't breathe, he cried, his eyes went from one person to another as fast as they could. He reached into his pocket and grabbed onto the folded shirt. His hand shook as he pulled the bloodied shirt out and threw it toward the newscaster, the shirt unfolding in the air and flying out in front of them. They all froze, it all went silent. No one said a word, only their eyes stayed on Matthew.

I guess that was when I realized… nothing would ever be the same… I realized there was no such thing as fairytales like my father or teacher would talk about… there were no knights in shinning armor or heroes, the only heroes would be like the ones who saved me or Al… The world was a horrible place, people did horrible things… and everyone… the most innocent people would die…

Cameras went off again, that damn flashing filled the room. Francis quickly grabbed onto Matthew and tried hiding him from the others as they got him out of the room, though he was blank by now, completely emotionless and numb…

I had no… I didn't know what to think anymore… I still don't…

"You just told that story to scare Peter." Matthew sat in the corner of the room reading his book as the other three boys stayed on Alfred's bed in a circle. "That story isn't true, there's no such thing as monsters."

"But he's a person!" Peter held onto his pillow tighter.

"Whether he's a person or a monster, it's just a story." Matthew had said. "There's no such thing as monsters."

Yeah, there are no such things as monsters, not the one's in legends. That's what I always thought since that day. The monsters were the demons, the bad guys, the ones who would take away life from those who barely had a chance to live, those who only lived to make others suffered… they were the monsters… the murderers… they were monsters…

"Your sisters are gone. Your three friends are gone. This house is empty and you will never leave it." Roma smiled as the windows slammed and locked shut, the shutters closing on them. Nails flew in out of no where and flung into the window, nailing it shut. Ivan panted as he looked, Roma placing the chest down on his seat and getting onto his knees next to Ivan. "I took your heart. It's no longer beating in your body but in that chest. You'll never die because of that. You'll be stuck here, alone, forever."

"W-Why?… why did you…"

"It keeps me young. I'm over 600 years old, Ivan. Every spell I cast that takes lives keeps me young. This was my chance to become immortal." Roma smiled. "Thank you~ my first spell with removing someone's entire life makes me feel so alive!~" Ivan attempted to grab onto him but his hand fell to the ground as Roma stood up. A tear seemed to slid down Ivan's face as he dropped back to the floor.

"Let me die…"

The monsters attacked those who didn't deserve it, who did nothing at all… Ivan wasn't a monster… He wasn't the demon or bad guy… what did he ever do?…

"I-It's okay," Ivan breathed heavily. "I-I don't want you getting hurt anymore."

"Yeah! ? L-Look at you!"

"I'm fine, this is nothing." Ivan tried his best to stand up straight and look at the stranger. "Neither of them have anything to do with why you're here, don't hurt either of them anymore." Ivan knew, he knew what was happening; the ending of the story. Alfred gulped a bit as Matthew only looked in worry at Ivan. Ivan only smiled and reached his bloodied hand up to Matthew's cheek. "Don't worry, it'll be fine… I want you to take your friend and walk out that door, understand?"

"Bu-"

"Go. Now. Both of you." He let his hand drop away from Matthew and backed up against the wall, he was actually falling back but he couldn't look any weaker right now. "Go ahead. Get out." Matthew teared a bit but didn't let it show, he hurried over to Alfred and grabbed his arm.

"C-Come on Alfred," He said with a shaky voice. "L-Let's go." He pulled Alfred's arm with his only good arm and pulled him toward the door. Alfred stood in more of a shock than anything, but Matthew pulling him seemed to snap him out of it. Matthew looked back at Ivan as Ivan only gave a gentle smile and a nod… Matthew pulled Alfred out and tried to get away from the house.

Why did he have to die! ? I don't… I don't understand… I don't understand anything anymore… I should of stayed… I should of stayed with him… he protected me and I couldn't do anything back could I?… I'm always protected… I can't protect anything…

"I'll kill all of them! Each of them! All of you! All of your brats who lived!" that man had once said… that was the day they injected him, that was the day the man who took so many lives was killed. For days though, Matthew couldn't get over that one sentence. He was afraid, he was terrified… he didn't know how to react anymore…

"I'm gonna protect you Mattie," Little Alfred grabbed onto his hand. "I promise! I'll protect you no matter what!"

"A-Al…" Matthew had teared up.

"I promise… we got through this together and I won't be leaving you again… I'll protect you no matter what." He had smiled.

Why didn't he just….

"M-Mattie…" Alfred smiled a bit. "Y-You're alive… You're alive!"

"Alfred… no… don't hurt him."

"Don't hurt him! ? He took you away into this house! What did he do to you! ? Huh! ? Are you hurt! ?"

"I didn't hurt h-"

"Shut up monster!" Alfred yelled before Ivan could even finish his sentence and pointed the gun back up at him. "Don't you say another damn word!"

"Alfred no!" Matthew quickly jumped in front of Ivan. "Please you don't understand Alfred!"

"I don't understand? I don't understand! ? He took you away into this house! He kidnapped you Mattie!" Alfred swung the gun around. "I thought I was going to lose you… I couldn't lose you again…" Ivan looked up at the two, again?… "He took you from me… from your dad… from all of us… and he'll pay!" Matthew put his arms up and protected Ivan the best he could, standing in front of the aim of the weapon.

Damn it… everything is gone… Alfred even lost his mind… and I never wanted to see that again, he was one those kids that couldn't speak after the shooting, he lost his mind several times before and it was because of me that he lost it again…. But… he's okay… he's okay right?… I can't….

"Why are you afraid to die?" Ivan said, Matthew looked at him confused. "Why? You've never experienced it before so why?"

"I-I…"

"What reason do you have to be afraid?" I could remember death…I have a reason… what's yours?… "Are you afraid that you'll never see your family or friends again? You'll never see any future? Or is it religious? Do you think that there's heaven or hell that you'll go to? Or that this will be it?" Ivan began to smile a bit, he began to like this talk on death. "Or do you just think it would be painful?"

"Shut up…" Matthew's voice was shaky. He had looked down as tears began to fill his eyes, he was terrified but he couldn't be sure why. "Please shut up…" Ivan lost his smile and turned around.

So is this my reason?… I'm afraid to die?… I… I don't want to die again… that's why… I couldn't understand it back then… I couldn't remember… when that bullet hit me again everything came back though… I just…

I want Ivan…. I understand everything know…I think I do… I don't…I'm losing my mind again….

Several weeks later…

"On the bright side, at least their gone now!" Alfred poked Matthew's arm as they walked out of the school building. "So what if the professors were asking about it?"

"Ow, my arm, it still hurts." Matthew rubbed his arm a bit then looked over at Alfred. "And it's over now so they shouldn't be asking." Matthew got a better grip on his notebook and stopped at the end of the sidewalk, waiting for cars to slow to the stop. "Whatever, I'm over it eh?"

"That's the spirit!" Alfred gave a thumbs up toward the boy. "Are you coming out for sushi with me and Kiku?"

"Na, I got something to do…" Matthew softly smiled. "I'll see you back at the dorms okay?"

"Oh? What?"

"I'm meeting someone, that's all."

"Who?"

"A friend Al, now bye-bye~" Matthew took a step to cross the road once the light turned for him, but Alfred grabbed onto his sleeve.

"Hey Mattie," Alfred pulled him back a bit. "You're okay… right?"

Matthew looked at him with a blank face but then smiled. "I'm fine now, don't worry." He waved a bit toward his friend and quickly ran toward the other side of the street. He took out the letter that was handed to him so long ago and held it tightly in his hand. He walked calmly, there was no reason to rush, but he was excided. He wondered down the street until he reached an ally, though it was made into a garden by the residents of the buildings around it. Matthew opened the gate to the beautiful garden, flowers seemed to grow everywhere even up the walls. The flowers there were most of was sunflowers though. Matthew looked around a bit but didn't see who he was looking for, but the voice quickly got him to turn around a smile.

"Over here Matvey." The voice called.