After going through his post-kill routine and scrubbing himself clean of all evidence, Matthew slept in until just before midday. He didn't mean to sleep so long but it was a given when he had got out of the shower and could see the sky was getting lighter.
The house was quiet as he made himself "breakfast". He figured Alfred must be out and only God knows where. Maybe Alfred went out to get breakfast at McD's or something because Matthew wasn't up to make it. He checked the shelf that stored all the pre-mixed pancake batter he made and noted none were missing, so Alfred didn't make himself any for breakfast. Matthew was unsure if it was out of preference or laziness. It seems that McD's was the most likely theory, but in the end, he didn't really care where his brother was.
The sizzling of pancake mix on the hot pan was the only sound that emitted from the house. Matthew skillfully cut up banana and strawberries before nabbing the whipped creme and of course, maple syrup. He pulled the coffee table closer to the couch and sat in the middle, slumping into the soft cushions as he searched for the TV remote. He switched the TV and the station was already on the news. It seemed that it was the only channel used nowadays.
Matthew wondered if Lovino had been found yet. He supposed it was a 50/50 if he had been found and reported on.
He tried not to feel disappointed when there was nothing on the news. No Lovino and no discussion on the Trail Killer. Matthew turned the TV off and pulled out his phone as he enjoyed his pancakes. He wanted to be there when everyone realised that this was a serial killer and give him the credit he deserved.
He scrolled through the designated rumour forums and local pages in search of anything, any chatter about the Trail Killer or any indication that Lovino had been found. He hid a smile behind his fork when he came across a post of someone asking why they saw police sirens on the same block that Matthew was on last night. Matthew picked off a strawberry and ate it. That post was only 30 minutes ago. Lovino must have been found. Matthew would have to tune into the news tonight.
Alfred hadn't shown up as Matthew made dinner, so he put his twin's portion in the fridge and sat on the couch by himself. Spiteful thoughts crossed his mind as he reached for the remote. He should've only cooked for himself tonight. Serves Alfred right for not communicating and potentially wasting food. Really, this habit only started because Matthew liked fresh meals so - since he'd be cooking anyway, he might as well make Alfred dinner too. He liked to imagine Alfred's shock at any change in this comfortable routine.
But the routine wasn't going to change and Matthew was resigned to it. He told himself that it didn't bother him.
He turned the TV on just in time to catch the start of the news program, the news presenter looked concerned as she announced the top story.
"The body of 23-year-old Lovino Vargas has been discovered just before 11 today. He suffered a slit throat only meters outside the same park where the bodies of Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy were discovered. Police are treating these killings as connected and urging caution and vigilance to the public. Earlier today the chief of police released a statement-"
A smile crept onto Matthew's face as the scene changed to a policeman with a hat and collection of badges on a podium surrounded by microphones.
"As the method of murder is consistent with all of these cases and the shared location is concentrated within such a small radius of one another, we are looking at the very real possibility that this is the work of a serial killer. We want the public to know that we are taking this seriously and it is our top priority to prevent more killings and catch the criminal behind this. Until then, civilians are urged to be proactive and vigilant at night as the shared time of death between the three murders indicates the killer strikes at night. We are investigating possible links between the victims to understand a motive. Anyone with any information or suspicions is being asked to come forward. That is all."
He... he did it. On that first day when he was just releasing pent-up frustration by carving up a tree... he could've never imagined that it would all lead to this.
The news presenter frowned as she wrapped up the story before twisting her face to suit the tone of the next one. Matthew was done with the TV anyway, he turned it off and turned to his phone instead. He was practically buzzing as the internet exploded and talked about the Trail Killer. People were scared, curious, and angry. People were feeling and reacting to what he did. People were trying to investigate through their screens and theorise what the motive was and when the Trail Killer would strike next. People were even making memes about it! Most of them were out of touch in a distasteful kind of way, like whoever created them was an edgy teen who had never lost someone close to them. Others were ironic or concerned about what had happened.
Matthew took them all in stride. This is how he knew he had made it. No matter where he took his life nothing would compare to the attention he was getting by killing.
He wondered if Alfred knew about Lovino, though that was practically a guarantee. Alfred was always on his phone and so well connected that he would've heard as soon as the body was discovered. Matthew sighed as he debated checking Alfred's room. For what purpose, he didn't know. Obligation perhaps? Shouldn't he know where his twin was and what he was doing? Eventually, he settled for sending a text.
hey, your dinner's in the fridge
Hours later Matthew's text was still on delivered. Matthew was no idiot. Alfred was always on his phone.
The following morning Matthew set out to find a newspaper to add to his collection. That proved more tricky than he'd thought when he visited two shops to find they'd sold out. When Matthew stepped into a third shop the newspapers were the least of his concern when he saw his brother.
Alfred definitely wasn't home last night and wasn't around for breakfast. Matthew would've said something if he was going away for that long! Or at least the old Matthew would've... maybe. The old Matthew knew that no one would notice, but he'd still do the right thing and leave a note. Matthew was wondering how long he could run away for before Alfred would notice. That might be a vindictive idea to try later.
"Alfred," Matthew snatched his brother's sleeve to get his attention. Alfred was always so oblivious, not to mention he was on his phone. "Where were you?"
Alfred turned to look at him and his previous troubled face disappeared as he threw on his facade.
"Hey Mattie," he smiled and grabbed an armful of coffees from the wall fridge. "What are you doing here?"
Matthew answered by staring at him as he grabbed a newspaper. Alfred's face faltered.
"I um, didn't know you liked to read the paper," he chuckled. "You know you can get that stuff on the TV or the internet for free, right?"
"Of course I know that. I guess you just don't know me very well then, eh? Anyway, you didn't answer my question. Where have you been? You didn't tell me where you went."
Alfred shuffled his weight from foot to foot as his eyes brushed between Matthew and the newspaper, seemingly conflicted if to lie or tell the truth.
"Well, I guess you know Feliciano? Um, well, that was his brother. So me and a couple of friends are stayin' with him and his grandpa cus, y'know, it's hard for them..."
Alfred trailed off awkwardly but Matthew didn't make a move to let him leave. He knew Alfred had been missing before Lovino was found... was he with him all that time? From what Matthew learned from Lovino, he supposed that Feliciano was expecting him home at some point and he called his friends to help him search... they probably found him.
Matthew debated explicitly asking if Alfred found Lovino. Did Feliciano find Lovino too? Or was it just Alfred? Even if Alfred lied, he'd still get an answer as Alfred would react. He always did.
But another thought intruded into his mind. If Alfred was so close with Feliciano and saw what losing a twin did to him, why didn't Alfred change how he acted towards Matthew at all? Surely Alfred's brain would've compared Feliciano losing his twin to Alfred losing his twin. Matthew's stomach sunk... surely Alfred cared about him a little, even if it was just more than a stranger...
"Anyway," Alfred brought his hand to his mouth like he was about to be sick. Maybe finding the body of someone he knew was too much for him. "Um, can you hold this, I gotta piss real quick."
Alfred shoved the drinks into Matthew's arms and bolted to the back of the shop. The drinks felt heavier than they should be. Matthew wanted nothing more than to drop them where he stood, walk away and let Alfred come back to find them all over the floor. But even if he was a shell of his former self, now drained of the polite ceremonies expected of him, he wasn't going to do anything drastic. But he definitely wasn't about to stand around and wait for someone who would never do the same. Instead, he dumped the drinks into a basket and left the basket by the bathroom door Alfred had gone into. He pressed an ear against the door and, while part of him didn't expect to hear it, he was unsurprised when he heard retching. Matthew thought about going in there, catching him in the act and forcing him into a confrontation. But that would be pointless and he didn't expect it to get him anywhere. So instead, he just paid for the newspaper and left.
He went home and added the newspaper to his collection hidden away between folded shirts. Lovino's photo was the most flattering one he'd seen of him. He was smirking as he held up a lasagna for some competition. Matthew knew that Alfred had been there for that day. It was some kind of fair or carnival and Alfred had lost a pie-eating competition, though he claimed it wasn't a loss because he got to eat the pies. Matthew heard all about this afterwards because Alfred didn't invite him to it.
Matthew pushed the drawer shut as he thought about how many people must've been looking with Feliciano for his brother, and how many people stayed with him during the aftermath. All the support and love for Lovino wasn't taken away in his death... it was just passed onto Feliciano.
At least Feliciano deserved it.
Matthew wondered what Feliciano had that he didn't. Why didn't Matthew deserve any of it? The thoughts were passive and didn't cut as deep as they did before. They simply just happened as he let himself lay down on the hardwood floor and fade.