(Old Version) The Blood of the Covenant

Chapter Five: Matthew

   "Hey, Mattie."

    Matthew opened his eyes, finding himself in a cold, dark space. In fact, the air was so cold that he began to shiver and rushed to hug his bare arms.

    "Over here, Mattie."

    That voice...why was it so familiar?

    Matthew frowned. "Hello?"

    "Mattie," The voice said again, this time closer. "Hey, Mattie."

    Matthew spun, trying to search through the darkness to find the source of the voice. "Who are you? What do you want?"

    "You really don't remember me? It's only been three years, Mattie. Are you finally forgetting about your true family?"

    Matthew froze, his heart skipping a beat. He knew that voice. It was Micah. He instantly felt guilt spear him in the stomach. Was he really forgetting the voice of his brother? Had it really been that long?

    "That's a shame," Micah tutted. "But I guess I am proud of you. You're finally moving on. Forging a new family."

    "I'm not forging a new family, Micah, I—"

    Somewhere within himself, he knew that if this was really Micah, he'd know. Something wasn't right. Micah would never talk like that. Sure, he'd taunt and tease him, but never like this. The way he spoke sounded more like Pardus than anyone else.

    "Sure you are, Mattie. With Pardus. He's replacing Fidel and Stephen, me, and Ben. He's your new family. You should be proud of yourself, Mattie, you're finally reaching your full potential. Your true purpo—"

    "Pardus will never be my family. Neither was Fidel and Stephen," Matthew shot back, his voice trembling along with his entire body.

    "Oh, but he is now. Pardus is your new family."

    Matthew saw something move out of his peripheral vision, but when he turned he did not expect to see what he saw. It was a face he'd never forget.

    Micah was standing there, his eyes void of the usual spirit that lived inside of them. His wavy, dark hair was messy and his dark skin seemed unhealthily pale. But what terrified Matthew the most was the fact that he was wearing a ragged shirt with a slowly growing red stain that spread from a patch of blood in the middle of his chest. Matthew had to take a step back, the air sucked from his lungs.

    "You know you don't want to remember this, Mattie," Micah said almost pleadingly. "Forget me. Move on. Find a new family."

    Tears filled Micah's eyes as blood rapidly pooled around his feet, filling the air with a pungent smell. Then, Micah dissolved into a puddle of his own blood, melting away with his tears.

    The temperature in the room slowly warmed. After a minute of complete silence and darkness, Matthew opened his eyes.

    He sat up and blinked, finding himself in the small closet space that he called his bedroom. He reached for his iPod and saw that it was six in the morning. But even though his eyes still burned with drowsiness, he couldn't bring himself to go back to sleep. Instead, he dragged himself out of bed, got dressed, and combed his fingers through his pale hair. He still smelled atrocious, but right now it didn't really matter. He was absolutely starving.

    Before he departed from his room, he secured his iPod in the pocket of his blue and black checkered flannel, then took a stride and opened his door. The servants were the only ones awake at this hour. They crowded the kitchen as they rushed to prepare breakfast for their boss, who would wake at precisely eight, as he always did. That gave Matthew exactly two hours to scavenge for some food and enjoy some time to himself before Pardus would come looking for him. And, after the previous day, Matthew expected him to be in a foul mood.