Chapter 9
1438 Words
Summer could hardly believe her ears.
Matthew had spoken!
The six-year-old’s voice was clear, yet almost imperceptible. If the room hadn’t been completely silent, Summer might have thought she imagined it.
Though he had occasionally uttered words before, this was the first time Matthew had deliberately chosen to use language to communicate with her.
This proved that Matthew wasn’t closed off or biologically incapable of speech. As Summer had suspected, he was observant and unwilling to interact—not unable to.
This meant Matthew possessed a significant capacity for learning and had the potential for socialization and becoming a normal human being.
Gaining just a single “okay” for five favor points wasn’t easy. Summer’s spirits lifted, her smile almost uncontrollable. She reached out to ruffle Matthew’s hair again: “It’s a deal!”
The boy remained expressionless. After Summer withdrew her hand, he mimicked her, touching his bangs and falling into thought.
Nothing promoted communication better than playful learning. The next morning, Summer woke early and dragged Matthew along to fulfill his promise.
It was Saturday. Not only were all the foster children home, but even Mrs. Smith had a rare day off. She left early, apparently to visit the new neighbors next door, and wouldn’t return until the entire morning had passed.
Summer stayed in the living room, ready to learn how to move silently like Matthew.
Both children walked barefoot. Matthew took a step, and Summer followed in sync.
The old wooden floorboards creaked under Summer’s steps, but Matthew moved like a light-footed fawn through the woods—fast, precise, and silent.
By contrast, Summer was clumsy.
Matthew, walking ahead, glanced back at her with every step.
“Like this?” Summer asked, mimicking his movement.
Matthew repeated the motion.
Summer understood.
Indeed, Matthew was naturally gifted—observant, reactive, deliberate. Every step was carefully calculated, ensuring no sound.
Summer intentionally misstepped, and the floorboard groaned. Matthew immediately turned back, his clear blue eyes piercing her without emotion: You understood, so why deliberately make a mistake?
“Because I want to hear you talk more,” Summer admitted, grinning. “If I don’t make a mistake, you won’t say anything.”
“….”
“Give me a compliment!”
Even though Summer was taller, she bent down and tugged on Matthew’s sleeve. “I’ve improved a lot!”
From walking and creaking to mastering the technique in just a morning, she was close—but not yet as silent as Matthew.
Matthew examined her calmly, his perfect face indifferent: “Still far from enough.”
Wow, still a strict little teacher.
Summer refused to back down: “Maybe if you compliment me, I’ll improve faster?”
Matthew remained silent, his thick lashes half-shadowing his blue eyes. Summer thought he might be annoyed—but the system’s timely prompt in her ear gave her the answer.
[Objective: Matthew Dennish Dark Index –2, Favor +1; Current Dark Index: 80, Favor: 5]
Summer: ?
So favor could increase just from him tolerating her playful teasing? It seemed Matthew couldn’t stand being ignored or overlooked.
Since he agreed to communicate, Matthew appeared far more vivid than Summer had expected. He responded, increasingly like a living person rather than a cold machine or puppet.
Everything seemed to be progressing positively—Summer’s confidence returned.
After a brief pause, Matthew finally raised his gaze: “Then you—”
His words were cut off as the door opened—Mrs. Smith returned, bustling in.
The usually stern, tired woman now smiled, evidently in a good mood. Summer guessed the new neighbors were pleasant.
“Stop playing,” Mrs. Smith scolded. “Go to your rooms and put on your new clothes. Where are the other children? Hurry up!”
“New neighbors?” Summer asked, surprised.
“Yes!” Mrs. Smith said enthusiastically. “The Fox family just moved in. You must behave—especially you, Matthew. Smile for me, no more ghosting! Their twins, Lily and Noah, are adorable—you’ll like them.”
Summer noticed Mrs. Smith’s excitement.
Wait… she just said twins? Lily Fox and Noah Fox! Summer’s eyes widened.
These were the only two survivors in Bloodshadow Killers!
Though the original film was almost plotless, it provided an ordinary perspective to serve as the “camera” for the audience, creating tension and horror. The Fox twins were responsible for this viewpoint.
Noah Fox, the older brother, became a principled FBI agent pursuing Matthew Dennish—mildly the intelligent one in the film. Lily Fox, the younger sister, was a kind and beautiful nurse. The only person to witness all of Matthew’s crimes and survive.
For Matthew Dennish, a surviving Lily Fox was practically a favored ending.
Summer quickly did the math: in the original, the Fox twins were around twenty-five or twenty-six—roughly the same age as Matthew.
The system had never mentioned that the three had been neighbors before!
Since future Matthew spared Lily, could they become friends now?
Summer wasn’t dismissive—the environment in Mrs. Smith’s home was harsh. Normal children couldn’t grow up properly there. Summer alone wasn’t enough; Matthew needed friends to positively influence him, especially peers with kind, happy homes.
Hearing the Fox twins’ names made Summer’s eyes light up.
“Really?” she asked eagerly. “We can have new friends?”
Mrs. Smith softened her tone, smiling at Summer’s excitement: “Hurry up and put on your nice clothes!”
Summer didn’t hesitate and grabbed Matthew’s hand, leading him to his room.
Each of the six children had a set of formal clothes for special occasions.
Matthew’s outfit: a blue jacket with a dark sweater. Simple, modest, highlighting his clear, pure eyes. Summer helped him put on a baseball cap, brushing aside his lashes. The boy’s calm expression and fair face looked like a child model.
“Where did you put the candy?” Summer asked.
Matthew looked at her, then at his drawer.
Summer retrieved a few milk candies and placed them in his palm.
“When you meet the Fox twins, you can give them the candy,” Summer instructed. “That’s how you make friends.”
Matthew remained silent. The candy rested in his hand—he neither accepted nor rejected it.
“I’ll keep working at Mrs. Peter’s to earn more money!” Summer added. “Candy can be bought, but the chance to make friends comes only once.”
She feared Matthew might refuse. Sharing wasn’t instinctive for him; as a child with animal-like tendencies, she worried about his possessiveness.
“Of course, if you don’t want to give it, you don’t have to,” she reassured. “Making friends is reciprocal. You can have many friends if you want, but if not, just being friends with me is enough.”
Summer didn’t want to force him to leave a bad memory. Sharing should be joyful—a way to exchange kindness, smiles, respect, and affection.
“Try it if you like. If you’re not happy, that’s okay too. The candy is fine for us alone.”
Matthew finally accepted the candy. His injured fingers curled slightly as he placed the milk candy in his pocket.
His gaze went beyond Summer to the door: ready to move.
Summer exhaled. Creating a positive social circle for Matthew was one thing; forcing him was another. She wanted him to participate willingly.
Following Mrs. Smith’s urging, she quickly changed clothes and returned to the living room.
Only Summer and Matthew were dressed. Lyra rolled her eyes. Mrs. Smith, however, happily pushed the two forward to meet the guests.
“Quick, greet Noah and Lily—especially you, Matthew.”
Mrs. Smith’s mood was excellent: “You’re all the same age—you’ll be classmates too.”
Summer nudged Matthew’s shoulder discreetly.
He glanced at her but didn’t have time to interpret her gesture before Mrs. Smith guided him to Mrs. Fox.
“Oh!” Mrs. Fox’s face lit up upon seeing Matthew’s refined appearance. “What a handsome boy! Lily, Noah, come here.”
Noah stood politely by his mother; Lily shyly peeked from behind, her large eyes fixed on Matthew.
“Milk candy!” Summer whispered.
Matthew, with deliberate slowness, took a candy from his pocket and offered it to Lily.
The shy girl froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up: “For me? Thank you, you’re so nice!”
Lily Fox immediately left her mother’s side, taking the candy.
No one noticed the subtle change in Matthew Dennish’s expression—an instant chill, fading the brief warmth.
- Writer
