Sadly, there was no time to dwell on it. He looked around the room, his gaze lingering toward the pool of blood.
He needed to clean.
He headed to the bathroom, grabbed a bundle of towels, and returned to the floor. He wiped up everything he could find—slow, steady movements—until the wood was visible again. Even though the blood was black, it hadn't stained. That was the strange part. It wiped clean, like oil. But the smell remained.
By the time he finished scrubbing, tossing the towels into a plastic bag, and stepping into the shower, the sun was just starting to climb. When he walked out, toweling off his hair, the clock read 6:12.
Matthew dressed quickly and left his room, heading downstairs to the kitchen. He planned to grab something—anything—with bleach on it. But as he stepped inside, he saw Cristoff already waiting, standing near the island counter.
"Your breakfast is ready, Young Master," Cristoff said, nodding toward the tray.