Origins: Snapshots In Time 111

Matthew eyed the box... and then the note written on the top of it. It was hand-written in red ink. "Happy birthday, Mr. Keller." The note was signed simply, "Big K."

His eyes narrowed. Konta. It had to be Kyo Konta. And he gave the entire box a very, very thorough examination, checking for wires, triggers, plastique, anything.. literally anything that would hint at the package being trapped. How had the son of a bitch known he would be here?

"Dad..." Matthew didn't look over there, as he was still turning the box around in his hands and examining it. "Take Nicholas and get out of this room." Was all he said.

His tone sounded dead enough that Luthien didn't ask. He picked up the toddler and the toys and left the room, looking behind him with a frown as Matthew finally peeled the tape and broke the seal on the box.

There was some kind of packaging - plastic or somesuch - keeping the contentsof the box from shifting around, and he recognized dry ice in the box, as it steamed and floated up, wafting away now that the box was open.

He was prepared for many things, and had seen many things - including what was in the box now in his hands - repeatedly over the course of his life. But in this instance, and this moment, when he got that box opened and the packaging out of the way and saw what was staring back at him, Matthew just half-fell against the wall, staring down into it in horrified disbelief.

Bridgette's necklace came lifting out, dangling over the edge of the box, and his right hand caught the little wooden disc. But it was the rest of what was in that box that did him in. The longer he stared into it, the more the blood drained out of his face. With one hip leaned against the wall, he didn't even notice at first, when Luthien came wandering back out there. Thankfully, Nicholas was not with him.

He just continued staring down into that box. Matthew didn't know what else to do at the moment but stare at it - at what was left of her.

"Matthew?" Luthien asked, cautiously, watching the younger man intently. "What's in--"

"I said take my son and get OUT of this room!" Matthew snapped, uncharacteristically, as his head snapped up to shoot his father a look. He didn't know his voice had cracked on the command, and he didn't realize that his vision was blurred.

Luthien stared at him for a moment, then nodded, and turned back around and went back into the living room. "Boom boom?" Nicholas asked, pointing at the closed door that kept his father out of sight when Luthien got back in there. "Daddy go boom boom?"

"No." Luthien said quietly, frowning, and moved to pick up a couple of the toys his grandson had been playing with. Then he shot another look over at the door.

It was muffled, but through the door he could still hear the choking sobs, and a dull, heavy thud.