"M... Matt..." Next whispered and Matt realized something warm and wet was pooling around his knees.

"...Next?" Matt breathed as he reached out more. "What's wrong?"

He touched Zero and felt the warmth... after a moment, he realized it was blood.

Matt froze, his blood suddenly cooling to ice.

"...N-Next come to me...come over here." Matt said- reaching out again.

"Z-Zero..." Next whimpered, moving closer to Matt. "Matt... is he..."

"...I-I don't..." Matt reached down- trying to find Zero's neck to feel a pulse.

"Oh god... did I kill him!?" Next cried, dropping the knife and stumbling back. "Did I kill someone else!? Another person?!"

"Next stop!" Matt said. "I don't think he's...where is he hit!?"

"I killed someone else!" Next sobbed, dropping his head into his hands. "Oh god- what have I done!? I'm horrible-!?"

"Next STOP!" Matt shouted. "Stop and let me think, please!"

"This is just like mother," Next breathed, his voice panicked. "Watashi wa jigoku ni iku yo... Watashi wa norowa reta yo... Kami wa watashi o kiratte..."

Suddenly, Matt took Next's arm- pulling him down and wrapping around him.

"Stop, stop, stop...please." Matt pleaded. "Listen Next...he's breathing...can't you hear him? Listen, please..."

Wincing, Next listened closely. After a moment, he heard Zero's shallow breathing.

Letting out a slow breath of his own, Next curled up against Matt, dropping the knife.

"What do we do?" He whispered.

"We get him to the infirmary...to the infirmary Next." Matt pet Next's long hair. "Help me."

He moved over and started to get Zero into his arms.

"Matt... if Zero is here... then where is Beyond?" Next breathed, his voice breaking.

"We can't think of that right now, we have to get Zero some help." Matt said quickly. "We'll have to...damn, where's my phone?"