Carey's new fiancée, Derrick, is abusing Cody. When Zack interferes with a beating, both have hell to pay. What will become of the twins?
'No, stop! Please!' Cody's pleads for Derrick to cease could be heard throughout the suite. Unfortunately, no-one was there to hear him. Zack was late back from school, and Carey was out shopping. So they were alone. With the belt.
CZCZCZCZ
'Ugh, I'm so bored…' Zack thought as he walked down the street, neatly kicking a can into the gutter.
'Wow, I'm gettin' good at that'
Sharp pains kept hitting Zack's back for no particular reason.
'Probably just cramp'
The Tipton was suddenly in front of him. He could be a very fast walker sometimes. He walked in and to the elevator. He got to the 23rd floor and went to the suite. Just as he got there…
'No, no, no! Stop, please, stop! Zack, Mom, help me!'
It sounded remarkably like…CODY!
Zack opened the door and ran inside. He gingerly opened the door to the bedroom where the screams were coming from. He almost puked. There was Cody with blood everywhere on him, lying on the floor. There was no sign of anyone else, except a bloody brass belt belonging to Carey's fiancée. He darted over to his little brother and took him in his arms.
'Cody? Buddy? Wake up'
Cody's eyes fluttered open and flitted around the room. They landed on Zack, who was hovering above him.
'Zack…where's Derrick?'
'Derrick? What about Derrick? He didn't do this, did he?'
Derrick came out from behind the door.
'Well done, Zacko'
'Derrick' Zack said, looking at him evilly. 'And F.Y.I, I only go by Zacko by my dad, okay?'
'Oh, really? Well, too bad, 'cos he's not here, is he?'
'Why did you do this? What has my little brother ever done to you, huh?!' said Zack, setting Cody down and standing up. He lunged at Derrick and grabbed his shirt collar. Derrick pushed Zack off and he hit the bed post. Zack rubbed his head and Cody crawled over to his twin.
'Are you OK?' he whispered.
'Yeah, I'm fine' Zack said.
Derrick came over and back-handed Cody out of the way.
'Hey!' Zack said, angry. No-one smacks his brother and gets away with it!
'Whatcha gonna do 'bout it, huh, squirt?' Derrick said, slapping Zack across the face.
'Nothing sir!' Cody said quickly. Zack shot him a look. Cody sent one back saying 'Trust me'.
'Good boys. Now, get this all cleared up before Carey gets back or there'll be hell to pay!' Derrick hissed. He walked out the room and slammed the door behind him.
Cody set to work scrubbing at the floor. But Zack stopped him.
'Stop, Cody. I'll do it. Go have a bath or something. You deserve it'
Cody pulled a protesting face but reluctantly got up, collected some clothes and went to the bathroom. When he stripped off, he looked at the welts that covered his back. He knew they looked bad, but couldn't get over how much there was. He got in the bath he'd run and winced as the warm water slithered into the wounds. He had a quick bath as he didn't want Zack to do everything. He got dressed, with some difficulty and walked out of the bathroom and paced into the bedroom. Zack was sitting cross-legged on his bed. Everything was clean.
'Hey, Codester' he said, looking up.
'How did you do all this?'
'There wasn't really much to do, you know. Now. Do you want me to look at your back?'
'Err…ok' he said. Cody winced as Zack pulled up his shirt and he heard his older brother gasp as he gingerly touched each scar.
'Cody, do you know how bad this is?'
'It doesn't hurt much, honestly' he said, though it did.
Zack gently traced his fingers over Cody's back, feeling all the cracks and gashes. He felt Cody flinch as he moved so much as a fingertip over a bruise. He knew one thing.
'This is just the littlest he'll get. If he gets more, I swear I'm going to protect him with all my might. I can't let my brother fade away because of one man'
Please review!!!!
