"Have a good weekend."

"Same to you."

He made his way back home, looking at his watch every ten minutes. He was so excited that Friday had finally arrived. He felt like a child on Christmas morning.

'Only three more hours!' He thought happily to himself, 'Three more hours and they will be mine!'


The last bell finally rang. Zack couldn't jump out of his seat quick enough. He hurried to his locker, throwing what he didn't need inside. He slammed his locker door, not noticing that it flew back open, and went to Cody.

Cody was looking carefully through each book, deciding which ones he wanted to take home and which ones he would leave at the school.

"Come on Cody! Let's go!"

"Hang on. I don't know if I want to take my biology book home or not."

"Of course you don't! Who would? This is Christmas break Cody, live a little."

Cody sighed, "Fine, I'll leave it here, but I'm taking everything else."

Zack rolled his eyes, "You are so weird."


They walked out of the school and began making their way home.

The walk home was about a mile, unless they took a shortcut through an alley which cut the trip in half.

Carey told them not to go that way because it was dangerous, but during the cold winter two years before Zack convinced Cody to take the shortcut. Ever since then, during the winter months, they went through the alleyway.

Cody was walking a few steps behind Zack as he read one of his school books.

Zack smiled, "I can't wait to get back to the Tipton! I have so many pranks planned that will drive Mosbey insane! It's gonna be epic! This Christmas break will be awesome."

"Uh-huh," Cody replied, not fully listening to what Zack was saying.

"Like this one where I turn off the heat and..."

Cody cut him off, "Zack, don't you think you should stop all this pranking? I mean we're sixteen years old. It's kinda immature."

"No way! Who cares if it's immature? It's fun."

"I just think..."

Zack waited for Cody to finish the sentence, when he didn't, Zack turned around, "You just think wha... Oh my God!"

Before Zack could scream a cloth was put over his mouth, he quickly passed out.


Cody's eyes began to open. As he lied on the cold floor he looked around. He could barely see, everything was blurred.

Slowly his eyes adjusted. Once he was strong enough, he got up and began walking around. The room was dark, with only one small window near the ceiling.

He heard a small noise in the back of the room.

"Zack? Zack is that you?" He whispered.

"Wha... What happened?" Zack asked as he rubbed his eyes.

Cody quickly made his way to his brother, "Someone took us Zack. What are we gonna do? There is no way out!"

Zack jumped up, he didn't answer his brother, he just started yelling, "Help! Help! Let us out!"

Zack held onto the wall and walked around until he found a door. He began to shake the door knob, "Open the door!" He yelled as he banged his hands on the door.

"Zack stop!" Cody yelled, "You are just going to make him angry!"

"I don't care! I want out!"

Suddenly they heard someone unlock the door. They quickly went to the back of the room and stood against the wall.

"I see you've woken up," The man said calmly with an evil smile on his face. "I'm glad. I've been waiting for a while now. I didn't know how much longer I would last."

"Who are you? What do you want?" Zack said angrily. Cody was too nervous to speak.

"You can call me James. And I want you. Both of you."

Zack and Cody's hearts were pounding, "Why?" Zack asked, trying to hide his fear.

"Well, you ask alot of questions Zack."

Zack's eyes widened, "How do you know my name?"

"I've been listening to you for the past few days. All the talks you and your brother, Cody, had on your way home from school. By the way, you all need to notice your surroundings better. I followed so closely behind you every day, yet you never noticed a thing."

James moved away from the door and walked over to the boys. He slowly placed his hand on Cody's cheek, "The quiet one. I'll have lots of fun with you."

Zack couldn't handle it. He kicked James in the knee then punched his stomach. James barely flinched. He quickly shoved Zack back.

Zack hit his head on the wall and slumped down on the floor. Cody was so scared he couldn't move. James angrily walked out of the room, coming back with hand cuffs and leg cuffs.

He began to cuff Zack.

Zack tried to fight back but he was too dizzy.

"You know," James said, "I was gonna go easy on you for a while, but now, I don't think so. So while you sit in here and think about what you tried to do, I'm going to take Cody into the room next door and teach you both a lesson. You can sit and listen to him scream and beg for mercy."

"No. No! Don't hurt him, "Zack cried out, "Take me. Take me instead."

"Nope. He's gonna pay for your mistake. Come on Cody."

James grabbed Cody's arm and began leading him out of the room. A tear fell from Cody's face as he looked back at his brother.

"Please take me! Please!" Zack continued to cry out, even after the door was shut and locked.


I meant to update yesterday but I could never get the chapter finished. Alot has been going on at my house (my sister and nephew moved in) so it's harder to find the time to write. But no worries, I will definitely continue this story. Anyway, hope you enjoy and come back for more:)