2007 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Special

Chapter 2: Halloween 2 2006

The Bodiless Hands

"I'm starting to hate Halloween," Cody said one night at the dinner table. Carey was always in question about why Cody hated Halloween so much, and only Zack knew and kept it secret. The year before, Cody told Max and Bob about his problems, and thought that would stop the dreams coming.

Every night, Cody had the same dream. He'd be sleeping, and hear scratching on the window. Typical Halloween dream? Not for Cody. It bothered him a lot. When he'd turn his head to the window, it would stop.

He hoped telling Max and Bob would help stop them, now he let it out. He hoped it would work, but so what if he told people. If it was a curse, telling wouldn't do anything.

"But you know curses don't exist," Zack said. "Get a hold of yourself, man."

"It doesn't matter to me," Cody shrugged. "Curse or no. I'm staying up tonight, and watching for myself."

"Oh come on Cody, it's a sleepover," Zack said, emphasizing sleep.

"You have fun," Cody said. "Besides, it's easier to stay up with friends."

Cody kept his word. Like the year before, Max and Bob, and their new friend Freddy, came over. Freddy was a smaller boy a grade below them all. He had a skinny face with short brown hair spiked up. Cody let Freddy in on it as Halloween approached, and now it was here again. Candy hunting was over, and Freddy stopped trick-or-treating the year before, so they all stayed in while Zack and Max helped Carey with the Halloween Pumpkin she was making for a concert downstairs.

"I'll stay up too," Freddy shrugged. "I wouldn't mind."

"Are you sure, I mean, if"-

"Doesn't matter," Fred said. "Besides," he added, happily. "If I get cursed, I can blame you."

Cody nodded, "Yeah."

Freddy kept his word, and stayed up with Cody. As the night went, Zack and Max fell asleep watching Scream I, Scream II, and Scream III. It was two in the morning, and only Cody and Freddy were up. From all the popcorn he ate, Freddy had to use the bathroom.

Cody nodded, "Come back soon. I'll need it too."

Freddy nodded and left, leaving Cody alone. That was when he heard it. A scratching noise. He flinched, and looked over at the window. Nothing. It had to be his imagination. He looked back at the TV, and it went on again. He turned to the window again. Nothing. Could this be Freddy, playing a trick on him? He shook his head, and turned back to the TV. When it went on, making Cody flinch again, he turned to the empty window and kept his eye on it.

Nothing…

Nothing…

Nothing…

Nothing… wait- something was forming from outside. "What the hell," Cody whispered. He opened his mouth wide in horror and terror as green bodiless hands formed outside, and scratched. He fell back, into darkness. The hand disappeared as Freddy walked out.

"Cody, YO, Cody!" Zack yelled, hitting his brother with a pillow. Cody jerked awake. It was daylight. Despite that, sweat was running down his face. "Zack?"

"I didn't think you fainted," Freddy said, shaking his head. "I thought you were asleep."

"You didn't see the… thing?" Cody asked.

Freddy shrugged.

"It went on again?" Max asked.

"What the"- Bob began. He was at a loss on what to say.

"What happened?" Zack asked.

"I saw it," Cody swore. "A green… thing."

"Okay, Cody, it was fun at first, but now you can drop it," Max said, getting up. "C'mon guys. Let's get breakfast."

They all left Cody and Zack sitting. Zack looked at Cody, "You wanna go?"

"Don't you believe me?"

Zack walked over to the window, and looked out and down, "What happened?"

"A green hand, materialized in thin air outside, and scratched at the window," Cody swore again. "I saw it."

Zack looked down. "Are you sure you weren't… dreaming again?"

Cody shrugged. He thought back. Freddy saw nothing. He was in the bathroom. He saw the hands, and he woke up. Cody could not remember fainting or falling. He could only remember the horror outside. It made him feel better, "Nothing. It was a dream." What he forgot was that he was not lying in bed for him to be dreaming, but sweating on the floor. Even Freddy acknowledged he fainted. So, he must've.

Zack pointed it out, "Then, why were you on the floor, shaking, sweating. Fred said he came out of the bathroom, and saw you sleeping, sweating. He thought you were just hot. So, he turned on the conditioner, and slept too. You were on the floor though. So let's think: It's Halloween, you faint and sweat, and under the impression something is putting the fear of God in you."

Cody said nothing, so Zack went on, "You know, I don't get it," Zack said, coming back over to Cody. "What else would make you faint? So it's gotta be true, right? But why you? Why would some bodiless hands appear to you, and you only?"

Cody shrugged. "I dunno."

"Well, next year"- Zack started.

"Don't remind me," Cody moaned.

"I'm staying up with you," Zack said. "We're gonna find out together."

A/N: And I got Chapter 3 planned too. Can't wait till then. I seem to be having a signature statement I put in every Halloween special of mine. 'the fear of God in you.' Nice way of saying being scared shi&less or scared to death. See ya on Christmas.