Chapter Four:

Flashback

They had all gone to Lyoko the next day. The day of graduation, right after they had graduated. It didn't take them long to get to the interface.

"Ok, Jeremy, can you open the northwest passage?" Aelita asked.

"I'm working on it, and here come your vehicles."

"Thanks."

And soon enough they were in a huge chamber with a larger than usual, blood-red glowing tower.

"Hurry, Aelita."

"Look out guys, you have Creepers coming."

"Got it." Yumi said, holding her fans.

The others got ready as Aelita entered the tower.

End Flashback

"We. . .we fought the creepers for a long time, but they kept coming. Soon, we were backed against the tower. Jeremy told us that Aelita was having trouble deactivating the tower. Ulrich was devirtualized. Yumi went into the tower to check on Aelita, and when the mega-tanks came I knocked Samantha into the tower as well."

"What happened?"

"I was devirtualized. I found Ulrich and Jeremy unconscious. Jeremy. . .he had the return to the past programmed. . .all that had to be done was pushing the button. . .I could have done it. . ."

"But you didn't."

"No. I. . .I thought the girls could handle it. I thought Samantha and Yumi would leave to tower. . .they didn't. The tower was deactivated moments before it was destroyed. . .with Yumi, Aelita and Samantha inside. . ." His voice cracked for a moment before he continued. "I sent us back. . .I thought maybe they hadn't been killed. . .but they weren't saved. . .they were dead. . .I. . .I killed them. . ." He drew a quivering breath.

Elisabeth wiped a tear from her eye.

"Ulrich hated me. . .He gave me a black eye. . ."

"He hit you?"

Odd nodded. "I made some lame joke. . .and he said. . .he said 'Don't you ever take anything seriously Odd?'. . ."

Flashback

"Yes." Odd said softly.

Ulrich hit him again. And again. And again.

Odd never lifted a finger to stop him. It was what he deserved. When Ulrich had stopped he had simply turned and left. Then he turned at the door.

"I hate you!" He had whispered angrily. ". . .Murderer."

Jeremy gave him a sad, almost disappointed look before leaving as well.

"I'm sorry." Odd called after them. "I'm sorry." He whispered to himself.

End Flashback

Odd fell silent, shaking.

"You poor thing." Elisabeth whispered, pulling him to her.

He was trembling violently with the effort to suppress tears.

"I have two degrees in psychology." Elisabeth murmured. "You have to cry sometime or you're never going to heal."

And slowly, Odd began to heal.