Chapter 4: The Accident

Cody tensed up and started to shiver as he began to walk closer. No! What does he want with me? Cody thought. Please go away!

Zack hugged Cody close to him. It was as if Zack could almost feel his brother's fear. Cody slowly began to tremble in Zack's grasp. Zack also began to shake slightly. However unlike Cody, Zack was shaking with rage. He remembered what Matthew did to Cody the last time the two met. He wasn't going to allow Matthew to possess his brother again, not if he could help it. Crystal also slid in front of Cody.

With each step, Cody was getting worse. The machine started going crazy. Cody's vision became blurred, and finally went dark all together, as he fainted.

Zack glared at the approaching boy, however as the boy drew closer Zack and Crystal came to realize the same thing, Matthew was dead, and the boy who was walking towards them was alive. Like Matthew, he had dark circles around his eyes, however his skin wasn't anywhere near as pale. Also unlike Matthew, his forehead was completely unscarred. Zack and Crystal both let out a soft sigh of relief.

"What's wrong with him?" The boy asked pointing at Cody.

"Uh, nothing," Zack said, thinking quickly. "He's just tired. Had a rough night."

"Oh ok," the boy replied again. "Hey, why were you staring at me?"

"Um…," Zack said sheepishly. He wasn't sure how to word his answer.

"Yea, sorry about that," Crystal added. "We just thought you looked like someone we knew."

"So then why are you mad at me?" The boy asked. "I never did anything to you."

"I'm not mad at you!" Zack said, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Then what was up with that look?" The boy retorted. "It looked like you wanted to kill me or something!"

"It's nothing you did," Crystal said, stepping in. "You look like someone we know. The kid you look like, pos…um…beat up his brother awhile ago. He thought you were him and wanted to try it again." Zack nodded.

"Oh," The boy said, his face softened into a small smile. "Ok, small misunderstanding. It's kinda funny though that you said that. Everyone used to confuse me with my cousin. Maybe you knew him."

Crystal got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she thought about what he just said. She glanced over at Zack who also seemed a little unnerved. Used to confuse? Knew him?

"I-I don't think so," Zack said sounding a little disturbed.

"Oh well," The boy said. "But yea, he had a pretty bad reputation, especially when it came to hurting people. It kinda sad though, cause he wasn't always bad. Anyway my name is Andrew. Andrew Pike. Nice meeting you." He turned to walk away.

"WAIT!" Crystal said, startling both Andrew and Zack. Even Cody stirred slightly. "Was your cousin's name Matthew?"

"Yea, it was," Andrew said in a soft voice, as if the mention of Matthew's name scared him. He pointed at Cody again, "I think you woke him up."

Cody stirred again and slowly opened his eyes. "Z-Zack? C-Crystal? Where are we?" He glanced around, until his eyes fell on Andrew. A second later, he realized that it wasn't Matthew who was next to them. "Who are you?' Cody asked curiously.

"This is Andrew," Zack said. "Oh, by the way, I'm Zack, this is Crystal, and that's my twin brother Cody." He pointed to himself, then Crystal, and finally to Cody.

Cody looked at Andrew for a second, his face filled with uncertainty. "You look just like someone I know."

"Yea," Andrew said. "Everyone says I look like my cousin, Matthew. He died awhile ago though." He nodded at Zack. "He said that my cousin beat you up once. Don't feel too bad. He did that a lot, even…to me."

A shiver ran down Cody's spine. "You're cousin hurt you??" Cody asked, shocked.

"That's actually why I'm here now," Andrew said, his eyes started to glisten slightly. "I've been in recovery for a long time. It's actually a miracle I can still use my arm." He rolled up his right sleeve.

Cody, Zack, and Crystal all gasped at what they saw. Along the back of Andrew's arm were two large scars that ran the length of his upper arm. His arm still looked a little swollen. "What happened?" Crystal asked in a soft voice.

"We…um got into a fight." Andrew said. "Don't judge him too harshly though, he was going through a hard time. His step mother had just died. So..."

Zack was about to yell when both Cody and Crystal threw their hands over his mouth. "That's really sad," Cody said.

"Yea," Andrew said. "Anyway I gotta get going, nice meeting you." He walked away.

"So do we," Crystal said as she waved. Soon Andrew was out of earshot. She and Cody stood up, and finally let go of Zack.

"Hmm," Zack said sarcastically. "I wonder how she died, oh wait I know. Matthew killed her!"

"Zack!" Cody said, "He doesn't need to hear about that! Especially if he's in the hospital."

Zack's face darkened as he turned back to Cody. "Now do you see why your dreams are such a big deal? Can't you see how dangerous he is? Remember what happened…"

"I know, I know," Cody said. He didn't want to be reminded about that night.

Crystal looked over at Cody as she helped him push the machine back inside. "Zack's right Cody. Neither of us want something bad to happen to you"

Cody sighed. "I know, I'm sorry."

As walked back inside another boy with dark hair, that was wore in a mushroom cut was watching them intently. Since Cody had to push his machine, he was the last to disappear inside the hospital door. As he did so, the boy turned, smiled, and slowly vanished.


"Hey Zack you want to go with me to pick up the pizza?" Carey asked.

"Yea sure," Zack replied.

Since Cody was going to be released the next day, the doctors said it was ok for him to have some outside food. Crystal decided to stay with Cody while Zack and Carey were gone. Wayne had to go back to the mini mart earlier in the afternoon, but wished Cody a fast recovery.

As Zack and Carey walked out of the hospital it started to rain. The rain began softly at first, then slowly grew in intensity. A clap of thunder soon followed.


- Cody's POV -

"What do you thinks taking so long?" I asked Crystal as the TV flipped to a commercial.

"Dunno," She replied. "I'll go see if they're back yet." She walked out of the room, leaving me alone. I was a little scared, but the TV kept me occupied until she came running back in. Her face said "worry" all over it.

"What happened?" I asked, starting to get a little spooked.

"There…was," She said between breaths, "an…accident. Zack…hurt."


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