Chapter 6: Veritas of Nex

"So, this is where we live?"

"Yeah."

Zack slowed the car as he pulled the along the street, noticing his and his brother's cars in the driveway, the cars they had been given for their 16th birthday. Nothing special, just some cheep used cars their parents had been able to buy, and so far, they had gotten them where they needed to go.

"Dad bought this house a couple months after we went to live with him," Zack explained, sensing Cody's curiosity."

"Is Dad still a musician?"

"When he can, but he got a job working for Wind up Records here in New York. He said he couldn't take care of us by himself if he was always on the road."

"I see."

Zack wondered what his dad was like in Cody's world. It sounded like he was still touring the country, something he always told stories about. That was the time when he was always happy instead of being stressed about his job and always mad at his boss for some reason or another. Zack had tried several times to get his dad back on the road, but he said he needed a stable job if he was to help them pay for college.

Zack turned off the engine, and the two of them got out of the car. Cody looked back at the Ford Taurus and was fascinated by Zack's ability to so easily hotwire the car. He wondered if his Zack had the same abilities. It wouldn't surprise him; Cody had tried locking his Zack out of his room more times than he could count but it never seemed to last long.

This Zack though, did it so casually, like it was nothing new or different. The Zack he knew would at least be excited.

Then again, with what they were going though, excitement was the last thing on their mind.

Zack walked up to the door with Cody right behind, wondering what they would find in the house. Taking their ghost forms to allow themselves to get inside undetected, they stepped through the door.

The living room needing cleaned was the first thing Cody noticed. Several TV dinner containers were on the floor along with several plates sitting on the couch. He couldn't believe that he'd live in a place like this. Sure, he knew Zack would, and Dad was never one to worry about cleanliness, but Cody thought he'd at least keep the place clean.

Though before Cody could ponder this more, they heard whispers in the distance.

Zack waved his brother forward, as they moved further into the house. They took their steps as quietly as possible, though the fact that they were ghosts meant that no one could hear them anyway.

Out in the kitchen they saw faint light coming from a laptop filtering through an otherwise dark room. Zack approached the figure, fading memories so close to his mind. He knew this place, he knew what the figure was doing, but he just couldn't bring forth the information.

"That's me," Zack said looking at the computer screen filled with movie times. He noticed the look of stress and sadness across his mirror's face. He knew he could hide his feelings from most, even his own brother, but he could see the slight gloss across the eyes, the fear and heartbreak not so deep within. He felt it in his own heart too, the pain and sorrow, but couldn't know why.

"Movie times?" Cody asked as he stood beside his brothers.

Zack looked at the computer seeing that Cody was right. Though before he could see what movie the other Zack was looking up, he closed the lap top case and let out a big sigh.

"All right Cody, let's have fun tomorrow."

The twins looked to each other, more memories flashing through Zack's mind.

A movie theater.

Gun shots.

"I'm sorry."

Rain.

A delicious cheese-burger.

"Just like your dad."

Screams.

"Cody!"

Pain.

"What's wrong?" Cody asked as his brother screamed falling to his knees

"No," Zack said shaking his head as his mirror carried his laptop out of the room. He couldn't believe it, the nightmare that flashed through his mind one he knew he couldn't run from anymore. It was real, as much as he hated it, hated them all, it was real.

"Dad." A tear fell from the elder twin's face. "They killed him too."

"That's okay, we still have time to save him."

"No," Zack looked up at Cody through tear filled eyes, "That was two weeks ago."

A/N: Okay, I should have made this longer, but I want to save that for next time. So…has anyone figured out what this world is yet?