Well Merry Christmas/ Happy Chanukah/ Happy Kwanza or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year. I own nothing.
Zack was still shaken by his nightmare when he heard screams and yelling from the kitchen area. He jumped up and ran to that area. Hands grabbed him roughly by his arm. Zack opened his mouth to scream but a hand covered his mouth. Then silence filled the building. Zack stood stiffly against his captor.
The hand on Zack's mouth was removed and his captor pulled their other hand away from Zack's arm. Zack whirled around to face his attacker. He gasped when he saw… SOKAI.
"Sokai," Zack hissed.
"Hey Zack, how are you," the teen smiled.
"Fine, I think. How about you," Zack frowned.
"Oh you know, dead," Sokai shrugged.
"Yeah, so why are you here," Zack asked.
"Well I guess you needed me," Sokai said.
"What do you mean?"
"Zack, I'm a figment of your imagination. You needed me so you created me."
"Ok-a-a-ay-y-y-y. So I'm nuts and you're a figment of my brain. Cody always said I was crazy."
"Zack, you're not crazy. It's common for Guardians to summon figments to protect them if they need help or advice."
"Yeah but I don't need help or advice."
"Really, go look for your friends."
Zack ran to the kitchen where the commotion had originated. Pots and pans, cans, plates, cups, bowls, chairs and the table were strewn and upended across the floor. Zack ran to each room and found the same scene.
"Scarlet, Declan, Leon, Tray, Kylie, Suri, Cliff!" Zack screamed at the top of his lungs.
"They aren't here," Sokai leaned against the wall.
"What do you mean," Zack hissed again.
"Well they were taken and if I hadn't grabbed ya, they would taken you too," Sokai shrugged.
"No, if you hadn't grabbed me, my friends would still be here," Zack retaliated.
"I'm a figment of your imagination, you knew what would happen and summoned me," Sokai sighed.
"What," Zack demanded.
"Think, if you had gone in there, you would have been attacked and if they took you, no one would be able to save you and your friends," Sokai rolled his eyes.
"Oh," Zack frowned.
Sokai shook his head.
"Well where did they take my friends," Zack asked.
"How am I supposed to know that? I'm in your head remember," Sokai smirked.
"Right, sorry," Zack muttered.
Silence was his response. Zack looked around.
"Sokai, where'd you go," he asked frantically.
Silence.
"Dude, come on," Zack whined.
Nothing happened.
"I guess I should go talk to Cody," Zack muttered.
He was walking toward the hotel he was sure Kai was staying in when cop cars went speeding past. They stopped at the hotel where Kai was staying. Zack rushed in and located the manager.
"Welcome to the Los Angeles Tipton, how may I help you," a small cranky looking African American asked.
"Um why are the cops here," Zack asked.
"Two of our guests were taken. I hate children," the manager said.
Zack frowned and turned away thinking about how much that man acted like Mr. Moseby. Then his thoughts shifted to the two guests that were taken.
"Hey what were their names," Zack asked.
"Why," the manager demanded suspiciously.
"Maybe I know them," Zack rolled his eyes.
"Kai and his sister Sarah," the manager answered.
Zack grinned and said thanks before running off. He ran and ran until he came to a fence. He sobbed.
"They took my friends and my brother," he wailed.
"Are you okay," a small voice asked.
Zack spun around to see a little boy with sad brown eyes and spiky brown hair. He had a bruise on his cheek.
"Yeah…no I'm not," Zack sighed.
"What's wrong," the boy asked.
"My friends and brother were taken by bad guys," Zack answered.
"Oh that sucks," the boy said.
"Yeah any advice," Zack asked.
"Go find them," the boy sat down next to Zack.
"Yeah but the only person who knew where they were taken is dead," Zack sighed.
"Oh is that all that's stopping you," the boy asked.
"Yeah pretty much," Zack frowned.
"Well I could help you," the boy said grinning.
"How," Zack asked.
"You won't believe," the boy looked at the ground.
"Try me," Zack smirked.
"Okay, I…uh…can kinda talk to ghosts," the boy blushed.
"You would help me," Zack asked.
"Sure, I mean its better then going home," the boy winced as he touched his cheek.
"Okay what do we do," Zack stood.
"Find the grave of the deceased," the boy said.
"Um I kinda burned him to ash," Zack stammered.
"Well then what's this dead dude's name," the boy asked.
"Sir," Zack said.
"You don't make this easy huh," the boy grinned.
"Name's Peter," the boy stood.
"Zack," Zack grinned.
Peter motioned for Zack to follow him and ran down the street.
To be continued…
Alright humans, that's it for today. The second part will be here tomorrow as your gift.
