fanfiction was acting weird so i had to wait two day for this to finally upload. but now the story gets darker.

A Poisoned Mind

So many things have changed in everybody's lives since the past couple of weeks, the boys discovery of another brother, their mother and father's dark past that almost drove the twins away from ever meeting him, and the fact that this third wonder was so damaged on the inside, that there was probably a chance that nothing good could ever come out of this whole situation.

But seemingly overnight, all of that changed.

Change was something everybody needed and Justin's arrival would bring just that, in fact it would be so drastic that it would effect more than just the twins, more than just Carey or Kurt, it would effect the entire hotel.

Four hours had passed since Justin arrived. After London came back to collect Ivanna from Justin, she skipped down the hall totally forgetting the list of questions she had to ask on behalf of all the Tipton employees. Needless to say, they were upset because she was their only way of conveniently approaching the Martins without appearing to snoop.

It was quite a day. Imagine coming home from a long day at school, avoiding eye contact with people so they don't ask questions, possibly risking the revelation of a deep dark secret, and then out of the blue, the secret is exposed, out on display for the whole world to see, then before you can say anything, you disappear from the scene.

Zack and Cody were going to totally be in for it come next morning.

And then, just imagine what Max and Tapeworm would do or… What if Drew ever found out? Zack and Cody already had to deal with being called clones; this would make his claim even stronger.

Now, the twins might be afraid of the gang of upperclassmen, but they already knew Justin wouldn't hesitate to hand Drew his own ass on a plate; he would literally kick the crap out of him, as funny as that would be, it would mean a lot of trouble. Hopefully, Justin would stay out of the public eye, at least for now.

There was way too much to think about all at once. How long did Justin plan to stay? Would it be permanent? What would be a good cover story?

Oh yes, definitely there would be some changes.

"So Cody, what you're saying is that Justin is our cousin… Mom has a twin… who dated dad's supposed twin around the same time our mom dated dad, and both couples gave birth to us all at the same time in different places… and now he's visiting us for the first time in his life even though we were all born on the same day?"

"Well it's a little more complicated than that… you see… mathematically…"

"Oh dear god, were screwed." Zack gave up.

Cody wasn't listening.

"No really, it makes sense... "

"Just stop. This isn't going to work, they would never buy it." Zack said, getting frustrated.

Both boys sat up in their beds restless. Justin was in the shower; apparently he never knew that warm water existed, he had been in there for about an hour. Cody rubbed his hands over his forehead wondering how the heck he was going to come up with a good cover story by the next morning because as soon as the people in the hotel woke up, their door would be the first one knocked on to get the latest scoop.

Zack was twisting his fingers every which way while staring at the ceiling; he was just as stressed out as Cody.

"Of all the times he chooses not to go through an air vent, or even the freaking back entrance of the hotel… he just had to tell the entire world that he was here."

Cody let out a small laugh, Zack looked at him as if to ask him what could possibly be so humorous at a time like this.

"It's funny if you think about it, our life could totally be a TV show. Cody said.

" Nah. I'd highly doubt that people would watch it."

-

There was a knock on the boys' door. Carey came in with a blow-up mattress and a few blankets sifting through them wondering if there was enough. She quickly left the room again and came back with a pillow throwing it on Cody's bed for the time being, and then proceeded to turn on the little gadget that inflated the mattress.

Zack and Cody looked at their panicky mom as she kept coming back and forth to their room with one thing after another. Blankets and pillows were fine and everything but then she was starting to get carried away, bringing a teddy bear, then a vase of flowers, and before she started lighting the scented candles around the bed, Zack stopped her.

"Okay mom. This isn't a cult gathering; it's just a bed."

"I know, I'm just a little nervous. What if he doesn't like it?"

"It's a bed. What's not to like about it?"

"Well you know… I just want everything to be perfect." Carey smiled.

Zack looked at the bed for a second and then turned back at his mom reorganizing the candles.

"Well this looks borderline satanic."

Carey shrugged her shoulders and started collecting her precious scented candles.

"Alright then fine… obviously nobody appreciates classy presentations."

"Hey mom?" Cody started.

"What is it?"

"When soldiers come home from war, they usually have night terrors don't they?"

"Well it depends on the person really. Sometimes they have recurring nightmares, and sometimes they don't…"

Carey noticed that Cody seemed a little sad.

"Oh honey, are you afraid Justin might have nightmares?"

Cody nodded his head pulling blankey a little closer. Carey sat on his bed and rubbed his back trying to comfort him.

"Well… if he does, you can be there to comfort him if he needs it. Justin's had a rough time. He might need to adjust, okay sweetie?"

Cody seemed to be a little relieved; he put his head on his mothers caring shoulder.

"To tell you the truth, I'd find that highly unlikely." Carey smiled reassuring her son that everything was going to be all right.

"I guess you're right. But that's not what I was really worried about."

"Oh… what were you worried about?"

"Its just a thought," Cody said half sleepily. "But wouldn't it be freaky if he has a dream that he's stuck on the battle field and gets up in the middle of the night and tries to slit all of our throats?"

Carey paused for a second realizing that she overlooked that possibility.

Zack froze too. The running water in the background came to a stop. Justin was finished.

…

Zack and Carey were both wide eyed, knowing that it wasn't too far fetched of an idea. But Cody yawned and slowly drifted off.

"But like you said mom, it's probably not likely."

Cody turned over to lay in his bed pulling up his covers. He cuddled his blankey and drifted off to sleep.

…

"Right… highly unlikely."

Carey and Zack finally looked at each other, both looking scared.

Zack grabbed the miniature baseball bat from off the shelf and slid it under his pillow.

"You remember the emergency exits right…" Carey silently asked.

Zack nodded his head and looked at the window exit.

"If anything happens…" Carey glanced at her incredibly naïve son who slept as if there wasn't a care in the world.

"…don't forget your brother."

"Can't promise you that…"

Carey nodded her head in understanding.

"Well I tried."

Justin walked into the room where Zack and Carey stared at him with a sense of discomfort. He was wearing a white t-shirt and some blue swim trunks. It was strange seeing him in some regular clothes, he could pass for normal if he tried. Carey quickly got up and backed out of the room telling him goodnight. She closed the door leaving the boys alone.

For a moment she was tempted to put a lock on their door for the night in case Justin went crazy. No sense in everybody getting slaughtered…right?

But then she thought… there would be no way she could come out of that situation smelling like a rose. Carey could just imagine what she would say to the cops during a manslaughter investigation when they found a lock on the boy's door.

Oh officer, officer. It was horrible… I could hear screaming and loud noises…

Ma'am why is there a lock on the door?

I figured since they were already goners I should give myself a chance to live on so that their deaths wouldn't be in vain.

If you're that stupid to think I'd swallow that crap, you'd need twice as much sense to be a dumb ass!Somebody arrest this sick son of a…

Carey snapped out of it and headed to the kitchen for a really strong drink, hoping it would take off some of the edge.

Meanwhile Zack was sitting in his bed allowing for Justin to make the first move. Both of them kinda looked at each other wondering what the other was thinking. Zack wanted to make sure that Justin knew that if he tried anything funny that all hell would break loose, so he tried to look a little more serious than he usually was while playing off his fears at the same time. Justin however was in a completely different train of thought.

"Maybe I should dye my hair black again. Staring at two other people that look exactly like me is starting to get a little creepy."

Ignoring the vibes he was getting from Zack, Justin searched all around the room like he was investigating, just like he did earlier. He was very paranoid, always believing something was wrong with the setting, like things weren't allowed to be perfect.

In all honesty, Zack thought Justin was a creepy kid. It was like he was here physically, but mentally; it was like he was everywhere else but where he was supposed to be. He seemed so far away even though he was standing right there, like he was death.

But then again it could be because Justin had to grow up much faster intellectually than he and Cody. After all, since the day he was born, it had always been about survival. That could explain why Justin was able to find his way to Boston all by himself along with a change of clothes, and even with his mannerisms, his way with words, it was extraordinary for a thirteen year old to have such versatility, in fact it was apparent that Justin was brilliant! But like everybody says, there's a thin line between brilliance and insanity. The only question was, which one was he?

After searching over the entire room, Justin stopped for a moment looking at all the walls and the beds again making sure he didn't miss a spot.

Then he stared down at his bed on the floor, stepping onto the cushiony surface Justin sat down, it took him a little by surprise that something should feel this soft. He looked over at Zack who seemed to wonder why he was mystified.

"Is this the first time you ever laid in a bed or something?" Zack said jokingly, but then he noticed Justin's expression. It was one of curiosity and excitement at the same time.

"Actually yes, it is the first time I laid in a bed. At least one like this." He smiled.

After a few moments of trying to settle in, Justin lied back and stared at the ceiling. He looked very stiff as if he was afraid to get too comfortable.

"What did you sleep on before?" Zack said.

" Cardboard."

"And you call that a bed?"

Justin looked at Zack awkwardly as if he was the strange one.

"Well it had a blanket…"

Zack decided to shrug it off and got up to turn off the lights. He quickly got back in the bed and rolled the covers over him. Justin didn't seem that much of a threat. Maybe mom was right; him acting crazy would probably be unlikely. Feeling better about the situation, Zack felt it was time to get some shuteye.

It was such a busy day he could've drifted off to sleep in seconds.

Keyword… could've.

As Zack slipped into a comfortable position in his bed, his eyes gently closed as he was about to go into an ever so wonderful slumber where he could let all of the days troubles slip away until tomorrow.

Then there was Justin.

For a second it would be silent… then… an inconsistent series of squeaks, and rustling.

Then there was no movement. Zack thought perhaps it passed, and maybe he was trying to get comfortable that's all.

Just when he thought it was going to stop, it started up again.

This guy would not lie still even for a minute. Justin kept tossing and turning on that airbed making all these squeaky noises, irritating the hell out of Zack, in which he finally got up from his bed and stared down at Justin. If it was Cody he would have yelled shut up, but in the midst of trying to be a nice brother, Zack put on a fake smile and kindly asked,

"Is everything okay?"

It was too dark to see Justin's face.

Yes, was the reply he got and then Justin stopped moving. Zack lied back down and turned his head towards the wall and drifted off to sleep.

A few hours later Zack woke back up because he heard the sound of footsteps moving across the bedroom in the dark. The only source of light was coming from the outside through the window; Justin's shadow kept passing by stopping to look outside as if he was expecting to see somebody. Then he would find some place in the room and sit down with his back pressed against the wall in a corner.

Zack watched as Justin did this every few seconds. He couldn't tell what he was trying to do, but it seemed a little strange that he would keep looking out the window. Zack, trying not to let Justin know he was awake, crept his head towards the end of the bed to see that Justin didn't even unfold his covers; he was restless for some reason. Then he began to notice that Justin was whispering to himself, answering questions he had asked to nobody, whispering as if there were more than one person talking.

"Eyes forward soldier… the mission is at hand."

Justin began crying.

"(sniff) I have to protect them… (sniff) I have to protect them all."

He wipes the tears away…a grin forms across his face.

"Your objective is the mission."

Coiling back into a defensive mode he covers his head.

"But… But I can't… I… I can't do that anymore. They told me I was free…"

His voice deepens, and with the greatest intensity of hatred brewing from inside, he digs his nails into his own face, drawing a little blood.

"You… are… worthless… do you want to die just like your brothers? They didn't prove themselves ready."

From the light reflecting from outside, Zack could see tears rolling down Justin's eyes, he was whimpering like he was a five year old. Justin rocked back and forth in the darkness.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to… please help me… please make me stronger."

Placing a finger over his lips, Justin hushes himself and then wipes his own face off with his shirt.

"Shhh… Leave everything to me… I'll take care of it…"

"Justin?" Zack said.

Justin whipped his head over to Zack and wiped his face with his sleeves. He was still sniffling but he seemed to have snapped out of it.

"Did I wake you? …My apologies."

"No. I was already awake…"

There was a moment of silence as Zack stared at Justin wiping his face with his shirt again.

"Are you… okay?"

"I'm fine, just fine." Justin waved his hand as if to shrug away all doubt.

Zack didn't believe him.

"You're up awfully late aren't you?" Justin said as he tried to change the subject.

"I could say the same for you." Zack replied.

"I don't sleep."

"You don't sleep. How is that possible?" Zack sat up now, feeling up to a conversation.

"Well I do sleep… but it's never intentional. Sometimes during the day, if I don't move for a certain amount of time, everything goes dark… and before I know it, I find myself opening my eyes realizing six or seven hours have passed. I guess whenever I don't sleep, my body just decides for me."

"Why don't you ever go to sleep on your own?"

"I can't…"

Justin stood up from the corner and looked out the window again.

"I get scared."

"Scared… of what? Monsters?"

Justin let out a little laugh; he found it humorous that Zack would think of something so trivial as monsters under the bed.

"Well… everybody has their own personal demons that they have to fight with I guess…"

Justin walked back towards his bed and lied down. He was still unsure about unfolding the covers.

"Then there are those demons that prove to be much stronger than the others." Justin finished.

Zack thought for a second, he was curious of what Justin meant since he was known to trail off into some philosophical metaphor about life.

"What personal demons do you have?" he said.

Justin made no reply. Zack didn't know it but Justin had been thinking about that all day long, what were his personal demons? Could this be why he cannot sleep at night, not knowing what's slowly eating him inside?

Justin had been in deep thought since he arrived at the hotel and was thinking about just how much his inner demons had power over him. Could he really tell anybody about them? These demons were so strong, if only somebody knew the half of it. Could he be helped? Could he risk telling anybody that he was slowly losing control over his mind? That little episode that Zack witnessed a few minutes ago was only the surface of how deep Justin's problems were.

"I really shouldn't talk about it… so I wont." He finally said.

And with that, it remained silent for the rest of the night. Meanwhile Zack was still wondering if there was going to be more of these midnight episodes in the future. What was the family really in for?

The next morning…

The night had passed so quickly after that bit of drama unfolded. Zack woke up and it was eight o clock in the morning. It was a good thing that it was a Saturday. There would be no way Zack or Cody could get through that school without breaking out into a nervous sweat. They had a little more time to work with a good cover story before the end of the weekend, but the hotel people had to be convinced as of right now.

Zack glanced over his bed and realized that neither Justin nor Cody were in the room, he was still half sleep. He thought perhaps Cody went ahead and introduced him to the people of the hotel. This of course would be stupid because there was no real story behind Justin as of yet and they couldn't just blab about him being an escaped child soldier. A little panic spread across his face as he was quickly starting to wake up completely, but when Cody ran into the room, what his nerdy brother was about to tell him would have Zack ready to pee in his pants.

Cody looked scared; his face seemed pale with fright.

"Justin's gone… he's not here, neither is mom."

Zack whipped out of bed.

"What are you talking about, I thought he was with you."

Cody didn't respond, instead he kept looking all around him, Zack was confused but not for long.

Zack began to realize that there were papers trailed all over the floor, just like they were in the conference rooms at the center. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. As Zack slowly moved towards the exit of the room, his mouth dropped open when he saw literally thousands of pieces of paper everywhere in the suite. They were all over the kitchen, the refrigerator, the walls, and the doors. Every single sheet was littered with dark and muddy crayon marks, like the entire place had been wallpapered with this morbid design. Everything reflecting his old personality seemed to have come back full force. His art however, had a different theme.

The theme of the drawings had changed from child soldiers to other people. It wasn't very clear at first but as Cody took a closer look, he began to recognize that these people in the pictures resembled the people of the hotel. Mr. Moseby, London, Estaban, Arwin, even London, they were all there, posted on the wall as if it was some sort of hit list.

Underneath all the scribbles in the corner near the door stood three identical kids roughly drawn. From the looks of it, Justin had made it clear that it was he, Zack and Cody. He had given himself black hair again, creating a distinct separation from his brothers.

"What does all of this mean?" Cody asked.

Zack remembered how Justin drew the fangs on all the adults in the last picture he was showed, but neither of the adults in either of these drawings posted over the walls had them, instead the one wearing the fangs was Justin. He made himself into something inhuman, something evil.

A series of thoughts, and words spoken by his morbid brother played in Zack's mind in fast-forward.

"I'm not human you know" "I know when I'm being lied to" "You should see the way they stare." "It's not easy accepting that you're a freak" "everybody has their own personal demons that they have to fight with I guess"

"You… are… worthless…"

"Shhh… Leave everything to me… I'll take care of it…"

The very last words Zack remembered were the ones that had the most impact. What was Justin planning to do? What did he mean when he told himself that he would "take care of it?"

The door to their small home had been left open. As the twins stepped out of their sanctuary, they knew that something big was going down. Carey was missing; there was no sign of her. When the two looked down the hall, they saw that the trail of papers ended at the elevator.

As if it was an invitation, the doors had opened.

Zack and Cody both knew that whatever was going on, they would find out as soon as they reached the lobby. Approaching the doors of doom, like Justin's sudden arrival, they once again placed themselves into the hands of fate and watched as the doors closed.

ohhhh... scariness! are you intrigued?

i sure am...