(Note from Hurricane: This chapter was written by Cetrix with some revisions done by me. Please read and review.)

Chapter 12: Revelation

Carrie's Point of View-


"Now listen," Mr. Moseby said to the employees, "you all know about the incident between Zack and Maddie." Mr. Moseby was holding a staff meeting. I had just told him about Zack's diagnosis of IED, and he was informing the staff of the situation.

"You mean how Zack beat her down and stabbed her in the back," a maid stated in a crude tone. She has clearly determined her opinion of the incident based solely on rumors that she'd heard. I found it appalling that people were so quick to draw conclusions on things that haven't even heard details about.

"Look," Mr. Moseby said, "I have just been informed that Zack has a condition that made him unable to control his actions. He and Maddie were arguing and he quite literally lost control of himself. Now I think we all know about the feelings Zack has for Maddie and if any of you truly believe that he would actually do something like this to her under any circumstances, well then I don't know what to think of you. Further details of the incident and Zack's condition are going to remain confidential, but I can assure all of you that this was nothing more than a terrible accident." All the employees nodded in agreement of Moseby's logic. I was glad that he choose not to give details about Zack's condition. "You are all dismissed. Go back to work."

"Thank you for doing this," I said to Moseby after everyone else had cleared the room.

"No problem," Mr. Moseby responded, "it would be crazy to assume that Zack would actually try to hurt Maddie, but what exactly sent him over the edge?"

"I don't know," I answered not buying Zack's story about it being about money, "I'm trying to find out."

"Well," he said as the got up to leave the room, "I hope you figure it out. Have you been able to reach Maddie's parents?"

"No," I answered, "I think their phones are disconnected. I plan to stop by their apartment on my way to the hospital to visit Maddie."

Moseby nodded, "I'm sure their worried about her, they haven't heard from her in a couple of days."

"They were out of town visiting a sick relative over the weekend," I explained, "They should have arrived home today and they probably think that she's here working." Moseby nodded in agreement and wished me luck in getting the truth out of Zack as we went our separate ways. I went through the lobby and into the elevator, Moseby went to yell at Esteban.

I couldn't understand what could have happened between Zack and Maddie to drive him over the edge the way it did. I reached the 23rd floor and to our suite. When I went inside, Zack and Cody were sitting on the couch watching TV. I went over to the TV and turned it off.

"MOM!" they both complained in unison.

"Are either of you going to tell me what happened with Maddie?" I got right to business.

"I already did," Zack said referring to his story about the money.

"Uh huh, so Maddie owed you money and you just decided to beat her up over it?" I asked.

"Yes," Zack replied.

"And how much money did she owe you?" I continued.

"Uh, it was twenty dollars," he stammered to think of a number.

"You beat up Maddie, the girl you've claimed to be in love with since me moved here over a measly twenty dollars?" I was trying to break him, "If that's the case, I should probably beat the crap out of you because you owe me WAY more than twenty dollars."

"No, not just twenty dollars... I just..." he was starting to crack.

"If it wasn't about the money then what was it?" I asked, digging a little deeper. Zack just sat in silence looking at the floor. "Zack," I said knowing it was time to make my move and finally get him to tell the truth, "You expect me to believe you went out of control on Maddie, Maddie of all people, over a measly twenty dollars?"

"Zack," Cody spoke softly and for the first time, "it's over. She knows you're lying. Just tell her. She's going to find out anyway." Zack stared at the floor a few more moments before speaking.

"I guess it wasn't a good story," he said, giving in.

"Alright," I was glad we were finally getting somewhere, "So what was the whole thing about?" Zack clearly struggling and on the brink of tears. What ever happened between him and Maddie was hard for him to even think about and despite no longer having a cover story to tell, he still seemed reluctant to tell the truth. Finally I said, "Zack."

"Mom..." Cody started but I did not allow him to finish.

"Cody, go to your room," I said wishing to speak to Zack alone, "Now."

"Yes, ma'am," Cody said dejected. He stood up and went into the bedroom. I remained standing while Zack sat on the couch refusing to even look me in the eyes. He knew he couldn't hide the truth forever so he was trying to keep himself from the conversation.

"Zack," I started trying to convince him to trust me, "I can see that you and Maddie had some sort of falling out, and that you apparently don't want to talk about it, but I can't help if you don't talk to me." He remained silent. "Zack, please talk to me. What was the fight about?" Zack took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

"Fine," he said finally breaking his silence. I sat down on the couch next to him and waited for him to start. "I can't," Zack started, trying to keep himself from crying, "I don't want to say."

"I understand that," I saw how hurt he was, "But I can't just leave this alone, not when I know it's causing you pain. Please tell me." Tears began going down Zack's face as he was obviously no longer able to hold them back.

"I... I didn't mean to hurt her, but... I... I just couldn't stop. I was just so... mad about... what she did..." He said between sobs.

"What," I asked, "What did she do?"

"She," Zack made one last attempt to hold it in before breaking, "She had sex with me."

"What?," I asked unable to absorb those words. They just made no sense to me.

"I tried to stop her, but... she wouldn't. I knew it wasn't right... but she made me have sex with her," He said again before breaking down into tears, "It was all I had ever wanted, but when it started I knew we shouldn't, but she kept going. I thought she finally loved me, but she doesn't."

My heart began to sink as I finally began to understand what he was saying, a swarm of emotions began flooding my mind, "Cody, get back in here."

Cody came back into the room slowly, staring at the floor. He had obviously been listening in from the other room. "Yes?" he asked sofly.

"Please," I said wishing it wasn't true, "PLEASE tell me he's lying to cover up the truth." Cody didn't answer he just went to his backpack and took out a disk and handed it to me.

"This is the security disk from Arwin's office," he explained, "it all happened in plain view of the camera."

Now I wished I didn't know the truth. My eyes began to water with both anger and sadness as leaned over toward Zack, "Oh my God, honey." I hugged him as he was still crying, tears began going down my face, "It's okay."

"It's just," Zack started, "I thought she loved me back…but…she doesn't. Yesterday, she told me it wasn't about love and that she didn't love me. I called her a slut even though I didn't really mean it and she slapped me. That's when I lost it. I just... I didn't mean to…"

"I understand," I said trying to calm him, "I understand now." I hugged him for a bit longer before getting up and got my coat. I had to go to the hospital and try and get Maddie's side of things.

"Where are you going," Zack asked still in tears.

"The hospital," I answered heading for the door.

"Mom," Zack started obviously not wishing me to confront Maddie.

"I don't want to hear it Zack," I reached the door; I knew that he didn't want this to escalate any more but I had to speak with Maddie, "I need to hear her explanation for this." I left the Suite and went to the elevator. I pressed the button to go down to the lobby, and as the elevator went down, my pain was overwhelmed by anger. How could Maddie do this to Zack? She's nineteen and he's sixteen. It just didn't any sense to me that Maddie would do this under any circumstance, but Zack was telling the truth that much I was certain of. Anger continued to fill my heart, Maddie had become a daughter to me over the years, and now I feel ashamed to know her. I exited the elevator and left the hotel. I hailed a Cab and told the driver to take me to the hospital.

(Note from Cetrix: I thought it would be interesting to see things from a different point of view than what we have so far in the story, I figured this was the right time to tell things from Carrie's point of View. Please Review)