Chapter 15:

To everyone's dismay Zack gets worse as the days pass. Carey's constantly at the hospital, worrying. Rebecca's tears continuously fall, even when she calms herself somehow, someway, she gets started again. Cody's nightmares keep him awake all night, making it hard for him to concentrate on much of anything and he falls asleep in class. And just when he's almost to the point where he can control himself…something happens that changes everything.

Cody sits in the chair by Zack's bed. Tears pour down his face. Zack half opens his eyes and turns to look at his brother.

"Cody…" He says, his voice barely heard, it's so weak, but Cody hears him and jerks his head up in time to see Zack close his eyes again.

"Zack? Zack!" He says, his voice growing more alarmed by the minute, "Mom!"

Carey runs in to see Cody leaning over the bed, crying so hard he can hardly breathe. She quickly walks over and sits on the edge of the bed.

"What's going on, Cody?" She asks, struggling to remain calm herself.

"Zack…he…and…" He gasps for breath. Carey pulls him to her and lays his head on her shoulder.

"Calm down….it's ok." Cody looks over at Zack, his head still turned. His brother's voice hammers in his head,

"Cody…Cody…Cody…" until it's lodged there. Carey decides they've been there long enough for one day and stands, gesturing for Cody to come with her.

"No."

"C'mon, honey, let's go."

"No." Carey takes his hand in hers and gently forces him to stand.

"No!" Carey half-drags him out of the room.

"NO! ZACK!" He shrieks, sobbing. Carey continues to 'drag' Cody down the hall and to the car, with him crying the whole way.

Rebecca goes into Zack's room a few days later. She sits in the exact chair Cody sat in…and talks.

She sighs, "If only you knew…how much everyone misses you…especially me." She looks around at all the 'Get Well Soon' balloons, cards, and flowers displayed about the room. "I hope you do that…Get well soon, Zack." She says and sits back, closing her eyes as tears trickle slowly down her cheeks.

Zack stands, listening intently to what she's saying. He can't understand a word though, it's just mumbling to him.

"REBECCA!" He shouts, she doesn't answer though.

"Come." A gentle, yet bone-chilling, Voice echoes through the dark, brick tunnel. Zack turns towards the exit, squinting at the bright light shining there.

"No!" He says, backing up slowly.

"Come, Zack." The Voice says.

"No! I can't! They…they need me! All of them! Cody and Rebecca…and Mom!" He shouts.

"Come with me, Zack. Come to Paradise." Zack backs up against a now-sealed exit.

"No!" The Voice comes closer and Zack's blue eyes dart from left to right, looking for a place to run

"Come." Zack screams as the Voice lays It's hand on his shoulder.

"Come with me, Zack."

"I can't! I can't leave them!"

"Come with me.."

"I can't!" He shouts, shielding his eyes with his arm. The light's too bright and he can feel the life draining out of him. "I can't!"

Tears fall as the Voice speaks again, "Alright…" The Voice completely vanishes, without a trace. Zack's face reads alarm as he looks around, but a second later he's opening his eyes looking at Rebecca.

Hope everyone understood who the Voice was!

Thankies for all the reviews!

Fig