A/N 4/15/06: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but it's not my fault! My internet got taken away, and I have to sneak on to write this. It was only one F, and they take away my internet access! I'm sure tons of people out there do much worse…oh well. The point is, I won't be updating very frequently for some time. Here's the next chapter. Expect updates to be nonexistent for the next four to nine weeks or so…maybe not…but still.

I'm sneaking on the computer to type this because I love all my reviewers! So please review!

5/20/06: School gets out in 2 weeks and 1 day, with my grades being pulled up a lot! I'll have more free time to work on this, and should have the next chapter up soon. Oh well, Please review! I worked hard on this chapter!

- ARK -

ZCIM 16: Subconscious Reality POV: Sarah

I tried desperately to regain control of my own body, but it was a useless attempt. I had no control of anything...I was only able to watch in horror, as if it were some kind of a movie. I watched helplessly as my arms, being controlled by someone…something…else, as they struck down first my twin, and then Cody. I watched as they were shoved into some sort of glass tube, which was filled suddenly with a blue liquid. I began to wonder if this is what had happened to me after I was captured. The demon, Kimitsu, pressed some buttons, and the blue liquid drained only to be replaced with a green gas that seeped into Marc and Cody's bodies through their pores. The glass then fell away and the gases, seeming to have a life of their own, took hold of Marc and Cody's minds.

POV: Cody

I was suddenly thrust awake, my eyes wandering around the room. I meant to step off of the pedestal I was standing on, but found that I couldn't no matter how hard I tried. My legs just refused to budge. They then moved off of the pedestal all on their own. Confused, I soon found out that I had no control of my body whatsoever. All I could do was hear, see, and think. I then heard a thought, one which was clearly not my own.

'Cody, can you hear me?'

I wondered who that was, and why it had come to me in the form of a thought, instead of a voice.

'It's called "thought-speaking". It's the only way we can communicate right now.'

Whoa! Did that person, whoever it was, just read my mind?

'Yes. You speak with your mind now, Cody. Be careful what you think now, it is voiced to anyone who is listening.'

'Ok,' I thought, 'so who exactly is listening?'

'Marc is, and then there's me. There could be others.'

'Going by that, I'd say you are Sarah.' I thought.

'Yes, I'm Sarah…'

'So…is there any way we can break free of this…whatever this is?' I wondered.

'I don't think so. We've never been in a situation like this.'

'I'm guessing that would be Marc.'

'You would be correct.' Marc responded.

'So, if there is no way to get out of this, are we just stuck here forever?' I asked.

'I guess so, but there has to be some way we can get rid of whatever has a hold on us.' Sarah responded.

'You are in a state of subconsciousness.'

'Who the hell are you?' I asked.

'That is not important.'

'What exactly is going on here?' I asked.

'You are being held prisoner by your own mind, which is controlled now by some other being.'

'And…how do I get rid of this other being?' I asked.

'There is no way that has yet been discovered. All anybody can do now is wait.'

'But I need to get out!' I asked. There was no answer.

'Hello!' I called out. Once more, there was no answer. I sighed, and went back to focusing on what my body was doing.

xXxXx

POV: Alex

I rushed down the corridor, hoping to find Kimitsu and end this…whatever this was. I rounded the corner and found Amy standing there.

"Amy! Did you find them?" I called out. Amy turned, and I realized that she had indeed found my friends. Now; however, I was wishing she had not done so.

Her pupils glowed ruby red, with her hands glowing with an aura of the exact same color. Black shirt and pants covered her body, with red spirals traveling from her shoulders down to her feet. Her hair was in a ponytail, held that way by a sapphire brooch, which ended near the middle of her back.

"Yes. I have found them. They now serve me." She smirked.

"Are you crazy? That would never happen! They'd never let you do that!" I shouted.

"No, I suppose they wouldn't. However, when they are possessed, it's a different story." Amy said, still calm as ever.

"You…you…I'll KILL you!" I said, transforming and taking on my darker appearance. As he rushed toward Amy, she snapped her fingers, and I grew weaker and weaker. Eventually, I fell to the ground unconscious, unable to reach Amy.

xXxXx

POV: Third Person

Alex awoke to find himself stepping off of a pedestal. He had no idea what it did, and instantly realized that he was not controlling his body. Unable to find any means of doing so, he sat there and watched himself, listened to himself, and screamed for help as loud as he could. Nobody seemed to be able to hear him.

'Why can't anybody hear me! HELLO! I need to get out of this nightmare…please…somebody help me…' Alex screamed, though he was only thinking in reality.

'What do you need help with?' A voice softly spoke. Alex heard.

'Please…I need out.' Alex responded.

'Out? Good luck with that. There is no known way to get out of here.'

'Who are you, anyway?' Alex asked.

'That isn't important, and will be revealed to you later; however, now you need to find a way out. You must do what has never been done before.' The voice spoke. An image appeared to Alex's right. He turned to look directly at it. What he saw was a person. A person that seemed vaguely familiar.

'Where have I seen him before? It feels like I should know him…but I don't. Why do I feel as if I've met him somewhere?'

His blond hair fell down almost to his shoulders, about an inch higher then them. He was wearing a navy blue shirt, and some teal colored shorts with various zippers and pockets on them. He was a little on the short side, Alex assumed he was around five feet tall. (A/N: Yes, you've seen him mentioned before in this fic. Any guesses as to who he resembles?)

Alex became exhausted quickly, and sat down, time whirring quickly around him as he recovered in what he assumed to be a form of sleep.

xXxXx

POV: Zack

I stumbled along the corridor mindlessly, desperately trying to find my way towards any form of life. I had gotten separated from Alex, and quickly realized I was lost as of about 2 hours ago. I was placing one foot in front of the other, often running into walls. Suddenly, I was falling. I wasn't exactly sure how it happened, but it did. Down, down…farther and farther. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact of my body crushing down onto the ground. I stopped, yet felt no pain. It was as if I had landed on a floor made of cotton. I slowly opened my eyes to find darkness. But, really, what had I been expecting? Some far away happy-land with cute pink fluffy bunnies? I shuddered at the thought of it…made me sick. I hated those types of places. I stood up, which was weird considering I couldn't even see the ground I Was standing on…if there was any. I felt like I could fall at any moment…Suddenly, a light, or a bubble, or something engulfed me. All I could remember was that it was blue…I can't even recall the shade of blue it was…only blue. Sad, isn't it? I closed my eyes, not knowing what could possibly happen next.

"Dude, you can stand up now." A voice told me. It was a comforting sound, to hear somebody talking. I felt as if I had been sleeping for years.

"How…long was I out?" I asked.

"Around two minutes…" The voice responded.

"Unngh…" I moan as I slowly get up. "Where…am I?"

"You are in the city of Dgineru." The voice again responded.

"Ok…who are you?" I asked.

"Who do you think I am?" It responded. I opened my eyes to see myself lying in a room, almost like a hospital room. It looked…futuristic. It was really cool. I turned to look at whoever was speaking to me. His blond hair fell down almost to his shoulders, about an inch higher then them. He was wearing a navy blue shirt, and some teal colored shorts with various zippers and pockets on them. (A/N: Sounds familiar, doesn't it?)

"Who…are you?" I asked.

"I guess you wouldn't know me." He responded. "My name is Njembura. I was born in this city. I've lived here all my life. It gets pretty boring, you know?"

"Njembura…I'm Zack." I replied.

"Come on, I'll show you around!" Njembura said, taking my hand and dashing out the…door? It sure as hell didn't look like a door; it looked like a damn wall. But I fell straight through it, so…I'm not sure what to think. We started off, and another boy that looked similar to Njembura limped up to him. He seemed to have a severe injury to his leg, and as he got closer, it seemed to have been bitten by something.

"Njembura! We've got a problem!" He panted.

"What is it, Kileo?" Njembura asked

"Zombie…breach…in the East Vembran sector." Kileo then limped off to the hospital.

"Aw, crap! Looks like you get to fight now, kid." Njembura told me.

"Fight…zombies?" I asked.

"Yea, what did you think you were fighting, mutant headless chickens? Now, take this." Njembura chucked a pistol at me "Latest technological advance in guns. Completely computer controlled. You'll need it."

"Um…thanks?" I responded.

"Good, now come on!" Njembura yelled, grabbing my arm and rushing off towards what I assumed to be this Vembrain (1) sector

XxXxXxX End of Chapter 16 XxXxXxX

5/21/06: Zombies…common, I know, but still. Now time for some long overdue pronunciations!

(1): Spelled wrong on purpose. Just in case somebody actually notices.

Njembura: (N-gem-bu-rah)

Vembran: (Vem-brawn)

Kileo: (Key-lee-oh)

Dgineru: (Gen-e-roo)

Please review! Next chapter should be up hopefully a lot sooner then this. Yes, it is short considering the amount of time I worked on it, but I was completely forbid access to the computer. I also had a lot of schoolwork to catch up on. The point is, updates should be coming sooner now. That's good, right?

- ARK -