Unloved

Summary: Everyone has left or ignored the eighteen-year-old Zack -- nobody seems to care for him anymore. But what happens when he decides to run away, then gets caught up in something bigger than anyone, even Cody, had expected? (Zack's POV)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that are in the episodes of the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. I do, however, own the gang(s)/gang members. (Except Zack.)

The scream of my brother, falling down from that dark rooftop to the sidewalk below pierced through my heart. I remember the exact sound, the exact pitch, the exact amount of time it went on for; I remember how it began, how it ended, I remember every detail exactly. And I can still see him falling to the ground, then disappearing from my sight; I can remember my anger at that moment, being taken away by a sudden feeling of pain and guilt, then the anger returning at the exact moment his scream ended. And the only thing I could think when he stopped, when he died, was, 'Finally, Cody; now you felt what I feel, but you only felt it for a minute.'

Skullz was let go as the policeman that had gotten him ran for me. As I panted heavily, I clenched my teeth and quickly rolled away from the man, before he could grab me. My anger hadn't subsided yet, so I decided to take it out on them. I dashed towards the police officer, angrily kicking him in the stomach, then getting him into a headlock. He wriggled out of my grasp, punching me in the stomach. I fell to the ground, just laying there, breathing for a second, before I got back up and socked the man in the nose. It was at that time that Skullz took over, and I ran towards Viper and his police officer. With my help, Viper was able to get away from the man. Then I heard something I wasn't expecting.

"Hurry up, boys!" Boss yelled, coming up the ladder and noticing the fight. He had smirked, I could tell; but I couldn't see anything else because I snapped back to reality and punched one of the men over the side of the building. Or, at least, I almost did; he held onto the edge of the building, his hands obviously holding on as hard as they could. With a smirk, I had stepped on one of his hands, then the other, and he fell to the sidewalk. He was obviously still alive, for I could hear him shout up to me, "You damn criminal! You killed a police officer, then you tried to kill me? You're gonna pay!" A stone landed by my feet a few seconds afterwards.

I shook my head and turned around, Skullz and Viper soon following. They had taken care of the third officer. We followed Boss back to the 'headquarters', which, oddly, contained a shower. Boss allowed me to have the first shower, then told me once I got out, "Explain to me about the first officer you threw over. Skullz and Viper said you knew him, or somethin' like that." He had taken off his jacket and threw it on the floor, looking at me expectantly.

"Well," I had replied slowly, "truth be told, he was my brother. The brother that went to college then never talked to me, never called me, never communicated with me at all."

"Ah," Boss mused. "Well... Rhode Island College tomorrow. We haven't been there yet..." Then, as if he snapped back to reality, Boss asked me, "What do you think 'bout causin' some trouble down at the Rhode Island college? We don't usually do colleges, but there's gonna be a party we could do some... trouble at."

"Rhode Island college? That's perfect. More than perfect, actually," I said, a small smile forming on my face. "Hey, boss, do you mind if we mess up a few rooms? Dorm number 155, especially... I have some 'issues' with the person that lives in it."

"How could I say no? You're already catchin' onto our system. We do almost anything that causes trouble... and you murderin' your brother proved that you aren't some coward."

I nodded, then asked, "Where do we sleep, Boss?" I looked around, not seeing any rooms at that time. Then Boss stood, walking over to a huge rock and moving it over with my help. Then he lifted a trap door, and said, "Right down there are some rooms, slightly furnished. Find one that isn't being occupied and that's where you'll stay."

I nodded. "All right." I jumped down, having enough head room and barely enough width to get around. I rubbed a hand through my hair as I took in everything around me; an old, musty smell, doors surrounding me at all times, a cold rock floor beneath my feet... It was something I liked. Finding a door without a name etched into the wood, I entered the room and looked at the bed first thing. It was made, with dark black sheets over it. And, to my suprise, it was an actual bed with an actual matress and a feather pillow. And beside the bed was a dresser, with four drawers, and there was a small closet. Plus a rug and a small door in one of the corners, that led to a small bathroom. At least, there was a toilet and a shower. No sink, or anything like that. All around the room were candles, and then, in another corner behind a rock that was easy to lift, was another door.

This one caught my attention, and I didn't realize Boss coming into the room behind me, even though his footsteps were slightly loud. But this door, it had a small sentence written on it in what could only be blood. It read, 'Die, fell my pain'.

I jumped slightly as one of Boss' hands clasped my shoulder. Then I could hear him say to me, "You picked my brother's old room, I see." There was a slight pause, then he continued. "You should be comfortable in here." Then he had stood back up, for he had been squatting beside me at the small door that I would have to crawl into, and he turned around and began to head for the door that led back to the 'hall', if you could call it that.

"Wait," I said suddenly, without turning to look at Boss. "What is this? Where does this door lead? And, what does this sentence mean?" I needed answers... I couldn't live without answers.

I could hear a sigh coming from Boss' mouth. "You gotta find out what's behind that door, I can't tell you... But I'll warn you, not all of it's pretty. And it's a door. Finally, it means... I killed my brother, too, kid."

My gulp was audible to both me and Boss -- I could tell by his expression -- as I took this in. Rubbing a hand through my hair, I nodded and Boss left, leaving me alone. Taking a deep breath, I gently opened the door, despite the loud creaking noise that came from it. I got on my hands and knees and, grabbing a flashlight, crawled through the dark passageway.