Chapter 22: They Gained the Knowledge to Destroy

"Yo, kid. You need a lawyer and stuff. Otherwise these reporters aren't going to stop," a police officer said as he stood over Zac and Taylor, "both of you"

"Why does Taylor need a lawyer?" Zac asked.

"Brandishing a weapon. If the court doesn't find it was for a good purpose, he could be sent to jail" he sighed, "They're gonna love this, have a freaking field day with it. Headlines are gonna be everywhere. 'Teen Pop Star Taylor Hanson On Trial' it's gonna read. I hate reporters." he sighed again then he started walking away.

"I am Steve Kyler, I'll be defending you in court" a lanky man said and shook Taylor's hand, "I'll be seeing you at the trial. Cheerio" and he left.

Taylor and Zac stared after him. "I think he's gay" Zac said and turned around. Taylor laughed. "Shush Zac, he might hear you and put me in jail" he said after that. "Whatever, I'm going to the hospital to see Alanis" Zac muttered and began to walk up the street.

Zac sighed. What was he going to do? He was so nervous about testifying against Alanis's father. But what could he do? He was a witness after all. He had to testify. No one but Divia could go against him and she didn't know how Alanis's father had taken her away one other time and stole her from her bed in Zac's home. He looked to the ground and watched his shoelaces dance as he walked. There was nothing he could do.

Alanis was sitting up in her hospital bed when Zac came in. "Hey Zac!" she said and closed her book. Zac gave a slight smile. "What's wrong dude? You look depressed," she said as she looked her friend over. "You, me, Divia and Tay have to go on the witness stand against your dad. Taylor is going to court for pulling a gun. He just got his lawyer"

The corners of Alanis's mouth turned down. "I don't want to" she said. Zac sighed. "I'm sorry, but you have to" he said and tried to hold her hand. She twisted away. "Do you have any idea what that man has done to me? And I have to tell the whole truth: Not just what I saw but what my mother saw, what he did to Hollie and Brian and what he did to me. I have to spill everything, all this that's he's been doing. He beat me, even when I was little. Zac, I can't remember much past six because I blocked it all out!" she raved. She was about to burst into tears when she looked at Zac. He was looking at her placidly. He took her hand in his. "It'll be all right Alanis, it'll be all right" he said and gave a tiny, reassuring smile. Alanis smiled back. 'I love you' Zac sent on their message line. Alanis blushed. "I'm sorry but we have to do some tests to make sure there's no permanent damage, okay?" a doctor interrupted. Zac nodded and stood up. He waved and smiled then he left.

Zac could hear the voices of the doctors as he walked down the street, transmitted by Alanis.

"It's all right Alanis. Just scoot up onto the bed. Lie still so we can get a reading"

"Look at this Dr. Foley, she seems to have abnormal activity on a certain part of the brain. Maybe we should check this out…"

"Maybe the computer is malfunctioning. I doubt she even has this."

"Look! It's increased! Wow! Look at that! These readings are off the charts!"

"I still think it's the computer. Maybe we should use a different machine."

"Come on Alanis, we're going to do the tests in another room. This computer isn't working right"

'Zac, I'm scared'

"Okay, starting up a different tester, here we go… Holy mother… it's the same here!"

'Zac, make them stop'

"We should run tests"

'Zac! PLEASE!'

"What's wrong with her?! Why is she moving like that? Oh no, she's screaming! Dr. Foley! Get her out of there! Look at this! But get her out of there first! Damn! What's wrong with her?"

Soon the doctors' voices were gone and only Alanis's shone through. All her messages were strung together.

'Zaczaczaczaczaczaczaczaczachelphelphelphelphelpzaczaczacpleeeeeasepleasehelphelphelphelpzaczaczaczac'

"Why is she screaming damnit! Why is she screaming? Nurse! Get me some relaxing drug she can take! Hurry up! I don't know what to give her! Jesus! Just get her something!"

'Zac… Zac… Zac… help… help…'

Then the messages ended.

A sudden blast of sound awoke Zac from his state. "Get out of the way, buddy!" "Move along!" "Hey, kid! Wanna get yourself killed or something!" came a thousand shouts. Zac stumbled off the street and onto the sidewalk. He was drenched in a cold sweat. "They found out anyway, they found out. They freaking found out!" Zac screamed and kicked a red fire hydrant. Pain shot up his leg and he winced. He turned around furiously and nearly knocked someone over. "I'm s-sorry" he said and started to walk off. "Hold it right there bud. Now, you just kicked a fire hydrant and I have NEVER seen you display enough anger to hurt yourself" a voice said as he was grabbed by the arm. It was Taylor. No one else knew him better. Taylor looked down at Zac with sympathetic blue eyes. "What's up?"

"They found out, brain scanning tests in the hospital. They found out"

Taylor's face turned a shade paler. "Shit, the damn government is gonna turn Alanis into a damn X-Files case. Bring in Mulder and Scully" Taylor groaned. "And since a few nights ago happened… this mess is all that and a bag of chips" Zac added. "I agree bud, we should clean most of this up. I don't know how but Alanis has to get out of that hospital"

"I am Dr. Wilcox and I would like to remove a patient of mine from the hospital and place them in a new hospital. I would also like… AHHHH" Taylor was cut off because now he was being yanked off his feet and was then proceeding toward the door. "You Hanson kids can't fool me, I've seen you in the papers lately for pulling a gun on some kids father. No way am I letting you pose as a doctor and kidnap one our patients," said the large African-American man in a nurse suit, "Don't come back kid. I mean it" then he shoved him out the door.

Taylor pulled the greenish hat off his head and sat down beside Zac on the sidewalk. "Plan A failed, bud… yo Zac, talk to me dude" Taylor looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow. Zac was rocking back and forth in a cold sweat.

"Let's take a look at her frontal"

'I'm dying… I'm dying… I'm dying… save me Zac, save me. Don't let them kill me, Zac! Don't let me die!'

'Her pulse is dropping, blood pressure decreasing… Dr. Foley! We're losing her!'

'Zac! NO! DON'T LET THEM!'

"NOOO!" Zac cried out and began to run to the door of the hospital. He pushed past the African-American man who had stopped Taylor earlier. "HEY! You can't go through there! They're operating in there!" he said and tried to grab Zac. Zac looked back only once and shouted "No! They're killing my best friend!"

"Get away from her!" Zac shouted as he pushed through the doors. The doctors looked so startled that they dropped the paddles to resituate Alanis. "Hey, kid… get out of here… you don't know what you're doing"

"I said to get away from her!"

Zac made his way to the table to where Alanis lay. If she was going to die, she wasn't dying by the hands of two idiots and not in a place as cold as a hospital. He held her close and brushed the hair from her eyes. "Now hold on.  I don't wanna lose you. We'll be together, always. Don't leave, don't leave. Stay with me now" he murmured in her ear. The heart monitor beeped to life. "It's a miracle… the doctor said under his breath. "I'll make them leave you alone. They'll stay away now. No one will hurt you." Zac whispered. One of the doctor's eyes widened. "Y-you're the one she speaks to! She sends you messages! Telepathy! You're the one!" he said and began to point. Zac's eyes flashed. "You will leave her alone, you will leave me alone. Nothing can get out about this, no science experiments, no nothing. She is a normal kid that was beaten by her dad! Can't you give any sympathy? She's standing trial against her father in three days and you make her worse than she is! I hate you all, now leave her alone. She's not leaving my side. Got that?" Zac's voice wavered several times before he stopped. The doctors nodded and placed her back in her hospital bed. Three days later she was healed and strong, she was ready to face the evil that had been around her all her life.