Back at the school, the second bell rings. Classes are dismissed and kids flood into the hallways, ready to leave. Zak walks home alone, feeling an uneasy silence settle over him. He shoves away the thought and walks into his house.
"Hey Hun, how was school?" Zak's mom asks.
"Good," Zak says.
"Well, that's better than what I normally hear from you guys," His mom replies. "Where's your brother?"
"He told me he had to stay after school to help film some stuff for his theatre class." Zak responds, blissfully unaware of his brother's abduction.
"Does he need me to pick him up later?" His mom asks.
"I don't know, call him and ask," Zak responds.
"I won't bug him now, he's probably in the middle of something," Zak's mom says.
"Okay then," Zak says as he begins to exit the kitchen to go up to his room. He turns around instead. "Oh, do you think I could hang out with Charlie and Dexter in a little bit?" Zak asks.
"Do you think I should say yes to you after you and your brother came home late last time?" His mom responds, raising her eyebrows.
"It won't happen again, I swear." Zak says.
"We'll see." Zak's mom then says.
"So are you saying I can go?" Zak asks his mom.
"Only if you finish your homework; I know you have things to get done," His mom says. Zak groans then walks up to his room. "I want it all done too!" His mom then says.
"Sure." Zak says, shutting his door.
Zak enters the room, flinging his backpack down onto his bed. Zak then opens his bag and pulls out binders and worksheets. Suddenly, Zak feels his phone vibrating from his pocket. He answers it. "Hey, I know I said I would-" All of a sudden, Zak was interrupted by Dexter shouting into the phone.
"Bro, they got Christian!" Dexter shouts.
"What are you talking about?" Zak asks.
"They have your brother, man!" Charlie says.
"Who's they?!"
"No time for questions; hurry up and come to the woods!" Charlie shouts.
"Okay, okay, I'll be right there." Zak replies, panicking. Zak then hangs up the phone.
Zak tiptoes out of his room, trying to make a discreet escape. He creeps toward the top of the stairs and slowly descends them without making a sound. He stops in the middle of the stairs to see his mom sitting on the couch. Zak then takes a deep breath and turns invisible. He continues to walk down the stairs. He makes his way to the kitchen door and dashes out into the woods, reappearing as he goes.
