Zachary got up, brushing himself off and getting up. He stumbled, but soon managed to steady himself against the wall. He rubbed his hand against his face, listening worriedly to the screaming of his cousin and friend as they battled his monster of a father. He winced as he heard the thump of their bodies on the walls, making his way towards them, but giving up as he fell weakly. He felt pain throbbing from inside and outside and all around him. He groaned, looking around him as he had nothing else to do in his useless, painful state.

"Ahh," he moaned, "I think I broke something. I just hope they don't break anything." He glances towards the staircase, wishing good luck on the two girls. Then he stopped, turning his head.

"Hey cool, those stairs are just like mine." He laughed sheepishly, his chuckle morphing into a distressed coughing fit. He slid slowly down the wall into a choking heap on he floor, clutching his chest as it finally ceased.

He sighed, looking about him as he listened helplessly to the attack occurring below him. He eventually came upon a shattered photograph, brushing away the dirt and taking it up in his hurt fingers. It was a picture of a small family; a large father, a fierce mother, and a young boy.

Zachary smiled at the loving picture, continuing to push off the dust and grime, revealing the details and faces of the people. He stopped smiling, setting the aged paper down and looking up at the room, at the shredded sofa and the peeling wallpaper, at the greasy tile and broken lights. As his eyes rested on the thrown about, torn books on the floor, he set down the photograph and picked one up.

He opened the worn cover, turning to the single blank page in the novel, reading the words which had been written hastily two years before.

property of Zachary White jr

He frowned, a mixture of horror and disappointment, and closed the book, hugging it closer to himself. He heard a clatter, and looked up to see a fresh zherti headed threateningly towards him. He flinched, holding the book more tightly, and got up, struggling.

"I'll bea-eat you up!" he tried to threaten, coughing and raising his fists as he did, "so ba-ack och-ogh-off!" The clone was not deterred, and continued coming towards him, being joined by one of its fellow zherti.

"Ah poop," Zachary sighed.