This is a sad and suspenseful fic. Hope you all like it. Please review. I'd appreciate it.

Chapter 1

Carey Martin lowered her newspaper and looked over at her son Zack. He was slowly stirring his oatmeal. He looked really sad.

"Zack, what's wrong?" asked Carey.

"Nothing," said Zack.

"Are you sure about that?" asked Carey, putting the newspaper down. Zack nodded.

"Zack, you can't let what happened get you down. Some people can be really mean," said Carey.

"But not a friend. How can a friend do something so cruel?" Tears came to Zack's eyes and fell down his cheeks.

"It's not fair," he said. Carey rubbed his hand.

"I know it's not. But Zack you need to get past this," said Carey.

"I know. Today I'm going to open up to Dr. Sullivan."

"That's good. She's been very helpful." Zack nodded.

"It's been hard not having Cody there these past few days."

"What can you do? He has the flu." Zack shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm going to be late." He took his oatmeal to the sink. He hadn't touched it. He put on his jacket and slung his bag over his shoulders.

"Bye, Mom," said Zack. He threw his arms around her. Carey returned the embrace, fighting back tears.

"I'll see you after school," said Carey. Zack nodded against her shoulder. He wiped away some tears and then left. Carey sighed. She took the rest of the dishes from breakfast over to the sink and began to wash them. As she was doing this, she broke down and cried.

Dr. Kate Sullivan rubbed her temples as she continued to look through the mountain of paperwork on her desk. Who knew being a child psychologist at a middle school could lead to so much paperwork? Kate looked over at her son, Jared. He was finishing up his homework at the small desk in the corner of Kate's office.

"You wouldn't have to do that if you just spent an extra twenty minutes on homework at night," said Kate.

"Why bother if I'm always here forty-five minutes early?" asked Jared.

"Good point," said Kate. Jared smiled. Kate sighed and went back to looking through her paperwork.

"How many kids are you seeing today?" asked Jared.

"That's none of your business," said Kate.

"Just making small talk, Mom," said Jared. Kate smiled.

"I know you are, honey," said Kate, putting another file aside. Jared shrugged and went back to his homework. Kate quietly sighed as she came across a certain file. Zack Martin. The kid had gone from popular to loser in the blink of an eye. Kate still wasn't sure what had happened. A rumor had been started about him and now most of the student body hated him.

"Hey, Jared," said Kate.

"Yeah," said Jared, looking up.

"What have you heard about Zack Martin?" She looked at Jared to see his reaction. Jared winced a little.

"I haven't heard anything really. But from what I know it's pretty ugly. Most everyone hates him."

"A rumor was started, right?"

"Yeah."

"What kind of rumor?"

"Beats me. Ask Zack."

"Are you friends with him?" Jared shook his head.

"No. Zack doesn't have any friends now."

"You should make friends."

"Then everyone will hate me, Mom. Zack's social life is ruined. It's going to get so bad he'll have to switch schools."

"I hope not."

"I can find out what the rumor is if you want."

"Can you find out who started it?"

"Call me paranoid but there's actually a conspiracy to cover up who spread it. Not everyone knows it's a rumor." Kate leaned back in her chair.

"That's just evil. A group of kids working to keep a rumor going so they can completely destroy and humiliate a person."

"It's really sad. I feel so bad for Zack."

"If you find out who started, you let me know so I can tell the principal." Jared nodded. The bell rang,

"Got to go," said Jared. He put his homework away and put it in his bag.

"Bye, Mom," said Jared.

"See you," said Kate. Jared smiled and left for his first period class. Kate sighed. Now all she could think about was Zack Martin.

Jared sat in his English class, listening to Gretchen Fulton go on and on about the right way to write a persuasive essay. Jared glanced over at Zack, who was sitting a few desks over. Zack just stared ahead, not making eye contact with anyone in the room. He had a dead look in his eyes. A few kids would look over at him and giggle quietly or shoot him dirty looks. Jared could only look at him with sympathy. He had to know what the rumor was. What had caused a kid like Zack to become the most hated kid at school?

Kate looked up as Jared walked into her room.

"Shouldn't you be in lunch?" asked Kate. "I have a client in ten minutes."

"Client?" asked Jared.

"That's what I call them," said Kate.

"Who is it?"

"Zack Martin." Jared let out a sigh.

"I found out what the rumor was."

"I'm listening."

"Zack was dating this girl named Daisy Collins. They were a cute couple and everyone loved them. Daisy is one of the nicest and most popular girls on campus. A rumor started that Zack was cheating on Daisy with three other girls. Add gossip to that and an ever-growing hatred for Zack and soon Zack found himself public enemy number one. There's a club on campus that gets bigger and bigger everyday. It's called 'The Zack Martin Haters Club'."" Kate leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment.

"I think it's time to have a talk with Daisy Collins."

"You or Mr. Thornton?"

"Both of us. Thanks, Jared."

"Sure thing, Mom. Least I could do for Zack." He left to go to lunch. Kate sighed. She knew this next session with Zack was going to be emotional.

Zack sat across from Kate, his eyes filled with sadness and guilt.

"Zack, I want to talk about Daisy." A single tear fell down Zack's cheek. Zack quickly wiped it away.

"What about her?" asked Zack.

"You were dating her, right?"
"Was."

"Rumors are nasty. Starting one is a very cruel thing to do. I'm very sorry it happened to you, Zack." Zack nodded, the tears now coming freely.

"I'm going to find out who started it and I'm going to make sure they get expelled."
"I know who started it." Kate leaned forward. Zack let out a choked sob.

"Zack, look at me." Zack looked up at Kate.

"Who?"

"Max. I thought she was my friend. I guess not. Now everyone hates me. And some people aren't afraid to show up."

"They tease you?"

"More then that." Zack stood up and held up his shirt. His stomach, sides, and back were covered with bruises. Kate put a hand on her mouth. Zack then started to cry. Kate went around the desk and put an arm around him. She rubbed his back as well. Kids could be so mean.

"Do you want to go home for the rest of the day? Maybe take some time off from school." Zack nodded, now only silently crying.

"Go get your things from your locker and I'll call your mother." Zack nodded. He wiped his tears away and started for the door.

"Hey, Dr. Sullivan," said Zack, pausing.

"Yes, Zack."

"Thanks. You're the only friend I have left here." With that he left the office. Kate felt a tear fall down her cheek. Poor kid. She called Carey and told her to go get Zack at her office. Carey said she'd be there in twenty minutes. Kate hung up and waited for Zack to come back. Ten minutes later Zack hadn't come back. Fearing that he had been cornered and beaten up, Kate went to go look for him. The note was taped to the wall across from her office. She read it once and then again more slowly, her blood running cold. A child is missing. A child no one likes. Evil is in control. Let the game begin.