Hide n Seek

- A Close Call

Zim had left the woods, hiding back in his fort. He knew Dib wouldn't get that far, all he had was his two stingy legs which was useless compared to Zims PAK legs. Making Zim questioned how come he has never actually 'captured' Dib beforehand. But either way Zim rested well in his home, giving Dib until 9:00am the next day. Then that's when the real fun begins.

"Please sir- i-i just need to go somewhere far. Anywhere where you're going."
Dib pleaded with the man again who was still hesitant. He clenched his teeth in frustration, not wanting to leave this boy all out of his own. Especially on the highway.

"Alright how about this- i take you with me but i'll drop you off at a nearby motel, okay?"
The stranger bargained and Dibs hope lit up, quickly taking the offer as he rushed towards the strangers vehicle. He hopped into the passengers seat as the man started the engine and drove off. Dib looked back at the woods, finally feeling able to let out a sigh of relief as he got further and further away by every second. Eventually the man filled out his promise, dropping him off at a nearby motel and handing him $50 for the night.

"Now please be careful, you're lucky I picked you up and not some pedo-serial killer stranger."
The man warned as Dib just agreed and promised he'd be careful. Watching the car speed away as he turned around to the motel. There's no backing out now. Dib raced inside the hotel, quickly storming over to the reception and asking for a map. Then exiting the building and walking to the closest shops. Grabbing bleach, hair dye and some nutrition for the way. Also popping into a optometrist and buying a box of contact lenses.

Back at the hotel room, Dib hung his head over the cracked sink, looking in the broken and smudged mirror, watching the dye cover his now bleached hair. Putting down his glasses and carefully inserting the lenses into his eyes. Blinking a couple times before finally seeing the new him. He looked down at the fake ID, then glancing up at himself in the mirror. Almost identical.

Dib walked away from the motel, there was no time for resting, Dib didn't know where Zim could be hiding. Looking around for any possible bus stop, he quickly found one and checked the times before remembering he didn't have his phone or any way to properly figure out what time it was. He sat down on the seat, tapping his knee as he looked around, hoping to see a bus come by and stop. Feeling him hastily grow impatient.

Eventually standing up and walking away, unsure of whether the bus would even arrive on time or completely miss the stop. Dib circled around, going different directions in hope of finding something that could help him get far away. Walking on the pathway, through a supposedly empty street. Until a car slowed down beside him. Like perfectly right next to him that the drivers door was positioned right where he stopped. The window rolled down, showing yet another man. This time, he was bigger in size and had a small mustache with a long flannel jacket on. They were relaxed, resting one hand on the wheel and another over the door.

"Hey kid, you lost?"
They asked, connecting eyes with Dib. Dib hesitated for a moment, thinking about that other drivers words.

"Yes... i am."
Dib started, thinking maybe to put on an act and see how they react. The man smiled, a toothy grin.

"Well i can take ya where you need to go. Hop on in."
The man gestured to his car, Dib was hesitant though. Something felt off about this man..

"What are you so afraid of?"
The man spoke again but it was all just background noise to Dib as he suddenly heard a screeching of metal behind him. His eyes grew wide as his neck twisted as far as it could behind him. His intuition was thrown out the window as he quickly sprinted towards the back car door. Jumping inside, peeking towards where the noise was as the car sped off. He calmed down, falling back into the seat.

"So... what's your name kid?"
The figure asked, looking back at Dib through the rear-view mirror. Dib froze, completely forgetting about everything. But that everything wasn't needed anymore.

"Um... Blake."
Dib said, with the man looking back at the road, just rocking his head.

"Well, Blake... how did you get lost? Ran away from home?"
The man asked, a little chuckle coming out of him. Dib quickly clutched his hands together, suddenly feeling really bad and sore in his stomach.

"Y-yeah..."
Dib answered, looking outside the window and watching as the large buildings and street lights slowly faded out of sight. He was being driven right into the middle of nowhere. His heart began to squeeze itself tightly as he internally started screaming at himself.

"Your parents must miss you veerry much."
The man continued as Dibs eyes grew wider and wider and he began unable to properly think of anything. The man looked back at Dib seeing him almost comatose, frozen and his eyes stuck on the space in front of him. He was totally fucked.

"I-i... think i probably should get out now please."
Dib begged, with the man ignoring him. He reached out for the door handle, gripping it hard. Dib looked outside seeing the hard gravel road and knew it'd be better with a few scrapes than being killed. He took a deep breath in, preparing himself to run. Run fast. He pulled hard on the handle, pushing the door but it wasn't budging. He hid his face under his arm, this man must of baby locked his door.

"Don't try leaving... we're almost there."
The man spoke, his voice slightly deeper as he actually turned back to literally face Dib, staring directly at him, watching him slowly realise his situation. The car slowed down to a complete stop. Dib was huddled into the corner of the seat. The man parked the car, leaning around the seat at Dib.

"Blake... i think you are a smart boy."
The man stared back at Dib, analysing him almost.

"But you really need to be more careful."
Dibs whole body was shaking, his eyes shot out as he held his knees close to him. The man opened his car door, stepping outside. Dib just watched as the complete stranger walked past one of the backseat doors, walking around the car to the side Dib was on. Dib quickly twisted his head towards the drivers seat to see that the car keys were still in the ignition, the car was still running. Dib instinctively sat up, crawling through the gaps onto the drivers seat. At this moment the man saw Dib try to escape him and rushed around the boot, his large stomach bouncing around.

Dib grabbed the keys aggressively, making the car roar loudly as it jumped on. Just going on what he saw the first times dad drove, he quickly shifting the gear lever to drive and pressing down hard on the pedal. Boosting the car straight ahead with the man barely holding on as he raced beside the car, gripping onto the inner car interior. Dib could see him still holding on, thinking up something probably stupid or dangerous considering he knows nothing about driving. He went full force, twisting the steering wheel, spinning the car towards the left, basically doing a giant u-turn, causing the man to lose his grip of the car and fall straight to the ground.

Dib stopped the car, looking back and watching the man slowly crawl up, he had to get away now. He had to try. He pressed down on the pedal, speeding away, watching the strange man slowly get smaller and smaller as he finally felt his heart slow down and himself realise how high his adrenaline was.