Ib (invader zim)

Ch.4

Chapter Four

Soon all of Zim's tremors just seemed to halt. He pulled himself back up onto all fours, extending his head up with his neck still cocked at an awkward angle so he could see Dib's face. He parted his lips into the grin again, beginning to screech out in a single laughter with that eerie 'e' sound again.

The sight of that haunting grin seemed to paralyze the boy as he slowly let himself down to the floor, wrapping himself in a fetal position as he rocked himself very stiffly as if to comfort himself. Violent shivers also shook him as the cackle rung in his ears as they only intensified the dread he was already feeling.

Zim slowly began to drag himself over to him, seeing him as wounded prey now. His limbs still had trouble taking turns, looking even more like a creature in dire need of an exorcism.

Dib's eyes expanded as the other drew closer to him. He didn't blink now since in his mind, blinking only made him made him more vulnerable than he already was, even though he would only lose sight for just a millisecond.

Zim watched him, a crazed smile that if it were a little less insane, could have looked like he was thrilled to see him. "IB.." He spoke slower, as if admiring the way it came out of his mouth. Somehow, the Irken had only recovered a portion of his long time enemy's name. He had up to this point only referred to him as 'IB' now.

Despite the previous fear of taking his eyes off the other, Dib buried his head in his knees as a sort of escape from the blood-curdling simper on Zim's face. The name, IB, rung through his head endlessly, almost accepting it as his real name now since that was the only one he had heard all day.

Zim finally stopped right beside him, dropping right against his side and actually losing consciousness. Those hollow eyes finally slipped closed and his mouth still remained parted. By how he slept, it almost looked like he were just normal Zim taking a snooze. But what lie beyond that sleeping refuge was a nightmare world he had created to live through in the waking world.

It was quiet again, which confused the boy since the last he had seen, Zim was coming at him with intentions to attack once again. He lifted his head very slightly and looked around, seeing no sign of the Irken. That was until he looked down at the floor to see him passed out beside him.

The sight of him sleeping now seemed to all but settle him. The fact that he looked so normal in his sleep, despite the blood that stained his skin and clothing, only added to his distress. He found himself forcing himself to believe that Zim was in fact sane now and that he would wake up as his normal self. It just seemed so real now, even though his breathing was rather uneven and obviously not normal.

Dib couldn't help but smile very weakly at this as he was slowly starting to believe his own fantasy was real. He outstretched a hand and hovered it very closely over Zim's shoulder, though he never let it touch. Instead, he took a moment to run his eyes over the other's body, taking in every detail, mostly his peaceful expression.

Zim's body hadn't changed any except maybe it had become even more lithe than before. And of course, he was covered in blood up his arms and his head. Down his cheeks and from his eyes there was a long straight line of puffed up skin, like a burn from the tears.

Finally, Dib had built up the courage to rest his hand upon Zim's shoulder, rubbing it very softly with his thumb. It wasn't a romantic act, more of just one that resulted from deep concern and longing.

"What happened, Zim?" Dib whispered, expecting the other to respond within several seconds.

Zim only gave a low 'screeee...' sound before remaining quiet and motionless again. Whatever had happened had obviously been enough to send the Irken deep into an irreversible psychosis. This was leading him to harm not only himself, but target Dib as well.