The scene before the half conscious Ziv was cluttered, filled with smashed plates, other ceramic creations, and blood. Chairs were tipped over, the tablecloth was askew. What was once their happy home was now a silent battlefield.
Ziv struggles with the fire iron pinning his arm to the cupboard. He can't get loose, and "Tavi" is approaching. All he can do is stare in horror up at this twisted creature. For sure, it was going to kill him.
"Tavi... Please stop..." Ziv chokes, out of breath. "I know this isn't you, so please stop," he sobs. The words go straight through the air and practically disintegrate before reaching "Tavi's" ears. Not that he was the one listening anyway.
"Tsk tsk, Ziv," the jumbled voice hisses. "Don't you remember your old pal?" Ziv jolts at this. The only one that says that was supposed to be dead. He had made sure of that. And yet...
"Serenity," he growls. It giggles with horrible convulsive movements. "You can't be back... I- I killed you. We killed you, I'm sure of it!" He pants, struggling again with the fire iron. It does a dramatic sigh.
"That's where you're wrong, Ziv. You can't kill something that's already dead," it runs its paw along the table surface childishly. "Besides, if you haven't noticed, I don't have my knife. So you can't get rid of me at all this time," it laughs.
"No... Please let my brother go! You can take me instead, but please, he doesn't deserve this!" Ziv pleads. If Serenity did posses him instead, wouldn't it be better? Wouldn't it benefit Tavi? Isn't that what he wanted, for Ziv to stop existing?
"Hmm... You seem eager to make this deal. Is there a reason for it?" It's eyes narrow. Why was she suspicious? Then it hits him.
"I just- just thought... Wouldn't a willing body would be better for you?" he plays his cards carefully. A willing body, sure, but a failing one would end her for sure. He just needed to stop his Dream and she'd be done for. Then, Dally, wherever she was, could go Wake Up and leave this mess behind.
"Hmm... I suppose that's true. But how can I trust you, Ziv? Last time we tried making a deal, you stabbed me in the back. Literally," she glares.
"You'll have to trust me. Please, I promise," he lies. Promises weren't his strong suit, but he'd say anything just to get Serenity to do it. He raises his paw to her, offering his body. "I want to do at least one thing right today," silver specks form in the corners of his eyes.
Hesitantly she reaches for his paw. Her eyes were still narrow, but the intent was there. Time seems to freeze, and in that moment, the point where Serenity comes to a decision, both hands are outstretched. She takes his.
The sensation was horrible. It was like constricting vines slithering up his arm, through his skin. And it was slow. He starts to Stop. He stops his thinking, his breathing, and ultimately, his pulse. It was something he wish he never had to do. No one wanted to do it. But... This was for Tavi.
Ziv looks up to his brother, the black markings retreating from his figure. Thank god, he thinks. The intruding marks were getting higher. He had to Stop now if he were to succeed. He felt everything grow dim, his sensations cutting out. Even the squeezing from the infectious markings was fading.
"Get... Wrecked," he musters, his whole system shutting down. He can almost hear Serenity screaming as the last of her slides into him, just a moment too late to retreat. It was over. Everything fades.
Tavi catches himself quickly as he falls from the sudden release. Rubbing his eyes, he looks around. He realizes something isn't right and frantically looks around at the disaster. How did this happen? Holding himself, he thinks over his last memories.
He had been at the table, talking to Ziv, but everything cuts to black in the middle of their conversation. Wait, Ziv. Where was he?! Tavi looks down.
"Oh god," he whispers, the silver tears already pouring from his eyes. He falls to the limp body, caressing it, fearful of it breaking. "Oh god, I'm so sorry... I- I never meant anything..." He chokes.
Ziv was dull, a gray husk of what was once a brother.
Surely, nothing could be worse.
