'Learn by doing,' Dib thought, an old saying of his dad's, and tightened his grip on the weapon in his hand. He hadn't been out here long, and when he left his home he'd only had time to swipe his backpack and a long kitchen knife. They wouldn't get him far, and he was pushing his luck now, but if all went as he now planned then soon he would be somewhere safe, for at least a little while.
The boy, now the awkward age of seventeen, slipped from behind the tree that had sheltered him the past few minutes and darted across the street under the cover of the moonless night. The souls had been drawing closer and closer to his home, operating out of the downtown and picking off those who ventured there. That was before the humans were aware of them. Before the hopeless war.
His sister, Gaz, was the first to go from his life, and his dad was rarely home as it was that he wasn't sure if he was still out there or not. He held onto the hope of his father's return—real return, not as one of them—but when Gaz didn't come home one day he left. He had been on the run for weeks since, hiding where he could and traveling by night.
Dib now crept along beside the houses in the dark, destroyed neighborhood. Most of the houses had been destroyed in the battle that followed the soul's appearance. His own had escaped mostly unscathed, save for some parts of the roof that had caved in. All around him homes were hollow shells, roofs caved and walls crumbled by bombshells and fires. Regardless, it was good to be back in familiar territory. He had completely left the area, moving north to a smaller, abandoned town.
He traversed his way through backyards and over fences, trying to stick to the most hidden path. He was relieved when Zim's odd house came into view. He paused across the street, in the cover of some brush, and reached behind him to touch the still-healing scar on the back of his neck. He put it there himself, just in case someone saw him. He didn't have the tell-tale silver shimmer to his eyes as happened when a soul inhabited a human's body, and hoped that was enough to keep Zim from slaughtering him. But maybe Zim was in on this whole thing. The thought rooted him to the spot with horror. What if Zim had led them here? Shown them Earth? Dib didn't think the alien would surrender his assigned planet to another species, but what if..
The thought was cut off as something struck his knife-wielding wrist with blinding force. His hand released the blade and Dib recoiled with a stifled cry, spinning quickly to face his attacker. He backed away against the side of the house and held up his bag to shield his body.
Zim stood where he had just a moment ago, watching him through narrowed eyes. He reached down and picked up the knife, never breaking eye contact, and slid it into an empty place on a tool belt he wore. He twisted his grip on the baseball bat he held and looked over Dib.
"Zim!" Dib exclaimed quietly but warily. "What are you doing?" His eyes dragged away from the alien's as he glanced to the sides for an escape.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, just as quietly but with a deathly tone.
Dib turned his head to the side somewhat, not trusting his old enemy. It didn't matter much though; everyone was an enemy here.
"I asked you first."
Zim shifted his weight, keeping Dib cornered against the house but shifting into the shadows a little more. He was wearing a black hoodie over his colorful uniform and PAK, so he fit in well.
"I am patrolling my boarders," he replied darkly. "Making sure none of you are thinking about infringing upon my rights."
"What do you mean, none of you?" Dib asked, furrowing his brows.
"You will not fool me, Seeker." Zim growled, his grip tightening on the bat.
"Zim, I'm not one of them!" Dib frowned deeply, not having a plan for this.
"Dib was smart, but no one can escape your kind," Zim replied. He stepped forward. "Come with me."
Dib slid against the house, away from Zim's threatening presence. He eyed the knife at the alien's belt enviously and turned to run.
Zim growled and ran after him, though he was no match for Dib's long strides. Humans were built for speed, whereas Irkens depended upon their intelligence.
Dib darted around the front of the house and ran up the sidewalk, needing to get away from Zim before he was killed. He could return later, when he had a better plan.
He rounded another corner, slipping on some wood chips and nearly falling but catching his balance at the last moment. Zim was several paces behind, but keeping up rather well for himself. Dib made the mistake of glancing over his shoulder and that's when it went wrong. He felt the wire close around his ankle and pull him off his feet, the world spinning as he fell, and then a sharp pain and harsh cracking sound as the back of his head struck the pavement. He was unconscious before the trap had entirely lifted him off the ground.