Ch.4-Midnight Hunt

I grabbed my jacket and walked out of the base. Zim told me to meet him in the woods. He didn't specify where exactly. I noticed it was darker than usual tonight. Once I got in the woods, I sat on the ground and waited for Zim.

I waited for what seemed a long time. Zim eventually came.

"Hey, Dib."

"So, where've you been?" I asked him.

"I wanted to start my hunt early. Sorry."

"No, that's alright, Zim."

There was a sudden silence. I decided to break it.

"So, Zim, uh, what do you hunt, anyway?"

"Mountain Lions mostly. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a deer or…"

Zim paused.

"Zim? What-"

I blinked and he was gone. My heart was pounding again. After a moment of silence, there was a piercing scream. I ran to where I heard it come from. In the clearing, I saw Zim bent over something. He stood up and turned around. His mouth was covered in blood and his eyes glowing. I looked where he was bending and saw the body of a blonde girl. She was pale and her neck had a huge bloody bite mark. My eyes widened and I backed away. Zim's eyes stopped glowing.

"Dib?" Zim came over to me. "Are you alight? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Vampire." I whispered.

Zim sighed and hugged me close to him. "I knew this was a bad idea. Dib, I'm so sorry…"

I was shaking. I had no idea that Zim drank human blood. I was terribly frightened and no longer felt safe near him.

"Dib…"

I shuddered. Zim wrapped his arms around me. What if Zim were to bite me? Would I become like him, a blood-sucking creature of the night? Or would my life end due to the absence of blood?

"Dib, I-I didn't mean for you to…see that…I-"

"I know, Zim. It's fine."

"No it's not." Zim protested. "From this point on, I'm going sober. It's for the best."

"What? No, no, Zim! What'll happen?"

"It doesn't matter, Dib. If my being a vampire is making you uncomfortable, then I'll quit."

"Zim…"

"Dib. Really. It's. Fine!"

I was so upset, tears began to flow from my eyes. "Zim, I don't want you to be harmed in any way! It's ok!"

"Dib, it'll be for the best. This decision is better for both of us."