Chapter Five
It took awhile, but Dib had finally awaked. His head was spinning as he quickly tried to concentrate enough to be able to discern the location her was in. He was certain he was not in his home, and regardless of how much he prayed he wouldn't be going back there.
Dib sat up, he was on the floor. Carpeted and soft, the walls here were an off-white, a nice change after being fronted with cold metal walls or the… blood red walls. Mix-matched furniture sat about the room. A broken wooden chair, tipped over coffee table and a tacky floral print sofa. Dib, with a few jerky motions made his way to the sofa. His still head hurt like hell but could now take a better look at the room. It was dark, only the streetlight from outside the window illuminated the—Wait, window? A way out!
Without even a thought his body moved him over to what, at the time, was hope. He stumbled and tripped; putting his arms out to grip onto something, he just barely caught a thick plank of wood that seemed to the nailed into the wall, he recovered his balance and was slightly blinded by the yellowish light from outside. Dib noticed that the plank of wood he grabbed was covering the window along with others planks. He cursed it before attempting to pull off the beam, once he failed he cursed again.
Falling to his knees in defeat he wondered if he was in the same building as before, the memory of that wall flashed in his brain, it was frightening and disgusting… and sickly interesting.
He rested his back to the wall and stared at the room that seem emptier then in was, darker then it was and completely unused. He shivered and pulled his knees impossibly close to his chest, the chill on his breath unnerved him.
Dib sat for what could have been hours, the same questions running through his head, about the full identity of this man, why he was in this predicament, and if he was going to live through it. The morning light from the sun started creeping into the room, it was warming not only to him physical, but also his mind.
Click…. Click… Click… Click
The sound got louder by the second and Dib had no intent to try and hide from the murderer who surely was seconds away from entering the room. It was possible he had given up hope at this point. The door swung open and calmly in walked an unenthusiastic Nny. Dib swore he saw, though he did not believe his eyes at the time, a genuine smile across his face. With a better look it was simply an illusion of the light.
Nny walked to Dib and stood above him, shadows seemed to eclipse his physical self, and the light that once filled the room completely dispersed, and to Dib he was but a quivering mass of what should have been utter terror, yet was nothing.
His black eyes sparkling being the only visible detail on his silhouette until he saw a quick shine of the blade he held loosely in his hand.
"I abhor disobedience, and dislike noise in general; as such I would appreciate if you would come quietly, but I am prepared, as you can see…" he paused and raised his hand to better display the weapon which he held. "…to extract this from you willingly or otherwise. Do you intend to co-operate, or not?"
Without much a second thought Dib came to his feet, although still weak, he was able to derive the strength to stand.
He found himself willingly following Nny to the basement; he had to being going mad. Surrounding by the familiar metal walls but with Nny close ahead it wasn't nearly as frightening, even if he knew inside his old self had already died out of terror.
He saw a door at the end of the hallway, crossed with iron bars, and studded with heavy bolts. He wondered; if it was meant to keep intruders out, or to keep something in. Both seemed equally possible at the time.
Pained screams filled his ears from many the other rooms around this place screeches and sometimes a word or two, along the lines of 'help' or 'you sick fuck'. The noise was overwhelming there had to of been at least twenty people screaming at once. Nny stopped not far from the set of doors that, this close, were nearly intoxicating.
Nny, addressing Dib spoke cryptically as ever yet with a noticeable more sombre tone.
"Detachment is the only friend of the deranged; for once you hear the screaming, it never stops."
As if perfectly planed the doors began to open the second he finishing speaking, it sounded almost as if someone was charging machinery. His body trembled with something between horror, and wild anticipation. Stepping inside and hearing the door slamming to a close behind them, he saw what haunted him once more, the wall. Looking like a fresh coat had been applied recently and the stench of blood filling in he didn't know what to think at this moment.
Nny standing in front of the blood soaked wall, turned to Dib and with a completely blank stare began to speak "I know something is different about you, by this point you shouldn't be so calm." These words unnerved Dib, and he started to sweat, despite the cold "I am going to kill you." He said quite bluntly. So paralyzed was Dib, he stayed silent and still. Nny stepped closer, "although, if you wish to save yourself I'm willing to make a deal…" Dib began to tremble but was able to nod in accidence. "You see, I've become occupied with others matters and am having trouble balancing those with painting this wall." Dib knew what he was going to ask but couldn't completely comprehend it all.
"It needs to be painted."
A heavy silence filled the room. "I will – if it means saving my life, I'll do anything."
"I haven't asked anything of you, yet." Nny smiled
Dib stared, puzzled.
"I am glad to know you will accept my request, it certainly makes it easier to ask – So, will you take on the job of murderer and painter?"
Dib continued to look puzzled, unsure of what to say.
"See? That was easier for me to ask, I'm sure you see those pieces of shit in the world, the self-impressed mindless slaves corrupt with idleness looking for a
quick laugh... Well, now you can clear them from your conscious with the eloquence of a blade."
Dib's mind raced along with his heart beat and felt too many emotions at once. "How? I'm no killer."
Nny cocked his head to one side and thought for a moment. "I suppose 'Experience teaches best', 'Learn by doing', and similar clichés have merit. Take their advice; I'm busy."
With that he left, and Dib had nothing to do but sink to the floor confused, afraid and believing to be alone.
A/N: Woo! Plot devolvement! Although this took a long time to come out it was somewhat rushed and somehow ended up being longer then I expected. Crazy, I do say.