Hasta su amado Dios desapareció

Something sharp was poking into my back.

With a whine, I shifted in my sleep and tried to get into a more comfortable position.

The pokey thing just followed me.

With a groan, I decided to just remain where I was and deal with the uncomfortable object.

But it was very annoying, and eventually, my eyes fluttered open.

Light streamed down from a cracked wooden ceiling, the the scent of damp, musty straw filled my nostrils.

At first, I couldn't figure out where I was. Why wasn't I in the house?

I'm in the barn... I suddenly remembered.

Second thought: Why am I here again?

Oh yeah. Zim.

I found it weird that I kept forgetting that there was an alien on my property now. Kinda pathetic actually...

I sat up and rubbed my back. I noticed that I was sleeping on the hay pile that had first served as Zim's temporary bed.

" Ugh, no wonder I had a bad night..." I groaned.

The piece of hay that had been bothering me was still stuck on my spine, so I peeled it off and mashed it beneath my heel.

" Now die." I said.

The hay didn't die.

" DAMN IT!" I growled, trying to rip it in two.

I only succeeded in cutting my fingers on the spiky reed.

Angrily, I threw the hay to the side and sucked on my bleeding digits.

" Stupid nature..." I hissed.

I was interrupted by a low moan from my right.

I yelped and jumped back, terrified.

" WHO'S THERE?" I screamed.

The second I said that, I wanted to slap myself.

" Oh. Sorry Zim." I said sheepishly.

The alien didn't answer.

" Zim?" I asked.

Another moan pierced the dark.

" Zim!" I cried, scrambling on hands and knees to the spot where my friend was lain.

I couldn't see anything, so I grabbed on of the lantern and fumbled for a match on the ground.

Finally getting a light, I held up the lantern and observed Zim's face.

He was pale and shaking. Sweat ran like rivers from his every pore, and his eyes were squeezed shut with pain.

" Zim!" I said, trying to wake him up.

Zim rocked back and forth, but he didn't open his eyes.

" Please..." he wailed. " Leave me alone! I never did anything!"

" Zim!" I shouted, shaking him.

" My Tallest!" Zim whimpered. " Don't do this!"

He was having a bad dream, and he wasn't waking up.

" ZIM!" I screamed. I pinched the skin on his shoulder to try and bring him back to reality.

His skin was like fire. Just touching it made a wave of warmth race through my veins.

But it wasn't a good warmth. It was one of sickness.

I touched his face. Even without a thermometer, I could tell that his temperature was off the charts.

With a sinking feeling, I realized that my worst fear was now truth.

Fever.

" Zim!" I cried. " Wake up!"

Zim moaned again and dropped his head to his chest.

" Don't kill me..."

I panicked. Getting to my feet, I raced outside the barn and yanked my phone out of my pocket.

The sky was red, and the sun was just starting to peak on the horizon.

She should be awake...

" Come on..." I whispered.

Beep, went the phone.

" LANI!" I screamed before my friend could say hello. " YOU NEED TO COME OVER RIGHT NOW!"

" Wha- what the flub?" Lani asked. " Wait, the alien is still there, right? Oh man, did he try to-"

" HE HAS A FEVER AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO HE ISN'T WAKING UP PLEASE COME HERE QUICK!"

" JESUS! Calm down!" Lani yelped. " I'm on my way. Try to put something cool on his face and keep him away from any heat sources."

" Get here fast!"

" I'll bring some stuff."

I hung up the phone and made a sprint for the house. I didn't want to attract my mom's attention, so I climbed in through my window.

Desperately, I scanned the room for anything that may help in the situation.

Oo, a bucket! Useful!

Ah, some rags! Very good!

An ice pack? Why the hell did I have that in my room?

Oh well.

I grabbed all these things and climbed back out of my window. I paused by the side of the house to fill up the bucket with the hose.

I staggered back to barn and looked through the door, hoping to see Zim sitting up or at least opening his eyes.

Instead, I saw a line of blood streaking out from the corner of his mouth.

" CRAAAAAAP!" I screamed, rushing to his side. I lit a few of the lanterns and gently wiped Zim's face with a damp towel.

" Oh please..." I whispered. " Wake up!"

Zim moaned again, but this time it was softer.

I felt like I was getting somewhere. Absentmindedly, I passed the wet rag over Zim's burning shoulders. My hand barely scrapped up against his P.A.K.

" YEEEEEEEOOOOOWWWWCH!" I screamed, yanking my arm away and diving it into the bucket of water.

After a moment, I took my fingers out and observed the slightly red skin.

" Whew, nothing bad..." I groaned.

Zim's P.A.K felt like a nuclear reactor. It must be overheating due to his sickness, and making his condition worse than it already was.

I needed to get it off.

Easier said than done...

I wrapped my hands in wet rags and grabbed onto the device by the sides. The water on the cloth began to evaporate in a hiss of steam, and the heat was getting steadily more intense.

" COME ON!" I found myself yelling, giving the P.A.K a good yank. I didn't know if I was hurting Zim, but I didn't want that thing on him for any longer than needed.

After a few more tries, the P.A.K finally detached with a small beep.

I quickly deposited it on the ground and buried my fingers in water again.

" Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow..." I groaned.

At least it was off. I really hoped that it hadn't made any permanent marks on Zim, though...

Glancing back over at my friend, who I assumed had fainted a while back, I realized with some relief that he was alright. The skin on his back was slightly redder than usual, but there were no black marks or scars that would indicate that he had just had a mega-heat source on his spine.

I was shocked for a moment about how well Irkens could tolerate such dangers.

Then I remembered Zim's tough skin, and I began to wonder what it was that his species actually did with their time in order to evolve such defenses.

" Man..." I said to myself, flipping Zim back over and mopping his steaming brow. " Humans really are a weak race in comparison to Irkens..."

A soft groan escaped Zim's lips, and to my delight, his magenta eyes opened into half-moon slits.

" Urg... Yu...la...ri?" he asked in a broken voice.

I nodded.

" You feeling better?" I asked. Zim closed his eyes again.

" Wh...at...?"

" Fever." I replied. " And your P.A.K was heating up."

Zim opened one eye and looked at me in alarm.

" My... P...A.K?"

" Does... does in not do that when you're sick?" I asked, also starting to feel uneasy.

Zim shook his head, and ended up wincing.

" Try not to move..." I said tenderly, placing the ice-pack on his chest. " You need to take it easy for a bit."

Zim opened his mouth to say something back, but in that moment, the barn door swung open and Lani ran in.

She looked absolutely freaked out, and she was carrying a large bag under one hand and a thin black box under the other.

" YULARI!" she cried. " HOW IS HE? TELL ME IS ISN'T DEAD! I GOT SOME STUFF, I THINK I CAN-"

She paused for a moment.

" He's awake." she said in a quieter tone.

I glanced back at Zim. Both his eyes were open now the full way, due to the shock of having someone suddenly barge in.

" Damn it Lani!" I swore. " You ever heard of knocking?"

Lani blush and rocked back and forth on her heels.

" Well, sorry..." she said. " I was just... worried... I didn't... I didn't think..."

She glanced over at Zim and blushed some more.

" Sorry Zim..." she said." I'm sorry."

Zim stared at her, and then smiled weakly.

" 's okay..." he replied, which caused Lani to blush some more.

I had to roll my eyes.

Lani, don't you realize that you have a crush on a guy who isn't your same species, and is over four-hundred or something like that? Heck, whatever, I'll tease her a bit.

" Well, Lani, perfect timing..." I said, standing up. " I need you to do something for me while I run back to the house."

" What's that?" Lani asked, tilting her head.

I handed her a rag and pointed to the bucket.

" You need to keep Zim's temperature down." I replied. " It's important that he doesn't get another heat wave or something."

Zim sat up on his elbows. His voice was steadier and his eyes started to get back their healthy gleam.

" I would appreciate it." he said.

Lani glanced over my shoulder and saw that he didn't have his shirt on.

Her face turned pink.

" Oh! I- I don't know if-" she stammered.

" Come on." I groaned, pushing her towards the alien. " Don't be a wuss. He isn't going to bite you."

Lani whimpered and shook her head, all the while getting redder on her cheeks.

" I just don't feel like-"

She caught my smug expression and frowned.

" What are you-?"

Realization hit her, and her blush turned from embarrassment to anger.

" You're teasing me!" she hissed, clenching her fists.

" What? Phhht, naw!" I said, waving a dismissive hand. " Never! I just-"

" Yes, you are!" she spat. She shook the rag in my face.

" You're taking me out of my comfort zone! You know how I feel about-"

" Hey?" Zim said, startling both Lani and I into silence. " I don't... know what's bugging both of you, but... Lani, I understand. If you don't want to get any nearer, I know why."

Lani turned bright scarlet.

" You- you do?" she stammered, fiddling with her fingers.

Zim nodded.

" I't's because I'm an alien, right?" he asked. " You're just a little afraid of me..."

Lani gasped and shook her head vigorously.

" No no no! I'm not afraid of you!" she giggled. " No, I'm not! I'm just-"

" I guess I just assumed that you wouldn't mind. I mean, Yulari-"

" Yulari what?" Lani demanded, turning on me.

" She doesn't seem to mind touching me." Zim said, looking a little confused at Lani's anger. " I mean, she isn't afraid. I guess I just thought that's how all humans would react, but Yulari probably does what she does because she doesn't have much of a choice..."

" Choice? I-"

I sighed and rubbed my neck.

" I'm not teasing you, Lani..." I assured. " I know you're a little nervous, but Zim is very kind. He won't hurt you."

Lani let out a sharp breath.

" How do you do it, huh?" she asked.

" Beg pardon?"

" When Zim crashed into your backyard? You said you saved him. But many people would have been too afraid to get near an alien, because of all the stories. How is it that you can take care of him like this, without being freaked out? I don't mean it as an insult, but... how are you so strong?"

I stared at her.

" Strong?" I said. " No, no it isn't that. It was pity, mixed with compassion, and some insanity thrown in. I don't think of Zim as an alien..."

I smiled.

" I think of him as a living creature, the same as me. When we're equal, I don't need to be afraid. And besides, who would I be if I didn't help those who need it, regardless of race? I certainly wouldn't be able to call myself noble. And anyway, when I look at it from Zim's view, I'm an alien too."

I placed a hand on Lani's shoulder.

" If you feel uncomfortable right now being near an alien, I understand, but instead of cooling Zim down, I'll need you to sneak back into the house and get the medicine. I was hoping to do this myself because my mom doesn't know you're here, but someone needs to stay and someone needs to go. Can you handle it?"

Lani stared at me and then nodded slowly.

" Yeah... I'm good."

" Don't let her see you. No matter what. She'll know something is up."

" Alright."

" Godspeed to you, sister."

Lani raised an eyebrow at me and grinned.

" And the same to you."

Lani clenched her hands tight and exited the barn. With a sigh, I closed the doors behind her quietly.

" I just don't understand her sometimes..."

" Yulari."

Zim's voice was hard.

I glanced back over my shoulder with a start.

The alien was sitting up the full way, his hands in his lap, his eyes trained on me.

I had never seen that expression before. It was almost..

Awed.

" What?" I asked. " Did I say something bad?"

" Did you mean that?"

Now, what was this all about? What was he talking about?

" What do you mean?" I asked.

Zim drew his arms around himself and shuddered. At first, I was afraid that he had caught the chills.

Then I realized: He was crying.

" Zim!" I said. " Are you hurting? What's the matter?"

I knelt by his shaking form and placed a hand on his back.

" What happened?"

" I- I don't... I don't understand!" Zim wailed. " You're so kind! How can I force someone who so kind to do this?"

" Do what?"

" You're in danger!" Zim whimpered. " If the police find you, you'll be in trouble. If the Irkens find me here, you'll be killed! I can't do this too you..."

" I'm doing this because I want to."

" You can't do it for me."

I paused.

" I'm doing this because I want to." I repeated. " Not because you're forcing me to. Think about it. I could have left you for dead in that spaceship. I decided to help you. And now, I need to finish the job."

Zim wiped his eyes.

" Are you my friend?" he asked timidly.

I was taken aback.

" What?"

" Will you be my friend?"

I stared at him for a moment. And then, I laughed.

" I crawled into a smashed spaceship and pulled you out." I said. " I hid you in my backyard. I cut you open and readjusted your rib. I took care of you while you were sick."

I smiled.

" If that isn't friendship, then I don't know what is."

Zim broke into a huge grin, and before I could react, he leaned over and hugged me.

" Hey, careful!" I giggled. " You're going to hurt yourself!"

" Thank you..." Zim whispered softly. " For everything."

Without thinking, I looped my arms behind his shoulders and hugged him back.

" You're welcome, buddy..." I sighed.

I heard a cough from behind me.

" Um, guys?" Lani asked.

My cheeks turned red.

Shit.

" I don't mean to interrupt, but I got the medicine." Lani continued.

Zim drew back and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

He didn't look embarrassed at all. In fact, he looked kind of...

Amused.

That made the embarrassed feeling go away.

" If it's any comfort to you." Zim said to me. " I don't feel like I'm going to hurl up my lungs anymore."

" That's great." I agreed.

I paused as Lani kneeled down beside me. I glanced over at her face, and was a little confused at her expression.

She didn't look angry, or jealous, like I expected her to be.

She looked over at me and grinned widely, with her usual happy expression.

Oh. Weird.

" You two thanking each other?" she asked.

" Kind of." I replied. " Zim's going to crush his ribs if he isn't more careful."

Zim smiled.

" Then you'll have to operate again, eh?"

I made a face.

" Never again."

Lani laughed.

" I'm afraid of blood."

" Be glad you weren't there on the first night..." I sighed.

Lani just shrugged and handed the small vial to me. The orange liquid swished around inside.

" This is the child medicine." I said.

" We don't know if Zim can take the full-blast adult kind..." Lani told me. " It might kill him or make him really, really sick."

" I don't know if this will be strong enough."

" Let's find out, huh?"

I went over to Zim and showed him the back of the vial where the ingredients were displayed.

" Do you recognize any of these?" I asked. Zim nodded.

" Really?" I said, shocked.

" I think it'll be okay for me to take this." the alien commented. " Nothing there is toxic for me."

" Well, okay..." I said slowly. I turned to Lani, who had the little black box on her lap.

" What's that?" I asked. Lani rolled her eyes and popped the top of the box open.

" It's a computer, dumbass..." she sighed.

Oh.

Lani typed a few things on the keyboard. In a moment, she turned the screen so that I could see.

" How to deal with Fever..." I read. " Are you sure this'll be accurate for an alien?"

" Not the slightest." Lani replied. " Is that okay, Zim?"

Zim winked at her, which caused her to blush madly.

" Hell, let's do this the hard way." he grinned.

I rubbed my chin.

" I think a quarter will be okay..." I said, pouring the Motrin into the small serving cup. I handed it to Zim.

" Bottoms up." I smiled. Zim frowned.

" What's with the smug look?"

" You'll see."

Zim stared at the orange mixture, and with great hesitation, he flipped back his head and chugged it down.

A second after, he dropped the cup and fell onto his side gagging.

" Ah, shit!" he swore. " It's like drinking liquid Unicorn scat! What is that, melted candy?!"

" Orange-flavored Motrin." I replied. " I know, I hate it too."

Lani stuck her tongue out.

" It's too sweet!" she moaned. " I can never drink that stuff!"

Zim pretended to barf into his pillow.

" Oh, man up!" I groaned. " You had your stomach cut open and you didn't even scream, yet you can't take a little bit of ultra-sugary medicine?"

Zim swiped his long tongue over his lips and sat up.

" I don't understand earth remedies..." he said.

" Well, hopefully, that remedy will bring your fever down."

Zim gave me a smirk.

" Hopefully?"

" Yep. Let the magic happen. Lani, what does that website say to do?"

Lani peered at the screen thoughtfully.

" Ah... wipe skin with cool, damp cloth..." she read. " Eat ice or other cold food..."

" Alright..." I said, standing up. " Lani, I have some frozen blueberries in the fridge. Can you go get them? I'll stay here and-"

" No." Lani replied, taking the rag from my hand. " It's okay. I'll stay."

I stared at her in surprise.

" Are you sure?" I asked.

Lani gazed back at me with steady eyes. Her expression wasn't mad, or frightened, or jealous, or anything I expected it to be.

It was determined. She was determined to prove herself brave.

I smiled.

" Be gentle, but not overly shy." I instructed, pushing her over to Zim. " Start here-"

I placed her hand with the rag on Zim's chest.

" - and go like this..."

I guided her fingers over the green skin in a semi circle. Lani narrowed her eyes in concentration.

" I got it."

Zim closed his eyes and smiled.

" I'm being fussed over by girls." he said cheekily.

I pinched the tip of his antenna.

" Aw, shut up!" I groaned, forcing myself not to grin.

Zim just smiled wider.

" I'll be back soon, okay?" I said, walking to the door. " Don't let anyone else in."

" Yep."

As I turned away and stuck my head outside, I heard Lani clear her throat awkwardly.

" Sooo... what's outer space like?" she asked Zim. He chuckled.

" Well..."

I shook my head, smiling, and closed the door behind me.

I trotted up the dirt path that had been worn into the earth and arrived back at my house. After a moment of hesitation, I walked through the front door.

" Mom?" I called.

" Here!" trilled a voice. " How'd your camp-out go?"

Great. I was tempted to say.A piece of hay kept poking me all night, the alien that I've been secretly hiding in the barn had a fever attack, my best friend has a hopless romance, and I'm about to go insain.

" Fine." was all that I said.

" Good."

I snuck over to the kitchen and selected a bag of blueberries from the freezer.

" I'm going back out, okay?" I said.

" That's fine." my mother called. " Be careful."

I could hardly believe how easy the expedition had been. As I went back outside, I smiled smugly to myself.

" Piece of cake." I said.

Then I heard a growl to my left, and my heart stopped.

Oh shit.

I turned and was greeted with a view of a large bull-dog standing a few feet away, saliva dripping from its jaws and its great red eyes rolling in its sockets.

" Damn." I swore. " It's Tiger..."

I forced myself to stay calm. Tiger was a vicious dog who was allowed to run free around my neighbor's property, and who sometimes wiggled under the fence and entered mine. However, he didn't bother people unless he had a reason.

Saying this to myself, I glanced down subconsciously.

I was still wearing the clothes from the first night. With Zim being so sick, I hadn't had the time to shower or change.

The clothes still had blood on them

Double shit.

Tiger snarled and began to thunder up the hill towards me.

Nothing to do here. I thought, and I turned and ran for my freaking life.

" SHIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" I screamed.

Tiger was gaining on me, but I had the barn in sight. With a sigh of relief, I threw open the door and started to disappear inside.

My joy was cut short when my arm was yanked backwards. Two rows of dagger-like teeth sank into my wrist.

Every foul word know to man sprang from out of my mouth.

" SON OF A B*TCH!" I shrieked, trying to tear my arm away.

Tiger growled and yanked further back, causing another jolt of pain to race through my shoulder.

" NO!" I screamed, kicking the dog in the face. " YOU WILL NOT CHEW ME TODAY!"

Tiger squealed and released my wrist. With a grunt, I slammed the door shut on his paw.

" SEE HOW IT FEELS!" I snarled. " PAIN! HAHAHA!"

Tiger scratched at the door, growling.

" GO BACK TO THE LEVEL OF HELL YOU CAME FROM!" I spat. " AND STAY THERE!"

I smiled at the door, enjoying the sounds of Tiger's frustration.

And then I felt warm liquid racing down my hand and realized: Dang. My arm hurts.

" Yulari?" asked a female voice. " Are you okay?"

I turned around.

Wow, I forgot they were there...

" I'm good." I replied with a grimace. " That stupid dog didn't get me that badly..."

Zim had been sitting up, hunched over as Lani placed a wet towel on his shoulders.

At the moment, they were both staring at me.

Lani's eyes flickered down and gasped.

" You're bleeding!"

I looked down a well. Two rows of small puncture wounds lined my wrist, oozing trickles of red blood.

" Oh." I said. " So I am."

Lani stood up.

" Here, let me-"

" Nope, I'm good." I said quickly, hiding my hand. " Stay there, take care of... you know who I mean. I think I have a medical kit... in the back... actually, it's in the house..."

" No." Zim replied sharply. " Lani, go help her."

" Zim-"

" Go."

Lani sighed and walked over to me.

" Show me." she said.

" You're gong to make it sting..." I growled, backing away.

" Does he have rabies?"

" Ah... no."

" Then show me."

" Fine." I groaned, drawing out my hand from behind my back. My blood smeared across my skin like paint.

Lani dabbed my cuts with a damp cloth.

" Does it hurt a lot?" she asked. I shook my head, but I was lying.

It hurts like hell.

Zim lay back and stretched.

" She isn't telling the truth." he yawned.

I stuck my tongue out at him. He didn't look at me.

Lani giggled to herself.

" Silly Yulari..."

Again, I stared at her. Didn't she have a jealous streak since she had a crush on the alien?

Apparently not. I was glad for that.

" Who's dog was that anyway?" Lani asked. I shrugged.

" The neighbor's. I dunno, I never wanted to find out."

Zim watched us with slitted eyes, observing my expression with a stony one of his own.

" I got the blueberries." I said. I tossed the packet to Zim, who caught it without even glancing up.

" Eat them, okay?"

" Fine."

I was a little hurt by Zim's tone but I tried to ignore it.

I turned away from my friends and peeked out of a crack in the barn. I couldn't see Tiger anywhere.

" Coast is clear..." I replied. " Tigger's gone."

" Tigger?"

" Mm-hm."

" You hate that dog, don't you?"

" Like I hate mushrooms and broccoli, I hate him with a fiery passion."

Lani smiled again, her expression a little weird.

Again, I couldn't shake that odd feeling that Lani wasn't acting normal.

" Zim?" I asked. " Are you eating those blueberries?"

I heard a grunt from behind me that served as an answer.

My mind was reeling.

What's going on? Why are my friends acting so... different?

I bit my lip and forced myself to turn around.

Lani was washing the bloodied rag in the bucket, while Zim quietly ate the berries. Neither of them looked at me.

I sighed.

" I'll be back..." I said quietly, walking to the door.

As I placed my hand on the knob, I heard Zim sit up.

" Don't go out there." he snapped.

I was yanked away from the door by a strong force.

" Hey!" I yelped.

I spun around and was greeted with the sight of a very pissed-off looking alien standing directly in front of me.

" Why are you standing up?" I asked, horrified. " You're going to faint!"

" Let's get something straight, okay?" Zim said. " Usually, when there's a mad dog outside the door, we don't go outside."

I raised an eyebrow.

" Oh? So now you're having a hissy-fit on me? What the hell have I done wrong?"

" Hissy-fit?" Zim snarled. " Is that what you people call it?"

" Us people?" I blinked. " Really? Are you going to start with this?"

Zim blinked once, as if realizing what he had just said.

"I-"

"I drag your butt out of a spaceship, I hid you in my own house, I cut you open and readjust your rib…" I rambled, my anger being replaced with depression. " And this is what you think of me? Have I… have I done something wrong?"

I couldn't stay mad at him. Affter all, I kinda understood why he was acting this way all of a sudden.

He was scared. And so was I.

" Go lay down." I ordered. "We'll deal with this later, but I don't want you getting your rib out of place again."

As the alien quietly obeyed, I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and locked eyes with Lani.

In the second before she turned away, I saw the look that I had been waiting for all along:

Jealousy.