Alright, this is the end! *weeps* I want to thank all the faithful readers who have stuck to this fic till the end, and everyone who has taken the time to review me. I've really enjoyed writing this, and I hope that you've had a good time reading it.
Disclaimer: Zim doesn't belong to me, I've just been borrowing Jhonen Vasquez's characters for creative purposes. You can't take Trek without asking me, and please refrain from using my story with permission.
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Zim closed his eyes and tried not to hear Trek's haggard breathing and frantic cries. What had made him so brutal, he couldn't recall. It had been satisfying, yes, to plunge that knife into Trek, over and over, but it was sick and sadistic also. The child lay at his feet, his hair matted with his own blood, as he cried and seized the hem of Zim's shirt with frail hands, pleading wretchedly.
"Don't...Don't let me die.... Please...I don't want to die now! I wanna live! Let me live! Save me," Trek implored, ".... Save me..."
Zim's voice was strangled as he opened his mouth to respond.
"I can't save you, Trek. You're going to die."
Trek's eyes widened and his face paled to a ghostly white more sickening than death usually allowed.
"No! Please! You can't let me die! *Please*!"
His throat was dry, and his body seemed to be going numb. He could feel the blood in his veins draining and flowing into the street and the breath in his chest get weaker and weaker as he struggled against death.
"I don't care who wins anymore...I don't care...I just wanna live..."
Zim could find no words to reply. He looked down at the Trek, so small and vulnerable, a child at best, with a face sad and naive- nothing at all like Dib's. Dib had been strong, brave, and almost mature as he grasped with white knuckles his goals and dreams. This waif was not willing to give everything for what he wanted. He was not like Dib. Not at all.
Zim was filled with shame as he looked down at Trek and watched him die. He was freezing and he knew that it was death- not wind- that chilled his very core. The youth shook, stiffened, and fell forever under mortality's seductive spell.
Zim quivered as he turned his face to the darkened sky and fell to his knees. For the first time in a hundred years he shed tears. A tortured howl escaped its prison and flew into the icy air as Zim bawled with no reserve.
"Why Dib?! Why did you leave me?!"
Zim was struck with a realization.
"But it wasn't your fault, was it?"
He laid his head on Trek's body and held it with agony.
"It was *my* fault..."
The wind blew unsympathetically.
"I'm so sorry Dib.... You were my friend... it was my fault...I'm so sorry..."
And it was over.
Zim stood, wiped his wet face with blood soaked hands and picked up Trek's unanimated body. He took it inside and retrieved Gir's remains as well, before placing them together on the living room floor. He bandaged his wounded stomach and went below. He came back up a few minutes later, carrying a long forgotten box, one who's contents he hadn't thought he would have to put to use. He placed it onto Trek's chest and went upstairs to his vootrunner.
He hovered a safe distance away before pushing a button. He felt unbelievable relief as he witnessed his base explode in a burst of light and heat. He relaxed slightly as he looked down at what had once been an inescapable prison cell.
"Goodbye Gir."
He hesitated a moment then spoke again with quiet reverence.
"Goodbye Dib."
A smile touched his lips as he gazed at the stars he had been afraid to look at for so long.
Zim knew he would be alright, because for once in his life he couldn't fail-
He was finally free.
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