Chapter 10

'To Be Feared'

Gir stared around the cell, half halfheartedly whimpering, giving up sincerely on escaping. It was pretty clear that things most likely would not have any change, and while Gir did not want to accept it, he knew he had no choice. He pondered on life before this incident. It had been so much simpler back then. The only troubles he had back then, were only when he'd get to eat again, or if the Scary Monkey Show would come back on, before Zim would make him work down in the lab.

Gir gave a frustrated chuckle at the memory. It really did hurt to think about it... Gir truly did long for those simple times. The times where he knew for sure that Zim would not hurt him, and that he loved him. Now, Gir knew nothing would ever be the same again, nor would he. It really was quite strange, how only months ago he would not have even thought that this was how things would turn out.

He could now hear the dreaded sound of his former, yes, former master's voice. As much as it pained him to admit it, Gir knew, Zim was no longer his master, Zim was no longer there. 'Not the Zim I know anyway...'

Zim made his way into the room, with a frightening look on his face. The Irken purred, staring at his little one with a frightening lust in his eyes. Gir backed to the corner, he attempted to look threatening, to prove that he could fight back, but just looked scared to death, his body betraying him by quivering.

Strangely enough, Zim did not seem intent on attacking, only giving an insane grin. "Little one, Go to sleep... Need rest..." Gir had the feeling that Zim would get angry if he did not behave, but his instincts screamed not to even look away. He was too scared. Somehow angry, Zim turned on him, smacking him to the floor, "I SAID SLEEP!"

Gir only shivered from the floor, not daring to look up at his master. Zim picked him up, "Little one... Zim..." Gir had no clue what that meant, but decided that he did not want to know. Zim cradled him in his arms, as though he were a deranged mother with a terrified infant. The Irken mockingly rubbed his face. "Little one... Can't sleep... Not without...Lullaby." Gir stared quizzically at his master. 'What? Is he going to sing now?' Gir had honestly thought that this was more frightening than his usual behavior.

Zim only stared at Gir, a mad light gleaming in his gaze. Zim leaned in, mockingly caressing his tongue across Gir's face. Then, he began to sing, but not in a nice voice, It sounded terrifying, probably the scariest his voice had ever became before. " My little one... My sweet little one. Rest now... Sleep... Everything will be alright... You will be protected... From what hurts you... I am here my little one... No need to fret... They will not touch you my sweet little one. So long as you... Stay... My captive little one... Oh why are you so blind? Blind... by how much I know... My captive little one... Stay... I will protect you... from you're one mistake... To leave me... my sweet... My innocent... My captive..."

Disturbing as it was, it put Gir to sleep...

Gir had woken again later, deciding that if Zim believed that he was indeed protecting him... He was delusional. He found with fear that he was chained to the point where moving was completely impossible. He whimpered and squirmed in his restraints. The cell door was also wide open, as if Zim opened it to taunt him, and remind him that he was trapped forever.

Now, Gir could hear a loud angry voice, and it did not belong to Zim. "What is wrong with you?! Zim! W- What are you- Stop! Why are you acting this way?!" With a jolt, Gir knew who this voice belonged to. The very same Irken who wanted her revenge, Tak.

Tak dodged to one side as Zim swiped a cleaver passed it. " What the hell is wrong with you Zi- AHH!" She was cut short as her cheek was cut open by the cleaver. She cringed, anger and fear coursing through her. All this time she had been trying to plot revenge. She planned to execute it... but... Zim threw her to the ground, putting his foot on her stomach.

"Hmm, I say... The cleaver is getting boring... I have something else... Need more... More captive..." Tak opened her mouth to angrily question just what that meant, but shut it immediately when Zim pulled out quite a deadly looking pair of electrical rods, which were glowing with electricity.

"I wonder... How it will feel...: Tak looked fearful now, all traces of anger turning to fear. "Zim... No... Please, No..." Zim brought down the rods, violently smacking them to her stomach. Tak screamed, feeling violent shocks pulsing through her body. All of her muscles seemed to contract. It felt like her heart was being crushed. The pain became so intense, then she finally blacked out.

Pain was the only feeling that came. Tak slowly opened her eyes, aware that she was now locked up in a cell of some sort. Her entire body ached from the electrocution, and she was surprised that she even survived that. Although she hated Zim, even she would not have done something so cruel to him...

She was chained, and when she turned her head, she saw Zim's little robot, unconscious on the floor. She then felt something she never thought she would for anyone who was with Zim... Sympathy. He appeared as though he was electrocuted as well. She knew well that he did not deserve this.

Tak's mind had drifted elsewhere. What had happened to Zim? 'He's insane... Worse than I ever thought possible... I've focused on nothing but violence and revenge on this Irken but... does he really deserve that now? This may as well be punishment enough for him.'

Tak shook her head, unsure. She knew well that Zim was not acting normal. His sanity had clearly slipped away, leaving only this, this monster in its absence. 'Revenge is clearly unnecessary now. I cannot feel the same way as I would if Zim were... Himself. I'll put it aside...' Tak did not really know what was going on, but she did know one thing was for sure...

'I have to find out what happened to him.'