Dib couldn't do anything but stare at the sight before him.
In front of him was Gaz, sitting at the table. But it wasn't his sister that caught his attention, it was what she had. In front of her was several assorted meats, none of which had been cooked. Because of Dib staring at her Gaz stared back, but before the staredown began she had been eyeing the meats in a rather hungry way, ready to devour them at will. At the two moment the two engaged in what was almost a battle of wits, Dib looking at Gaz with a tinge of fear and reluctance, while Gaz had a cold expression and looked like she wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
"Can I eat?" Gaz asked dryly.
Dib looked at Gaz nervously, surprised by her almost threatening tone and not sure what to say.
"Can you maybe uh, use the silverware?" Dib asked nervously.
Gaz rolled her eyes in response.
"Dib, look at the silverware. What do you see?"
After a few seconds Gaz groaned, annoyed by her brother's obliviousness.
"Oh my god I can´t believe I have to spell this out, its literally in the name. Silver. As in, now that I'm in a werewolf silver will fucking kill me" Gaz said in frustration.
"I think its just a silver bullet, I don't think silver itself will kill you" said Dib.
Gaz just stared at Dib, anger and annoyance on her face. Seeing that they weren't going anywhere in this argument she decided to prove her point herself. Lifting up her hand Gaz pulled up the silver fork but instantly regretted it. Immediately as she picked up she felt a burning sensation and screamed as loud as she could, causing Dib to cover his ears. The pain became too much as Gaz immediately dropped the fork and held her hand in pain. Releasing her grip Gaz looked at her hand and her eyes widened as she saw that it was almost completely red. Gaz looked in horror but this quickly turned to anger as she looked at Dib, fury in her eyes. Dib noticed this and his nervousness increased as Gaz's eyes pierced into him.
"Great, my hand is burning. Now do you see why I didn't want to touch it?" Gaz asked, her teeth gritted.
Dib looked at Gaz nervously.
"Gaz, I'm... I'm sorry. I was wrong" said Dib.
Gaz stood there, an angry look on her face.
"God, don't start that dramatic bullshit again" Gaz growled.
Dib looked at Gaz, fear illuminating his eyes. He backed away slowly, afraid of what his soon to be hairy sister would do. Gaz merely sighed in response.
"You know, its not as fun now" Gaz admitted.
Dib looked at Gaz with confusion.
"What?" Dib asked.
Gaz sighed.
"Its like I told Zim, you're a pussy. I mean, you used to be. I mean pushing you around wasn't really a moral dilemma. You didn't fight it so I didn't care. Now you're actually showing a backbone, sort of, and I almost feel bad. Never thought that would happen" Gaz admitted.
Dib just stared, processing the words but not knowing what to say. Gaz just stared with annoyance.
"Forget it" Gaz replied.
"Wait..." Dib tried to say.
"Forget it ok. Just leave me alone" Gaz said coldly.
Dib opened his mouth to speak but the pent up anger in Gaz's face told him to stop. Realizing what would happen if he continued Dib closed his mouth and sighed. Head drooped Dib left, leaving Gaz to herself. The door slowly closed, like Dib was considering whether or not he should really close it, but before Gaz could ask it had closed. Gaz slunk in her bed, almost like it was pulling her down. She stretched her arms, surprised at how strong they felt. As she laid them down she felt entranced, the bed pulling her in deeper. Gaz struggled, not wanting to give in. But for every push she took the bed doubled down, almost laughing at her. After a few seconds Gaz scowled but gave in, allowing the feelings to give in. Soon Gaz's eyes closed and everything went black.
Awaking, Gaz found herself in the woods, the same area where it all started. Looking over her area she let out a low almost growl-like noise, not happy with her surroundings. A voice behind her chuckled, amused by her.
"Already giving in are we?" a voice from behind taunted.
Gaz's eyes widened. She knew that voice but never expected to hear it again. Turning behind Gaz saw him, Torque.
"Hello Gaz" Torque said in a low, chilling voice.
Torque's skin was now grey, veins visible and a bullet hole in his forehead. He smiled, his teeth yellow and rotten.
"Really, nothing to say to an old friend?" Torque taunted.
"Fuck off" Gaz coldly replied.
"Wow, what a great response. I mean I'm literally in hell right now, since you're the one who put me there, but that... that hurt" Torque said in a mocking tone.
Gaz rolled her eyes and walked away. No matter how far she walked she could still hear Torque's voice.
"I mean, you killed the love of my life, so I gotta admit, it will be a lot of fun seeing you rip Dib apart."
Gaz stopped dead in her tracks, causing Torque's smirk to grow wider. Running as fast as she could Gaz made it to Torque and pulled him by his collar.
"What are you talking about?" Gaz asked, teeth gritted.
"Its pretty simple. Being in hell I watch you a lot, so I see what you're going through. I know my werewolf stuff, and very rarely, in fact almost never, does the protagonist make it to the end. You however, you look like you're going to be a special case. You'll make it, but not with your humanity. You really think you're ready for what this transformation is gonna do to you? You were always a monster. This isn't a curse, its a natural progression. And the only natural conclusion is for you to lose all humanity once that moon hits. And when it does, you're gonna turn on Dib and eat him alive. Don't believe me? Just look."
As if to emphasize his point Gaz heard noises coming from behind. Gaz looked and saw Dib cowering in fear, backing away from something. She stared in horror as she realized what he was running away from. A giant wolf, teeth bared and anger in its eyes.
"Gaz... please" Dib choked out.
It was no use. Instantly the wolf bit down on Dib's neck hard, causing him to scream. The wolf used its claws to cut a hole in Dib's chest, organs spilling out. Dib looked in terror but could do nothing as his consciousness faded away. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he was no more. The wolf howled and continued eating.
As soon as it finished Gaz looked completely defeated
"No no no" she said quietly.
"Yes yes yes" Torque taunted. "That isn't some warning of what MIGHT happen, its what will happen. And there's no stopping it. Dib is a coward. The more you scream and shout, the more determined he becomes to save you, even if he knows it won't happen. You really think you can hold in your impulses? Look at the great job you're doing now. If it wasn't for some idiotic alien you'd be ripping him apart before the full moon even came out. You're a lost cause and you might as well get used to it."
"I'm still better than that blonde bitch you had a boner for" Gaz replied.
Torque's smile vanished in a second, replaced by a look of fury deeper than even Gaz could accomplish.
"Don't ever talk about her again. She was my everything. And your ripped her away" Torque said
"A bitch who only cared about herself and a psychopath who can't let go. Yeah I can definitely see why it worked" Gaz replied.
Torque, a look of pure hatred on his face, came closer to Gaz.
"Listen. I don't know how, I don't know when, but I will kill you. I promise.
Gaz merely rolled her eyes in response, which increased Torque´s anger.
"You think that by blocking me out you can ignore the inevitable? Look where that got you. Hell, you're not even a ferocious beast. You're just a scared little girl who wants to belong. But now its almost funny. You're gonna do what I've wanted to do all along, destroy your life. I wonder what your mother would think?"
Gaz froze.
"Ah ha, I've hit it. The ever so fearless Gaz can't handle the root of her problems. The loss of one Rebecca Membrane" Torque said before smirking
Gaz growled and ran over to hit Torque but he immediately caught it. Suddenly realization hit Torque, a sadistic smile entering his face.
"Oh my god I can't believe I forgot to show you the most important part of Dib´s ending, the one you've never cared about How it effects others" said Torque.
The scene of Dib's death continued, but with an added twist. Scaling up the screen showed someone crying. Someone who was unmistakably a much older Membrane. And that was it for Gaz. The purpled haired girl plopped onto the ground, like she had just been stabbed. Tears ran down her cheeks, Gaz too horrified to even attempt to stop them from coming. Bitterness ran through her mouth. As Gaz stood there Torque continued his smirk, knowing Gaz was powerless to go after him.
"Its like I said, this is your future and there's nothing you can do about it. So you might as well get used to the darkness, its always been your crutch and now its your curse. Looking forward to your mental breakdown but I gotta go. I'll see you later"
Torque smiled chillingly as Gaz bolted up in her bed. Looking over herself she calmed down as she realized everything was merely a dream. Gaz breathed a sigh of relief. Realization of what it meant hit her like a truck as horror washed over her. After a few seconds she knew what to do she got up and opened the door. Unbeknownst to her Dib was still lying behind it and was immediately hit. As pain began to set in Dib got up, feeling annoyed.
"Gaz what the..."
Before Dib could finish Gaz replied with something he never thought she would do: a hug. As she closed in tighter Dib began to feel its effects.
"Can't... breathe..." Dib replied.
Gaz immediately let go, causing Dib to fall on the floor. As Dib looked up he saw a look of complete seriousness on Gaz´s face.
"I am not going to let you die because of me" Gaz said in all seriousness.
Dib stared at Gaz, wondering what was going on.
"Um... thanks?" Dib replied.
Gaz sighed and sat down.
"I had a dream. I was in the woods, right where I was attacked. Torque showed up looking like a corpse and told me... he told me I was gonna kill you" Gaz replied after sighing deeply.
Dib stared at Gaz in shock.
"He... he what?" asked Dib.
"He said that on the full moon I would turn into a beast and kill you. He didn't just tell me... he showed me. And then after I saw myself as a wolf tearing you apart he showed me... he showed me her. She was crying."
The realization of who Gaz was talking about hit Dib harder than he expected. He soon got up and tried to comfort Gaz, holding her close. He buried himself deep in her, wanting her to know that he was safe.
"Don't listen to him. We will get through this. We'll find the guy who bit you before the full moon, and if not we'll make sure you stay in control. I'm here for you" Dib said, face to face with Gaz.
Gaz looked at Dib, appreciation in her eyes.
"Thanks" Gaz said quietly.
Dib nodded as Gaz got up, sighing. Dib noticed this and got up as well, looking to see why she had gotten up.
"I need to go" Gaz said in a state of hurry.
Gaz began to leave and got a piece of paper. Scanning over its content she went back to her bedroom. She brought up her phone and dialed a number. After some time waiting the phone picked up and a voice answered.
"Hello?" asked the voice.
"Hey, name's Gaz. John sent me. Listen, I need some meat for... my condition."
The man sighed.
"I understand. How much do you want?"
"How much you got?" Gaz asked.
"Damn, first stage huh?"
"Yep. But I need something else. This is gonna sound crazy and you might be afraid to tell me but this is super important for me. Can you tell me where John lives?"
==xx==
John sat at his table, eating lunch with a blonde woman next to him. While the woman had a sandwich and some vegetables. John was exclusively eating meat.
"So, how was the store?" the woman asked.
"I found someone, someone like me" Gaz replied.
The woman stopped eating and froze in her tracks.
"You mean..."
Before the woman could finish someone was heard knocking. The two slowly approached the door. As they got closer John began sniffing the door much like Gaz did when Zim appeared. Once he finished he turned to the woman.
"Its her" said John.
John opened the door to see Gaz. As soon as Gaz and the woman saw each other their eyes widened and felt suprise.
"You gotta be kidding me" said Gaz.
John noticed the surprised looks the two gave each other and decided to interject.
"Do you two know each other?" John asked.
"I was the nurse for her two days ago. Somebody found her in the woods so they brought her to the hospital. She had a bite wound on her leg and it was... one of you guys" the woman finished.
"And you didn't tell me?" John asked.
"I was busy ok!" the woman argued.
Gaz groaned and turned to John.
"Look, I need to talk. Things are... bad" said Gaz.
"Did you kill someone?" John asked in full seriousness.
"I'm not telling you outside" Gaz stated.
Realizing what she was saying John welcomed her in. John, Gaz, and the woman.
"Is she a werewolf?" asked Gaz.
"No, I'm human. John and I are friends. Name's Jess."
"Gaz."
"So, why are you here?" asked John.
"Can we talk somewhere more private?" asked Gaz.
John looked at Jess.
"Jess, can you..."
"Oh its fine, my shift starts soon anyway" said Jess.
As Jess began to leave she turned towards Gaz.
"And don't even think of killing him. I'm a nurse. I know how to cover up "accidents"' Jess said in a low voice.
After that Jess' smile came back and she left. Gaz and John were both shaken by Jess' response.
"Sorry she gets... worried" said John.
"You're really sure she's human?" Gaz asked sarcastically.
John rolled his eyes but continued.
"She just cares for me, don't get scared" said John.
"I wasn't scared" Gaz insisted
"Ok seriously, what's going on? About why you came" John asked.
"Ok so like she said I was in the wood, but I was there because I was in the woods running away from a guy with a gun who wanted to kill me. Right after the bite I killed him. Today I had a dream of that guy taunting me. I need your help for me to control this. Advice, calming shit, I'm even down for something supernatural. I just want to get this thing over with, and even if I can't I just don't want to kill anyone else" said Gaz.
John sighed.
"Ok, you're going through a change. The fact that you have all this anger and killed someone is not a good sign. From what I can tell this means your dreams will not be pleasant. Murder, taunts from the deceased, first person view of eating people, stuff like that. This doesn't mean that you should give up sleep though. Like I said, even the slightest annoyance could set you off. If someone human starts to piss you off and you feel your anger increasing, walk away. You got lucky with the killing of that guy not completely corrupting you but you don't need to increase the chances of going savage or attracting unwanted attention. You may be turning into something inhuman but you still... need to act human" said John, finishing awkwardly.
"God that's bad" Gaz groaned.
"Best I could do. But seriously, don't go breaking the law or something like that. You still need to appear normal even as the changes become more apparent. You show some wolfish behavior to your brother? Understandable. Do it to a stranger? Bad things are gonna happen. Which leads to my last point of advice. Let your brother in. You can't do this alone. You need someone to make sure you don't fuck it all up. I have Jess, and you have your brother. Never forget that."
"Ok, be careful, do stuff with Dib, never talk to you about this stuff again or you'll go into dramatic speeches. Got it" Gaz replied.
John glared at Gaz.
"Laugh now but this important. I'm here for you. You already know my address, so I might as well give you this"
John brought out a piece of paper and quickly wrote down some numbers. As soon as he finished he gave the paper to Gaz.
"Its my number. You got questions about your condition, call me and I'll answer. Any questions?"
"Nah, should probably go before Dib gets worried. See you later I guess" said Gaz.
Gaz left and John stood there. Jess walked in.
"You didn't bite her did you?" Jess asked.
"WHAT? No!" John insisted.
"I'm just saying, the one night you say you're in control..."
"I've been a werewolf for this long, I told you, I can control it."
"You should at least bite me before you bite someone random. Shows priorities" said Jess.
John sighed.
"Jess, I love you, but at some point, we're gonna need counseling."