Disclaimer: Johen Vasquez has a really cool name.
The screen of the camera twists around quickly as Kat23a lifts it up. It surveys the wreckage of the pizza riot, which is now empty save for pizza boxes, several lone pieces of toppings, and the twitching form of the pizza delivery guy. Kat23a yawns, and heads over to Dib, who is cleaning pizza sauce off of his glasses.
Kat23a: I'm getting tired. What time is it?
Dib: 10:45.
Kat23a: Hmmm...D'ya think that Insane Director Dude will actually make you work ALL NIGHT?
Dib: Knowing him, yes. But I'm really scared about what happened with Gir, and with the light crashing down. I know I'm not the only one...can you keep a secret?
Kat23a: Sure! I promise I WON'T BLAB, I never tell a SECRET, nope, not me, you couldn't PAY ME to TELL A SECRET!
By now, about half of the cast and crew is staring at them, and the other half is sidling in casually, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Dib slaps his forehead, and pulls Kat23a behind a wall of a set.
Dib: Quiet! Some members of the cast are planning to go on a strike so that we can get home tonight. None of us want to stay another minute!
Kat23a: Wow! Tha-
Suddenly, the wall they were standing behind crashes down, revealing almost all of the cast and crew standing there, cupping their ears, holding glasses up to where the wall used to be, and, in the case of Zim, holding a futuristic-looking sound amplifier towards where they were standing. They all have guilty looks on their faces. Then, they all start walking around attempting to act innocent.
Kid who was cupping his ears: (taking his hands away from his ears) Wow! My ears sure were dirty! I'm glad I cleaned behind them right now.
Person holding glass: Hey! Did anybody see where my punch went?
Other ear-cupper people: (all at once) Yeah, mine were dirty, too. Yep, reaaal dirty.. Yeah, we all had to clean our ears..
Zim: (quickly hiding sound amplifier behind back) My, the floor here looks....floor-y!
Another person holding a glass: Gosh, MY punch is missing, too!
Dib steps forward and holds up his hands.
Dib: STOP!
They all stop and look at him.
Dib: *sigh* Did you /all/ hear what I was saying?
Everybody at once: "What? You were SAYING something?" "I didn't hear a thing, and this glass has absolutely nothing to do with it" "Oh, I certainly didn't hear that you were planning a strike so that we could all go home before we all are killed in a gruesomely disgusting way..." "I was..uh..just looking for the restroom!" "Can't a guy clean his ears in peace?" "I didn't hear anything, and I am most definitely NOT hiding a sound amplifier behind my back." "I, um, thought that the snack bar was over here..."
Dib: QUIET!
Everybody stops talking.
Dib: Okay, I KNOW that you all heard what I was saying. The truth is, it's not safe to be here anymore! We've all worked lots of extra hours to get this show going, right?
The crowd mumbles agreement.
Dib: And sooner or later, we deserve to have a break, right?
The crowd mumbles more agreement, a little more loudly.
Dib: And of all the nights we've had to work late, this has been the worst, RIGHT?
The crowd agrees, even more loudly.
Dib: We DON'T want any more disappearances or accidents around here, RIGHT?
The crowd agrees enthusiastically.
Dib: We DESERVE to LIVE, RIGHT??
The crowd yells agreement to this.
Dib: *punching his fist into the air* SO LET'S GO TELL INSANE DIRECTOR DUDE THAT THE FILMING IS OVER FOR TONIGHT! (awww, he looks so heroic..)
The crowd yells "YEAAAAAAAH!" and promptly runs away in all directions. Chaos ensues.
Kat23a: Ummm, Dib? Where IS Insane Director Dude?
Dib: Ummmm...
Fifteen minutes later, everyone in the cast and crew is lying, exhausted, in a heap on the floor. All the chairs, tables, and various props of each set are overturned, and there are more than a few broken windows. The camera is taping this all from the top of one lone standing table, where Kat23a put it before she went to join the mob. (Hey, who can resist a good revolt?)
Random Crewperson: *pant, pant* Where *pant* IS he?
Random Skoolkid: He's not *pant* ANYWHERE!
Zim: I *pant* will*pant* rain *gasp* DOOM *pant* on *pant* him *wheeze* and *pant* on *cough* the *pant* one *pant* who *pant* took *pant* Gir! *pant, wheeze, choke, cough*
Kat23a: (sitting up and throwing off the five people who had collapsed on top of her) *cough, cough* HEY! Where did those kids who went to look for Gir go? I haven't seen them for at least an hour!
Dib: (who is underneath a large fat guy that he can't throw off) Yeaf! Whu'f huppumed do dem? Deh fhould be back by nah!
Kat23a: HEY EVERYBODY! (All turn to look at her) We've been all over this studio. Has anybody seen the group that was sent to look for Gir?
The rest of the crowd started shouting out things like "No, where are they?" "...haven't seen them since they left." "Hey, where's Aki? She was here before..." "Yeah, she's not here!" "Where DID those guys get to? I thought I heard them in the hallway." "Where's Rob??" "I thought I saw Zita here before we left to find Insane Director Dude..."
Dib (who had managed to get out from underneath the fat guy) and Kat23a look more and more scared as this conversation continues. Even Zim, who had finally recovered, is looking edgy. Finally, as someone says "Hey, Chunk's missing, too!", Zim loses it and jumps up.
Zim: That is enough, filthy human stinkbeasts! You and your Hall-o-weeny brain-sucking evil spirits! I DEMAND to leave now! ( he runs to the nearest door and begins yanking on it with all his might. It doesn't budge. He starts pounding it with his feet, his hands, his head, etc...)
Zim: (in the background) Release me! Release me! Release me!
Nervous girl: Did he say brain-sucking?
Zim: Release me! Release me! Release me!
Kat23a: (to Dib) Should we tell him it's a closet door?
Dib: (not even thinking about it...he's DIB, after all!) No.
Guy in back: Hey! (Everyone turns to face him) I just turned up my radio, and listen to what going on! (He turns on a boom box that was lying near him. There's some static, and then...)
Scary Radio Weatherman: -angerous storm. I repeat, this is a very dangerous storm. Several tornadoes have been sighted in this listening area alone. If you can hear this, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS! I REPEAT, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS! This applies for trick-or-treaters, also. This is a very dangerous storm. I repeat, this is a very dangerous storm. You should not go outside, even if a deranged psychotic killer is stalking you at THIS VERY MOMENT. It's that bad out there, folks. Now, if you simply stay tuned to this station, I will tell you several hundred more times that this is a very dangerous stor-
The radio clicked off, and everyone was silent for a moment. Then,
Dib: Well, I guess that means we're stuck he-
Zim: (redoubling his efforts) RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME!
The closet door suddenly swung open, raining mops, brooms, and Tiger Wax all over Zim. Dib ignores this, and looks over the crowd. He seems to be getting more and more anxious as he looks.
Kat23a: (noticing this) Dib, what-
Dib: (definitely looking scared now) Where's Gaz?
Kat23a: What?
Suddenly, a scream resounds throughout the studio. Everybody's heads snap up an listen to it. Even Zim stops his struggles with the mop to listen. .
Dib: GAZ!
Dib doesn't hesitate He takes off running in the direction of the scream. Several others, including Zim (surprisingly) run after him. Kat23a starts to run, too, then stops, grabs the camera, and, swinging the picture wildly, follows. She runs down one of the seemingly infinite number of hallways surrounding the studio, and follows the running group to where it has stopped; in front of a dressing room door marked "Gaz". Suddenly, from inside the room:
Dib: NOOOOOOO!
Kat23a's hand appears on the screen, pushing the crowd out of the way.
Kat23a: Move! C'mon! Press coming through! I gotta see this!
As Kat23a pushes past Zim, he moves over without a fight of any sort, something which is pretty unusual for him. He seems entranced and horrified by the sight that confronts them all in Gaz's dressing room. The room is done in colors of black, maroon, and purple, with relatively sparse decorations. The few decorations that are there were obviously chosen carefully, like the expensive-looking futuristic Gameslave cartridge holder in the corner. The thing that draws everyone's eyes, however, is Dib hunched over something on the floor, looking more vulnerable than he has ever looked before. As Kat23a moves closer, the badly broken remains of Gaz's Gameslave 2 come into view. Everyone stares silently for a moment, then Dib slowly reaches out his hands and tenderly scooped up the Gameslave. He holds them silently for a moment more, and then speaks without looking up.
Dib: (quietly) She would never let this happen to her Gameslave. Never. We always would fight, we always would threaten each other, but we would never let anything like this happen to each other. I love my sister.
Dib slowly looks up, and everyone, even Zim, backs away at the sight of his face. His eyes are looking up although his face is still pointed towards the ground, and they seem to glow with anger. Dark shadows loom in his face, and his voice seems to be larger and deeper than it could naturally be.
Dib: GAZ, YOU SHALL BE AVENGED!
REALLY Ominous Echoes: AVENGED, Avenged, avenged...
Dib slowly walks out of the room, carrying Gaz's Gameslave 2 like some sort of sacrifice. Everyone hastily backs out of his way, then slowly follows him. Kat23a (with the camera) begins to follow him, and gets about halfway down the hall before she stops, and looks back. Zim is still standing, staring into Gaz's dressing room. Kat23a takes a step towards him, pauses, then turns and begins following Dib again. Her hand comes up to the screen and the camera shuts off.
There is a quick burst of static, then the screen pops back into focus. Dib is on the skool steps again, but Kat23a is obviously part of the crowd. Zim can be seen standing to the far right, so some time has obviously passed. Dib is in the middle of giving a speech.
Dib: -'s obvious that a killer is in our midst. We can't leave here now, both because of the storm and because that killer has our family and friends. They might still be alive! If we stay here, the killer will get us all, so we have to go /find him/.
Crowd: GASP! (crowd begins to chatter, and from what can be picked up, about half thinks this is a good idea and about half is all for hiding under the one remaining table.)
Dib: QUIET! (they stop) I'm not asking for all of you to go looking for the killer, just those willing. But we have to do this the right way. We need to search in groups, and be in contact with all the remaining groups at all times, or the killer will pick us off /one by one/. I say that we should use the crew's walkie-talkies to remain in contact, and have at least three groups; two will be searching and those who don't want to search can form the remaining group, and stay here.
The crowd mutters agreement to this plan.
Dib: All right! It's settled, then. Now... (scary shadows return) who will search with me?
The silence is deafening.
Suddenly, there is a movement from the corner of the camera's view. Zim has just stood up. Everyone watches, holding their breath, as he approaches the steps. He stands, shoulders squared before Dib. Dib's face is stiff and unreadable. When Zim speaks, even the people in the far back can hear it. Even the being who is watching the group from high above in the rafters can hear it.
Zim: Desperate times call for desperate measures. I will join your search party, worm monkey, and I will call a truce until this whole thing is over, IF you do the same.
Zim brought up his hand, holding his arm stiffly out in front of him. Dib looked at it, his face still unreadable. No one said anything, all instinctively understanding that their own fates might rest on Dib's decision. There wasn't a sound in the whole room. Would Dib agree to join the side of his mortal enemy for the greater good? For a few moments the perfect tableau (ooo, another pretty word) stood frozen, the two mortal enemies facing each other, a possible truce at hand, the people whose lives may depend on their decision staring at them wonderingly, and the very creature that they all were afraid of watching them from above. Then Dib moved forward, held out his hand, and grasped the outstretched hand of Zim.
Dib: I agree.
All the group seemed to give a sigh of relief at the same time, and then people slowly started trickling up to volunteer for a search group. The trickle soon turned to a steady flow. If these two enemies could work together, then there was no excuse not to volunteer.
(Off camera) The creature in the rafters smiled. "Good," it said. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Then it slowly faded back into the blackness.
A few minutes later, the volunteer searchers are splitting into their respective groups and arming themselves with whatever they can find. The camera is filming this from it's old spot on the one remaining table in the room. Kat23a, after seeing the damage that a skillfully wielded spork can do, is currently arming herself with as many sporks as she can carry. She sticks a final one into a hastily constructed hairdo and strikes a Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon-esque pose, holding a spork in each hand. Then, she goes off to try her moves on the remaining lawn gnomes. Another kid is busy trying to make whips out of electrical wires. He currently has hit just about everybody and everything in a 20-foot radius around him (including himself) except the chair that he is aiming for. Twitching bodies litter the ground around him. Zim and Dib, although working together, still obviously have some rivalry. They each are trying to come up with the most complicated, sophisticated, and, above all, the biggest weapon they can. Dib is wielding a complicated backpack that will shoot laser beams, knives, water balloons, small stuffed animals, mayo, and paper airplanes at any target. It also comes equipped with a water bottle, night vision goggles, grappling hook, suction cups, paper clip dispenser, stapler, nail file, and one of those Garfields that stick on to windows of cars. Unfortunately for him, it also weighs upwards of thirty pounds. Zim is holding a gun that will shoot any one of thirty objects that he can choose with the click of a wheel. Unfortunately for HIM, it requires that he carry all the ammo for the gun in a sack slung over one shoulder. Kat23a suddenly scoops up the camera, and everyone begins to take up their positions in one of the three groups, with each group holding six or seven people. From what can be seen, it looks as if Kat23a is in one group (along with whip-boy, whom she is trying to stay away from), and Dib and Zim are in another. The third group is setting up a fort made of the various set walls and props.
Dib: *huff, huff* Ok! *pant* Everybody! Let's move out! *WHEEeeze* Group 1(their group) will take the left of the building, and Group 2 will take the right. We meet back here in an hour.*cough, cough, GASP* Use the walkie-talkies if you see ANYTHING! Let's GO!
Zim: WE SHALL ALL RAIN DOOOOOOOM UPON THE MURDERER'S HEAD! *COUGH, cough, cough, pant, pant*
Kat23a's group marches off to the right, while Zim and Dib's group inches slowly off to the left, with both Dib and Zim stopping every three feet for a rest. The camera slowly loses sight of them as Kat23a's group heads for a large corridor on the right. The group enters the corridor and the search for the murderer begins...
NOTE TO ALL READING THIS: You are INSANE if you think that I am going to write down all the details of the whole search. Let's just say that half an hour has passed, and nothing has really happened in Kat23a's group, until...
The walkie-talkie beeped suddenly, making all the people in the group jump. They all ran from their respective areas of the prop room they were searching and ran to Ked, the guy in the group who was holding it at the time. He quickly thumbed it on.
Ked: Who is it?
Walkie-talkie: *static*
Ked: WHO IS THIS???
Walkie-talkie: *static*
Ked: ARE YOU OK? WHO ARE YOU?
Walkie-talkie: *static*......................................I am *static*.........................I am very close to you right now.....................closssse.....
Everyone looks very nervous at this, and all instinctively bunch together.
Ked: WHICH GROUP ARE YOU FROM? IS EVERYONE OK?
Walkie-talkie: *staticstaticstatic*.............close....................*static, pops off*
Ked looks at the walkie-talkie as if it has suddenly grown fangs. Kat23a steps forward.
Kat23a: I don't know what that was, but I think that we should go back to Group 3.
Gif: (a.k.a. whip kid) But we still have half an hou-
Kat23a, Ked, and three other people: NOW.
As they say this word, the lights suddenly go off.
Everyone: AAAAAAAAAAAH!
Kat23a flicks on a small flashlight she attached to the camera (so she could tape in the dark). Quickly, the others turn on their flashlights. Since there weren't many to go around, these range from a floodlight to nightlights to a light-up keychain. The lights bounce all around the room as everybody tries to look in all directions at once.
Ked: What was that?
Kat23a: Shhh! The killer might be in here right now! We have to find the light!
The group slowly starts inching for the door. The lights continue to swerve in all directions, and the camera swings wildly around, as Kat23a keeps looking for possible dangers. Suddenly, Ked stops.
Ked: The walkie-talkie! I can call for help!
Scared girl in the back: Do it quick!
Ked's hand shook as he turned on the walkie-talkie, tuning it to the 'send' frequency. He pushed the button to send a message.
Ked: Hello? Is anyone there? Group 2 needs help! We're in the prop room! Repeat, Group 2 needs help! The killer is here!
The walkie-talkie spouts static for a few moments. Just as Ked is about to put it to his mouth to try again, it suddenly crackles, and a familiar voice comes over the line.
Dib: *static*-ello? *staticstaticstatic*n the pro*static*-oom? We*static* -oming! Repeat! *static static*comin*static*-old on!
Ked: Why is this so static-y?
Kat23a: The walkie-talkies were fine when we tested them in the main room. The main room! See if Group 3 can hear us!
Ked: (pushing the button to send a message) Acknowledged, Group 1! Hurry. Group 3, can you read us?
Walkie-talkie:*static*
Ked: Group 3? Group 1? ANYBODY?
Kat23a: Um, Ked, maybe you shouldn't ask for anybod-
Walkie-talkie: (very clearly) I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU!
Everyone yelled and spun around, where a dark, barely-glimpsed figure was standing. The camera was tilting wildly, and only a quick glimpse appeared of the figure, but it seemed to be very tall, very thin, and its abnormally long arms appeared to end in points. It was also moving towards the group. Everyone began to sprint away, but Gif had pulled out his whips and was attempting to hit the being. Almost immediately, nearly everyone fell wounded to the floor. The only ones of the group left standing were Gif, Ked, and Kat23a. The specter was unharmed, and began moving in towards Gif and his fallen comrades. This could all be glimpsed in several shaky shots, taken as Kat23a and Ked (who both happened to be safely away from Gif when he pulled out the whips) ran for their lives. Unfortunately, the phantom was between them and the exit, so they ran deeper to the labyrinth (read: big maze) that was the prop room. There were screams from behind, then sudden silence, which was worse than the screams. Ked and Kat23a had somehow split up in the crazy escape. The screen jarred crazily, and it was hard to focus on any one thing for a period of time. The only sounds were the soft thud of Kat23a's feet on the floor and the terrified rasping of her breath. The picture on the screen was now so dark that it was only filming the bumpy ride in black and white. Suddenly, Kat23a ducked behind a row of costumes and hid. The camera was turned around, and showed a black and white close up of her teary-eyed, sweaty face.
Kat23a: I'm so scared *heavy breathing* everyone's gone......gone. *pant, pant* What do I do? (camera shaking) scared...
There's a muffled scream from one side of the camera. Kat23a looks up, giving the camera an excellent view of the inside of her runny nose (eeeeewwww...). Kat23a stands up quickly.
Kat23a: Ked...
The camera swings around, and Kat23a starts running through the props again. The screen bounces all over the place. Props run by in a flash, and suddenly the path Kat23a is running through comes to a dead end. At the end is a strangely human figure made out of what looks like wood and scraps of cloth. Kat23a stops and looks at it for a moment.
Kat23a: I suddenly have the feeling that I'm in the wrong story...
Kat23a shakes her head, ducks through a rack of costumes, and begins trying to make her way quietly and quickly for the door. As she moves, there is a faint sound behind her, like the whisper of cloth on cloth...she speeds up a little. There is another sound, a bumping, like someone just ran into some boxes... she speeds up more. The door is in sight. There is a loud crashing, and footsteps running forward...she gives a thin scream and /sprints/ for the door. The picture bounds towards the door, coming closer and closer...Kat23a's hand reaches out and grasps the door handle, the door flies halfway open, there is a gasp, and the camera drops to the floor and turns off.
HA! HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LAUGH IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION! I HAVE MADE YET ANOTHER EVIL CLIFFHANGER! Also, I lied about this being the next-to- last chapter. I realized that the only way I could get the story to play out the way I wanted it to was to divide the grand finale into two shorter chapters. At least one of the two should be up by Monday. If not, I give you permission to flame me for being lazy. My email is Kat23a@yahoo.com. Flame away, because our heater's busted and the nights are getting kinda cold... Oh well, it's midnight now, I'm gonna collapse and dream the evil, deeply disturbed dreams of the truly obsessed IZ fan. Toodles!
The screen of the camera twists around quickly as Kat23a lifts it up. It surveys the wreckage of the pizza riot, which is now empty save for pizza boxes, several lone pieces of toppings, and the twitching form of the pizza delivery guy. Kat23a yawns, and heads over to Dib, who is cleaning pizza sauce off of his glasses.
Kat23a: I'm getting tired. What time is it?
Dib: 10:45.
Kat23a: Hmmm...D'ya think that Insane Director Dude will actually make you work ALL NIGHT?
Dib: Knowing him, yes. But I'm really scared about what happened with Gir, and with the light crashing down. I know I'm not the only one...can you keep a secret?
Kat23a: Sure! I promise I WON'T BLAB, I never tell a SECRET, nope, not me, you couldn't PAY ME to TELL A SECRET!
By now, about half of the cast and crew is staring at them, and the other half is sidling in casually, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Dib slaps his forehead, and pulls Kat23a behind a wall of a set.
Dib: Quiet! Some members of the cast are planning to go on a strike so that we can get home tonight. None of us want to stay another minute!
Kat23a: Wow! Tha-
Suddenly, the wall they were standing behind crashes down, revealing almost all of the cast and crew standing there, cupping their ears, holding glasses up to where the wall used to be, and, in the case of Zim, holding a futuristic-looking sound amplifier towards where they were standing. They all have guilty looks on their faces. Then, they all start walking around attempting to act innocent.
Kid who was cupping his ears: (taking his hands away from his ears) Wow! My ears sure were dirty! I'm glad I cleaned behind them right now.
Person holding glass: Hey! Did anybody see where my punch went?
Other ear-cupper people: (all at once) Yeah, mine were dirty, too. Yep, reaaal dirty.. Yeah, we all had to clean our ears..
Zim: (quickly hiding sound amplifier behind back) My, the floor here looks....floor-y!
Another person holding a glass: Gosh, MY punch is missing, too!
Dib steps forward and holds up his hands.
Dib: STOP!
They all stop and look at him.
Dib: *sigh* Did you /all/ hear what I was saying?
Everybody at once: "What? You were SAYING something?" "I didn't hear a thing, and this glass has absolutely nothing to do with it" "Oh, I certainly didn't hear that you were planning a strike so that we could all go home before we all are killed in a gruesomely disgusting way..." "I was..uh..just looking for the restroom!" "Can't a guy clean his ears in peace?" "I didn't hear anything, and I am most definitely NOT hiding a sound amplifier behind my back." "I, um, thought that the snack bar was over here..."
Dib: QUIET!
Everybody stops talking.
Dib: Okay, I KNOW that you all heard what I was saying. The truth is, it's not safe to be here anymore! We've all worked lots of extra hours to get this show going, right?
The crowd mumbles agreement.
Dib: And sooner or later, we deserve to have a break, right?
The crowd mumbles more agreement, a little more loudly.
Dib: And of all the nights we've had to work late, this has been the worst, RIGHT?
The crowd agrees, even more loudly.
Dib: We DON'T want any more disappearances or accidents around here, RIGHT?
The crowd agrees enthusiastically.
Dib: We DESERVE to LIVE, RIGHT??
The crowd yells agreement to this.
Dib: *punching his fist into the air* SO LET'S GO TELL INSANE DIRECTOR DUDE THAT THE FILMING IS OVER FOR TONIGHT! (awww, he looks so heroic..)
The crowd yells "YEAAAAAAAH!" and promptly runs away in all directions. Chaos ensues.
Kat23a: Ummm, Dib? Where IS Insane Director Dude?
Dib: Ummmm...
Fifteen minutes later, everyone in the cast and crew is lying, exhausted, in a heap on the floor. All the chairs, tables, and various props of each set are overturned, and there are more than a few broken windows. The camera is taping this all from the top of one lone standing table, where Kat23a put it before she went to join the mob. (Hey, who can resist a good revolt?)
Random Crewperson: *pant, pant* Where *pant* IS he?
Random Skoolkid: He's not *pant* ANYWHERE!
Zim: I *pant* will*pant* rain *gasp* DOOM *pant* on *pant* him *wheeze* and *pant* on *cough* the *pant* one *pant* who *pant* took *pant* Gir! *pant, wheeze, choke, cough*
Kat23a: (sitting up and throwing off the five people who had collapsed on top of her) *cough, cough* HEY! Where did those kids who went to look for Gir go? I haven't seen them for at least an hour!
Dib: (who is underneath a large fat guy that he can't throw off) Yeaf! Whu'f huppumed do dem? Deh fhould be back by nah!
Kat23a: HEY EVERYBODY! (All turn to look at her) We've been all over this studio. Has anybody seen the group that was sent to look for Gir?
The rest of the crowd started shouting out things like "No, where are they?" "...haven't seen them since they left." "Hey, where's Aki? She was here before..." "Yeah, she's not here!" "Where DID those guys get to? I thought I heard them in the hallway." "Where's Rob??" "I thought I saw Zita here before we left to find Insane Director Dude..."
Dib (who had managed to get out from underneath the fat guy) and Kat23a look more and more scared as this conversation continues. Even Zim, who had finally recovered, is looking edgy. Finally, as someone says "Hey, Chunk's missing, too!", Zim loses it and jumps up.
Zim: That is enough, filthy human stinkbeasts! You and your Hall-o-weeny brain-sucking evil spirits! I DEMAND to leave now! ( he runs to the nearest door and begins yanking on it with all his might. It doesn't budge. He starts pounding it with his feet, his hands, his head, etc...)
Zim: (in the background) Release me! Release me! Release me!
Nervous girl: Did he say brain-sucking?
Zim: Release me! Release me! Release me!
Kat23a: (to Dib) Should we tell him it's a closet door?
Dib: (not even thinking about it...he's DIB, after all!) No.
Guy in back: Hey! (Everyone turns to face him) I just turned up my radio, and listen to what going on! (He turns on a boom box that was lying near him. There's some static, and then...)
Scary Radio Weatherman: -angerous storm. I repeat, this is a very dangerous storm. Several tornadoes have been sighted in this listening area alone. If you can hear this, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS! I REPEAT, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE UNDER ANY CONDITIONS! This applies for trick-or-treaters, also. This is a very dangerous storm. I repeat, this is a very dangerous storm. You should not go outside, even if a deranged psychotic killer is stalking you at THIS VERY MOMENT. It's that bad out there, folks. Now, if you simply stay tuned to this station, I will tell you several hundred more times that this is a very dangerous stor-
The radio clicked off, and everyone was silent for a moment. Then,
Dib: Well, I guess that means we're stuck he-
Zim: (redoubling his efforts) RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME! RELEASE ME!
The closet door suddenly swung open, raining mops, brooms, and Tiger Wax all over Zim. Dib ignores this, and looks over the crowd. He seems to be getting more and more anxious as he looks.
Kat23a: (noticing this) Dib, what-
Dib: (definitely looking scared now) Where's Gaz?
Kat23a: What?
Suddenly, a scream resounds throughout the studio. Everybody's heads snap up an listen to it. Even Zim stops his struggles with the mop to listen. .
Dib: GAZ!
Dib doesn't hesitate He takes off running in the direction of the scream. Several others, including Zim (surprisingly) run after him. Kat23a starts to run, too, then stops, grabs the camera, and, swinging the picture wildly, follows. She runs down one of the seemingly infinite number of hallways surrounding the studio, and follows the running group to where it has stopped; in front of a dressing room door marked "Gaz". Suddenly, from inside the room:
Dib: NOOOOOOO!
Kat23a's hand appears on the screen, pushing the crowd out of the way.
Kat23a: Move! C'mon! Press coming through! I gotta see this!
As Kat23a pushes past Zim, he moves over without a fight of any sort, something which is pretty unusual for him. He seems entranced and horrified by the sight that confronts them all in Gaz's dressing room. The room is done in colors of black, maroon, and purple, with relatively sparse decorations. The few decorations that are there were obviously chosen carefully, like the expensive-looking futuristic Gameslave cartridge holder in the corner. The thing that draws everyone's eyes, however, is Dib hunched over something on the floor, looking more vulnerable than he has ever looked before. As Kat23a moves closer, the badly broken remains of Gaz's Gameslave 2 come into view. Everyone stares silently for a moment, then Dib slowly reaches out his hands and tenderly scooped up the Gameslave. He holds them silently for a moment more, and then speaks without looking up.
Dib: (quietly) She would never let this happen to her Gameslave. Never. We always would fight, we always would threaten each other, but we would never let anything like this happen to each other. I love my sister.
Dib slowly looks up, and everyone, even Zim, backs away at the sight of his face. His eyes are looking up although his face is still pointed towards the ground, and they seem to glow with anger. Dark shadows loom in his face, and his voice seems to be larger and deeper than it could naturally be.
Dib: GAZ, YOU SHALL BE AVENGED!
REALLY Ominous Echoes: AVENGED, Avenged, avenged...
Dib slowly walks out of the room, carrying Gaz's Gameslave 2 like some sort of sacrifice. Everyone hastily backs out of his way, then slowly follows him. Kat23a (with the camera) begins to follow him, and gets about halfway down the hall before she stops, and looks back. Zim is still standing, staring into Gaz's dressing room. Kat23a takes a step towards him, pauses, then turns and begins following Dib again. Her hand comes up to the screen and the camera shuts off.
There is a quick burst of static, then the screen pops back into focus. Dib is on the skool steps again, but Kat23a is obviously part of the crowd. Zim can be seen standing to the far right, so some time has obviously passed. Dib is in the middle of giving a speech.
Dib: -'s obvious that a killer is in our midst. We can't leave here now, both because of the storm and because that killer has our family and friends. They might still be alive! If we stay here, the killer will get us all, so we have to go /find him/.
Crowd: GASP! (crowd begins to chatter, and from what can be picked up, about half thinks this is a good idea and about half is all for hiding under the one remaining table.)
Dib: QUIET! (they stop) I'm not asking for all of you to go looking for the killer, just those willing. But we have to do this the right way. We need to search in groups, and be in contact with all the remaining groups at all times, or the killer will pick us off /one by one/. I say that we should use the crew's walkie-talkies to remain in contact, and have at least three groups; two will be searching and those who don't want to search can form the remaining group, and stay here.
The crowd mutters agreement to this plan.
Dib: All right! It's settled, then. Now... (scary shadows return) who will search with me?
The silence is deafening.
Suddenly, there is a movement from the corner of the camera's view. Zim has just stood up. Everyone watches, holding their breath, as he approaches the steps. He stands, shoulders squared before Dib. Dib's face is stiff and unreadable. When Zim speaks, even the people in the far back can hear it. Even the being who is watching the group from high above in the rafters can hear it.
Zim: Desperate times call for desperate measures. I will join your search party, worm monkey, and I will call a truce until this whole thing is over, IF you do the same.
Zim brought up his hand, holding his arm stiffly out in front of him. Dib looked at it, his face still unreadable. No one said anything, all instinctively understanding that their own fates might rest on Dib's decision. There wasn't a sound in the whole room. Would Dib agree to join the side of his mortal enemy for the greater good? For a few moments the perfect tableau (ooo, another pretty word) stood frozen, the two mortal enemies facing each other, a possible truce at hand, the people whose lives may depend on their decision staring at them wonderingly, and the very creature that they all were afraid of watching them from above. Then Dib moved forward, held out his hand, and grasped the outstretched hand of Zim.
Dib: I agree.
All the group seemed to give a sigh of relief at the same time, and then people slowly started trickling up to volunteer for a search group. The trickle soon turned to a steady flow. If these two enemies could work together, then there was no excuse not to volunteer.
(Off camera) The creature in the rafters smiled. "Good," it said. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Then it slowly faded back into the blackness.
A few minutes later, the volunteer searchers are splitting into their respective groups and arming themselves with whatever they can find. The camera is filming this from it's old spot on the one remaining table in the room. Kat23a, after seeing the damage that a skillfully wielded spork can do, is currently arming herself with as many sporks as she can carry. She sticks a final one into a hastily constructed hairdo and strikes a Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon-esque pose, holding a spork in each hand. Then, she goes off to try her moves on the remaining lawn gnomes. Another kid is busy trying to make whips out of electrical wires. He currently has hit just about everybody and everything in a 20-foot radius around him (including himself) except the chair that he is aiming for. Twitching bodies litter the ground around him. Zim and Dib, although working together, still obviously have some rivalry. They each are trying to come up with the most complicated, sophisticated, and, above all, the biggest weapon they can. Dib is wielding a complicated backpack that will shoot laser beams, knives, water balloons, small stuffed animals, mayo, and paper airplanes at any target. It also comes equipped with a water bottle, night vision goggles, grappling hook, suction cups, paper clip dispenser, stapler, nail file, and one of those Garfields that stick on to windows of cars. Unfortunately for him, it also weighs upwards of thirty pounds. Zim is holding a gun that will shoot any one of thirty objects that he can choose with the click of a wheel. Unfortunately for HIM, it requires that he carry all the ammo for the gun in a sack slung over one shoulder. Kat23a suddenly scoops up the camera, and everyone begins to take up their positions in one of the three groups, with each group holding six or seven people. From what can be seen, it looks as if Kat23a is in one group (along with whip-boy, whom she is trying to stay away from), and Dib and Zim are in another. The third group is setting up a fort made of the various set walls and props.
Dib: *huff, huff* Ok! *pant* Everybody! Let's move out! *WHEEeeze* Group 1(their group) will take the left of the building, and Group 2 will take the right. We meet back here in an hour.*cough, cough, GASP* Use the walkie-talkies if you see ANYTHING! Let's GO!
Zim: WE SHALL ALL RAIN DOOOOOOOM UPON THE MURDERER'S HEAD! *COUGH, cough, cough, pant, pant*
Kat23a's group marches off to the right, while Zim and Dib's group inches slowly off to the left, with both Dib and Zim stopping every three feet for a rest. The camera slowly loses sight of them as Kat23a's group heads for a large corridor on the right. The group enters the corridor and the search for the murderer begins...
NOTE TO ALL READING THIS: You are INSANE if you think that I am going to write down all the details of the whole search. Let's just say that half an hour has passed, and nothing has really happened in Kat23a's group, until...
The walkie-talkie beeped suddenly, making all the people in the group jump. They all ran from their respective areas of the prop room they were searching and ran to Ked, the guy in the group who was holding it at the time. He quickly thumbed it on.
Ked: Who is it?
Walkie-talkie: *static*
Ked: WHO IS THIS???
Walkie-talkie: *static*
Ked: ARE YOU OK? WHO ARE YOU?
Walkie-talkie: *static*......................................I am *static*.........................I am very close to you right now.....................closssse.....
Everyone looks very nervous at this, and all instinctively bunch together.
Ked: WHICH GROUP ARE YOU FROM? IS EVERYONE OK?
Walkie-talkie: *staticstaticstatic*.............close....................*static, pops off*
Ked looks at the walkie-talkie as if it has suddenly grown fangs. Kat23a steps forward.
Kat23a: I don't know what that was, but I think that we should go back to Group 3.
Gif: (a.k.a. whip kid) But we still have half an hou-
Kat23a, Ked, and three other people: NOW.
As they say this word, the lights suddenly go off.
Everyone: AAAAAAAAAAAH!
Kat23a flicks on a small flashlight she attached to the camera (so she could tape in the dark). Quickly, the others turn on their flashlights. Since there weren't many to go around, these range from a floodlight to nightlights to a light-up keychain. The lights bounce all around the room as everybody tries to look in all directions at once.
Ked: What was that?
Kat23a: Shhh! The killer might be in here right now! We have to find the light!
The group slowly starts inching for the door. The lights continue to swerve in all directions, and the camera swings wildly around, as Kat23a keeps looking for possible dangers. Suddenly, Ked stops.
Ked: The walkie-talkie! I can call for help!
Scared girl in the back: Do it quick!
Ked's hand shook as he turned on the walkie-talkie, tuning it to the 'send' frequency. He pushed the button to send a message.
Ked: Hello? Is anyone there? Group 2 needs help! We're in the prop room! Repeat, Group 2 needs help! The killer is here!
The walkie-talkie spouts static for a few moments. Just as Ked is about to put it to his mouth to try again, it suddenly crackles, and a familiar voice comes over the line.
Dib: *static*-ello? *staticstaticstatic*n the pro*static*-oom? We*static* -oming! Repeat! *static static*comin*static*-old on!
Ked: Why is this so static-y?
Kat23a: The walkie-talkies were fine when we tested them in the main room. The main room! See if Group 3 can hear us!
Ked: (pushing the button to send a message) Acknowledged, Group 1! Hurry. Group 3, can you read us?
Walkie-talkie:*static*
Ked: Group 3? Group 1? ANYBODY?
Kat23a: Um, Ked, maybe you shouldn't ask for anybod-
Walkie-talkie: (very clearly) I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU!
Everyone yelled and spun around, where a dark, barely-glimpsed figure was standing. The camera was tilting wildly, and only a quick glimpse appeared of the figure, but it seemed to be very tall, very thin, and its abnormally long arms appeared to end in points. It was also moving towards the group. Everyone began to sprint away, but Gif had pulled out his whips and was attempting to hit the being. Almost immediately, nearly everyone fell wounded to the floor. The only ones of the group left standing were Gif, Ked, and Kat23a. The specter was unharmed, and began moving in towards Gif and his fallen comrades. This could all be glimpsed in several shaky shots, taken as Kat23a and Ked (who both happened to be safely away from Gif when he pulled out the whips) ran for their lives. Unfortunately, the phantom was between them and the exit, so they ran deeper to the labyrinth (read: big maze) that was the prop room. There were screams from behind, then sudden silence, which was worse than the screams. Ked and Kat23a had somehow split up in the crazy escape. The screen jarred crazily, and it was hard to focus on any one thing for a period of time. The only sounds were the soft thud of Kat23a's feet on the floor and the terrified rasping of her breath. The picture on the screen was now so dark that it was only filming the bumpy ride in black and white. Suddenly, Kat23a ducked behind a row of costumes and hid. The camera was turned around, and showed a black and white close up of her teary-eyed, sweaty face.
Kat23a: I'm so scared *heavy breathing* everyone's gone......gone. *pant, pant* What do I do? (camera shaking) scared...
There's a muffled scream from one side of the camera. Kat23a looks up, giving the camera an excellent view of the inside of her runny nose (eeeeewwww...). Kat23a stands up quickly.
Kat23a: Ked...
The camera swings around, and Kat23a starts running through the props again. The screen bounces all over the place. Props run by in a flash, and suddenly the path Kat23a is running through comes to a dead end. At the end is a strangely human figure made out of what looks like wood and scraps of cloth. Kat23a stops and looks at it for a moment.
Kat23a: I suddenly have the feeling that I'm in the wrong story...
Kat23a shakes her head, ducks through a rack of costumes, and begins trying to make her way quietly and quickly for the door. As she moves, there is a faint sound behind her, like the whisper of cloth on cloth...she speeds up a little. There is another sound, a bumping, like someone just ran into some boxes... she speeds up more. The door is in sight. There is a loud crashing, and footsteps running forward...she gives a thin scream and /sprints/ for the door. The picture bounds towards the door, coming closer and closer...Kat23a's hand reaches out and grasps the door handle, the door flies halfway open, there is a gasp, and the camera drops to the floor and turns off.
HA! HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LAUGH IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION! I HAVE MADE YET ANOTHER EVIL CLIFFHANGER! Also, I lied about this being the next-to- last chapter. I realized that the only way I could get the story to play out the way I wanted it to was to divide the grand finale into two shorter chapters. At least one of the two should be up by Monday. If not, I give you permission to flame me for being lazy. My email is Kat23a@yahoo.com. Flame away, because our heater's busted and the nights are getting kinda cold... Oh well, it's midnight now, I'm gonna collapse and dream the evil, deeply disturbed dreams of the truly obsessed IZ fan. Toodles!
