Wow...I had writer's block for this chapter, that's why it took a while to post. But I got it done!
Thanks again for the reviews! Enjoy!
Something was moving about the darkness. Dib knew it; he could just feel a presence near him, watching him with predatory eyes. He just ignored the fear that crawled up his spine as he crawled around on the floor. His hands were in front, on the floor, feeling everything around him. His lighter had stopped working and he had abandoned it somewhere in the darkness of the closet floor. Dib was crawling somewhere. He had no idea where he was going, for all he knew, he could be crawling around in circles without even knowing it because it was so dark that nothing could be seen. He placed a hand down on the wood and pulled back, fast, a whimper escaped from his mouth and he clutched the palm of his hand into his chest. Something sharp had sliced his hand. A claw? A nail? A knife? He didn't know. All he knew was that it was sharp and that the pain was horrible. His hand burned and he could feel the warm blood oozing form the wound, sliding down his hand and even soaking his coat and shirt. Gritting his teeth, Dib reached out to the floor with his left hand, the one uninjured. He felt around the floor and came upon the sharp item. Gently, and ever so cautiously, he felt around. Examining it with his fingers, trying to get a picture of what it was in his mind. It felt, odd.
"What is that?"
His curiosity was making him forget the fear he had been feeling in this place. The object felt, rough yet smooth at the same time. It was hard and yet had softness to it. The object was almost indescribable. The only word that came into mind was, mysterious. That was it. Nothing, no words could describe it. He then wrapped his hand around it, softly, so as not to cut himself, and then he lifted it from the floor. It was heavy, about five pounds, which was a lot for an item as small as a spoon. The item seemed to send shivers down his spine and it suddenly when cold. Ice cold. Dib held the item still; ignoring the ice-cold pain it was giving him. The item then seemed to become wobbly. Almost like jell, it was…changing. Into a liquid. It spilled from his hands and Dib immediately planted both palms down, feeling around for any liquid. Nothing was there. No sharp end, no liquid, nothing. Then, the closet door opened. Dib clenched his eyes shut, hissing at the sudden pain brought by the intense light. As soon as his eyes focused he looked to see what was at the door and gasped.
"NO!" He cried realizing Gaz, his little sister, was the one who was dead.
Zim stood in the doorway, wide eyed and shaking. Blood covered his magenta shirt and specks of blood covered his pale green face. Dib noticed his disguise was gone, not even in the Irken's claws. Zim just looked at Dib with uncertainty, as if he were trying to see if Dib were real. Dib stood up fast and raced over to the door. Zim screamed and slammed the door shut. Dib, just in time, placed his foot in the door's path. Hissing in pain as it slammed, full force into his foot. He threw the door back opened and slammed it behind. Zim backed away, ruby eyes looking at him in fear.
"Zim, it's me, Dib!" Dib said.
"Dib? How do I know it's you?" Zim spat.
"Uh…you call me Dib-worm…Dib-beast…you are an alien and-," Zim shushed him with a wave of a claw.
"I believe you…I-uh…Gaz…is dead." Zim whispered.
"I…I know. I saw some writing."
"Dib-wor-, Dib, I am…sorry."
Dib looked at Zim with a bit of shock written on his pale face. Even through all he had been through and knowing the fact that his sister was dead, Dib managed a small smile for the alien. He nodded and Zim gave a weak smile of his own. Dib walked up ahead of Zim and began heading back down the hall towards the stairs to go downstairs. He stopped in his tracks when he heard a splash. He looked down and saw that he was standing in a red liquid. It was flowing…no, more like oozing from the laundry room. He tensed when he saw more blood come rushing out from under the door. He looked to Zim who just gazed in horror at the blood, but glanced at Dib.
"This wasn't here when I came up." Zim said.
"Well…I guess it doesn't really matter anymore…Nothing matters anymore." Dib whispered, looked to the ground.
Zim sighed. He knew Dib should be mourning his sister, but he couldn't. Not here, now he had to get out and live his life. To live for himself and for Gaz. She, Zim knew despite her tough demeanor, cared for Dib and wouldn't want him dead. The alien walked up to Dib and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. Dib smiled and moved away from the slightly comforting touch and went towards the door. Zim stopped him with a grunt.
"I don't think we want to go in."
"Why not?" Dib spat, obviously angry and annoyed as well as upset.
"I think whatever it is wants us to go in, ever thought of that?"
"I-," Dib started only to be interrupted.
"Think about it, the phone. It rang; we took the bait and answered. It caught us in a trap. Everything so far has been a trap! I know it. This thing is playing with us, just having a little fun before it gets bored," Zim glanced seriously at Dib, "You know what happens when it gets bored don't you?"
Dib nodded, "It kills us."
"Exactly. I, for one, want to live so I can get home to care for GIR and take over this filthy planet. You should live to try and save this horrible ball of filth."
Dib just stared at Zim for a moment before returning his gaze to the laundry door. Maybe he was right, it was a trap. If he went through that door, what would happen? Would he be dead? Or, would he possibly find something to keep him alive? Was everything a trap? The phone…that could've been just a scare, or was it really a trap? The thing was obviously playing with them, but…how could everything be a trap? He had been thinking it was just for a scare. Maybe it was. Maybe everything was for a scare as well as being a trap. Dib glanced from the door to Zim. He stared into the serious ruby eyes. Behind the eyes was fear, barely visible, but it was there. Glancing back to the door Dib sighed. He turned to Zim and nodded.
"Okay, lets not open it then. But have you thought that maybe one of the dead is trying to help us? Giving us signs to save us? Maybe Gaz is trying to help by having blood come out? Every think of that?"
"Dib-worm, you are going insane, that's impossible." Zim pointed out.
"Is it? Is it really? I really used to think a phone couldn't ring anymore after being unplugged from the wall…that is unless it's a cell phone, but it wasn't. Then I used to believe that dogs couldn't disappear on you. Then I-,"
"MAKE SILENCE, NOW!" Zim spat.
Dib fell silent watching Zim as the alien thought. Surely Zim would have to come to senses and know that almost anything was possible in this house. You have to expect the unexpected no matter how stupid and impossible it sounds. There was a soft groan from the other side of the door. Dib and Zim both turned to face it. A crash! From inside the laundry room. Something or someone was in there. Dib went to grasp the handle when Zim snatched his arm and pulled him away.
"Foolish human, messing with the unknown is just playing with death." Zim scolded.
"Let go! Someone's in there." Dib struggled to free his arm, but to no avail.
"SILENCE! Listen Dib. A couple days ago, I went to that walk in closet down the hall. Someone was pounding on the door and shouting for help. I raced over and everything stopped. I was about to leave when he or it called my name so I opened the door. Nothing was there. Get it Dib? No one is here! No one is in there except, it! It is just waiting for you to become caring and wanting to be a hero. It's a trap!"
Dib pulled his arm from Zim's tight grasp and grit his teeth, scowling at the alien. That was what Zim had heard a week ago. Why hadn't he said anything? All he had said was he thought he heard something. Dib was sure of it. Then again, Zim didn't like showing enemies his weaknesses. Maybe whatever was behind the door was nothing. Would he be feeling better if he opened the door to find nothing there? Or would he rather leave and battle with guilt that if there was someone in there then he had just left him or her to their death.
"Human, lets check it later. If there are still sounds then go ahead and open it. But if there is no sound than leave it, okay? Lets just leave for now and plan."
What's there to plan? Huh? Tell me that Zim! We have no idea what we are up against. This thing, is…is invisible or something! Or, maybe there isn't anything here after all and I am just going crazy! Maybe, this is all just a horrible nightmare and I just haven't woken up yet and-OW!" Dib yelped.
"I think you're awake." Zim said calmly.
"You…you shut slapped me! That really hurt!"
"Dib-worm. Tell me. In your human dreams, can you feel pain?"
"…no…no you can't. I AM NOT DREAMING! This is just wonderful! Thanks a lot Zim, I just wanted at least another excuse to make myself feel at least a bit safer!" Dib roared.
"Dib, that isn't very smart. Let's just go…somewhere and plan, okay? I found a place in the pantry. It's a secret room or something. Must've been a torture chamber, but I believe it is the safest place in this house. We shall plan there."
Dib looked to Zim then back to the door. Then he began walking down the hall and down the steps. He turned around, eyes turning red from tears welling up in his eyes.
"You coming or what?" Dib asked.
Zim hurried up and ran to his side, walking down the stairs, carefully, in fear the stairs would collapse if there was the slightest knock on them. They walked down the small, short hall and into the kitchen where Dib nearly passed out. Blood was everywhere. He knew all of it belonged to Gaz, but she wasn't there. Zim noticed this right away. Gaz's body was no longer there. It had been taken. Maybe even devoured whole by something. Ignoring his nausea, Zim ushered Dib into the pantry and into the concrete room, closing the door behind them.
The lights in the kitchen flickered and a dark figure walked in. The lights in the room flickered, unnoticed by the boys because they were in the hidden concrete room. A soft chuckle echoed against the blood stained white walls.
"I am coming for you!" A hollow voice echoed.
The dark figure was gone. No longer standing in the doorway of the kitchen. A ping was heard as red liquid fell from the ceiling. Blood. Soaking through the high, white ceiling. Blood, coming from the laundry room upstairs.
Ping!
A hollow and raspy chuckle, "I am here."
Ping!
The phone in the trashcan rang. The room grew cold and the blood falling from the ceiling turn solid. Iced blood fell from the ceiling and hit the floor. Shards of red scattered everywhere. The kitchen was a freezer, a freezer for the dead. The ice crystal shards of blood that splattered were aligned perfectly to form, a short and abbreviated sentence:
'2 2 go.'
Creepy, eh? Since tomorrow is Friday I will be able to post the next chapter faster! Stay tuned to Chapter 11.
