DISCLAIMER: I do not own Invader Zim or any of the songs. I am not claiming that I do.
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Chapter 9: Look me in the eyes…please.
Zim lingered, waiting for a response.
Ember kept her eyes on her legs. She stayed in that curled up ball position…silent and unresponsive.
Zim ran to her and knelt down at her side. He couldn't see her face clearly because of the dim light, but he could tell she was severely hurt.
Ember continued to ignore him. She just thought that he was just another creation of her sick and increasingly growing more and more demented mind. She was beginning to think that she had always been in that cage. And she just dreamed up Zim and created her own horrible past.
Zim put a hand on her shoulder. He tried to be careful but he was getting worried.
"Ember, look at me!" He said in a loud voice. He shook her gently.
The Tallests guarded the entrance to the cage. Red looked back; he watched the depressing scene. Finally, he left Purple and floated over near Zim.
"Come on…We can figure out what's wrong with her when we get back to your base!" Red said; his voice getting its cold, sternness back.
"Ember! Tell me you're okay! Just…just look me in the eyes…please!" Zim sounded desperate; he could feel tears building up, but he blinked them away. Again, he got no response.
He knew she was still alive; he could hear her raspy and shallow breathing.
Zim sighed and turned his head towards Red.
"Okay…" He said in a low voice to his leader.
Red turned and headed out the cage and for the door.
Purple followed; but, only after taking one last look at Zim and Ember.
Zim stared at Ember for a while. He reached out and carefully picked her up. Pulling her up with him, Zim got up and was about to leave when he saw something.
He once again knelt down, Ember still in his arms, and saw that it was her Zune and headphones. A small robotic arm shot out of his PAK and picked it up; then retracted and pulled the Zune into his PAK.
Zim got up and walked out. He walked out of the cage and out of that cold and depressing room.
The bright light hit Ember's face.
Zim nearly dropped her when he saw her face. It was ten times worse than the ones her father gave her.
Ember's eyes were closed. She was unconscious and went completely limp in Zim's arms.
The Tallests gasped. Even they would never beat someone. Truly, Lard Nar had turned sick and twisted over the years of practically being a slave to the Irken army.
They heard voices.
"Hey!? What do you think you're doing?!" A shout was heard from a guard at the end of the hallway. He pointed a laser at them.
"I suggest we go…Now!" Purple yelled as they barely missed the laser beam.
They all pressed the buttons on their wrists to go back. Zim struggled a bit with his because Ember was still in his arms. But he got it as soon as he saw five or six guards plus Lard Nar came running towards him.
One of the guards jumped to grab Zim; but ended up grabbing nothing but a pink light and slamming face first into the wall.
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Several hours went by…
Ember was now in her room…tucked into her bed.
She woke up an hour after her rescue. But she still didn't say anything; she didn't even make eye contact with Zim or the Tallests. She just lay there silent as Zim scanned her to see if she had any internal injuries.
She didn't have any internal injuries as far as Zim could see.
Now she lay there, on her back, staring at the wired ceiling. Zim had tried to get her to eat or drink something…but she refused. He gave up and told her to get some rest.
Before Zim had left, he set the radio on the table and turned it on. Knowing how unbearable silence was to her, he thought it would help her sleep.
A song started to play…
How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core
Where I've become so numb
The song filled the room with its eerie lyrics.
Ember tried to fall asleep…but she felt like she was already in a dream.
Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
[wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become
She turned her head to look at the dark corner where that demonic, shadowy figure would usually be.
She saw nothing. Just the room's own shadows.
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and {make me real}
Bring me
To life
Ember turned her head to once again look at the wired ceiling. Her eyes were wide open.
[wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become
{Bring me to life}
[I've been living a lie..There's nothing inside]
{Bring me to life}
Her thoughts were silent. They had already caused her enough grief and sorrow.
Ember sat up and coughed. At first it was just a slight cough, then it turned violent. It hurt her to sit up; she was just so tired.
The cough subsided and she lay back down.
Frozen inside without your touch
Without your love, darling
Only you all the life upon the die
[All of this I, I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me]
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything
[Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul]
{Don't let me die here}{there must be something more}
Bring me to life
She heard voices coming from outside her room. They came closer, but never opened the door.
[wake me up] Wake me up inside
[I can't wake up] Wake me up inside
[Save me] Call my name and save me from the dark
[Wake me up] Bid my blood to run
[I can't wake up] Before I come undone
[Save me] Save me from the nothing I've become
"I don't know what's wrong with her…Why is she ignoring me?!" She heard Zim say.
"Just give her time Zim…" Purple told him.
"Yeah…I'm sure she'll come around. You need to understand what she's been through." Red's voice trailed off as he and the other two went away from the door.
Bring me to life
[I've been living a lie.. There's nothing inside]
Bring me to life
The song faded away…like most songs do.
Ember lay there in silence. She felt hurt on the inside…like a knife had gone through her heart and then twisted and pulled out mercilessly. She needed an explanation as to why Zim came so late…Why he let this happen to her!
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Wow…I sure am in a depressed mood. Maybe it's because of that JTHM comic I've been reading all day…
Anyway, it took me FOREVER to find the right song…hopefully I made the right choice with another Evanescence song.
Next chapter should be up soon :)