"Huh . . . " Dib said softly. "I can't see."

"That's the point," said Membrane.

"Where are you taking me, Dad?" Dib was led to a huge hole in the ground. At the bottom of the hole was a faint orange Dib could do anything, he was shoved down the hole. He screamed. He now realized that he was falling into hell.

"Dad!" Dib awoke with a start. It was early in the morning. He didn't recognize his surroundings. Oh... he was in some sort of hospital of some sort. IVs were inserted into his veins. What was going on?

He saw Professor Membrane and Gaz sitting on a chair nearby. When he saw that Dib had awoken, Professor Membrane approached Dib. Instead of an uptight, hands-behind-his-back approach, his arms swung freely by his side.

"Son . . . ?" He said. Dib turned over, as to not be facing Membrane.

"Son?" He said again.

'You sedated me like I was some sort of animal . . ." Dib said slowly and dangerously. It sounded more like he was talking to himself than to Membrane.

"I know, Membrane said. "But you were no longer in control of your own actions."

"...And then you institutionalize me!" He finished, ignoring Membrane. "I mean, how could you!" Membrane looked down at his feet.

"Son, you snapped. Notice how much more rational you are right now! They put you on medication. It seems to have helped a lot." Dib started to cry.

"Dad, I'm so sorry! My brain doesn't work the way it used to... I'm just a time-bomb ready to explode. I'm so sorry that I did this... I just..." he began to cry again. He crawled in his father's lap.

"Son, it's hard for the whole family. I no longer trust that Zim. He's tormenting you in your mind. And Gaz... Gaz has begun to self-harm. I've had to put her on antidepressants." Dib looked at Gaz.

"Gaz, is this true?" Gaz nodded.

"Yeah." She showed him the scars. Dib flinched.

"I made you do this, didn't I, Gaz?" Dib was ashamed.

"No," Gaz said promptly. "YOU didn't. I DID. I didn't have to scar up my arms, but, oh look. I did. Because I'm an idiot." She walked out of the room. Dib felt really bad about himself after that. The medication helped him keep grip on reality. He could feel pity and knew what he'd done wrong.

Luckily, Dib didn't have to stay at the asylum for long; just one night. Professor Membrane was happy to take Dib home and Dib was happy to be home. Professor Membrane skipped work that day, an Dib skipped school. Most of the day was spent cuddling with his father and sleeping. His father was there, keeping him safe and warm.

But a few days later, that happiness was shattered.

Professor Membrane and Gaz woke up to find that Dib was gone. He just vanished over night.

Professor Membrane immediately had an anxiety attack and called 911. They put up notices for a missing child and money rewards. Professor Membrane and Gaz spent countless hours searching the town for Dib. But he was nowhere to be found.

Professor Membrane did not get any sleep. He just stayed up all night staring at the ceiling, wondering where on earth his son could be.

And Gaz… her arms were scarred.

A couple of days later Professor Membrane received a phone call. The voice on the other end sounded urgent. And familiar.

Zim.

"PROFESSOR!" Zim screamed through the phone.

"What now? Can't you see I'm looking for my son?"

"I found him!"

"You what?"

"I found your son laying in an alley!" Professor Membrane stopped. Should he trust Zim?

Anything to save his son!

"What's the address?" Professor Membrane demanded. Zim gave him the address.

"I will be right there!" Professor Membrane quickly told Gaz the news and the two of them went on their way.

Sure enough, Zim was standing there, with Dib not too far away.

"Son!" Professor Membrane shook his son. Dib was deeply unconscious, though.

"It looks like he's been beaten up," said Zim. Professor Membrane gained a knowing look in his eyes.

"No," he said. "No, this alley is abandoned. Or at least for the most part."

"Then?" Zim snapped.

Professor Membrane stood up, staring down at his bleeding, half-dead son.

"Dib attempted suicide."

"Life is the most difficult exam. Most people fail because they try to copy others, not knowing that everyone has a different test paper."

-Unknown

Next chapter will be longer, I promise… *disappears into the shadows*