Dib awoke close to 7:00pm. He sat up, stretched, and took a moment to orient himself before getting up to see if Gaz was home.
"Gaz?" he tapped on her closed bedroom door. No answer. Venturing to the living room, he saw that he had the house to himself. The alien seemed to be gone as well.
Dib sighed and peeked in the garage, noting the absence of Gaz's car, and then paced into the kitchen. Well, the alien was gone, likely not to return, so maybe now it's time to get back to what he should be doing with himself. Can't go home, can't stay here and keep putting Gaz in danger.
He was pouring himself a glass of water from the fridge when he heard the garage open. Gaz must have stayed late because of inspections.
"Hey," he called as the door opened and shut.
She passed him without a word and looked around the living room, then disappeared down the hallway. He leaned against the counter with his glass and glanced at the photo of them as kids. Maybe things will be different once all this mess is over. Not that it would ever really be over. The agency will hunt him for the rest of his life.
"Where's the alien?" Gaz asked, sweeping into the small kitchen and looking around.
"He was gone when I woke up." Dib set his glass down on the counter.
"How long ago?"
"What?"
"How long ago did he leave?" she snapped.
"I don't know, I just got up a little while ago. I've been out since you left."
She hissed and then looked up at Dib, smiling a little too wide.
"Well I've no use for you then."
Cold crept over his flesh with realization. "You're not Gaz."
Purple flashed like a razor across her eyes and she drew a knife from behind her.
"No, darling."
As she stepped towards him, he grabbed the glass of water and threw it on her. Tak shrieked and covered her face, stumbling back. Dib shoved past her to the door, pitching it open and running into the garage. The garage door had closed behind her and he looked around frantically for the button. It was on the wall beside the door to the house and he made for it but the female appeared in the doorway, disguise dissolving away. She glared at him, rage in her eyes, the skin of her face burnt and peeling.
"I will kill you!" She leaped at him and he stumbled back, tripping over a box and falling. Tak landed atop him, lithe as a cat, and brought the snaked blade down. He grabbed her wrist and grappled with her. She was a lot stronger than he'd imagined.
"I will drink your blood, human," she hissed, baring dangerously pointed teeth. Dib struggled and got his legs up, kicking her off. He scrambled for the door but she grabbed his leg, dragging him under her. Standing, she flipped him over like a child and lifted him by the throat, slamming his back against the wall. He kicked out but her grip was tight, claws pricking his skin.
She glared up at him a long moment as he choked, then smiled suddenly and dropped him.
"Go on, then."
Dib curled a hand around his throat, coughing, and looked up as she pressed the button to open the garage.
"Go."
He got to his feet warily, watching her as she crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. Outside it was growing dark rapidly, clouds hanging low and heavy with snow. He stepped outside and glanced back at her. She watched him silently, smiling, eyes gleaming. Dib ran.
He fled the area, following the quiet street back towards the inner city. Stopping to catch his breath, he noticed fresh skid marks on the pavement up ahead, the guard rail broken through. Jogging forward, Dib looked down the embankment and his heart clenched. His sister's car lay overturned at the bottom of the ravine against a tree.
No, not the same car, it's not. Sliding quickly down the embankment, he circled the vehicle and dropped to his knees. The driver's door hung ajar, blood splashed across the front windshield and steering wheel. He leaned and vomited weakly, shaking, before reaching in and pulling Gaz out to lay her in the leaves. Her throat was torn out with little effort. Dib stared blankly a long moment before curling over her and crying out as if stabbed. He buried his face in her blood-matted hair and screamed but no sound came.
He didn't know how long he stayed that way, but he sat up slowly when something cold touched his neck. Lifting his face, he stared into the starless sky as snow began drifting lazily down. Looking back down at Gaz, he touched her long-cold cheek. This has gone too far.
Leaning past his sister, Dib crawled into the vehicle and opened the glove box. It's contents spilled out and he picked up the handgun she carried for safety, checking it's ammo, then tucked it into his belt. He pulled Gaz's purse out and opened her wallet. She changed her last name, he noticed as he slid her driver's license out and pocketed it. He found the emergency kit in the trunk and pulled a few road flairs. Climbing the embankment, he set them alight near the guard rail and then started walking.
This has gone too far.