InsaneJournal

Current mood:	accomplished
Entry tags:	fanfic, lycanthropy

Beauty of the Beast 3/4
Title: Beauty of the Beast
Chapter Title: The Monster
Rated: R
Pairing: None
Fandom: Invader Zim
Invader Zim belongs to Nickelodeon and its associates.
Doggish thoughts are represented in italics.
Notes from the last two chapters

-----

This piece was written at the end of 2004. It has one incomplete prequel and two completed sequels. The entire series was considered lost in the middle of 2005 because of user error, a tragedy that caused me to cease writing Invader Zim fanfic. It and the rest of the series was found intact on a disk somewhere in the middle of 2006. It was edited in August of 2007.

This is the first time it has ever been posted. It shows the beginnings of my well-known darkness and the seeds of full-fledged cynicism, even hatred for humanity in some places.

Enjoy.

-----

Bill paced his office, nervously glancing at the clock every few seconds. “Where is he?” he grumbled.

Mike leaned against the wall. “Don’t worry, he’ll be here,” Mike drolled. “He has to be.”

“He doesn’t have to be and he knows it!” Bill exclaimed. “The full moon’s tonight and he’s got a choice between dying here and killing innocents in the streets. What do you think he’ll choose?”

Mike popped a cigarette into his mouth. “Werewolves are creatures of honor, of challenge, of tradition,” he said. “He’s got a point to prove by being here so he’ll be here, death or no death.”

Bill glared at Mike for smoking. “How do you know so much about werewolves?” he asked, suspicious.

“I used to be Professor Membrane’s assistant,” Mike said, remembering. “A friend of his, a werewolf named Luna, asked him to find the source of lycanthropy. Dib was right when he said it’s a disease. It’s a retrovirus for which there is no dependable cure.

“When Membrane went public with his findings his reputation died instantly. So did mine. That werewolf Luna did this to me, so I tracked her down for a year before finally killing her. Ah, that was wondrous. I tied her up in silver chains and watched her burn. I had her in so many ways. Of course she was only an animal, snarling and pleading at me to stop. I killed her with a silver dagger through the stomach.” He laughed. “It took her hours to die of silver poisoning and I watched it all. It was glorious.”

Bill took a step back, a look of pure disgust on his face. “Glorious?” he asked.

“It was beautiful. And the best part, she’d never hunted a human before. A werewolf since childhood and she’d always hunted animals.”

Bill reached behind his desk, groping for the top drawer. “You killed an innocent?” he demanded. “Just because she was a werewolf?”

Mike stopped grinning. “That is what you had assigned Dib to do,” he pointed out. “That is what you’re going to do to Dib. The destruction of an innocent, just because it’s a werewolf.”

“I thought you were Dib’s friend,” Bill said, stalling for time. “You were the only one who didn’t abandon him when…”

Mike closed his eyes and shook his head. “Bill, Bill, Bill,” he chided, “how could you think such a thing? I’ve always played close to him because of his job and his father. Professor Membrane has regained his old respect, did you know that? And have I? No, of course not. You see, I’ve been waiting for this to happen. All werewolf hunters get bitten eventually. And now I’ll be able to kill his son and use Dib’s condition against him. I’ll have my revenge.”

Bill found the drawer and grabbed his revolver. “All this time, I’ve been hunting monsters,” he whispered. “Dib was right. The monsters aren’t paranormal, but people like you.”

“Monster or no I’ve worked too hard too long for you to mess this up,” Mike threatened. “I’ll kill you if I have to, you know that, right?”

Bill pulled out the pistol and took aim. “I won’t have you or anyone else killing innocents,” he promised. “Even if they are werewolves.”

“Bill, only an idiot keeps a loaded gun in his desk,” Mike said as he pulled six bullets out of a pocket.

Bill checked the gun, finding it empty. He looked up in fear.

Mike pulled his own gun out of his belt. “Now this is unexpected,” he crooned. “I had hoped you would help me with this, but I guess I misjudged you.” He aimed. “Goodbye, Boss.”

The glass window in the door shattered as a knife flew through it and lodged in Mike’s shoulder. He grabbed his arm as the pistol clattered to the ground. The door opened.

Dib stood in the doorway, armed only with a longsword. “All this time, I though you were my friend,” he accused. “All this time, I trusted you. I told you everything because I thought you were different. And all this time you were the madman who killed Aunt Luna.”

Mike fell to his knees, the tip of the blade poking through his chest. “Dib, my good friend,” he pleaded. “You wouldn’t kill me.”

“You’re no friend of mine. You’re the monster we’ve all hunted.”

Mike fell on his hands. “No, please,” he begged. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Dib thrust the sword through Mike’s back, impaling him right below the heart. “It is not my duty to forgive, only to judge.” He pulled the sword out forcefully, slicing through the heart and killing Mike instantly.

Dib leaned against the wall. He looked down at Mike. “You know, for so long he was my friend,” he mused. “He’d even tried to hook up with me a few times. The real monsters can be so hard to find, can’t they, Bill?”

Bill stood in the corner, shaking. “D-Dib?” he asked.

“I know,” Dib said quietly. “I’m to be observed tonight.” He turned away. “I’ll just go prepare.”

Bill snapped out of it. “Dib, no, wait!”

“What?”

“Thanks,” Bill said, hand extended in thanks. “I, well…”

Dib raised an eyebrow.

“Well, the purpose of observation, as well a destroying the werewolf, is to prove that he is one. You’ve, umm, you’ve proven this fact over and over again the past 3 weeks. Perhaps we can skip observation.”

“You mean…”

Bill gave him a stern look. “Go somewhere where you won’t be seen,” he ordered. “You are to report here tomorrow morning at 8am. I want a full description of what it’s like.”

“Thank you, sir,” Dib whispered. He strode calmly out the door and closed it softly. The moment it closed, however, he bounded off, whooping loudly.

Bill flopped down at his desk and stared blankly at the body of the monster. “Dib was right,” he mused aloud. “The monster really is inside us.” He picked up the phone. “I need a cleanup crew in here. I’ve got a death here and it wasn’t neat.” He plunked the phone down and sagged. This long night was just getting started.

-----

The sun was setting as Dib burst into his house. “Gaz!” he shouted. “Dad! I won’t be put under observation tonight, but I need to stay where I can be watched so I don’t kill anyone!”

He threw his sword onto the kitchen table. “I’ve got about 2 minutes, I need someone to clean off my sword before it rusts!” He stopped his running around the house. “Gaz? Dad? Is anyone home?”

He snorted. “It figures they’d all be…”

Dib turned around as the sun died and the first rays of the full moon stabbed through the window into his eyes. He gasped, frozen to the spot as a chill swept over his body. Then it started.

Dib was overcome with a feeling like rats crawling all over his body. He closed his eyes and shook, as the feeling got stronger, as the fur grew. Eyes and mouth opened in a silent scream as bones shifted, grew, shrank, dissolved, and appeared. The scream formed as his face lengthened into a snout, teeth growing into fangs. Screams became howls as his senses changed, growing stronger, sharper. He fell forward onto clawed front paws, paws that still bore the structure and dexterity of hands.

Dib stood there, panting with exertion. Oh man, that hurt. He lifted his front paws, examining himself. He sat down. He was still trapped in his clothes and wriggling didn’t seem to help. The wolf form was larger than the human form so his clothes were largely ripped to shreds, a lost cause. He tore them off and blinked out his contacts, shaking himself of the constricted feeling. He took a deep satisfied breath and looked around.

Color was gone but shadows were thrown into greater relief. The darkness held no secrets. He could hear the sounds of the house settling after a day in the sun, the sounds of a cockroach skittering in the bathtub, the sounds of a Gameslave. Wait, a Gameslave?

Dib padded upstairs and stopped at the closed door to Gaz’s room. He grabbed the doorknob but found it locked. Ok, let’s try another tactic. “Woof.” Let me in.

The sounds stopped. Gaz threw the door open. “Dib?” she asked.

“Bark.” Hi. Wag tail.

Gaz leaned against the doorframe. “So I take it I don’t have to kill you,” she said.

Shake of head. No, you don’t.

“So, what do you want to do?”

I don’t know. What do you want to do?

“Wait, you can’t talk, can you?”

Nope. I’m bored. What do you want to do?

“Well, Dad said he’d be home early, which means anytime before midnight. I’m going to get back to my game. Why don’t you go do werewolf things?”

Whine. Nooo. I’m supposed to stay where I can be watched. I can’t do werewolf things inside.

Gaz scratched behind his ears. “There, I pet you,” she said. “Now go away.”

Hey, that felt good. Do that again.

Gaz slammed the door and got back to her game.

Hmph. Now what am I supposed to do?

The still open front door beckoned. Dib gave into temptation.

Outside, Dib sighed and shook away the feeling of humanity. He howled and took off running. He stopped outside a 24-7. Wait, where am I going?

“Bark! Barkbarkbarkbarkbark!” Hey! You! Yeah you!

Dib turned around to see a little terrier tied up outside the door. It was barking at him. “Woof.” Hello. Who are you?

“Bark! Yipyipbarkbarkgrowlbark!” You! Get over here you big freak; I’ll whoop your ass!

Dib’s shoulders slumped. “Woof woof bark woof.” Idiot. You’re the size of my paw. I could swallow you whole.

“Yipbarkbarkgrowl!” Afraid of me! You wuss come over here and let me whoop your ass!

Dib stood on his hind legs and howled. I am Dib! I rule this territory! All who oppose me will be destroyed! Arrgh! And with that he ran off.

The terrier yiped and hid behind a newspaper machine. Several people from inside the 24-7 rushed out and looked around. “What the hell was that?” they asked.

-----

Dib sat outside Zim’s house. I haven’t seen Zim in so long. I think I’ll say hi. He trotted up the walkway, gnomes following his every movement. He sat in front of the door and rang the doorbell.

Gir opened the door. “Ooo, a puppy,” Gir crooned. Gir grabbed Dib by a forelimb and dragged him inside.

Zim appeared from the kitchen. “Gir, what is that?” he asked.

Gir wrapped Dib in a painful hug. “It’s a puppy!” Gir gushed. “Can I keep it, can I can I can I?”

Zim strode up to the “puppy.” “It’s kinda big, Gir,” Zim said.

Dib looked down at Zim. The little alien only stood as high as his shoulder. “Woof.” Man Zim, haven’t you figured out that growth serum yet?

Zim took a closer look. “Ack!” he screamed. “Gir, get that puppy outside! It’s probably all germy and filthy?”

Filthy?! Now wait just one minute.

“Aww, please?” Gir asked.

“OUT!” Zim demanded.

Gir sighed and shoved Dib out the door. “You gotta go, Puppy,” Gir said. “Come by later, k?”

Dib fell out the door, confused. What just happened? He shrugged and trotted off. Hey, maybe Dad’s home. He turned toward home and started to run.

-----

Professor Membrane stood before the open door of his home. He sighed and walked inside. He ducked into the kitchen, just in case, and saw Dib’s sword, blood drying to the blade. He picked up the sword and proceeded to search the house. Nobody here, nothing missing. He pounded on Gaz’s door. “Gaz, do you know why the front door was wide open?” he asked.

Gaz paused her game and opened the door. “I have no idea,” she said. “Dib must have left it open when he left.”

“And how long ago did he leave?”

Gaz looked at the clock. “About two hours ago,” she said. “Actually he had already transformed so he probably couldn’t close the door.”

“You let him leave, though he had already transformed? Do you have any idea what they’ll do to him if he’s caught?”

Gaz threw up her hands. “Well what the hell was I supposed to do?” she demanded.

“Anything! Just keep him here! My god, Gaz, were you even thinking about his well being or were you too wrapped up in that game?!”

“I’m sure he’s fine, Dad. When he came home he said they weren’t going to kill him so long as he stayed out of trouble.”

“Gaz, he’s a newly transformed werewolf in the middle of the suburbs. Do you have any idea the temptations he’s likely facing right now?”

Meanwhile, Dib was sniffing the contents of an overturned trashcan. “Woof.” Hey, this is pretty neat.

The Great Dane sniffing with him grinned. “Woof woof.” See? Isn’t it great out here? I escape from my humans every night to come do this. You find the greatest stuff in these cans.

A light above them turned on and a window opened. “Hey you! Get outta my garbage, you mutts!”

The Great Dane barked. RUN! Dib and the Dane ran a few blocks, stopping in an alley.

Dib sat down, tail wagging. “Woof.” Hey, that was fun. You do this every night?

“Woof.” Yeah. What about you? I’ve never seen you before.

They sniffed each other. My name’s Dib. What’s yours?

My humans call me Maynard. Will I see you again? You don’t have a collar.

Dib shrugged. I only get out when the moon is round. I spend the rest of the time as a human.

Maynard was impressed. You’re your own human? Wow. I wish I could do that.

No you don’t. The other humans don’t like it. I guess they’re jealous.

Well so am I. Can I watch you change back? So I’ll know which human you are?

Dib looked up. I won’t change back until the sun comes up and I have to go somewhere. You wanna come with?

Sure!

Dib and Maynard ran the two streets over to Dib’s house.

Maynard looked up at the house. This where you live?

Yeah. You know it?

Maynard shook. Your trashcans always smell weird.

Dib sat on the porch and rang the doorbell.

Inside, the Professor was still arguing with Gaz when the doorbell rang. He turned to her. “This will continue,” he promised. He stormed down and opened the door. On the doorstep were two canines. One was a huge Great Dane, the other was obviously a werewolf. The werewolf wagged his tail. “Dib?” Membrane asked, suddenly fearful.

“Bark!” Hi Dad!

“Woof?” Can he change too?

“Woof.” No, just me. “Woof woof.” Dad, could you let us in? This is Maynard, he’s a friend of mine.

The Professor stood in the doorway, staring blankly at the two of them, still holding the sword. “Dib, is that you?” he asked, fear fading.

Dib nodded. Yes, Dad it’s me.

The Professor dropped the sword and wrapped his arms around Dib. “Oh, Dib, I was so worried,” he murmured, “Bill told me what happened, you were supposed to stay here.”

Dib pulled back. Bill told you? Wait, Bill talks to you?

Maynard gave them a look. Who’s Bill?

Bill’s a human I work with.

The Professor turned to Maynard. “Dib, is this your friend?” he asked.

Dib nodded.

“Why don’t you both come in?” Membrane asked, ushering them both inside.

Maynard wrinkled his nose. Dude, your house smells weird. It’s coming from down there. He gestured toward the basement.

Yeah I know. My Dad does weird stuff with strange smelling things. I’m used to it.

The Professor sat down at the kitchen table and began cleaning Dib’s sword. “You know, Dib,” he scolded, “you need to take better care of your sword if you don’t want it to rust.”

Oh, like I had time. How do you know Bill?

Dude, he’s a human. I don’t think he’s gonna understand. You got any food?

You’re still hungry?

No, but eating is something to do. Does this place have a TV?

Sure. Dib led Maynard out of the kitchen, despite the Professor’s protests, and showed him to the TV.

Cool. You have a couch too. Maynard flopped down on the couch and clicked the remote. He flipped through the channels to find a late night monster movie. I love this show.

Dib wandered back to the kitchen. You were saying, Dad?

-----

One in the morning found the Professor dozing in a chair, Dib and Maynard snoozing in a pile on the couch, and Gaz in the kitchen looking for a snack. She paused the living room and took in the scene. She shrugged and went back upstairs.

Maynard woke up. Hey, Dib, get up.

Dib stirred. What for?

I need to go check on my humans. Come on.

Dib got up. Yeah, ok. They left, making sure the front door slammed behind them.

Dib and Maynard ended up on Zim’s cul-de-sac. Dib stopped in his tracks when he realized where they were. Wait, Maynard, you live here?

Yeah. My humans say the little human at the end there keeps all the crime away. I still check on them a few times every night, just to make sure.

Dib looked at the house next to Zim’s. It was the only one with a “Beware of Dog” sign. So you live there?

Yep. In there are my humans.

Dib’s tail wagged with excitement. I’ve seen you before! I’m the human who comes over to bug the little human at the end!

Maynard’s tail wagged. Hey, I know you too. Man, you had a big head as a kid. He trotted up to his house to check on the humans inside.

Dib sighed. Why does everyone say that?

Maynard came back. Everything’s fine. So, what do you wanna do?

Dib grinned. Let’s just run around, I’m sure we’ll find something.

-----

Dib and Maynard sat on Dib’s porch, exhausted and happy. That was fun.

Yeah. Hey, the sun’s rising.

Dib looked into the sun and felt the chill again. His snout flattened against his skull. Bones shifted again, his teeth shrank, his tail disappeared, and his fur started to fall out.

Maynard took a step back. Whoa. Whoa, dude, you weren’t kidding. Um, Dib?

Dib lay on the cold cement, gasping in pain. “Unngh,” he said, voice returning. “Maynard?”

Maynard took another step back. “Woof bark bark whine.”

Dib looked up at Maynard. “Maynard, it’s me,” he murmured. “Shhh, it’s ok, I’m still me.” He stretched out his hand

Maynard took a cautious step forward and sniffed the hand. He nosed the hand and let Dib pet him a little. He pulled back and ran away.

Dib sighed. He scratched his arms, fur falling away as he rubbed it off. He started to rub himself all over then looked down. He blushed and rang the doorbell. “C’mon, Dad, open the door!” he shouted. “I’m naked out here!”

The Professor opened the door, ready for work. “Oh thank god you’re alright,” he said, wrapping his son in a crushing hug. “I’ve got to go to the lab.”

“Don’t you ever sleep?”

The Professor waved goodbye and drove away. Dib went inside, shedding with every step.

End Chapter 3