Chapter 4 – Morning

The next morning, 2D awoke to the sunlight gazing in threw the window. He went to roll over but fell off his bed, he quickly got upright and that's when he noticed that Ruth was not in her bed. He looked around the small room and called out for her but there was no reply. So he left the room and the same sweaty armpit guy was still at the counter, but this time just playing cards. 2D looked at him strangely and cocked his head a little bit.

"Are you playing cards by yourself?" The man looked at him.

"Yea, I'm bored. But, I could always use another player." He motioned for 2D to sit across from him. 2D shrugged and did so. "Great, we're playing the old classic "Slap Jack"." He shuffled and started dealing out the cards.

"I was actually wondering if you had seen my friend Ruth." The man looked at 2D.

"What? She your lady friend that was supposed to meet you up here last night? That's the only thing this motel ever gets used for."

"What? Ew, no! She was the little girl I was with last night! The one that kicked your chair out from underneath you!" He thought.

"That was her? Oh, well no, I ain't seen her." They both started laying down cards at the same time. 2D started to get worried. "Name's Ned by the way, you're 2D right? That Gorillaz guy who lives over in London?" He nodded as Ned slapped the first Jack. "What brings you all the way over here? Especially to this dumpy motel?"

"Ruth." 2D slapped the next Jack as Ned squinted. "We're trying to figure out her past, said she got amnesia or something. Thinks her family might live here." Ned slapped the next jack and grinned.

"Next jack wins the game." They both stared intently on the table. "Well, if I were you, I'd check with the school system, if she's "little" and lives here then she ought to be in the system. But be wary about asking the name "Ruth" around these parts, there are some fellows who wouldn't take too keen to hearing that name." 2D raised an eyebrow.

"Why's that?" The last jack was laid down as they both went to slap it, 2D hit it first but Ned grabbed his hand and squeezed it. 2D let go of the jack as Ned slapped it and stared at 2D.

"Sometimes it's best not to ask questions, might wind up getting hurt…" 2D stared at Ned. That's when Ruth appeared and relived 2D's worries!

"Where have you been?" Ruth looked around.

"Oh, I was searching for maybe a continental breakfast, but this place doesn't even have that!"

"Don't worry me like that! I didn't know where you went!" He said while rubbing his hand. Ruth looked at him intently.

"What's going on?" She said unsure. 2D looked at Ned to see him shaking his head.

""Ned" here thinks we 'ought to go ask the school system if you're in their registry."

"That's a great idea!" 2D turned back to Ruth and smiled.

"Let's get started then, don't want to bother this man any longer." She nodded her head as they exited the building. They walked a couple blocks when Ruth asked,

"What happened to your hand?" 2D had still been rubbing on it, Ned had quite a squeeze.

"I don't know what is in your past Ruth, but I got a bad feeling there are some things we aren't going to like."

"Why you say that?"

"That man, he said that there are some people who don't like getting asked about the name 'Ruth'. Then he squeezed my hand…" Ruth's face was stern.

"Well, whatever it is, I'm going to find out. And I'm not letting no stinky, sweaty, grody, armpit hair guy get in the way of it!" She thought for a moment. "But wait, why would he give us a tip on where to search then basically threaten you?" 2D thought too then shrugged.

"Well, if we are going to go to the school we got to first figure out where it is." Ruth nodded. "Looks like we're going to be doing a lot of walking."