A/N: HOLY HELL. It's been too long since I've last updated this story, and I apologize for that. Life, school, and laziness happened, y'know?
BUT, I am back(ish), I'm motivated to finish the stories I've already started, and I promise to at least try to update a little more often.
Murdoc looked at Stuart as he walked into the office. "What's with you and trying to kill me?" He said with a frown. He got into a stance that allowed him to fight or flee if need be, his fists balled tight.
The look on Stuart's face was as smug as ever. He didn't respond, instead he decided to disappear right before the bassist's eyes.
Murdoc's senses heightened as he looked around for any sign of the Saturday boy. The sound of faint whispering could be heard bouncing off the walls and into his ears.
Was it near or far?
He couldn't tell.
What was it saying?
He couldn't tell that either.
Who did it belong to?
His best guess was Stuart. He did a 360, keeping his eyes and ears keen for a sign of Stuart. He stopped turning, focusing all his energy into listening, since his eyes were failing him right now.
"I told you already that I'm '2D's' true feelings. His inner hatred. I'm his masked emotions." Stuart, who was now standing behind the bassist, whispered into his ear.
A gasp escaped from Murdoc's mouth, though he tried his best to keep inaudible. His hitched breathing stalled for a moment. He refused to let Stuart see him jump. Then adrenaline began coursing through his body. He moved out of the way as fast as he could to dodge an attack Stuart had anticipated on delivering.
The Satanist turned to Stuart and got a good look at him. He looked just like his best mate. He sounded just like his best mate. But their behaviors were polar opposites, which ruled him out on the chances of being 2D.
"If you really believe that, you're mistaken." Stuart said in a smug manner and chuckled, somehow reading his mind. "This is your Hell. You never know what to expect."
Murdoc raised a questioning eyebrow. "So, you're telling me you're 2D?"
Stuart shook his head. "I never said such a thing."
"But, you said 'you never know what to expect' in a way that suggests you are 2D-"
Stuart cut him off. "What I was saying is that you shouldn't be so quick to assume things." He was beginning to lose his patience.
Even though he tried to hide it, Murdoc could tell Stuart's agitation grew the longer this conversation carried on. The tables turned and it was Murdoc who has the smug look on his features. "One can't help but to assume things if you say a 'warning' in that manner."
Stuart rolled his eyes. "How do you know it's not a bluff?"
"So you're bluffing now?"
"I never said I was."
"But you hinted that you are."
"Rest assured I am not."
"You're bluffing."
"I am not!"
"How I am to be certain you are not? Hell, everyone here could be bluffing. You and I both."
"So, you're the one bluffing."
"I'm bluffing just as much as you are."
"Since I'm not bluffing, that means you aren't bluffing either."
"But you're bluffing, so I'm bluffing as well." Murdoc's smug grin grew wider.
"You're a complicated asshole." Stuart spat in defeat.
"Being a 'complicated asshole' makes up my personality, which makes me Murdoc." The shorter man chuckled, walking around Stuart. "Just like your negativity makes you Stuart, which makes you 2D."
"…" Stuart had completely lost track of how this conversation started and what was the motive behind it all. In his attempt to play a mind game with Murdoc, he'd allowed himself to get mind fucked, and now he stood there fuming and dazed.
"Would you like to talk about how you could be Stuart?" Murdoc asked, his smirk getting wider.
The boy was determined to make a comeback. "It depends on who you mean when you say 'Stuart'."
"I mean '2D' Stuart."
Stuart balled his fist. "I told you I wasn't 2D." He said through clenched teeth. He was getting fucking tired of this guy.
"But I thought you were 2D's inner negativity."
"I am…"
"If you are, that makes you 2D. All emotions, positive and negative, make a person.
"…"
Murdoc wanted to push him some more. "Furthermore, you are 2d because-"
"LISTEN HERE YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Stuart shouted as he tackled Murdoc. "I TOLD YOU ALREADY THAT I AM NOT 2D!" He shouted as he hit Murdoc in the jaw repeatedly, straddling him.
Murdoc, stunned at first, regained his senses and punched him in the stomach. This for a moment made Stuart weak enough for the bassist to push off of him and get up. He cracked his neck, then his knuckles. "As I was saying. You, Stuart, are 2D because of the many similarities you two share. One of them being you were never good at outsmarting me." He finished the statement the teen cut off as he stood over him, that smirk never leaving his face. Superiority dripped from the words he spoke just as much as blood dripped from his lip.
Stuart ceased nursing his stomach and growled a guttural growl as he looked up at the bassist. "So, you saw through my little game."
"It wasn't too hard to do so."
Stuart stood up and popped his back. "Well then. How about we strike a deal?"
Murdoc looked at him funny "Hell-"
"Before you decline my offer, listen to it. If you can get my 'spirit', for lack of a better word, out of 2D's body, he's yours." The young adult smirked. "Forever."
The bass player slit his eyes.
"Unfortunately, that will never happen. I'll kill you before you get the chance."
Murdoc shrugged off the threat. "Do you have inner anger? I bet you do. I know it's in you." He chuckled. "Stop holding back you Fag! Let me see just how angry you can get!"
"Fine then. I didn't want it to come to this, but you've provoked me enough. " He shouted while charging at Murdoc.
The raven haired man stayed right where he was and sidestepped at the last second. He grabbed Stuart's dark blue hair and slammed his head into the keyboard of the large computer screen.
Just like he'd done 2D many times at Wobble Street, Murdoc smashed the teen's head into the keyboard. Once it moved completely out of the way, Stuart's head was meeting desk. Slamming his head on the desk one final time, the sickening sound of bone cracking reverberated in his head. The smell of blood licked his nostrils.
"Fuck…" He lifted Stuart's head and looked at him in the face. He got carried away, forgetting that this was still 2D's body.
In his last moments of life, Stuart looked up at Murdoc with a smirk on his face. He shook his head weakly. "You fell right into my trap." He rasped.
Murdoc frowned. "What do you mean I 'fell into your damn trap'?!"
"You'll see…" He said with a chuckle. His bloodied eyes lost the wet shine they had to them and his head fell to the side as a black thing crawled out of his mouth. The shadowy creature looked at Murdoc for a few seconds with its beady read eyes and flew away.
Stuart's breathing was ragged. He fell the floor, curling into a ball and whimpering. He then began to age 17 years. Once it was over there laid 2D, the damage Murdoc had done mostly faded away, but his head and nose were still oozing blood.
"2D! Hey, get up." Murdoc said, alarmed. He tapped his cheeks, getting pained groaning in response. He heaved a sigh. Grabbing onto 2D's arms, the bassist hoisted the bluenette up into a sitting position and kneeled in front of him. "Stuart, mate, can you hear me?"
The latter nodded in reply as his head gradually fell to the side.
"Look at me." Murdoc lifted his chin to see that he'd also managed to split the man's lip as well. Getting to work, he removed his worn, battered gray sweater and tore it. Taking the first torn piece of cloth, he wiped 2D's nose, forehead, and lip. Tearing another piece off, he wrapped it around 2D's forehead, covering the gash that was there. Resting his arms on 2D's shoulders, he cupped his face in his hands. "Stuart mate, look at me and tell me how many fingers I'm holding up." Removing his left hand, he held up the first four fingers on his hand. Looking at the place where his arm rested before, he saw that he'd left some on his blood on the singer's already bloodied shirt.
The raven haired man was so wrapped up in stress and fighting Stuart that he didn't notice he himself was bleeding.
"Four." 2D finally replied.
Nodding, Murdoc ripped more of his torn sweater and wrapped his arms in it. "C'mon. We gotta get outta here." He stood and wiped the bit of blood that was on his hands onto his white wife beater and offered his hand to 2D.
2D nodded and with the help of Murdoc he was back on his feet again. As soon as he was on his feet, the same deep, distorted sounding voice from before laughed, causing 2D to jump.
"You guys are running out of time!" It said, sounding too happy about that.
"R-running out of time?" 2D spoke up.
"Why yes little boy blue! You see, you must make it up to the roof in 9 minutes or else."
"What'll happen if we don't?" Murdoc inquired. He knew it was a bad choice to ask, but he had to know.
The voice chuckled. "Glad you asked Murdoc. You see, you guys' souls are on the line. And that black demon that crawled out of Stu boy's mouth? It's after them."
The security cameras all flicked off, accept for the once overlooking the halls. They saw the shadowed demon floating through the empty breezeways at high speed.
"We promised Speedy Gonzalez there that it could have them if you guys failed to make it on the roof in time. It's currently on the second floor. But, because we like to see a show, the closer it gets to the top, the weaker and slower it becomes." The voice chortled once more. "Good luck." It said, voice having gotten deeper.
Murdoc looked behind at the TVs to the highest level and turned around, taking off. 2D followed close behind him.
"How many floors do we have to go to?" 2D asked, finally catching up with the bassist.
"Five." Murdoc replied back.
After a minute of running, they came cross an elevator. Immediately, Murdoc called it and once they were inside he pressed THE '5' button. It jerked a little then shot them up. The men inside both found themselves struggling to stay standing, the velocity of the lift making them dizzy. Just as the lift was about to go to the 5th floor, it came to an abrupt halt.
"No! Not now!" Murdoc shouted in frustration. He tried to pry the doors open, with no luck. "2 Dents, come and help me open this." He commanded.
2D walked over to him, and latching on to one door each, they both managed to open the doors. The singer looked up to see that they were stuck betwixt floors.
"We're between floors, Murdoc." 2D said, turning back towards the bassist. He looked over at Murdoc with a worried expression. "If you want, I'll go first and help you up."
"That's not necessary. I'll go first." Murdoc said, walking past 2D and taking a deep breath.
"But Murdoc, you're anablephobic. If you don't feel comfortable-"
"I'm fine." Murdoc said more firm.
"Try not to look up too much, Muds."
Murdoc nodded and took a bit of a running start and jumped, making it. Squeezing his eyes shut, he pulled himself up. "Stuart, gimme a boost."
2D grabbed his leg and pushed him as Murdoc crawled the rest of the way up.
Since 2D was a few inches taller, he didn't have to make a running start, instead just jumping up and steadying his feet to the wall. "Murdoc." He called out to the latter, holding out his hand.
Grabbing his hand, he helped 2D up the rest of the way. Not even 2 seconds later the elevator reanimated and moved up quicker than it did the last time. Getting up, the duo ran towards the stairs to take them to the fire escape, they bumped into the used to be shadow demon after their souls. It solidified the closer it got to the top.
The demon immediately flew upwards, crashing through the ceiling.
"No!" 2D shouted as he grabbed onto it, going through the ceiling as well.
"2D!" Murdoc yelled, grabbing 2D by his ankle and ascending towards the roof with them.
The demon began to fly erratically in an attempt to make them fall. It flew high up and flailed harder than before.
The men holding on to it shouted profanities and held on as tight as they could. The whole time Murdoc refused to look up, instead looking down. He saw that they were right over the place where the door was.
"2D!" Murdoc called out to the younger man. "Let go right now. I swear to you that everything will be just fine, just trust me and let go."
Timid, 2D let go of the demon and the bandmates found themselves falling once again.
Falling always has two effects. The more imaginative mind can imagine them flying like their favorite superhero.
The latter effect afflicts those who are in touch with reality. It panics you. It scares you. It makes you realize that at the end of the day you are nothing but a fragile human being. A human being who can be easily broken once your body comes in contact with the ground.
The duo once again found themselves falling… falling… falling…
Coming closer to the door, which is their ground.
Murdoc looked over at 2D, who was pale. His eyes flushed white.
Closer…
2D looked over at Murdoc, who's hair blew back, showing his eyebrows. He's never seen a more freaked out expression on his face until now.
Closer…
The men's eyes finally met, and without words, they both nodded and shielded their heads.
They crashed head first through the door and finally, to the ground. 2D opened his eyes and looked down to see the wood floor of the hallway. He groaned and sat up, still feeling lightheaded and pained from the impact of the fall. Before he could even begin to process a thought he was jerked to the side. The feeling of sharp fingernails digging into his scalp made him wince.
"Holy Hell Stuart! I thought I'd lost you forever in this damned place." Murdoc said, squeezing 2D's head. "I thought I wasn't gonna find you and we both were gonna be trapped here forever."
"Um, Muds, I can't breathe." 2D rasped out.
Murdoc realized he was indeed suffocating the singer, and showing more a loving emotion towards him than usual. Clearing his throat, he pushed 2D away.
"WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD YOU TELL ME TO LEAVE YOU LIKE THAT, HUH?! WHAT IF I HAD NEVER FOUND YOU? Then you'd be trapped in this shithole for eternity and guess who's fault it'd be? YOURS, you moron!" He screamed, punching 2D in the chest. He positioned himself so that his back was against the wall and staring straight ahead.
Rubbing his chest, 2D glared at Murdoc for a bit and sat next to him. He counted from 5 to 1 in his head.
"But are you alright? Are you still bleeding? What did that demon do to you?"
Stuart smirked to himself. "I'm fine, Murdoc." He was quiet for a moment, then he looked over at the latter. "Can we sit out here for a while? I'm not ready to go through another one of your memories."
Murdoc nodded. "Sure thing, dullard."