Mastermind

by AGrayCat

When a severe circumstance causes 2D's behavior to change, Noodle realizes that there may be more to him than meets the eye, a side of him that hasn't been seen since the fateful car crash that started Gorillaz. And that's only where the secrets begin... Danger lies in the path of discovery. Phase 5. 2Nu. OOC 2D.

33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Crash and Burn, Pt. 2

. . .

As soon as the van's doors closed behind me, the Pal at the wheel hit the gas. I fell into the nearest seat, grunting as my back hit the firm upholstery.

2D touched my shoulder. "Are you alright, Noodle? Did you get hurt at all during the fight with that Supplier?"

"No, I'm fine," I reassured. "How about you?"

"I scraped my elbow when I fell, but it only stings a little bit." He held up his arm, showing off the pink skin with an unconcerned grin. "It's not even bleeding."

I leaned up, feeling his face warm as I pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Good." I brushed my palm over his knuckles, and he let my fingers intertwine with his.

Our encounter with the Suppliers had been a close call, but I was excited – if we stayed ahead of them, their base would be short on defense when we arrived! We were so close to finally putting these painful times behind us. 2D would never have to worry about the Suppliers and their pills ever again!

"Muds." Russel's voice was low and uncharacteristically soft from the back seats. Recalling how frail he'd seemed after freaking out at the sound of gunfire, I turned to get a better look at the drummer – thankfully, he seemed much more relaxed now, if still a bit pale. "Thanks for helping me back there – with the panic attack," He murmured to Murdoc, casting the bassist a small grin.

"Don't sweat it, Russ," Murdoc mumbled back, seeming almost embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

2D shivered beside me – I thought I saw a flash of agitation flicker over his face. I squeezed his hand, trying to be comforting despite my confusion – was something about Murdoc's behavior bothering him?

As the van leaned into a curve and rode an exit to a broader road, I saw a procession of the other Pals' cars extending in a dotted line beyond us. The man at the wheel – Keith, Dawn had said – turned to his co-pilot. "Do you see any Suppliers on our tail?"

"None."

"Good. What's the word from Cal?"

The co-pilot tapped on his phone. "He wants us to take the fourth exit off this road – it'll be called Firefly Lane. Other cars in our group will be splitting off and trying other routes."

As the road took our caravan inland, the craggy stone environment softened into patches of trees and fields. Broad shadows spilled over the sides of rolling hills. Golden light streaked the western sky, fusing softly into a dome of smoky gray. It would be harder to spot the Supplier's facility in the dark, but once we turned on our headlights, they would be able to spot us a mile away.

"Isn't this EXCITING!?" Ace bounced in his seat, flashing his grin at me from the other side of 2D before turning to the back where Murdoc and Russel were resting. "It's been too long since I've gotten into the thick of some real trouble! Do you think we'll be able to make the Suppliers' facility blow up? I love it when things blow up! I got to see explosions all the time back in Townsville!"

Russel groaned. "If an explosion is the quickest way to take the facility down, I'm all for it. I just want this madness to be over with so we can get back to living semi-normal lives."

Murdoc chuckled. "That's the spirit, Russ!" The bassist's tone was enthusiastic, but the shadows under his eyes left him looking tired and worn.

2D tightened his hand around mine, and I ran my thumb over his skin. I knew that the singer was still wary of Murdoc. Perhaps 2D thought Murdoc would lose faith in our plan at the last moment, as he had with his plan on Plastic Beach.

For all our sakes, I hoped the past wouldn't repeat itself.

Ahead of us, a segment of our caravan broke off to take Zurich Road. The co-pilot faced us. "We're splitting up to take a couple different routes toward the coordinates – best if the Suppliers don't catch us all in the same place next time they set a trap. The car in front of us is going to lead us and the next two vans down Firefly Lane. Our little pack will stay together for a few kilometers, but once we get near the coordinates, we'll be splitting up again. Each vehicle will choose a different road to explore since we don't know the Facility's exact address. I'll need every single one of you on the lookout – we don't know what this Facility looks like, so give every building we pass a good look."

I nodded. "There will probably be Suppliers positioned near the Facility, so we should be on the lookout for them."

Murdoc huffed, tilting his head back onto his seat. "We'll probably hear them shooting at us before we see anything."

Russel paled with a shudder.

I frowned. "Russel, are you going to be okay when the gunfire starts up?"

He took a deep breath and mustered an expression halfway between a grin and a grimace. "I'll be fine, Noodle-girl. I'm with you guys all the way."

We reached our turn. A silver sedan led us onto a narrow road with a single lane traveling in either direction. Firefly Lane delved into a thick copse of tall oaks; I could see the namesake insects flashing faintly around us as the canopy plunged the road in mottled shadows. Our van's headlights painted a glowing ring of vision over the gray street.

"While we're on our way, you guys should prepare," Keith called back. "There are pistols under your seats. Get familiar with them."

I let go of 2D's hand to rifle under our seats. Feeling metal under my fingertips, I seized the shining body of a – flute?

"Yeah, there are some instruments under there too," Said the co-pilot, smirking with suppressed laughter as he saw me brandishing the flute. "You might have to dig around a bit."

"I've got 'em!" Ace announced, hauling a duffel bag of pistols onto his lap before doling them out. "Here's some for you guys in the back, one for Noodle, one for 2D, and one for me!"

I let the weight of the weapon sink into my hands, delicately probing the safety and the trigger. This pistol wouldn't have as far a range as the tommy gun I'd used on Plastic Beach, but it would even the playing field between us and the Suppliers. Around me, my companions seemed to be feeling out their own guns well enough, although Russel still looked decidedly pale. 2D tapped his fingers nervously against his thighs as he stared distastefully at the gun in his lap. "'D," I asked gently, "have you used a gun before?"

"Eh – once," He stammered. "When – when we were getting you back from the Suppliers, I shot one of their car's tires. But… I've never shot at a person before."

For all he'd been through, 2D was such a peace-loving person – I couldn't imagine how much it would weigh on his conscience if he had to take a life. Such an act would weigh on my conscience too – I still got nightmares about my violent past at the super-soldier compound. But I would do whatever it took to protect my family, and I knew 2D would too.

Feeling an ache in my chest, I leaned into 2D's shoulder. "Everything will be alright. I'll be here to support you every step of the way."

2D's dropped his chin on my head. "Thanks, Love."

Ace flung his arm around 2D's other side. "We've all got each other's backs! Go Team Gangreen – er, I mean, Team Gorillaz!"

With a smirk, I replied, "Someone's happy to be causing chaos with a gang again."

Ace laughed. "Don't you know it!"

We reached a fork in the road. The silver sedan veered onto Moon Street, but we and the two vans following us continued down Firefly Lane. After another kilometer, the treeline broke into a small meadow.

"We'll be taking Sorcerer Drive, that road branching into the field," The co-pilot announced. "The other vans will be continuing down Firefly Lane. We're on our own from there, so look sharp."

I nodded, scanning the area. Barely anything was visible beyond the glow of our headlights. A few vague shapes along the side of the road solidified into bushes as we sped past. Our headlights gleamed off a narrow street sign – then I felt that familiar, ominous prickle on my neck. I squeezed 2D's hand tightly. "Guys, the Suppliers are nearby."

"What makes you think that?" Keith shot me a dubious glance through the rearview mirror. "I don't see anyone."

"Noodle has good instincts –" 2D and Murdoc's voices cut off as they realized they'd spoken in sync. 2D shifted uncomfortably, brushing my thigh as Murdoc made a small cough.

Humming thoughtfully, the co-pilot replied, "I'll let the others know that we have reason to suspect the Suppliers are on this road. Until then, keep your eyes sharp and have your weapons at the ready."

"They could be hiding in the bushes, or at the treeline further down the road," I added. The piles of shaggy brush lining the road were getting thicker and taller, and my super-soldier instincts were getting more prickly.

Then, just as we were about to reach our turn, two trucks zoomed out from behind a large thicket. They blocked both routes forward, one on Sorcerer Drive, the other on Firefly Lane.

Cursing, Keith hit the gas. "Hold on everyone; we're going off-road! Guns at the ready! Tim, tell the others that the Suppliers are here!"

"On it!" The co-pilot responded.

The van shuddered as we veered into the scrub. We took a diagonal path from Firefly lane to Sorcerer Drive, cutting the corner of our turn so that we could get around the road block.

Gunfire split the air.

"Some of the others are also reporting ambushes," The co-pilot informed. "The Suppliers have spread out; they don't want to give away the exact location of their facility!"

"Then we'll continue on our route as planned," Keith replied. Then he cursed. "That truck is following us. You lot, whoever's closest to the windows, take some shots. If you've got a good eye, aim for their tires. If not, try their windshield. And be careful, they're shooting at us too!" As if to confirm his statement, a sharp CHING resounded as a bullet hit our rear window. Cracks formed a ring around the halted projectile – The window had stayed intact, but we couldn't be sure how many more shots it would withstand.

As the van's velocity increased, I could feel my heartrate speeding up, adrenaline creeping through my blood. Time to fight.

I lowered my window. I could hear Ace doing the same on his side. 2D released my fingers so that I could hold my pistol with both hands. "Be careful, Love!" he urged as I leaned into the rushing wind.

As quickly as I could, I fired two rapid shots at a front tire then pulled my arms and head back into the van. From what I could tell through the rear window, my bullets hadn't found their mark. I tightened my hands around the pistol in frustration. I need time to take good aim, but I can't give them enough time to return fire!

Meanwhile, Ace cheered as cracks appeared on the Suppliers' windshield. "Heh, got 'em! They'll have some trouble seeing through that!"

When two more bullets cracked our rear window, his smile soured.

Gritting my teeth with determination, I stuck my head outside to take aim, lingering just a moment longer than last time before firing. Satisfaction burned through me as their truck shuddered – I'd hit my mark!

As I pulled my arms back into the van, a bullet zipped alongside us at hit our side-mirror.

"NOODLE!" 2D squeaked, eyes wide and frantic. "Are you okay?"

I cast him a bolstering smile. "I'm fine; they didn't hit me." But I hit them! My blood burned with excitement.

"Actually," Murdoc growled, "If you take a little break from your adrenaline high and look at yourself, you might notice that they grazed your arm."

Did they really? Holding up my arm, I noticed an angry, red, oozing splotch. "Oh."

"First aide kit's under your seat," The co-pilot called back casually.

With a yelp, 2D dug furiously until he found the small plastic kit, flicking open the top and seizing a roll of gauze. "Hold out your arm!"

I complied with his request. When he began wrapping my wound, I winced at the contact, but was relieved to find that it only stung a bit. "It's not deep. I'll be fine."

2D's dark eyes bored into mine as he gently brushed a windblown lock of hair from my face. "Try to be a little more careful, okay?"

"Okay." I leaned into his palm, pressing a kiss to his skin.

A moment later, the co-pilot's voice rung out appraisingly. "Well, you did a good job. The Suppliers are lagging! We'll be well ahead of them in no time."

I heard another bullet ping off our rear window, but it left much fewer cracks than the previous rounds. Hindered by their flat tire, their vehicle was having trouble keeping speed with us as we zipped down Sorcerer Drive, disappearing from view as we topped a hill.

More meadows met us in this direction, breaking up the woodland until we were weaving on curving paths through broader fields. For the first time since we'd branched from the cliffside route, I saw buildings up ahead. They were far off, but I thought the dark silhouettes resembled a small farmhouse and a barn. It wasn't exactly the sort of imposing facility we were expecting, but it was worth taking a look – who knew; maybe this was a gathering place for the Suppliers. Being so close to our coordinates, whoever lived there might at least know something about them!

However, before we got anywhere near the house and barn, we needed to pass the three cars lined up along the road – one of which had just rolled out to block our path. The back of my neck prickled. Keith slowed our pace. "I'll bet that's the Suppliers – they're protecting those buildings up the road." He turned to his co-pilot. "Tell Cal we need backup. I'm gonna take us off road and park in the bushes – There's too many of them for us to take head-on, and I don't like sitting in plain sight, especially if that truck catches up with us from behind." Flicking off our headlights, he steered the van into the tall grass. I could feel the van rocking on the bumpy turf before we settled behind a dense thicket.

Instead of feeling safer in the brush, I felt chills of misgiving crawl up my neck. The Suppliers up the road had watched us veer into the grass, and if they abandoned their cars to sneak up to us on foot, we wouldn't spot them through the thick foliage until they were right in front of us, close enough for their bullets to pierce our windows. "We should leave the van until backup arrives," I suggested. "We'll be harder for the Suppliers to track that way."

Clutching the wheel tightly, Keith hummed apprehensively. "But then we'd lose the protection of the car, and the ability to make a fast getaway,"

"You're thinking about this the wrong way!" Ace piped in, his grin barely visible in the dark car. "We shouldn't be thinking about hiding and getaways – we're on the attack! If we leave the car, we'll be able to sneak through the tall grass and get to those buildings!"

Murdoc looked dubious. "But we'd run the risk of meeting the Suppliers in the grass," He growled.

Russel nodded. "I'd rather not meet them face-to-face. They're more experienced at shooting and fighting, and they've got three carloads of people on that road. Those aren't great odds."

"But," The co-pilot chipped in, "If some of us stayed in the car and drove around to create a distraction, the rest could creep up to those buildings discretely."

That sounded like a good idea to me. "We can go out and scout," I said, gesturing to the band before looking back at the front seats, "While you two drive the van –"

I was interrupted by a sudden feeling of constriction – 2D's hand was suffocatingly tight around mine. His face was nervous, twitching with an internal battle to stay composed. "Murdoc should stay in the car. That would split us up more evenly."

As the van fell into silence, I tried to meet the singer's eyes, but 2D aversively glanced aside. Russel frowned. "Don't you think the band ought to stick together?" The drummer suggested.

2D squirmed in his seat. "We want to stay stealthy, don't we?" His face scrunched with frustration. "Less people is more stealthy."

"We both know that's not why you want me to stay behind," Murdoc rasped.

2D shivered. His free hand tapped his leg.

Murdoc's voice was rough and insistent. "This isn't the time to let old grudges make us weak! I've learned my lesson, 'D, and I know that I need to work harder to be someone this band can trust. We'll be stronger if we do this together - give me a chance to prove I can do right by you this time!"

2D's eyes squeezed shut. The tension on his face made him look irritated, almost angry – but I could feel the tremors cascading through him as they shook the hand clinging desperately to mine. He was afraid – but he wasn't about to let Murdoc know that. "If you want to do right by me, you can promise that after today I won't see you again," He murmured, struggling not to stammer. "Maybe then I'll be able to sleep s-soundly."

The air felt somehow colder. I tipped my head toward the back and saw a dark look stealing across Murdoc's face. "Fine," He muttered. "I won't hold you up. Go."

2D's gaze finally met mine briefly. He nodded toward the door. "Let's go."

Foreboding lingered in my gut as I stowed the gun in my back pocket and pushed open the door.

The night air was warm. A breeze played with my hair and gently tousled the tall grass and bramble bushes – that was good; we'd be harder to spot in a moving environment. I could hear the band's soft footfalls behind me as I crouched behind a towering patch of briars.

Ignition roared and wind gusted as the van whooshed away. When it neared the road, the van's headlights flickered back on – I could see the co-pilot lean out of his window to shoot at the Suppliers' cars. Their vehicles roared to life and the Suppliers began to shoot back.

"Let's go!" Ace led the way, weaving through the bushes across the field toward the barn.

2D lingered at the back of our pack. He was shaking. I lagged back to walk with him. "'D, are you okay?"

Skittishly, he lowered his gaze to the ground. "Yeah. I just – being around him reminds me how quickly things could go wrong," he whispered. "I keep feeling like I need to look over my shoulder when Murdoc's around. I don't want to enter a dark building with him."

I bumped my shoulder against his arm. "You know I'll keep you safe, right?"

He pulled his eyes up, giving me a long, piercing look. "You trust him," he stated bluntly. He turned his head toward the barn. "Russel trusts him too." He bit his lip, a tumultuous expression crossing his face before he shook his head. "After everything… You still feel like he's a member of your family, and I… I don't. I know you want to protect me from him, but I feel like I'm the only one who actually expects him to act out. And I feel like it's up to me to make sure he stays away from us, and that he won't have another chance to betray us."

With a wince, I realized how isolated 2D must have felt as he watched me and Russel allow Murdoc to slip back into our group today. I hadn't intended to let it happen, but when the Suppliers had caught us off guard with that attack at the Pals' hideout, keeping Murdoc away from 2D had been the last thing on my mind.

Furthermore, as much as I hated to admit it, 'D was right about me trusting Muds. Although I certainly wasn't ready to let the bassist back into our lives, my gut had been telling me to trust Murdoc ever since we'd exchanged that phone call before my trip to Argentina. But I needed 2D to understand that, whether my gut told me to trust the bassist or not, I was on his side. "'D, I'm sorry that this situation has made you feel so alone. I promise that once our fight with the Suppliers is over, Murdoc will be out of the picture. As long as you're not comfortable around him, I'm not going to let him back into the band, and neither will Russ."

2D sighed. He took my hand, lightly brushing his thumb over my knuckles. "I know you, Noods. You don't give up on people you care about. Not on me… Not on him either." Dropping my hand, he followed Russel.

I took a deep breath. Did 2D really expect me to try to pull Murdoc back into our lives just because I 'didn't give up on people I cared about?'"

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I remembered that it was my fault that Murdoc was back in the first place. I had met him in the mountains and guided him back to us. But I'd done it to help us, to help 2D! Dammit, I knew 'D still needed time to recover from his trauma, I knew he wasn't ready to face the bassist, but we had needed Murdoc's plan! Should I have tried harder to find a way to free us from the Suppliers that didn't involve Murdoc?

My thoughts were broken by the flashing of a firefly that nearly bumbled into my eye. I shook my head. Now isn't the time for introspection, I chided myself. I have to focus on this mission!

Up ahead, Ace was slinking about like a cartoon thief, tiptoeing between bushes in a manner that was almost comical. When he finally reached the barn, he slid up to the wall and pressed his body flush to the wooden planks. He turned to me. "Well, miss ninja-instincts, should we scope out this barn or go straight to the farmhouse?"

Biting my lip, I flicked my eyes over the looming wooden structure. I couldn't sense anyone watching us, but there was an ominous feeling tickling my mind, as if just beyond my range of hearing, a horror soundtrack was playing. A chill swept through me, and I shivered before turning to Ace. "We need to explore the barn. Carefully."

Ace nodded. He sidled up to the massive barn door, which was cracked just enough for him to poke his head inside…

"What do you see?" Russel hissed.

"Nothin', it's pitch black. Hold on a sec…" He dug into his back pocket, cursing. "Darn, thought I had a lighter on me… Anybody got a lighter? Or a flashlight, I guess – anything that'd help me see…"

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, turning on the flash. "Here."

"Ah, thanks!" He stepped inside. "Hmmm… It looks pretty empty…"

Russel followed him in. 2D shot me a concerned glance before following suite.

When I stepped forward to follow, I was surprised by a brittle crunch beneath my shoe. What was that? I had to lean down to make out the shape. I'd crushed a cylinder of plastic… A pill bottle.

My heart skipped. "Guys…"

"AH!" Ace's shout was followed by a thump, then the surprised hollers of 2D and Russel.

"GUYS!" Pulse racing, I dashed into the barn.

I nearly gagged on the frenetic atmosphere. My phone had fallen to the floor, and in the dim light it cast, I could see bodies writhing – each of my bandmates had a solid two or three Suppliers grabbing them, dragging them to the floor. I reached for the gun in my back pocket –

And no sooner found three guns pointing at me. "Put the gun down," A darkly-clothed woman ordered.

Hands clutching the cool gunmetal firmly, I scowled at the woman, hesitating to obey her request. I didn't want to lose what little protection I had in this dire situation –

BANG!

"NOODLE!" 2D and Russel screamed.

I could barely move for a moment, in shock at the sharp sensation in my hand. Slowly, I lowered my gaze to the limb – My gun had been knocked clean out of my grip. Blood was pumping out of me through a bullet-hole that pierced my palm dead center.

As if seeing the wound had made it real, the pain hit me like a freight train.

Choking back a scream, I couldn't quite manage to stop a muffled moan from escaping my lips. I slammed my teeth together so hard that my jaw hurt. As I tucked the shaking hand close to my chest, blood soaked into my shirt, hot and thick, running in rivulets that gradually dyed my clothing dark crimson. Shit, shit, shit…

"Looks like someone still hasn't learned when to stop fighting."

My stomach twisted. I recognized that voice.

A familiar, well-muscled figure with short, bristly hair stepped forward, his gun raised to my chest. Although his face had recovered from our alleyway scuffle in Los Angeles, his terminator-like intensity was unmistakable. It was the strongest Supplier I'd met – the one they'd called Francis. "This will be the second time my team has caught you, won't it?" He sneered, tipping his head. "I wonder how the Boss will decide to treat you this time."

Mind fuzzy with pain, I couldn't pull myself together enough to articulate a clever response. "Go to hell," I hissed, wincing when the movement of my chest sent a fresh wave of pain ripping through my punctured hand.

The corner of his lip twitched. "Grab her."

My bandmates cried out in protest as two sets of arms seized me roughly. I had to fight not to whine as they jostled my hand. Unwanted tears burned at the corners of my eyes. The others were being hauled gracelessly to their feet too – although where 2D and Russel stood on their own feet, Ace's legs dangled lifelessly. "This one's unconscious," a Supplier grumbled.

"Then drag him." Francis crouched. His hands brushed the floor until he found a metal chain – yanking it up, he revealed a trapdoor. "You know the drill. Bring them down and secure them."

My captors shoved me forward. Stifling a yelp, I stumbled, unable to stop my legs from quivering. Below the trapdoor was a steep stairway – I would have tripped at the first narrow step had the Suppliers not been gripping my shoulders so mercilessly tight. I took a deep, shuddering breath. Pull yourself together, Noodle. Block out the pain. You have to find a way out of this! When I finally reached the bottom of the stairway, my shoulders loosened with relief – but as soon as I took a good look at the low-ceilinged basement, my blood ran cold.

It was an almost dystopic clash of the natural and unnatural. Sturdy beams rose like trees to hold up a patchwork of wooden slats that canopied low over our heads. Rugged stone foundation walled us in, but as my eyes fell back to the ground, the hand-hewn aesthetic gave way to a floor of shining, silver tarps. Straight-edged metallic tables checkered the room in a rigid pattern, as if someone had measured the distance between each stand twice-over. A whole laboratory's worth of equipment was arranged over the tabletops, gleaming coldly in organized rows. Boxed were stacked neatly against the far wall, layered in a perfect grid as if they'd been stacked by a robot. A nearby tray of glass vials caught my eye. Beyond my own startled reflection shining off the crystal-clear glass, an uncanny, deep-green liquid laid at rest…

Liquid the same color as 2D's pills.

We'd found the Facility.

Fear struck my heart – 2D! He's being dragged to the place where the pills that destroyed twenty years of his life were created! What if he has a panic attack? What if he can't handle this? I twisted my head frantically until I found the singer.

He was pale, shaking, terrified – but he wasn't looking at the room. His dark eyes were watching the blood dripping from my fingertips.

Worrying for others before himself – it was such a classic 2D move that I might've smiled if my hand weren't throbbing with pain.

One of the Suppliers had grabbed a sterile metal folding chair. With a rough shove, my captors forced me to sit. I gasped when they wrenched my arms, ripping my hand from where it had been swaddled against my shirt. I could feel blood continuing to trickle from the wound as my wrists were zip-tied at the back of the chair, followed by my ankles being bound tightly to the chair's legs.

Dammit, it hurt so much!

The others were lined up in chairs to my right. Directly beside me, 2D met my eyes. "Are you alright?" He whispered.

I mustered a frail smile that I knew he would see right through. "I'll be fine."

With his gun in one hand and his mobile in the other, Francis stood in front of us, a cruel half-smile staining his face. He raised the phone to his lips. "We caught the band. Come down to the Med Lab."

After he stowed his phone, the room fell into a hush. 2D and Russel were shooting me worried glances. At the far end of the row of chairs, Ace was still unconscious.

After nearly a minute of silence, an ominous creak sounded shrilly through the ceiling. Footsteps echoed overhead, reverberating with a cave-like timbre as the new arrival made their way toward the trapdoor. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Russel twisting in his chair, trying to see whose feet were tapping down the stairway behind us. I didn't bother. I had a hunch of who Francis had reported to, and the dread of being right made me sick to my stomach.

When a strangely resonant female voice filled the room, I barely held back a groan.

"Your team has done well, Francis," The Boss murmured. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck as I heard her walking behind our chairs. "Being reassigned to defend the Lab has improved your work ethic. Perhaps I'll allow you to lead another field team soon; I know how much you like to stay active."

Francis' eyes glittered hungrily as he nodded to the Boss. "The whole current band is here, but Murdoc wasn't with them. I have our people patrolling the property to catch him if he, or any of their allies, turn up. We disarmed and apprehended this lot before they had the chance to call for help."

"Good." The Boss stepped into view. I had forgotten just how eerie her face was, like a rubber mask that didn't quite fit, with shrewd eyes that shined darkly, coldly. Although her stature was small, her presence cast a wide-reaching aura of frigid foreboding.

Her gaze settled on 2D. "It's been a while, Mr. Pot. I must say, I'm impressed that you've avoided falling back into your old pill habits this long, especially after I gave you that sample in California. Watching you and your team run has been a fascinating experience... I've never had a more entertaining set of lab-rats."

2D met the Boss' gaze wordlessly, his eyes flickering between hers. I could tell that he was trying his hardest not to look scared, but his trembling shoulders betrayed him.

My chest sunk like a stone in an icy lake. What did 2D see in her eyes?

After a moment's unblinking stare, the Boss offered a disconcerting smile. "Don't worry, I'm not about to force you back onto your pills. There are more intriguing matters I'd like to discuss." She swept an arm toward the eclectic room. "What do you think of my hideout? Barns aren't really my style, but this has been our base since before I was born, when my stepfather was the Boss. There's an interesting story between me and him… You might even find it familiar."

2D narrowed his eyes. "Wh-what… What do you mean?"

I squinted… For a fleeting moment, the Boss' apathetic mask seemed to soften into something almost human. "My stepfather was an unfriendly man… Very controlling, cruel at times. He forced me to join his gang under threat of being kicked out to live on the streets. You see, he knew I had a knack for science, and he wanted to use my talents to create new drugs for his gang to distribute… In much the same way as Murdoc harvested your musical skills, my stepfather harvested my intelligence." She smirked. "But we both overcame our demons, didn't we? I created a pill that let me control my stepfather and take over his gang. You abandoned the pills that made you weak, then took control of Murdoc's band. You've impressed me, Mr. Pot, and if you're game, I'd like to make a deal with you."

2D bared his teeth, and the hands tied behind his chair balled into fists. "W-We didn't come here to make deals. Your g-gang is going to end tonight!"

The Boss tilted her head. "I'm sure you've noticed that you're not in the most opportune position to reject my deals. Bear in mind that your cooperation might save your friends' lives."

2D shuddered as a fresh chill wracked his body. His fingers fidgeted nervously behind his chair.

"You shouldn't worry," The Boss soothed. "I think you'll like this deal. It'll free you from taking these pills forever, and it will allow you to indulge in some revenge."

"R-revenge?" 2D stammered uncomfortably.

The singer flinched as the Boss stepped closer. Pulling her face into another disturbingly ill-fitted smile, she stared him down. "Yes. You see, the market for my pills has benefitted from having a prominent public figure under their spell. But maybe that figure doesn't have to be you… Maybe it could be the man who's made you suffer more than anyone else has."

2D's eyes went wide. "You mean… Murdoc?"

The Boss dipped her head. "Yes. My team will catch him. We'll give him his first few doses, until he becomes addicted. Then, you'll take over. He'll never be able to hurt you again, and you'll finally get to make him understand the horror of what he's put you through."

The singer gaped, and blinked, but didn't make a sound.

"He would be trapped, you would be free…" The Boss crooned, her crooked grin curling. "And your loved ones would be safe."

2D's figure went rigid. I gazed at him in frustration, wishing he would show me what he was thinking, wishing that I could read him as easily as he could read others. 2D wasn't really considering this, was he? The sweetest, kindest man I knew, the man who wouldn't hurt a fly, would never make a deal with these people!

But…

There was another side to 2D, wasn't there? There was the anger I'd seen in short bursts when he'd had mood swings just after his withdrawal; there was the angry, shouting voice that had confronted Murdoc over the phone after he'd rescued me from the Suppliers; there was the unwillingness he'd shown to ever trust Murdoc again, to move past what the bassist had done to him… I'd been thinking of that side of him as an anomaly, a rare phase that came out of him when he was under too much pressure. But as the seconds stretched on and 2D hesitated to refuse the Boss' deal, I began to wonder if that anger was rooted more deeply than I realized, was larger and more powerful than I realized, and was done festering below the surface where no one could see it.

An ache spread through my chest. I wished we'd talked more about his anger. I wished we hadn't avoided the topic of his frustration over my willingness to help Murdoc in the wake of my trip to Argentina. I wished we'd had more time to learn to be okay, to even get some actual therapy, so that I could know how for sure that he was stable, that he could make a choice that wouldn't haunt him…

As if falling under the weight of the world, 2D's head bowed. The genuine pain in his voice rippled through my soul as he murmured, "I hate what Murdoc did to me."

The Boss nodded, eyes glittering. "He did you wrong. But now you can pay it back."

Shoulders tensing, 2D grit his teeth and lifted his gaze back to the Boss. "I hate him so much. And I will never be like him. I will never do to anyone what he did to me, not even to him!"

My heart leaped. That's my 2D!

I could hear Russel sigh with relief on 2D's other side. The smile sunk out of the Boss's face. "So be it. I had high hopes for the finale of our little chase, but your team has refused to cooperate too many times. This has gone on long enough." She nodded to Francis.

Francis smirked coldly.

Eyes flickering between Francis's, 2D gasped.

"Evelyn, Ron, Ike," Francis listed. "Guns out. Pick a target." Gunmetal gleamed as he raised his gun, aiming it directly at my head. Three more Suppliers stepped forward and aimed their pistols at my bandmates.

I tugged my wrists against their bindings, dimly noticing how distant the pain in my hand had become in light of the cold panic gripping my blood. The zip-ties didn't budge.

Francis smirked cruelly.

"W-wait!" 2D stammered. "What g-good will killing us d-do? If you c-can't use us, you should just l-let us go!"

"I don't like loose ends," The Boss stated simply.

Russel grunted heavily – I could hear his chair squeaking as he tried to break loose. "Leave my family ALONE!" A teardrop glittered on his cheek.

I glanced at 2D and found him gaping back at me. It didn't take any special eye-reading abilities to read the horror on his face.

"Noodle…"

"On my count," Francis purred, malevolent joy sparkling in his smile as his finger teased the trigger. "Five – Four –"

BANG!

SCREEEEEECH…

The whole barn was struck with a great shudder. It sounded as if something large had broken through the structure's walls, something with tires that grated against the wooden barrier separating the hidden basement from the main floor.

"What the hell?" With confused murmurs, the whole crowd of Suppliers turned their gazes toward the ceiling.

I let out a heavy breath, bolstered by a spark of hope. Could that be backup?

The Boss's solid voice commanded her gang into action. "Untie 2D and Noodle. Francis, pick some of your team to drag them upstairs with us. We'll use a classic hostage technique – if any of the intruders refuse to drop their weapons, you'll threaten to kill one of the hostages. If they don't think you'll do it, kill one, then threaten to kill the other."

The next thing I knew, Suppliers hands were all around me. Some held me down while others took knives to my zipties. They dragged me out of the seat and steered me forward. Each step I took sent shockwaves through my throbbing hand – with a flash of pain and dismay, I felt the unstable bullet wound reopen. I caught Russel's frantic eyes following us as the Suppliers led 2D and me away, following Francis and the Boss up the narrow stairs.

Shivering, I glanced ahead to where 2D was being pushed around. I wished we were close enough to touch, to take some small comfort in being together.

"Well, well…" The Boss' voice was curious as she surmounted the stairs ahead of us. "I was starting to think you wouldn't show up."

I peeked up hopefully as I was shoved toward the top stair, but couldn't make out much in the nocturnal darkness. Please let there be someone who can help us!

My eyes adjusted gradually, finding the edges of a fresh, gaping hole in the barn through which a starlit sky could be seen. A van was parked crookedly just inside the hole, and a dark silhouette leaned against the vehicle's side. I spotted an orange glow no bigger than a firefly, then smelled the toxic odor of a cigarette. Slowly but surely, the light from the cigarette pulled silhouette's sickly-colored face into focus.

It was Murdoc.

He huffed, pulling the cig from his mouth and crossing his arms casually. His gaze flickered between me and 2D – I thought I saw it linger on my bloody hand as he scowled. "Thought you guys were taking too long exploring this barn," he muttered. "It's a good thing Keith let me take the van to check up on you lot while he hopped in with the backup."

I was confused. Murdoc seemed oddly relaxed for someone confronting a gang on his own.

Francis' chuckle made me jump – I hadn't noticed him creep behind me. "You're acting even more stupid today than you did on Plastic Beach, Murdoc. You're not even armed this time." I shuddered at the cool sensation of gunmetal on my cheek. "How exactly do you plan to save your band today?"

"Save?" Murdoc cocked his head. "No, I'm here to do what I've always done: Destroy things! Y'know, people's lives, people's barns…" He gestured toward the broken barn wall. "Just look at this dirty great hole I made!"

With a humorless huff, Francis nodded to two of the Suppliers. "Grab him."

I felt the oddest chill in the air, as if the atmosphere had suddenly been enveloped in sorrow…. Or maybe it was just my gut reacting strongly to the bleak look that crossed Murdoc's face a moment before he smirked it away. "Actually, I didn't just come here to punch a hole in your wall. I came here to make an apology of sorts. You all had better listen up, 'cause I'm not planning to apologize for anything ever again after this."

Still holding the burning cigarette between his fingers, Murdoc slid his hand deftly, gently, over the van's smooth side. Two Suppliers broke from the crowd and began to march toward him.

Murdoc lifted his eyes to 2D's. Even without 2D's talent for reading people, I could feel the hollowness of the bassist's smile, the darkness lingering inside his mind, and it made me want to shiver. "Sorry I made the past twenty years a living hell for you, mate," He murmured. "You were right, back in the car – after all I've done, you shouldn't ever have to see me again. No one should. So no hard feelings, eh?"

I heard 2D's sharp inhale a moment before I saw that the van's fuel tank was open. Murdoc's hand paused over the entrance of the fuel tank and let cigarette slip from his fingers, into the machine –

Fire and fuel –

"MURDOC!" I screamed.

The van exploded.

Crashes –

Screams –

Crackling flames –

I was knocked off my feet, overcome by the wave of heat that rolled across the room, gaping at the vivid orangey-red flash that consumed the other side of the barn.

Chunks of dismembered van hit the walls with heavy thunks. Something large flew past my face. I could feel heat radiating from the detritus, singing the hairs on my cheek.

Chaos. The usually-composed Suppliers were in a panic, finding themselves in a whirl of terror and of swiftly-spreading flames. A few steps away, the trapdoor shuddered before a deluge of Suppliers flooded out in a mad escape.

Mind buzzing, I stared blankly at where Murdoc had been standing a moment ago. Every gloomy – depressed – look I'd seen on his face these past few days flashed before my eyes. Dammit, Murdoc!

Holding my injured hand to my chest, I began unsteadily crawling towards that spot in the flames – maybe he was okay, maybe he'd been blown backward and was trapped beneath something –

I was startled from my reverie as a heavy weight fell across my back and a howl sounded in my ears. "YOURE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Francis' rough voice hollered.

For a dazed moment, I stared at him blankly, at his infuriated grimace and cruel eyes.

Then, I saw red.

Screaming out a curse, I shoved with all my strength, unseating the hefty man. He growled as his back hit the floor a step away – then he spotted a nearby gun and stretched out his arm.

Howling, I flung myself forward, forgetting my pain as I reached for the gun with a bloody hand.

Before either of us snagged it, the foot of a fleeing Supplier knocked it away. Francis shouted with rage.

We turned toward each other, meeting head on. I flung a fist toward his eye and grinned at the sensation of flesh under my knuckles. A moment later, I gasped as Francis shoved me into the ground.

"NOODLE!" I heard 2D's scream a moment before he leaped into view, roaring as he flung a punch at Francis' head. "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

When 2D threw his next punch, Francis reacted fast. He caught the singer's hand and used the forward momentum to fling 2D to the floor. 2D's head hit the ground hard, and he laid there for a moment, stunned, while Francis climbed off me to reach for a thick piece of van siding. "STAY OUT OF MY WAY!" Francis screeched as he lifted the chunk of metal into the air, preparing to bring it down on 2D's face with skull-smashing force.

A fleeing Supplier unknowingly kicked a gun within arm's reach. I swept up the weapon, aimed at Francis' head, and squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

The large man twitched. I half expected him to sneer at me in anger, but he just swayed, letting the metal slip from his fingers and clatter anticlimactically to the floor. His glassy eyes didn't flinch as he toppled face-first onto the wooden slats. Blood pooled under his head.

I couldn't tear my eyes away… I hadn't seen anyone lie so still since…

Pink shore, pirate jets, a tommy-gun vibrating in my hands, a body falling down –

"Noodle! Noodle, stay with me! Snap out of it!"

I blinked. 2D's hands were on my shoulders, his gaze boring into mine.

"Noodle, we've got to help the others!"

The world came rushing back to me, flames and panic and screams. I averted my gaze from the body as 2D pulled me to my feet. "Right." We raced for the trapdoor.

There were no flames in the basement yet, but the orange glow was clearly visible through cracks in the wooden floor and the heat was miserable. Russel thrashed madly in his chair. Ace slumped limply – still unconscious.

"Hold still!" 2D shouted, seizing a knife from one of the nearby tables and rushing to Russel's side. I followed suite, carrying a knife to Ace and hastily sawing at the zip-tie binding his wrists.

The floor shook as Russel jumped out of his chair. "Thanks, 'D! I was starting to think I would burn down here - what happened up there?"

"Murdoc… He…" 2D paused, an unfathomable expression crossing his face. "He blew up a van. I… I can explain later, but now we just need to get out of here!"

As I finished cutting the zip-ties, Russel appeared at my side and hefted Ace over his shoulder. "Let's go!"

2D led the way back up the stairs, where we were greeted by hellish heat. Gigantic flames crackled over the broken wall, turning the hole Murdoc had created into some hellish gateway. I coughed as acrid smoke crept into my nose. "Let's get out of here!"

Russel needed no prompting, brushing against 2D as he leaped for the hole.

2D, on the other hand, was standing completely still, staring toward the ceiling...

"2D, what –" I followed his gaze, and my heart nearly stopped.

The barn had a loft, and from that loft a ladder stretched toward a hatch in the roof. By the orange light of the flames, I could clearly make out the grim face of the small woman climbing through the hatch, and the familiar green skin of the limp figure she had thrown over her shoulder.

"Murdoc," I murmured.

"And the Boss." 2D bared his teeth. "We have to go after them!" He darted for the ladder to the loft, stooping to grab a fallen gun from the ground before leaping up the rungs, and I took a step to follow him –

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING?"

I turned. Face slack with disbelief, Russel was staring after me and 2D. I balled my hands into fists, wincing at the harsh pain of my bullet-wound. "We have to catch the Boss and get Murdoc!" I screamed, gesturing toward the ladder. "I'm going after her with 2D – you should stay outside and take her down if she jumps!"

Blocking out Russel's shouts of protest, I rushed to the ladder.

My injured hand burned as I slapped it against the ladder's rungs, but I pushed forward, ignoring the tears of agony forming in my eyes. I had to move faster – 2D was almost at the top of the ladder! I couldn't let him face the Boss alone!

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I reached the loft and leaped for the next ladder. "Be careful!" I shouted up to 2D when he reached the hatch. "She could be waiting for you!" I couldn't tell if he'd heard me or not as he threw himself through the hatch. Cursing under my breath, I willed my tired muscles to move faster, breathing heavily, trying not to gag on the smoky air. Finally, I reached the hatch and hauled myself up.

The roof sloped gently on either side of the hatch, like an open book laid pages-down on a table, before dropping almost vertically. 2D was standing rigid a step away, hardly daring to move as he watched the Boss sit with Murdoc's head in her lap at the far end of the roof.

It was an unsettling sight – the way the Boss held Murdoc's head was gentle, almost motherly, aside from the way she stroked her pistol over the edge of a large, pink burn on the bassist's cheek. Murdoc laid so still that he could have passed for dead had I not heard the weak moan escaping his throat – he was barely conscious, but responsive enough to register to the pain of the gun's muzzle pressed to his burn, as well as the various other burns I could see peeping out of singed holes in his shirt.

"You can come closer, if you like," The Boss murmured, acknowledging the presence of 2D and me without looking up. "Of course, I'll shoot him if you come too close, but I'm planning to shoot him shortly anyway, so it's no harm done, really. He might even appreciate being put out of his misery sooner."

Neither 2D nor I moved closer. I met 2D's eyes. With a gulp and a short nod, he slowly raised his gun while I cleared my throat. "Put your gun down," I commanded the Boss.

She looked almost amused when her gaze flickered up to us. "A word of advice: guns look more threatening if your hands don't shake while you hold them." Beside me, 2D tensed, trying to bring his quivering limbs under control. "You've done quite a number on my lab," the Boss continued, frowning down at the roof. "All those shipments of pills destroyed… they take a long time to make, you know. Orders are going to be late. Customers are going to be unhappy. Victims are going to become lucid." She let out a long sigh. "Even if my gang manages to lie low and evade all our disgruntled customers – and some of them are quite powerful people – until we can begin distributing pills again, I don't think my business will recover from this. I never thought about what I'd do if I failed… Not since I was young and scared, working for my stepfather. I've made this my life. If this must end, I might as well end with it." Her face curled into an ominous grin. "Call me sentimental, but I'd rather not end alone. I want to take my oldest customer – my favorite little lab-rat – with me." The muzzle of her gun slid over Murdoc's cheekbone, up to his temple.

Despite the heat flooding through the roof, cold fear raced through my gut. I looked at 2D. His hands shook madly around the gun and his eyes were wide and scared – did he have the guts to use that weapon? Heck, could he even aim well enough to take out the Boss without hitting Murdoc?

Did he even want to take out the Boss before she shot Murdoc?

"'D, hand me the gun," I whispered, hoping the Boss wouldn't hear. "You don't have to be the one who does this."

Biting his lip, his eyes scanned the Boss carefully. "She'll shoot," He murmured faintly. "She doesn't take me seriously; she won't rush if I have the gun. But if I give it to you, she'll shoot him."

I wanted to scream with frustration – we were running out of time! The Boss could shoot Murdoc at any moment! I didn't have 2D's eye-reading gift, but I could see the sadistic smile on the Boss's face, and I knew that she enjoyed keeping us in suspense. She would relish the looks on our faces when she finally pulled the trigger –

BANG!

My breath hitched.

The Boss looked up at 2D sardonically. "Was that supposed to be a warning shot?"

2D was sweating and shaking madly now. I could see the bullet hole he'd made in the roof about three meters away from the Boss. "P-put down your gun," 2D stammered. "Y-you don't need to die tonight, and n-neither does M-Muds. Just p-put it d-down!"

Murdoc whimpered as the Boss slid her gun once more over his facial burn. His eyes flickered – was he waking up?

The Boss sighed, a strangely peaceful look crossing over her face. "This has gone on long enough. Take one last look at the stars – whatever you believe the afterlife holds, neither of us will find ourselves up there." Her hand tightened around the pistol as she brought it back to Murdoc's temple.

"STOP!" I screamed. Heart clenching, I turned to 2D, intending to rip the gun out of his hands and somehow be fast enough to shoot the Boss before she finished pulling the trigger –

BANG!

I turned to the Boss in horror. Surprise flickered across her face before it went blank. She slumped back onto the roof, the gun clattering from her fingers, Murdoc's head still in her lap. A bullet wound quite similar to the one I'd put in Francis' head minutes ago leaked a steady stream of blood.

2D had managed to stop shaking – in fact, he was frozen, gaping at the dead woman, his finger still pressing the gun's trigger. With a start, he dropped the gun, staring down at it as horror dawned on his pale face.

I stepped closer to him. "2D?"

He groaned, covering his face in his hands. "I – I sh-shot – I d-didn't want to –"

I embraced him tightly, slowing him down as he fell to his knees, feeling my own body shake as I absorbed his tremors. "Shhh… It's okay. It's okay."

"I K-KILLED SOMEBODY!"

"You saved somebody!"

A distant moan fluttered through the air. At the other end of the roof, Murdoc stirred, his head rolling out of the Boss's lap. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his expression was full of pain – his burns were severe. We had to get him off this roof and to a hospital as soon as possible!

I bit my lip – I hoped the whole barn floor wasn't covered in flames. If we couldn't escape through the barn, we'd have to jump for it, which could end painfully.

"2D, I'm going to go bring Murdoc over here." I pressed a kiss to one of the hands he'd raised to cover his face. "I'll be right back, okay?"

He nodded, twitching as a sob wracked his thin body.

I stood, casting one final worried look toward the shell-shocked singer before dashing across the roof. My heart leaped as I saw Murdoc's eyes flicker open and focus on me. "Noodle…"

"Murdoc –" I had nearly reached him when I felt a strange swooping feeling in my gut, like the sensation of missing a stair.

I gasped as the spark-eaten roof tore beneath my feet like tissue paper.

"NOODLE!"

My bandmates' screams echoed around me as I flung my arms out in panic, trying to grab some part of the roof that wasn't falling. Everything I touched broke away in my grasp, and with a cascade of rooftiles, I fell into the flames.

. . .

It was so hot…

The ground felt rough and splintery beneath my cheek. I tried to open my eyes, but the dancing orange lights surrounding me felt like needles of light flying into my skull. I squeezed my eyes shut and moaned.

My head hurt a lot.

"Noodle? NOODLE!?"

A panicked cockney voice rose over the howls of the looming flames. The voice was strangely comforting; I wanted it to come closer. I tried to call out, but pinpricks spread through my throat and I coughed violently, coughs that tasted like soot. Each ragged cough jerked my body and sent a wave of dizzy nausea spinning through my head.

"NOODLE!"

There was a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you okay? Noodle, look at me! Talk to me!"

I tried to open my eyes again. The lights still hurt, but a voice in my head told me that it was important to make eye contact with the panting man in the singed shirt, staring down at me with tears in his black eyes. "cough… 2… 2D."

His hand stroked my hair; his lips fell onto my forehead. "It's going to be okay, Love. I'll get you out of here. I swear I'll get you out of here!"

He pulled away, his figure blurring through the smoky air. I wanted to follow him, but my body felt lethargic and heavy. I watched, painstakingly turning my head to keep him in sight as he scampered about two steps away, placed his palms against the fallen corpse of a massive beam, and pushed.

I gasped. Pain lanced through my upper back. When 2D pushed that beam, I could feel it…

It was crushing me.

My eyes teared. I could hear him grunting and straining, I could see him slipping and taking a moment's break to gasp for breath. He threw himself against the beam once more, and I couldn't suppress a pained whimper as my ribcage creaked like a house about to fall in.

Another heavy throb wracked my skull. For a moment the room shimmered, the sounds echoed… Everything felt distant and dream-like, even the pain from the beam…

"Noodle, s-stay with me!"

I focused on 2D's pleading voice. His tone was frantic. He squeaked and tripped over his words, just like he did when he was nervous or surprised… Months ago, just after his withdrawal, he'd squeaked just like that when I'd told him he ought to rest instead of going to see a parade. I could recall his begging, puppy-dog expression perfectly, as if the frames of a home video were flashing before my eyes. I chuckled softly, my breath aching in my lungs.

I tried to locate 2D again. Instead, I noticed another figure a short distance away, curled on the floor, unmoving… The Boss's body had fallen through the roof with me. "2D… The Suppliers' Boss… She's over there. She's dead."

2D didn't respond, breaths heaving through his fumbling attempts to shift the beam.

My gaze was drawn next to a patch of darkness nestled into the wall of flame. It was inky black, a jarring juxtaposition to the blaze. My heart leaped. "There's a break in the flames, 2D. I can see the night sky. There's a way out." Although each smoke-infused breath I took seemed to make my thoughts a little cloudier, I had enough clarity to feel a wave of joy as a realization hit me. "The Boss is gone, the Facility is burning down, and there's a way out of the flames… That means we've won. We beat them. And we're going to get out of here alive!" I coughed a little on the smoke-stained air, but my chest didn't hurt that much this time. I smiled. "We won, 'D. And you're free. There's no one left to run away from. You're finally free, 2D… Stuart..."

A thumb traced over my cheek. I grinned weakly up at his hazy face, but frowned when I felt something wet fall onto my skin. "Stuart, why are you crying?"

I could feel both of his hands now, cradling my head, fingers smoothing over my hair. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the beam hadn't moved at all… That was strange; I couldn't feel it anymore. I couldn't feel much of anything, for that matter. Even the sensation of 2D's hands on my face was dissolving into a strange, prickling numbness.

Maybe I was dreaming. Maybe that's why I felt numb, and the world around me seemed to be getting dimmer. That thought made me sad – I wanted it to be real. I wanted to know that Stuart was really, finally, free from the Suppliers.

Oh well… If this was a dream, I at least wanted it to be a good one. I wanted to watch 2D leave the barn, to see him escape through that hole in the flames. That would be a happy ending. I wasn't even sure what my purpose in this dream was, why my mind had placed me in this burning building with him… This was his story, the story of him getting his life back, conquering the enemy that had hurt him so much, finally being able to think and smile and see with clear eyes. I was just a side character; my role in this dream didn't matter. All that mattered was that I got to see him go.

"Stuart… You should get out of this place. I want to see you get out of this place."

I could feel his hands trembling, the puff of his breath as he pressed a kiss to my lips. "N-not without you. Not without you…"

I frowned. Everything was getting hazier; I didn't have much longer until the dream ended. "Please, Stuart."

"NO! I won't – AH!"

My head fell from his hands. It took all my strength to lift my gaze up to where Stuart was struggling, screaming, while someone with a puffy, pink burn obscuring half of his face and chest tightened his arms around the singer's waist and pulled him away.

I smiled – Murdoc is okay too.

Snippets of the bassist's hoarse shouts slipped through the haze to echo in my ears.

"… Beam is too heavy… You can't… Need to… Get out…"

I spared one last moment to gaze at their grief-stricken faces before closing my eyes. Murdoc was going to make sure Stuart got out of here. That was good. That was a happy ending.

I released one last peaceful sigh before letting the dream slip into darkness.

. . .

Coming Up Next: …

One chapter left!