Sorry I ended the last chapter on a cliffhanger, but here's the next one. It was the only thing I could think to do since I wanted to post at least one chapter to give it some attention. This one ends in a more conclusive manner, hopefully...
Enjoy~
I DO NOT OWN GORILLAZ, OR ANY OF THE BAND MEMBERS FEATURED IN THIS STORY!
"Poisoned?" Noodle repeated as she paced the length of the hallway, trying hard not to rip out her hair. "With echinacea, of all things! What was he thinking?!"
"Who knows? Murdoc never made sense. I swear, he's getting too old for this..." Russel covered the bottom half of 2D's cell phone as he spoke. He had long since taken the phone from their vocalist in order to discuss Murdoc's condition with the dispatcher. Since he finished answering all their questions, the three just had to wait for the paramedics to arrive. Now leaning against the studio doorway, Russel asked "Did Murdoc say anything about it to you, 2D?"
2D shook his head. After he gave his phone to the drummer, he had returned to Murdoc's side in the studio and relayed any changes in his condition. "He said it wasn't poison, and that going to the hospital was the last thing he needed... It was weird."
"What's weird is that he drank straight echinacea. What is that anyway?" Russel questioned aloud, turning to watch Noodle as she continued to walk back and forth. "You think it's dangerous?"
"I think it's some kind of plant extract? Like, an herbal remedy?" Noodle answered without looking up. "He probably has it to keep himself from getting sick. And, it probably isn't dangerous if you take the RECOMMENDED DOSE ON THE LABEL! Ugh, he makes me so mad-!"
"I think he took a lot more than that." 2D sighed, picking the camera to view it's footage once again. Once he found it, 2D held it up for Russel to take. "Here, look-he drank it while we were recording."
Russel pushed himself from the doorway and strolled over to take the device. Noodle came in shortly after, curious to see the video as well. After watching for a bit, she paused the footage to get a better look. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's a poison bottle..."
"Yeah," Russel nodded, handing the camera back to 2D. "And, it looks like he gave some to Damon, too. Nothing happened to him, though."
"Maybe it takes a while," 2D questioned aloud. "Murdoc didn't get sick right away, even though he had a lot..."
Noodle figured the same. "You're probably right. It'd be best to tell Damon now, rather than later. Just in case it does affect him."
"I'll let him know, then." Russel pulled out his own phone to text Damon about the substance, sending the clip of Murdoc spiking his drink. "There, now he'll probably get himself checked out, too."
A moment later, paramedics came rushing into the building, and Russel had to pull 2D out of their way to save him from being trampled. They all instantly set to work on finding out what was wrong with the bassist, doing what they could to stabilize him before transferring him into the ambulance; which forced the idle band members out into the hall.
"Funny, I didn't hear any sirens." 2D spoke up as he peered through the front door from the end of the hall.
"Me neither," Noodle followed his gaze. "It looks like the lights are on, though. Maybe they only use them in certain kinds of emergencies?"
Russel looked between the two, but remained silent. He knew that oftentimes ambulances that rode without sirens were doing so out of courtesy for the surrounding area. However, sometimes it meant that the place that they were heading to wasn't so much of an emergency anymore, which could be good or bad.
2D merely shrugged, soon returning his focus to the medics. He gazed worriedly over the scene, taking in the indistinct chatter of the medics hovering over Murdoc. Seeing how serious their faces were, 2D could only hope that driving with no sirens meant that everything was under control. In some twisted nostalgia, it reminded him of his own past accidents. "...maybe."
When Murdoc was finally cleared to be transferred onto a stretcher and wheeled out into the ambulance, one paramedic had a few final questions for the three. They asked if Murdoc had kept the substance he drank closeby, since they couldn't find anything of interest on his person. However, neither Russel, Noodle, nor 2D had any idea where the bottle could be, but described the substance as best they could.
"It was in a small, green bottle-with a black skull on the front." 2D managed to remember it's appearance. "He had it while we were recording our song."
"You think he left it somewhere in the studio?" Russel asked. "If it isn't on him, then it's gotta be in here somewhere."
"Good idea, one of us could stay and look for it," Noodle suggested. "But, someone else should go to the hospital with Murdoc though, so he isn't alone when he wakes up."
"Okay, well how about I stay to look for the bottle." Russel said. "You and 2D can ride in with Murdoc to the hospital."
"Alright," Noodle replied, seeming reluctant about leaving Russel behind. "But, I'm not sure if they'll let both of us ride in the ambulance."
"We can take the car?" 2D suggested.
"True," she agreed, "but if I drive, then how will Russel get there?"
"I'll worry about that when I find the bottle." Russel said, returning 2D's phone before turning to start his search. "Just text me when you get there, okay?"
"Alright, see ya, Russ'." 2D waved.
Noodle did the same as they both turned to leave. "Bye Russel."
"Bye."
Alright, the paramedics have finally arrived, gotten Murdoc, and are on route to the hospital. Things are looking kind of bad, but I won't kill him, I swear!
See you in the next one!
