This is the second chapter of Zombie Blues! I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it! Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - The Decision

A week had passed since Murdoc had introduced his unconventional room mate. Noodle had quickly grown to accept the bassist's decision and didn't question it any further but Russel and 2D still had trouble believing it was possible.

The stout drummer and lanky vocalist both sat at the studio desk surrounded by keyboards and random Kong Studio paraphernalia. The studio provided the two musicians a secluded retreat to discuss the issue of Murdoc and his recent acquisition. 2D absentmindedly pressed a few notes on the keyboard in front of him; he shifted an unlit cigarette around his mouth, his brow furrowed as his mind slowly worked its gears.

Russel sat with his arms crossed; he puffed at a large cigar that sent clouds of grey smoke to billow around him, as though his emotions were physically manifesting themselves to create a thundercloud around his head.

"I just don't get it!" Russel was frowning so much his face almost became apelike in appearance. "Since when has Murdoc ever been the commitment type? He's always been tellin' me how he'd drop dead before he'd let a chick run his life. I tell ya D, somthin' ain't right here."

2D hugged his knees to his chest as he idly swiveled in his chair. He and Russel had been expecting it to last no longer than three days, but as the end of the week rolled around and with no change in sight they were both beginning to worry, not only for the bassists sanity but for their own as well.

"I guess he found himself a loophole," 2D mused. He didn't say nuffin about the girl droppin' before him then now did he? I mean, I love zombies, like in movies n' stuff but I don't love zombies. That's a bit weird."

"Yeah, well the best thing we can do is let this thing sort itself out y'know? Most of Murdoc's crazy schemes usually amount to nothin' in the end. Like that time he offered to use Kong to store the nation's industrial waste. I couldn't get the smell out for weeks! I wonder what he did with all of it in the end?"

Half satisfied Russel proceeded to turn his attention to the synthesizer and fiddled with the settings. But 2D wasn't feeling so self assured. There was another issue that had been prickling at the back of his mind and he wasn't sure why it had been bothering him so much. He was cautious to broach the subject as he felt it may mean something a little more personal to him. So he tried to make it sound innocent enough.

"He hasn't really been hittin' me much anymore though…"

"Well at least one good thing has come out of this whole situation."

"Yeah but…" 2D continued tentatively, "He hasn't even said anyfing to me. S'like whenever he walks past me I'm invisible or summink. I dunno Russ, It's like he's a different person now. It's all coz of that stupid Zombie."

Russel paused for a moment and then slowly turned around to face Stuart. He had one eyebrow raised in a curious expression.

"Stu, are… are you jealous of Vivian?"

"No!" 2D shouted a little too forcefully than he intended. He hastily tried to repair the damage. "Nah nah, s'not like that! I was jus' wondrin. Y'know, I fought maybe you had noticed it too? I didn't mean anyfing like that, honest!"

"Okay okay man" Russel said noticing 2D's distress. "Calm down, I was just asking."

Russel turned around again to continue what he was doing; this time however, he had a little more to think about. He rubbed his temple as he felt a headache coming on.

2D was feeling a little flustered. This whole predicament was making him aware of something he had never really considered before. He couldn't stop thinking about that azure corpse. The way her eyes always latched on to 2D whenever he was in the room with her. There was something behind that stare that he didn't like, something that was dancing. It was almost as though she was mocking him, ridiculing him with little more than an unblinking gaze. He squinted his eyes and shook his head trying to remove these thoughts from his mind. He mentally berated himself for being silly. Zombies weren't aware…. Were they?

The brooding atmosphere was interrupted by voices wandering in from the adjacent room. Russel and 2D lifted their heads to listen in.

"Hey Poly! Why did Bobby Fischer marry a woman from Prague?"

"Oh darling, I have no idea, why did he?"

"He was looking for a Czech mate. Bah boom tish!"

"Croc, you're a riot and a half."

Russel groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Where did those guys even come from? I never let them in, did you let them in?"

2D shrugged. The unusual presence of the large polar bear and pessimistic crocodile in the studio kitchen never really bothered him. They had shown up one day without explanation and seemed to have taken a permanent residence there. They were fairly harmless anyway. The only problem with them these days was that their jokes were becoming increasingly unbearable. The effeminate polar bear was particularly fond of making crude remarks about the band members.

"I dunno, I fink they're kind of funny."

Russel rolled his eyes before walking across the room to slam the door shut, effectively stopping anymore appallingly bad jokes from infiltrating their area.

2D sat in the kitchen warming his hands with a mug of coffee. He checked his watch for the seventh time. It was four minutes to three. He anxiously stared at the doorway. He knew that Murdoc never failed to show up for his daily hair of the dog. The singer didn't want to admit it was he was beginning to have withdrawals from Murdoc's notice. He even missed the physical and verbal abuse. What he wouldn't give for one punch to the back of the head! But for the entire week Murdoc hadn't even curled at lip at him and 2D was feeling a little put out from it.

He grimaced when he heard laughing echoing from the corridor. That could only mean that Murdoc was accompanied by the detestable Vivian. Preparing himself he sat up straight in a defiant manner. He feigned disinterest as the pair entered the room. Murdoc had his arm around the creature's waist and seemed to be in hearty spirits. Another pang of resentment filled the vocalist.

"Aw Vivian luv, y'always know the right thing to say t'cheer me up."

"I fought it couldn't speak?" 2D couldn't help but ask.

With no response from the bassist he tried again.

"Remember when giving me a bittova kickin' used t'cheer you up?"

As usual Murdoc brushed past him to the fridge not even registering his presence, Vivian was left standing a meter from 2D and he used to opportunity to look her up and down. She wore a florally dress that hung around her skeletal frame and her eyes were still wide and vacant, but they seemed to be staring straight at the singer. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable sitting so close to this monstrosity so he moved himself a few seats away. He was shocked to find that her eyes followed him the whole way; they were transfixed like magnets.

"Quit it." He hissed quietly.

When she made no move to turn away he gave her the dirtiest look he could muster, not backing down from what he considered a challenge. They looked at each other until 2D's eyes began to water. He was prepared to go on for as long as it took before Murdoc, with a beer in hand pulled Vivian away by the arm.

"C'mon Viv, don't strain those pretty little eyes looking at the Dullard."

2D panicked, he didn't want Murdoc to leave so soon without even saying anything to him. He scanned his mind trying to think of something to say that would keep the bassist in the room for at least a minute longer.

"Muds! I've killed a person!"

Murdoc turned his head around looking slightly alarmed.

"Wot?"

"Yeah, I uh, I fink the police might be on t'me."

"Really?"

"Yeah… well, no. I didn't actually kill anyone. But If I did they probably would be."

Murdoc gave a loud snort of dismissal, turned on his heel and walked out of the room dragging Vivian behind him. The zombie gave 2D one last penetrating gaze before disappearing behind the doorway. Snapping his fingers and slouching in his chair in defeat the blue haired singer gave a long sigh.

"Bugger it."

Noodle was sitting on her bed adjusting her headphones before she heard a faint knock at the door.

"Come in." She said slightly surprised as she wasn't usually approached while she was in her room.

"Hey Noodle" 2D said poking his head in. "I'm not botherin' you or anyfing am I?"

"Not at all 2D san!" She said giving him a warm smile "please come in."

"Fanks heaps." He grinned back and timidly sat down on the bed beside her.

"Actually, I came here because I have a bittova question. And I fought that you were probably the best person to come to abou' it." He wrung his hands together nervously unsure how to phrase his quandary.

"Y'see, I have this friend. Well actually it's a friend of a friend. And they're feelin' a bit funny b'cause someone they know isn't really payin' them any attention anymore. And they fink it might be cause someone else has come along and gotten between em. Ah… I guess I was just wondrin', I mean wondrin' for my friend –"

"2D" Noodle cut past him. "Is this about Murdoc San?"

"No!" 2D yelled for the second time that day. Was he really that transparent?

Noodle rubbed her chin in contemplation. She had seen this coming beforehand. Her perception was above average for a girl her age. And when it came to 2D she felt it would be best to be acute and to the point.

"There is no need to lie 2D san. I understand. Murdoc is a tricky character, I think, uh, that he has found himself a source that has an ability to diffuse his anger. However I do not feel in my heart that this will be a long term arrangement. I would not worry." She paused for a moment and then turned to look the singer in the eye. "And I feel I must also advise you not to interfere, as much as you would like to." She turned her eyes away and looked at the wall. "In fact I myself have had to repress my natural instincts. The desire to eliminate the walking undead is quite strong within me."

2D nodded but didn't feel quite satisfied with this answer.

Noodle sighed noticing the singer's despondency. " 2D, An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves. Remember that."

2D nodded again. "Fanks Noodle. I guess I'll just wait n' see what happens then."

He gave Noodle a hug and closed her door behind him. He made his way to his bedroom with thoughts swimming of Murdoc and Zombies. When he reached the car park he took his time to walk past the Winnebago. He noticed that there was a strong scent of pine that was lingering around the area. The bago had been unusually quiet the past few days which bothered 2D somewhat. He always felt there was cause for concern when Murdoc wasn't playing hard metal for at least twelve hours a day.

When he reached the door of his room he took one last look at the Winnebago. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw that the door was open and that Vivian standing at the threshold staring at him. There was something menacing in those eyes that made the hairs rise at the back of his neck.

With lightning speed he opened his bedroom door slammed it behind him and locked it. With his back against his door and panting slightly he clenched his fist.

Sorry Noodle, he thought to himself. But I just can't take it any longer.

He thought of those cold staring Zombie eyes and made a vow to himself.

Vivian, this means war.

Dun dun duuuuuuun. :)