Author's Note: Hey, I just wanted to take the time to thank you guys for all your reviews and adding me and my story to your favorites. I literally want to jump up and down each time I get one. It really means a lot to me, and from one writer to another, thank you. :)
So, yeah, we are growing more and more towards the climax (dun dun dun!) and things are about to get exciting. Which, sadly, means there's only like five more chapters left. Maybe six. I do want to write a sequel, though. So, if you want a sequel, and maybe a couple funny mini stories, leave it in your review.
Alright, that's enough talking for now. So, thanks for listening to my endless talking, and please enjoy chapter 8! :)
One more thing. Disclaimer: I don't own Gorillaz.
Chapter 8: The Boogieman
I woke up earlier than I planned. Maybe I wasn't that tired after all. Or maybe I just don't sleep as long as Star. Anyway, I was awake, and I wasn't locked in my room. I snuck out, checking on Star quickly just to make sure she really was sleeping, and she was, so I ran back into my room, grabbed Noodle's guitar, matches and a pack of cigarettes and went outside.
I used to smoke a lot, but I kind of stopped when I was locked up in my room, since the smoke gets terrible after a while.
I went to the high diving board, sat down and lit a cigarette, then I started strumming the guitar and thinking. I thought of what had happened yesterday, or I think yesterday. Then I noticed the sunrise. Yup. Yesterday.
I thought of Star, and how she had changed my life entirely in the course of the day, and not for the worse, like Murdoc. She made me feel really happy, she taught me to look at life positively, and reminded me what love feels like: beautiful, like music. I guess that's why we make love songs.
I took the cigarette out and inhaled deeply. People have now proved that it causes cancer, and smoking doesn't really thrill me anymore. I kinda got myself off of it. The smoke really doesn't feel good in my lungs, either. I chucked the thing into the ocean, not really in the mood to smoke anymore. My life is getting very confusing. I used to not be able to part from these things, but now I can't stand the smoke. It reminds me of being locked up. I'll probably get over it eventually, though, and then I'll be right back at it.
I sighed. Life is confusing. But maybe it doesn't have to be anymore. I strummed the guitar again. Oh well, I've just gotta sit here and clear my mind, then.
The air suddenly got cold, and I stopped playing guitar. I was afraid to turn around, but I knew I had to. I should've never come here alone.
I turned around and saw who I was expecting: the Boogieman, but it still scared the hell out of me, and I stumbled back, fumbling with the guitar, and my eyes turning white. I started backing up, and then remembered I was on a diving board. Shit.
He started walking closer, his arm outstretched, like he was going to grab my soul right out of me. Which he probably was. Oh, shit.
I started shaking and backing up farther, still holding Noodle's guitar. I hit the edge of the diving board too soon, and I started flipping out in my head. What am I gonna do?
He got closer, so close that he could nearly touch me, and that's when I either made the worst mistake or did the best thing I could at that moment, meaning I stumbled and fell, letting go of Noodle's guitar. The last I saw of the Boogieman was him swiping up the guitar on accident and leaving. It wasn't a soul, but it was still important, but right now I was just happy I was alive. And then I hit the water. Hard.
It felt like every bone in my body wanted to collapse at that moment, but I had to be strong if I wanted to live. I quickly started using all my strength to paddle up to the surface, which I reached just in time. I inhaled deeply, thankful that the air was there. Then I came into the realization that I was in the ocean, and in this particular part of the ocean, there was Murdoc's whale. Shit.
I began to swim as fast as I could towards the shore, hoping the whale didn't realize I was here yet. The sad part is, I don't like whales, so I never really go swimming here, and that means my fast is probably half as slow as you think it is. I finally saw the shore, and I noticed that I was probably only another five minutes away. But then, the worst thing happened: I heard a loud noise that to me was terrifying. The whale was awake. Flipping out, I double-timed it and got to shore in no time. When I finally reached the beach I collapsed, but not without looking out to sea and seeing the whale come up for air about a mile away. I moaned, and closed my eyes, exhausted and shaken.
I was also confused. Where the bloody hell did the Boogieman come from, and why did he want my soul? Or at least I think he wanted my soul. Why else would he be there? To ask politely for Murdoc's? Either way, if he's still here, I should go back inside as soon as possible. I used the last of my strength and brought myself up, and I ran in.
I collapsed inside the lift, so it was no surprise that Star literally flipped out when she saw me. She must've been awake and looking for me, and she might've been worried as it was. I guess this didn't make it any better.
"2D, what the hell happened to you?"
"Dropped in ocean," I gasped, still looking for the breath I couldn't catch, "heard whale, swam for life, ran inside."
"Why were you out there?"
"Needed to think. And smoke."
She just hugged me. "You can be a real handful sometimes, can't you?"
I gave a meek smile. "Just a little bit."
I pulled myself up with some help from Star and leaned on the wall. I eventually got too tired doing that.
"Here," Star said, taking one of my arms, "let's go to your room."
She helped me over and set me down on my bed. I closed my eyes for a few brief seconds, and then I let out a long sigh.
"You okay now?"
"I think so," I mumbled, "really, I'm just glad I'm alive."
"Whales don't usually kill people," she teased, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
"No... It's not that..." and then I started shivering.
"Put some dry clothes on first," she said, "then tell me what you mean."
She left the room and I got changed into some new jeans and a new t-shirt. I'd thankfully left my hat in here after I took a nap after seeing Star for the first time, but I didn't feel like putting it on then, so I threw it on my dresser.
I yelled to Star that I was done and she came back in. I had now made progress by sitting up and facing the door, so she came and sat next to me.
"Okay," she said, "now what's this whole 'glad I'm alive' thing?"
I sighed, knowing this wouldn't make her time here any better. "The Boogieman came, and I think he was looking for my soul," and then I remembered, and I looked at the ground sadly, "but he took Noodle's guitar instead."
"Oh, no," she said, sounding genuinely sad. She really knew how much that meant to me. "Is there any way we can get it back?"
"No, at least, I don't know a way," I mumbled, submerged in my own thoughts at the moment. What would Russel say? He'd probably tell me that it was stupid of me to even take it outside. I'd also probably get a good punch in the arm as well. I sighed. I miss Russel.
"Do you need to be left alone for a while?"
"No, I don't think so. I was just remembering again."
"Okay," she said with sympathy, "but you can talk to me about anything."
I smiled. "Thanks, luv."
"No worries," she smiled, giving me a quick hug. Then her hand shot down to her stomach. "I'm kinda hungry. Aren't you?"
"Yeah," I said, just realizing it now. Since I'm usually locked in my room, I don't eat as much as other people, so I can go a day or two without food. But it still makes you hungry. "Wanna get something to eat?"
"Yeah. But I don't want food from Murdoc's room this time. Do you have a kitchen in this place?"
"I think so, but I don't think it's the best idea. What if Murdoc catches us?"
"Well, then that just makes things all the more interesting," she said, a mischievous smile crossing her face.
My eyes turned white. The only downside to Star is her courage, which I have none of. "What are you thinking?"
"You'll see."
She stood up and walked to the lift, and I followed, not knowing what else to do. Once we were in there, she turned to me, and asked, "If you had to guess, where would the kitchen be?"
"Umm..." I had no idea. Shit. "Uhh... maybe... this one?" I said, clicking the floor I barely ever go on.
When we got there, we quickly found the kitchen. "Good job, 2D," she said, and then she pushed open the door.
"But seriously, Star, what are we doing?"
"Just follow my lead," she whispered.
I followed her, and we snuck over to the fridge. Opening it, we found a ton of food.
"This is good, he'll probably never notice it's gone," I muttered.
"Yup," she said, opening the freezer and revealing...
"Oh, damn, is that..."
"Yup," she smiled, "ice cream."
"I don't know about this..."
"Come on, you need to take a couple risks in life," she said, a more mischievous smile on her face now.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
I nearly had another bloody heart attack and nearly had a second one when I saw Cyborg Noodle.
"Do you have nothing else to do but stalk us?" Star asked, giving Noodle the second dirtiest look I've ever seen from Star which, now that I think about it, was also towards Cyborg Noodle.
"I dunno, I just thought Muds told you to stay in your rooms."
"He actually never said that," I said, trying to be tough like Star, but Cyborg Noodle brought a gun, and I'm not good at faking courage with a gun in the room. Shit.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. He just said to eventually come inside," I mumbled, looking at the floor. Just pretend it's not there, 2D... I thought.
"Bullshit," she said, flipping her hair out of her face.
"If you don't believe him," Star snapped, "then go and ask Murdoc."
"She doesn't have to."
Murdoc came and stood next to her, and he didn't look happy. I couldn't tell who he was unhappy with, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to turn out well.
"I told you to go inside," he growled.
"But I think you said eventually," I said, shaking.
"I know that," he snapped, "but you should've stayed inside," he said.
Oh. He knew about that part.
"I didn't expect it to happen..." I said, looking down at my feet.
"I can see everything, 2D," he strode up to me and put his face right into mine, "what exactly happened?"
"I was... sitting there and... he appeared and he... said my name..." I was getting shaky. I didn't want to tell Murdoc about Noodle's guitar.
"You're lying," he spat, "what are you hiding?"
"I... fell into the water and swam from the whale?"
He stuck his face farther into mine. "You were holding something. What was it?"
Cyborg Noodle suddenly got Star in a half-nelson and pointed her gun at her head, "Do we need some motivation, egg-face?"
"Don't touch her!" I yelled, launching myself at Noodle, and knocking her over. Thankfully, she let go of Star, so no damage was done to her. But what was I doing?
I pinned Noodle to the ground for five seconds, but she pushed me off and sent me rolling on the ground. She then delivered a punch to my chest, knocking the wind out of me.
"Don't you hurt him, bitch!" Star yelled, swiftly kicking Cyborg Noodle in the head. She fell to the ground, but quickly sprang back up and fired her gun.
"Augh!" Star collapsed to the ground, withering in pain. I coughed, still not able to breathe, and tried crawling over to her.
"Star..." I whispered, not knowing what else to say. Cyborg Noodle then kicked me in the head, and I was slowly blacking out. The last thing I heard was another gunshot, and then I became enveloped in blackness.
TO BE CONTINUED
