-1The bleary humid day that the hospital discharged Murdoc dawned on him as menacing as a caged rabid dog baring all of its yellowed and mangled teeth. He signed as he signed off on the papers, the nurse pointing at each line and mumbling "Sign here," about six thousand times. The minute Murdoc stepped outside the humidity collected in his hair, behind his knees, on his neck, under his arms, in his shoes, everywhere it could find. He shuddered and glared around the parking lot of the hospital. He had no one to go to and no where to go. Aside from that he had nothing to get him to the place he wasn't exactly sure he was going to go.
"Swee' Satan you've forsaken me." he sighed and began walking in the general direction of Kong Studios. Once he got off the hospital grounds he realized with a sinking feeling that going back to his old stomping ground may not have been the best idea. If there were in fact pirates after him he would be skipping back into their waiting guns. Especially since Russel had decided to be an idiot and strangle one of their own. When murder was involved the entire crew seemed to find out exactly where you were and wait to take your own head. With a frustrated growl and quick decision that he may regret later Murdoc continued to Kong.
The place seemed to have gone to hell in the couple of days that it had been uninhabited. From the bottom of the hill Murdoc could see that half the roof had caved in and window glass had blown its way to where he stood. He squinted around the grave yard, each tombstone covered in fresh graffiti and blood. Fresh blood? The bodies in this graveyard where as old as the dirt they were buried underneath. Fresh blood meant fresh dead bodies. Murdoc grimaced and quickened his pace to the top of the hill. 2D's heart picked up a nervous and erratic pace in his chest. His Cuban heels clacked against the weed infested pavement as he began a type of run to the top. There was this sinking feeling captured in his chest and head. It felt as if someone was following him. Murdoc turned around half-heartedly just to check, but found no one and nothing behind him aside from a large black bird. The bird watched him with eager and sly eyes, as if it recognized him.
Murdoc blinked, "Cortez?" The raven flew up with a rustle of wings and flash of feathers and talons. He came to rest on Murdoc's shoulder gently and bit at some of his hair in greeting. Murdoc continued walking with the raven perched erect on his shoulder. His fear had subsided with this reunion of he and his fearless raptor, but whatever was lurking in Kong still had the best of him for the moment.
He opened the door with apprehension and fear pulsing audibly in his head. The contents of the lobby were strewn about and had large claw and teeth marks in them in random spots. The lights above were flickering and making a drumming sound that sounded as if it came from within the deep recesses of the building. The jukebox on the wall looked as if someone had taken a giant hand and crushed it like an aluminum soda can. Murdoc continued, his mismatched eyes flicking back and forth constantly for the unseen force he knew was lurking about. Cortez sensed his jumpiness by ruffling his wings and cawing softly. He shushed him and slunk down the hallway to the lift.
Murdoc stared at the buttons on the lift with his eyes glazed over, not quite sure where he was heading to. Did he just want to get the Winnie and get out of here? Or should he stay and reminisce for just a little while. He didn't quite want to say goodbye to Kong and what was left of Gorillaz just yet. It made his stomach sink just thinking that it was all over. That this would probably be the last time he would walk into Kong Studios. He pinched his arm to keep himself from wallowing in self pity and decided to press the button that would lead him to the floor where 2D and Noodle's rooms had been. For some reason unbeknownst to him he felt that was where he was needed.
Upon opening the door to 2D's room Murdoc was met with the overwhelming smell of used sweat socks. He pinched his nose and tried to keep himself from violently spewing all over the place. Cortez flew off from the smell, most likely going to find somewhere less acrid smelling to explore. Murdoc walked in, letting go of his nose when he noticed that 2D's possessions were still as they had been: the mattress turned on its side to watch the telly and lean against, dozens of zombie DVDs scattered about and piled on top of each other, open containers of hummus and crackers, a pair of sneakers with the seams popping off, and a couple of T-shirts, along with a bunch of other miscellaneous riff-raff. Murdoc sighed and surveyed the only thing that was left of 2D. The former heart of the blue haired man seemed to know that it was in its rightful place and began to twitter. Murdoc clutched a hand to it, coughing at the discomfort.
He picked up a T-shirt, turning it over in his hands with a bemused smile on his face. He slipped off the long sleeved grey shirt he'd been wearing. The thing was soaked with humidity and he felt all sorts of uncomfortable in it. Murdoc noticed himself in the mirror and sighed at the long stitching that ran the length of his sternum. He lightly grazed it with his finger. Murdoc's eyes began to feel heavy. Was he really going to cry? Murdoc Niccals didn't cry. That was something he was completely foreign to. Especially crying over Face ache. But being amongst his things, the place where he'd slept, dreamed, hidden from the world. Along with seeing that spot where his last living piece had gone to was just too much for Murdoc. He laid his head against the wall and sighed deep and shaky.
"You poor old sod Murdoc. Remorse is a terrible emotion innit?" a thick and ominous voice crackled from behind Murdoc in the doorway. He turned around to see a demon standing on two feet like a walking shadow. It had two white pinholes for eyes, almost like two stars that had been captured from the sky and used for this lost soul's vision receptors. The demon's mouth wasn't visible until it talked or cackled, like it did now at Murdoc, and it looked like a seam that was constantly ripping apart and resewing itself. It had jagged teeth like shapes within that were alternating black and red.
"Fuck you mate." Murdoc remarked stupidly, turning his back on the demon who advanced on him. As the man made of shadow came closer Murdoc knew where that stench was coming from, sweat socks and brimstone. He turned his reddish eye upon the demon who returned the gesture with both of its pin holes. Its mouth opened with an impish smile of sickening delight.
"Ya know Murdoc, 'D really respected ya. Even if you woz an ass to 'im." the demon smirked, trying devilishly to get Murdoc to feel bad. Unfortunately, it was succeeding.
Murdoc sighed and glared at the demon, not knowing what to say for himself. He knew he had been wrong in the way he'd treated 2D. That didn't exactly mean he'd felt like being nice to him ever. Even now he knew that if 2D were to magically come back to life Murdoc would still act the same to him. It was just that, he didn't know how else to act around someone. He was always rude, manipulative, and conniving. It was just the way he was raised and conceived. The philosophy was cliché but true; blame the parents and not the child.
"Listen bloke, I dunno who the fuck you are and wot you're doin' 'ere but I suggest you get along now. Go on, get." Murdoc spat at the shadow man. The demon feigned shock and hurt but then returned to cackling.
"I could tell ya the vury same Niccals, seeing as 'm at more lib'ty than you." the demon hissed with satisfaction. Murdoc wasn't sure what the hell was meant by this. He raised a quizzical eyebrow in response.
"More a' lib'ty?" Murdoc asked, curious as to what he meant.
"Ya see, the Devil…nice guy…gave 'e the deed to ya land aftah 'e saved ya skin." the demon squealed in excitement, speaking in thick and high pitched Cockney that reminded Murdoc all too much of 2D. "'E figured he'd dun enuf for ya and needed sum fink in return."
Murdoc decided to pointedly ignore the demon's claim. "So woz you're name den?" He began to stride around 2D's room and gather some t-shirts, bags of chips, and the Casio and its stand.
"Greg." he said, confused as to why Murdoc would ask such a casual question. Greg was half expecting the green man to be freaking out and frothing at the mouth when he discovered that his precious home and had been repossessed. Then once he was all scared and shook up the demon figured he could have a nice and shaken up meal of Murdoc. "Wot's it to ya?"
Murdoc had anticipated Greg's plan and decided that he would play it all off like he couldn't give a damn about the old place and distract the demon long enough to take all the worldly possessions within Kong and make off with the Winnie. "Jus' wundrin'." He began to shuffle out of the room with a gym bag full of the "important" things in 2D's room. Murdoc realized he needed to work quickly. Greg appeared to be pretty thick for a demon but he would most likely figure out Murdoc's true intentions eventually.
"Wot in the fuck 're you doin'?" Greg demanded as Murdoc hurried to the lift and prodded the button to the car park several times. The doors began to slide shut on Greg's face and Murdoc slid on one of 2D's shirts that he had nicked from the room.
He grinned from ear to ear at the demon and said quite simply, "I thought I might' leave. Dun mind do ya?" The demon realized that his target, and source of food for the night, was getting away. And also making him look like an idiot by doing so. No one made him look like an idiot. Well, at least do so and then lived to brag about it.
Murdoc's Cuban heels echoed through the car park as he ran with triumph to the Winnebago. She sure did look beautiful. He put his head down and gained speed, excited with adrenaline beating through his veins. He let out a holler to release the giddiness beating through him. He was getting away! He was in the clear! Murdoc threw himself into the Winnebago and slammed the door shut behind him in one quick and graceful motion. He chucked the gym bag on the ground and jumped into the driver's seat and revved the engine violently. Cortez perched on the head rest and watched him with keen interest reflected in his red eyes. Murdoc could see the demon floating menacingly across the car park, chasing after him. He sucked in a breath and skidded the Winnebago past him just to be an ass. Murdoc stuck out his snake like tongue to the demon as he pulled out into the overcast and sluggish day. He knew in his bones that he would see Greg again. That time, however, their confrontation would be much more dangerous and far more bloody.
Murdoc continued to drive with the air conditioning on full blast. It was so hot that currents of heat could be seen floating up from the pavement. They made vision just a few yards down the road hazy and misted. Murdoc blinked his eyes repeatedly in a tired manner. He ruffled his hair with his hand before turning sharply and on two wheels into the parking lot of a strip club.
-Chapter 2 Fin-
Author's Note: I'm loving all of the positive feedback, thanks guys. More of that positive feed back is quite inspiring (hint, hint). The next chapter is going to be probably my favorite one to write. I've been planning and running through it several times so be excited for that. This story may include some romance (MurdocxOC) a little later on, but it won't be the main focus. I will most definitely be focusing more on 2D and Murdoc's awkward and damaged former friendship, Noodle and Murdoc's interactions, and Greg the demon. Cheers.