I knew something was wrong when I got out of the car. Russel's eyes were focusing intently on a bit of ground and he moved to it and pointed.
"Noods…" he trailed, I followed and gulped as I saw blood. I whipped my head towards the Winniebago and saw the door hanging awkwardly on its hinges, as if someone had smashed into it.
"Oh no," I gasped, fear gripping me like cold talons. I ran towards the mobile home and up the steps where signs of a feeble struggle met my eyes.
A smashed bottle of beer was scattered on the floor, the glass having been crushed further. Blood decorated the carpet in choice areas, and Murdoc's inverted cross was on the ground, the clasp broken from him resisting. I sank to my knees and picked up the shiny thing, watching it glint in the light.
Murdoc was gone, someone had him, maybe it was the Boogieman but there were also plenty of others that had issues with the bassist. For all I knew, Satan himself might have come strolling up to nick him from his Winnie.
Russel's voice snapped me out of my thought process as he stuck his head in. "Baby-girl, what happened? You need to tell me so I can try and help." I turned to him and I felt desolate inside. Without Murdoc there was no way we could go and get 2D. My family was falling apart; Stu was probably dead by now.
I stood up with weak legs and went outside where I sat on the asphalt of the car park and explained everything from Guatemala to the time I had left to go get the drummer from the music shop. He listened quietly until I came to a halt and looked hopelessly at the Winniebago. Russel thought for a bit until he straightened his head and gazed steadily at me.
"C'mon Baby-girl," he said gently, extending a hand to me which I took and helped myself up on. "I think we need to go get them, Stu and Muds."
"You're crazy, there's no way we can just march into Hell and get them back. Planning, preparations are useless as well, because there's nothing to plan for. As soon as we enter the realm we will be killed. Murdoc was going to go because he knew his way around." I argued back. Russel seemed to think about that and he sighed and rubbed his eyelids, defeat crawling into his mind as well.
"Excuse me?" a voice rang out, it was deep and throaty, as if they were purposely changing it to make it unrecognizable. We both turned to see a heavily clothed man with face coverings standing in the driveway. It was drizzling slightly for November and I was very surprised that he survived driving through the landfill.
"Can I help you?" I asked, Russel gasped as he looked at this mysterious figure.
"The Evangelist!" he gasped, I widened my eyes and saw that this man did fit the description that Russ had given me. The Evangelist stepped lightly inside, he had a very strange necklace on; it was a misshapen dove, clutched roughly in a skeleton's hand. If birds could have expressions, the doves would be one of terror; it looked like it was vainly attempting to get away.
"Erm, hello, I heard you had a missing Satanist on your hands? I am here to offer my services." He said in reply, walking towards us. He stopped in front of me and extended a gloved hand.
"Hello," I said stiffly, shaking it.
"You must be Noodle, you are very lovely indeed." He said, a smirk in his voice to make up for the absence of emotion on his covered face. Anger filled me but Russel cleared his throat, directing my attention to him.
"How did you know-?"
"The internet knows all, I have my sources. Ask not what I did to get here, all that matters is that we are going to have both of your missing band mates back." The Evangelist interrupted with an air of confidence.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded roughly. He fixed his eyes on me and I glared back fiercely.
"What I am saying is that I can help you more than you know, I am a friend of Murdoc's you could say. I'm like his guardian; I've been with him on his journey from day one. I've known him longer than any of you." He said gently. Russel and I exchanged puzzled looks. "I cannot say any more, so please ask no questions, I just want to see him safely out and I will be on my way."
I was frustrated but didn't say any more as Russel took him and moved a distance away to talk. I went into the Winniebago and grabbed Murdoc's inverted cross and put it around my neck, comforted by the feel of it, a little piece of him to keep near me. This Evangelist, regardless of his past with Murdoc, was going to help. I didn't care anymore; I just wanted to have 2D and Muds back where they belonged, with us.
The Evangelist poked his head inside the 'Bago and I turned to glare at him. "I don't give a damn about anything you have to say, I just want Stu and Murdoc back." And I brushed past him to go sit with Russel.