Author's Note - Here's chapter four. Sorry it took so long to convince myself to finally post it. I'm up to chapter six right now but those chapters are still "in progress" mode. I hope you readers enjoy it. :)

Please leave your reviews/thoughts/comments/ideas for future chapters/typos/etc. Thank you.

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Chapter Four

She wandered into the vacant room. In such a haste to leave 2D's room, Noodle pressed the any button at random.

On the right, a good portion of the wall was lined with books. On the left, a long window overlooked the sea. The room was fairly clean and rather welcoming despite the two large sea creatures that dwelled there. She noticed two rows of leather chairs and took it upon herself to make herself feel at home taking a seat on the front row. The leather left cool on her skin. Her muscles unwound and relaxed. Her back ached a little while it sought to get comfortable in the chair. Noodle gazed over the ocean as it silently rocked. She fought to keep her heavy eyelids open in vain. She drifted off and the room around her slipped away.

"Do you think you can live so carefree now?"

Noodle's eyes flickered open. She sat up from the cold, hard floor she found herself on and looked around. Wherever she was, it was cold and dark. A lone light shone down on her.

"Do you really think I'd let you go so freely?"

Her head zipped around trying to find the source of the eerie voice.

"You're mine now and there's no escaping me, my dear."

The guitarist tried to stand. A hand clasped itself around her jaw. Her mask shattered, the hand still clutched tightly around her face; shards of the mask tore at her skin.

"Where are you running off too?" The ominous voice chuckled gripping her jaw harder. "It's quite rude to run off while someone is talking to you."

Noodle's breathing quickened.

"Ah, so you do remember me after all?"

She clenched the bony wrist that held her captive. Her feet kicked wildly attempting to free herself.

The shadow clicked his tongue and said, "Don't thrash around so much, it'll make it hard to hear me."

Noodle's body came crashing down to the ground. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, making it difficult to breath.

"Much better. Now," a horrendous mask neared her face, his long nose inches from hers, "behave like a good young lady."

The frightened guitarist coughed trying to cry out, her lips moved unable to produce any sound.

"Shhh… It's impolite to speak while another is speaking. Now listen to me, Noodle," the creature spat, tightening his grip, "did really you think you could run away from me and hide out here? Did you think I wasn't going to find you? Then you were gravely mistaken, my dear."

"W-Why are you–," Noodle struggled to get out the few words.

"Because you were stupid enough to think you could escape me alive. You crossed me and now you're going to suffer."

Noodle swung her arm slamming her fist between the creature's goggled eyes. His grip on her loosened and she scrambled to fer feet.

"Damn bitch," the creature growled.

Noodle struggled to bring one foot in front of the other; her legs shook profusely as she tried to run. The creature gained up, piercing his claws into her back and tearing through her stomach.

She shot upward, a scream caught in her throat. Noodle broke out in a cold sweat and her body trembled. The creature's ugly mug loitered in her mind, his gasmask-hidden face burning itself in her brain. When she had escaped she figured she was done with that monster, that demon. Apparently, he wasn't done with her and it made her stomach churn.

"Yer finally awake?"

Noodle jumped and turned her head. Murdoc leaned on the window with both arms crossed; his cigarette radiated in the dark.

"What time is it," she asked trying to remain her composure.

"Nearly two in the morning," he replied, his voice serious and low.

The shaken girl patted her forehead, wiping away the sweat from her skin. At that moment, she realized her mask wasn't in its proper place. The room was too dark to tell here it was; as a last resort she hid her face between her knees.

"'S that why you bin wearin' that mask," Murdoc asked, his face half hidden in the shadows. "Cos of your eye?"

"Why did you take it off," she mumbled on her skin.

"I didn'. Slipped off while you were sleepin'." Murdoc paused looking her over before he began again. "That was some dream ya must've bin havin'. Knocked it right off wif all your thrashin'."

Noodle stayed motionless and Murdoc kept his eyes on her.

"It wos terrifyin' wos'n it? Hell, I mean." She could hear the clicking of his boots make their way towards her. "'Ere."

Noodle peered over her knees. His face was still hidden in the shadow and her mask in his hand.

"Thank you," she said taking back her possession, tying it around her head.

Murdoc took the seat next to her, exhaling heavily, and stretched out his legs. Noodle changed her position, crisscrossing her legs. Both of them stared out at the ocean. The moon was high and bright, stars twinkled around it. The two sat in total silence.

"It'll go on fer quite a while," Murdoc said taking the cigarette from his mouth holding it between his fingers. His arms drooped over the armrest as he let the ashes scatter to the floor "The nightmares'll haunt ya fer a while but they don't do any harm. I 'ad em too, 'cept I could 'andle 'em."

Noodle nodded her head thanking him; she appreciated the half-hearted attempt he made to comfort her, unfortunately she could only wish it was that simple. She could handle simple nightmares, but what was happening to her was more complex than scary dreams. Soon the room got quiet for a second time.

"I'm surprise you ain't shagging with 2D," Murdoc chuckled, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.

A faint blush crept across Noodle's cheeks though it went unseen by Murdoc. Unfortunately for her, he knew all to well that it would make her flushed.

"Very funny Murdoc-san. I have not even seen him yet," she lied through he teeth.

"What a load of malarkey," Murdoc scoffed. "Where did ya slink off ta when Russ n me were 'avin' at it, then?"

"I – I was taking a look around."

"That's a bunch of crack," Murdoc laughed again as Noodle shifted uneasily.

Another awkward silence threatened to fall upon then again.

"Why pink," Noodle asked.

"Hm?"

"Why is the island pink?"

"It was the cheapest colour," Murdoc shrugged. "'Ave you seen how big this piece o' plastic is? I 'ad to paint it all myself n' paint ain't cheap. But it suits it, dontcha think?" Noodle shrugged and Murdoc came to his feet, putting out the cigarette on the armchair. "Well, I'm goin' ta hit the sack."

Noodle watched him go, her stomach unexpectedly rumbled. She clutched her tummy hoping Murdoc didn't hear it.

As he boarded the lift he said lighting up another fag, "If yer feelin' a lil' peckish, feel free to raid the kitchen."

Well? What did you think?

Updating will be a bit drawn-out since school has started and PreCal PreAp, English AP, and being a lead in the school play are pain in the arses. I will do my best to update as much as I humanly can. Don't give up on this story!

Chapter five includes a moment between two of your favorite band mates if you know what I mean.

:)