Chapter 11: Taking Back the Spirit House: Part 1
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Warning: This chapter begins with a flashback to 2D's perspective during parts of his possession and the end of the last chapter. What he thinks he sees after the demon leaves his body is gruesome, so if gruesome descriptions make you feel ill/uncomfortable, you might want to skip ahead. If you want to skip the flashback, I'm putting five empty lines after that section is over; you can start after those.
It was dark in his being – in this part of it, anyway – tucked far away from the smiles and sunshine of the outside world. He had been pushed to the deepest corner of himself, shoved aside by the demonic spirit which had spread itself through his body, commandeering his arms and legs, his vision, his very mind. He could feel it pushing at him still, trying to make him smaller, to push him into nothingness. 2D wasn't strong enough to push back.
But a thought kept him from being entirely pushed away…
The corridor. He remembered stirring when the pressure around him had eased, seeing a light in the distance, stumbling to his feet despite the sense that something was trying to pull him back. Hope kept him striding forward, slowly at first, but picking up speed as the light grew brighter, nearer. Soon, he was running. The light was larger; it was a rectangle, it was a doorway-
It was him, the demon who had infected 2D's mind, making his way towards another doorway, a new conquest. And on the ground had been her. He had then understood where the demon was going, what the demon was doing, and 2D's soul had flared with panic and rage. He charged. He took the spirit down. The force pulled them both back into his mind as he begged Noodle not to share his fate. Slowly, she began to disappear from view…
But not before she could make him a promise. The promise which was all he had left. It was his last hope, his only hope. It was small, probably futile, but coming from Noodle's lips, it was enough. He held on.
If only he'd had the time to tell her what he had discovered in the deepest part of himself, in the most hidden, most unshakeable part of his heart…
. . .
The pressure was gone. So was the demon. He didn't know when it happened or how; all he knew was that he could feel his fingers, move them even, that he was in control of the breaths passing through his lungs, that there was hard, gritty ground pressed against his back and the air smelled like sulfur.
He opened his eyes. Where am I?
The world around him was not coming into focus; it was all a meaningless swirl of black and gray. 2D allowed his eyes to follow the hectic shapes for a minute, hoping that some of them would begin to make sense, but to no avail.
Noodle… She was the one who promised to get that thing out of my head, she must be around here somewhere. "Noodle? A-are you there? Noods?"
There were voices buzzing through the air around him, but he couldn't make sense out of them. He felt as if his head were surrounded by old, fuzzy radios, each one broadcasting the tune of a different warped, scratchy record. It almost hurt to listen.
I won't find Noodle laying on my back, 2D thought, rolling onto his hands and knees. His head spun; 2D paused for a moment to allow his woozy thoughts to settle before lifting his head to look around.
Dark blurs whirred through his field of vision, making him feel dizzy. Amongst the blurs, just a few meters away, was the fuzzy outline of a discernible shape- a human shape- laying across the ground as he had been moments ago. Could it be… "Noodle?"
The shape didn't respond, phasing in and out of focus as 2D stared. He began to crawl towards it, ignoring the way his hands grated against the harsh asphalt. "Noodle? Is that you? Are you okay?"
As he crawled closer, features became clearer: unruly black hair, the back of a torn striped shirt, and a small, slim frame which he, despite his awful memory, would recognize anywhere. I have to get to her! "Noodle, please be okay, please be okay…"
He tried to crawl faster towards her, the need to make sure she was alright screaming in his mind, but he found that he couldn't move. Something was holding him back. He could feel it clamped over his shoulder, could hear its warped voice hissing into his ear. 2D struggled, desperate to move closer to his friend's still form, but this terrible force continued to hold him back, content to let him watch as his friend lay unmoving on the ground without any reassurance of her wellbeing. "No! Let me go, let me go! I have to get to Noodle!" 2D cried desperately. "NOODLE! LET ME GO TO HER! LET ME GO!"
Finally, the force - which had apparently had its fill of fun teasing him - released 2D, allowing him to scuttle painfully over the remaining distance and arrive at the side of his friend. He reached out to her, turned her over, and was at last able to see her face-
Except there was no face. There was only blood.
2D's breath caught. His heart skipped a beat. His mind went numb. "No…"
Everything- her face, her arms, chest, stomach, legs- was mangled, torn, sliced open. Her skin- what was left of it- was dyed red with blood. Horrific injuries revealed pink sinew, organs, and glistening bones. 2D wanted to look away. He couldn't.
"Noodle… No… No, no no…"
She was dead, and clearly, she had died painfully.
Why… Why her? 2D's thoughts stammered. Why would this happen to her?
Then he remembered Noodle's promise. She had vowed to get the demon out of him, and apparently succeeded. Naturally, the demon would have been angry… Oh no…
"It's my fault," 2D whispered under his breath, staring down into the empty sockets where her sparkling green eyes had once dwelled. This happened to her while she was helping me… Because I let her make that promise… Because I was too weak to fight of the demon myself… Too stupid… Too useless… And now… Now…
It was too much for him. He screamed.
He didn't even know what words he was screaming, trying to vent some of the pain bursting inside of him, pain like his bones had turned into flaming knives, like his heart had exploded. It radiated outward from his chest, tearing through his raw throat, flooding his veins with electric poison.
The voices were back, and the restraining forces as well, taunting him, surrounding him with their shrill clamor, locking onto his limbs and pulling him too and fro. It hardly mattered. He could barely hear them over his own pained shrieks, could barely feel them over the sensation of every cell in his body bursting into flames of grief.
Eventually, he lost control of his limbs entirely. Everything was jerking and writhing, his heartbeat thrummed at a velocity comparable to that of a speeding train. If it continued at that rate, it would surely burst, and he would die. This didn't worry 2D too much. At this point, he wasn't too fussed about living anymore.
2D's thoughts never left the mangled corpse in front of him. I just wish I could've told her… A flash of hope sprung into 2D's mind. Maybe… When I die… She'll be there! Through his pain, that thought crystalized into a shining light; something to make the agony worth it. I'll find her, in death if I have too… I have to find her!
He listened. He listened because that's how he always found her in times like this, when he was in pain. Whether it was a nightmare, a daydream, a panic attack, whatever, an angelic voice always came to take the bad stuff away. Her voice.
It didn't want him to listen. Angry buzzing filled his mind; the voices told him to give up, that she was gone and it was his fault, that in the afterlife, she wouldn't wait up for an idiot like him, the idiot who had gotten her killed.
2D knew better. She was always there, no matter what.
He could hear her.
Soft tones, cutting through the angry buzz. Consoling words. His name, her name. A phrase…
"I'm right here by your side, and I'm not going anywhere."
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
Then he could see her. Alive, whole, smiling. And once more, he couldn't control himself.
"NOODLE!"
His hands were on her face, pressing into her warm, living skin. He pulled himself closer, pulled her closer, latching onto his lifeline. He needed this.
His fingers slid under her jaw, feeling her fast pulse, her supple skin.
Her eyes were shining.
Her lips were soft.
He dove into her, kissing her deeply, reveling in her warmth as he swept his tongue over her lips, pushing himself through as she let out a surprised gasp, tracing the roof of her mouth, pushing her closer to him as his fingers tangled into her hair and slid behind her back.
She's here… she's okay… Noodle, my Noodle… 2D made a noise somewhere between a moan and a purr as he crushed her into his chest. He tilted his head, rubbing his nose against her cheekbone as he pressed her mouth harder into his. One of his hands ran across the side of her face and her hair while the other caressed up and down her back. He had to feel her there, to reassure himself that he wasn't dreaming, that he finally had Noodle safe in his arms-
A strong force yanked him by the back of his shirt collar into the air. Breathing heavily and confused, 2D blinked at the man who was angrily staring him down while lifting him into the air. Then the singer smiled, a sort of dopey, very 2D-ish smile.
"Oh, hey, Russ!"
"'D, WHAT THE HECK, MAN?"
2D continued to smile dumbly, high on the knowledge that Noodle was alive. He could hear Murdoc somewhere behind them howling with laughter. "Hahaha! I knew the dullard would get there eventually! And look at her face! Ha!"
2D tipped his head sideways, peering around Russel towards the guitarist who was staring up at them with wide eyes and her mouth hanging slightly open. Come to think of it, she hadn't really moved at all since he'd placed his lips on hers… Oh well. She's alive, and okay, and that's all that matters right now.
2D was so happy that he barely noticed Russel jerking him back and forth by his shirt collar, shouting into his face. "ONE MOMENT YOU'RE HAVING A SEIZURE, THE NEXT YOU'RE TRYING TO CHEW THE FACE OFF OF MY BABY-GIRL? NUH-UH, MAN! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! I'M GONNA MAKE YOU WISH YOU'D BEEN KILLED BY THAT DEMON! IMMA TEACH YOU TO KEEP YOUR DIRTY HANDS OFFA MY SWEET, INNOCENT-"
"RUSSEL!" Noodle had snapped out of her trance and was on her feet, staring down the drummer. Russel turned towards her, standing at an angle which gave 2D a clear view of her face as well. She wore a cryptic, unreadable expression; a smarter man than 2D wouldn't have been able to figure out what she was thinking in that moment. 2D hummed happily. She's so cool when she's being mysterious…
"Russel, put him down. 2D has just had a traumatic experience, and he needs rest."
"He's had a traumatic experience?" Russel exploded. "You just got slobbered on by a half-dead lunatic! Watching was a traumatic experience!"
Noodle's eyes narrowed in a very serious manner. She's so attractive when she's serious… "This matter is between 2D and myself. Thank you for your concern, Russel, but I am perfectly capable of handling what just happened without your help. I'll be having a serious talk with 2D later. Alone. But now, he needs rest, and we need to get somewhere safe."
Russel grumbled before releasing his fist and allowing 2D to drop to the ground. 2D's smile didn't waver as the drummer muttered, "She better beat you up later. Hey, what are you laughing at, pickle-face?"
Murdoc, who had been chuckling in a quiet, restrained fashion, burst into fresh peals of laughter, one of his eyes spinning in crazy circles. Noodle rolled her eyes. She turned to the two members of their group who had remained silent through Russel's tirade. "Charlene, Simz, are you both okay?"
Little Simz blinked, looking from the chronically laughing bassist to the spread-eagled, still smiling singer with concern. "Umm… Yeah…"
Charlene looked almost as if she wanted to start laughing with Murdoc. "Yes, I'm quite alright, dear. But where exactly are we going to find safety?"
Noodle swiveled her head like a satellite dish, tracking the noise of the approaching zombies. "Nowhere in this city. That demon really hates us, so we need to lie low. Charlene, is there anything in particular you need so that you can make more sleeping powder?"
"There's a special type of candle I need, but they're very hard to find," Charlene responded, her face falling. "You can't just go to the next city's Walmart and ask for a double-sided spirit candle, capable of separating light from dark power as the ends are burned- "
"Oh, I've got tons of those," Murdoc said dismissively. "Once you find a good dealer, they're pretty cheap. Mine are back at the Spirit House, though."
Noodle nodded slowly, her expression grim. "Then that's where we need to go. Saturnz Barz is on the outskirts of the city; it's got food, beds, and the candles we need, so it'll be an ideal home base once we've cleared out the zombies." She marched to her bike, dusted of the seat and angled it towards the dirt slope leading out of the pit. She threw a leg over the bike before turning back to her bandmates with a determined glint in her eyes. "Let's go. We're taking back the Spirit House."
. . .
2D wasn't very comfortable crammed next to Russel in the bed of Little Simz's truck as it pitched and jumped over potholes and the bodies of the zombies they ran over. He would have liked to be riding with Noodle on her super-cool motorcycle, but Russel had insisted that since 2D "needed rest," he ought to lay down in the truck bed with him. The drummer currently wasn't doing much talking, preferring to sit silently and glare at 2D.
Despite the bumpy ride, 2D smiled. He was happy to be back in his own body and relieved to find his bandmates alive and well. However, there were a few points of concern nagging in the back of his mind.
First off, they were in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
Second, they were going towards the house where this whole mess started.
Third, Noodle hadn't kissed him back.
2D couldn't very well focus on all of these points at once, so he decided to go with the third.
I guess I sorta surprised her, 2D thought, recalling the look of dazed shock on Noodle's face after the event. Maybe she just didn't have time to react. But… What if… What if she hates me? This zombie thing is apparently my fault, and I did get her killed- oh, wait, that bit was a hallucination. But I let the bad spirit out of the piano, so she's probably mad at me. 2D's brow furrowed, his smile sinking into a frown. I wonder how mad she is at me? She didn't kick me or punch me in the face- that's more of a Murdoc thing to do, I guess- and she didn't shove me away- but that could've been because she was in shock. She told Russel that we would be having a "serious talk" later. Is she going to tell me to stay away from her?
2D's thoughts continued along their stormy path as the truck fled the city center, roaring past suburban houses until the group found themselves on the fringe of town, having left most of the zombies behind.
The truck shuddered to a stop. 2D raised his head to see the Spirit House looming ominously just across the road. Lowering his eyes, he felt sick as memories rushed through his mind: being tormented by spirits, hearing the voice, being possessed…
2D swallowed his fear. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stare brazenly at the house. It was my weakness- my fear- that got us into this mess. I have to be brave now. I have to!
The singer climbed out of the truck bed after Russel, trying to ignore the way his legs shook underneath him. Little Simz and Charlene were exiting the truck as well, and a few feet away, Noodle and Murdoc dismounted the bike. They all approached each other, making a circle on the lawn of the Spirit House. 2D found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with Russel and Noodle.
"We need to make a plan for getting into the house," Russel started. "Noodle-girl, what state was the house in when you left?"
"There were zombies in the basement. I closed the door on them, but they've probably spread out by now," Noodle replied. "Also, the two spirits were there. I expect they'll still be around when we go in."
"Powder lady, ya got any more of that stuff you messed up 2D with?" Murdoc asked, turning to Charlene.
Charlene, who looked somewhat offended at being called "powder lady," huffed, "no. I only grabbed a handful of the unfinished formula before leaving my house. I honestly didn't think it would be very useful, and the rest of the batch has probably spoiled by now anyway."
Murdoc grumbled. "That would've been a fun way to take down those two gits."
"Is- is there anything else we can d-do to get rid of the s-spirits?" 2D stammered, trying (and failing) to keep the fear out of his voice.
"I think I've got something that could work," Murdoc responded. "I've got a recipe for a quick-start hellhole, but it would take me a few minutes to set up. We would need to clear a path to my room for me to reach my supplies. Once it gets up, we'd have about a minute to lure the spirits through."
"We can work with that," Noodle said. "We'll need to find an effective way to cut through the zombies, though. I know you guys aren't as good at hand-to-hand combat as I am, and I think there's about 30 of them in there right now."
The group went silent, thoughtful expressions on their faces. 2D glanced around the circle and noticed Little Simz staring down the road with a confused look in her eyes. The rapper spoke, "Hey, did anyone order a package?"
The band looked up at Simz then followed her gaze down the road. Distant but growing steadily larger, a blocky Fed-Ex truck was barreling towards them. 2D could see a metal trailer hooked onto the truck's back end; it was about as tall as he was, and roughly four meters long. They watched as the truck mounted the curb and rolled onto the grass before jolting to a sudden stop. A very harassed looking man leaped out of the front seat and approached the group.
"I'm looking for a Stuart Pot?" The man said, glancing around the circle. Surprised, 2D stepped forward slowly, wringing his hands and feeling the eyes of his bandmates on him as he approached the man.
"Sign here, please."
2D accepted a pen from the man and quickly scribbled his name onto an official-looking form. The man then turned away, walking to the back of the truck and detaching the trailer. He then returned to 2D, pulled a postcard and a key out of his pocket, and handed both to the singer, who accepted them with a very confused look on his face. As the man stomped back to the driver's seat, 2D heard him mutter, "I'm never coming anywhere near this town again." Soon the truck was gone, leaving 2D with the mysterious trailer, key, and postcard.
The group stood in silence, watching 2D as he glanced between the postcard and the trailer. Murdoc was the first to break the quiet. "Dullard, whatever this order is, it had better not turn up on my credit card bill."
"B-but… I d-didn't order anything."
"Read the card," Noodle said. "It might contain an explanation."
2D looked down at the postcard. Something tingled in his memory when he saw the word "Lincolnshire" splayed across a picture of a historic-looking building. Turning the card over, 2D read the message out loud to his company.
"Dear 2D,
"I saw you in a celebrity magazine; there was an undercover reporter at a pancake restaurant you went to. She overheard you talking about evil beings in the house you're staying at. Henry, the mechanic I mentioned in my last postcard, has helped me gather a few tools you might be able to use if something tries to attack you. I hope this delivery reaches you before anything bad happens.
"By the way, Henry finished making that new head for me. We got creative with the eyes; my favorite pair is a set of deep-purple ones. Henry thinks they look great on me.
"Best wishes,
"Cyborg."
2D smiled. It was always nice to get a letter from a friend, and it was good to hear that Cyborg was doing well. It almost made him forget where he was and what he was doing.
"She sends you postcards?" Murdoc raged. "I haven't heard a word from that ungrateful hunk of steel, and here she is, sending you cards and presents- "
"Shut up, Muds," Russel groaned. "Let's crack open this trailer. It sounds like there might be something useful inside."
The group walked to the back of the trailer. 2D arrived at the front of the group, facing a door held shut by a heavy-looking lock. "I think we need a key," 2D commented.
"Look in your hand, Faceache," Murdoc growled.
2D looked down. Oh yeah- the delivery man gave me a key. 2D slid the key smoothly into the lock and twisted. The lock popped open, and the doors began to creak, swinging open to reveal the trailer's contents.
2D stared with wide eyes.
Weapons lined the walls of the trailer: scythes, handguns, tommy guns, even a machine gun. The group filed into the small room, some of them ducking to get in, and surveyed the arsenal, occasionally reaching out to feel or pick up a shining weapon.
"Haven't held one of these in ages!" Murdoc said with a grudging smile as he lifted a wicked-looking scythe from its hanger.
"Yes, these will definitely be useful," Noodle said, admiring a tommy gun before turning to face the group. "Let's stick to the scythes for now; we don't want to blow the house to bits and we have to be able to decapitate the zombies."
The group murmured in assent as Murdoc passed the scythes around. As he looked at the shining silver blades, 2D was reminded of the band's early days, when they had to drive zombies out of Kong studios.
"Well, isn't this nostalgic," Murdoc said, surveying his band and their two guests as they regrouped on the lawn. "Powder lady, can you even swing that thing?"
"It's Charlene," she grumbled, "And I've got plenty of spunk left in me."
When Murdoc looked doubtful, Noodle chipped in, "She has a strong swing. I had to stop her from bashing 2D's head in with her cane when we first met."
Murdoc looked at the elderly woman with a new glimmer of respect in his eyes. "Impressive. It's good to know I only have to worry about one invalid today." Murdoc threw a condescending glare towards 2D, who frowned.
"Hey, I'm not an invoh- ah- whatever you said! I can protect myself!"
"Says the idiot who got himself possessed, accidentally unleashed the zombie apocalypse, and is afraid of stupid, blubbery sea-mammals."
2D's face reddened, and he turned away from Murdoc with a huff. Murdoc wasn't the only one who was concerned; the present company were all glancing worriedly at 2D, pondering Murdoc's words.
"You know, D," Russel said, "Muds might have a point. You're not exactly the… most skilled… when it comes to… well… anything but singing, and you've already been through a lot today. Maybe you should sit this one out."
"Yeah, man," Little Simz chipped in. "I don't even know you, but the way your legs are shaking, it's a wonder you haven't already fallen over."
2D opened his mouth, about to protest, when Noodle spoke up. "2D." The singer looked down at his bandmate, taking in her stern expression with a sinking heart. "I need you to stay out here. We're not trying to offend you or make you feel bad. You shouldn't die needlessly, and I don't think you're in a fit state to take on zombies and spirits right now."
2D looked at the ground, shame burning inside of him. He wanted to be in there with them, to be by Noodle's side and help her however he could, to prove to her that he wasn't useless. 2D sighed. How can I prove that I'm not useless when I am useless?"
"Oh, don't feel bad, dear," Charlene consoled. "Tell you what. When this is all over, I'll make some cookies, whichever type you like best! How does that sound?"
2D didn't lift his gaze from the ground. The scythe he was holding slid out of his limp fingers, falling to the ground beside him with a soft thud. An awkward silence fell over the group. 2D could feel his bandmates' gazes piercing him, beholding his disgrace. Finally, Noodle spoke up.
"Okay. Russel, Charlene, I want you to work on clearing as many rooms as you can of zombies on the ground floor. When you're done, move on to the basement. Simz, Murdoc, and I will clear the way to Murdoc's room on the top floor. Once we get there, Simz can work on clearing the rooms on the top floor and I'll guard Murdoc while he makes the hellhole. When the spirits appear, lead them upstairs, but don't let them enter the room until the hellhole is ready. 2D, if anything gets out of the house, shout, and one of us will come and make sure everything's okay."
The group nodded. 2D watched as they approached the front door. As he sat in the grass next to his scythe, he heard them do a countdown before they flung open the door and rushed into the house, closing the door tightly behind themselves.
. . .
Aww, poor 2D is getting left out, and he thinks Noodle hates him. Maybe he'll do something to change the band's tune in the next chapter (hint hint, wink wink).
Coming up next: The band fights for control over the Spirit House! Will their plan succeed? Will 2D thatch a grass bracelet while he waits for his bandmates to emerge? Find out next chapter! If you're excited, review!