Noodle's Retreat
Chapter 1
Noodle was woken up to the sound of glass shattering. "Eh?!" she exclaimed. She scrambled to get out of bed, and ran out of her room to see what was going on. "2-D?! Murdoc?! Russel?!" she shouted as she ran down the hall, heading for the living room. When she got there, there was pieces of broken china scattered across the floor. Noodle tried her best to step around the broken remnants of china plates, and found 2-D hunched over in a corner of the room. "M-Murdoc!'" he shouted, out of breath. "Where are y'getting all them pl-" 2-D was interrupted by the sound of yet another plate being shattered. Noodle looked around to see Murdoc holding a stack of china plates. He looked exceptionally angry. "Does it matter, ya little bugger?!" Murdoc grumbled. "Don't make me smash one over y'head!" 2-D cowered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I won't do i' again!" Noodle screamed as yet another plate was flung across the room right over her head. "Where is Russel?!" she asked, trying to steer clear of any more plates. "Russel? He's in th' kitchen." 2-D explained. "Rightfully so, I'd prolly hide in there too."
Noodle made a beeline for the kitchen and sure enough, there was Russel. He was sitting at the kitchen island and scrolling through his phone. "Hey, Noodle." he said quietly. "Did you get past that mess the other guys were makin'?" Noodle nodded and sat down on another chair across from him. "They woke me up, and I really wanted to sleep in." Noodle said. "How long have they been at this?" "About two hours now." Russel said. "Trust me, I been keepin' count." Noodle sighed. "Two hours? And they are not tired yet?" Russel shrugged. "I dunno." Noodle got up to grab some onigiri she'd been keeping in the fridge. She sat back down, but not before the sound of yet another plate shattering echoed from the living room. She sighed again, and took a small bite from one of the rice balls. She wondered what could have possibly provoked 2-D and Murdoc.
A few minutes later, 2-D let out a loud scream. Noodle and Russel ran out of the kitchen to see what happened. 2-D was in fetal position on the ground, and was blood dripping down his forehead. "Oh no..." said Noodle. "Did Murdoc smash a plate over your head?" But before he could answer, Murdoc ran up to Noodle, and handed her a plate. "Go on, love." he said. "Vent out your frustration." She looked at him, bewildered. "I-I don't want to get involved!" Noodle dropped the plate as she ran towards her room, crying. "Noodle..." Russel said, as he watched her leave.
Noodle slammed the door behind her, and fell to the floor, putting her head in her hands. Then there was a soft knock on her door; it was Russel. "You okay in there, Noodle?" he said. Noodle didn't answer. Usually she was used to Murdoc and 2-D getting into fights, but something about today made Noodle break. Noodle got up, grabbed a tissue from atop her dresser, and suddenly she got an idea. "I...I need a vacation." she said to herself. "I have to get out of here." She grabbed her phone and texted Russel.
Russel I need you to come in my room. It's me, Noodle
Her door opened. "I was tryin' to come in." He sat down next to her. "Whatcha need?" Noodle explained her plan. "But you must not tell the boys. Or they may try to follow me." "My lips are sealed." said Russel. "Need me to help you pack?" "No thank you." Noodle answered. Russel walked out her room, and Noodle locked the door. She ran to her closet and rolled out a suitcase. She stuffed 2 light outfits, some toiletries and her diary. "I can't leave this behind." Then she grabbed her suitcase, and opened her window. She grabbed her grappling hook, threw the grapple towards a nearby tree and swung down. "It's a good thing Murdoc gave me this for my birthday last year." Noodle was finally free. She put her grappling hook in her suitcase and ran as far as she could.
Russel went back to the living room to see if Murdoc and 2-D were done fighting, as the atmosphere grew silent. Murdoc was passed out on the couch with an empty bottle of alcohol in his hand, and 2-D was treating his wound. "Ello, Russ..." 2-D moaned weakly. "Sorry 'bout all that ruckus." "You good, man?" Russel asked. 2-D nodded. "Can ye get me some o' them painkillers in m'nightstand?" Russel headed to 2-D's bedroom. A minute later, Russel returned with the painkillers. 2-D held out a shaky hand and grabbed the bottle of pills from Russel. Suddenly, Russel's phone buzzed in his pocket. "I-I gotta go, man." he said. Russel walked to his room and checked his text messages.
I am as far away from the studio as possible but I haven't found any transportation yet. I will delete this message soon. I won't be talking for a little while. Stay safe <3
Russel sent a thumbs up, and Noodle's message disappeared. It was 1:30 PM, and Noodle was sitting on a park bench across a river. She looked at her phone with a slight frown, and sighed. Suddenly, she saw something in the distance across the river. She squinted to get a closer look. As it got closer, Noodle noticed that it was a boat. "What else would it be, Noodle?" she said to herself. Noodle waved to get the attention of the boat driver.
"Noodle? From Gorillaz?" A female voice called; the boat driver immediately noticed and recognized Noodle. "Yes, it is Noodle!" Noodle shouted. The boat driver drove faster to see her. "I cannot believe it..." the boat driver said. "I'm meeting Noodle... in the flesh..." Noodle blushed a little. "Ah, hello." she said. "Who are you?" The boat driver stopped her boat. "I'm Rieza. But please, call me Rie." Noodle shook hands with Rie. "Need a lift?" Noodle grabbed her suitcase. "I do." she answered. "But I'll explain why on the boat." Rie held her hand out again. "Climb on, dear." Noodle quickly grabbed Rie's hand. Rie revved up the boat and they headed off.
"So, why are you leavin'?" Rie asked. "Well, 2-D and Murdoc got into this huge fight, and the stress got to me." Noodle said. "Oh dear." Rie said. "Do they know you left?" Noodle tensed up. "No." she said. "They don't. Russel does. And it's going to stay that way." Rie held out her pinky finger. "Of course, dear. I promise." Noodle held out her pinky as well, and the two pinky promised not to tell anyone except Russel. "Now then." Rie said. "Let's ask the important question; where do you want me to take you?" "...well, there's this island that nobody else knows about." Noodle answered. She opened up her suitcase, pulled out her diary, and turned a specific page. On that page was a map. She handed the map to Rie. "Follow these directions." Rie nodded. "Absolutely." And so, Noodle's expedition began.