I really wanted to leave. My family was gonna be so worried and I had no way of telling them that I was safe. Well--- not dead anyway. For some reason I wasn't panicking like I thought I would. I was a bit bored but that was the extent of my emotions.
It had been roughly 2 weeks since I was captured here. I saw some new songs 2D made. He sang parts to me occasionally but never a full song.
"Harley! Get out here!" Murdoc screamed from the open doorway.
I felt blood drain from my face and my knees went wobbly.
"Yes?" I said as I ran up to him.
Slap. I felt my cheek burn.
"I need you out here for a song. I'll have Noodle give you some clothes and then I need you to help shoot a video."
The robot tossed some clothes at me, expressionless. I quickly stripped down and put on the clothes. I'd feel cute if it weren't for the fact that I could feel the stares. I was surprised that 2D was staring, he usually was so polite. But whatever. I pulled on my boots and looked at Murdoc expectantly.
"Let's go."
We walked out to the shore. A single camera was set up.
And of course, instead of letting me act the video, I was waterboarded repeatedly to get the perfect shot of a girl drowning. I hate this place. I hate my eyes. I hate Murdoc. I hate Plastic Beach. I fucking hate whales too. Fuck this. One day I'll just grab a broken CD and stab Murdoc with it. Teach him a fucking lesson. I kept a cool exterior. I was fine, fine.
Murdoc locked me in the bunker again. When he door opened I heard a surprised yelp from 2D and then a zipper. But I wasn't gonna react to anything. I was okay with it. Fine.
"Ah 2D I'm gonna hop in the shower real quick. 'Kay?" I called to him.
"I washed our clothes so take your time because they haven't dried yet." He replied, voice cracking.
"Thanks!"
I closed the shower door behind me. I turned the door symbol to occupied because there was no lock. I stripped down once again. I was fine.
Not anymore.
The second the water hit me I felt my face scrunch up. Tears rolled down, their warmth contrasting the cold shower. I tried to stop it from setting in. Long story short: it didn't work.
My sobs just got louder and louder. And more strangled. I heard knocking on the door.
"Harley! Are you alright?"
I tried to speak but my throat was too strained to make a noise.
"Harley?"
I sank to the floor. As soon as I closed my eyes the water felt even more ominous. I flailed my arms and shrieked. I heard the door bust open, and a panicked high voice question things I couldn't make out. All I could hear was the beating of my heart under a chorus of Murdoc saying 'Another cut. Hold your breath, darlin-" and I couldn't breathe again. I could feel the swooshing of water over my face and I couldn't think-
"Harley!" I opened my eyes and saw 2D wide eyed and confused. He stared into my eyes for a full second and then did the strangest thing. He sat down in the shower by me and put his hand on my back, rubbing a comforting circle into it. I felt safer. My hyperventilating turned into slower, yet still tense breaths. Then I heard a sweet sound. It was like honey was somehow encapsulated in sound.
"Waiting by the mailbox, by the train
Passin' by the hills 'til I hear the name
I'm looking for a saw to cut these chains in half and all I want is
Someone to rely on as
Thunder comes a rolling down
Someone to rely on as
Lightning comes a staring in again
I'll wait to be forgiven
Maybe I never will
My star has left me
To take the bitter pill
That shattered feeling
Well the cause of it's a lesson learned
Just don't know if I could roll into the sea again
"Just don't know if I could do it all again" she said, it's true
Waiting in my room and I lock the door
I watch the coloured animals across the floor
And I'm looking from a distance
And I'm listening to the whispers
And oh it ain't the same, when you're falling out of feeling and you're
Falling in and caught again
I'm caught again in the mystery
You're by my side, but are you still with me?
The answer's somewhere deep in it, I'm sorry but you're feeling it
But I just have to tell that I love you so much these days
Have to tell you that I love you so much these days, it's true
My heart is in economy
Due to this autonomy
Rolling in and caught again
Caught again
My heart is in economy
Due to this autonomy
Rolling in and caught again
Caught again"
2D had never sang a full song to me before. Definitely not such a meaningful one either. I was grounded by his song and his voice. I looked up at him and smiled the best I could, even though I probably looked like shit. The boy smiled back and rested his forehead against mine. We closed our eyes and just listened to the sound of the shower hitting our bodies.
Whoa. Wait. I was naked in front of 2D. And he was fully clothed in the shower.
Almost as if reading my mind, 2D pulled the hoodie he had on off himself and handed it to me. I wriggled into it and gave him a big hug.
"Thanks Stu. Thank you."
I reached up and turned off the shower.
I stood up and walked out. I handed him my towel and left to grab dry clothes from the dryer. I felt so warm and safe, so I grabbed a hoodie and some sweatpants for 2D and tossed a blanket in there so it would be warm.
The door to the bathroom creaked as I opened it.
"Here, I got you this." I handed 2D the clothes.
He pulled the hoodie over his head and smiled gently at me.
He put on the sweatpants after removing his soaked shorts. No underwear.... Oh lord. That's why he was so flustered. We interrupted the poor boy.
I tried to stop the smirk on my face and I looked at the wall. It wasn't working.
"You okay?" 2D asked. Ah shit time to lie.
"Uh- yeah. Thanks for everything man." I said, hugging him again.
I opened the door and gestured for us to leave.
2D put on his most relaxing music on his little movie player as I opened the dryer and took out the warm quilt.
"Hey Stu, fancy joining me on the bed under this? Cuddles are always nice after a mental breakdown..." I said, trying to laugh off the awkward encounter.
"You're a weird one sometimes. And yes I'd love to. Let's hurry before it gets cold."
