I’m Pouring Crimson Regret…

- Crimson regret comes when you knock someone over and hold him or her down for one nano-second too long. Now, Despair comes when you are desperate to say sorry to that person, but they won’t let you; you become desperate.

DM. 2006

Ok, so, the ONE thing we ALL have straight is that 2D is a brainless, zombie-minded freak. Well, so we think anyway, I’ll get to that later. And most boys and girls call Murdoc a beastly, nasty, old creep, and of course, other girls call him… well, I won’t get into that, too gross.

So, it pretty much started out as a normal day, calm, quiet, the reek of smoke and Tequila lingering in the air from last nights big bash. 2D was well, passed out on the floor from all his lady fans, uh… crowding him, shall we say. And Murdoc was well, pretty much in the same state 2D was.

2D got up, stretched, his singed tail bristling. “God, what a mess. Ah, well. Nobody ever cares… ‘cept Noodle. If she can just stay in her room until I get the stench outta here.” He sighed, opened a few windows, and, of course, tripped over a few cigarette packs. “On your feet, Muds!” 2D growled into the older dog’s ear. “Get away from me, you stinkin’ freak!” Murdoc got up and grabbed 2D’s rusty collar and pulled him up so they came face to face. “Now you listen, and you listen good; I’m tired of you wakin’ me up at the crack ‘a dawn! Now, you get punished, you little freak zombie!” 2D gulped as he felt Murdoc’s paw tighten it’s grip on his collar.

Murdoc hated 2D so much, that in their earlier years he thrown 2D against the curb. It’s sad, how Murdoc treats the poor pup. Well, anyway, Noodle was just awakening from a good night’s sleep when she was suddenly bowled over. “Murdoc! Why’d you just throw him! I’ll get you for that, you desperate mutant!” she growled. “Huh, right… Like I would believe YOU!” Murdoc retorted. “Forget you. 2D, you all right?” Noodle was very concerned for her friend. “Yes. Muds is about the evilest person alive.” 2D replied. I’m sorry to say, that he was starting to be pushed too hard by that Murdoc, and 2D did NOTHING! He sat there and took the emotional and physical beatings given to him.

2D got up and limped away. “Man, poor 2D. He’s being pushed too hard.” Noodle muttered to herself as she headed back to her room. ‘That Murdoc is SO pushy! But what can I do? I’m just about as brainless as a dead twig. I can’t match up to his strength.’ He thought, laying on the flat roof of his home. A terrible thought lingered in the vocalist’s mind suddenly. ‘That salvation song. Gosh, I can compare. Well, okay, I’m not exactly bleeding, but I’m praying. Praying that Murdoc will stop this madness, anyway.’ He tried to shake the thought out of his head, but the lyrics to the song scarred his brain for life.

Suddenly, 2D felt a searing pain in his side. Blood stained his shirt and trickled down his pants. “Murdoc! Why?...” 2D trailed off weakly. “You’re a freak! Causin’ you pain is my favorite thing to do!” the bassist snarled up at 2D, a sneer flickering across his face. All of a sudden, the words; I tried to kill the pain, but it only brought more… And I’m pouring CRIMSON REGRET, flicked across his mind. “Crimson regret…” 2D allowed the words to slowly escape from his lips. “What are you doin’ up there, dullard?!” Murdoc snarled up a t him. “Thinkin’ about how I’m gonna teach you a lesson you’ll NEVER forget!” 2D growled back. He then leapt off the roof and advanced rapidly on Murdoc.

“Instead of taking the pain, I’m gonna put it on you! See how it feels. You shall pour crimson regret, for all the pain and torture you caused me and made me go through! Howl to the gods for help, the only answer you will receive is more pain!” 2D leapt at the bassist, who was unaware that 2D actually MEANT what he was saying. Murdoc grinned. Suddenly, 2D’s fangs met with his shoulder. “What the-…” Murdoc was fiercely knocked aside. Blood seeped into his sleeve. 2D let go and leapt back. He then circled Murdoc and dashed in, teeth again sinking into Murdoc’s fur. This time, 2D made sure to lock his eyes on the bassist’s shoulder, but keep his mind locked on hitting his neck, full throttle. That did the trick, only not in time. Murdoc caught the vocalist in mid-leap. The older dog’s teeth met with 2D’s neck and he was slammed to the ground. Blood splattered on the ground, little crimson red flecks. A puddle of blood formed under 2D. “Can’t believe… this…” he rasped. He leapt again, only trying to avoid Murdoc’s teeth. That worked out for only a few seconds, Murdoc learning the vocalist’s strategy with ease. 2D leapt up, but the bassist was fast, despite his older age. The young dog suddenly felt a searing pain, beyond any he ever felt, in his side. Murdoc could feel the warm blood seeping into his own fur. He could also taste it. 2D looked back to see Murdoc had sank his fangs into his ribs. Crimson blood splattered the ground and leaked slowly down the hill. The bassist then ripped away from 2D, leaving him to fall to the ground. The vocalist was struck yet again by the older dog. Murdoc shook 2D like he was a giant chew toy. A chew toy filled with a special treat, which in this case, was 2D’s blood. Murdoc gave one final crunch before throwing the younger dog against a tree. 2D then lay there, motionless, blood splattered on his face, legs, paws, the ground, and of course the tree. The bassist chuckled.

2D then staggered to his feet, slowly, but steadily. He then leapt at the unaware Murdoc, tearing him to the ground, sinking his fangs into the older dog’s neck, no thinking involved. Just instinct. Blood spurted out of the wound. 2D was unaware of the series of yelps and cries. He continued to rip and shred Murdoc’s fur and flesh. Blood was everywhere by now, from 2D’s razor sharp teeth cutting skin. “2D STOP!!!! Please! I’m sorry I did those things! It was wrong! Now PLEASE let me up!” Murdoc howled. “Why, so you can rip my soul apart even more?! NO! I’m gonna teach you a lesson you’ll NEVER forget.” 2D then followed that by ripping his fangs down the bassist’s side. There was a scream, heavy panting and then, nothing.

“2D… Why? You… know that… I ne… ver… meant… wha…t I… did.. to… you. It… was out… of… LOVE… th… at I did… all… that,” Murdoc’s voice was growing weaker as his life line was wearing thin. “I… do… love you, you… should… rem… ember… that, my friend… Good… bye.” He then forced a smile, a weak one, but nonetheless, a true smile. “Wha?…” 2D was left with Murdoc there, motionless, dead, gone. “No!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” 2D howled to what he thought was the heavens. “Why did I do this! Revenge is never good! I forgot, BRING HIM BACK TO ME!!!! PLEASE!!!!” tears poured down the vocalist’s blood stained face. The very ground on which 2D now sits, howling his sadness every night, is still stained with blood, the only memory left of their one and only bassist, Murdoc.

5 years later: Christmas

“Hmm… Our tree looks very nice this year.” Noodle sighed as she climbed off the ladder. “Yeah, it really does!” Russel and 2D agreed. “But, even with the snow over the hill, we can still see the crimson red bloodstains.” 2D sighed. “You’re not still stuck on Murdoc, are you?” Noodle said comfortingly. “You know, he meant what he said.” 2D growled. “I know. You miss him, we all do. I’m sorry, but things happen.” She sighed and licked 2D’s face. “The only reason I can’t forget, is because it was ME who killed him. I can’t forget because was scarred in the heart… forever more.” 2D sniffed as tears trickled down his face. “Well, look at it this way,” Russel said, “At least we can remember him because he’ll never forget us.” “And we’ll never forget Murdoc.” Noodle added. “Yes. Why don’t we think about a few good things Muds did for us. If it’ll make ya feel better 2D.” she said. “O.K. Well, he did help me when I stepped in the wet asphalt in the road, and it dried over my paws. He pulled me out. I fell into a hole and he got me out. Man, Murdoc was very considerate back then.” 2D sighed. After they had recalled several occasions on which their bass player was nice, 2D felt slightly better. “I will always be scarred, but I will never for get Murdoc.” He then walked out the door and to the top of the hill.

Snow covered it and the moon was in just the right place so it cast a silver glow along the snow. When Noodle and Russel glanced out the window, they saw that 2D had lifted his head to the sky and a silver glow was cast over him and the hill, it looked angelic. 2D howled to the stars and spirits above; “I’ll never forget you, Murdoc. You were our favorite bassist. Please forgive me for my wrong actions. I love