Chapter One: A Ghost of the Dead
I was human once,
but my life was taken from me.
I had died that day,
and became something else...
I didn't ask for it this way!
No one sees me,
as long as I smile...
Tonight was a miserable night for Raphael as he and his brothers ran on the rooftops of New York. Summer had settled down on the city; making the heat unbearable for anyone who dared to be outside and away from the airconditioner. There was a slight breeze blowing over the city, but even the wind wasn't enough to cool off the smoldering weather.
Tonight, he and his brothers were outside, training like always. Leonardo and their father, Master Splinter thought that it would be a good idea to get out of their home for training tonight. Michaelangelo thought that at least it was so hot that no one wanted to cause any trouble for anyone. Donatello didn't seem too thrilled about going out into the city, but at least he was going to be with his brothers, so he wasn't about to complain. Leonardo was all for the idea, but Raphael didn't like the idea one bit. He had a strange feeling about being out this night.
Just as the red-banded turtle leaped from the edge of the building; something he didn't see everyday caught his attention, and stopped him in his tracks.
The sudden loss of his brother brought Leonardo. He looked over his shoulder to see Raphael leaning over the edge of the building they were all caught up on; looking over towards an apartment complex a little ways away.
"What's goin' on, Raph?" He asked as he joined his brother's side; hoping to see what made him stop running. Donatello and Michaelangelo followed suit and looked over in the two older turtles' direction.
Looking in Raphael's direction, his brothers could make out someone moving around on a nearby rooftop; playing an accustic guitar. The song that was being played had a steady beat that made the quortette stop and listen. Whoever it was, they sure had an amazing talent.
Wanting to get a better look at whoever it was playing the instrument, Michaelangelo jumped over on the edge of guard rail, ready to go over and find out who was playing the song.
"Wait, Mikey!" Leonardo said in an alarmed tone, grabbing the youngest brother's shoulder, "We can't be seen! You know that, Mikey!"
Michaelangelo waved his brother's concern off with an excited smile. "I just wanna see who's playing the guitar, Leo!" He said in a playful tone as he jumped off the edge, and landed on the lower rooftop. "Whoever's playing has some mad skill! We gotta check it out!"
Donatello sighed and placed a hand on the blue-clad turtle's shoulder. "Well, he does have a point, Leo," he told him in a logical tone, "I mean, it would probably take our minds off this terrible heat, anyway." And just like the youngest, the purple-banded turtle followed him towards the source of the musician.
"Besides, Fearless Leader," Raphael said in a taunting tone as he jumped up on the rail, "from the way they're playin', they're probably too into playin' that they won't even notice an elephant runnin' around beside 'em."
With no other options, Leonardo followed his brothers and once he reached his brothers, he looked out of the shadows and saw the guitarist to be a teenaged girl around their age, sitting down with her back sitting straight up against the wall behind the door; leading into the building.
The guitarist had red-violet hair that ended down her back. The light she was sitting under shown the turtles that she had slightly pale skin that would've been flawless had not been for the burn scars on her lower arms, but the one that drew the most attention was the one that was curved around her left eye. Her left eye was a dead gray color, and her right eye was an angry red color. Both eyes were different in comparison, but both eyes were hiding behind a pair of thick black glasses; attempting to hide what they might show to the world.
'Sihlouettes above the cradle, hold me down!
They won't let me go the wrong way...
Mother taught me all the fables.
Told me how,
In the end all the sinners have to pay...'
Her outift was simple enough. She wore a pair of black army boots that were covered by baggy jeans. She wore a gray hooded tanktop with red letters that said, "Too young to die, too reckless to live" on the front of her shirt. The turtles could see that she had a large digital watch on her right wrist with black lace wrist band behind the watch. Her left wrist had a silver bracelet with a few brown rubber bracelets and a brown leather wrist band.
'I don't wanna live like my mother!
I don't wanna- let fear rule my life!
And I don't wanna live like my father!
I don't wanna- give up before I die...'
The guitarist had a twisted tone in her voice as she sang along with the tune; completely unaware of her audience. It was almost hipnotizing for the turtles as they listened to song. Raphael silently tapped his fingers on his arms; pleased with the music being played. Donatello crouched down on the floor and leaned forward in his position, getting into the song while Michaelangelo bobbed his head to the beat as he gave her his full attention. Leonardo stood still and listened carefully to the girl's words as she sang; not showing any sign of how interested he was in the song, but his eyes said that he was enjoying the break from training nonetheless.
'He worked so hard, his bones are breaking.
He wore them out!
But long ago, he lost the feeling.
His good intensions leave me shaking,
And showed me how-
I don't ever wanna end up like he did!'
Michaelangelo looked over at Leonardo with an impressed expressionon his masked face. "You gotta admit, Leo," he whispered in an excited tone, "she could really get a crowd with a voice like that!"
"The girl has skill!" Raphael agreed as he leaned against the wall and looked back at the guitarist play on.
'I don't wanna live like my mother!
I don't wanna- let fear rule my life!
And I don't wanna live like my father!
I don't wanna- give up before I die!'
The brothers felt a cold chill run down their shells as the girl sang. It was almost as though she was singing to someone, and by the way she struck the cords, they could all tell she was growing more and more angrier with each note she sang.
"She's singing a song about hatred towards her family." Leonardo stated in a grim tone as he watched the girl as closely at he could.
Donatello listened to the girl's song with realization on his face. "It's like she's singing out all her rage." He said in an amazed tone as he leaned slightly forward, watching the girl with sad eyes.
'When I have kids,
I won't put any chains on their wrists, I won't...
I'll tell them this:
"There's nothing in this world that you can't be if you want it enough."...'
Michaelangelo looked from Donatello to Leonardo in confusion. He turned his attention to Raphael, who had an understanding look on his face as he glared over at the girl. The orange banded turtle knew he wasn't angry at her, but he could tell that he felt the same thing when he'd take his anger out on the punching bag in their lair.
He looked over at the girl and noticed that she looked like she was taking her anger out on the guitar. She played so wildly, she could give the devil himself a run for his money! Upon further observation, he could've sworn she was arguing with someone as if they were standing in front of her. She never slowed down while she finished her song.
'I don't wanna live like my mother!
I don't wanna- let fear rule my life!
And I don't wanna live like my father!
I don't wanna- give up before I die!
I don't wanna live like my mother!
I don't wanna- let fear rule my life!
And I don't wanna live like my father!
I don't wanna give up before I die!'
The song faded away, and she finally sighed and relaxed; trying to catch her breath. She was beginning to relax when her digital watch started going off. Another sigh escaped her lips, as she placed the guitar on the ground beside her, and stood up.
"I can't believe it's been so long since I've been here." She said in a distant tone, looking out into the city around her, "I didn't deserve this! It's just not fair!" She added in a calm, but angry voice.
Without another sigh, she turned on her heel and slowly walked back over to her intrument. She picked it up and opened the door beside her.
The four looked at each other for a moment, before all eyes fell on the blue-clad turtle. "So what do we do now, Fearless Leader?" Raphael asked in a taunting tone as he looked over at the door where the girl entered.
"Well, it's obvious there's more going on about her." He stated in a puzzled tone, scratching his head in confusion; not really knowing what to do.
Before anyone could suggest anything, the same girl, now clad in a brown trech coat walked out of the building, and onto the streets below. Raphael looked over at Leonardo with a determined glare.
"I say we follow 'er and see where she goes!" He said as he got ready to jump off the building.
"But Master Splinter told us to train!" Leonardo protested in a hasty tone; grabbing his brother's arm.
Michaelangelo giggled and followed Raphael's example. "You know what they say, "Train by doing"!" He said excitedly as he watched the oldest brother's face go blank.
"Master Splinter said we had to train, right?" Raphael asked, after earning a nod from his brothers, he went on, "But he never did say nothin' 'bout how we trained! So let's quit stallin' and let's get haulin'!"
And with that, he jumped off the building and sprinted along the other bulidings on the sidewalk where the girl was walking down.
Michaelangelo looked over his shoulder and took off after Raphael. Donatello looked over at Leonardo and smiled sympathetically at him. "Raph does have a point, Leo. What harm could it do if we just followed her and see where she's heading?"
With a defeated sigh, Leonardo took off after his brothers and followed them. He made up his mind that if he were to get into trouble for this, he'd take the whole lot of them down with him.
"So where do you think she's headin', bro?" The red-banded turtle asked as they ran along the rooftops, keeping his eyes trained on both the girl below them, and on his brothers beside him.
"It looks like she might be headed for the docks. But why would she go there?" Donatello asked in a curious tone.
But it looked as though the smart one could've made the wrong guess. The mysterious girl stopped at a nearby flower shop and went inside. When she came back out with a small bouquet of flowers. Her audience had blinked in confusion at the girl's flowers, and stared at each other in shock.
"Why does she need flowers for?" Michaelangelo asked; scratching his head in confusion.
"I don't know, Mikey," Donatello said in a puzzled tone, "it could be for any number reasons."
"We won't anything for sure if we don't follow 'er." Raphael said with a grunt, taking off again with his brothers on his heels.
After a few more leaps and jumps, following another few more twists and turns, the brothers found themselves at an old, forgotten cemetary. The shivered as they hid in the shadows and watched the girl weave between the grave markers until she stopped at two in the very back of the cemetary.
One had an Angel kneeling before the person as if she were praying to the visitor. The angel looked so sad and lonely and looked as if it could cry at any given moment. It was a simple statue, but it looked like it had a meaning, so our of respect, the turtles stopped wondering about the grave the girl was standing at, and turned their attention to the one that rested beside it.
It was a simplar one to the other. But the angel on this one was lying down with an upturned face. Like the one beside it, this angel looked like it was a boy sleeping peacefully on his side. This boy-like angel's face looked so innocent and peaceful compared to the other one.
"I wonder who kicked the bucket?" Raphael whispered to himself as he swatted down to try and look at the names on the gravemarkers.
The girl sighed and placed the flowers at the boy-like angel's grave. She stared down at the grave as if she were talking to the stoned guardian at her feet.
"Neji, you always were the better twin. It's been so long since I got to see our eyes, dear brother." She whispered in a thoughtful tone as she took her hands out of her pockets.
Raphael looked up at Leonardo with surprise on his face. "She's visiting her twin brother's grave?" He asked in a hushed tone, hoping the blue-banded turtle could provide some answers.
"I guess so, Raph. But If that's her brother's grave, then who does the other one belong to?" Leonardo asked in a confused tone, rubbing his chin; going slightly deep into thought.
"I hope you like those flowers, Neji. They were our favorites growing up, remember? We used to get in trouble for picking Mr. Honda's flowers and had to do 20 squatts. I remembered you said something about liking the 20 squatts even less than the 20 back flips." She said in a light tone, "Those were the days, huh, Neji?"
After a few moments of silence. "I'm nothing more than a stray cat now. They took everything from me... They will never let me rest in peace, will they?
"I want to know who she's talking to." Raphael said with a frusterated sigh.
"I read somewhere that the dead can hear when you start talking to them." Donatello said in a thoughtful tone, "Maybe she's trying to talk to her brother."
"I wonder what happened to him..." Michaelangelo asked in a sympathetic tone as he looked to his brothers from answers.
Just as he gave up looking for his answers, they saw the girl step back from the two graves, the girl stood as still as a rock; reminding Donatello of a type of robotic puppet, waiting for its turn to be programmed and sent off to be sold used at the buyer's disposal...
You can't win!
You have to refuse to win!
"It looks like I'm not going to be alone for much longer..." She said out loud as she looked up to the stars; plaing her hands in her trench coat.
The turtles looked from one another in shock and surprise. Did she know they were watching her along? Or was someone else was watching her as well? They looked around the area with trained eyes, but found nothing. Was she just plain crazy? Or was her senses sharper than theirs?
The silence was disturbed when a small group of drunken Purple Dragons entered the cemetary; making loud noise and walking around the grounds with loud laughter. As long as they stayed away from the girl, there would be no need to fight. But things rarely ever go according to plan...
One of the gang members looked towards the girl and smirked playfully at the others and nodded over towards the girl. They all chuckled and stalked over in her direction; taking different directions to surround her.
"Well, look what we have 'ere, boys!" One of them said with a wicked smile.
"We got ourselves a little flower in our territory!" Another one said in a rough tone as he stood behind her.
The girl looked over her shoulder with a warning glare. "I'm only going to warn you once: Turn back now and save yourself a trip to the emergency room."
The group laughed madly at her threat, and began to close in around her. "Takin' a mighty big chance on walkin' on our turf, ain't cha?" The first Purple Dragon asked in a taunting tone; folding his arms over his chest in defiance.
"I've never been one for gambling, but I believe your best bet is to stay away, human." The girl warned in a dangerous tone.
Without warning, three Purple Dragons lept for the smaller girl. The girl ducked in time for the trio to collide with each other. Another one tried to charge for the girl, only to be kicked sideways and sent to the ground at her feet.
The girl got into a type of fighting style with her knees bent slightly, and her head hung forward and tilted to the side, reminding the turtles of a curious cat planning on pouncing on an unexpected mouse.
"Shot down from all sides..." The girl mumbled arrogantly at the gangsters, a twisted look spread across her face as she stared them all down.
"Enough of this! Let's get 'er!" The Purple Dragon declared angrily as he charged for the girl.
The turtles watched the fight angrily. Raphael was about to leap into action, but his older brother placed a firm hand on his upper arm; stopping the hot headed turtle in his tracks.
"What are ya doin', Leo?" He asked in quiet rage, "We gotta help 'er!"
Leonardo shook his head in defiance. "No we don't, Raph." He said strongly, "Let's just wait and see what her next move is. I have a feeling she can take care of herself."
Raphael growled and relaxed his composture, looking back at the girl. "I don't like uneven odds." He said in a low growl.
The girl quickly dodged each oncoming blow after blow; forcing the anger to show its ugly face inside the gang members. She looked as if she were merely toying with the offenders; dancing around. The fingers were locked over her palms; giving her "claws" to add to her animal like fighting style.
One of the girl's opponents got the upper hand by striking her leg; sending her to the ground. She coughed and jumped back up; shaking it off as she got into an more serious stance. The strange fighter charged for the man who kicked her leg. Once she got within arms' reach, she sprang up on her enemy's shoulders; putting his head between her legs. Throwing herself backwards, she flipped him over, and into two other charging gang members; smashing all three into the ground.
Once she got to her feet, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared dangerously at the other three with deadly eyes glowing an angry red. She had blood running down the center of her forehead; breathing deeply with blood running down her wrist.
"Walk away. Crawl away. Your choice." She warned in a deadly tone as she stared the men down.
"Y-you're some kind of monster!" One of the standing Purple Dragons studdered in a frightened tone; pointing shakily at the girl before them.
The girl snarled at the men and charged with every last bit of energy she had, and delivered a harsh round house kick to the man on the left; sending him crashing into the one beside him.
"I'll show you a monster!" She screamed as she flipped backwards, and punched at the man still standing; sending him stumbling backwards.
She forced the man on the ground. The girl stood over the coward's trembling form; snatching him up by the front of his shirt. She pulled her free hand back, putting all her energy and strength into her open palm; causing it to shake uncontrolablly.
"You should really be more careful what you wish for," She said in a demonic growl with her eyes glowing bright red with wicked malice, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
Leonado put his hands over his shoulders, reaching for his katana; ready to step in if things got too out of control. Michaelangelo reached for his weapons as well as the rest of his brothers to follow suit.
"Is she really gonna kill 'em?" Raphael asked in a worried tone as he slowly pulled on his sais.
Just as the words left his mouth, the girl brought her hand down towards the man's face. She stopped a few centimeters in front of his face, causing the man to look up at the girl in shock. Before anyone could do anything, she blew harshly into his face; dropping him onto the ground below him.
"You just might be taken literal..." She finished with a cold tone as she smiled faintly at the man below her.
She dusted herself off and picked up the flowers that were thrown away from the headstone, and placed them back into their original space. Once she straightened her back, she placed her left fist into her open hand, and bowed traditionally at the grave before she turned on her heel, and jumped over the iron gate directly behind the two lone headstones. She landed gracefully on the ground, and began walking away from the scene as thought nothing had happened!
The defenders of the city relaxed and let out a simotanious sigh of relief and relaxed their hold on their weapons.
"I thought for sure we'd have to stop her." Donatello exclaimed in a shocked tone; staring over at Michaelangelo with disbelief in his eyes.
"I knew she was up to something the whole time." Leonardo said in a cool tone as he folded his arms over his chest. "She had a faint smile on her face the whole time while fighting the Purple Dragons."
"That's why you didn't want me to bust in dere." Raphael said in a smug tone as he pointed playfully at the blue-banded brother.
Michaelangelo laughed and placed his hands on his hips, and whistled at the scene before him. "I gotta hand it to her," he said in an impressed tone, "it was pretty fun to watch the Purple Dragons get their butts handed to them by a little girl."
Leonardo looked at the scene with narrow eyes. Raphael caught his gaze and knew he was debating on what to do about the girl, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I say we keep an eye on 'er and see where she goes next."
Michaelangelo giggled and punched Raphael in the arm playfully. "That's what we need, another Raph running around town, bashing heads!"
Raphael growled and chased after his younger brother. "Git yer shell back 'ere, Mikey!" He snapped angrily.
Leonardo whistled; getting his brothers' attention. "Keep it quiet! She might hear you!" He hissed angrily, as he jumped over the fence with Donatello already on the other side of the iron fence.
Raphael growled and let Michaelangelo go, and jumped over the fence with the orange-banded turtle on his heels. He picked up his pace until he was up with Michaelangelo and slapped the back of his head as soon as he was in range.
"This isn't over, Mikey!" He whispered in a warning hiss as he ran along side him.
Michaelangelo stuck his tongue out at him and looked ahead. They all looked ahead and were shocked that the girl had stopped dead in her tracks. They quickly drew in a breath and waited in the shadows; waiting to see what the girl will do next. Before the mutants could blink, the girl seemed to have vanished in the wind! It was like she had been some kind of ghost!
Donatello rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Whoa! Where'd she go?" He asked, not believeing what he saw.
Before anyone could answer, the girl reappeared behind them; causing them to jump back in surprise.
"Hey! How'd you do that?" Michaelangelo asked in a surprised tone as he reached for his weapons tucked away in his belt.
"I knew you lot were following me. Why?" The girl snapped warningly at the turtles.
Raphael looked over at Leonardo with a puzzled look on his face. "And she ain't freaked out by us?" He asked, as if he weren't paying attention to the girl.
"I've seen humans scarier than you four." The girl in a dry tone as she glared at the red-banded turtle before her. "I'll only ask again, why are you following me?"
Leonardo gripped his swords tightly; debating on what needs to be done. "We weren't following you!" He protested hastily. "My brothers were up on the rooftops when we happened by you playing your guitar!"
The girl relaxed her composture and sighed. She fished through her pockets until she found a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She mumbled something that the turtles couldn't hear. She lit up her cigarette, and looked up at the confused looks on their faces; indicating that they hadn't understood her correctly.
"I'm starting to think you don't speak English." She said bluntly, "I said, "I believe you."."She said in a flat tone; taking a draw from her cigarette and blowing the smoke out her nose.
"Ummm- You do know those are bad for you, right?" Michaelangelo asked as he pointed towards the cigarette in the girl's mouth.
The girl blinked over at the turtle and chuckled. "Are they now?"
"So, what's yer name, kid?" Raphael asked as he folded his arms over his chest in defiance.
The girl stopped chuckling, and looked up at the red-banded turtle with a blank stare. "Rage is the name, and karate is the game. What do I call you four?"
Raphael snorted in response. " "Rage"? That sounds more like something out of one of Mikey's comic books!"
"I'm sorry you don't like my name, but it's really all I've got. If you don't like it; then leave." The girl-or Rage said in a final tone as she turned on her heel and began to walk away.
"Wait, Rage!" Leonardo said, lifting a hand in hopes of stopping her. "What happened to your brother? What happened to Neji?"
Rage stopped in her tracks, she didn't turn around, but instead she looked down at her feet and clenched her hands in tight fists. "Believe me, you don't want to know..."
Leonardo held his hands in defense. "I wouldn't ask you if I didn't want to know." He said in protest.
"Some stories should never be told..." Rage said in a cold tone that made the curious turtles shiver.
"And why's that?" Raphael snorted in a challenging tone; staring the girl down.
"They just might turn your blood cold..." She countered in a quiet tone; looking up at the night sky.
"Well, good thing we're already covered." The red-banded turtle said hotly, not backing down from the girl with her back turned towards them.
"Why won't you just tell us, Rage? It might help you feel better at least." Leonardo said in a reasoning tone, hoping to get the girl to cave in and tell them what they wanted to know.
Rage snarled angrily at the turtles, anger slowly rising in her duel colored eyes. "I can't tell you..." She growled, trying to hold her anger back.
"It must be somethin' pretty bad if she can't even tell us." Raphael said in an arrogent tone; trying to use Rage's own anger against her.
Rage balled up her fist so tight that blood was dripping from her palms. "I'm not allowed..." She said with a harsh tone in her voice.
"Oh, so yer afraid now, is that it?" Raphael challenged arrogantly, not knowing what he was getting himself into.
The girl's shoulders shook with rage, as she spun around to face the turtles before her.; her eyes glowing the same angry red as they did when she went up against the Purple Dragons. "If you wanna know so bad, try looking through the early 90's newspapers. You'll find what I can't tell you in there! It's not like there's anything you can do about it now anyway!"
"Wait!" Raphael shouted hastily, reaching out to Rage, as she turned back around.
"We'd- we'd like to see you around some time!" Michaelangelo said, speaking up with his brothers.
Rage took a hold of her necklace, and held it out; looking at it for a moment. Without a word, she ripped it from her neck, and threw it over her shoulder.
Raphael caught it instinctively and held it out for his brother to see. They looked up at her with a puzzeling gaze, about to ask when she stopped them.
"That pandant zones in on my energy. Just hold it out before you and it will show you the way to find me. No matter where I am." She explained as she turned her head back in front and began walking away. She took a few steps before she stopped and look back around at the four behind her. "Oh, and you better take care of that necklace, would you? It's very important to me, and I execpt to get it back the next time we meet." She added with a faint smile.
And with that, Rages went black and an eerie wind blew through her hair. As they wind died down, the girl appeared to dissolve in the wind; leaving four shocked turtles in her wake...