One move. One decision. One mistake. That was it.

I knew that little mistake counted, so I stood there, frozen. I did the exercise almost perfectly.

Almost.

But almost is just not good enough for Shredder.

I looked up at the menacing figure of the dictator of the foot clan.

Shredder. Not the kitchen appliance.

Shredder, the nightmare.

"Tamai!" He yelled out with anger, ordering me to kneel before him. I did so out of fear of his fists, but my own anger had begun to rise at my sensei's irrational treatment.

It wasn't even an important part of training! It was just another stance we did for stretching before the main training.

But NNOOO!

It always had to be up to Shredder if it was good enough. Not that I was going to say that out loud.

I'd rather not die before my tenth birthday.

"Do you know what I expect of all my students, Misawa Jack?" Shredder asked me in a slow, deliberate way.

I didn't answer, knowing it would just get me an extra blow to the face.

"I expect them all to reach my expectations, especially those I have taken extra care to train."

But you forced me here. I remember I had a home but they only pretended to care until I could walk.

Then I went to Shredder for life about a year ago.

Not that I had any say in it. At all.

All I could do was what I'm told in a place were I had no voice, no choice, no hope.

The day I stepped through the doors of Shredder's dojo was the day my life had become nearly unbearable.

Shredder pushed me to the limit ever since, calling me his "apprentice"...though I was more like a slave.

I only got about two hours of sleep, if that, while the rest is training with Shredder, Bradford, or Xever.

Again, all this without asking whether I actually wanted this training, this kind of life.

They didn't care. As long as I shut up and did as I was told, they wouldn't hit me

Much.

They never were nice to anyone, but they had a hard place on their knuckles and knees all for me.

"You did not reach those expectations today, so you will be punished as I see fit!" Shredder stated with a clenching of fits and an anger-filled look.

See what I mean? At least Bradford or Xever would have just continued with the lesson, not even noticing my mistake that wasn't really a freaking mistake.

Shredder was different.

He always took his own sweet time making sure I meet his expectations.

Lucky me.

I closed my eyes, not wanted to see the blow I didn't want, not exactly "earned", or even deserved.

One,

He always took three seconds to punch.

Two,

I counted.

Three.

Good-bye

"AHHH!" I screamed to the world, waiting for pain, opening my eyes wide and tossed my head around looking for Shredder. But, I didn't feel anything like pain, just an overwhelming fear. What happened?

All I saw was a dark ally way filed with trash cans, graffiti on the walls, and a few rats. What? I gazed up to see the towering buildings and small piece of night sky.

"What, were, were am I?" I said out loud, questioning my surroundings. But my memory came racing back, hitting me with the latest update.

New York. I'm in New York City. I think.

I took a deep breath through my nose, taking in the scent of trash and smog. Yep, defiantly New York City. I noticed my pulse was booming and I felt like puking whatever was left in me out.

'Come on Jack, you shouldn't be scared' I told myself.

Nightmare. Just another nightmare of the past. That was all. I need to calm down. Now.

I slowly breathed in, out, in and out again hoping the motion would stop the pulse from pounding. I need to calm down. My pulse slowed to a normal walk after a few moments. Good. I put my head back down on something soft. It felt like an old mattress.

I notice that I'm also covered in snotty newspaper. Oh Right, I'm homeless now and sleeping under newspapers and in old mattress'...but still alive.

I peeled the sticky newspaper off me, holding the rag like thing in front of me. Were did I get this thing? Oh, right, I traded food with this other homeless guy to sleep on a mattress he usually slept in. Even threw in the newspaper, free of charge! Yeah…he didn't mention how it was worn and snotty, like he had used it many times before as a blanket and napkin for snot. I wasn't exactly happy with it but I knew he was trying to be nice (he is a bit crazier then most, but he tries. Besides we were both in the same boat anyhow. Might as well get along.

I sat up on the mattress in a lotus stance, or crisscross-applesauce, wrapping the paper around me for any warmth. It was more like wrapping myself in snotty tissue paper. I glanced around to get my bearings a little, realizing that it was nighttime and surprisingly quiet. That's when I remember that I am in my favorite part of the city…well, to sleep that is. A few weeks ago most of the streets in the neighborhood were repaved, which was a bit of a bummer for me. I usually slept around here due to big trashcans and how it was relatively peaceful. During the repaving, too many workers all over the place for me to sleep without someone asking questions.

But I just moved on. I never stay in one place for too long. I would just get too depressed at not moving, not doing something while the world is moving in front of your eyes. I took the newspaper off me since it had this weird sticky feel to it. I looked at the dried up paper and threw it over my shoulder without a second thought. I may be a hobo with only shorts and a small t-shirt as a wardrobe, but a yoga mat would have been warmer than that thing. I stood up, a small yawn escaping me.

"Time for a new day!" I yelled at the world with a fist bump toward the piece of...night…opps. It's still dark….well, got me up anyhow, right?...Right.

Still, I felt a moment of embarrassment at my strange actions and quickly brought my arm down again. Out of habit I glanced around for any noisy foot ninja snooping around. Most of the Foot clan had been so paranoid or curious about me that they would search the building or even my room to get a glimpse of Shredder's mystery boy.

Imagine having someone you probably don't know staring at you at any time, day or night, and not exactly ready to be seen by strangers. I always had to change randomly and quickly out of fear of being caught without proper clothes on. Not the most 'secure', or even normal way to spend the first ten years of your life. Begging to sit back down, but deciding against it I continued to stand. I slowly walked toward the sidewalk keeping my head down, thoughts re-brewing.

I don't like my past too much, but every night my brain hit rewind, making me go through a memory again. Some were terrifying or...less terrifying. I never had a good childhood.

Ugh, stupid memories. I need concentrate on my priorities. My stomach. I looked around, noticing that there was no one near. There were some lampposts and a few windows that shined pale yellow, but no people. Huh, maybe everyone is getting their coffee and didn't tell me, I thought with a small chuckle. I quickly scoffed at myself, "Lame joke" I said out loud, knowing that it kind of was.

Great, now I'm talking and criticizing myself. Must be going crazy. I stepped onto the sidewalk while taking a quick look at the tall brick buildings, sleeping cars on the street, and the stillness the night casted over everything. It was strangely peaceful here, and beautiful in a way. A calming time, away from my dark memories, if only for a while. A secret of the city I had been blessed to find.

I slowly walked down the sidewalk, taking care to walk in silence, less the noise choke and ruin the moment of quiet beauty. I knew it could be peaceful even in a city from a year of experience, if you find the right time and place. I guess that is why I stayed in this city, despite the cold weather and lack of kindness. I kept walking, wondering how no one else could notice these things when they probably lived her their whole lives. Like they didn't even really know the place they spent everyday of there current existence in. I shook my head, trying to shake the depressing thoughts out. An eleven year old probably shouldn't be thinking like that. I need to think ahead. I should think ahead. That's all I can do.

Specking of ahead, there should be a garbage can I can dive in some-were around- "You know how to get home, right!" Something spoke, shattering the peace I been soaking in. My body froze and my eyes wiped around to a nearby ally were the small, scared voice had come from. The voice sounded almost…like a child. A frightened child trying desperately to hide his fear under the volume of his voice.

Maybe, the kid's lost? But, I-I can't help him. I have to look after myself. That's what Shredder would always…wait.

Did I just concern myself with what Shredder would have me do? I stared ahead, in slight shock at my cowardice. Why? Why would I care what he would think? The answer came to me immediately.

Even halfway across the world, Shredder still terrified me. Still haunted me at every moment. The proof was the nightmares I had every day after I escaped on my tenth birthday.

When I had said a prayer. A prayer of fear. Of a last scrap of hope in forces I could not see. And it was answered. I escaped.

"I, I, I d-don't anymore. The way home should be right h-here…" another voice stuttered out into my thoughts. Right, lost kids…whoa, this one sounded terrified, even more than the angry one. I turned my eyes, once clouded with thought, back to the voices. They sounded lost and alone…kind of, well, just…just like me.

Like how I fell when I realized I had to look after myself, alone. I felt something change in me a strong iron feeling that I only felt once before. It knew I had to help them. I had to help them. I just have too. I don't know why.

Besides, Shredder was not my ruler. Even if he is my shadow,my nightmare.

I could see an ally hear the voices. I snuck along the wall, hoping to see them before they saw me. Anyone would probably freak out at seeing someone standing near by-in the dark-with no warning. I really don't want to freak them out, at all. When the wall ended, I peeked past the corner wall into a moonlight filled alleyway.

A strange and nearly impossible sight shocked me down to the nerves.

I'm not crazy yet, am I? No, I can't be. Not even a crazy person would imagine this…right? I blinked. And blinked. And blinked.

Nope, still there. Two strange things that I never knew could even exist. Two young…turtles, side by side, looking down were a manhole once was. If it wasn't covered in newly placed, black asphalt.

I did say they just repaved the place. I heard sniffling coming from the turtles. Wait, there crying? What, wait, what? What should I do? HOW IS THIS EVEN REAL?

Author's Note: Tamai=stop (I think)

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:for some have entertained angels unawares."-Hebrews 13:2