Hi peoples. This story is a mix of TMNT and the movie Saw. So if ya don't like stuff like that I would suggest not reading this but if you wish then so be it! R&R. Leo's Dream is in italics.
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Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT or the movie Saw.
Jigsaws and riddles: Chapter one A nameless fear.
"Okay, tea is not going to cut it tonight." I said to myself. "I need caffeine." A tone of urgency plagued my voice. I rooted through the kitchen cupboards searching for Don's coffee, and with success. I was soon sitting at the kitchen table drinking it.
I was sitting there in almost complete darkness waiting for my drink to cool. I was so engulfed in my thoughts that I did not hear the gentle tap-tap-tapping of my Sensei's cane on the stone floor.
"My son?"
"Yeeaa!" Was my response to his concerned voice. I was so ashamed. No one is supposed to be able to sneak up on a ninja and I almost threw my coffee across the room for Pete's sake.
He moved next to me, a concerned look plastered on his face. He caught a whiff of what I was drinking and his nose wrinkled faster than a wet shirt being crumpled into ball
"My son," He said as he gazed deep into my eyes, "what troubles you?"
"Nothing." I answered quickly and turned my gaze away from his. Unable to lie directly to his face, but he always knows when I'm lying. He knew now because I had not looked at him directly.
"My son, I cannot help you if you refuse to tell me what it is that plagues your mind."
He placed a warm hand on my face and turned my head towards his. That was it. As I gazed into those brownish-gray orbs I gave in. He hit diamond shield in exactly the right spot, shattering it, and I broke down and I began to tell.
"It's a dream I keep having Sensei." I said. Looking away once again. Ashamed that I had not told him sooner and ashamed that I lied about it just now.
"What happens in this dream of yours?" He asked, listening intently.
"It starts when I'm in the dojo. Practicing, doing katas, meditating, all my usual stuff. I'm not sure when but a shadow flies out of nowhere, engulfing me. Next thing I know I'm on a rooftop looking down at Raphael on his motorcycle. I see the shadow again, but this time it has claws and teeth. I try to warn him but my mouth won't open. He doesn't see it and it opens it's mouth and pulls him into it with it's claws. I see blood and a raven flies from this shadow's mouth. I know that a raven is supposed to be a sign of death, or a possibility of death."
"After that everything goes dark again and I wake up in the infirmary of the lair. I look out the door and see the shadow swoop by, but this time it whispers "Day and Night." over and over. Then I hear Donny scream and Mikey runs past. I get up to try and warn him, but I still can't say anything. All I can do is just stand there horrified when the lights go out and stand there still when I hear Mikey scream in terror. Then a flock of ravens flies through the door and in the midst of them are four bloodstained doves. The ravens shout "Game Over!" but the doves whisper something. It was fainter than that of a wasp walking on a windowpane, but I still heard it.
"All four had different colored eyes. "The one with red said, "Cling to life" the one with blue said "Family." The one with orange said "Observe." And the one with purple said, "Think." They all landed on me, the color in their eyes fading and they whispered again even softer "Hope remains, while company is true. Beat the game." Then the ravens swooped down, tore them apart, and turned towards me and shouted "Game Over!" and pushed me into a deep abyss, where the shadow waited."
How long have you been having this dream Leonardo?"
"Almost every night for the past five weeks."
"And you have not told me!?" Worry and anger mixing in his voice.
"No. I'm terribly sorry Sensei."
"Leonardo when something worries you I expect you to come to me. Why didn't you?"
"I don't really know. I guess I just didn't want to worry you and I thought it would pass. I'm am so sorry."
"No, my son I am sorry."
"Sorry for what?! I was the one who screwed up and didn' t tell anyone!"
"I have noticed that you have been restless but did not look into it as I should have. That is what I am sorry for."
"But Sensei, it's my fault. I should have" I was going to go further but he silenced me by raising his hand.
"Do not trouble yourself Leonardo, what's done is done and now you need to get some sleep.
"But Sensei I"
"Not another word Leonardo!" He said as he stood up.
"Go upstairs and get in bed now." He ordered as he grabbed my coffee and proceeded to make his way towards the sink.
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I didn't really have much of a choice in the matter. So, I stood up and slowly made my way through the dark towards my room. I had just had that nightmare tonight. That's why I was up and my imagination was working overtime. Every shadow I saw turned into the one in my dream. The one that attacks us, that hurts us. I suddenly feel as though I'm an American soldier in Nazi territory.
I enter my room and light a few candles but nothing helps. I don't have enough courage to lie down for that would mean letting my guard down and if anything should come from those shadows I would be helpless and the adrenaline coursing through my veins doesn't help much either.
I sit there on the edge of my bed with my head in my hands. Trying desperately to figure out what the heck that dream could have meant. It had to have meant something, but what? My thoughts are interrupted by a warm hand placing itself on my shoulder and pushing me so that I lie down. I look up and see Splinter. Just simply his presence seems to have banished all my fear from the room and once again I give in and lie down, knowing that if anything should happen he'll be there.
But I still can't shake that feeling and so I can't close my eyes. He nudges my side telling me to roll over onto my stomach. I do so and after I am situated he begins to gently massage my shoulders. He's the only one who knows that if you do that I'll be out like a light, and I was. Within just a few minuets I was falling asleep.
"Thanks." I whisper just before I slip away into a peacefull slumber.
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I had no dreams that night, which was comforting. Master Splinter made me sleep in the next day though and after I had my rest he meditated with me to help me forget about the dream that had had my mind so distracted. To help me relax. He always figures out the right thing to do. I wonder how he does it? No matter, the point was I forgot the dream completely and didn't ever have it again. I believe that's a good thing. Right?
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The next few days went swiftly for the blue-banded turtle, for he did indeed forget all about the dream. Yet it at times he could still feel it's presence lingering in the back of his mind, but he brushed it away. He was able to sleep in peace and his energy and life soon returned to him.
But it was not over yet, for he was right. His dream did mean something.
Around the beginning of the next week he got up early as usual to begin his early morning meditation. At that time the shadows seemed deeper, darker. Like they could hide almost anything, but the strangest thing was the familiarity of everything. But where was it familiar from? There was always a spot in the dojo that they could never light and it seemed the same, and yet so different to the blue-banded turtle. Like it was taunting him or warning him to run and hide.
He sat down and curled is legs into a lotus position and began to slip into meditation. Not but twelve seconds after he sat down he heard a rough scraping noise. Almost like a zipper being undone and it came from the corner that was shrouded in shadow. Wait! it stopped. Then started again and then stopped once more. Still coming from that dark corner.
He didn't know what to do. He figured it was one of his brothers trying to prank him and so far it was working. But not the deed so much as the familiarity to it once again. Like he'd seen it before. So, unsheathing a katana he wandered towards the darkness.
He stood there for a minuet, staring into the nothingness before him when suddenly he heard a chain rattle and spun around swiftly.
There was no one there, but the punching bag was swaying slowly like someone had bumped it. There was defiantly someone in the room with him, but who? His brothers would defiantly pay for this. Suddenly the sound of mechanical laughter rang through the air and he turned once again and brought his katana down on a white marionette.
It had black hair and deep black eyes that seemed to reach into his very soul. It had red targets painted on it's cheeks and it scared him very much. Truth be told he was scared to death of any and all dolls. Simply because of the eyes. The eyes that look like they should, once have, or do hold life. That follow you across the room.
"Okay. Mikey you got me." His voice wavering showing his obvious fear.
"You can come out now. Please come out."
He hears noises, but they bounce off the walls of the dojo in just the right way so he can't tell where they originated from.
"Mikey? Bros? Please tell me that's you."
Then suddenly it came to him. He remembered the dream and he remembered that in the dream, the shadow struck from behind.
"No." was all he could whisper before he felt the dull pain in his head and hear the sharp crack that echoed through the room. He tried to call out, but didn't hear himself call for he had already slipped into darkness.
A dark figure stepped forward and gathered up the leader's body and as it walked away with the turtle a deep voice revealed itself to no one.
"Let the game begin." It said and walked from the lair carrying, it's hostage with it.
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Bwa ha ha ha! I'm so mean to you. Man goodness gracious I'm getting the willies writing this. R&R please. Oh by the way that's my fear. I'm scared to death of those darned porcelain dolls!!