A/N: Hey guys, Sarr here! Since Fixing Donnie has wrapped up I'm back with something new – and this time, something new entirely. This one is for the girls of TMNT, who don't get as much appreciation and character development as they deserve – and my first Human AU! It's going to be a fun little summer story for me, and nowhere near as dark as my last works (but of course with my natural Sarr angst). Hope you'll like this one – stay fabulous!
Warnings: Strong Language, Violence, Death mention, Sexual Content, Innuendo, Mention of past abuse
The June night sparkled,lightning bugs circulating the breeze under the navy sky. The woman stood against the rusty wall with her ears perked, hunting for any other information that her malicious brother may be passing. The building fell silent and led her to assume that these heinous discussions have concluded and she had written down any details she could get. The confused girl stood behind her, looking at her with an eyebrow quirked and a perplexed expression among her young face, waiting for an indication from her somewhat surrogate mother that it was safe to communicate.
"Seems that they have left the room, most likely to get to their venomous whereabouts," the woman says, sadness lingering in her dreary hazel eyes. "If only there was something more that I could do about it."
"What do you mean, Alopex?" the child asks, reaching to grab her wrist. "Is something that matter?"
"Most definitely, Angel," she responds, her eyes scanning the premises to reassure their privacy. "I must inform you that tonight, they've got something terrible planned."
"Terrible?" Angel asks, twirling a strand of bright purple hair around her finger. "What else is new?"
"It's a little more than the corruption Saki Enterprises commits or the gang affairs your father is involved with, little one. This time, as far as I know, there are lives at risk."
"We're safe, aren't we? I mean, not that it's an issue if we are under a threat. I could take any of those bozos in my sleep if they so much as-
"Hush, Angel," Alopex warns, "Time is sacred and the time I have to share this message is even more limited, to say the least."
"Alright, okay. What's up?"
"Saki and your father are planning to take a life tomorrow evening, which I have no power in interfering. You see, I am afraid that I am not powerful enough to prevent this, and two lives would be taken rather than one, which will in no way assist the operation. They are planning a homicide and then a kidnapping, all in revenge to get back at two girls."
"Sounds pretty petty, typical man stuff. I mean, not that I would know, but I mean, who doesn't know? Anyways, uh, what is this you're speaking of? Death? Kidnapping?"
"It is not safe to disclose too much information, you shall be patient. However, my findings involve a list of places, people, and things, which all relate to these kidnappings. Kidnappings of innocents, which even in my days of crimes I have always felt repulsed by – especially when involving children. See, I have written what I know on some cards – at least in the most effective and sensible way in which I can organize. The reason I am telling you this is because I am unable to stay out of TC's sight without the risk of our lives. You, however, are not under the same obligation. You are to be on a mission, Angel – a very first mission of ours with the aim of saving somebody."
Angel knew that questioning Alopex's wishes did not result in the best ways, and that if she were given an errand it was her responsibility to follow it – as that was the only thing that she has ever known.
Besides, she would do absolutely anything to disturb her pathetic father's intentions.
"Okay, I'm listening," she smirks at the opportunity, "What's my role in this?"
"You are to find five people who you know that you can trust. Five people that love these missing boys, and who will be willing to follow this mission. You are to deliver them these cards and follow them throughout their mission, assure that they stay on the right path. It's the only chance at saving these boys – which would be our only possible way to take these tyrants down in the process. I am not only looking from a moral perspective, but by which would be most reliable in our own best interest. That way, we can escape from here – perhaps move to a whole new city entirely."
"Sounds just as appealing to me, but are you sure it's realistically gonna work Alopex? I mean, what if I can't find anyone who's down to risk their lives and follow some shady playing cards for these alleged infamous boys? Then what's a girl to do?" she pouts.
"Angel," Alopex says, leaning closer and resting her palms on the girl's shoulders, "Even though you are only 13, you are so much brighter than your years. You know people more than anyone, and your spirit shall tell you what move would be right. I am not promising anything and I am never completely certain, but any chance, as I have always taught you, is worth taking the risk. I know that you, more than anyone else, are capable of conducting this critical message. I will be traveling cross country by morning, and I shall not be too far away if you happen to need the help."
Angel takes a moment of consideration before nodding in agreement. "You're totally right, Alopex. If I don't try this, we may never get out of here – and what's the harm in taking a risk, huh?"
"I knew that you would be brave enough," Alopex smiles, Angel reaching to hug her. "You shall begin your spying tomorrow, and by nightfall you should have the information necessary to carry out. Keep these cards with you in order to distribute them when you feel that it is time. Keep following, but remember to remain stealthy until the very end."
"Gotcha, captain," she smiles, pausing to yawn.
"You shall sleep now, child," Alopex smiles fondly as she leads the girl to her bed. "By tomorrow, after you follow to the Hamato household, you'll have quite a big mission in front of you."
X
"Testing…1 2 3? Okay! Cool!" the ginger girl smiles enthusiastically, her face a little too close to the rim of the camera. "Hello, April O'Neil here, reporting to you live from the window sill of my bedroom in New York City. Today is Friday, June 23, 2017, and Day 1 of my period 4 communications live diary project."
"Currently, there is not very much news to report – which seems to me to be news in itself. You see, I just had to make a very critical decision on whether to start recording or finish my Physics packet first – all the price I pay for taking Summer School. However, Physics has been halted by a tragic turn of events – for the famous Donatello has failed to arrive! Of course, I'm not talking about the historical Donatello, I'm not completely insane, but instead of my best friend in the whole world who may or may not be historical at some point in the near future. Donnie happens to be a child prodigy, and high school physics is like kindergarten math to him. For myself on the other hand, not the same could be said. Viewer, I must inquire, what am I to do in such a critical situation?"
April crashes onto her bed in frustration, her eyes surfing to the clock. It was one hour later than when Donnie said that he was going to be here, and Donatello Hamato has never been late.
"Okay guys, here's an idea," she returns to her camera, spunkily removing the screen from her window. We are going to use some super ninja stealth skills and go to see what Donnie is doing. With that crazy family, the possibilities are endless; has Splinter – that's their father, no one ever has actually questioned why we call him Splinter – caught them playing video games or watching old thrift shop VCRs instead of doing their chores? Have Raph and Mikey's bickering cost the life of one of Donnie's experiments? Have Klunk and Chompy – Mike's pet cat, which I happened to have rescued for him, and Raph's pet turtle got back into chewing up Leo's paperwork again? Or just maybe –
Her audio is cut off by the flashing circle on the camera frame, leading to its temporary demise.
"Rats," she mumbles, "I forgot to charge this old relic before I left. Oh well, that assignment was a drag anyways."
April decided to continue on her walk, because even with her camera dead, the Physics homework was not going to go and finish itself. Besides that, Donnie's absence was beginning to grow a tad concerning.
Perhaps Casey was hanging out with Raph as always, and Donnie had taken it upon himself to join them. If that was the case, and she didn't get an invite, she was going to go ballistic. Even worse, for Donnie to have the audacity to think punk Casey was more important than her would be absolutely devastating.
That theory was on its way out the window anyways, considering that Casey had been spending the majority of his time with some weird unhinged goth chick from school who had growled at her before when she dropped her books. Sometimes, the way that Casey found these people was beyond her, but after all, nothing Casey ever did could surprise anyone. He was Casey Jones.
The little house faded into her vision, a smirk of determination to solve this little mystery planting onto her face. She skipped a little faster, eager to see what kind of adventure, no matter how minor, she will find herself in today.
"Alright D, I'm on my way. Let's see what you're up to…"
X
Got a figure like a pin-up, got a figure like a doll – don't care if you think I'm dumb, I don't care at all. Candy bear, sweetie pie, I wanna be adored – I'm the girl you'd die for!
Renet twirls under her fairy lights with her brush as a microphone, singing as she finished the final touches on her braids. She had spent approximately three hours painting a simple pink coat on her nails, as she begun to find that waiting until they dried was a dreadfully difficult challenge. Finally, she was satisfied with the lack of chipping, sliding down in front of the mirror and examining herself.
Her hair was good, her nails were great – yet there was something missing. Her face brightened in realization, seeing exactly what the problem was.
She opens her candy designed pouch and pulls out a sealed mascara that she received from an aunt on her last birthday, which had been sitting in the dust for months now. Even though she was already 16, Renet had never been the type of girl to tinker with makeup, until now that is.
Forty minutes, five failures and six YouTube tutorials later she had finally got the hang of it, swiping the wand against her lashes as gracefully as she could, an accomplishment for a girl as clumsy as herself. She took a note to try the false lashes next time to prevent this inky mess, but wondered if that would be an even harder challenge.
"Renet? What are you doing?" The voice causes her to jump.
"Dad, you've almost made me stab my eye out! Then I'd be a Captain Hook, and he never was a good character growing up," she giggles.
"Oh, do not be so dramatic," the man teases. "Speaking of growing up – what's with this new look? Just yesterday you were in a dirty t-shirt and winced at the thought of femininity."
"Oh please, I thought we already had a conversation about jumping to conclusions, Pop," she smiles. "It's not that big of a deal, I'm just getting ready to go out."
"Go out? And without asking first, I see?" he inquires accusingly.
"Of course not, I just didn't get the chance yet! Besides, it doesn't really count, I'm just going with Mikey to the arcade down the street. It's not like I'm going to a party or on a date or anything."
"Hmm, really? I'm finding that hard to believe, Renet," he teases.
"What is there to believe, hmm?" she laughs.
"You claim that you aren't going on a date, but you're here putting makeup on to go out with a boy on a Friday night. It's been years past my experience, but last time I checked that sounds like a date to me."
"A boy? Now that's just a little ridiculous. Mikey isn't a boy – well, he is a boy, but you know, not that kind of boy – he's just my best friend. A girl can't wear some mascara once in a while, huh?" she sticks her tongue out.
"Now, I never said that daughter. I said I know my daughter, and maybe I know more than you think," he says, sitting down beside her and pulling up her t-shirt.
"I know Dad," she smiles fondly, applying some matching pink lip gloss. "I just never realized how good it is to feel pretty."
"You are always pretty, sunshine," he smiles, kissing her temple. "I just want to make sure you're safe, always."
"Of course I'm safe, Daddy! I'm just going to be at the arcade for three hours with my best friend, alright? I'll make sure to make curfew and everything."
"Alright, Renet. Let me see you before you're on your way."
She stands up and smiles, showing the gap in her teeth and the gleam in her golden hair.
"Beautiful as always," he smiles fondly, "How about a little of that lavender perfume that your cousin bought you?"
"Great idea!" she cheers, spraying it a little too excessively.
"Alright, daughter. Have fun and stay safe tonight, and I will see you at eleven sharp."
"Thanks Dad!" she kisses his cheek and grabs her handbag, "Love ya!"
"Love you too Renet," he smiles, watching as she exits out the front door.
As soon as she gets onto the street she feels a vibrate from her phone, seeing that it's a FaceTime call from Mikey. She smiles brightly, checking her reflection to make sure she looked good.
"Michelangelo!" she smiles, answering the call and seeing his wide smile.
"Hey Renet!" he grins. "I thought it'd be awesome if we talked on the way there, since we have to come from different directions and stuff. That way we could talk about what games to totally destroy once we get to the arcade."
"Totally!" she smiles. "So I heard that the got a new air hockey table since the old one was pretty bunk. When did that thing get old, 2007?"
"I could see a savvy tech table being cool, to fit the modern age and stuff. Donnie says those Virtual Reality things are like, revolutionary! So I guess a new air hockey table could be that way too. Yet no matter what, a classic is a classic."
"They better be planning to update those ticket eater things, that's for sure. If it doesn't count our tickets one more time I'm going to break that thing!" she exclaims.
"Seriously, I'm tired of that jerk! I keep trying to get you that dolphin on the prize rack, but of course every time all the tickets we earn go for nothing. I'm gonna make my own arcade if this keeps up!"
"Awe, you don't have to do all that for me Mikey. As long as we have fun together, right?" she dazes.
"Of course," he answers. "There's something different about you, isn't there?"
"Different?" she asks innocently.
"Yeah, uh, you look really pretty Renet," he blushes.
Before she can open her mouth to respond, she notices a man in a suit with sunglasses pounce out behind her best friend, seeming ready to attack!
"MIKEY BEHIND YOU!"
Her response is one second too late, for just as the boy turns around the man has his hands around his neck, stuffing a cloth into his nose.
"MIKEY!" she cries, freezing in place and panicking about what to do. Her best friend's blue eyes widen in terror, barely making out a calling of her name before falling unconscious and falling back into the man's arms, just before the call cuts out.
"Oh my god," she whimpers, tears bearing in her terrified eyes as she shakily reaches to call Donnie, the only of Mikey's brothers who she had the number of.
"Come on, pick up," she whispers, cursing under her breath when she hears Donnie's answering machine.
There was only one thing to do – to get there herself.
Still sobbing and failing to feel the pacing of her breaths she zooms into the night, as fast as her legs could carry her towards the Hamato house to go get help.
He had to be okay…
X
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The punching bag swung back and forth at the mercy of her movements, the tight curls of her hair tucked snuggly against the sharp features of her cheeks. At this moment, at least, there was not an ounce of anger in her muscular body – but rather excitement, and what better way could excitement be expressed than with a helpless, bean-filled sparring partner?
Although apparently it was not the only opponent in her presence. Her instincts immediately signaled a sharpness in her turn, warning her for preparation against an unexpected visitor.
However, it was no enemy or gang banger who stood behind her for a face-off – but instead a rather disconcerted Sal.
She persists on her bounce with a smirk, overpassing his efforts at an offense. Successfully escaping his grasp, she leans against the wall and takes a sip from the water thermos in contentment, as she enjoyed exercising the fact that she had achieved the ability of her trainer.
"Now, now, Mona," he says, bopping one of her curls, "No need to get so stirred up."
"I thought you said there was always a need?" she quirks her head, wiping the sweat from her gleaming ebony skin. "If I were to allow myself to be caught off guard, I might as well turn in my gloves and retire," she sticks out her tongue playfully.
Sal swipes his hand swings her over his shoulder to kill her a pride, her eyes widening greatly.
"No matter how skilled a warrior is, a warrior is never undefeatable," he reminds her as she flips herself against the couch, pouting almost pitifully.
"Aye, Commander," she teases, reaching for a Saltine cracker.
"In fact, you must watch to not become too feisty. You never know what or who may fall as a casualty," Sal gestures to himself.
"I do not mean to be out of hand," she defends, "I only have to ensure that I am prepared for anything that dares to come my way. An impending enemy shall be no match for me – or at least, after enough training."
"I don't believe that pride is your incentive," he quirks his head, "You are far too noble."
"Of course not! I just – I worry, and I justify this as rightfully so. If something were to happen to you, or to Raphael, I would have to be in the condition to keep you guys safe," she sighs.
"No matter how headstrong and absolutely vexatious you may be, Lieutenant," he chuckles, "You will always be the most promising warrior that I have ever known."
She blushes, leaning her head against his broad shoulders. "I only strive to do my best; and if I can never be undefeatable, to become the closest thing as possible, especially after what happened."
He smiles, passing her an ice-cold Gatorade that he originally planned to deliver. "I am very proud of you, Mona."
"Proud enough to let me go out tonight?" she inquires, blinking her eyes innocently.
"Let me guess, with Raphael again? I don't know Mona, you seem to be spending a little too much time with this boy lately…" he taps his thumb against his chin in contemplation.
"Hardly! Since school got out, I only see him like, twice a week tops. He and his brothers and that Casey kid are just going to hang out and stuff and I really want to go. You know I haven't made very many friends since the move – it gets very lonely," she pouts.
"Oh come on, the guilt trip tactic again?" he teases. "I don't know Mona, what do you think?"
"Pretty please?" she smiles as big as she can and clasps her hands together.
"I suppose you can this time," he surrenders.
"Ah, yay!" she cheers, jumping to hug him and then blushing in embarrassment and returning to a straight posture. "I mean, uh, thank you sir."
He giggles, scuffing her hair. "Why don't you make any girl friends around here? It's New York City, after all."
"Pst, you know I don't get along with girls. Never have," she says, leading him towards the car. "Or maybe, it's just that they've never took an effort to get along with me."
"I'm sure you could make friends here, Mona," he says, smiling fondly at her. "You're a great girl to be friends with."
"I already have a friend, Sal," she responds.
"You're young to be liking boys. What happened to liking turtles and boxing?" he asks.
"I'm 17, Sal, and just because I like Raph doesn't mean I don't like turtles and boxing," she reassures.
"Whatever makes you happy Mona, that is all I am concerned for," he says, "But if that boy breaks your heart or hurts you in any way, I swear I'll-
"That won't be a threat, Commander," she promises, "Besides, I'm more of a danger to a boy than the other way around could ever be, I'm the next best thing to undefeatable."
"You sure are, Lieutenant," he smiles, pulling up at the liquor store. "You sure you want me to drop you off here?"
"Yeah, I wanna buy some sodas before I show up, and since the place is only down the street I can enjoy a nice run afterwards," she answers.
"Alright, Mona. Call me when to pick you up, but don't call me past 12. I love you, stay safe," he says as she begins to eagerly exit the car.
"I will, love you too!" she responds, shutting the door behind her and waving him off, making sure that he actually drove home this time.
With a six pack of Pepsi under her grip she embarks on the ten-minute journey to the Hamatos, her eyes shining with optimism for her new life and the settling feeling that nothing was going to go wrong. She starts a run with the soda hanging on her back, but slowing down when she notices a familiar red headed girl heading in the same direction.
X
The girl awoken from her meditative state, blowing out the candles on the alter she built in front of her. She released the herbs she was holding into the small creek that seeped through her window – at least she thought it was a creek.
"Magic is the Art of Causation. Magic speaks to the subconscious mind of man through symbols and rituals. Change is growth. There is no part of me that is not of the Gods. All things are possible to a trained mind," she whispers to herself, allowing the drained petals of a lily she picked from the nearby woods to fall against her pale skin, opening her amber eyes to see the two bats that she had captured gracefully flee through the open window sill.
"I'll see you all tomorrow, my children!" she cheers, giggling at the silliness of it all. She looks down when she feels four soft paws start crawling up her leggings.
"Did you have a good evening ritual, Kimiko?" she asks the kitten, stroking his black fur with her deep purple painted fingertips. "I had to do it a bit early tonight because Mommy has plans. Actual plans!" she rejoices.
The kitten purrs and affectionately rubs against her stomach, in which she responds by tucking his small body into her cloak.
"You remember Casey Jones, don't you darling?" she asks, stroking the top of Kimiko's head. "He was here last week so I could read his fortune, but we ended up smoking up here for a while. He was fun and he was the first of these New York imbeciles to know how to have a good time, so I thought I would kick it again."
Kimiko meows back at her, as if he were inquiring for her to elaborate on the subject.
"Not to mention he is a tad cute, for a onetime thing anyway. I'm starting to like the whole rugged kind of look, it matches my crazy more than any of these clean cut boys and girls that I've talked to do. Perhaps tonight will be a little more fun than the last," she smirks, "Should I have put a spell on him?"
"You're right, sometimes the spell just works for me," she continues.
She unlocks her phone, seeing that she received a text from this Casey boy about an hour ago, right before she had begun meditating.
You got Raph's address Shini?
She smiles, wondering if this was the strange sensation of what it is to have a friend. Being the town crazy girl who talked to the butterflies at lunch time, that wasn't an occurrence to often come around.
A girl like me doesn't let a code slip over her head. I'll be there soon, if there's a good time
A few nights ago, Casey had invited Shini to hang out at his best friend Raph's house this night, and then they'll see what happens. He said that his friends would totally like to get their fortunes read too, and that he thought it'd be cool to see a girl like her more. Normally, she would pass but she was always looking for a little fun.
Besides, he said he thinks Karai Oroku was going to be there. The coolest girl that she had ever laid eyes on – and even though she was punk and Shini was goth, Shini always secretly hoped to be just like her.
"I'll be back tonight Kimiko, or next morning if I'm lucky," she says, setting down the kitten and stroking her purple tinted hair to make sure it was as straight as possible, and then tucking her witch hat on top of it. "I love you, darling!"
Kimiko was the only family that she had ever had, as far as she could remember.
Meanwhile, a girl called Karai Oroku was laying on an air mattress in the Hamato's attic, silently eating some pho that she had gotten earlier.
She had been sitting in the silence for a while now, or at least she thought she had. She's been blasting her earbuds in for a while with an old Black Flag album, and she might have taken a nap along the way. No one except for Leo, and recently his brother Raph, were aware that she was staying up here, but she was perfectly contempt with being alone. In fact, she preferred it.
Their little family was so perfect that it disgusted her. Their perfect white smiles and stupid family photos plagued the house just to laugh in her face, so she stayed in the attic even when she didn't have to.
Smiling is for the weak, daughter. How many times do I have to tell you that until I have Mr. Stockman sew your lips straight?
In the last few months since she's turned 18, she has had no intention of ever showing her face back home, even if it meant staying with stupid Leo and his stupid perfect face. Compared to before, this attic truly was heaven.
Leonardo may be the biggest pain in the ass of all time, but he sure did pull through more than anyone else ever did for her and she still wondered how she would repay him for that.
She sits up to fix the silver pillow case that he had gotten her, because that fool knew that silver was her favorite color. She notices the small, raggedy photograph she had stored beneath it, deciding to pick it up just for another peak. It was her mother and herself; when she was nothing but an innocent infant in the care of the most beautiful woman to ever know this awful world.
Until he had to just go and rip the lives from the both of them.
"It's okay, mother," she whispers, "I've escaped him now."
Making sure that no one was looking, she kisses the photo quickly and holds it close to her chest, shutting her eyes placidly. She hears an opening in the windowsill and quickly throws it back under the pillow, flipping her body back around and shoving more pho into her mouth.
"Hello? Anyone in here?" another girl's voice comes into the attic, and she quirks her head in confusion. Well, that certainly isn't Leo.
"Who's asking?" she responds, putting down her noodles to light a cigarette to stick in her mouth. A tall girl emerges from the shadows, with an ominously moonless appearance other than the bright purple eyeshadow on her eyes and the moonlight color of her cheeks. The girl's eyes brighten when she notices her, pushing her long hair out of her face.
"You must be Karai," she says awkwardly, sitting crisscrossed onto the wooden floor boards. "I heard that you might be chilling here."
"Heard from who? Who are you?" Karai responds defensively.
"I'm Shinigami, may have seen you around. I'm here to hang out with Casey, said there was going to be a party of some sort tonight."
"Well, Shinigami, that's news to me," she says. "I haven't seen Jones all day, but I haven't seen that bozo Raph either."
"That isn't why you're here?" Shini asks innocently.
"Why I'm here doesn't matter," Karai says. "Casey been talking about me? That's cute."
"He mentioned that you show up around here sometimes, and everyone from school knows who you are. Of course, that's something worth mentioning."
Karai paid more attention to the girl's face in order to match an identity. "Oh, now that there's the light here I can see who you are. You're that goth girl, the one who puts hexes on the football players."
"They had it coming," she replies, smiling in accomplishment.
"I'm sure that they did. I dropped out a few months ago from that joint, didn't have the patience for those people. Wanna cig?" Karai offers, to which Shini immediately accepts. Karai wasn't the type to have friends, but since this girl appeared to feel the same way, they might as well bond over a common factor.
"You aren't from New York, are you?" Shini wonders.
"Tokyo native. It's been a while, so I sort of lost the accent but I can recognize it in yours. You from Japan?" Karai reciprocates.
"Yes, I have not been in America for too long. We were friends, I think."
"Friends? I do not know how that could be."
"In Tokyo, when we were children. A class where we learned English. I remember a girl called Karai, a girl who was smarter than the other children but too wild to be tamed," Shini recalls.
"Possibly. Most of my memories from back then are blocked out of my head, but perhaps one day it'll come back to me. It seems pretty improbable to forget a girl called Shinigami," she says.
"I was not born with this name, so you won't end up remembering. My name from before now does not matter," she says, and Karai smirks back at her. Maybe she'd like this girl.
Before she could reply, her jaw is frozen shut when they hear a sharp, agonizing, violent, shrill, blood-curling scream. And it was coming from just downstairs.
The two girls turn to each other discernibly, too shocked to make a move.
"We need to go see what the hell that was," Shini whispers harshly.
"I can't get down there and risk losing my cover, I am not about to be living on the streets again!" Karai rejoins.
"We have to see what it is now! We could be in danger! You didn't strike me as a coward," Shini detests.
"I am not a coward!" Karai swipes a pocket knife from her jacket and begins skating along the staircase. "Let's get to it then."
They crawl down the stairs stealthily, freezing in their footsteps once they reach the bottom. The scream belonged to April O'Neil, who was standing in the hallway with her mouth wide open, eyes wider than the entire sun and her whole body shaking uncontrollably.
"Oh my God," Shini whispers, her skin crawling at the source of the redhead girl's distress. Karai closes her eyes tightly before looking, recognizing the handy work and turning around instantly with a sudden crash of nausea.
Mona, who had not been too far away and had heard the scream as well, was the next to storm in the open door, looking urgent and ready for a fight. She too, gasps at the sight in front of her, blinking her eyes wildly, and standing at an observant and violent position to face any coming threat.
"GUYS! GUYS! ARE YOU GUYS HOME?!" the young girl's voice comes shrilling from the drive way, but the other four were too disturbed and in a state of trauma to realize it. Renet follows in the doorway and bumps into Mona and April, who do not react, angrily catching her breath and looking up with tears in her eyes, and before she could even open her mouth to speak the sight that lay in the center paralyzed her throat shut – and before she could scream she had passed out instantly.
For lying there in the center of that living room and in the girls' display was Hamato Yoshi, the father, who was bloody and gored and absolutely without a doubt utterly and completely dead.
And without their knowledge, a girl named Angel was standing at the corner of the house watching with only one eye, making sure that the cards were sitting in plain sight for the girls to find before she zipped off into the night.