Updated 6/2012: I've been working on this piece for over a year now. It was a challenge on several levels. I started in first person, did a switch between characters in a few chapters, and then went back to third because it was easier to tell the entire story that way. Call it a lesson learned for myself. It's still enjoyable, especially if you like random and adventure. Happy reading-
My entry for the TMNTxOC challenge on Stealthy Stories featuring Leo. This story is based on a very vivid, bizarre dream I had a couple of weeks ago. It has given me the opportunity to create some interesting characters and situations. Using first person, present tense. We'll see how this goes!
The dream becomes a nightmare; the nightmare becomes reality.
All around me, I see nothing beyond my own hand. I'm underwater, but the murkiness traps me, and I can't see the surface when upwards my eyes peer. No light. Just brown and cloudy under this cave. If it was a cave. I don't know how I got here. Which way do I turn? I should go up and try to find the surface. I could feel nothing below my feet. Do I go to my right or to my left?
There. Something is coming in my direction. An enemy? An ally? Maybe one of my brothers? No. They weren't with me when I plunged into this darkness.
It's coming closer, whatever it is.
I can breathe in the water, that's a relief. Stay strong, Leonardo: it repeated in my head and chest forever. Stay focused and choose a steady path. Master Splinter taught me conviction and resolve.
The creature lunges at me, and its teeth glistens in this Shadow. I move back swiftly, as swiftly as I can underwater, and dodge its assaults. I see a large fin dancing behind its silver body. A shark? I dodge again but I'm becoming more clumsy as I want to know what is attacking me. No time for that now. I'll find out what it is when it's dead.
As I'm ready to execute a devastating blow, the aquatic enemy curiously circles me. I had to keep turning with it so I can be ready for the next attack. Slowly, I glide closer to it, and the first thought that strikes my mind beyond its huge teeth still gnawing at me is that I am staring into the eyes of a mermaid. A mermaid that wants to eat me. Through the haze, its black hair glissade behind its giant head, and the silver over its body is bright, almost glaring through my eyes. I remember Splinter telling us stories of evil mermaids, and Mikey thought it couldn't be true. All mermaids were beautiful, rescued people, and sang on the seashore.
In the middle of my daydream, my blood thirsty mermaid dives for another attack, but my body is dragged away by an unknown, powerful force. The walls around me become a blur, the mermaid is vanishing into the soup, and I have no way of stopping my accelerating form blazing through the water. I reach out for anything, but my hands hit many sharp objects, like thorns, and I can't even see my own blood in front of me. I wiggle and thrash to break free, but I'm still going a million miles per hour through the cave and I have nothing or no one to save me.