The Glasses of Life

Chapter 1 Book 2

The girl in the blue baseball cap was supposed to be visiting her mother, but she wasn't old enough to go into the prison without an "adult", and all of her adult friends loathed her mother and vice versa. She was; however, required to attend an interview on her mother's behalf.

"Mrs. Hills, do you believe your mother should be forgiven?"

"No." She had never liked her mother's lawyer, and had the scar on her shoulder as reason.

"Allow me to rephrase the question," he said, obviously annoyed she wasn't doing it the way he'd told her. "Mrs. Hills-"

"I have a name." Mel knew she was probably the only one on earth that liked her name; her, and her Sensei. Her mother's lawyer dismissed her statement, and the police officer watched.

"Do you want your mother back with you?"

"No." The police officer wrote something down. Mel's mother's lawyer glared the way he would when she was younger and unable to defend herself from his desires, but, now that she was stronger than him, the glare only made her want to flip him off. The lawyer was trying to make her seem like a bad person, of that she was certain, but that was why she'd brought Quinn: an 11 year old with a bright smile and one of Mel's closest friends. She also held a baby to her chest, a loud three month old named Johnathan, though she called him "Stone" for reasons unknown to the others. His parents were heavy church goers, and they dumped him on her a lot because they were always so busy. Mel thought they shouldn't have had a baby if they were so busy, but, they paid twenty dollars an hour, so, she kept her mouth shut. The prison wasn't for dangerous women, only those in the wrong place at the wrong time, like her mother, so, they'd reluctantly let her take the children with her.

Her mother's lawyer rolled his eyes, slammed his book shut, and growled, which caused baby Stone to stir. Mel shot him a poisonous glare, mostly for show of the police.

"Do you even love you mother?" Mel knew that would make him look short tempered, perfect for her to get out of this place faster: she had to get back before Stone's parents found her hear. Trying to look offended, Mel rose and turned to the officer.

"I'd like to leave now," she said sternly, "I don't want my kids playing in a prison." Honestly if she'd had her way her mother would be serving the year she deserved and Mel would be at home, but no, life just had to make her suffer. The officer seemed to be readying a comeback when Mel's mother's lawyer slammed his books down, which woke Stone, and he began to wail. Mel turned to the lawyer and glared daggers. She'd just put the thing to sleep, goddamn it!

"They're not your kids, you ignorant brat!" Quinn went wide eyed and jumped behind Mel, who suppressed a triumphant smirk and stood firm.

"I'm taking care of them," she said simply, while rocking Stone and trying to look panicked. "And I don't want them trapped here."

"Mr. Small, that is enough!" two guards burst in and held the lawyer back from Mel and her children. "Mrs. Hills, you may go now," said the officer from the corner, and held the door open for her while rubbing his temples. This wasn't the first time an interview ended this way. Mel nodded like she was afraid.

"C'mon, kiddo," she said and led Quinn out. Passing in and out was Mel's favourite part of the prison, because she passed the prisoner cells. It gave her a chance to show compassion in front of Quinn. It was magical, Mel assumed, for the prisoners to see Mel and her children trotting down the hall. One of the prisoners; Arya, found her particularly enchanting. She walked by her cell very slowly.

"Morning, Melancoly," she said with a grin. Mel grinned and returned the hello, stopping until Quinn did the same. Arya had pleaded guilty for her crime of attempted murder, but on her release interview, she'd seen the lawyer make a move on Mel, and had stepped in to stop him. The next day, Mel came to visit Arya, and found out why she tried to kill her wife.

"She wasn't a cheat, but she was everything else," she'd grumbled. "Including a child pornographer." Mel hadn't known how react, until Arya talked about her little boy: Johnny. "I wasn't gonna let her do that to my son." Arya's last name was Stone.

The next prisoner, a thin, tender looking woman, spotted Mel and gave a half-hearted wave. Mel stopped and smiled.

"Sup, Sally," she said. She looked at Quinn, who repeated her greeting in unison. Mel went down the list: Arya, Sally, Torch, Luca, Lyco, Snake (she'd insisted Mel called her that), Verbina, Shawna, Vinny, Zayn, and Clover. When Mel got outside, Wayne, her Sensei, was waiting in his car.

Melancoly Hills was a quiet girl with short black and blue hair, freckles that mimicked pointillism and bright purple eyes. She was physically boy-ish, to say the least- when her mother had gone for an ultrasound, the doctor had been certain she'd have a boy. They'd later found out the reason for that was because Mel was intersex. Mel's usual look consisted of skinny pants and a tank top to sweat in, and either barefoot or her neon orange and blue sneakers, and NEVER leaving out her baseball cap. Mel had a stubborn streak but rarely argued with those she respected, which was to say, her Sensei and her best-friend.

(***)

Once they'd arrived at their co-op, Mel had flown around her house in a frenzy to calm Stone. Finally, she decided he only wanted to be rocked, and was hopelessly grateful when his parent showed up an hour late to get him. They paid her: $60 and $11 extra for being late. Mel didn't pester them about it, and sat in her recliner to count her total profit for the week.

She worked Saturday and Sunday for five hours, and got paid $10 per hour. Add that to her new money, and she'd made $171.00 this week. It wasn't a thousand, but, with the extra $800.00 she'd saved up, it would pay the rent, electricity, internet, and phone services for the next two months. And if all went well, she should still have $50 in penny cash. Mel sighed, left her gloomy home and strode to her Sensei's front year, where he waited with a grin. He was holding two beers, as he often did when Mel had a rough day.

Mel was 19, plenty old enough to drink, but after seeing firsthand what it did to people, she'd vowed never to touch a drop.

"No thanks, Sensei."

"Suit yourself." Mel spent eight hours training. Wayne had to make her stop and rest and once she stopped moving, Mel crashed. She stayed at her Sensei's house that night, and woke feeling restless. She put in her earphones and jogged around her block. She had a feeling… she should do something. As she neared the park by her co-op, the feeling grew, and faded as she left.

(***)

Karai had stopped trying to move Donnie when he went limp. A quick pulse check told her he wasn't dead, but definitely unconscious. She'd gotten him half way up the hill, but they were still soaked and cold from the water in the cattail pit. Karai lay next to her brother, shivering in her droopy T-shirt and shorts. It was colder than they'd anticipated here, almost snowing. There was nothing to help Karai keep Donnie warm.

"Uhg…" Karai gripped his finger and Donnie responded with his good hand. He'd landed on his left side when he'd shielded her, and his arm was useless since, although his leg was nothing but bruised. "Uhm…"

Karai sneezed and shivered. Her hands were paling, and her fingernails were turning blue. She could feel the blood zooming through her veins. Donnie tugged her hand slightly. She turned. His eyes were open into slits, but open nevertheless. She studied his face, then sighed and moved against him; put her arm over his plastron, and hid her face beside his. Donnie wrapped his good arm around her and pulled her to him. Something inside Karai broke and then she was sobbing. She would have been embarrassed, but the only one that could see and hear her was Donnie, and he wasn't any better than she was. Guilt slapped her like Shredder used to, and she pulled herself into him, desperate for contact of any kind, and Donnie didn't stop her.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't do anything to help anyone."

(***)

Leonardo sat quietly in chains. He'd been with The Shredder for almost one week, and had acquired several gashes and bruises from Miles since. Miles came down twice every day, and tried to get Splinter's location out of him. Leonardo never told, of course, only muttered curses and fought. He'd knocked a Foot bot head across the room once. Miles had carved an "M" on his forehead while he struggled afterwards. A mark of ownership, he'd called it, and laughed. Leo had tripped him.

"Good morning, Baby Blue," Miles sneered. Leo ignored him. He felt a quick slash across his swollen cheek, but didn't acknowledge it. Rough fingers gripped his chin and made him look up. Miles' menacing eyes burned his, but Leonardo didn't flinch. His family was safe, his Sensei was safe, his friends were safe; that was all that mattered. Leonardo spat at Miles and he roared in frustration, wiping his face like he'd been hit with mud. Leonardo suppressed a smirk. Miles growled and kicked Leo's bad leg. This time he yelled, but shut up immediately and bit his lip. Miles kicked him again. Leo bit and drew blood, and his lip swelled in his mouth. "It doesn't have to be this way, Leo," Miles purred, as he often did when Leonardo began to show his pain. Miles' grip on his jaw turned to iron and he slammed Leo's head into the wall. He grunted and struggled, then caught himself and went limp again. "If you'd just cooperate, I wouldn't have to hurt you…" Miles ran his thumb up Leonardo's thigh, which made his skin turn cold, and Miles' thumb became scolding sandpaper. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" his voice was soft, then he slammed Leo against the wall again. "Wouldn't you?!" Leonardo grimaced.

"Go to hell," he croaked. Miles' expression froze, then, to Leonardo's disturbed confusion, he started to laugh.

"I thought you might say that, Baby Blue." Fuck you, Leonardo didn't dare say it. Miles forced his head against the wall. Leo's hands and arms were chained behind his back, and his neck, to the wall. He tensed. Miles laughed again. "You won't wanna do that once we get started." Leo wasn't sure he wanted to know what Miles meant.

Miles pressed his mouth against Leo's. Leo gasped, and Miles pushed his tongue forward. Leo thrashed and managed to knee him in the stomach. Unfortunately it was his bad leg, and Leo winced and slipped to the floor. Miles' grip moved to his neck, and Leo felt him attack again, and he couldn't help but gasp like a fish out of water. He tried to bite him, but Miles squeezed tighter and Leo choked. Miles pushed his tongue into Leo's mouth again, found his tongue, and teased. Leo gagged. Miles let go and Leo took sharp breaths. The chain on his neck wasn't making it any easier, and Leo noticed Miles holding down his legs, not trying to be gentle. Leo struggled, he wouldn't…

Miles dropped down.

"N-no…"

"Oh, yes, Baby Blue."

"S-stop-" Miles grabbed his neck again, and Leonardo panicked; thrashing and growling like an animal. Miles silenced him with his mouth, and Leo wriggled when he touched his lower plastron. He raised his good leg. Miles caught it and held it up. Leo bit his tongue. Miles yelped then leaned into his bad leg. Leo winced and whimpered. Miles' grip loosened and Leonardo could breathe again. He felt Miles stroking him, and the wave of disgraceful pleasure it sent through his nerves. He groaned and Miles took it as encouragement. Leo began to wriggle again. Miles didn't stop, but stuck his pinky finger in his mouth for a while, grinning at Leo. He moved his finger up Leo's thigh, and around his lower plastron, and Leonardo struggled, and Miles moved faster. Against Leonardo's will, his body responded, and Miles stared and grinned in delight.

"Oh, wow, Leo," he half said, half growled, and gripped the organ. "You must really be excited." Leo tried to speak but his throat was dry. Miles' grip tightened and loosened, and Leo felt the area spark with pleasure, and he closed his eyes, pushing out tears. The restraint was against his windpipe, and the chains dug into his wrists, but he'd rather be on fire than let Miles have his way. His body responded again, and Miles laughed and licked up Leo's response.

"Stop it!" Leo felt the wet muscle leave him, but he didn't open his eyes. What was he going to do, the psychopath was, he was really going to do it, what the fuck would he do?!

"Alright, Leo, I'll stop." Leo opened his eyes. Miles hungry tongue hung from his mouth. He was grinning. "If you tell me wear Splinter is." Miles ran his thumb along Leo's thigh and he shuddered. "You tell me wear Splinter, your brothers and your little friends are, and I'll stop. I'll save it for your whore." He pinched Leo's tail. "I only got to give her a taste last time." The kick was unexpected from his bad leg, and caught Miles in the jaw.

"You're sick," Leonardo spat, ignoring the pain. "You're not getting Splinter or the rest of my family, I don't care what you do to me; I won't let you near them!"

"Kinda hard to do when you're chained to the wall," Miles taunted, "Maybe I'll let you watch the first time I fuck her. Would that make you feel bet-" Leo kicked him in the nose. Blood exploded like fireworks and Miles roared and fell backwards. Leo strained against the chains but they cut him. He winced and tried to get up, but Miles was on him instantly and flipped him on his stomach. He knelt on his legs and pushed his face into the ground. Leo struggled to no avail, and he screamed when he felt Miles force his way into him.

"No, no, no-" Miles began to move, in and out, and Leo screamed. "No, no, no!" He thrashed and Miles pushed his head harder into the ground, while the chain cut off his air. Leo felt his hand close around his other part and screamed louder when that too began to move. Leo tried to fight the pleasure, told his brain there was nothing there, but Miles fought back, and eventually he gave in. The feeling crawled up his groin to his stomach to his throat and leap out his mouth in an anguished scream. The wetness he felt in his end and groin told him it was over. He'd done it. He couldn't undo it. And his family was safe, Splinter, Raph, Mikey, Donnie, April, Casey, and Karai; all wonderfully safe. Leo was gasping when the pressure on his legs and head disappeared. Miles threw him onto his back again. He was clutching his bloody nose. At least there's that.

"Now if you don't want that again, I'd recommend next time I come down here, you tell me what I want." He glanced over Leo's flushed, sweaty body-goddamn it why did he have to be so hot?-and smiled. "Or don't," he wiped some shame from Leonardo's groin and licked it, "I get what I want either way."

He left.

Leo lay in a shivering ball. He started to whimper. Then he was crying. Then he was sobbing into the empty room which swallowed his voice like Miles had swallowed... he shrieked and pressed his forehead into the cool cement. That-that didn't happen, that couldn't have happened, no one was that sick, no one was that disgusting, it couldn't have happened, couldn't couldn't couldn't didn't didn't disgusting awful not real not real

"Dream..." he muttered, "I-I must be dreaming..." he dug his nails into his arms disgusting sick hurt "no, nightmare, this is a nightmare it's not real I have to wake up have to" he cut himself off by hurling himself against the wall. "Wake up wake up" nightmare "it's not-it didn't happen" no one was that sick awful revolting hurt hurt hurt it hurts "it was a dream," he dug his nails into his temples "WAKE UP!" It hurts, It HURTS.

Leo spared his leg and waist a glance. What a mess. A real mess. "It didn't happen." Your dick's out. "It-it didn't, it was a nightmare-" he's fucked up "it's not real" he's sick "how could-?" he's disgusting. Leo raked his fingernails down his head and stared at himself, limp and ashamed and disgusting. He howled. He's disgusting. You're disgusting. "I-I'm going to be sick-" Leo vomited onto his legs and stomach, too weak and shocked and utterly crushed to move. He did try to, once he was done, but his shaky limbs only smeared the puke all over the floor, all over him, and he threw up again from the motion. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, like he'd been pricked with a tranquilizer dart, and he collapsed into his mess. It reeked of insides and acid and distraught.

Disgusting. "Disgusting," he confirmed.