Disclaimer: TMNT doesn't belong to me. Duh, I wouldn't be writing this then.
Hello! This is my first story ever. So feel free to point out any mistakes.
I also want to warn you that this story contains voilence, gore, possible character deaths in the future etc etc. No sunshine and rainbows here. This is my first and last warning.
There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to accept what is true.
Leonardo stared into the dark surrounding him. He had been staring into the void for a while now. He blinked and got out of his trance, looking around him. He inspected his environment and furrowed his non-existent brows in confusion. Where was he? There was nothing here. It was just an empty abyss. The terrapin ransacked his memories in hopes of shedding light on his cluelessness.
Am I meditating? No... can't be. It doesn't feel so uncomfortable... So dark.
Why was he feeling like this then? Why was he so worked up? His senses were on their highest anxiety level. Was he dreading something? Dreading what?
At this point, he was beyond confused. He already deduced he wasn't meditating. That would bring him peace and calmness. What was going on then?
Only one way to find out.
He started walking in a random direction, looking for any change around him while he searched his brain. The last thing he remembered was returning from patrol. There wasn't any sign of excitement, just serene empty streets. This resulted in a certain very grumpy hothead. Raphael, his immediate younger brother, was a man, well, a turtle of action. Not being able to find action frustrated him. Heck, Leonardo could hear his internal screaming with his anger radiating out of him when they were on their way to the lair, their home. Leo never showed it, but he sometimes got amused over how very little things could tick the temperamental turtle off. His mind turned to his youngest brother, Michelangelo, the cheerful and over-energised party guy, who was most of the time the cause of Raphael's outbursts. Though Leo knew better. Outwardly, while it might seem the prankster annoyed him for giggles, Mikey provided an outlet for Raphael's frustrations. And Raphael was always careful too. Of course, there were exceptions. Leo chuckled slightly. Nobody's perfect. That left Donatello,the genius. Every gadget the four used was an invention of his and it amazed Leo how he could make such useful things with useless junk. He was usually calm and cool like Leonardo but even Donnie could get on his nerves.
He smiled. He was proud of his brothers just the way they were. He'd do anything for them, even throw away his life. If anything were to happen to any of them it would destroy him.
He kept walking for what felt like hours and finally took a break. Nothing. He found nothing. His mind was mildly starting to panic now. He tried to keep calm but it was no use. The abyss was starting to suffocate him. He needed to get out of here. Shell, was his family alright? Were they here? Were they even alive? He needed to get out. He needed to get out now-
He turned his head around so fast, he was surprised his neck didn't snap. He thought he heard something. It was faint, but it was there. He stiffened, half expecting something to come pouncing at him. He flinched lightly when the sound came again and he was able to discern it as... laughter? It was high pitched and seemed male. Wait, a kid? What the heck? Before he could respond in any way, he detected movement in his periphral vision and turned to see-
His eyes widened. What the heck?
Indeed it was a child, but he had a shell. Another turtle? Leo gaped in surprise. This wasn't just any turtle, it was one of his little brothers. Now very little brother. He looked no more than 6. Was the younger terrapin here before him? Did this dark world de-age him? His mind was reeling with so many questions, it was giving him a headache.
Abrubtly, the tot, smiling brightly, dashed off.
"Catch me if you can, big bro!"
"Wha- No! Hey, wait!", Leo exclaimed, running after him. Might as well catch up to him. He's the only clue I have.
Leonardo kept running after the tot for a few minutes and came to a realization that the kid was suprisingly fast. He shouted the young terrapin's name to get him to stop but to no avail. The child kept running, his laughter echoing in the darkness.
Leo suddenly felt a wave of euphoria hit him. He couldn't help it. The kid's enthusiasm was too contagious. He forgot about his predicament. The child's extreme content warmed his heart and he played along with him. He laughed and finally caught his brother. The turtle tot squealed and squirmed in Leo's grip.
"Gotcha!", Leo said, grinning.
The little turtle smirked mischieviously. Leo's smile turned to one of confusion and he raised an eye ridge, looking inquisitively at the kid. The small turtle suddenly raised his hands and slapped both sides of Leo's face. The motion completely unexpected, Leo let go, stunned. He immediately ran after landing. "You can't catch me that easy!", he laughed.
Leo got out of his stupor and smiled. Out of all his brothers, this one was the most unpredictable. "Oh I'll get you for that!", he exclaimed playfully and started after him. The tot squealed and ran faster, sliding to round a corner-
Leo bumped headfirst into the wall. He groaned in pain and leaned on the wall, clutching his head. Ow. So much for ninja reflexes. Moments like these made him question his ability. Like how the heck did he not see that wall coming. Maybe he should more effort into training. He froze for a moment.
He looked at the concrete structure with wide eyes. A wall. His dreadful situation came crashing back. He gritted his teeth in irritation. He got distracted by 'playing' and completely forgot about his current problem. He thanked his luck that his brothers weren't here to see this. They'd never let him live this down. Especially Raph. He looked behind him and found a tunnel. It looked like he was in the sewers but he couldn't recognize the location. It did seem uncomfortably fimiliar but he couldn't put a finger on it. Leo narrowed his eyes. Just moments ago there was nothing. Just plain emptiness. How he missed this change, he would never know.
That's it.
He brought his guard up and began to walk around the corner. No more playtime. It was time he asked the kid where and what this place was. He doubted it was going to get him anywhere but he had to try. Speak of the devil. The tot was standing there. Leo crept up behind him and picked him up on his shoulder.
"I won't let you get away this time, little brother.", Leo smiled.
Which turned into a frown. He was expecting struggle. He was expecting laughter. He didn't expect for the little terrapin to do... nothing. He set the child down in front of him and saw an expression of horror on his face. Tears filled his wide eyes and a strangled sob escaped his lips. Leo got worried to no end. "Hey, are you alright? Little brother? Come on, talk to me.", he cupped the child's face in his hands and called out his name multiple time but got no response. Leo then realized that the tot wasn't looking at him. His eyes were focused on something behind Leonardo. Leo whipped around, one hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to slash whatever was making his little brother so terrified.
His pupils turned into pinpricks.
Blood. Blood everywhere. He couldn't see the figure laying before him clearly as it was hidden by shadows but whatever murdered this poor soul showed no mercy. He remembered his brother and turned lightning fast to get the child out of here, prevent any further scarring as he possibly could from the brutal scene.
But he was gone.
Where did he go!? Leo panicked and looked in every direction to see where the tot could have vanished to. Unwillingly, he set his eyes upon the corpse which he instantly wished he didn't.
Leo started to tremble, eyes wide with horror. He covered his mouth with his hand fearing he might vomit. He wanted to look away, he wanted so badly to look away but he was paralyzed by shock.
The person laying there was his little brother, the same one who was standing next to him moments ago. Gaping holes were present through his chest and left eye. It seemed as the heart was purposely, brutally, torn out. He could see the veins hanging out from the large wounds. His plastron was cracked in a web-like pattern emerging from the wound. Cuts and bruises littered the boy's whole body. Blood trailed down from his lacerations. His innocent little brother was lifeless, rotting in his own pool of blood.
Leo fell on his knees lurching forward, thankful he hadn't had anything in his system to get out. His mind was trapped in a turbulence of emotions; grief, anger, confusion, fear. The horrid display had been plastered into the deepest depths of his memory. Tears already formed fell as a silent sob escaped him. He took his eyes away from the corpse. Mixed saturated emotions formed a barrier between him and his surroundings as he kept struggling to process what occured all the while wishing to escape all this.
This can't be real. He can't be dead. This isn't real! This isn't real!
Unbeknownst to Leo, a shadow tendril emerged from the chest wound and shot forward with speed, impaling Leo's midsection. He gasped loudly from the sudden unbearable pain. He looked at the dead body in surprise, just in time to see another dark tentacle coming straight for his head.
And darkness swallowed him in seconds.
So, how was it? Lemme know in the reviews!
P.S The quote's by Soren Kierkegaard.