Using the app to write this on my phone... Further editing is likely. I hope you enjoy angst, violence, and a whole lot of adult themes!!

————

Drip, drop, plop

Ash's eyes squinted open as the gentle rain fell on her face. She lay face up in an alley with short but vivid flashbacks reminding her of how she got there. The question was, why was she still alive?

In her weak attempt to get up, she discovered that her legs were either broken or damn near close to it, and her right arm was bleeding out somewhere. She tried to get a look at the state of her body, but could barely open her eyes let alone lift her head. The pain that shot through her spine was nearly enough to knock her out again.

The rain grew faster and began to pelt her as she closed her eyes and decided to give up. If she bled out, at least she'd finally be dead. No more foot dictators running the show, no more having to relive the flashbacks of her family dying violently at the hands of those monsters. No more feeling.

Thump!

Someone landed a few feet away from her, but she didn't care enough to open her eyes. Her short, shallow breathing nearly lulled her into unconsciousness before the stranger lifted her into his arms. She tried not to tense, hoping if she played dead they would lose interest, but to no avail. The rain fell faster as wind blew into her face, informing her that they were moving quickly. But would it be quick enough?

As she faded back into unconsciousness, the words she had heard from those monsters before they dumped her body in the streets replayed in her head.

"You gain his trust, then bring him and his family to us. Maybe then we will let you die."

————

Michelangelo heard the screams in the distance. He knew it meant death would follow and he knew that it was likely another trap set for him, but he couldn't just ignore the cries for help. Still, with only one arm to get by on and no back up around, he knew he had to be even more cautious than his brothers would be. He was unlikely to save anyone— again.

From the shadows of a far off building, Mikey observed the foot activity finishing up in a populated apartment building. The foot clan slaves that remained in the city were held up in run-down complexes with only enough substance for them to work during the day.

If he had been any closer to the action he would have heard the sobs before the cry of pain that resonated through the block. He knew in the other buildings people were cowering, wondering if they would be next. He wondered how close the people in that building were and what set off the foot soldiers this time. Were they still just trying to draw him out?

He hid further back into the shadows as the foot left the building, his paranoia assuring him he would be caught soon. Movement on the fire escape caught his eye, and he quickly made out a struggling body being dangled over the edge, threatened with a 3-story drop to the ground below.

Mikey gritted his teeth and clenched his fist around his nunchuck, looking away as he knew there was nothing he could do with so many foot soldiers around. A distant thud told him that the body had managed to at least hit a dumpster before the concrete, and he finally gained the courage to watch the foot soldiers leave.

He was certain whoever that was had died from the fall, and yet something told him to go make sure. He knew no one else would— it was past curfew after all. However, all of the foot seemed to clear the area. As suspicious as it was, he needed to satisfy his curiosity. So, with the shadows as his guide, Mikey made his way to the alley where the body of a girl lay face up. He could see she was struggling to move, which only meant that she was alive!

He dropped down from where he was positioned and approached her cautiously. She was in rough shape. The rain washed away most of the blood coming out of her arm, and it was clear from her struggle that she was in deep pain and fighting just to stay alive.

He picked her up carefully and began to carry her to his hideout, careful to remain in the shadows while trying not to break her more. He could at least try to save her while she was still breathing.

"Just hang on, I got you."