This is my first story, so please read with that in mind. Any advice and help you would like to give would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
This story takes place after an apocalypse of sorts and Michelangelo hides underground for many years. Now he questions on whether he should go up-top or not. This I intended to be a one-shot, just so I would become familiar with how this site works. But, if you like the story and want me to continue it I will gladly do so. If I have the time, of course!
Ok, on to the story! But first, the Disclaimer: I, Turtlekanurtle, do not own TMNT or any of it's characters. Satisfied?
Michelangelo stared at the ceiling of the lair, watching a stream of water drip from a large crack in the stone.
The water dripped quietly, over and over again, falling to the same spot.
A puddle had even started to form.
Mikey turned right side up from lying on the couch. He looked around at the fallen, grey walls of the lair, the ruble of rocks strewn every place from age and wear, the remnants of memories from days past, and could not help but feel a hollow emptiness well up inside him.
*Drip*
*Drip*
They were all gone, his family, his friends.
And he was left here alone, rotting away in desolation and grief, helpless to change the past.
But as Mikey stared at the water dripping into the puddle, he pushed himself up. Enough running away from the future and enough living in the past. He had been unable to do anything for so long; even now age had become an excuse against taking action.
He felt how heavy his skin had fallen, how weak and un-exercised he had become. Only the fear, grief, and lack of food kept him from becoming over-weight.
Emotionally, he felt as hard as stone but yet still soft and venerable. As if it required only a spoon to break that stone. But either way, he was tired of it: Staring at the dripping water, wasting away, living in fear, waiting to die.
What was something Leo had told him?
"It would be better to die on your feet then to live on your knees, Mikey. Please, don't ever back away from that truth. I know you have more courage than you allow yourself to believe."
Mikey nodded absently from the memory. 'Yeah Leo, this time around I'm gonna do it. You guys better be watching. I don't know if I can make it on my own anymore. But we'll see. I might surprise you…I might surprise myself.'
So he got up, and walked to the large door that exited the lair and led out to the sewer tunnels.
He closed his eyes, breathed in, and exhaled slowly. He could do it. Everyone believed he could.
A hand was raised hesitantly and the rusty door was opened.
The sewer tunnels over flooded with water and moss grew every where on the dark damp walls.
He waded through the water, sometimes swimming, and came to a dry tunnel. He walked through the darkness feeling humid and tired.
Nervousness clung to him and each step was placed shakily forward.
But he drove himself further. He could do this. He could do this.
The tunnels winded on and on as if without end. He silently traced the lines in the tunnel walls and noted how old and un-used they seemed.
*Drip*
*Drip*
The water was coming through now. Michelangelo hurried on.
Wait, he saw something.
Up ahead, a tiny ray of light could be seen coming from a half closed manhole cover.
Mikey walked up to it, slowly and then faster and faster. He heart accelerated, and a new hope and confidence filled him, pushing away the darkness that lingered.
He climbed up the stairs and relished the light that now half bathed him.
He was particularly there; just a little further.
At the top, Mikey stopped. He could almost see the sky outside from the small opening that the un-closed manhole cover left.
Did he really dare? Did he really want to leave the sanctuary of the lair? Leave all the memories behind? Mikey thought to himself, as his hand lingered before the cover, unsure of whether to open it or not.
No, he had left that behind him. This was the moment he would conquer his fears, make his family proud, to die on his two own feet: tall and proud. Three other hands appeared beside his own, ready to help push the heavy cover aside. Mikey smiled.
So, quickly without any further hesitation, he pushed the manhole cover aside.
Yeah, not much an ending, right? But thank you for reading anyway! Please review on your way out.
*Remember: Criticism makes the author's heart grow fonder!*