DISCLAIMER: I don't own the TMNT, I just like to borrow them from time to time and write stories for fun. No harm intended.
It should be noted that I haven't written for a long time and this is to try and kick start my brain, updates might be slow. It should also be known that, yes, I do enjoy torturing Leonardo but this is a prologue and the actual story will be about how they got into this predicament and ultimately, how they get out of it. Please let me know what you think you wonderful, wonderful readers! x
However long the night, the dawn will break.
Prologue
"Choose which it should be, choose the son you want to watch suffer."
Saki stands over Splinter with dark eyes, the impending pleasure he is going to feel is beyond any evil that they have ever faced. He lives to torture, lives to destroy all who oppose him. He lives purely to break their spirit.
"I will not choose," Splinter responds calmly, "I will not help you punish my family."
Saki smiles, "Then you will watch two of them die now and I will have the luxury of deciding." Slowly, Saki moves to the side and places his hands behind his back. He paces along the wall where the four turtles are sitting against it with their arms raised, chains bounding their wrists. They all looked battered, beaten but not broken. They were not easy to lure in and annoyingly the whole process took too long but that did not worry Saki, he had them now and that was all that mattered.
"I admit I very much enjoyed the chase. Some came easily, without much effort. Others were certainly harder to ensnare." He crouched in front of Leonardo, with a slight motion he gripped the turtles jaw. "My Foot ninja admitted you were the worst, but they dealt equally heavy blows in return, I see."
Leo glared at Saki; he could hear Raphael growling low in his throat as their enemy touched him. Leonardo's right eye had taken much punishment, swollen and bleeding it stung heavily and, he assumed, looked worse with the broken blood vessel staining his eye red. He knew there was no point in trying to pull away, with the strong grip Saki had on him it wouldn't have worked. At this close a position, it would have been easy to deal a blow to Saki with his leg but that would only serve to anger their tormentor, more than likely he would take it out on one of his brothers instead.
"Should I kill you first?" Saki whispered lightly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement and his smile grew, he loved the reaction to that simple question.
"Leave him alone, Shredder."
Ah, the feisty one. Shredder flicked his wrist and released his grip; the action threw Leonardo's head back into the wall. It wasn't too hard but considering his condition it must certainly have hurt. He stood quickly and almost bounced towards Raphael, careful to control his excitement, he slowed his move.
Again, he squatted down.
"You'd rather I kill you instead?" This time he was not as gentle. He grabbed Raphael about the head, his hand covering the turtle's crown with his thumb pressing hard into his temple. The pressure hurt and Saki deliberately dug his fingernails into his head to make it as painful as possible.
"Give it your best shot, asshole." Raphael spat angrily, he didn't care what happened to himself so long as the attention was on him and not his brothers.
"But if I kill you then you cannot save them, or do you want to die first so that you do not see them suffering?" Saki moved in close and turned Raphael's head to the side, there was only an inch between them. "Being powerless isn't much fun is it?"
Saki pulled back and laughed hysterically, "Oh this is too much!"
He moved in close to Raphael again, "I already know who is to be first, to die or torture, I don't mind but first nonetheless."
He whispered so quietly that no one else could hear and Raphael's reaction was apparent, he screamed aloud, pulling hard against the chains that scabbed cuts broke open again. He lashed out with his legs but Saki moved back quickly, his laughter running chills down Splinter's spine.
Splinter was powerless to help any of them, he bowed his head and took deep breaths, with every one he took he centred himself and pulled each wrist rhythmically. They were tight but with the right effort and time they were going to loosen and he would be free.
Saki moved toward Donatello, he didn't drop down; instead, he drew his sword from its resting place. "You're first."
He raised the sword high above his head, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could smell their fear, their anger, rage, hatred. He could hear their screams as they all protested and offered each other for this cruel game.
All except one.
Splinter sat silent.
Saki stopped; he turned towards the rat and cocked his head to one side, "Is his life forfeit?"
Splinter shook his head, "This is just another aspect of your horrific game, he will not die by your hand, not like this."
Saki smiled, "How can you be so sure Rodent?"
"Because you want me to choose and I do not choose him." Splinter looked at each of his sons, Raphael silently pleads that he be chosen, Michelangelo and Donatello too.
Leonardo gives his Father only the simplest of looks... Me
Saki exhales slowly, "Who is it to be?"
Splinter raises his chin, "Me."
Saki shakes his head vigorously, "Oh no, that isn't how my game works. You choose one of them, not yourself."
He spins to face all of his prisoners, "Look at you! All of you! You're all so afraid to watch each other suffer and yet all so brave to suffer the pain yourselves!" He spins back to Splinter, "I grow bored of this, choose now or they all die!"
The blade moves to the closest turtle, "ten seconds to decide or Michelangelo dies first!"
Ten...
Time, I need time. If I choose then time is given to us, if I don't then there is no chance for any of us.
Nine...
But who to choose, the strongest in spirit? Strength? Who could survive the longest?
Eight...
They all offer themselves; they all give themselves to this.
Seven...
Why must I choose?
Six...
Whom must I choose?
Five...
Raphael, strong, hardy, his anger would keep him alive.
Four...
Michelangelo, free spirit, energetic, capable, his hope would keep him alive.
Three...
Donatello, intelligent, calculating, his focus would keep him alive.
Two...
Leonardo, controlled, born leader, his family would keep him alive.
One...
Forgive me...
"Leonardo." Splinter bows his head low, he wants to meet his son's eyes but he cannot. Leonardo closes his eyes and nods softly, pleased and frightened at the same time.
Saki chuckles and, with one smooth move, sheaths his sword; he claps slowly, "Well done. I would never have thought that you would actually commit to the torture of your son but you have. I hope he is more forgiving than the rest of your freakish children."
Splinter didn't need to look at his sons to see it, he could feel their disapproval.
