Disclaimer: I don't own the Ninja Turtles

A/N: I haven't been this motivated with a fic in a long time! Thank you all for reviewing and helping to fuel that motivation, it is because of you that this is being posted today! This is probably going to end up to be a pretty long chapter, hope it doesn't drag on at all for you. Special thanks to Damgel for helping me hammer this thing out. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 Escape, Revenge and Old Faces

Laughter. Smiling faces and happy places. Jokes and games, love and joy. I remember it all vaugely yet with great distinction. A family. The image in my mind radiates the warmth that I must have felt at those times. I wish that I could feel the warmth again. Carefree. Pain free.

I remember the support. Forgiveness. Kindness. A sense of belonging.

No walls, no chains. I didn't know what it truly meant to be imprisoned...I didn't understand what it really meant to be free.

I had thought that I knew what it meant to know fear, to know hardship and pain. It was only after coming here that I realized how incredibly ignorant and naive I truly was.

Adventures. We had each other's back. Never would the other go unguarded. We were like one unit, one being. Even when we were arguing we were still together. I rarely had disagreements. Whenever they would scuffle, I would dance at the sidelines, keep out of the way, then make peace and bring laughter. That was my job, peacekeeper and morale officer. I wonder if I could still laugh right now? It would sure sound different, with the things they did to my throat. The operation, the chemicals...my voice is rougher, a bit raspy. No one would recognize it. My laughter probably wouldn't sound joyous at all, it would be like nails on a chalkboard or something to make little kids scream in fear. When's the last time I laughed?...

Then it all ended.

Struggle. It was a struggle. No matter how I play it through my mind I can't think of it straight. It was the beginning of hell. My own personal hell brought to me by a simple dart. An innocent device made of a slender needle, a hollow chamber, and thin shaft. And it gave me all of this. What a gift. What a gift...

Hey! We gotta get moving!

I shook my head. My thoughts seemed so clouded...was I asleep? Groaning I rubbed my head and staggered slightly, surprised to find myself standing and unrestrained, yet at the same time not surprised at all. I grasped wildly at my thoughts. Images danced through my mind, enticing yet showing nothing. What just happened? I blinked and my vision cleared. Al was pacing nervously, looking agitated, his golden eyes flashing. He motioned me to hurry.

Stop f#king around! We need to move! NOW!

Blinking the haze away, I took a step and nearly tripped over something heavy on the floor. A strong, painfully familiar coppery smell wafted into my nose. Grimacing as I felt my heartbeat quicken, I looked down. My eyes widened in surprise as I could feel bile rise in my throat.

Two workers were lying at my feet. I knew both of them, I had seen them too many times...the one that I tripped on was missing all the meat in his throat. Where his adam's apple should have been there was nothing but a gaping, ragged hole, tendrils of flesh hanging like wet red yarn. Frothy red bubbles were formed at the bottom of the massive wound, presumably where his windpipe was ripped out, signifying his last gasps of breath. The thick pool of blood that he had formed was so fresh that it still glistened in the flourescent lighting.

The second man's body was intact, save his face. His eyes, eyelids, everything in his eye sockets was gone. He simply had two gaping, cavernous holes where his eyes were supposed to be. His body was twisted in the last throws of death, his mouth still gaping open voicing a silent scream. I could almost imagine those empty sockets blinking.

"W-what happened?" I stammered. My heart fluttered in my chest. I looked behind me. I didn't know what to think. The door to my cell was hanging open, the chains still dangled on the wall and the crap still littered the floor. A strange coldness traveled down my spine to my legs. When did I leave?

Al was in no mood to answer questions.We killed them. They got what they deserved, now let's go!

"But-but how?" Then I heard the drip. Immediately I looked down and gasped when I found my hands covered in blood, so thick and fresh that blood still slowly dripped from my knuckles and fingertips. I had splashes and splatters of scarlet across my legs, plastron, and arms like a sticky lotion. Probably had some on my face too. I noticed some clear jelly looking stuff on the tips of my fingers. Eyeing the wiggly substance I looked at Al for answers, my eyes wide.

Still looking anxious, he calmed down a bit as he looked at me. Look, when the door opened, you froze so...I helped you. As I said the bstards got what they deserved for what they did to you. As for the stuff on your fingers...He shrugged...I guess now you know what's on the inside of eyeballs.

Looking at the man with the empty eyesockets it only took a blink of my own eyes to piece together what happened. It hit me hard in the chest like a heavy blow. Slowly I rubbed my fingertips together, the eye-jelly sliding between them with a slimy sensation. A feeling of awe overcame me, traveling down my spine to my limbs like hot electricity. Al could help me with things like that? My hands trembled. Amazing. I was truly fortunate to have him as a friend. As for the men...I looked down on them. My eyes widened, bloodshot, and I grimaced, showing my teeth as I panted slightly. My hands trembled as images of cruelty flashed before my eyes, memories...memories with their faces. A smirk played across my lips as I recognized them. They had worked here for some time and brought me to my places of torture. As flashbacks of cruel surgeries and painful experiments played through my brain like an erotic dancer, a feeling of euphoria overcame me. The excitement sent tingles through my muscles down into my fingertips in a long-forgotten feeling of elation. Practically dancing on my toes I broke into a wide grin, my eyes somehow dazed yet focused. I got them! I got those dirty dogs! They helped heap the torture upon me for days on end, now they are dead! With Al's help I'll get the rest of them!

I could feel Al's excitement beside me as he saw me mentally piece everything together. My heart thudding frantically against my chest I almost let out a whoop as a crazed feeling seized my brain with the animosity of a rabid animal. Grinning, he rejoiced with me but quickly signaled the need for silence. Shhhh. We musn't warn the other mangy dogs of your escape. Quickly, grab some weapons and lets find the other vermin and punish them for their crimes!

"Yes!" I whispered hoarsly. Shoving the bodies aside, I grabbed their weapons which consisted of tonfas and stun guns. Peeling off their belts, I had to link both of them together to fit it around my own waist and swiftly attached the stun guns and one of the tonfas into the loops. The other one I grasped securely in my hand. Electricity sizzling through my muscles to the point of near seizures, I sprinted down the hall, the pads of my feet barely touching the floor.

All this time I had trained for this moment, not sure if it would come or not, now finally with Al's generous help I have achieved it! With choice moves I could end up on top with my fingers around Bishop's throat. Then I'd show him as much mercy as he showed me...

My body was different than when I came in here. Hours of dedication in the hamster cage, constant strain, plus a generous filling out and bulking up partially attributed to my physical maturity had transformed myself into a force to be reckoned with. I pounded down the hallway, heavy but light all at once, my thick wiry muscles hardly straining in thier excitement at what was to come. I didn't run, I flew, I floated... Bloodshed, vengence...

I ran down the familiar hallway, thinking about how I had traveled down the hallway in the past either strapped to a table or drugged, practically dragging on the floor. The lights had looked eerie and ominous then while passing in flashes, the shiny floor full of wrath and hate, the pristine white walls laughing at me in my inprisonment. Now the tables had turned...

I rammed through the double doors like a football player on steroids. I struck them so hard that they slammed against the other wall and broke through the plaster. Two nurses in full scrubs and surgical gowns screamed at the sight of me and bolted. Their sounds of terror sent fresh jolts of energy coarsing through my veins. My body moved without a thought. Snarling I lunged forward and grabbed one of them forcefully by her hair, yanking her so hard she flew off her toes. I hurled her against the wall with a loud crack! She crumpled to the floor. The other one got further away, but in two bounds I was upon her. Al's glorious laughter echoed loudly in the room, spurring me on with renewed energy. Screaming as I pinned her down with my body I wrapped my hands around her neck and smacked her skull on the hard tile floor. Her expression faltered as I did it again, and again, and again...finally I realized that the back of her head was nothing but a bloody pulp and scarlet already arced across the floor. I looked at the lifeless body in my hands...for a brief instant I faltered... You were glorious. This is only the beginning, Michelangelo. We must continue, make them all pay! Make the dirty dogs pay!

He was right. He was always right. "Yes." I whispered even as I got off of the human's limp body. Her eyes stared up sightlessly but I hardly noticed as I turned, pushing her out of the way with my foot. "We'll make them pay." My eyes shot to the second set of doors, the one that led to one of the surgical rooms. Shoving aside sterile metal carts holding various medical equipment, I kicked those doors aside even as my vision flashed bright white...

Suddenly I saw myself strapped to a table, coming through those doors with fear in my heart. The doctors behind thier surgical smocks and masks looked upon me as though I were a dog, worse than a dog. They ignored my frantic cries as they might ignore a fly buzzing about the room. Bishop stepped forward, smiling even through his mask as his scalpel flashed in the bright light. Blood welled at the incision as his laughter mixed with my pain...MICHELANGELO!!

I blinked and suddenly before me I saw two surgeons, none of them Bishop, standing staring at me with completely shocked surprise. A limp, hairless, nude form lay before them uncovered, his abdomen cut open wide. His unblinking eyes seemed to drill into me even as red slowly leaked into my vision. Pivoting on my foot I grabbed the nearest thing to me, a small surgical table. Picking it up easily, I hurled it with as much force as I could muster at the nearest standing figure. The solid metal struck his skull and he flew backward. I was already moving before it even reached him. Bounding forward, I collapsed my leg and slipped easily under the table where the dead man lay, sliding on my shell. Coming neatly by the legs of the second surgeon I knocked his leg out from under him with a wicked blow. Switching my weight to the ball of my hand I let my foot arc up and crash into his nose before his skull even hit the floor. The wet, crunchy smack sounded terrific.

Standing up, adrenaline still pouring through my veins I looked sadly at the incredibly pale dead man, his insides open for all to see, his skin peeled back like a sick banana. Several of his insides were missing... Maybe they were harvesting his organs...either way his battle is over. Reaching up with my bloodstained fingertips I gently closed his eyes and stroked his cheek softly. Then I looked at the tiny black dome that held the camera and flicked it off before continuing on to my next battle.

The next two surgical rooms were empty but I trashed them anyway, as though I could combat the memories that I had spent in those rooms by eliminating their use for future torture. By the time that I had gotten through with them they were beyond repair and I had a nice arsenal of shiny surgical instruments.

The guards were glorious. I recognized every single one of them. At one point and time I had felt the stinging blows from all of them at least once; punishing me for some real or imagined indiscrescion, on Bishop's orders, preventing my escape into freedom or just for the hell of it. At all times I sported their bruises, cuts or penetrations. It seemed that there was never a day when I didn't feel the pain they inflicted on me. I used the tonfas upon them with great joy, vividly remembering all the times when the same items struck my own body. The hard weapon pounded into their flesh, broke their bones, turned thier faces into nothing but bloody pulps, and crushed digits, kneecaps and throats.

The only thing better was the looks on their faces as I came upon them. Due to rules of the 'hospital' they were forbidden from carrying guns; in other words they didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. And they knew it. I ecsatically leapt towards them as they screamed in fear, struggled to get away, fought against me to no avail, and begged for mercy. I had no mercy to give. Memories flirted with my brain of times that I had pleaded for them to stop, requested peace, wallowed for mercy. They had none to give either. As I harvested my bloody revenge I was living in the past, living through all the painful memories as I spliled their blood, my world consisted of only them and me. I was aware of nothing else.

I beat down their carcasses before they even hit the ground, taking out my vengence with Al whooping with joy at my side. I moved from one to the other, hardly aware of the time in between. Blood spattered on the wall, made the lights shine red, cast a scarlet gloss on the floor and tasted coppery upon my tongue as the drops fell upon it.

When it was all over and I had gone through the last of them I was so keyed up I could hardly see straight. Al was practically dancing his delight, praising me with words worthy of a scholar. My muscles trembled with exertion and excitement. My eyes, wide and dilated stared straight ahead of me as my breath came in excited pants. A hand appeared in front of me and I nearly jumped upon it until I realized who it was.

Michelangelo! We should go...look at the lights!

Lights? Suddenly I was aware of the red flashing light that blinked everywhere. How could I not have seen it? Tensing, I bolted down the hallway, checking the rooms. Why were all the rooms empty? Abandoned chairs and desks were the only things inhabiting each space. What was going on? How did I miss everyone?

They must've evacuated the building. We have to get out of here!

I growled deep in my throat, my body still tense from battle. "NO! What about Bishop?"Who do you think would be the first to leave? That dirty mangy coward Bishop!

We must take our revenge upon him at another time. We can't do anything if you aren't alive to do it!

I shook my head, my body tensing. "Maybe he's still here, maybe I could still get to him, maybe...

"NO!!

I started at the sound of his voice. Al appeared right before me, his nose to mine. I licked my lips nervously even as the red lights continued their flashing all about me. "Uh, Al?"

Why do you doubt me now? After all I've done for you? You should know better, you really should. Now stop f#king around and lets get out of here before the calvary arrives, Michelangelo.

I felt chastened and nodded. Of course. Why didn't I see it? As usual, Al was the voice of reason, the voice of truth, the voice of wisdom. He always knew the right thing to say, because that's just who he was. "Sorry, Al. You're right. We should go." I looked around to get my bearings.

Yes! That's right! We got all of these mangy dogs, that's quite an achievement for one day. Pace yourself. Let Bishop live for a little bit, let him know fear. Every shadow he sees he'll see you. Every sound he hears will be you. You will haunt him even before you strike!

What did I say? He could say no wrong! Grinning at the thought, I loped easily down the hall in a ground covering pace. Al flitted from one side to the other like a fluid spirit, urging me on.

Then, suddenly, I saw another man at the end of the hallway. He looked at the blood-coated hallway with utter horror in his eyes. His jaw dropped, trembling violently and a dark spot appeared at the crotch of his pants. I smiled as I watched his fear. I knew him. Not a guard per say, but the captain of the guards! He lived for brutality. Well, as a wise voice from my past always said, you treat people the way you want to be treated. Immediately my priorities changed.

He screamed and scrambled over his feet to get away as I pounded mercilessly down the hall. Each thundering footstep seemed to echo ominously. He was slow, like a wounded bird. I was going to enjoy him.

Sobbing furiously, he kicked open an emergency exit that was carefully camouflaged with the wall and scrambled outside. I tried to resist my laughter. I hadn't even noticed the hidden exit. He just provided me with a way out. The door hadn't even closed when I reached it, shoving it open furiously. He was on the fire escape, not even to the stairwell yet.

Pitiful. Pitiful and slow.

Swinging my arms back I kicked high. My foot planted itself in his face and, screaming, he fell backwards off the fire escape. Immediately I was on the railing, looking down. He screamed as he fell and landed on the dumpster in the alley. Not in it, but on it. His back hit the metal siding with a cracking sound. His scream faltered, but he still crumpled to the dirty alley floor. He didn't move for a moment, then lifted himself up by his hands, his feet still unmoving. He stared at them for a second, then up at me and screamed again. Then using only his hands he started to drag himself away. My smile widened. He was paralyzed. This was going to be easy.

Al was beside me, looking decidedly nervous. Michelangelo, there's something here!

I waved him off. Nothing could beat me right now, not when I was at my peak! I leapt easily to the street level. It was the dead of night, hardly anything moved. Nobody was here.

They're here, you need to leave now!!

He was frantic, clearly upset about something. About who? Why leave? What? I shook my head and approached the man, he was sobbing, pleading with me. My expression hardened. How many times had I pleaded with him?

They're here. Run Mikey run!

Al was pacing in front of me. I was perplexed. Surely he could see that there was no one here? I shook my head. "No, not until he's dead."

Al snarled at me. You impudent fool! Fine then! Kill him quickly! We must go now to find Bishop!

I nodded. It was true, Al was right, he was always right, Bishop was our top priority. I quickened my step towards the man. His sobbing and blubbering intensified as I approached, you couldn't understand him at all by the time that I reached him. Grasping his shoulder, I shoved him against the brick wall. He opened his mouth so wide in his screams that I couldn't help it. With a gnarled hand I grasped his bottom jaw and, with muscles tense, wrenched his jaw clear off.

"MIKEY!!"

I froze even as the guard captain continued to scream, his blood pumping out of him in gushes. That voice sounded intimately familiar. Where did I hear it before? My heart fluttered fearfully against my chest and my alarm systems fired up. I had just escaped, there was no way in hell I was going back. I was in a killing mood.

You dissappoint me. They've seen you. Now you must kill them or face hell once more.

Them? I looked up but squinted to see the shadowy figures better. On shocked legs they stepped forward and I gasped so hard I felt it in my chest.

It was my family.

They're the ones that abandoned you! They practically turned you over to Bishop before, and now they suddenly show up just as you escape? Kind of convenient, don't you think? They mean to turn you back in! You must kill them NOW!!

Their faces were stricken in a way that I've never seen before. Unconsiously I scanned over their faces. Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello. So familiar, yet...not. They were older, as I was, yet time had obvioustly been kind to them in comparison to me. I studied their faces. They were the same as I remembered. Right now they stared at me through wide eyes covered by colored bandanas. I don't remember the last time I wore a bandana. Thier mouths gaped open, and their hands reached out partially, as though not sure to commit to the gesture. Instantly I was inflamed. They didn't know what to do after seeing me! What else were they supposed to do but-

Beware! Trust nothing they do! Remember Michelangelo, I am your friend. They are your enemy! Who was it that left you? THEM! Who was it that held your hand through your pain? ME! Now I tell you to either KILL them or FLEE NOW! Do not hesitate or they will twist it to their advantage!

One of them...Raphael...stepped forward and stared at me. I could hear the man's whimper's still annoying me at my side. With a slight afterthought I kicked at him hard, crunching his neck into pulp. He was silent. Raphael jumped at the move, his eyes seemed to grow larger, more...wet. I could hear one of the others...Donatello...retching behind him. Leonardo stepped forward behind Raphael, his hands trembling violently. Other than that they remained silent. Raphael approached closer. I backed up until my shell hit the dumpster. I looked around frantically, wanting to escape yet remaining rooted to the spot. My heart thudding hard against my chest, thick in my throat. I remained frozen as he reached out and touched my cheek lightly. His touch scalded into my flesh like fire. I winced and jerked my head away.

"Mike...what happened to you?" He whispered softly.

ATTACK HIM! ATTACK HIM NOW!!

"No..." I whispered hoarsly. Al, screamed at me, furious. Viciously he stabbed a finger at Raphael. I Knew what he wanted. I couldn't welcome them, but I couldn't do that..."no..."

Raphael backed up, painful confusion clearly echoed on his face. The other two started to come towards me as well. A sudden, intense feeling of claustrophobia swept over me heavily. It was too much, they were too close...I couldn't do it. Raphael reached for me again...just like Bishop reached for me again and again and again and again...

I caught his wrist and twisted it severely while yanking him harshly onto my bent knee. I shoved his plastron hard against my uncovered kneecap and swung my other fist simotaneously into his temple. Caught completely by surprise, he fell easily to the side. Immediately the one with the katana...Leonardo...lunged for me. Silver flashed in my hand and blood welled up on his arm from a neat slice from his shoulder to his elbow. Shocked, Donatello wisely kept his distance.

Scraping my shell on the dumpster I slid away from them, grasping the scalpel tightly in my hand. Raphael got up and stood beside the others, their shocked expressions changing slightly even as they approached me. Leonardo looked at his bleeding arm and back at me, pain in his eyes that was something other than physical pain...Donatello reached into his bag and panic seized through me.

What did I tell you! They mean you nothing but ill will! Why don't you listen to me? Never have I steered you wrong!

I scrambled backwards and tripped over a piece of trash. My shell hit the pavement hard but I was hardly aware of it. Al was besides me, offering support as always. "I'm so sorry...never again...please...forgive me...please..." I whispered hoarsely.

Of course I will. I could never hold a grudge against you. Now let's get you away from them!

They approached closer, moving towards me as they would a frightened deer. Thier expressions softened. "Of course, Mikey." Donatello crooned softly. Tears were spilling down his cheeks.

"We just want you back..." Raphael whispered. His voice cracked.

Leonardo approached me with outstretched arms. "Please, Michelangelo. Let us take you home...please."

What is your home to them, Michelangelo?

At his words an image flashed in my mind of a 5 by 5 cell, chains on the wall and shit littering the floor. I scrambled to my feet. "NOOOO!" Panic racing through my veins I bolted, running faster than I ever remember running before. I tore down the alley and sprinted across the street in plain view and into the next alley. Not even aware where I was going, I just ran. Looking behind me, I sobbed at the sight of them pursuing me. They were chasing me! They were calling out my name!

They mean to take you back, Michelangelo. Don't let them! I am your friend, they are not! Trust me!

"Yes, yes I do Al! I trust you! Please! PLEASE!" I didn't even know what I was begging for as I ran, but I still heard them behind me. They were catching up.

It all happened at once. A cat jumped into a garbage can ahead of me, causing it to spill onto the alley. A can rolled out of it, going right where my foot was placed. The thing rolled under me and next thing I knew I had hit the pavement hard, my face scraping the asphalt. Dazed, I got to my wobbly feet and shook my head. I was in the middle of the road, I was...

BEEEEEP! BEEEP-BEEEEEEEP!

I turned around as the blinding lights of a semi came roaring at me. Staring into that bright light I froze. Was this going to be the end! The engine roared as the driver honked even louder. Al was screaming something beside me but I didn't hear him, all that I could see was this...

A strong hand grasped my arm and yanked me to the side. The main body of the truck passed me with a whoosh but not before that extending side mirror struck the side of my head. The blow sent me spinning, both physically and not. Many hands grabbed me all over, supporting me, lifting me. I twisted weakly even as my vision began to get hazy. They were carrying me, like the guards would sometimes carry me. I groaned and begged shamelessly. "No...not again...please...no..."

One of the turtles sobbed. "It's okay Mikey boy, you're going home."

I obeyed the drowsiness and drifted off to sleep, that was always the best way to deal with the pain. The last thing I heard was Al whispering to me, I'll protect you. Don't worry, I'll protect you...you don't belong to them, you are mine and always will be...

A/N: That was WAY longer than I thought it would be, but I just couldn't end it until I got to this point. Hope that it was an enjoyable read even still. Again, ramble away, let me know what you think. Feel free to give predictions of what you think should happen and such, critique away, and just tell me if you like it. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Toodles!