Chapter 3
I do not own the song "Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne I have just shortened it.
I took a slow, deep breath to calm my nerves. It's not every day a girl comes face to face with a giant, katana-wielding turtle.
Standing behind him were two other turtles. One was wearing a purple mask and had a bo staff strapped to his back. He was standing with his hands hooked in his belt, like you would with pockets. He seemed cautious but calm.
The other was a completely different story. He was a much darker shade of green than his brothers and he wore a blood-red mask. He stood with his arms crossed in an intimidating stance. He had two sais tucked into his belt and he looked on edge. What shocked me most were his eyes. They were bright and golden, unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Man, he was glaring at me like I kicked his grandma. Who did he think he was?
I raised my eyebrow and looked him up and down... that's right I gave him the elevator eyes. My temper flared, but I figured that I was in no position to insult anyone. It was an ultimate glaring match, blue vs. gold.
"Woah! Hey, Leo, back off alright? They're not enemies!" Mikey shouted, pulling me away from the pointy metal sword and standing in front of me.
"Mikey! How could you bring two complete strangers here?! You didn't even ask for my, or Master Splinter's, permission! You're risking the safety of our family with them simply being here!" The one wearing the blue mask, who I assumed was Leo, exclaimed.
"They're not strangers! This is Karianna and this is Alex," Mikey said, pointing to both of us.
"That's not the point!" The two went on bickering for about five minutes as we all stood awkwardly, my brother grasping my hand.
"ENOUGH!" Shouted a voice which clearly held authority. Leonardo and Michelangelo immediately stopped outside of the door with a tree on it, stood an old rat. A humanoid rat with grey fur and a thin white beard, wearing a traditional Japanese kimono, speaking in a strong Asian accent… What a night, huh?
"What is going on here?" He demanded. He spotted me and Alex standing by the entrance/exit. He studied us both and met my eyes. His beady little eyes seemed as if he could see right through me to my very soul; see all my deepest secrets, my every flaw.
"Ah," He said. "I see the people you informed me of have arrived, Leonardo. Michelangelo, please make them feel at home." He said after he'd scrutinized us, gesturing to the living room. Mikey nodded and showed us to the sofa.
"Sensei, are you sure about this?" Leonardo whispered.
"No, my son, I am not. But all I can see now are two confused, frightened people in need of a place to rest. I will be able to tell more when they have told their story."
Master Splinter and the rest of the turtles came over to join us on the sofas. I was sat in the middle of the larger one, with Alex next to me. Mikey was on my other side, suddenly seeming quite protective.
Okay. Mikey is definitely my favourite. I thought.
"We shouldn't be here," I whispered, more to myself than anyone.
"Don't worry, Kar. I won't let anything happen to ya," he said, patting my knee.
"Kar?" I asked. No one's ever called me "Kar."
"What? I thought it was cute," he said, shrugging and making me roll my eyes.
I looked around at all of the turtles. Red was standing with his arms crossed, glaring at me I ignored him. Purple was just standing casually against the wall and Blue, or Leo, was also standing with his arms crossed. I guessed he played some kind of high role in this unique family. He had that whole "leader" vibe goin' on.
Master Splinter cleared his throat from where he was sitting in a big, brown armchair. It looked really old but really comfortable.
"What is your name, child?" He asked, looking at me with those beady eyes of his.
"Karianna. Karianna Evans. But everyone calls me Kara," I said. I nudged my brother and he spoke up.
"And I'm Alex," he added. Master Splinter smiled at him. His smile was kind, gentle and it made me much less tense knowing that at least someone here, other than Mikey, had the capability to smile.
"Miss Evans," he said. I guess he didn't get the hint that I wanted him to call me Kara… "I think an exchange of stories is in order. If we tell ours first would you mind telling us yours?"
I hesitated. I wasn't sure if I was prepared to tell my whole life story to a bunch of strangers, but I figured I owed it to them so I nodded.
"But first I must ask you this," he paused. "What you have witnessed is a rare sight to behold. It is also a sight that must be kept hidden at all costs; for certain people want to posses the knowledge of our whereabouts and potentially tear our family apart. So, I ask you: will you keep our existence a secret? For our sake and your own." Everyone's attention was on me now, awaiting my answer.
"Of course. But that's only if you don't turn us in to the Foot," I reasoned. Master Splinter seemed taken aback by this. I didn't know if it was because I had presented a condition or whether it was because I mentioned the Foot.
He nodded then looked at my brother. Alex glanced at me and I nodded.
"I swear," he said.
"Good. Now, nineteen years ago, when I was still a common rat…"
Half an hour later…
Me and Alex sat there with our mouths hanging open. Who knew some alien gunk, or "ooze" as they called it, even existed let alone creating a whole family of MUTANTS!
"Are you sure I'm not dreaming? I got hit pretty hard in the head… Isn't that scientifically impossible?"
"Ain't us bein' here enough proof?" Raphael said in a strong Brooklyn accent, I noticed. I glared at him and he did the same back.
"Raphael," Master Splinter scolded. Raphael huffed and rolled his eyes, leaning up against the wall. We learned, from the story, the names of them all. The oldest in blue: Leonardo, the second oldest in red: Raphael, the second youngest in purple: Donatello and the baby of the family: Michelangelo.
"Miss Evans, would you mind telling us your story?" He asked. I was still a little wary of them and they clearly felt the same way. I didn't want them to think I was guilty of something. That could put us in a dangerous situation. I figured telling our story would help to vindicate us so I took a deep breath and began to tell our tale…
"Well, me, my brother and our parents all lived in England. When I turned 11 and when Alex was 5, we moved to Manhattan. We attended elementary school and… let's just say my first year in America didn't go as well as I'd hoped." Master Splinter raised his eyebrow at this, as did Leonardo, but didn't question it. I continued, "I left elementary school and started middle school and then went on to high school. The usual. It was all going fine till tonight. These people in black suites broke into the apartment." THAT caught their attention. "My parents told me to take Alex and run. We ran to the junk yard in hopes of hiding and staying there the night. I met an old homeless woman and she said that the ninjas are called the Foot. The Foot came again and they…" I swallowed. " They killed all of the homeless people there." Everyone was silent. I took a deep breath before continuing. "We ran into an alley, Michelangelo came, and here we are…"
"So you just abandoned your parents?!" Raphael exclaimed with brazen disregard for my feelings. My eyes went wide.
"Raphael!" Master Splinter shouted, frowning at him. His brothers all glared at him. I was about to yell in defence as my temper began to rise, but it hit me. It hit me then, that I had indeed abandoned my parents. I had left them when they needed me most. I could feel the tears coming but there was no way I was going to cry in front of them. My eyes returned to their normal size and I turned to Michelangelo.
"Where's the bathroom?" I asked calmly.
He pointed to the flight of stairs and said, "first door on your left…"
"Kara…" Alex said, looking almost as sad as I felt.
"It's okay, Alex," I said, climbing up the steps. I opened the bathroom door and closed it, leaning against it as I slid down to the floor.
It all came back to me. The deafening sound of breaking glass, the pained scream of my momma, the desperate yell of my papa… the cold, lifeless eyes of that kind old woman and that innocent little boy…
That memory would plague my thoughts; it would haunt my dreams. That memory would follow me forever. That memory would make me feel like a murderer. No, I was a murderer. Murderers caused death. I was the cause of the homeless people's death.
But something burned brighter in me than grief. Something that would keep me going for a long time.
Hope.
I had not seen the lifeless bodies of my parents. There was still a possibility that they had just been captured. But even then, they could be suffering in the worst place imaginable. They could be being tortured this very minute, slowly dying a slow, agonizing death.
The bottom line was this: my momma and my papa were gone. I wouldn't see them for a very long time. I wouldn't taste Papa's secret recipes. I wouldn't hear Momma sing an out-of-tune lullaby. I wouldn't fall asleep knowing I had a full family to wake up to.
I choked out a sob and grabbed my hair. I was freaking out. I took a deep, shaky breath to try and calm myself. But it didn't work so I just let it all out. I let the tears stream down my face. I let out all the emotions which had been replaced with shock. I let out all the pain, the grief, the agony and hoped with all my heart that I could keep my brother safe from the ones who took everything else from me. I hoped that I could keep him from harm… because he was all I had left.
Meanwhile…
"Raph! How could you be so insensitive?!" Donnie shouted. Raph didn't say anything, he just looked away.
"You okay, Alex?" Mikey asked. Alex looked a little shaken but he wasn't crying… yet.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm gonna go check on her."
"I'll go with you," Mikey said. Before he left, he looked in Raphael's direction. "Not cool." Raph narrowed his eyes at his brother.
"Raphael, go and do 100 flips. I shall see you when you have completed your punishment." Master Splinter ordered. Raph glared and left for the dojo.
When they reached the bathroom door, Alex frowned when he heard absolutely nothing. It was completely silent.
Hesitating before knocking on the door, Alex asked "Kara? Are you okay?"
There was even more silence until, "Yeah, Alex. I'm fine… Just… Just stay with Mikey for a while, okay?"
Mikey put a comforting hand on Alex's shoulder and nodded.
"Okay…" Alex said uncertainly. "If you're sure…" He looked down as he walked away, Mikey right behind him.
"Don't worry little dude. How 'bout we go play some video games?" Mikey asked.
Alex smiled a little. "Okay," he said and somewhat reluctantly left his sister to mourn in peace.
Normal POV
It was two hours since they left Kara to cry and Mikey showed Alex where his and Kara's temporary room was, after playing video games for an hour. It was the spare room that April and Casey used when they stayed over, equipped with a double bed, which they had kindly paid for, an old wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
By now it was about 3 o'clock in the morning and everyone except Mikey had turned in for the night. Alex passed out whilst playing a video game so Mikey tucked him in bed.
Mikey was now having a debate with himself. He was wondering if he should disturb Kara, and offer her to go to sleep in her room, or leave her be. He decided the first option would provide some comfort so he trudged up the stairs and headed to the bathroom.
When he arrived at the door, he didn't hear any kind of sound to hint that she was in there. He quietly knocked on the door and when he heard no reply, he entered.
He found her on the floor by the toilet, the subtle rise and fall of her chest indicating that she was asleep. He smiled at the peaceful expression on her face but frowned when he noticed her tear stained cheeks.
He picked her up and carried her to her room, laying her down next to her brother, under the covers. Alex must have somehow known that she was there because as soon as Mikey set her down, he unconsciously wrapped his arms around her waist. She must have known too because she rested her head on his.
Mikey smiled. He knew that the sibling bond was very strong. He and his brothers obviously didn't sleep in the same bed now, but when they did when they were little, Leo and Raph would always protectively curl around Mikey and Donnie without even knowing it.
He left the room silently, gently shutting the door behind him, leaving the two slumbering people to rest.
One hour later: 4:00am
Kara woke to someone shaking her should gently. She groaned and rolled over, away from whoever was disturbing her precious sleep.
"Kara… Kara wake up," Alex whispered, failing to get the hint that she wanted to be left in peace.
"What?" She said groggily, opening her eyes a smidge. She noticed she was on something much more comfortable than a bathroom floor and she guessed that she and her brother had been provided with a room.
"I… I can't sleep…" He said, lowering his head a little.
Kara sighed and sat up, facing him. She frowned when she noticed his red cheeks and puffy eyes. Even in the dim lighting, it was clear that he'd been crying.
"C'mere," she said, pulling him into a hug as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Why can't you sleep?" She knew why he couldn't sleep, but she just wanted to offer some comfort.
He sniffled. "You know why."
She started stroking his hair, as he leaned his head on her shoulder.
"Can you…" He said, trailing off.
"Can I what, Allie?" She asked. She used to call him Allie when he was little and whenever he needed comforting.
"Can you sing the song momma used to sing?" He asked innocently. Kara smiled sadly and nodded. Their mom didn't sing the song every night, but she would whenever they had nightmare, or when they couldn't get to sleep.
Kara took a deep breath and began singing softly…
You're not alone Keep holding on
Together we stand
I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand
When it gets cold
And it feels like the end
There's no place to go
You know I won't give in
No I won't give in
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Just stay strong
'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you
There's nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There's no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through
Hear me when I say, when I say I believe La da da da
Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny
Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da…
She was gently rocking him and stroking his hair. She felt his tears on her shoulder and her own slowly falling down her cheeks. She thought he had fallen asleep when he chuckled.
"What?" She asked. Surely I wasn't that bad, she thought.
"You sing it better than Momma," he said.
Kara sighed. "Unlike Momma, I sang it in tune…But that doesn't make it better."
He nodded and they both lay down, letting their eyelids slowly shut and drift into unconsciousness.
What they didn't know, was that a turtle in blue was hidden in the shadows, investigating the quiet talking on his way back from the bathroom. He sighed as he walked back to his room.
"Maybe I was wrong about them…"
I didn't intend to include a song but I was listening to "Keep Holding On" and thought "OMG this is perfect! It's completely relevant!" So I threw it in XD