THE LONGEST SUNSET
by TJ HECTOR
-Warnings: Violence and cruelty.
-A/N:
Thank you, LiL PriNCeSs Me, Happysays96, Infinite end, InsaneDutchGirl and Raigon for your reviews!
I did something new in the last chapter, and I got all sorts of feedback from you guys! It really helped to hear your different thoughts and opinions! Thank you so much!
-Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT.
7
"It's too late, my son," Yoshi's voice roused him up from his contemplation, following that was a warm hand on his shoulder. "Go to rest."
"I'm all right, Father," Leonardo replied in a tired voice.
"You have been worrying about your sibling too much, Leonardo," the man said, "There is nothing we can do right now."
Leo looked up and met his father's concerned eyes. The living room was already empty, deprived of his brothers' presence. How long has he been sitting here? He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost eleven now.
"But I couldn't stop, Father," Leo said, "This time, it's different."
"How so?"
"I…I can't tell. Something's not right with Raph."
"How about you, my son?" Yoshi asked. "How are you?"
"Me?" Leo raised his voice slightly, "I-I'm alright, Father. Really."
"You worries me, Leonardo," Yoshi said.
Leo frowned, "I'm fine, Dad, really am."
Yoshi stared at him for a moment, and then sighed. "If you didn't want to talk about this, I wouldn't keep asking you, my son."
"Thanks, Father," the eldest son muttered.
After Yoshi retired into his room, Leo sat in the living room for another long time.
What Donnie said bothered him. Donnie appeared to be…angry with Raph?
Strangely, Leonardo himself wasn't angry with Raph—even after that plate Raph had thrown at him. Actually, Leo had to admit that it kind of startled him: the plate, the assault, and the frustrated anger that seemed to come out from nowhere. It was familiar, but also different. Raph hadn't mean to attack him, unlike the time in the dojo—that time Raph really was aiming at him.
Nothing happened after Raph's failed attempts of trying to be a vigilante several months ago. Their days had gone back to normal. Raphael still skipped his classes like always, still got himself into fights now and then; Leonardo still lectured his immediate younger brother after the trouble was made, and they still butted heads on a daily basis.
But something had changed since then—no, this change had nothing to do with Raph being shot and shocking the whole family. This change was constant. It was always changing…. Always.
You gotta be aware of things around you, Leonardo, a little voice whispered inside his head.
Leo humphed. The little voice was right. Had he been somehow distracted? By what? By his…newfound feelings for Karai? Or by school, by his own training? He had to admit that he seldom paid attention to Raphael except when Raph came into his way and annoyed him with his hotheaded, stupid behaviors.
He knew Raph often twisted and turned in bed during nights. Leo used to tell Raph how to shut down his thoughts when it was time to sleep, but his brother had troubles following his instruction. Leo always blamed Raph's impatience and lack of concentration.
Could he be wrong? Was it possible that Raph couldn't do so simply because he just couldn't?
Come on, it isn't that hard, Leo argued.
No, it isn't hard for you. But your brother is different from you, Leonardo, the little voice said again.
The room was quiet for a while, and the man, Xever, looked at him as if he was some sort of interesting new toy.
"I'll give you five seconds to make yourself decent, Redhead," Xever said to him, and then turned to the door. With a whistle, two heavyset men walked into the room. Raph managed to buckle his belt before the newcomers started to reach for him.
Raph struck the man on his left side. The man snickered and grabbed Raph's forearm.
His head spun due to the effect of the drug—now he suspected that what Hazel had given him wasn't solely to just make him 'high'. The man on his right side lunged at him and pinned him on the bed.
"Get off me you fucking goons!" he bellowed; his vision dimmed under the attack. It wasn't until some seconds later that he recovered his consciousness. And when he did, Xever reappeared in his sight with a mocking smile.
"I gave you chance, Redhead," he said, "Now put the shirt on." He then tapped the man, who was now pinning Raph down on the bed with his whole weight, on the shoulder. "Brad, get off him. Ya like him so much? I'll let you have him after I finish my business with him."
The man stepped back with a spat of disgust, still clutching Raph's wrists with an unbreakable hard grasp. "Hell no."
Xever chuckled, "Thought so, you fools. Watch the kid, he's more cunning than you thought. Let's go, fellas."
-O-
They got out of the apartment building hastily.
"Where ya takin' me," Raph asked hoarsely.
"Shut up, punk," Brad hissed, dragging him along the alleyway.
"Oh, it's a surprise," Xever said easily, "It wouldn't be fun if we told you. Drive," he tossed a chain of keys to the other man, who hadn't spoken a word after Raph struck his jaw. "Yer chin alright, Lou?"
Lou grunted.
"Then go drive the goddam car, don't stand there starin'," Xever snorted. Lou ran.
-O-
The ride wasn't long. Raph sat in the backseat with Brad, who had tied up Raph's wrists with a thick rope. As soon as Raph got up the car, they encased his head with a paper bag, which hung over his eyes and covered his sight—so he couldn't see the way.
The car smelt like gin and piss. Raph could tell it was an old car; he wouldn't call it a comfortable ride. The car bumped along the road and made him dizzy. The surreal feeling came back. How strange the night had been!
Finally, the car slowed down and stopped. The door opened and someone tugged his arm, tearing the paper bag off; Raph was dragged out of the car. It was another quiet alley, a place Raph didn't recognize.
-O-
Xever led them into a pale brown, old building. There was a lobby, and no janitor—though there was a lonesome desk with several screens displaying surveillance. They walked straight toward the staircase and started down the stairs, into the basement. It was dark.
Xever opened a heavy iron door, showing a dimly lit room behind. "Bring him in," he said to Brad. Brad grunted and pulled Raph into the room.
It wasn't a room. Raph blinked until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. The place had dark red lights, granting it an eerie, dangerous atmosphere. Now he saw that there was a bar on the right side of the room with a tall man behind it, talking to another guy, and several tables on the left side of the space. There were more than ten men in there, and they all stopped what they had been doing and turned to stare at Raph as the three of them entered.
"'S that the little prick Hazie talked about?" the bartender sneered. "Damn, you're quicker than I thought."
"You are right, Tommy," Xever said, "Lou, grab a chair. We have to make our guest a seat…can't let 'im just stand here, right?"
Lou dragged a wooden chair with arms to the center of the basement. Brad pushed Raph roughly into the chair and started to tie his forearms and wrists to the arms of the chair.
The other men gathered around him and talked to each other in low, whispery voice; they were laughing quietly, possibly, at him. It didn't surprise Raph, not at all, but only sent jolts of anger through his body—from deep inside his guts to the top of his throat.
"Give him a shot," Xever said to the bartender. "Now," he turned to Raph, "Let's talk, shall we?"
"What, yer speakin' ta me," Raph asked with a smirk, "Whoa, didn't realize dat, sorry pal. I guess I sorta smelt rotten fish an' it kinda distracted me…hey, is it you?—"
Xever kicked the chair and Raph fell down with it. "Watch yer mouth, Redhead."
His head was slammed against the hard, cold floor; and stars filled his vision.
Brad pulled the chair back to its place.
"Alright," Xever said, "Let's talk about the phone. What do you know about it?"
"I know nothin'," Raph said. It was a truth.
"Really," Xever said, pulling out a switchblade, "I'll try again. What do you know about it?"
"I said, I KNOW NOTHIN'," Raph barked. Xever struck his cheekbone with the handle of the knife.
"It was stolen from us, you Redhead, by a little whore with purple hair," Xever said, "You know each other, huh? You were there in the bar, and you broke my man's arm."
"I've never seen her before the fuckin' night," Raph tried to say it calmly, but the fire were welling up inside his chest. "I'm tellin' ya the truth. You stupid sucker."
Xever grabbed Raph's chin and forced him to meet his eyes. "How do I know if you're telling the truth?"
"You tell me, asshole," Raph spat, "How would I fuckin' know?"
"Guess I'll have to find out the answer myself," Xever said, and then kicked Raph hard in his groin. "Who's with you that night? What's the girl's name? What are you up to? Answer me, or I'll make you suffer."
"I DON'T FUCKIN' KNOW!" Raph roared. The following blows left him falling on the floor again. He could taste blood in his mouth, and his wrists were hurting under the pressure of the knot. And the world started to fade.
A cold splatter startled him and sent him back to reality.
"Such a pussy," he could hear Brad murmuring.
"Hey, kid, ya still there?" Xever's taunting voice asked. Raph opened his eyes.
"You will talk, Redhead," Brad said.
"Why should I," Raph said, "Yer not gonna believe me anyway."
"You liar," Xever said, "The girl and that other dark hair kid are your friends."
"Well, isn't that obvious," Raph said with a sardonic smile, "Yeah I'll just go ahead and sell 'em out."
"Oh, you will," Xever smiled, "You will…Lou," he turned to the quiet guy, "This is getting fun, get the thing ready. Tommy," he called at the bartender as Lou turned to leave, "You ready, buddy?"
Tommy came and knelt down beside Raph. He was a man with long face. Reaching a glass toward Raph's mouth, he smirked, "It's vodka."
"I'm not gonna drink yer shit," Raph said.
"You better," Xever said, "C'mon, someone get the chair back to its feet."
A few seconds later, Raph was sitting rather comfortably—except for the parts that were being tied down, and except for the parts that were hurting—again.
"Drink it," Tommy said again and pushed the glass to his lips.
Raph shook his head.
Xever glanced at the men behind him. And Raph felt someone grabbed his head from behind, and another pair of hands forced his mouth open. The drink burned its way down his throat and the only way he could show his protest was the miserable gargling sounds he was making.
"I was wrong, my friend," Xever said, "Let's change the subject. Let's talk about…ah, Hazel. What do you think?"
Raph coughed and tried to spit. The liquid was inside him, and God knows what that is. It could be poison, or another kind of crazy drug.
"What about her," Raph mumbled.
"Was it your first time?" Xever asked. Some other men laughed nastily.
"No," Raph said.
"Well, did you like her? I bet she's, uh, evil," Xever said. "I bet you just lay there and let her play you."
Brad chuckled, "I bet he's one a' those gentlemen on a bed."
"Go fuck yourself," Raph snarled.
"Hey, what about that purplehead," Xever asked, "Do you fuck with her too?"
"I toldja I DON'T FUCKING KNOW HER!" Raph shouted.
"Whoa," Brad laughed behind Xever, "Little son of a bitch's got some temper, huh."
Little son of a bitch…and they were all laughing. All laughing at him. Standing in a row.
Lou had returned. "The thing is ready, Boss."
"Good," Xever said, "Untie him. Bring him to the back room."
-O-
Brad was on his right; Lou was on his left side.
Xever was leading the way.
The back room was even gloomier than the previous place. Raph could barely see a thing. His body felt sluggish, and it hurt to move. Brad and Lou's hands were hard and brutal on him, hauling him forward with effort.
And then Raph saw it. The thing. The massive thing that stood alone in one corner of the room. They were gonna tie him up, and…and…
"No," he said.
"Yes," Xever said, "Brad, please, tie him up."
"You fucking perverts," Raph hissed, "Yer fucking crazy it's nothin' but a goddam phone an' now you wanna pull some nasty trick on me…I don't even know ONE GODDAM THING!"
"It's not just a phone," Xever said, "It's an important business of ours, kid. And as for the thing…it's just my personal hobby."
"Yer sick," Raph snorted, and he heard noises—the men were gathering in this room, once more.
Brad pulled the rope from his pocket, his eyes glancing down—Just briefly, but enough for Raph to plan an escape—
And Raph reacted to the chance.
He knocked Brad on his nose—that oughtta disable him for a moment, and then turned to Lou, kicking him on his shin. The two biggest guys were down. Raph grabbed Brad's collar.
"IF ANY OF YA COME NEAR ME, JUST A STEP CLOSER, I SWEAR I'M GONNA STRANGLE HIM, STRANGLE HIM, YA HEAR ME?"
His eyes were wide and burning with rage. With rage and power he hadn't known that were inside him.
He kept his eyes on Xever, the head of the gang tonight stood there with a smirk plastered on his face. Fearless. And dangerous.
"You think I care about his life? His stupid life?" Xever asked.
"You scums and lowlifes ya got nothin' ta live for," Raph forced his eyes on Xever, "I'll kill all of ya the first chance I got."
"I don't think you dare," Xever smirked, "My friend."
"Ha…," Brad laughed in Raph's arms, "I don't believe you either, you son of a bitch."
—You son of a bitch. Don'tcha dare cry. You sicken me. Just like yer mother…Raphael, what do you know about distance…Raph, Raph…Would you come home Raph? But I can't…h-help you, … Come on, Raph, don't suddenly pretend like you give a damn, okay?...Rrrrrrraaaaph…
—The man in the mirror snickered.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Raph hollered and pinned Brad on the wall, starting to smash his face with fists. Brad's face was gone, replaced by the face of the man in the mirror. Himself. It became surreal, again. The touch. The flesh. The blood, and oh God, it felt so good…
-O-
He lost it.
He lost it.
It was like he was seeing through a plastic jar. The world was still there, but became unreachable. His vision was twisted; his limbs were out of control.
All he could feel was rage. Rage in him. Rage racing in his body. Rage burning under his skin. No, it wasn't even rage anymore. It was like his frustration wasn't mere frustration anymore. It was similar, but totally different at the same time.
He observed from inside the plastic container—an imaginary restrainer, and what he saw terrified himself. It was a monster…if it were anything, it was a monster. It was inhuman in every aspect. It was a monster with green eyes and red hair and insanity. It was a puppet. It was a…
And the world crumbled into pieces as he ran toward himself, regaining the possession of his own body. Like a broken mirror, he grasped himself tightly, clinging to its core.
"…kiiling…"
"Call someone!..."
"His killing Brad!"
"Get…away…"
"HE'S FUCKIN' MURDERIN' HIM!" A voice shrieked in horror, and Raphael finally stopped his movements altogether.
He looked down—between him and the wall lay Brad, Xever's sidekick, still, pale except for the parts that weren't covered in blood, and lame as a wreck.
"Did he kill him?" a frightened voice gasped.
Raph panted, his whole body shaking with terror. Adrenaline ran through his veins and the world spinning around him was gradually becoming steady.
"See? You're no better than us," Xever's voice whispered behind him.
Like a triumphant chuckle of the Devil.
—End of chapter seven.
-A/N:
I'm so so so intensely occupied right now. But I can't seem to do one goddam thing I oughtta be doing. So, yeah, I came back and tortured Raph. *Sad smirk*
I've had the next chapter planned. But the chapters beyond that are still unknown...I'm getting a little bit nervous on how this would end. It might end quicker than I expected lol.
And Leo...Leo would be an important role.
And oh my gosh I ran off from home the night before last night after a fight with my mom. (Paddled away, actually lol) And truth be told, it felt awful. (You know, after all these 'Raphie runs away from home stuff' I have been writing, ha!) I wanted to go home after the first five minutes, but my stupid pride prevented me from doing that. And I did the stupidest thing ever...I forgot to bring my earphones with me! NEVER RUN AWAY WITHOUT MUSIC! CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE! LOL!
And no worries now I'm home already. (Poor Raph is still wandering out there though...I'll bring him home eventually)
Until next chapter guys! See ya!
