Friends Forever. 7

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He had gotten home an hour ago.

Exhausted from running the tunnels, Raph had retired to his bedroom trying to fetch a dreamless sleep. His dreams were never very pleasant but now they were simply unbearable.

Turning in the hammock, nightmares plagued Raph's mind.

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It was the night of the fire.

But it had changed this time, this time he went to the fire, as it burned and the flames grew higher. The heat searing, the smoke smothering all other senses.

He stood above the building, almost floating in mid air, looking at the scene.

How the building had engulfed its self, taking everything with it. Tearing down the souls and devouring the hearts and minds of the families still inside.

The sky was black with smoke, and a heavy haze was settling.

Looking to the roof, Raph saw a figure.

"Care" Raph murmered. Trying to reach for the girl, he had to save her!

She was coughing, shielding her eyes from the flames. The flames grew closer, teasing at her flesh, ripping away her red scarf.

"Raphie...Raphie help! help me!" She screamed, her voice hoarse from inhaling so much smoke.

"Hold on! I'm coming!" Raph tried to move towards her, yet as fast as he went he was no closer to the girl.

"help me!" She screamed.

"Cara!" Raph was in tears watching as the flames grew closer to her. "Cara, no!"

A gut curdling cry, and she was gone, taken by the blaze of heat, as Raph watched from above unable to do anything.

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Turning over in the hammock, Raph let out a whimper.

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The scene had changed now.

Raphstood with in the fire, watching the girl scream and cry. Her skin burning, bubbling and blistering.

Yet he only stared, wide eyed.

" Why, Raphie? Why didn't you save me?" She whimpered looking up with hollow eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Care..." Raph said, pleading that she understood.

She looked up again. Her cheeks hollowed, her skin burning.

But her eyes hurt him the most. They were so drained, no life to them, a look of death, and emptiness.

"no your not, you're not sorry...you left me here to die!" Cara screamed, standing slightly crouched before running at Raph.

The flames increased around her before she reach him.

She stopped, her body turning to ashes.

"Murderer!" She yelled, voice harsh just before dissipating into thin air as the flames finally engulfedthe building.

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The hammock swayed dangerously, Raph tossed and turned, small grunts escaping him. The shadows played across his skin from the light under his door, but the nightmares continued.

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The scenery changed again.

He was running. Running through the sewers, searching for the right man hole cover.

There!

Grabbing the ladder he climbed, pushed the cover off and hid in the shadows. Once clear he climbed up the building.

It had only just started to burn, he could still make it, still save her.

The building was blackening, and the air was heavy with smoke, grabbing the last railing he got to the roof. He searched for her, no sign. Only the sounds of the groaning building, crackling fire, and a cry.

A cry...

He raced across the building, seeing a small figure curled in a ball.

"Care?" Raph said, voice stern.

She looked up, her eyes wet and her body shook.

"Raphie" She held out her arms. Raph scooped her up running to the edge where the ladder was. The fire was growing now, engulfing the sides. The ladder was clear though, they just had to make it across the roof. He ran, yet the buildings edge grew farther away.

Flames lapped at his feet, burning at his soles. He set Cara down. "run with me" Raph said, receiving a nod, they both ran, but the building groaned and the ground was taken from them.

Raph made it to the other side. But Cara didn't. He turned back his eyes wild, searching. Looking at the hole in the middle of the roof, he saw little tanned fingers. Running to the edge and dropping to his knees Raph looked over to see Cara hanging there.

"help me!" Cara said, her voice panicked

He reached for her hand, as she reached for his. Their fingers touching, just a few more inches...

Another groan and the ground under Raph began to give way, he jumped back barely escaping, but wishing he hadn't as he heard her cry as she disappeared into the sea of red.

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"NO!" Raph yelled, sitting up in his hammock but ending on the floor when the hammock swung to much.

Breathing heavily, Raph looked around his room wildly.

"maybe sleep wasn't the best idea..." Raph whispered to himself, rubbing the heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to rid himself of the images.

He sat there on the floor like that, wishing nothing more then to finally rid himself of the guilt. The guilt of knowing he had done nothing to save her.

"no more sleep, might as well get up." Raph said with a sigh, standing he went for his door, looking one last time he left going for the kitchen.

The lair was fairly quiet, it must have been later then he had thought. Coming to the kitchen he was greeted by three smiling brothers. But that wasn't what caught his attention, no it was the black mass on the table.

"what's this?" Raph questioned, coming fully into the kitchen and crossing his arms.

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Hey guys! well what did you think? oooh next chappie is gonna blow your socks off XD so tell me what you thought of the chapter and the dreams! I would love to know!

Oh in other news, another contest! The reward will be the same, a story request of your choice written by Me!

okay CONTEST ~~ What is my favorite color?...hard one I know, but ya gotta guess people! First person to answer and answer correctly wins! and I'll announce the winner in my next update, so go go go! give your guess, and win a prize! XD

kk R&R plz! Luv ya! Ruth.