The Smell of Apples
Chapter 9
"We all live in a house on fire, no fire department to call; no way out, just the upstairs window to look out of while the fire burns the house down with us trapped, locked in it." ― Tennessee Williams
The tunnels shuddered beneath him, the heat scorching the soles of his feet. Leonardo felt none of this. All he could hear was the scream of his baby brother, torn from him in panic and fear. Kami, he was in that. He was in that blast. Leo just knew it. He stumbled, bracing himself against the sides of the tunnels and cursing the illness that stole his strength more strongly than he had before. He pushed onwards. No stopping. Not even for a moment. Mikey was in trouble, and heaven only knew how long he had to save him. He might even be too late.
Catapulting himself onto the ladders, Leo swung down, feeling the blistering heat rush against his skin. He pushed the dark thoughts aside. He would save his brother. The air down here was dank, filling with humidity and smoke. Leonardo felt the smoke burn his skin and enter his lungs, searing all the way down. He coughed harshly and covered his eyes, scanning the tunnels, the smoke and flames that spoke of no hope for his brother. He ran, time and space losing all meaning. All there was, was the determination to get to his brother. His body protested, begging to falter under the strain of sickness within his skin, but he refused to give it respite. Later. The Ratking would not get his little brother, any of his brothers. The flames would not win.
An instant later, the tunnels became a holocaust. Dousing himself what water he could from the dankness around him, he wrapped his soaked mask around his beak as best he could and, pulling back the crumbling entrance, he threw himself into the flames.
Mikey pulled at the ropes that bound his wrist to the steel panelling behind him. If the rats wanted him, if the flames wanted him, they would have to come and get him. He kept low, bracing himself against the ground, throwing his weight into the panelling. It gave way with a screech of steel on steel, as it disconnected properly, allowing him to throw himself to the floor, into the dank sewerage water, away from the chemicals and processing. He grimaced and spluttered, pulling as far away from the metal as he could, pressing his body into the water. Then the explosion hit.
It was the maw of the devil, the screeches and snarls of hell. Heat. Heat and noise and the terrible trembling. He felt the flames and heat through the water, the barrier behind him, his only protection from this hell. He lowered his head, but gagged as the grey cloud of smoke found its way into his lungs, his eyes. He couldn't see, he couldn't breathe, he could only hear the crumbling tunnels around him
The tunnels seemed to lurch, and Mikey heard a hissing noise as the flames licked at the water around him.
He heard a voice, only a meter or so away. "Mikey!" It was Leo, inside. His heart exploded in relief.
"Leo!" The call left him choking and coughing, lungs begging for air that they couldn't find in this hell. But it had been enough, Leo knew where he was now.
Leo fell to his knees beside him, and attacked the ropes the pinned him, held him in the flames. He cut through the ropes, and pulled them away from him. Grabbing Mikey, he hauled him from beneath the metal, Mikey using all his strength to clamber free. There was nothing but smoke and the brightness of the flames. Mikey saw Leo's form, through stinging eyes, as he crouched in front of him, "Grab onto my shoulders". Leo's voice sounded hoarse, probably from the smoke. Gods, Mikey could barely breathe.
He wrapped his arms around his brother, clinging to him as he pushed himself off his knees. He swayed beneath their weight, but they were up. Standing felt surreal to Mikey, and he gripped his brother for support.
"Shit." It was muttered, beneath his breath, but the sound of hearing Leo swear shook Mikey and his eyes widened despite the stinging smoke. Nothing, and he meant nothing made his big brother swear. Mikey lifted his head and saw it. The tunnels were collapsing, blocking the only entrance they knew, sending down a firewall that they had no hopes of crossing. They were trapped. Leonardo kicked hard at the metal paneling, sparks licking his skin, but there was no give.
They would have to find another way out. And around them, the flames circled like wolves.
A/N: Thank you for all of your inspiring reviews, they always motivate me to update. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading, and if you can spare a moment, please tell me what you think.
