Chapter 10

Thank you very much for the reviews! I really couldn't get enough of them! You all make me so happy! Thanks to yukio87, Guest-kcr, neonninja2012, Total Drama Queen Fortress, and of course, the Guests! I've noticed that fewer are reviewing now, and it kinda makes me sad. Maybe it's because of my long updates. If so, then I don't blame you. I hate myself too.

And Guest, thank you for that wonderful review about that tumblr post. (You know who you are) It really made my day! You planning on letting me sob to death or something? xD

And Total Drama Queen Fortress, I'm so happy that you liked it! I'm pretty sure Don is your favorite character, and you might hate me for making him a victim of those attacks. (Or if you're like me who likes to see their favorite characters getting tortured, then I guess it's okay. :D)

Again thank you, and please review!

PS: This is just a filler chapter, I'm just too busy to make a full-length one. So I apologize in advance!

Raph glared at the offending device in his hands, not entirely sure if he will follow through with his original plan and break it in irritation. While imagining Don's horrified face made him think better of it, what's to prevent him from visualizing its destruction?

He slumped down the kitchen counter, only slightly aware of all the possible germs and dirt clinging to his butt right now, but they live in a freaking SEWER, so it's not really in his first list of priorities.

His gaze landed on Mikey, the weak beam from the flashlight barely illuminating his face, giving it some freaky ass shadows. He still wasn't waking up, and Raph doesn't want to know his reaction when he does. His brother might be traumatized for all he knew.

And now Don might be added in the list of traumatized brothers once Leo finds him. Knowing him, he might be denying all this ghost stuff until the day he dies, or he will face the truth and be left doubting all the science mumbo jumbo facts that he knows.

"Damn, I can't just sit here and wait for Lady-f**king-Luck to shine a light on all of us and miraculously save Don." He growled, glaring hard at the door that was keeping them from the horrors outside. Leo and Don are out there, and here he is, hiding like an overgrown baby with his equally overgrown baby brother. He felt so useless!

"I'll take care of Don, your responsibility now is Mikey. Wait for him to wake up, and protect him."

He knew that! Goddammit, he knew that! But that still doesn't change the fact that he's hiding his sorry ass in here like a coward. He should be out there helping Leo find Don!

"I'm counting on you Raph."

He face-palmed, those words echoing in his head. That wasn't the first time Leo told him that, but it still took effect much greater than he expected. For once in his life, Leo relied on him for something. Granted, that something he would take care of even if Leo didn't tell him, but it's still different. He felt a bit guilty for even thinking of disobeying him this time.

Wait a minute…

Raph slowly raised his head, an idea forming in his mind. Leo never did say he wasn't allowed to go help him look for Don. He just told him to wait for Mikey to wake up and protect him at all costs.

So that means as long as he has Mikey by his side, he can fulfill his job in protecting him as well as help Leo find Don.

That was the best idea he ever had.

Smiling with a newly-found determination, he eagerly stood guard beside Mikey, his body already trembling with anticipation as he waited for him to wake up.

Just you wait Don, I promise I'll come and find you.

Leo's head suddenly snapped up, a feeling like someone just figured something out passing through his mind.

Huh. Raph probably got his hidden message. He doesn't want to admit it, but he doesn't know these ghosts, nor the whole mansion. It's gonna be hard searching for Don here. Especially if those so-called ghosts kept teleporting him to who knows where. Unlikely, but possible. He needed all the help he can get, and he knows Raph is more than capable of protecting Mikey while he looks for Don.

It frustrates him that he can't do anything but run around, opening doors, checking for clues around, and occasionally finding a very creepy room that brings shivers up his spine… (Like that shrineSLASHchapel room earlier. He's never gonna look at religious statues the same way ever again.) The hallways are full of paintings, none of them ripped up, but everything with damn scary faces to make up for the loss. He frequently gets the feeling that they're watching him, and with everything that's happened earlier, that's not at all impossible.

Besides, those same paintings, judging by his investigations, are the very same ones that got Don.

Since Leo still has common sense left, he didn't try to attack those paintings. God knows what he might unleash next. Besides, he's not gonna try and leave Raph and Mikey alone in here even for a second.

Leo ran past another door, and hurriedly backtracked and opened it. To his slight surprise, the door didn't budge. He frowned and twisted the knob.

It's locked.

This is the first room he encountered that has a locked door. What does that mean?

He could try to pick the lock, but then what could he find here? Another creepy as hell room? Or a normal room? Maybe even the place where Donnie is? Or another malicious ghost in hiding?

Sweat beaded his brow as he decided on what to do. Raph can't help him. Knowing his luck, he might even lead him to the wrong choice. Mikey is good at lucky guesses, but he's currently out of commission. Don might know what to do, but he's the one missing.

Leo wasn't concerned for his own safety. In fact, he was concerned that once he's gone, the ghosts might come after Raph and Mikey next, and he wouldn't be there to protect them.

What to do… what to do…

To help make his choice, he decided to press his ear against the door. Honestly, he didn't know what he might hear, but any clues as to what's inside would be nice.

At first there's nothing, and Leo silently breathed a sigh of relief. But then all of a sudden, there was a whimper.

Leo instantly froze, his hand still resting on the door knob.

What was that?

He pressed his ear closer, and this time, he heard more whimpers and a hiss of pain.

Was that… Don?

But what if it isn't? What if it's another ghost, fooling him. He hates to jinx it, but it can't be that easy.

But what if it is him? Your little brother is injured, and if you leave now, and he is the one behind that door, you've already lost your chance in rescuing him.

'Guess that makes me a coward then.' Leo gritted his teeth.

What to do… what to do…?

He stood there rigidly, contemplating his problem. The whimpers continued, albeit less and more silently.

What to do… what to do…?

He thought of calling Raph, at least to let him know what's happening. But the T-Pad's already lost one battery bar. What if it completely drains?

What to do… what to do…?

Screw it, he's gonna call them. He hurriedly pushed the red button and waited, still facing the door. At last, the screen buzzed and Raph's face appeared, looking expectant and oddly enough, determined.

"Well? Did you find Don?"

"I… actually, I think I did. But I'm still not sure. I'm guessing he's behind this locked door, but I don't know if it's him, or another ghost luring me into a trap. There are whimpers of pain Raph, and we both know Don has injuries."

"Well knowing you, you've already got something in that fearless brain of yours. Spit it out."

"I'm gonna check it out." He decided.

"It's too easy though." Raph frowned. "I mean, they went through all the trouble to kidnap him, but he's just behind a super obvious locked door?"

"But maybe that's what they want us to think. It's too easy, so we might just pass ahead without a backward glance. But I'm gonna do it Raph." He glared determinedly at his eyes. "Don can be anywhere. I won't pass up this opportunity."

Raph grinned at him. "Whatever you say Leo, just promise me that if you see one of those dumbasses, you'll beat the f**k out of them so hard, they'll feel like they died all over again and went through hell."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Leo grinned, adrenaline and anticipation already coursing through his veins.

He unlocked the door.