Noose

Chapter 10

He was crying at the table. His head tucked between his elbows, his hands clutched together as the tears pooled on the wood. Throat constricting trying to keep each and every sob trapped in his body as the news filtered in from the front room television. The article repeating itself;

"Charles Barber was arrested today for the murder of James Nathan Smith, Samantha Ranchesit, and his own sister Katherin Barber. The method of which was to take a seriated blade, such as a steak knife, and cut into the back in two sepearte places and let his victims bleed to death. Police found a collection of poloriod pictures of each victim in his home... This just in, there is now a fourth victim. Kally Savage, who was moved to the New York State hospital only two weeks ago. Kally Savage was a renowned Historian who taught at the local community college... a memorial service is scheduled for nex-"

Raphael let the remote fall from his hands. His chest hurt. He didn't know Kally all that well, she had been a good person though. She was willing to laugh and listen, she gave good advice and made him feel welcome for the few hours he had spoke with her. And if he felt this bad then... Auburn eyes looked to Leonardo who's shoulders shook, in his clutched palms was the note that was left for him when he had come to the apartment two weeks ago.

"Leo?" the younger reached out, coming short when a sob ripping from the grieving turtle.

"I-It's all my fault, Raph."

Emerald green lips frowned, "What?"

"I-" he sucked in a sharp sip of air, a sob shaking his body as fresh hot tears streaked down his cheeks. He was alone in his cage now. Kally was gone, his best friend taken away because he found the false security of sympathy. Now he would never know what made her just like him, he wouldn't know what she could teach him. He would never hear her voice again, he would never exchange soft banter or share calm smiles. She was gone.

"I- should have looked into the attack. I-I should have looked for her and not think everything was okay because of some stupid note. I should have been there for her!!"

"And how the hell does that make her death your fault?!" Raph's palms slammed against the wood of the table, shaking the sugar bowl that sat upon the surface. This was ridiculous!

The sound of the chair scraping across the floor was empty as Leo shot up to his feet, hands fisted and pressed against the table, head bowed as he refused to look his brother in the eyes, "Because if I looked into it then she wouldn't be dead!!"

"How do you know? Huh?! Just how the shell do you know that?! Leo, look at yourself. Do you really think Kally would have wanted you to go around and blame yourself for her death?"

"Don't you talk about her like you knew her!!" Leo's eyes were red, voice tight from crying.

"I knew her well enough!" Raph felt like his heart was being torn out, "Seriously, Leo... Don't do this."

"Don't do what?" He turned and stormed off into Kally's room, shutting the door with a slam. He was angry, depressed, grief stricken, deprived of a friend. He didn't know what to think, but he knew that he shouldn't be taking it out on Raph, he was only trying to help after all. He grabbed a pillow off of the bed, hugged it to his chest and sat down. If he just spent some time alone, if he could just think, maybe -just maybe- it wouldn't hurt so much.

He was wrong, everything he touched, everything he looked at and smelled. It was hers, all hers. As his tawny gaze grazed over every nick-nack, every trinket and object lifeless as she was now. No breath, no sight, no warmth.

Leo dropped the pillow and rubbed at his arm trying to get his blood to warm once more.

"God you're a silly thing."

"No I'm not," he was trembling.

"Generally when someone screams in pain the person nursing them stops!"

"But you're not here to make it stop," he covered his face with his hands.

"…at least give me enough time to know you…"

He shook his head, hand coming out grabbing the desk lamp from the end table and throwing it across the room. It broke against the wall, the pieces littering the floor.

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Raphael placed his hand on the door, feeling the wooden grain under his palm as he looked at the seems of the frame as if they held a clue for him to reach his brother. His throat tightened when he heard Leo silent cries coming from the other side. He rested his forehead against the door, squeezing his eyes shut trying to push out the pain in his own heart. The pain wasn't for Kally, and that alone made his stomach knot, but it was for Leo. Leo was taking this hard, he was having a break down, and from the sounds of breakable things being thrown around from inside he was doing a damn good job of venting. If he opened the door... could he get Leo to stop? Could he get him back to being the boy who was only afraid of the world? If he stayed here, could Leo become strong once more after getting all of this out?

Tears burned at his eyes, trailing down his beak and dripping to the floor, "Leo..."

"You weren't supposed to leave me!" he could hear his brother's voice scream as something heavy hit the side of the wall causing Raph to screw his eyes shut.

"You were supposed to stay!" Something thick broke, something wooden. "Stay and help me..."

An emerald chin clenched as something else broke against the wall. "Kally..." he took a deep breath, both hands pressed against the door. "Don't leave him like this... not broken like this..."

And he, Raphael himself, found his lips whispering a prayer when before in all of his life he had never prayed before.

To Be Continued…