YUS! IT IS UP! Hope you all are excited! *crickets* well... fine then.
I don't get many reviews, seeing how many watch and favorite this, I'D EXPECT A LOT OF COMMENTS BUT UUURG GUESS NOT. Please, please comment. LONG reviews are the best, as always! anyway, read on and be happy!
Chapter 10
Michelangleo's POV
I payed my respects, and I continued on with what I did best, trying my best to bury it down. Luckily making sure Leo, Raph, and Donnie past their test was heavy on my mind and distracted me from my internal pain. Sometimes the pain would flair up, and make me flinch, but I then remembered to do what I did best. Being a good mentor and combator.
But soon enough the day had come. The first day of the Grand Soiree was here. I shuddered when I awoke. I didn't want to lose them.
You won't.
I argued with myself. I rose and geared up.
"Raph, wake up." He groaned and waved me off. Some things never change. "C'mon, it's Apportion day." His eyes snapped open, and he looked to me in panic.
"Is it?"
"yeah, C'mon, go wake up Donnie." I urged him, Shaking Leo awake.
"C'mon Leonardo."
"Hmm... today?"
"Yeah, it's Apportion Day." I nodded,
"Oh boy," Leo breathed, I internally agreed. It was a big step.
"C'mon guys, bring your wits and nothing else." I sighed, Apportion day was always dark. I pulled my cape on, then the black hood from my cape. It was a sign of respect for a mentor to wear a hood while their apprentices go through what they need to.
We exited our room, everyone bowed their heads at us while we passed, purposely avoiding their eyes. It's an old Lodging Legend to never look an apprentice in the eye on their Apportion Day. With the exception of the mentor and the Chief.
We walked through the twisted halls, and finally got to the door. I breathed a deep sigh, and bid them good luck. I didn't risk a hug, heaven forbid I got emotional.
"Backs straight. Never show fear." I repeated what Rollo said to me before my Test of Membership started. And I pushed open the heavy double doors. I strode in, proudly, hoping my brothers felt as confident as I pretended to be.
Raphael's POV
Sure I was a bit scared... okay, more than a bit, but that's beside the point!
It was a formal arena, what looked like the entire Lodging was gathered in the leather seats provided. No one looked us in the eyes, as we passed the mutants dropped their gaze to the ground, but I felt them staring us in the back.
"You all will be given a serum that will cause you to hallucinate," Mikey began to explain as we continued to walk down towards the center of the surrounding field.
"Only the scientists and the Chief are allowed to see what you guys are seeing. Everyone else will just see you fighting with nothing." We neared closer to the center, and I could see it was caged. Obviously so no mutants could interfere, or us hurt someone in the crowd.
"Your reactions will be recorded, and broken down into a series of numbers, and that serial outcome will match your new job. If you make too many mistakes, you will be disposed of. But I'm sure you'll be fine. Just bare in mind your priorities, morals, and above all," Mikey turned to face us "your sanity."
He looked us all dead in the eye with pure seriousness, before turning and continuing. "Too many mutants have actually killed themselves because of this. And many of them started to lose all sense of reality, blurring what is real and what isn't. Please keep in mind that everything you see, isn't real. okay? It's all fake. It dives deep into the dark recesses of your mind, the twisted fears you didn't even know you had."
We made it to the center, the Chief was standing there dressed in a strange outfit which both heightened her authority like her broad shoulders, and her more feminine features, like her curves. It was a formal attire, obviously only worn for this event only.
"Welcome Apprentices. This is a vial test of membership. Do you wish to continue, or leave?" Leo, Donnie and I stood shoulder to shoulder,
"I Leonardo, speak for us all. We choose to stay." The Chief nodded,
"Raphael, Donatello, do you accept this statement?"
"Yes." we both agreed. She again nodded, keeping her facial featured dead-pan.
"Raise your right hand, and your left to your throat." she commanded, and we followed. Mikey explained previously, that this was the sign of a Death Oath. Meaning if broken, you will be hunted down and killed.
"Do you promise to uphold the laws and codes of the lodging, to forget your past, and all whom may be a part of it?"
"I do." we coursed,
"And do you promise to protect and defend your home, for the cost of your life, loved ones, or otherwise?"
"I do." we again agreed. she nodded once more. She stood parallel to Mikey, both with their back's straight and arms clasped behind their backs. Three scientists walked between them, Harrieta, then a large Lizard mutant whom they met previously named Nightshade, and lastly a dachshund with a glass eye.
Each held a red velvet case in both hands/paws. They walked between the chief and lead combator, and each opened the case taking out a long needle. Inside a black liquid.
They injected it into our wrists, and they left.
"I bid you good luck," the chief regarded and turned to walk out, Mikey following behind her, without so much a glance.
I felt my vision blur, everything seemed to become warped and strange, last thing I saw was the cage door banging shut, and a wall coming from the ground to separate me from my brothers. The test had begun.
The stuff they injected into me was fast acting. I swooned, and held my stomach. I felt sick, and all my insides turned upside down. I shuddered, shaking my head. the cheering in the crowd was too loud, I felt like everything was spinning. I tried swallowing, but I felt as if I completely forgot how to. With an uncomfortable groan, I rejected last night's dinner, no wonder Mikey refused to let us eat this morning.
I couldn't help but dry heave for a few seconds. before I completely stood up.
"I-Is that it? A little sickness? I can handle the flu." I muttered,
"Raphael." I looked towards the voice, I stood there speechless,
"Karai?"
"What are you doing here?" she asked, "Why did you leave me?"
"I... but..." I choked, she died, I killed her after she took down Casey...
"I don't understand."
"Of coarse you don't" She seemed to grow taller, abnormally thin, her eyes remained trained on me, till she was about nine feet tall, her eyes fell back into her head, leaving empty sockets there, her jaw seemed to drop down way lower than humanly possible, razor sharp teeth prodded from her jaw.
"Raphael" it hissed, thick, black liquid pouring from it's eye sockets and mouth. I tried to move back, but I was frozen.
I shakily tried to pull out my sais, but my sais turned into slimy black eels that constricted around my wrists and shell, shocking me whenever they saw fit. I was horrified.
I couldn't move, I couldn't change my situation. It was one thing being attacked, it was another to be helpless. I couldn't even struggle. As the only person I had ever killed had came towards me. She had returned from the grave to murder me, to drag me back from wherever she had come.
What scared me was the pain. The absolute horrifying pain that I couldn't escape. This wasn't what I thought it was. This wasn't a hallucination. This was real.
The pain, the feelings, the horror. This wasn't a serum. The monster of this girl had come back for me. I couldn't handle the shocking electricity, I couldn't handle this. I shut my eyes as tight as possible, tears streamed down my face. no matter how horrifying, I'd never cry out. I'd never beg for help. But I remained there, choking, sobbing, scared, shaking, and weak.
Chief's POV
"What do you think?" Nightshade looked up to me as I observed from a soundproof room.
"they have some twisted nightmares." I commented, "The fact that Raphael has yet to cry out is interesting, I'd say 7,056 for Blue."
"Well, he's sobbing, I'll dock 37 points for it,"
"Mmm hmm... He's trying to fight them still... so, 870 bonus?"
"Between the horror, shocking, and now at this point..." the dark Lizard looked to one of the monitors, "the biting, I'd suggest a 1,006."
"uh uh, level three psychology is being used." Harrieta pointed out, "very powerful thing. I say 2,893."
"Seems fair, lets check upon the younger." I nodded, as Nightcore input the specific numbers into the machine, and Harrieta tuned into Donatello's brainwaves.
Donatello's POV
Things got incredibly horrifying incredibly quick. I tried to focus on the fact that none of it was real, but the pain was real. It was 100% real.
These things played with my mind, they made sure to be as unpredictable as possible. I was stuck in a room with no windows or doors. it was grated all around, and behind every inch of those grates, were tubes. The tubes shot out fire at an alarming speed. Sometimes they would let out a small stream of smoke before letting loose fire, other times the smoke would be a fluke and nothing would happen, and other times the fire would shoot out without warning.
I was panting, the air was hard to breath, I couldn't think, I was gasping for breath.
My skin was burned and charred in many places, my own saliva formed into dust on my tongue. I coughed, and looked around hurriedly for an exit.
There must be something. No puzzle is made without an escape.
Is it really a puzzle though?
"what?" I yipped,
Is this not real? Can you not feel the burns? Smell the smoke? Is your skin not blackened and burned?
"But... this is a hallucination!"
Is it?
"it is..." the fire roared around me, making me sweat even more, light flames licking at my form, whenever given the chance.
Then why is it not over yet? they inserted only a little bit into your blood-stream. It should be over.
"I don't understand!" I demanded,
You created this in your head.
"no! I couldn't have!" I screamed at the voice in my head.
The entire Lodging was a cover-up. And why not? You were horrified when you found out Michelangelo died. He's was your only company, you know how alone you've been for all those years. April moving away, Casey biting the dust the second you two stroked up a friendship. Splinter meeting his demise, and who to take it out on? the Shredder is dead as well.
"Stop." I begged, trying to keep my head together to dodge the fire.
Leonardo was reserved, he worked himself constantly, he never had time for you.
"Shut up!" I screamed to it,
And Raphael, please, as if he had ever wanted you around, you could never fill the void.
"GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!" I screeched on the top of my already scorched lungs, as more fire erupted under my feet.
This is your punishment. You'll never be good enough. You never could.
Chief's POV
"fire chamber? I think I read something like that in a novel once," I wondered out loud, grimacing.
"Hm, I think you may have pushed the psychology angle a bit much, Hairreta. Level 37 psychology is rough. Mind toning it down?" Nightshade, looked uncertainty to the French mongoose.
"Non! Ve are getting much information! It be good."
"Hm," I thought to myself, "I think it's good we're getting info, but I don't want to hurt him long term, so, we'll work with what we have, and dial it back a level in 20 minutes."
"Alright, so, obviously he's struggling without his ability to think straight, so 8,903 for the green section. Seem fair?"
"More," Nightshade shook his head, "I still think all that mental abuse is a bit much, I mean the fire was harsh enough, being so unpredictable and tough."
"I say, 2,987 point bonus." Harrieta chirped.
"Good." I nodded, "and again, let's dial back the psychology. I don't want to hurt him. This test is so we can see how far our Lodgers can bend, but don't break."
Both the scientists we're preoccupied, so the chief dialed it down herself. but what she didn't know was that she didn't dial down the psychology, she lowered the oxygen simulation. At this point, Donatello could barely breath.
"Alright, let's check upon the eldest, grade him, then we can call it quits." I nodded, the scientists adjusted the monitors and took down the scoring. I clicked for the medics on my watch,
"Come in Shaviar." I ordered,
"Shaviar in." The Hawk mutant answered.
"prepare three beds for the new members. They may be dealing with psychological damage, night terrors, and panic attacks."
"will do chief." The lead medic nodded.
"Chief, Leonardo's testing is up." Harrieta chimed.
"Alright, what horrors are lurking in his mind?" I mumbled, anxious to get this over-with.
Leonardo's POV
I tried to keep my head, but I couldn't ignore the screams. The begging tortured voices of my friends, begging for me.
Casey, April, and my brothers. All begging for help, while I try to battle through some type of Fog. It came around me in blotches, it stung me badly, attacked my nerves and forced me away.
I was uncomfortably twitching everywhere due to it. The uncontrollable spasms seemed to rip my muscles apart. Tears stung my eyes in desperation more than pain. not to mention, the fog seemed to be acidic, I was in a forest of repeating trees. Literally. The same scenery everywhere I run, showing that I'm no closer to my family.
I'd occasionally get close enough to them, then I'd be rounded away.
I screamed in frustration as my legs stopped supporting me. I tried dragging myself, I got nowhere.
"nononono..." I choked on the fog going down my throat, burning it. I let out a rasped, raw, scream that seemed to rip my vocal cords to shreds.
I couldn't fail them. I couldn't!
I pushed up on my hands into a shaky handstand and started to again go towards the voices of my family and friends.
"I'll go on till my arms are dead!" I screamed out to however would hear me, letting them know they would never win, I'd come after them. I didn't care how many circles I had to complete around this jungle. My voice sounded raw and unlike my own.
"I'll never give in!" I screamed again, my fierce brotherly instincts taking into effect, I felt weak, my arms ached like I had never known. Tears still continued to blur my vision, and the fog stung like I had never known.
Chief's POV
"He's doing good. Too good." I mumbled,
"Shall we up the acidic simulation, or lower his muscle tolerance?" Harrieta asked, fixing her glasses.
"Add a bit of psychological quips, try to get him to give in... Also, make his legs spasm at random, and attack the nerve points in his arms."
"That's quite a lot, Chief." Harrieta admitted, while Nightshade pulled up Leonardo's brainwave chart, noting the distress signals, then starting to simulate the spasms.
"Are you sure, Chief?" Nightshade asked before go full throttle on the psychological attacks.
"Yes, I wanna to see how far I can push him. He didn't really strike me as the type to hold out this long, but, maybe I was wrong about him." I narrowed my eyes, looking to the monitor.
Harrieta's POV
I haven't seen the Chief so interested. As the lead Scientist here, and my second in command Nightshade have been with the Chief on every Apportion Day since she has turned Chief.
Makenna was my closest friend, despite coming from the Combator sector, she and I had history. But now as she reigns as Chief, she hardly has enough time to spend with friends. Which I understand, but I do miss her company. She's the one who taught me English when I first came here, she actually came from a French speaking family, but her English accent was flawless, and no one could have ever thought her anything other than an American.
She's done plenty of tests of Membership before, so have I. But she's never been so brutal to a member. Except Rainier, Michelangelo, and seldom any others. But that means one thing- She wants him as a part of her counsel. A close knit group of people containing only Advanced rankings. The Previous chief- Kipto, he was harsh on my test as well, and now I'm a part of the counsel.
"Chief, vhat position are you eyeing him for?" I asked, while simulating the horrors she requested. She was leaning forward, staring intensely. "Kindle is an old Sniper, yes, but he still has a long life to live. He von't be coming into retirement for a long time." I added, refuring to the current lead Sniper.
"Soyez encore, vieil ami. Je ai un plan." She murmured. "All things will fall into place if he's right."
"For vhat?" I asked, flinching when Leonardo howled from the abuse, hoping I didn't look too begging.
"Wait and be still. If things are right, you shall see. I just hope my decision doesn't stir the already wavering waters."
"You have much on your mind," I commented, "Iz dere anyzing I can do?" She sighed, turning of the the monitor and pressing the release button to bring them out of their hallucinations. "Render me handicapped." she dead-panned, and walked out of the room to watch the medics rush in and stabilize them. Sure they may not have been hurting them psychically, but mentally the pain was there, and it would remain.
Nightshade stayed out of our business, tending to the numbers and sorting them accordingly.
"Don't worry Harrieta. The Chief knows what she's doing. She's carried us this far, after all."
"Oui." I agreed, tugging at my labcoat.
Michelangelo's POV
I wanted to leave, so badly I wanted to leave. But I couldn't for their sakes. So I stayed, listening to them, watching them fight with whatever horrors plagued their minds. What worried me was the fact that Donnie was struggling to breathe, Raph in so much pain, and Leo, jeez, I have no idea what he was going through, but it looked painful beyond recognition.
Everyone in the stadium was holding their breath, or gasping. we were a family, obviously no one enjoyed seeing the newer members hurt. I knew of a few mutants who completely refused to come at all.
So when the horn sounded, everyone cheered. That meant it was over! I let out a large breath of relief, and my brothers collapsed to the ground. I was already rushing down, medics ahead of me.
Shaviar, a golden hawk stopped me. She's the one who removed the bullet from my arm all those years ago. She was the wife of my roommate; Steven, (whom still had fleas. They were mutant fleas. Mutant fleas took forever to get rid of) Her blue headband had a silver crest on the side, marking her as lead Medic.
"stay back Michelangelo, You will be called to visit when they're stabilized."
"W-what?! Why?!" I demanded,
"Because, The psychological damaged is dangerous to deal with. they need special care. Now excuse me," She spread her wings, and circled around the commotion, firmly calling orders as they were taken to the medic sector.
I mean, I always knew that happened, but I didn't know it was so serious that I wasn't able to see them!
I internally groaned, why did I have to deal with this right now? I already feel sick, I hope it's not my instincts telling me one of them didn't make it. I shuddered, I severely hope it's not that.
ATTENTION! THE CHIEF IS NOT HEARTLESS!
I know this kinda made her seem very cruel and heartless, but, she's been dealing with this for years, okay? YEEEARRRSssss. And she still does feel bad, but over the years has become numb to it, a bit. don't forget, her test was probably just as harsh, or maybe more.
okay, I actually meant to have more for the chapter, but, Apportion day kinda took up EVERYTHING, so, more stuffage to come next chapter, I'm on a roll!
and hey, you've read this far, might as well comment!