You know, originally I had intended this story to be very light and happy-go-lucky, and then after the second chapter it got real dark, real fast, so finally we have a happy chapter! Yay! Review please! Thanks to all my readers out there!
-Leah by Michelangelo
Ch. 11-Battling the darkness
I was surrounded by darkness. Endless darkness in every direction as far as the eye could see. This is weird. I feel like I'm floating. Am I…dead?! No! I can't be! No. I will not accept that. Never in a million years. I'm not afraid of dying, but I don't want to see my family get hurt. If I'm not there to protect them then…oh no, Mona! Shredder! The battle! My brothers, Sensei. They need me. I have to get back! I plunged headfirst into the darkness, fighting my way forward through the thick shadowy abyss. I've got to get home!
It had been almost forty-eight hours since Raphael was stabbed. I sat next to him, holding one of his hands in mine. "I love you Raph." I whispered into his ear. A hand gripped my shoulder gently and I jumped turning around. Leonardo and Master Splinter were standing behind me.
Leo stepped closer and looked down at me, gently pushing my bangs out of my face so that he stare directly into my eyes. "Mona Lisa, please. You need to rest. You haven't slept in over twenty four hours. Raph wouldn't want you to do this. You know that. Please." His dark blue eyes begged me to obey, but I turned away stubbornly.
Master Splinter put a four-fingered paw on my shoulder. "Mona Lisa, if you do not agree to rest voluntarily we will proceed to Donatello render you unconscious. You cannot to continue to abuse your health, my child."
"Master Splinter I know you are concerned, I understand. But I won't leave him." I said, my eyes shining with determination, despite my exhaustion. "I love him."
The rat nodded gravely. "Then lay down beside him." I must have looked rather surprised because he continued, "At this point all that matters is that you maintain your health, young one."
I nodded in understanding. Then I slowly proceeded to climb up onto the oversized lab table, wrapping my arms around Raphael, resting my head on the corner of his plastron. The rat-master and his eldest son left quietly, and I was alone in the lab.
Tears rolled down my face silently as small sobs racked my frame. I clung desperately to the red-masked turtle in pure and utter heartbreak. Oh Raph, why haven't you come back to me? I love you! Please don't die. I need you. I need you. It's been so long…you have to get through this, Raph. Please. No one but you can melt the cold frost that has encapsulated what once was my heart. I sobbed. Nothing could compare to Raphael. The fire was gone. My fire had gone out, and he had taken with it all the warmth from my heart.
It wasn't long before I'd cried myself into an exhausted and fitful slumber.
I fought my way through the darkness, whatever this strange nebulous force was it was definitely trying to keep me in here. I won't be able to keep up the resistance much longer, I can already feel myself slipping…what was that? Is that…Mona! She's crying! No. What's going on? What's happening? I have to get back. I pushed forward even more and suddenly I hit a wall-like structure. I screamed in frustration and rammed into it with all the force I could muster. I knew exactly what was on the other side and I wanted out.
I backed up and ran into the hard structure once more, this time it grudgingly gave. Slowly I began to feel my body, I could feel the table beneath my fingers, and the warm arms wrapped around me. I opened my eyes slowly and laboriously, finally awake. Man, I feel like I've slept for half a year. I began to push myself up slightly, but a sharp pain in my side made me fall back down against the table. Well, I certainly won't be going anywhere soon. I turned my head so that I could just make out the head of dark brown hair currently resting against my shoulder, her arms wrapped around me as though she were afraid I'd fly off and leave her at any moment. That probably is what she thought…I realized grimly. Even I have to admit: that was a close one. There was a light groan and Mona Lisa stirred. I lifted my hand as best I could and weakly stroked the side of her face.
Chocolate brown eyes slowly fluttered open. Her eyes opened a little, and closed again. Then she shot up, bumping my arm and I grunted. "Sorry" she muttered, still sounding slightly in awe. "Raph." Her voice was filled with a sense of wonder and relief. "Thank goodness." Mona threw her arms around my neck and snuggled into my chest. I put a hand on the small of her back and rubbed from side to side with my thumb. She smiled endearingly at me, before turning serious. "You need to rest. I'll leave you alone."
"No." I said, a little too eagerly. "Please Mona. Stay?"
She nodded and rolled off my plastron and put her head next to mine, kissing my cheek. "Goodnight, Raph."
"Be here when I wake up?"
She grinned ear-to-ear, "Anything for you."
"I love you." I whispered.
I fell asleep with a smile on my face as I heard the quiet reply: "I love you too."
