Raphael packed his things into a shoulder bag, sobbing as he did so. How could I have done that ta Leo? What if I killed him? I don't belong here. I'm better off elsewhere. All I do is hurt people. I'm a worthless piece of shit. Leo was right. I'm reckless and I can't control my temper and I endanger those I love. And Amanda? How could I have been so stupid? Raphael found her photo on his bed. Don or Mikey must have put it here. He glared at it. Then he heaved a sigh and carefully placed it into the bag. Despite everything, I still love her. I always will, but I'm gonna leave like Dad said. It's the best thing for everyone. I hope Leo treats Amanda right. Who am I kiddin'? He's gonna be the best boyfriend and they're probably gonna get married. Raphael's heart sank at the thought. And I'm never gonna see her again. Raphael smashed his turtle bank on the desk and quickly counted the money. Two hundred dollars. That'll sustain me for maybe a month if I eat sparingly. He finished packing and quickly penned a note. "Don, I'm gonna miss ya, Brainiac. Keep creatin' and don't let anyone crush yer spirit. Yer cool just the way ya are. I love ya."
Raphael wrote another quick message. "Mikey, yer just the greatest little brother. I'm gonna miss yer pranks and our gamin' together. Look after Don and don't let anyone tell ya that ya ain't important ta the team. Ya are just as much as the others are. Love ya."
Raphael sucked in a deep breath and wrote another short message. "Leonardo, if ya made it, well ya won. Be good to Amanda or I'll come and kick yer ass. That's a promise. Ya got what ya wanted, but at a cost. Ya drove me from the family. Ya happy now, ya bastard? I bet ya are. Whatever. I don't give a shit 'bout ya and what ya think anymore. Ya and me are done forever." Raphael grabbed another piece of paper and wrote, "Amanda, ya picked Leonardo and maybe he's better for ya. He's smart, loyal, kind and he'll be a great boyfriend. Better than me. I'm a reckless hothead, who only seems ta hurt people. Ya deserve better. Someone who'll make ya smile and who'll love ya until the end of yer days. I hoped I could be that guy, but clearly I'm not. Be happy. Fearless is about as excitin' as a block of wood, but maybe ya can change him. I'll remember the short time I knew ya fondly and I'll always love ya with every beat of my heart. I'll think about ya and what could have been, but maybe I'll meet someone else someday, who'll love me for me. A guy can dream, right? Stay safe and if ya and Leonardo have kids someday, tell them 'bout their Uncle Raph if ya can be bothered and that he had some good qualities too. I do have them, don't I? I can't be all bad? But…I'm ramblin'. I gotta go. I'll…"Tears dripped onto the paper. Raphael choked back a sob and wrote, "Be safe, princess, Love, Raphael xx." He folded the letter carefully, placed it into an envelope, wrote her name on it and sighed. He stood up, gazed around his room one last time and quietly headed to the lair's exit.
Amanda was on the couch in the lounge. The TV was on, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Poor Raphael, she thought. I'm such a horrible person. I've divided this family. It's best I leave. I will when I get news about Leo. I should…Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Raphael and his shoulder bag. "Raphael," she said, standing up. "I'm…"
"Don't come closer," Raphael warned. "I hoped I'd see ya ta give ya this." Handing her the envelope, he said, "Ya picked my brother. I don't understand it, but what can I do? I quit. Ya can have him."
"Raphael, I never meant to hurt you."
He cut her off. "Don't. I'm goin' and I hope ya will be happy. That's all I ever wanted for ya. Ta see ya happy and loved."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"No."
"But how will you survive? Do you have money? I can give…"
"I can take care of myself. Goodbye, Amanda."
"Where will you go?"
"Ain't decided. Maybe Mexico, maybe Hawaii. Who knows?" He made to leave, but Amanda stopped him.
"Wait. I want to tell you something."
"No. Goodbye, Amanda.
Raphael walked out of the lair, without a backward glance, trying not to cry. Saying goodbye to her, knowing he'd never see the woman he still adored, had broken him. He walked for a long time. Then he sat down, hung his head in his hands and wept. For Amanda, for his destroyed family. I ain't got a family, he reminded himself. I'm all alone. I ain't got nothin'. Better this way. This is how it's supposed ta be, so I don't hurt anyone. Raphael pulled her photo out, kissed it, stuffed it back in the bag and continued walking. He found one of his secret hideaways he used when he wanted to be alone, and entered it, setting the bag on the daybed. Crawling into it, Raphael took out Amanda's photo and hugged it to his chest as he bawled. He cried unashamedly, until worn out, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Later that day, Raphael glanced at the digital clock on the bed which read eight p.m. I must have slept all day. He tenderly placed the photo back into the bag, got out a bottle of water from the cupboard and a bag of crisps. When he'd finished his snack, Raphael put the bottle of water in the bag and stood up. Maybe I'll head down ta Cali. The weather's always beautiful there. That'll be a great new start. Raphael continued his journey and tried not to think about the life he was leaving behind.
Meanwhile, Mona Lisa was at an abandoned warehouse, having been kidnapped by Hun. "Let me go," she said. "And I'll deliver you someone you want."
"Who?" Hun asked, his knife mere centimetres from her carotid artery.
"Raphael."
"But I thought you two were an item? Or you were the last time I kidnapped you guys."
"Not anymore. He discarded me like a piece of trash for some bimbo and I want him to pay for that. So, what do you say?"
"How do I know you aren't lying?"
"You can call him using my cell. He'll come rescue me and then boom. You have him."
"Fine, but you better not be lying."
Hun dialled Raphael's number and said, "Reptile, you listening?"
"Hun," Raphael said venomously. "What the hell ya want? And how'd ya get Mona's cell?"
"Got your lady friend, Mona Lisa here."
"Raphie!" Mona Lisa shrieked. "Help me!"
"Ya touch her and I'll kill ya," Raphael snarled.
"I'm at an abandoned warehouse at 77 Perry Street," Hun said. "You have twenty minutes or she dies."
The line went dead. Shit, Raphael thought. Mona and I ain't friends anymore, but I can't leave her with Hun. He'll kill her. I gotta save her.
Raphael hurried to the agreed rendezvous. When he arrived, he cautiously went inside, took out his weapons from his obi, and said, "Mona? Hun?" It was dark, but his eyes soon adjusted and gazed around the room. No sign of them, he thought. Odd. Suddenly something hit him from behind and landed on his left arm. A fuckin' dart, he thought, pulling it out and hissing in anger. "Where the hell are ya, Hun? Mona?"
"Right here," Mona Lisa said sweetly, stepping out from behind a crate, Hun standing next to her. "Bye, Raphie. Enjoy your new life."
"What the fuck?" Raphael said, glaring at them. "Ya ain't in trouble. It was a trap. Ya two set me up."
"Such a smart reptile," Hun said sarcastically. "And the tranquiliser is going to work right about now. It's
Raphael's legs started to wobble and his vision clouded. Struggling to stand, Raphael collapsed on the ground, dropping the shoulder bag. Still determined, he tried to sit up, but he was unable to and fell back onto the ground with a thud, his eyes slamming shut.
"There you go," Mona Lisa said. "You going to let me go now?"
Hun nodded. "As promised. Good work, mutant."
"What's my reward?"
"That you live. Now go before I change my mind."
When she'd left, Hun called his men. They carried Raphael to a cage, chained and collared him, as well as stripping him of his weapons and all of his gear. Raphael was now as naked as the day he'd been born. Hun locked the cage, looked at his still zonked prisoner and rubbed his hands gleefully. That reptile is going to fetch me a lot of money, he thought. A lot of money. Now who should I call to get the best deal? Hun rifled through Raphael's bag, looking for possible items he could use. Finding Amanda's photo, his face darkened and he let out a deep growl and smashed his fists into the wall behind him.
