Chapter 14: Lost
Raph was kicking his punching bag frustrated. The bag couldn't take all the pressure it was put under and broke. "Okay that's it…" Raph mumbled angrily. "How can you guys sit here talking when Master Splinter is out there somewhere, hurt, waiting us to find him?!" Raph shouted.
"We have been looking for him. We have searched the whole area but there weren't any clues of him. He could be anywhere. We need to come up with a better strategy to find him" Leo said. "I'll go there alone" Raph said.
"Raph, wait, we…" Don started. "Go" Leo said. "Leo what…?" Don asked. "It's no use to keep him down here. Besides, there's a chance that he might actually find something… Raph, call us if you find anything" Leo said. "Sure, I'm off" Raph said and left.
Raph was running on the rooftops, searching for Master Splinter from dark alleys but so far, he hadn't spotted even a slightest sign of the man. Suddenly, he heard loud voices somewhere near. He followed the noise and saw a bunch of guys attacking a girl wearing a motorcycle helmet.
"Okay that doesn't seem too good" Raph thought and jumped down. "Hey guys, it seems like the lady doesn't want to hang out with you, buzz off" Raph said. "Stay out of this!" one of the men shouted. "Leaving damsel in distress isn't my style" Raph replied.
"Let's get rid of him" the man ordered. The other men attacked Raph but he knocked them down. Then, Raph started to get closer the guy who was giving orders earlier. "You… Don't touch me!" the guy shouted backing off and threw something at Raph.
Raph's eyes were burning. "Urgh…What the…" Raph mumbled. He was kicked on the stomach and fell on his knees. The girl who Raph tried to protect had spotted a metal pipe on the ground. She took it and hit the guy with it.
"Quickly, before he wakes up" the girl said, grabbing Raph's hand. They run somewhere and the girl ordered Raph to climb on and grab on her tightly. Then, Raph heard a familiar voice. They were on a motorcycle.
"You shouldn't have come between us" the girl's voice said. "Geez, so much for 'thanks for saving me'" Raph replied. The girl stayed quiet. "So, why are those guys after you?" Raph asked. "They… They're part of a motorcycle gang I used to belong" the girl answered.
"So you left the group and they want to kill you?" Raph asked. "It's hard to talk while driving, I'll tell you later" the girl said. "Later? When is that?" Raph asked. "After I reach my hideout" the girl replied.
When the motorcycle stopped, the girl got off. They were in front of an old house that had been abandoned ages ago. She walked to the door and opened it. "Follow me" the girl told. Raph tried to follow the girl's voice but ended up walking straight in to a wall.
"Uh, the door is this way" the girl said. "Newsflash for you girlie… I can't see" Raph answered sounding a little bit pissed off "Oh… I thought you already got over it…" the girl replied and helped Raph in. She led Raph to sit on an old chair and turned a flashlight on.
"Stay still, I'm going to look in your eyes" the girl said and took Raph's mask off. "Good for you that you were wearing this weird mask… Your eyes weren't damaged as bad as they could've been" the girl said. "But I'm afraid that it might take days before your eyes are healed" she continued.
"What are you, a doctor?" Raph asked. "Pretty close actually. I'm a medical student…Or I was…" the girl replied. "I… Let's get you home, where you live?" the girl asked. "In the sewers" Raph replied. "No, seriously" the girl insisted. "I'm dead serious" Raph replied. The girl sighed.
"Even though I can't really see where we are but figuring out from squeaky boards and the smell of dust and moist… This place has been abandoned for a while now… This isn't your home" Raph said. "It's not, it's just a hideout" the girl told.
"So, care to tell me your story?" Raph asked. "Why would I tell it a blind guy I just met?" the girl asked. "I'm not blind… Well, I guess I'm right now but… Argh, let's make a deal, I tell you something about me so you will tell me your story" Raph suggested.
The girl snickered. "What are you laughing at?" Raph asked. "It's like… Out of some cliché love movie's blind date…" the girl giggled. "Haha, not funny" Raph said adding: "Don't worry, I won't try to hit on you. I don't even know what you look like, you could be ugly as hell"
The girl laughed. "Too bad, I think I'm starting to like you. You're pretty cute" the girl said. "Don't mess with me!" Raph shouted blushing. "Okay, forget I ever asked anything from you I don't want to know after all" Raph claimed and tried to walk out but crashed against the wall next to the door.
"Even if you were able to find the door, how about after?" the girl asked. "If you can't even remember where the door was, you won't be getting back home so easily either" the girl said. Raph hated to admit it but the girl was right.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt… To tell you what this is all about… Besides, I accidentally got you caught in this all…." the girl said but then added: "But you should go first. Who are you and why are you running around at night, dressed up like some ninja and claiming that you live in the sewers?"
"My name is Raphael" Raph started. "That's cute…. I was expecting something… More Asian" the girl commented. "Seriously, quit saying "cute". It annoys me" Raph snapped. "Sorry, somehow I find it amusing when you get mad" the girl laughed.
"Anyways, I'm dressed up like ninja, because I am one. And I really live in the sewers with my family because… Well, we have our reasons. When I found you, I was searching for my Father who's been missing for three days now and… Why there's your hand in my face?" Raph asked.
"No fever…. Either you're on drugs or just simply crazy…." the girl replied. "I'm telling the truth… Argh, women, there's no way to deal with them…" Raph mumbled. "Okay Raphael…" the girl started. "Raph, call me Raph" Raph ordered.
"Do you know where you got your name?" the girl asked. "Master Splinter said I was named after some renaissance painter guy" Raph replied but then asked: "What that has to do with anything?" "Yes, Raphael is a famous renaissance artist but it's also the name of the archangel of healing" the girl replied.
"Okay, still, what does that have to do with anything?" Raph asked again. "Well… It's just a funny coincidence. You see, my name is Angel" the girl replied. "So, Angel, why those guys are after you?" Raph asked.
"John and the others? Well… I run away from home and joined in a motorcycle gang. We traveled all across the America together, just having fun and seeing the world" Angel started. "Well… When I joined in, I thought that was what it was all about but… Soon I realized that their "fun" was different from mine" Angel told.
"At first, it was just small things like pilfering and breaking stuff but then… I saw John beating a guy… I tried to save the man but it… It was too late. I told John that I didn't want to be part of his group anymore and was going to tell police about what had happened but… John told me that he would kill me if I left the group. I told him that I was going to stay but when I had a chance, I run away" Angel told.
"And now they found you here?" Raph asked. "Not exactly… They kidnapped my brother. And told me to come here to make an exchange: His life to mine… But there's no way they are going to keep their end of the promise… That's why I need to find my brother and save him…." Angel said.
"So, any ideas where he's kept?" Raph asked. "I have the address but… Last time I tried to get there, I wasn't even able to get anywhere near that place before those guys attacked me…It seems like they are cooperating with some local gang and there must be even more guys guarding him where he's kept as hostage" Angel replied. "I'll help you" Raph said.
Angel stared the boy a little bit surprised and burst in to laughter. "Sorry sweetie, I don't really see how you could help me when you can't even see where you're going" Angel apologized. "Don't look down on me. I can fight even with my eyes closed… Just tell me where the enemy is and I'll hit them" Raph replied.
"Sorry, I don't think it's…" Angel said. "Attack me" Raph ordered. "Attack you? Aren't you…" Angel started but Raph shouted over her: "JUST ATTACK!" Angel took a deep breath, quietly sneaked on Raph's left side and tried to hit his face.
Raph caught Angel's arm, pushed the girl down and locked her with his arms. "Wow, you're good" Angel said. "I told you I was" Raph smirked and let go of her. "Okay, I guess you are my best chance… And besides, if you get caught, I guess I can just leave you there" Angel said.
"You know… You should change your name to something more fitting for you. I think Lucifer would be pretty good" Raph commented. "Hey, you can come with me and help if you want but don't expect anything in return" Angel told. "You're so not cute" Raph said. "You wouldn't be saying that if you could see me" Angel replied smirking.
"This is the warehouse" Angel said. "So, what can you see?" Raph asked. "Lots of guys guarding the door" Angel told. "Be more specific. How many are there?" Raph inquired. "Um… Twelve" Angel replied. "Is there any other way in?" Raph asked.
"Well, we could try the windows on the back but it would take time to get there unnoticed… " Angel said. "Wait, actually… We could just ride straight in there" Angel suggested. "What? Wait a second lady if…" Raph started but Angel was already on her motorcycle. She grabbed Raph with her and drove straight at the men and continued through the doors. Inside, more men waiting for them.
"Attack them!" one of the men shouted. Angel drove at the men, who quickly dodged her. "Where's my brother?!" Angel yelled. "Somebody, stop that bike!" a man shouted. Someone threw a small bomb at them and both Angel and Raph fell off.
The men attacked on them. Raph heard steps coming at him and attacked the men, hoping that he would hit. Angel dodged the men attacking her and climbed over a box pile. There, she tried to find her brother but he wasn't in the room.
But there were few doors leading in to office rooms. Angel was going to scout them but was stopped by Raph's scream: "Angel! Little help here! Tell me where they are!" Angel looked down and saw the men sneaking around Raph and waiting chance to attack him from behind. Raph had already taken few hits.
"Uh… Six o'clock! Now two o'clock! Seven! Twelve o'clock!" Angel shouted. Suddenly, somebody threw a bomb at the box pile. Angel fell down screaming. "Angel! What happened?!" Raph shouted but couldn't hear an answer. Somebody hit him in the face and his nose started bleeding.
"Focus…" Raph thought. He listened very carefully for any kind of sounds. And just before a guy was to hit him again, Raph dodged and swept the guy's legs under him. A guy fell on the ground. Another one was coming from his left but Raph wasn't sure if he was going to get hit or kicked. Also, somebody was attacking him from his right.
Raph did a back flip and judging from the sounds, two guys had crashed against each other. "Okay, that's the last time I try a back flip while my nose is bleeding" Raph though and spit blood on the floor, holding his nose to make the bleeding stop.
Angel got up but a man caught her. He covered her mouth so Angel couldn't help Raph. But Angel bit the man and punched him causing the man letting her go. Angel kicked him down and run to Raph. "They're down now, good work Raphael" Angel said and dragged Raph towards the office rooms' doors.
"Where are we going?" Raph asked. "My brother must be locked in one of these office rooms…" Angel explained. "Ryan, can you hear me!?" Angel shouted. At first, there was no answer. Then, they could hear a weak shout: "Angel… Is that you?"
"Ryan! I came here to rescue you!" Angel yelled, heading towards the door where she had heard her brother's voice. But the door was locked. "We need a key…" Angel said. Raph fumbled the door and said: "Angel, get back, I got this"
Raph took few running steps and crashed against the door. It fell off and Angel got in. "Ryan… Are you okay… What did they do to you?" Angel asked. His brother looked really badly beaten up. "I was coming home at work when suddenly these guys got me… They beat me up asking where you were but I told them that I didn't know and wouldn't tell even if I knew" Ryan answered.
"We need to get you untied… Raphael, borrow me that" Angel said and snatched off one of Raph's sais to cut Ryan's ropes. "Sis… Where have you been these two months? Mom and Dad were so worried about you. I was so worried about you… What happened to your hair? And… Is that a lip piercing?" Ryan asked.
"We don't have time for this now, we need to get out here…" Angel said helping his brother up. "Um, what about him?" Ryan asked watching Raph, who was trying to find the door. Angel sighed, went to take Raph's hand and dragged him and Ryan out of the warehouse.
When they came out the warehouse, Angel suddenly stopped. "What is it?" Raph asked. "John" Angel replied. There were five guys on motorcycles standing before them. With them, there were also few street gangers. "My sweet Angel…" John said taking his helmet off.
"What you want John?!" Angel shouted. "Darling… It wasn't really nice from you… To run off like that…" John said. "It's not really my business but… Were you dating him?" Raph asked. "You're right, it's none of your business" Angel replied.
"You're just low! Kidnapping innocent people like that!" Angel yelled. "Calm down baby… We can still settle this…. Let's say that you come with us and we let your brother go. Sounds a good deal, right?" John replied
"Why should I agree on that?" Angel asked. "Because, if you don't, we'll kill you. All the three of you" John said pointing them with a gun. "Hah, I'd like to see you to try" Raph laughed. "Raphael, shut up, he's holding a gun" Angel said. "Oh…" Raph replied.
"Think about it… It's the best deal you can get… Besides… We had something really special. Let's forget all this and start it over" John said. Angel stayed quiet, thinking. "Fine" she finally answered. "But you really have to let my brother go..." Angel replied.
"Sure… He can ride one of these, right?" John asked. "Yes" Ryan replied. "Chuck, give him your bike" John ordered. A man stepped down on his motorcycle and walked with it to Angel's brother. "You two, get further" John ordered pointing Raph and Angel with a gun. Ryan got on the motorcycle.
"Now Angel, get here" John ordered. "Wait! Angel!" Ryan shouted and tried to get closer Angel but John pointed his gun at Ryan. "Ryan, get away from here!" Angel ordered. "You're my little sister! I can't just leave you behind and run!" Ryan shouted.
"If I do what John wants, he won't hurt me! I'll be fine, just go!" Angel yelled back. "No! I won't leave without you!" Ryan shouted. "Please… Ryan… Do it for me, go…" Angel said almost crying. "But…" Ryan insisted.
"Go!" Raph shouted. "I'll protect you sister so just go!" Raph yelled. Ryan kept looking at Raph, like analyzing him and finally said: "Okay, I trust you" Ryan drove off and Angel walked to John. John looked really pleased.
"That's it Angel, good girl… Now then… Let's get rid of this your new boyfriend" John said and pointed his gun at Raph. "Wait, he has nothing to do with this!" Angel told. "He hurt my friends and he will pay for it" John said and pulled the trigger.
"NO, DON'T!" Angel shouted and pushed John's hand. The bullet missed and Raph started running at them. "Angel, get off!" John yelled trying to shake the girl off. "I won't let you kill anyone ever again!" Angel shouted. John hit the girl on the face and Angel fell down on the ground.
"Now then… I'll take care of you" John said pointing the gun at Raph again. Raph took out his sais and threw one of them at John but it missed. "Hah! You actually thought you could hit me?" John laughed. "Not really, I was just buying time" Raph replied.
Suddenly, John felt sharp pain in his hand and dropped the gun. Raph's sai was stuck deep in it. "John, get off the bike" Angel ordered, pointing at him with the gun. "Angel, don't be ridic…." John stammered removing the sai. "GET OFF!" Angel shouted and pulled the trigger. John got off and Angel got on his motorcycle, grabbing Raph's sai. Then she shot it the air, threw the gun away and drove to get Raph.
"Hold on tight" Angel told. They drove away, some John's gangers still tailing at them. While they were escaping, they hear the police's sirens. "Angel the cops are coming" Raph said. "They won't catch us" Angel replied and added some speed. After they had got rid of their followers, Angel stopped the bike.
"That's it… I guess I need to get away from here" Angel said. "Are you going home now?" Raph asked getting off the motorcycle. "No. I'm going to travel some more. I originally went on this trip to find myself and I haven't done that yet" Angel answered.
"You know that road trip stuff sounds nice…" Raph said. "Then you should come with me" Angel replied smiling. "Don't flatter yourself, I said the road trip sounds nice, not going one with you" Raph said and continued: "But I really can't go anywhere right now. I need to find my father first…"
"How about… I'll come back here later. Then, we can go on a road trip together. If you just give me your phone number then…" Angel started. "No. If we're really meant to meet again then you'll find me. Just go in the sewers and call my name" Raph told.
"Aw, you're so cute Raphael" Angel teased pinching Raph's cheek. "I told you to call me Raph" Raph shouted. "Okay… Raphie" Angel replied. "Not Raphie, Ra…" Raph started but was silenced by something touching his lips. It was mainly something soft and warm, but there was also a small, cold metal part against his lips.
"You… What did you do?!" Raph shouted his face bright red. "Consider it as your reward" Angel replied cheerfully. "I didn't ask for that kind of reward!" Raph yelled. "It's not that big deal, I didn't even use my tongue" Angel jeered.
"You… That… THAT'S GROSS!" Raph shouted. "Anyways, do you need a ride back home?" Angel asked. "No… I think my sight is getting a little bit better… I can see dark figures so I will be fine as long as I find a manhole. You should go, before you get caught" Raph replied.
"Okay. Be sure to still be here when I get back" Angel told. "I won't promise anything" Raph said. "Yeah, sure, I'll come to find you anyways" Angel replied. "Okay, see you again!" Angel shouted before driving off. Raph could only see a dark figure getting further and further away. "It's a shame actually that I never got a chance to see her face… She actually might have been a real hottie…" Raph thought.
"Okay, I think I should call somebody to get me now" Raph thought and took his phone out. "Except… I can't see the buttons. I guess I'm able to call someone if I keep pushing the buttons" Raph thought and tried it. "Hi Raphie" Mikey answered.
"Argh, why it had to be Mikey… " Raph thought out loud. "Hey what do you mean it had to be me?" Mikey asked offended. "Nothing, can you give the phone to Don or Leo?" Raph asked. "No, they are busy, tell me what's going on" Mikey replied.
"Can you get Don to find me? I'm… Not really sure where I am" Raph said. "What you mean by that? Are you lost?" Mikey asked laughing. "Not really, I just can't see where I am. Tell Don to track me down or something I'll just…" Raph told but his phrase was cut when he dropped the phone. Somebody had attacked him.
"Raph, are you there?" Mikey asked. Raph tried to look around. There were lots of black shadows gathered around him. He took his sais out, ready to fight but felt a sting on his neck. Raph lost consciousness and fell on the ground.
"Guys, Raph called me… It sounded like trouble!" Mikey shouted rushing to where the others were. "Where is he?" Don asked. "He said he didn't know and asked if you could track him down" Mikey replied. "Okay, I'll try to track the signal" Don told.
After Don had found out the place where Raph had made his last call, the guys headed over there. But there wasn't a sign of anyone, anywhere. "Look" Don said pointing at something. Raph's shell cell, weapons, scarf and mask were lying on the ground. His scarf was stained with blood.
"He… He would never leave this stuff behind… " Don said. "Yeah… This scarf… He's been wearing it like… Since forever… Seriously, he never takes it off" Mikey said holding Raph's scarf. Leo just stood there without saying a word.
"Leo… Are you okay?" Don asked. "First Master Splinter disappears and then Raph… I… This can't be happening" Leo stammered. "I'm sure they're just fine… " Mikey tried to calm Leo down. "I really hope so… I really do" Leo stated.