Chapter 20
0672 Hours
Master P.O.V
The Master was still fuming as he entered Blue's cell for the first time in four days. He understood the risks in allowing that actor to meet the mutant but he had allowed it in the hope of manipulating Daniel's mind further into believing the creatures were vicious. Thus far the other actors seemed to take the bait, especially the Red actors who had fled their mutant's cell in terror. Yet Daniel was still a problem. He had defied the Master's orders by returning to Blue, yet he could not risk losing the man now that Cesar was incapacitated for the time being. A letter had also brought yet another concern to the Master. One that called the young actor in for jury service. The Master had long debated over whether or not to allow the man to respond to the call, but had finally decided that as long as he held Daniel's lover in his building, the man would not dare to contact anyone. Besides, the Master smiled, he would attach a microphone to the man when he left the building to ensure he did not contact anyone about his predicament.
But there was a more pressing matter.
There was the issue of the phone calls. Thanks to the blunders of the actors, the rat had continued to phone yet it had clearly become aware of the voices being a decoy and had said no more about trips to the spiritual plane or disturbing dreams. It knew, and that meant the Master was now on the clock. The two human allies were due to arrive back in New York soon and from the calls they had been making to the turtles, they were not aware of anything being wrong. But the moment they made contact with the rat they would find out and once again the Master would be pressed for time. He had to complete the plan.
He clenched his fists in rage.
Blue would pay for his part in this abomination.
He threw open the door and at first the Master was certain his pet had died. The turtle hung from its arms, the blades still holding it upright and the wounds in its palms thick with crusted blood. Streaks of red wrapped their way down the creature's arms and dripped down the front of its plastron, and from the sheer amount of blood, the Master wouldn't have been surprised if his pet had died.
Frankly he didn't care. Sure, to lose one of his precious specimens would be a shame, yet if they lived or died during their time with him didn't matter. They were freaks of nature, unworthy of any sympathy and would be better wiped off the face of the earth. However, as he turned to leave the corpse, Blue stirred slightly and the Master could see a faint rise and fall of the plastron. His pet was still alive.
What a shame. He was bored of this routine, he found little excitement in the turtle's fear anymore, but his plan demanded he was consistent. When he had visited Purple only moments before and asked it to choose a brother, it had stated Blue. It had then dolefully accepted the folder of schematics and began to check the designs for practicality and any fatal flaws. Purple had succumbed, even called him Master without prompt. Now that warmed his cold heart.
He had pulled a knife out and sliced the genius turtle's palm warning it that if it faked any results more cuts would follow leaving his hands disfigured. Purple had become shaken and receded back into the safety of the corner, its chains clanking as it pulled back.
Now only if he could break Blue in the same manner, the Master smiled, watching the mutant before him slowly regain consciousness. As soon as those deep blue eyes flickered open, the Master spoke.
"Morning, Blue." Just these words were enough to make the turtle jump, its eyes widen and its breath hitch. Pure fear was carved into the gaunt features. The Master was close. This week he would break the mutant completely.
With purposeful strides, the Master moved right up to the suspended turtle and reached up to one katana. He could see in Blue's eyes that it knew what would happen next. He twisted the blade and Blue's bloodcurdling screams tore through the silence of the room as tears dripped from its eyes. Oh, how delightful…
"You know what today is, don't you, freak?" He murmured, leading close to the pale face so their cheeks brushed. Blue began to violently shake. "Today is when you will obey your Master and accept you punishment." In one fluid motion, the Master pulled the blades from the turtle's hands releasing another scream and allowing more blood to flow as the mutant sank to the floor in exhaustion. Without a second thought, the man kicked the mutant and indicated for him to follow. He felt those deep eyes scan him in confusion so he bent down, hooked a finger through the collar and yanked the turtle to its feet, making it cry out – possibly from the pain in its ribs – and hissed into its ear slit,
"There will be no restraints today. Not even during our deal… You know you will not escape, you know I control everything. You will obey your true Master, the Master of all beasts." To his pleasure, the mutant bowed his head and whispered the words he longed to hear spoken willingly.
"Yes… Master…"
The man smiled and the two left the cell and moved towards the Blue room.
Yes, the Master thought to himself as he caught a glimpse of the broken and bloodied turtle trailing behind him like a lost dog, this week he would be triumphant.
This week they would all be broken.
0720 Hours
April P.O.V
"Bye dad! See you later." April O'Neil called out of the window as Casey started up the party wagon, giving her dad a wave before he disappeared into the Jones' car which pulled off in the other direction. She sank back into the seat with a sigh.
"Good to have a bit of breathing room, Red?" Casey teased as they pulled out of the airport. April shrugged.
"It'll just be good to see the guys again." Casey chucked and she shot him a look only to find the raven haired teen smiling.
"I know what you mean. Five years ago, if you told me that I would miss having a group of mutant turtles around I would have called you crazy, but now…" He flashed April a smile, "Now they're family. Kinda felt wrong being on holiday without them." April nodded, that was exactly how she felt. Nearly six years of hanging around with the turtles had made them like part of the family. The fact she was a trained part of the Hamato Clan made this connection even stronger.
But April also had another reason for wanting to see them so desperately. She hadn't stopped having these disturbing visions of the guys all holiday and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong. Only when she saw the guys herself would she feel at ease once again. The dreams had gotten increasingly more graphic with blood, blades and horrendous screams filling the darkness and all her friends' faces ashen and pale. It was as if she was being warned of some horrendous outcome to a conflict, yet to her confusion she had never seen any image of their usual enemies: Shredder, Kraang or even some rampaging mutant had never made an appearance, only ever a man in black with a cold grin. Whenever his face appeared, April had been awoken with a jolt, sweat dripping from her forehead.
"April?" Casey asked, pulling her from the dark recesses of her mind. She sat up straight, turning her attention back to her friend and smiled.
"Sorry, long flight." She shrugged. "I'm just looking forward to seeing everyone again."
The rest of the journey passed in silence and for the next five hours the young adults just watched the familiar sights of New York pass by, both deeply engrossed with their own thoughts.
However, when they eventually arrived at the farmhouse, April had an instant sense of dread.
Instead of being greeted by four laid back turtles, the Party Wagon pulled up alongside the Mutanimals' new ride – a battered, old garbage truck with two Ms intertwined on the side. On the porch sat Splinter, his face drawn and his brow heavy with stress. Beside him sat an equally grim Slash, clenching his mace as if his life depended on it.
April jumped out of the van the moment it stopped moving and ran up to her Sensei, her nightmares flashing back to her with a million different possibilities.
Where were the guys? Had they had to cut their holiday short? Had some new threat put them in danger? Had someone been hurt – or, possibly… No… It couldn't be that, could it?
"Master Splinter? What…"
"We don't know." The rat shook his head, the worry clear in his dark eyes. "But I am glad you and Mr Jones have returned safely."
By this stage Casey had joined the company on the porch with a similar expression of confusion to April's.
"What do you mean you don't know?" He asked.
Slash hefted his mace onto his shoulder as he moved from the seat that had been bending under his enormous weight.
"Have you spoken to the guys while you were away?" April nodded.
"Several times. I checked in with them every week. Why?" Then it hit her. "When did you lose contact?"
"That's the problem." Slash answered rather unhelpfully, but thankfully Splinter offered more of an answer. With a tired sigh, the ninja master gestured for the humans to follow them up on the porch.
"We believe someone has taken my sons and has accessed their phones to fool us into believing they were safe." Seeing the teen's shocked expressions, Splinter signalled for them to sit. "I suggest you take a seat. It has become quite a story…"
0750 Hours
Donnie P.O.V
As he slowly came to, Donnie was aware of a dull ache at the back of his head, what he would usually put down to too many late nights working on project or a particularly tough mission, yet he knew instantly that such happenings were far away from the measly existence he had now become trapped in. The thought of starting any new projects made him feel physically sick – with the lab he had been forced into whenever he had carried out his end of the deal with the Master bringing back memories of the sense of betrayal which had filled his stomach, Donnie knew he would never be able to sit down to work in the same way he used to. He just couldn't escape his guilt.
He rolled over onto his back, only to bite back a scream. His carapace felt even more tender now. His back had received no treatment since his betrayal of Mikey and infection had to be setting in badly. He deserved to suffer, especially after how he had been forced to watch as Mikey was brutally tortured as Donnie watched on. The gas that he had been breathing had made him laugh all the while and feel genuine joy as his little brother was hurt… It was sickening… Had he really fallen so far?
Donnie pushed himself up to his knees with a choked sob. He didn't mean it… Oh gods… What would Mikey think of him…? He had chosen his baby brother before… Raphie hated him… And with the session in the lab he had just undergone where he had checked designs for the Master, he was a traitor to all his family stood up for… Those designs were for weaponry that targeted mutants and they were easy enough to understand that any low life thug could make them… Purple Dragons… The Foot… Kraang… Any of their enemies could access these and proceed to hunt mutant kind down and… The word jarred in his mind… Kill them…. What had he done? He had helped with weaponry that could kill those he loved? What the shell was wrong with him? He could plead innocence, claiming he had done it to keep his brothers safe, yet who would believe him?
There was a crackle above which brought the fretting genius out of the depths of his despair as the Master's voice called him to attention.
"Purple. Your knowledge has proven invaluable to my cause and I am willing to offer you a more permanent position. Be like the other mutants and do the smart thing. Obey your Master. Join me and I shall give you the respect you never had with those freaks you called family."
Donnie turned his head to the ceiling and thought about the Master's words. With sadness he remembered all the times his intelligence had alienated him from his brothers, how they had shunned his intelligence and teased him for who he was.
Then he thought of his father. The one he missed more than anything.
He knew he wouldn't escape. He knew that the Master was his only master now, but he couldn't believe that his brothers would join that man. They wouldn't give up on Splinter… Not like he had. They still deserved their father's love, they hadn't made a deal with the devil…
Trembling, Donnie raised his head to the speaker and shook his head sadly.
"No, Master. I've served my purpose. Let me rest…" His voice broke. "Just let me die…" There was a short silence and for one blissful moment the turtle thought his request would be granted.
"No. You may still be valuable. I shall allow your brothers to talk some sense into you, freak." The now cold voice echoing through the speaker cut out and the door to the cell opened. The sight before him made Donnie freeze.
"Guys?" He whispered, yet there was no reply. But he needed no confirmation. Those were his brothers.
Three beings dressed entirely in black entered the cell, one holding Leo's signature katanas, one gripping Raph's dangerously sharp sais, and one wielded Mikey's numbchucks, tapping them at their side just like Mikey did. But that wasn't what told Donnie it was his brothers, what gave it away was a mixture of things: how there was the clear outline of a shell beneath the black garb, how the three beings all stood, one proud and erect, one hunched and ready for action and one light on his feet, suggesting a graceful enthusiasm.
All three were slightly skinnier than the brothers Donnie remembered, yet their imprisonment would do that.
It was them.
"I'm sorry, I did my best.. I tried… I…"
"Silence!" Leo's voice tore through Donnie's grovelling, as the turtle raised a katana to the genius' face. Donnie gulped and bowed his head. They were angry – understandable really – he didn't deserve their forgiveness. Maybe they would do him a favour and end his miserable existence.
"I accept my punishment." He whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Didn't you hear him, freak?" Raph growled, slashing down with his sai, catching Donnie on his shoulder. "My brother said to zip it!"
"Let's teach him, dudes…" Mikey hissed and as one the three black clad figures pounced.
Slash.
Leo's katana dug into his leg.
Slice.
Raph's sai gouged out a chunk of his arm.
Thunk.
Mikey's chucks caught his shell making him scream.
And so it continued. His brothers attacked and Donnie couldn't do anything. He accepted the onslaught as his punishment and for a brief moment he felt cleansed. Then the pain set in.
Blood ran down his limbs. Bruises littered his skin and tears fell every time his back was caught. It was agony.
He had no idea how long it lasted but suddenly the ferocity of the attacks increased and darkness began to cloud Donnie's vision. He was slipping…
The pain was too much…
It hurt…
Oh gods…
It was…
Too much…
Falling…
Darkness…
0752 Hours
Leo P.O.V
They were all back in the joint cell, all chained to separate walls with no way to reach one another, yet Leo could tell instantly that was the last thing on everyone's mind. They must have all been drugged and dragged here as they all awoke in chains with muzzles strapped over their faces so that, even if they wanted to, they couldn't talk.
Opposite Leo hung Donnie. The genius looked haggard and distrusting, his face lined with sorrow and stress, but also pain. It must have been his back, Leo had thought at first, but then he had noticed the cuts and bruises littering his brother's body. He had been beaten.
Then there were his eyes. The mahogany orbs which used to shine with such warmth and intelligence were now dull and full of fear. He didn't meet any of their eyes, preferring to just stare at the floor, embracing the solitude.
Looking to his left, Leo could see Mikey. The youngest seemed deeply shaken and would shudder every so often every time there was a sudden sound of a door opening or shutting in the distance or whenever the speaker hummed. His baby blue eyes were wide with dread. Leo could see from the crooked angle of his hands that his fingers had been broken and there was a vast array of cuts and bruises all over his pale body. Mikey looked terrified and kept shooting fearful looks at each of his brothers, making Leo wonder what exactly had happened to him.
To his right, Raph hung from his chains, the fury usually visible beneath the hard emerald glare had faded away leaving a passive gaze which seemed to peer straight through everything yet saw nothing. The hothead looked completely and utterly defeated. His knee was swollen and heavy bruises littered his skin, but it was the defeated look in his features which scared Leo the most.
How the shell had they fallen this far?
A shiver ran through his body and he hoped his brothers didn't notice. He was sure his shame was clear to read, yet he found himself thankful that no one was paying anyone else any attention. As he hung there, his bloodied hands reopened by the Master's rough treatment of him and the shower's hard spray, he focused on the pain in his arms in order to pull himself away from the darkness which had filled his mind.
No matter how he tried, he could not forget how he had completely submitted to the Master and lay there in the Blue room as all remaining defiance was stripped from him. He disobeyed, his brothers were threatened until Leo gave in. He tried to pull away, the Master would threaten to bring another one of his brothers in to watch. Once again Leo would have to submit.
He was doing everything he could to protect them, but look at the state of them…
His brothers were gone, he realised with a jolt of fear, he and his brothers had been crushed, and now only four beasts remained, all desperately fighting to survive this hell but losing themselves in the process.
Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey were no more.
Now all that remained were four pets, defined only by the colours of the straps which restrained them.
Blue, Red, Purple and Orange.
The Master had won.
0800 Hours
Splinter P.O.V
The aging rat hefted himself off the futon he had been resting upon, a dull ache in his heart.
For days he and his allies had been scouring the city for any sign of his sons. They had infiltrated hundreds of bases, from criminal organisations to Kraang labs and from Shredder's lair to the basements of amateur scientists, the mutants had been searching. Yet nothing had come up.
Eventually Slash had managed to convince Splinter to rest, so the ninja master had grudgingly obeyed, yet he found he could not sleep. Somewhere out there his sons were missing, most probably suffering from the dreams he and April had experienced, and he felt that he should not sleep until his sons were safe.
He took a deep breath before entering the centre of the Mutanimals' base where they had set up multiple boards with possible leads on them. They had devised a system where everyone worked in a pair so that no one else could go missing unexpectedly, and together the pairs would take a lead and hunt it down, return to base and file it as worthless or hopeful. So far, all leads had fallen into the former category.
"Ready for another round, Splinter dude?" Mono called as he emerged from his own room. The rat nodded, determined that today they would find something. The gecko moved closer, only to be stopped by Miwa as she jumped down from the balcony above.
"Father, you need to see this." The rat's ears pricked up and he followed his daughter up the stairs to where Rockwell and Slash were sitting, staring down at the giant turtle's phone.
"What is it?" Splinter inquired, the weight in his chest lightening slightly. The sensation was so unexpected that it took him a moment to realise what it was. Hope.
The psychic chimp turned and held up the phone.
"Do not get too hopeful, Master Splinter, we have had many cases where our phones have been hacked since you worked out how our friends were tracked." He warned, referring to the various misleading messages which had begun to come through all of their phones, pointing the group in various direction which never lead to the turtles. But then Rockwell got the rat to read the message on the phone. "But so far I have not found any evidence of monitoring equipment being used on Slash's phone."
The message simply read,
"No promises. May be able to help. Meet in three days where the leader met the missing child."
Splinter's heart began to race. This message was so unlike the others they had received, it was vague, secretive even, yet offered a chance to meet. Other messages were just addresses or false information regarding their enemies. Could this be real?
Splinter met the chimp's gaze.
"What do you think?" Rockwell paused a minute before responding.
"If I can work out the location, I suggest we follow it. We have little other alternatives and even if it is a trap, it may bring us an opportunity to place a tracker on someone who could lead us to your sons." Splinter nodded and re-read the line.
"Meet in three days where the leader met the missing child."
"I know where it is." Miwa's voice broke the silence. "I'm guessing where Leo and I first met… They mean under that big billboard of 'Drink Boboco Cola'. The one you always warned us to avoid because of all the lamps lighting it up where the company didn't have enough money for a more modern ad." Everyone looked at her in surprise at the detail of her account. The young woman rolled her eyes in fake annoyance yet Splinter saw from the glint in her eyes that the location had been imprinted in her mind ever since her meeting with his eldest son.
Maybe the two had shared some more intimate moments there since that initial meeting, Splinter found himself thinking, the idea not even surprising the old rat.
He gave his child a small smile, thankful that someone could understand the message.
"Then in three days that is where we shall go." He declared. "Call back everyone and we shall all rest. We shall do my sons no good if we face possible combat while exhausted." As the group separated to contact all their allies Splinter retreated back to his room to take a private moment to himself before preparations began.
Kneeling before the family photos he took everywhere with him he bowed his head and offered the various gods and spirits thanks for providing him with some form of hope.
"Do not worry, my sons…" Splinter muttered to himself, his heart lightening as he spoke these words, "There is hope. I am coming to find you. Please, just hold on a little longer…"
0840 Hours
Mikey P.O.V
Orange had run out of tears long ago. After he had been torn away from his brothers once again days ago he had found himself trapped in yet another bare room. As the days passed the youngest had grown more and more weak until a small bowl of water and a handful of fowl tasting turtle pellets had been thrown before him. Sobbing dryly, Orange had reached for them, desperate for anything to keep him alive, yet the pain in his broken fingers had made him unable to pick anything off the cold floor. Dropping his head in defeat, the freckled turtle had fallen to his knees and dropped his head into the bowl and nibbled at what he could reach, all shame leaving him at the possibility to eat. He didn't care.
Now, laying on his back, staring at the ceiling, Orange recalled the way his brothers had shunned him, abandoned him and given him to this Master. He laughed. It was a hollow sound, like the creepy villains from those cartoons he used to watch a lifetime ago. But the sound ripped at his parched throat, making it feel as though something would tear.
Orange didn't stop. Maybe his Master would come to him now, maybe he would pump him with more drugs so everything fell to darkness. Maybe his brothers would feel bad for abandoning him?
He had no long how long he laughed for, but by the time the Master entered the cell, Orange felt as though his throat had been torn and his chest and ribs hurt from the effort.
"Be silent, freak." The man ordered, but Orange couldn't. He didn't care. Everything was really just a haze. Some sort of nightmare that wouldn't end… "Fine. I shall sort you out myself." The Master threatened, and Orange sank in relief. Maybe darkness would come now?
However when had any turtle been so lucky?
The Master knelt before the hysterical turtle and quickly jabbed a needle into Orange's neck, yet instead of the welcoming darkness he had been hoping for, the turtle felt his body slowly freeze and the pain began to numb. Something wasn't right.
He felt his eyes fly open in panic, but it was too late, he could no longer move. This needle had paralysed him. Not a sound could now escape his lips.
"Good Orange." The Master cooed as he removed the syringe and instead pulled out a simple sewing needle and thread. Orange felt his heart clench in terror.
No… Oh no, not that, anything but that….
The Master gave a calm sneer as he bit off the end of the thread and passed it though the eye of the needle. "Don't look at me like that, Orange." He shook his head mockingly, "I told you to be silent and you will obey. One way or the other."
The needle came up to Orange's unprotected lips before pausing for a short moment. The there was a sudden burst of pain as the needle vanished from sight. Orange could taste blood and metal, and it took a moment to realise that the needle had gone through his lip. He tried to move, tried to do anything to get away from this terrible pain – regretting ever wishing for the Master to come to him – yet he was stuck. Frozen and helpless he could only wait as the Master slowly passed the needle through one lip into the other and back around again.
And again.
And again.
By this stage Orange felt as though he could pass out, but with each stab of the needle, he was jolted alert.
At last, after what felt like an eternity, the Master knotted the thread and stepped back as if to admire his work. Orange whimpered. He could feel the criss-crosses of the thread across his lips, sealing his mouth shut.
He wouldn't be able to speak.
He had been silenced.
"Thank your Master." The man stood as the drug began to wear off. Orange shakingly tested his limbs to see if he could move, and once he felt stable enough to sit up, he kneeled before his master and placed his forehead to the floor in silent thanks.
When he raised his head the man had gone, leaving the turtle alone with the silence which he could now not escape even if he tried.
0852 Hours
Leo P.O.V
Standing in the shower, Blue could not tear his gaze away from the pattern of tiles laid before his eyes.
Everything was so order, had its place in the black and white pattern. Black, white, black, white, black, white, and repeat, all over the wall. It was simple. No overriding higher purpose, nothing to interrupt the simple repetition. It was plain. It was refreshing.
It wasn't tainted.
A few tears rolled down the turtle's cheek. He didn't care anymore. Daniel had tried to reach him once more and Blue had been punished tonight for it. He didn't care for trying to remain defiant anymore. The Master knew he had won, so why fight it?
Blue was a disgrace to his family, his clan… He swallowed back a sob… His brothers…
His sacrifices had granted his brothers a few short hours of rest. He had lost everything but he was glad that he could do something to help his family, even if they would kick him out for it.
The water suddenly turned freezing and Blue jumped back, slipped on those perfect tiles, and fell backwards, landing on his wounded hands forcing a scream from his throat. Normally, he would be left to tend to his wounds alone and at this stage he would accept how badly he had failed as a ninja. He longed to curl up in the corner, to protect the bruised flesh of his lower regions and cry as the water washed over him, but the Master had other plans.
For some reason he had chosen to stay and threw the washroom door open with a deep frown.
"Blue. You are taking too long. We have a schedule." The Master tutted, glaring down at the broken warrior curled up in the corner of the shower, cold water mixing with the rivulets of blood which made dark tracks down the pale skin of Blue's legs, turning the water pink.
Finding no other option, Blue nodded and whispered his apologies to his master before standing on shaking legs and quickly finishing his cleaning. All the time the Master watched, his face impassive.
A statue. Blue found no pleasure in his gaze, at least not until he screamed or was bleeding. The Master only cared for his pain, so Blue would allow the man to do as he wished, no matter the consequences. Maybe he would reward his unquestioning compliance with the guaranteed safety of his brothers?
Blue allowed the straight jacket and muzzle to be strapped across his form, wincing at the sight of the blue straps. Sadly he didn't leave the room.
The Master seemed like he had energy to burn, for he dropped into a fighting stance and pounced on Blue with a switchblade. The turtle didn't have time to react.
The blade met skin and behind the muzzle Blue cried out. The blade was left embedded in his shoulder, grating against the bone. Smiling, the Master gripped the hilt and twisted, sending the mutant crashing to his knees.
"I cannot punish Daniel today for disobeying my orders, so instead I will take you, understood?" Blue nodded painfully, his breathing laboured from the sheer agony from his shoulders. "Good."
The blade fell again and the turtle's scream was caught by the muzzle.
Crimson splashed upon the floor, and the last thing Blue caught a glimpse of before the next attack was landed was the perfect line of black and white tiles through the door of the washroom, the order and serenity once again mocking his chaotic existence.
0872 Hours
April P.O.V
Finally it was time. April sat behind the giant billboard with Casey, her tessen clenched tightly in her hand, ready for action.
Splinter, Slash and Karai were waiting on the opposite side of the board, ready for the meeting while the other Mutanimals watched on from various hiding places, ready to jump to action the moment they were needed.
"Everyone in position?" Slash spoke into his phone. Various replies came back in confirmation. "April, Rockwell, let us know if you guys sense anything coming."
"Of course." The sarcastic tone of the psychic chimp came back through the phone but April wasn't listening. Her psychic abilities had picked up an approaching presence. Someone was coming.
"Guys, look alive. Coming from the alley below, a man. He's nervous, scared. But determined." Her eyes snapped open as she spoke. "He's our guy."
On the roof behind the two humans, Splinter tensed up, preparing for battle while Slash and Karai readied their weapons.
All eyes were on the ladder leading up to the roof as quiet grunts of excursion drifted up. It did not sound like a warrior.
April peaked around the corner and watched as a ruffled head of hair emerged followed by a gaunt face and tense shoulders. Everyone took a step forth only for the man to pause halfway over the top step, his eyes fixated upon Slash and Splinter.
"Holy shit…" He murmured, "Leo wasn't kidding about you guys…"
Beside April, Casey had a grin on his face. He let out a loud whoop and hauled himself over the billboard, making the man jump in shock at the sudden appearance.
"You're the guy we're looking for!"
Behind him Slash grunted.
"So much for subtly." But all the same he hefted his mace up and stood up against the scrawny man, towering over him with an evil grin. "Tell us where our friends are and I won't bury this in your skull."
The man gulped, turned pale, but shook his head sadly.
"No. I can't."
That was the moment all hell broke loose.
Well, I struggled to get enough time to reread and refine this chapter, so I hope all is okay... I merged two chapters into one so we could get to the more entertaining moments sooner.
So questions:
- Why can't this guy tell them?
- What will happen to the guys?
- Are they really broken?
- What will happen next?!
As always reviews are needed and very much appreciated!
A very worn out LL99,
Out.