Chapter Nine:

Leonardo sucked in a lungful of familiar air as he rounded the corner.

Part of him didn't really know why he was there; the other, curious enough to overwhelm his need to run away and never look back. It was damp and unseasonably cold, but he trudged on. After about a mile, he stopped, his feet taking him through the winding path even as his brain yearned for the comfort of turning back.

And there it was.

He nearly fell over as his head swam with guilt.

Their home, all rubble, still faintly smelled of the scents their father used. He walked through the wreckage, feeling his stomach sink lower with every recollection. There, sat the television they'd watched endless Space Heroes marathons; there, was the dojo, that they'd used for hours every day. Where their father instilled in them the bushido code that he'll keep close to him for the rest of his life. The place was surrounded by caution tape and orange cones. It suddenly occurred to him, as he stood in what used to be their kitchen, that someone had been there. Likely police or sewer workers. Someone must have heard, seen, or been affected by it. Inspecting further, he saw that there were lines of sewage in what looked like tire tracks. Why would they have vehicles down h-

He stopped cold in his tracks, bile rising up in his throat.

Leonardo turned back, pulling back as much cement that he could, his lungs beginning to close up. No, no, no, no, no, he thought. No! Despite the rocks busting his skin open, he didn't stop. Tears and sweat blurred his vision as he tirelessly tossed the remnants of their home aside. A noise coming from down the east tunnel snapped him out of his panic, and he listened closely, trying to slow his breathing. It was… men? The turtle snuck into the shadows as the voices got closer.

"The scans indicated that there were more. You found none?"

"No, sir. Just the two."

No.

"Hmm… What about-"

"Sir, we did all that we could. There were no other traces of mutant DNA. Or any other bodies."

Leonardo nearly vomited.

"Well, lucky for us, we have our labs for that…" His heart skipped a beat. He fought the urge to jump out at them, pin them down, force them to give him answers. But what good would that do? They'd just take him too. "The people above mustn't know about this. No one can, got it? I have strict orders to keep matters like this confidential. The EPF is already in enough shit with the Kraang invasion."

"Yes, sir."

"Now let's get back. I have some tests to run."

The footsteps slowly faded away as he sat there, breathless.

No, he repeated.

I know, I know. Two chapters in one day?! But this one's a shortie... don't fret! I have a plan! Any comments/suggestions are welcome!