Chapter 13: Morning Encounter with Shredder
"Um..what was that?" little Leo asked anxiously as he looked around.
"What was what?" Raph growled, sitting up and hearing nothing. The tots were trying to sleep inside an overturn box in an allyway. Daylight will arrive soon and they were getting tired from their little adventure.
"We should probably go back. Besides, we've seen the surface now. Surely Mikey knows we're gone."
Raph chuckled, "What? You a scaredy Turtle now?"
"I'm not scared of anything!" Leo argued defiantly.
"Except heights. Donnie and me had to drag you to the surface."
"You did not!"
"Did to!" Raph teased as he stuck out his tongue.
"You should really work on your grammar, Raph...," Donnie mumbled. Raph was about to make some smart remark, when they heard thunder rumble in the sky. The three quickly huddled together, shivering.
"I thought you weren't scare of anything?" Raph said with a quiver in his voice.
"I-I'm not!" Leo told him and pointed to Donatello. "Donnie is!"
"Uh...Uh-huh," Donnie admitted timidly. The patter of rain soon followed and the tots watched in silence. Raph noticed he was still holding Leo close and frowned as he shoved him away.
"Why are you hugging me when Dad's not around?"
"You're the one who hugged me."
As Raph and Leo started arguing again, Donnie was distracted by some movement. He couldn't see who it was, but he had a bad feeling and backed up further into the box.
"Maybe we should find a better place to hide. Someone might find us."
He was ignored at first. But even Leo started to feel oddly uncomfortable. He covered Raph's mouth and listened. Raph pulled his big brother's hand away.
"What's your problem all of a sudden?"
"Raph, be quiet! I think someone is here."
A tall figure appeared in the allyway followed by a few other silhouette figures as well. Raph realized the situation and he was silent. The tall figure began advancing towards the box and the tots shivered, too scared to move. This figure did not have a friendly appearance and metal clang as he walked towards them.
"Well, what do we have here?" he questions, his red eyes narrowing down upon them. He grabbed the box and tore off the top easily. The tots flinched.
The man dressed in metal armor bent down and grabbed the back of Raph's shell. Leo and Donnie clung to the man's arm in hopes he would let the Turtle go.
"Foolish insects," the man chuckled and threw the Turtles off without much force. "You think you can stop me?"
Donnie and Leo hit the ground hard and watched as the man put Raph in a sack. Leo growled and charged.
"Let him go!" he screamed as kicked at the man's leg. The tall man wasn't intimidated and picked up Leo.
"I'm sure you will be an interesting specimen for Dr. Stockman," he chuckled. "But first I have a few ideas in store for you." Then he put Leo in the sack, too!
Donnie froze as the man locked his eyes on him!
"No need to be afraid of me. I won't hrt you, at least not yet.."
Donnie was scared and not sure what he should do. He wanted to stay and help his brothers, but knew he couldn't possibly beat this man. He'll have to run and look for help.
He took a deep breath and left in a hasty retreat, diving under the man's legs as he ran out the ally.
"After him!"
Donnie ran as fast as he could, but knew he was being chased. He found the nearest manhole and climbed down into the darkness. The ninjas followed him and decided to split up in hopes of cutting him off.
Donnie knew his big brother or Master Splinter were his only hope of rescuing the others. He knew he had to buy some time and get away from the ninjas. Luckily he had spent more time in the sewers than these ninjas, this was his home.