Chapter 8
Evelyn's P.O.V
We arrive back at the layer and everyone is thrilled about our highest, well everyone but me. I'm angry with myself that I lost my father's tanto blade. It was a gift from his friend that was like a brother to my father and was like an uncle to me and my brothers. After the incident that happened ten years ago, we haven't heard of him since. I thought about looking for him but I don't know if he's still in New York.
'I wonder how he and his pet rat are doing.' I thought as I finish bandaging my right arm after the blue masked turtle sliced it with his katana blade. It's not a deep cut but it still hurt like hell every time I would move my arm. It also doesn't help that he cut my dominant arm. After I patched myself up and received my pay from Hun, I head back out into the streets and head towards the store. By now they should have turned my film into pictures. I need to pick them up. I decide to stay in my disguise since I told the lady that my brother would pick them up. Plus I really don't feel like taking off my wig. I kind of like short hair, even though I like my long hair.
'Dad said I looked like my mom, so I guess that's why I never cut it.' I thought as I continue walking down the street as I head to Murry's shop.
Arthur's P.O.V
As Evelyn draws closer to the shop, Leonardo comes onto the scene unknowingly as he's lost in thought. Thinking about the young boy in the purple dragon gang. He wonders why such a young boy is mixed up with the worst street gang in New York. He must have gotten into trouble and ended up part of their gang. Leonardo then begins to think about the boy's face. He couldn't be any older than fifteen. His eyes were full of hatred that burned as he looked at the dragon and Hun. However deep down they were full of pain and loneliness. Leonardo comes to a break on a nearby roof, he looks down at the busy night streets and watches the people walk by not know about him or his family. Suddenly his eyes spot a familiar face approaching a convenience store across the street from him.
'Emmett.' Leonardo thought as he crouches down and hides as he watches Emmett walk casually inside the store. 'He wouldn't rob from that store would he.' Leonardo thought as he sneaks down the building and crosses the street without being seen. He peeks through the window and sees Emmett heading towards the back of the shop in photo sections. Curious as to what Emmett is up to; Leonardo looks around for something to wear so he can blend in. He borrows clothes off of a nearby clothesline and walks in and heads towards the back where Emmett is. Leonardo hides behind one of the shelves of food. He also grabbed a magazine to hide his face. Emmett rings a bell that is on the counter, calling for someone to help him. After about five minutes, a woman in her late forties walks towards the counter.
"What can I do for you, honey?" The woman asks.
"I need to pick up some photos. My sister came in to turn her film into the photo." Emmett said as he hands the woman the receipt ticket. The woman looks at it for a moment and then smiles knowing what he's talking about.
"Oh, yes I know the one you're talking about. She's a sweetheart." The woman said as she looks at Emmett.
"Yeah, she is," Emmett said.
"Alright, I'll be right back." The woman said.
Emmett looks at the many different size options for photos as he waits for the woman to return. As he continues to look at the different photo's he suddenly gets a sense that someone is watching him. He turns his head slightly to the left and doesn't see anyone. He then turns to the right and his eyes spot someone hiding behind the nearby shelf. Before he could turn around to get a better look at the figure, the woman returns.
"Here you go. Your sister had it saved under the name Emmett. Is that your name?" The woman asks as she holds a little packet in her hand.
"Yeah, that's me." He said as he looks back at the woman. "By the way, do you see someone hiding behind that shelf?" Emmett asks the woman.
"No." The woman said as she looks where Emmett said to look. Emmett looks too and doesn't see anyone. He looks one last time at the same spot and then turns to look back at the woman. "Alright sweetheart, that'll be $10.59," The woman said telling Emmett the price of the photos. He reaches inside his pocket and pulls out the amount of money that he needs and then hands it to her. Emmet looks at the photos as the woman puts the money in the cash register. As he flips through the pictures a smile spreads across his face as he remembers their trip to the zoo. Leonardo notices the sudden change in the boy's eyes as he looks at the photo. He wonders what he's smiling at.
"It looked like they had a lot of fun." The woman commented, breaking Emmett's train of thought.
"Yeah," Emmett said with a happy sigh.
"Where are you?" The woman asks.
"Oh. I was the cameraman. I'm a little camera shy." Emmett said with a bashful smile.
"Where are your parents? I didn't see them when I turned the film into photos." The woman asks. However, the moment that questions were asked, the smile on Emmett's face falls, and the same sadness that Leonardo noticed before returns.
"You okay sweetie?" The woman asks as he notices the sudden change in mode.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine," Emmett said as he looks back at the woman and smiles at her. "My parents were very busy that day, so I took my siblings to the zoo," Emmett explains.
"I see; well I'm sure your parents will go with you all next time." The woman said as she hands Emmett his change.
"Yeah, next time," Emmett says with a sad sigh as he bids the woman goodbye before he leaves the store. Leonardo follows Emmet out of the shop and back into the street. As Emmett walks down the street Leonardo follows him along the rooftops. After walking a few blocks, Emmett scenes that someone is following him.
'Someone really is following me.' Emmett thought. He decides to test his suspicions by walking through some of the back allies. After passing a few houses; he climbs up a fire escape ladder up to an abandoned apartment building. Leonardo notices his actions and follows close behind him, believing that Emmett hasn't caught on to him. Once Emmett reached the top he walks across the roof and then jumps to the next roof. However; once he made it across he quickly hides behind a shade that is attached to the next building. As soon as Leonardo makes it to the next house, he's surprised that he lost sight of Emmett. He looks around the area to find out where Emmett disappeared to. Emmett sneaks around the shed to see who is following him and is surprised to see it's that blue masked turtle.
"Where did he go?" Leonardo said as he looks across the other rooftops. Emmett puts his mask back on and climbs to the top of the shed to jump the turtle.
"I'm Right Here!" Emmett said as he jumps down and kicks Leonardo across the roof. "Why are you following me? Was cutting my arm not enough to satisfy you, hero?" Emmett said in his cold tone of voice.
"No, I just wanted to talk to you," Leonardo said as he stands up tries to stop his head from spinning.
"Yeah right. Why would a hero want to talk to one of the bad guys." Emmett said as he charges at Leonardo and they begin their hand to hand fight. "It's your job to take us down, no matter what." He said as he throws a series of kicks and punches at Leonardo but he manages to dodge them. Emmett continues to harshly attack Leonardo with fast and powerful punches and kicks. Leonardo does his best to dodge Emmett's attacks but some of his attacks manage to him. Leonardo desperately wants to show Emmett that he means no harm to him. That's why he's holding back. However, that's starting to become difficult for him.
"But I..." Leonardo said with a grunt as he blocks Emmett's punch to his head. "Don't...want..to?" He said as he ducks to avoid Emett's roundhouse kick. "Fight you," Leonardo said as he crosses his arm to block Emmett's last kick to the head, he pushes him back making him backflip and lands on the edge of the roof. This once again surprises Emmett.
"Then tell me why. Why talk to the bad guy?" Emmett asks him as he takes his stance once more.
"Because I know you're not a bad guy. You're nothing like the others." Leonardo said honesty ringing in his voice. Emmett can tell that he honestly wants to talk. Just before Emmett could say anything; the edge of the roof falls apart and Emmett loses his footing. Emmett manages to grab the edge of the roof before he makes the bad fall to the ground, however, he grabbed with his bad arm and the pain from his cut spreads throughout his arm. Making his grip slip. Just as he's about to fall to his death, Leonardo grabs his wrist. Leonardo pulls the boy safely back onto the rooftop.
"No offense but you've got a really small wrist for a boy," Leonardo commented as he lets go of the boy's hand.
"Hmph," Emmett said annoyed by his comment, and yanks his wrist out of his hand. "So you wanted to talk so talk." He said as he stands up.
"I want to know why you're involved with the Purple Dragons?" Leonardo asks him. As much as Emmett wants to believe in him he can't.
"I see."Emmett looks at him and sees in his eyes that he genuinely wants to help him. At least not right now. "I'm sorry but I can't tell you. At least not now." Emmett said as he runs across the roof away from Leonardo and jumps on the edge.
"Wait!" Leonardo cries stopping him. "Then at least meet again tomorrow," Leonardo begs.
"Alright," Emmett said agreeing with Leonardo. "But not here." He said as he looks back at him.
"Where?" Leonardo asks.
"On the rooftop of Roy's Pizza at midnight," Emmett instructed.
"Why at Roy's," Leonardo asks confused.
"You said you know about me, right. Well, you're in for a long night because I've got a lot to talk about, so in case you get hungry. I'll treat you to Pizza." He explains. "And I promise to pay for the Pizza," Emmett said with a chuckle. Leonardo laughs too.
"Sounds like a plane. See you tomorrow." Leonardo said with a nod.
"See you then," Emmett said with a nod and then jumps off the roof surprising Leonardo. He runs to the edge to see him but he doesn't seem.
"How did he do that?" Leonardo said both impressed and surprised. Leonardo leps to the other roof to head towards April's shop. He wants to warn her about the Purple Dragons.
Once Emmett sees that Leonardo leaves; he sighs a relief breath and then finally takes off the wig, letting her long hair fall around her. After fixing her hair she makes her way back to April's shop to pick up her brothers. Not know that once again Leonardo will once again cross paths with the same mysterious children.