The rooftop of Roy's Pizza
Evelyn's P.O.V
After leaving my brothers safely at home I arrive at the roof of Roy's Pizza shop in my disguised. I stand on the edge of the roof and look down at the people walking by. I walk along the edge and stand at the corner of the roof. I look down at my watch seeing that it's two minutes till midnight.
'I wonder if he'll even show up.' I thought as I walk along the edge of the roof back to my original spot. Just as I'm about to give up hope, I sense a presence appears on the roof behind me. "I was beginning to think you were a no show, but you don't disappoint," I said as I turn around and see the blue masked turtle.
"I always keep my promises. So now that I'm here, shall we begin." Leonardo said as he stands in front of me.
"Before we begin, I think a little introduction is in order," I said as I jump off the edge. "My name is Emmett, what's your name?" I said starting the introduction.
"My name is Leonardo." He said as he introduces himself.
"Leonardo, as in Leonardo Da Vinci or Dicaprio?" I ask as I look at him. He chuckles at my comment.
"Da Vinci. My father named me after the famous renaissance artist." Leonardo explains.
"That's pretty cool. Da Vinci has always been my favorite artist from that time period." I said like his name. "I loved all the details that he puts into his paintings, he gives his painting and sketches such realism," I said thinking about my favorite painting.
"I think so too. It's amazing how his attention to detail helps breathe life into his work. It's like each picture has its own soul." Leonardo agreed.
"I guess we have something in common, huh Leonardo," I commented with a small chuckle as I sit down on the edge of the roof.
"I guess so and you can call me Leo." He said shyly he said as he sits beside me.
"Okay Leo; so where do you want me to start?" I ask him as I look at him.
"From the beginning I guess," Leo said.
"Why do you want to know anyway?" I ask as I cross my leg.
"If I'm going to help you, I want to know everything about you," Leo said as he looks me deep in my eyes. "So begin." He said as he sits and is ready to listen to what I have to say. I can see it in his eyes that he truly wants to help me. For years I've prayed for some way out and it seems that my prayers have finally been answered, in this blue masked reptile. I take a deep breath and then begin my story however, there will be some things I'll be leaving out.
"Well for starters; I'm 15 years old and I've lived with my family until 7 years ago. My mother died in a house fire when I was 5 and it was just my father looking after us. Then not long after that my father suddenly disappeared when I turned 7 and since then I've never heard anything from him." I said.
"So for 7 years, you've been alone? You don't have any other family that could look after you." He asks with concern ringing in his voice.
"I wasn't really alone," I said as I reach inside my pocket and pull out my favorite photo of me and my brothers. "I have my younger sibling. It's been tough but with them, by my side, we've been able to pull through." I said as I look at the photo and smile happily at my brother's smiling faces. "You asked me the reason why I've joined the dragons. Well, now you know." I said as I handed him the photo. When he looks at the photo I thought for a brief I saw his eyes widen. But then his face went back to normal.
"So these are your siblings?" Leo asks. "Are you the oldest or is your sister the oldest?" He asks me. I mentally sighed in relief that I believed what I hope he would believe.
"Well between me and my sister, I like to call her my other half, I'm the oldest by a few minutes." I lied as I scratched my head.
"So what are their names?" Leo asks me as he hands me my photo.
I debate in my mind whether or not I should tell him. I believe I can trust him but I'm still unsure. "I want to tell you, Leo, it's just I want to keep my family safe," I said as I take back my photo. "Don't get me wrong, I know I can trust you, Leo. It's just..." I said feeling that I might have hurt his feelings.
"It's alright Emmett. I completely understand I would be cautious if I were in your situation." Leo said understanding.
"Thanks, Leo," I said relieved. He nods his head with a kind smile. "You know; I did promise you a pizza. How about it?" I offered as I stand up.
"Sure that sounds good," Leo said as he gets up as well.
"Alright then what do you like on your pizza?" I ask as we walk towards the fire escape.
"Oh, just the regular. Flies. Stink bugs." He listed. I stop midway as I climb down the ladder.
"Really?" I ask both surprised and slightly disgusted. "Umm, I don't think they..." I said as I look at him.
"It...it was a joke. I like pepperoni pizza" Leo said reassuringly.
"Oh...okay. I'll be back in a few." I said laughing a little, finally getting his joke and then continue my descent down the ladder. I wait in line and I place an order for two large pepperoni pizzas. I also bought some sodas to drink as we talked. After I paid for the food and drinks I leave the store and head to the fire escape. Halfway up the ladders, I see a green hand extended out to me, I look and see it's Leo. I hand him the pizzas and I finally arrived at the top of the roof with the drinks. "I also bought some sodas. I hope you don't mind but I got Orange crush." I said as I pull out two bottles and handed him one of the battles.
"That's alright. Thanks." He said as he opens his bottle and takes a sip. I do the same and then take a bite of my slice of pizza. Leo also does the same. Once I finished chewing my food and then I spoke.
"So where did I leave off on my story?" I ask as I take another sip of my soda.
"You were talking about your siblings. But we agreed that you didn't have to tell me about them." He said as he before he takes a sip of his soda. "Tell me about where you learned to fight? I've never seen this form of martial arts before." He asks as he takes a bite of his pizza. I take a moment to gather my strength to tell him as much as I can for now.
"Well, I can tell you about my style of fighting. It's called Kung Fu. It's one of the many forms of martial arts found in China." I began.
"Well, that explains your foreign language. You were speaking in Chinese that night we meet. Were you born in China?" He asks.
"No, I was born and raised here in NYC. However, my master was from China and moved here." I explained. "I came to study under him when I was a kid," I said as I take another slice of pizza and take a few bits. Then I continue my story. "His name is Master Carson; he is a ninth-generation master of Kung Fu. He was one of the only few masters that bare the highest title, Dragon." I said as I take another sip of my soda. "He became part of our family after he saved our lives. My father and Master became like brothers and he became like an uncle to me and my siblings."
"You keep referring to Master in the past tense. What happened to him?" Leo asks me.
"About 5 years before I joined the purple dragons; Master Carson's skills as a fighter was spreading throughout the city. " I began. "This news spread reached the ears of a hidden organization of skilled thieves and warriors. They approached my master and asked him to join their group, but he refused their offer right away. We believed that my master had dealt with them but we were wrong." I said as I can feel my heart aching remembering the night that began my family's misfortune. "One night my master's dojo and the home was attacked by soldiers that worked for that organization. They tried to force my master to work for them by targeting his family. My family." I said as I clutch my fist as images of that night flash before my eyes. I guess Leo must have sensed my anger and distress because I feel him place his three-fingered hand on my head.
"You don't have to tell me everything at once if it's too painful." He said comforting me. It was strange I'll admit, but it's been so long since anyone has comforted me like this. It kind of reminds me of how my father used to comfort Rai and Geg.
"Thanks, man but I still want to say tell you my story," I said reassuringly as I place my hand over his hand and take it off of my head. "That night our lives changed forever. My master and I lost something precious to us. He lost his brother while I lost my parents." I continued. "We managed to escape and Master Carson took us in and raised us as his own. He became a second father to us all. He trained not only me but my siblings as well just in case we would run into more trouble. Two years past and we thought we could finally have a peaceful and normal life. However, our moment of peace was ruined when members of that secret organization found us again and this time they threatened the lives of myself and my siblings." I said as I take one more sip of my soda. "So my master took me and my siblings and we hid in an abandoned apartment building. He told us to stay here until he returned. But... he never returned" I said as I look down at my hands and clutched them both.
"So you and your siblings have been in hiding all this time. Waiting for your master to return." Leo asks.
"Yes; it's almost going to be three years since his disappearance. I've feared for the worst and if I could I would be out there looking for him, but I can't." I said as stand up from my spot and look over the busy city streets. "I promise my master I would protect my family until he returns. That's why I'm here and that's why I've joined the purple dragons." I said as I look down at my left hand where my dragon tattoo. "Until I know I can keep my family safe; I'm bound to this gang," I said as I clenched my left fist both out of anger and regret being branded by them.
"So you're only with the dragons until you can find someplace safe for your family," Leo asks as I feel him stand behind me.
"Yes; however I know that I can never be free from them. I'm forever trapped in their world." I said as I let my left hand fall to my side and look up at the moon.
"But you're not. You're not completely trapped in their world." Leo said suddenly as he stands beside me.
"What do you mean?" I ask wondering what he means.
"While your actions are done because you work for the purple dragons. Your heart has not been fully tainted by their evil." He explains. His words surprised me. I look at him as he continues to explain. "Deep in your heart and soul, you know that what you are doing is wrong. Because of you of this; you have not fully become bound by them." He said with such wisdom that exceeds far beyond his age. He truly is a valiant warrior, much like my father and uncle Yoshi.
"Thank you, Leo, I wish I could be worthy of your words but I fear I won't. Not as long as I remain a bird trapped in its cage. A cage called "The Purple Dragons". I said bitterly as I gritted my teeth as I say that vile gang's name. Even thinking of that gang disgusts me.
"What if you could be freed?" Leo said suddenly. "I can help you escape from your cage, Emmett." He said. I turn to look at his face and see he's truly serious. His eyes are blazing with confidence.
"Are you serious Leo?" I said completely shocked.
"I am." He said confidently. "You've been with the dragons for too long and I know you want to escape. And I will help you." He declares with courage and confidence, like one of the hero's from the cartoons Rai and I would always watch. "So what do you say, Emmett?" He says as he extends his hand out to me.
I feel my heart fill with so much confidence with this turtle and I can feel myself believe that I can trust him and he can help me finally leave the gang. With a heart full of courage and resolve I speak.
"It's going to be tough...but if there's any chance I can finally be free from those punks." I turn to face him. "Then I'll do whatever it takes. Thank you, Leo." I said as I take his hand and shake his three-fingered hand.
"It's not going to be easy, Emmett. This is going to be a long a difficult task but you won't be doing this alone." He said as he shakes my hand. "You've got a friend who will help you." He said confidently as he places his free hand on my shoulder.
'Friend' I thought as the word resonated through my heart. After walking so long through this darkness by myself; I finally have hope that I can finally escape. And now I have a friend that is now my beacon to lead me back to the light. It's an unlikely friendship but I'm now and forever grateful to my first friends.
"Thank you; my friend," I said as I take my free hand and shake his large three-fingered hand.