CHAPTER EIGHT

" Should we tell your brothers?" Naomi whispered later that day. She and Raph were sitting on a bench in Central Park, enjoying each others company and forgetting about Garland for a change.
" About what?"
" Me and you," Naomi snuggled closer to him.
" Nah…let's see if they figure it out themselves," Raph suggested.
" Fine with me," Naomi raised her face for a kiss and Raph was happy to oblige. The kiss deepened and for a minute Raph felt dizzy. He broke away and stared down at her.
" What?" Naomi asked, " Why did you stop?"
" I don't know," he admitted, " I was thinking why a sweet girl like you could be interested in a turtle? I'm not even human!"
" You are human Raph," Naomi assured him, " To me you are."
" But I can be moody and sarcastic…maybe you're better off with someone like Don."
Naomi frowned, " Why Don?"
" He's the sensitive turtle. He's quiet and a thinker like you."
" Maybe so, but two people who are alike would be very boring," Naomi pointed out, " I like you Raph," she kissed him on the cheek, " Even if you're skin is green."
Raph couldn't help but grin, " Well then, if you want me, you're stuck with me." Naomi went to kiss him again, but her eyes went wide with disbelief.
" Is he following us?" she blurted and he whirled around. Matthew Garland was standing a few feet away, staring at them, he was wearing dark clothes and a baseball cap.
" Just ignore him and he'll go away," Raph suggested.
" What if he comes over?" she worried.
" He won't dare come over when I'm around," Raph assured her.
" Maybe we should go," Naomi began to stand but Raph tugged her back down.
" No, we aren't going to be scared off by him," Raph was firm.
" But I am scared," Naomi whispered, " Scared of my own twin brother." She watched in horror as Garland began walking towards them.
" He has some nerve," Raph growled, " Why can't he leave us alone in peace?" he glanced at Naomi. Her face was ashen, " Don't worry, he won't try anything in public."
" Its not that," she said, " he's planning to-" she stopped.
" Planning to what?" Raph suddenly remembered she could read her brother's mind. This might be a curse, but it could also be useful.
" Let's just get out of here," Naomi urged standing up and grabbing his arm. They hurried out of Central Park.
" Is he following us?" Raph asked after awhile. Naomi glanced over her shoulder.
" No, we're okay," she said as she took his hand in hers.

* * *

That night, the turtles went for their jog through the sewers. Naomi decided to stay with Splinter. She wanted to get to know the rat more.
" You can meditate with me," Splinter suggested once the turtles were gone.
" Meditate?" Naomi repeated. She knew Splinter was very spiritual and meditated on a daily basis.
" It is good for the mind and body," Splinter told her, " Leo and Don sometimes meditates also."
" I'll give it a go," Naomi said smiling, " I like to try new things."
" Good," Splinter also smiled. He liked this quiet, good-natured girl. But she was still very guarded and secretive. What was her story? Why does Matthew Garland want to kill her?
Naomi followed him into his room and copied his position; sitting cross-legged on a cushion and listened to Splinter explain meditation:
" A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated to yourself. It could be spoken aloud, as a chant, or silently, as in meditation. Many people think that the best mantras are sounds which have no clear meaning, and are used as a way of displacing your usual thoughts and moving your awareness inward."
" Breathe naturally. Sit for about one minute before you begin thinking the mantra to allow your heart and breathing to slow." Splinter instructed. Naomi did as she was told and Splinter kept on talking:
" Allow your thoughts and feelings to come and go with detachment. Don't try to control them in any way. Just note them, and when you realize that you are not repeating the mantra, gently return to the mantra. Do not try to force yourself to think the mantra to the exclusion of all other thoughts. You may experience a deep state of relaxation but this is fine if you don't," When you are done, take about a minute to slowly return to normal awareness. Be gentle with yourself when opening your eyes or coming to stand after a meditation. It isn't good for your heart to get up quickly after the state of deep rest that is often a result of meditation," Splinter cautioned.
Splinter glanced over at the girl. Her eyes were closed and she looked relaxed. So he closed his own eyes.

She found herself back at the parking lot at work. Naomi was struggling with Garland when she finally broke free of his grasp and started running. He was hot on her heels.
" You can never hide from me!" he was shouting, " Give up now!"
Naomi refused to let herself give up. She kept on running into a alleyway and discovered it was a dead end. Her heart jumped to her throat; she was trapped.
" Please," she whispered, " I'll do whatever you want, just spare my life!"
Garland approached slowly, the knife raised high in the air, " No," he said, " Do you know how long I've waited for this? Years! To finally put an end of you and your evilness."
" You think I'm evil?" Naomi whispered, " Just because I can read your mind?"
" You're also a witch," Matthew's face grew red as he thought about the time when Naomi found out about his plot to kill their parents. Hell, he should have killed her at the same time. It would have saved all this trouble.
" A witch!" she gasped, this was worse than being called evil.
" That's right," he scowled and then lunged for her. Naomi screamed and stepped backwards, only to fall to the ground. She flung her arms up to protect herself, but this didn't stop Garland. He lashed down with the knife, stabbing her in the heart…

Naomi gasped and her eyes flew open. Her face was ashen and her hands were trembling.
" What's wrong my child? What did you see?"
Naomi's heart was thudding so hard she was afraid she'd have a heart attack, " I-I don't know," she stammered. She paused, " I think-I think I saw a vision of my own death."