Authors Notes: Hey! I'm glad you all liked the first bit! Your reviews were just the inspiration I needed. Now I think this is the last chapter I'll be rating PG-13 because I think the language is going to get a little racier after this. Eh, how knows. Again, thank you all and I hope you continue to enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: Something I forgot last time. I own nothing of NT. All I own is my character Alex. And this story is also placed several years in the future from the movies. The guys are all a little older…like their early 20's.
Chapter One
The smell of blood, thick and heavy, floated in the air followed obstinately around by the chill of death. It was that smell and its all too eager accomplice that awoke the trembling form of a young woman from her fitful slumber. Doleful blue eyes lifted beneath a curtain of tangled blond hair, trying to see through the obscure blackness that surrounded her. She moved her arms slowly, testing them and sucking in a startled gasp as stinging pain pierced her neck and shoulders. Lifter her head further she could see that her arms were shackled at the wrists and were attached above her to a chain link fence.
Panic slammed into her, causing her breathing to grow slightly irregular. She tried to think over the hammering of her heart but her mind felt groggy and disorientated. Flashes of fuzzy scenes passed through her head. Men in black outfits with red bands circling their heads, angry voices speaking in a language she didn't understand, her boyfriend Dan. Dan! She jerked her head around, searching frantically. Where the hell was he? Where the hell was she for that matter? All she could determine was that she was chained to a fence and sitting on a cold concrete floor. But why?
Her reply came in the form of blinding florescent lights. She closed her eyes against the offensive brightness, jerking back as if she had been struck. The buzz of voices started, echoing around her, speaking in that same language, the one she didn't understand. She knew she should have taken at least one foreign language in high school!
She opened her eyes, squinting from the harsh lighting. Her gaze fell first to her chest, stomach and legs and she bit back a horrified scream. Her rose colored tank top had been sliced from the center of her breasts down and hung open, exposing her flat stomach and the intricate brand that had been burned into her flesh inches below her right breast when she was very young. The Japanese symbol for eternity embedded in a single flame. The shirt and her blue jeans were splattered with crimson blood. But it wasn't her blood. No, that blood belonged to the poor creatures, the rats and ravens that had been slaughtered and now littered the ground around her. Their throats had been slashed, their life's blood pooling onto the bleak gray concrete.
The young woman's body convulsed as bile rose in her throat, choking her. Tears of panic burned in terrified azure eyes. Why was this happening to her?!
Booted footsteps broke through the accented murmurs, drawing her attention. She lifted her gaze. She shouldn't have but what did she have to lose? She was going to die tonight. She knew her situation could get no better. The certainty was alarming. Two men approached her. The shorter one wore a black robe with flowing sleeves and a dark red symbol etched into the fabric over his chest. He was bald, unmistakably Japanese and had black, untrustworthy eyes that watched her with a certain amount of scorn. The man beside him was taller. He wore a cynical grin as cold hazel eyes assessed her. "Hey there Alex."
Alexandria was going to be sick. There was no doubt of that. "D-Danny?" she croaked, her voice sounding pitiful in her own ears.
He released a bark of cruel laughter, dragging a hand through his dark red hair. "Yup. It's me baby."
"But-," Alex swallowed hard. "What's going on Danny?"
Danny strode purposefully towards her. As he walked he pulled a red band from his jeans pocket and slipped it onto his head, adjusting it so that the symbol that graced the fabric was centered on his forehead. "You've been played Alex," he stated in a tone that almost edged on boredom. He hunched down to her level and placed a cold hand on her cheek. "You've been played good. Now you're going to do what I say, you got that?"
Alex shook her head frantically. Hot tears coursed down her cheeks. What the hell was happening?! The last thing she could remember was sitting on her couch in her New York apartment, watching a movie and cuddled up close to Dan's side. He had said such sweet things in her ear, things that made her laugh. There was no way this could possibly be the same Dan. "Why?" she asked in an agonized whisper.
His hand slid from her cheek, brushing over her graceful neck and continuing it's awful decent over her full breasts and to her stomach where it came to a rest at the scar that had burdened her since childhood. "Because of this." He stood and turned his back to her, walking back to where the shorter man stood. "You're the one we've been looking for Alex. Legend speaks of a woman with the power to heal, the power to give life. She will bear the mark eternity upon her flesh." He turned and stared pointedly at her stomach. "You were granted with unfathomable powers…powers that we will put to use on these. We just want to see if you actually have it in you. Then it's on to the much bigger things." He gestured to the rats and large black birds around her. "Either you agree or you die. And we're not talking easy death here hun. We're talking long, painful…so the choice is yours."
"I don't know what you're talking about Danny!" She screamed, hysteria causing her muscles to clench and her stomach to quiver uneasily. The smell of blood lingered in her senses. Blood, god she hated the smell of blood. She hung her head. She felt cold, alone, and so scared. "I don't know why I have this scar and I sure as hell don't know what it means. You have to believe me. I don't have these powers that you seem to think I do!"
Dan quickly closed the distance between them, drawing back his hand and bringing it down with a resounding smack across her cheek. Alex's head whipped back as she cried out. She had no time to recover before that same hand grasped her hair mercilessly and yanked her head back. She stared up into cold eyes, eyes she thought she knew. "Don't lie to me bitch," Dan whispered threateningly. "You have ten minutes. When I come back you had better damn well have an answer for me."
He released her, throwing her head back against the fence and the lights went out once more, throwing her into darkness. Choking on a sob, Alex tried to think. She tried to block out the sounds of evil laughter, the smell of blood and death. She had ten minutes. Panic swam in her head. It made it impossible for her to think straight. But she had to. Her life depended on her own decision. "I'm going to be sick," she whispered, needing to hear her own voice. "I'm going to be sick…and then I'm going to die."
"No you're not."
Alex jumped at the sound of a rough male voice behind her. She started to scream and a hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off the sound. "Don't. We're going to get you out of here. Promise you wont scream?"
Alex nodded her head frenetically. She wasn't going to die! She would do the damn chicken dance if they asked her to just to avoid dying. The hand fell away and she drew in a deep breath, once again choking on the smell of blood.
"When I tell you to, I want you to run," the voice started speaking again as a hand slid up her arm to where the shackles circled her slim wrists, rubbing the skin raw beneath. "Don't look back, don't stop…just run. When the lights go on run for the shed on the other side. Our friends waitin' there for ya. You can trust him, okay?"
"O-okay," Alex stuttered, feeling the cold fingers of dread close around her heart.
There was a tiny sound, like metal sliding against metal. It was followed by a click and her right arm was free. It fell limp and useless at her side. Another click and her left hand fell free.
"Dude, did you get her?" another male voice said.
"Yeah. I got her. Now, I know it's gonna hurt like hell," he said, once again speaking to Alex, "but you have to ignore it if you want to get out of here."
Alex sagged back against the cold fence, feeling the wire bite into her skin. She shivered once, uncertain of whether it was the fence or her blood soaked clothing clinging to her skin that caused her to do so. "I can't move my arms," she muttered pitifully.
"Yeah, I know. But like I said, you've got to ignore it."
"Why are you doing this? Who are you?"
"We're the good guys."
She waited for him to say more but he didn't. Footsteps sounded like a death toll, ominous and heavy. They had come for her answer. She tensed, waiting for the signal from her mystery hero.
"Stand up," he whispered behind her.
She did so, grabbing the fence for support and pulling herself up as best she could until she was standing on long, unsteady legs. The footsteps grew closer. Tension snapped in the air, charging it for the impending battle. The unmistakable sound of electricity hummed to life. Alex closed her eyes, trying to block it out, trying to clear her head.
"Now!"
Alex's eyes snapped open and she pushed away from the fence, forcing trembling legs to move. It didn't take much. Pure terror was an excellent source of motivation. As soon as she started running light flooded the small yard, revealing small, crude houses enclosed by tall concrete walls and a frighteningly large group of black masked men. In front of her, shock written clearly on his face, was Danny.
'Keep running!' her mind demanded. Alex pushed herself, her legs pumping painfully as they carried her across the ground. She pushed right by the stunned Danny, almost knocking him over in the process. Behind her angry shouts pierced the night air as the men shrouded in black jumped into action. Several times she thought for sure she would be caught but someone was obviously watching out for her.
She saw the shed only a few yards away and silently cheered. She was almost free. Suddenly something large slammed into her. Alex screamed as she went down, her shoulder hitting the ground with a sickening crack. Brutal hands flipped her onto her back and she stared up into Danny's enraged eyes. "You bitch!" he yelled, bringing his fist down across her jaw. The taste of blood exploded in her mouth, lying heavily on her tongue and she released an angry cry of defeat.
"Danny…please…please don't do this," she begged, fearful tears collecting in her bright blue eyes.
"Don't do what?" he asked in a sinister way. "This?" His hand went to his side and came up again, this time with a Kriss butterfly knife clutched in it. He lowered it slowly to her neck, resting the sharp tip of the blade just below her ear.
Alex froze, her eyes going wide as a startled gasp lodged itself in her throat. The blade slid gently down her neck, passing harmlessly over her jugular the he began to press, drawing forth a thin line of dark blood. He slid it down her throat and over her collarbone. It was then that Alex began to scream, crying out in desperate pleading sobs for help.
"You'll be dead before anyone gets here if you keep that up," Danny growled.
"Think again kid."
Danny whipped around, taking the knife with him. "YOU!"
"That's right. Nice seeing you've reverted back to your old ways. Why don't you get off the girl and fight me?"
Alex groggily
listened to the exchange, lifting her hand and pressing it over the fresh wound
to stop the flow of blood. She knew that voice with its thick New York accent.
It was the guy who had saved her. How did he know Danny?
"Come on kid. I'll even make it interesting for ya. Winner gets her."
The weight of Danny's body lifted from her. "I should have killed you years ago, freak," he growled, lunging at the guy Alex had yet to see. There was a muffled curse, followed by a hoarse cry and the sound of dead weight hitting the ground. Alex tried to sit up, praying desperately that it was Danny who had gone down. Spots swam before her eyes and a lingering darkness beckoned to her, promising sweet, painless oblivion.
"Casey, get her out of here. We'll hold 'em off and meet you back at the lair."
It was him! He was okay! Tears of gratitude collected in her eyes. God, that meant she still had a chance to get out of there alive-if she didn't pass out first. Her head was pounding from the punch Danny had delivered to her jaw and the fact that she was loosing blood fast didn't help. Unexpectedly she was being pulled to her feet. She protested weakly, making feeble attempts to free herself.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here to help you."
Alex looked up into the dark blue eyes of a very tall man with black hair that hung to his chiseled cheekbones. "Who-?" she choked out, swaying dangerously.
The man pressed a cloth to her neck and effortlessly picked her up, cradling her in his strong arms. "The name's Casey Jones. Let's get you out of here huh?"
Around them the fighting continued. It was impossible to tell who was winning or losing. Alex barley managed to stay conscious as they moved past the shed and into the darkness.
"Is she okay?" another strange voice asked.
Alex didn't bother opening her eyes. She was tired…so tired.
"The little shit cut into her neck. She's lost a lot of blood."
"Is that all hers?"
"No. Mikey said something about a bunch of dead rats and birds. They were spread out around her with their necks slit open."
"Sick! Why would they do something like that?"
"I don't know Leo. We'll have to ask her-."
The voices started to slur together and then fade, growing farther and farther away. Alex fought as hard as she could, terrified of what the darkness the continually called to her held but in the end she was too weak and easily succumbed, allowing unconsciousness to take her.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"So how long do you plan on waiting?"
"Until he wakes up."
Michelangelo shook his head at his older brothers determination. "We got her Raph. Let's just get out of here and see if she's okay. Besides." He glanced nervously over his shoulder at the pile of slain animals and shuddered. "Those things are really starting to creep me out."
"So quit lookin' at 'em." Raphael replied, absently twirling one of his sais as he waited for the kid to wake up. Beside him Michelangelo, more commonly known as Mikey or Mike, paced nervously, keeping a trained eye on the fallen members of the foot clan. Their brothers, Leonardo and Donatello had gone with Casey and the girl. Raph had refused to go with them. He wasn't going anywhere until some of his questions were answered. So, of course, Leo had asked Mikey to stay with him and make sure he didn't get into any trouble. It didn't really bother Raph that Leo did things like that, not anymore. Leo was just being the protective older brother. Well, that and the fact that it was always Raph that was getting caught and held captive.
His patience snapping, Raphael walked over to the unconscious red head and kicked him in the side. "Come on kid. I ain't got all night."
The guy groaned, slowly opening his eyes.
"About damn time," Raph muttered. He reached down and grabbed a fist full of the young mans shirt, yanking him to his feet and slamming him into a nearby wall. "Hey there Danny," he drawled, placing the tip of his sai against the red heads stomach. "Got some questions for ya."
"Why should I answer any of your questions?" Danny asked in a voice laced with loathing.
"Because I have this." Raph pressed his sai into Danny's stomach, grinning when the young man's hazel eyes went wide with fear. "First question. What are you doing back with the Foot?"
Danny shrugged. "Why not? It's a good life. I have everything I could possibly want."
"Yeah, and it's all stolen," Mike said derisively, coming to stand beside Raph. "Real honorable buddy."
Danny glared at the two mutants, his blood boiling. "I have more honor then you'll ever know."
"Really? Last time I checked there wasn't much honor in chaining a helpless woman to a fence."
"Helpless?!" Danny barked incredulously. He threw his head back and laughed. "Oh please, the girl is far from helpless."
Raph tightened his hold on Danny's collar, choking off his harsh laughter. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" When Danny didn't answer right away he pushed his weapon further into the yielding flesh of his stomach, drawing a pained gasp from the man's mouth. "Answer me kid."
Danny lifted his head, eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "She's different. The girls a damn prophesy, one we've been waiting for. She was given a gift, the ability restore life."
"Riiiight," Raph said, rolling his eyes. "And what exactly would you need that for?"
Danny smiled maliciously. "Take a wild guess." He knew the moment the two mutants had figured it out. Their eyes widened and the younger one shook his head in denial. "That's right. You killed our Master, our leader. But we found him. And we're going to use her to bring him back."
Raphael had to resist the almost overpowering urge to beat the hell out of the arrogant man. "Good luck finding her. We've got her now."
"For now." The smile left Danny's face. "But you can't protect her forever. I know where she lives…I've slept in her bed. You can't keep her hidden. We'll find her, we'll use her…then we'll probably kill her. Or keep her around. Having a living, breathing prophecy could be beneficial, not to mention convenient. We've got a lot of guys…she could be of more use then just bringing shit back to life."
Raph pulled his fist back and slammed it into Danny's face, grimly satisfied when he heard the crack of bones. He let go of his collar and the boy slumped to the ground, out cold. "Let's go," Raph said, sliding his sai back into his belt and leading the way back to their underground lair.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Leonardo watched his brother Donatello painstakingly apply an adhesive to the large gash that went from the girl's neck and ended several inches below her collarbone. He was eternally grateful for the advances in the medical field. The adhesive was strong enough to act as stitches, holding the skin together. For added protection Don taped a large, rectangular shaped bandage over the cut. When he was done, he pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over the girl's body.
"Is she going to be okay?" Leo asked anxiously.
Sighing wearily, Donatello sat back in the chair he had been sitting in while tending to the girl who now occupied their worn couch. "Should be. All she needs is a little rest and she'll be as good as new in a few days."
Leo nodded, his eyes traveling over the young woman's blood stained clothes. "I hope Casey gets here soon. That can't be too comfortable for her."
On cue, footsteps sounded near the entrance. Leo looked up, expecting to see Casey but was still greatly relieved when Raph and Mikey walked into the room. "Did you find out anything?"
Raph nodded, walking up to the couch and resting his hands on the back of it while staring down at the sleeping woman. "Kid said she's a prophecy. They were going to use her to bring the Shredder back to life."
"You've got to be kidding!" Leo exclaimed.
"He had to be making it up," Don added, shaking his head slowly back and forth. "It's a scientific impossibility. Nothing like that could ever exist."
Mike came around the couch and sat next to Leo on the coffee table. "I don't know dude's. He sounded pretty serious-and pissed. Raph kinda knocked him out."
"He had it coming," Raph said defensively.
Leonardo studied the young woman. "So a prophecy huh?"
"One that dates back to early Japan. One that has remained hidden for quite sometime and one that has become very corrupted in it's telling."
The four mutant turtles turned towards the voice, watching their sensei and father come out of one of the several subway cars that took up their lair and walk slowly into the living room area. "So it's true? There really is a prophecy about this girl?" Don asked.
Splinter, an old mutated rat in ragged clothing with a missing ear, approached the couch, leaning on a gnarled cane. He stared down at the girl, gingerly reaching out and pulling the blanket away from her until he found what he was looking for. The Flame of Eternity. "Yes," he said at length. "It is true. I have only heard the story told once but for several years have remembered it well. It speaks of a girl with powers. She came into the world a child bearing the mark of the flame. Once born, she was taken from her family and in place of the birthmark was branded a symbol, the Eternal Flame. It represented power, a power very dangerous, and one that should never be toyed with. I think Danny…has heard a different version."
"She was taken from her parents? That's awful," Leonardo said, feeling deep sympathy for the life the poor woman had been given.
"You mean Danny didn't have his facts straight?" Mike asked. "Kid's kinda not all there huh?"
A groan sounded from the couch and they all turned their attention to the strange girl, waiting for her to wake up.
Alex came to slowly, the pounding headache that started behind her eyes and worked its way back making it almost impossible for her to shrug off the unconsciousness. She opened her eyes, blinking several times as they adjusted to the dim light. Everything gradually came into focus. Alex turned her head to the side, gasping in shock when her eyes rested upon two human sized turtles, one wearing a blue mask, the other wearing orange. They sat on a table, staring apprehensively at her. She jerked up despite the protests of her aching body but was immediately pushed back down by a pair of strong hands on her shoulders. She looked up into the stern face of yet another turtle, this one wearing a red mask. "You'd stay down if you knew what was good for ya," he said.
She stared up at him, her initial shock slowly fading at the sound of his thick accent. "You," she murmured, recognizing his voice. "You're the one who saved me."
He jerked his hands back, almost as if he had been burned, embarrassment briefly flashing in his dark eyes. "Yeah well…don't make a big deal out of it. I wasn't the only one there."
Alex lifted her head slightly, seeing another turtle wearing a purple mask and standing beside an old, mutated rat. With a shaky sigh she lowered her head back to the pillow. "What happened?" she asked softly, dreading the answer.
The turtle in the orange mask spoke first. "Well, it's kinda like this. I was out last night lookin' for something to do and I was walking by this apartment when this guy runs out carrying…well, you. You weren't awake or anything so it looked pretty bad, you know? Then two members of the Foot joined in and I knew something was up so I followed them back to wherever the hell they took ya and went back for reinforcements. Sorry it took so long."
"The Foot Clan is an old enemy of ours," the blue masked turtle sitting beside him explained.
Alex nodded slowly, forcing down a swift wave of nausea. "Um…I'm sorry but did you say last night?" she asked in a hoarse voice.
"Yeah," the one in the orange mask said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
She'd been out for an entire day? For some unknown reason, that scared the hell out of her. Her mind started conjuring up dreadful images of what could have happened, what they could have done to her in those twenty-four hours.
Alarmed at how pale she had become in a matter of seconds, Leonardo reached over, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. She turned frightened blue eyes to him. "Are you okay?"
"I…I don't think so," she whispered, nausea slowly building in her stomach. "Do you have any aspirin?"
Leo nodded to Don and the purple masked turtle disappeared into a subway car, coming out a minute later with a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin. Alex carefully pushed herself up, thanking him and taking three pills, washing them down quickly with the water.
"So what's your name?" Leonardo asked after she had drained the contents of the glass and handed it back to Don.
"Alexandria. Or just Alex." She pulled the blankets up around her, hiding the view of her filthy clothes from the five mutants and herself. "You?"
"My names Leonardo." He elbowed the one sitting next to him. "This is Michelangelo."
The orange masked turtle smiled, giving her a little wave. "You can call me Mikey."
"The guy behind you is Raphael, that's Donatello and our sensei Splinter," Leonardo said, finishing up the introductions. "We'll give you the whole story tomorrow. You don't look up to a bunch of explanations right now."
Alex gave him an appreciative smile. "Thank you."
"Hold up Leo. I think we should get at least one explanation tonight," Raphael said.
"Raph, don't."
As usual though, Raphael didn't listen. "Danny said something about you bein' a prophecy. What's that all about?" he asked, pinning Alex with cold, demanding eyes.
She visibly tensed, drawing away from them physically and mentally. "I don't know," she said, her voice barley above a whisper.
"I think you do," he insisted, leaning over the couch.
Alex stared at him in disbelief. Was he actually doing this? She didn't even know him and her he was pushing her for answers she didn't want to give. "No…I don't," she muttered coldly. His ebony eyes were burning into hers and she could clearly see that he knew she was lying. She silently cursed herself for the inability to stretch the truth and started to fear what he was going to do.
"I don't buy it. You know exactly what he was talkin' about."
He pushed too far too fast and Alex snapped. "I said I don't know what the hell he's talking about!" she screamed, her eyes filling with angry tears. "Why are you doing this?! You don't even know me! Stop interrogating me!!"
Raphael stared at the woman in shock, watching the tears roll down her flushed cheeks. This he hadn't expected. A breakdown maybe, a little information on what she was, but not such furious anger. Not used to being yelled at by anyone but Leo, he opened his mouth to say something but Splinters gravely voice cut him off.
"You have nothing to fear from us child," the wise rat murmured, trying to calm the distressed female. "We will never harm you."
She stared at him for a moment, her mouth slightly agape, burning tears staining her face. Finally she spoke. "I…I never wanted this," she said in a tortured whisper.
Splinter nodded, placing a hand over her head and giving her a warm smile. "We shall speak no more of it tonight. You need your rest. All of us do." He threw a pointed glance at Raphael and turned, making his way slowly back to his designated subway car.
Uncomfortable silence filled the room, neither of them knowing what exactly to say to make things better. Thankfully Casey chose that moment to return, carrying with him a large duffle bag. "Hey guys. I'm back," he said, walking up to the tense group.
"Casey," Alex gazed up at the rugged looking man.
Casey smiled down at her. "Hey, you're awake! Hope you don't mind but I took your I.D. and went to your apartment to get some things for ya. Locked the place up too…not that locking the door would actually stop those low lives."
Smiling, Alex accepted the bag from him and placed it in her lap. "Well thank you just the same. Leonardo, umm…you wouldn't happen to have a shower here, would you?"
"Yeah. Mikey will show you were it is."
Michelangelo stood, holding out a hand for Alex and helping her up. She stumbled once, falling against him. "Guess my legs are still asleep," she mumbled, refusing to think of other reasons why her legs may be tender.
Smiling down at her after grabbing her bag and slinging it over his shoulder, Mike looped his arm around her waist to support her, slightly surprised to find that she was about the same height as him, and then he started to lead her towards the bathroom. "It's cool babe. Can't really complain about having beautiful women fall on me!"
Alex laughed softly. "Very nice Mikey."
"I try."
After giving her a towel and letting her know that sleeping on the couch was only a one night deal, they would have a place set up for her tomorrow, Michelangelo left her, placing her bag on the floor beside the counter. She shut the door and slowly removed her clothing, turning on the shower and watching as steam rose in lazy tendrils above her head, caressing the cold tiles with transparent ghost like hands. Stepping into the shower she sighed and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of hot water sliding over her body while taking care to keep it clear of the bandages Donatello had placed over her long cut. The dirt washed away as well as the blood, but the feeling of queasiness, the thought that unknown things may have been done to her could not be washed away.
One minute passed, then two. Finally Alex hesitantly lowered her gaze to her legs. She inspected them closely for bruises but found none. Pressing questing fingertips along the insides of her thighs she was immensely relieved when she found no lingering soreness around the area of sensitive flesh between her legs. "Thank god," she sighed, leaning against the water dampened wall and dropping her head back. Of course nothing could be truly determined until she sought a professional's opinion, and she probably would but that could wait until tomorrow. For the most part she was convinced that she had not been touched…not in a sexual way at least. So now what was she going to do?
She thought of the four mutant turtles that had been willing to endanger their own lives to save hers. Could she trust them? She had thought she could trust Danny but that was obviously far from the truth. These guys though….they had saved her and they seemed nice enough. Well, most of them did. Her blood simmered as she remembered the heated argument between herself and Raphael. Didn't he know better then to push people for answers they were not willing to give? No, probably not.
Alex finished her shower and stepped from the tub, wrapping a towel around her body. She went over to the small mirror above the sink and wiped off the steamy residue immediately hating what she saw.
Wide eyes filled with fear and edged in a thin layer of unmistakable exhaustion stared back at her. Her skin, even after a hot shower was unbelievably pale. Then there was the bandage covering her neck and chest. She painstakingly removed it, wincing at the sight of the hideous gash. It would be there forever, a reminder of Danny's heartbreaking betrayal, just as the scar on her side, the symbol of eternity embedded in a single flame would forever be a constant reminder of who she was. She closed her eyes wishing the pain would go away and leave her be.
This had happened before except the previous time she had been foolish enough to share her secret. Not the entire truth of course, but it was enough. Her boyfriend had become obsessed. The only thing he wanted her for after that was her power. He became greedy and dangerous. So dangerous that Alex's only choice was to disappear. She thought the nightmare was finally over once she had arrived in New York. She had settled down into a cozy one-bedroom apartment and found a well paying job at a charming bookshop. Then she had met Danny. He had joined her for coffee when she was on break one day, oozing charm and they had started seeing each other. She should have seen it coming. She should have known.
Several months into their relationship they had become intimate. That was the first Danny had ever seen or heard of the scar. Then the questions never stopped. She avoided the truth as much as she could, for the most part sticking to an "I was at a party and was drunk enough to think it was a good idea," story. And now here she was, underneath the city after having faced near death by the hand of the man she thought she might have loved. How very wrong she had been.
Alex sucked in an unsteady breath and turned away from the mirror. She couldn't look at herself any longer. Slipping into a pair of plain red pajama pants and a white shirt that buttoned down the middle, exposing half of the angry looking cut, she slipped silently out of the bathroom, her eyes scanning the room for any other inhabitants. There were none. They were probably all sleeping soundly right now. Her feet padded softly across the cement floor as she looked around; studying the old stained glass arches over the abandoned station. Muted light sifted out of one of the cars, from the looks of it a kitchen maybe?
Alex placed her bag on the floor by the couch and grabbed the thick quilt hanging over one of the arms. Wrapping it around her she sank onto the couch and pulled her knees up to her chest. God she felt so alone. Would it ever stop? Would the running ever stop? No, it would not. As long as the prophecy existed power hungry fools would continually seek her out and there was nothing, nothing she could do to stop it.
Hidden in the shadows of a doorway across the room two figures stood, watching the young woman. "You should go apologize. She really didn't need that and you know it."
"I was just askin' her a simple question Leo. She could have answered."
"Raph, look at her. She's terrified and I don't blame her. You didn't really make her feel like she had a good reason to feel safe here."
Raphael turned to his older brother with a frustrated sigh. "If I go apologize will you get off my back?"
"Yes," Leonardo replied, keeping his voice low. "She's going to be staying here for a while Raph. I think we should at least make her feel welcome."
"Fine." Raph gave Leo one last scathing look and made his way slowly across the floor to where Alex sat, her vacant gaze focused straight ahead. It was unnerving seeing her like that. The only word that came to his mind was detached. That's how she looked; like she was separate from this world and living in her own hell. The sight was enough to make even him feel bad for her.
As he approached her she looked up, her bright cerulean eyes frosting over. "Come to harass me some more?" she asked in a low voice.
Raphael ignored her question and came around the table, sitting down on it directly in front of her. This wasn't going to be fun. He wasn't really one for saying sorry, even if some small voice was nagging at him that he really did owe it to her. "About what I did earlier. I'm…sorry."
She was clearly shocked by his words. Her mouth dropped open slightly. "You're sorry," she stated, studying him guardedly. The blanket slipped off her shoulder, pulling her shirt with it and exposing the soft flesh beneath; marred by the straight laceration Danny had placed upon her.
"Yeah…I'm sorry," he murmured, the words coming more easily. "And…not just for pushin' ya." He leaned forward; his good sense no longer guiding his actions. The sight of her sun kissed skin had stirred something deep within him, something that persistently pointed out that she was female, and a damn good looking one at that. His hand reached out before he could stop it. He heard her breath catch as his fingers gently traced outside the ugly cut. "I'm sorry for this too. I shoulda been there earlier to stop him. I'm sorry I wasn't."
Alex stared at him, her heart racing at the feel of his fingers against her bare skin. Oddly she wasn't afraid. His touch actually felt incredibly good, almost healing. Tears sprang to her eyes, his gentleness breaking the damn of emotions that she had tried so hard to build up in the past few hours. "It's okay," she whispered, feeling hot tears slide over her cheeks.
Her tears had an unexpected effect on Raphael. He had never been affected by a woman's crying before but for some unknown reason this woman's tears made him feel…bad. He didn't want to see her cry. What the hell was going on with him? "Hey," he said softly, moving his hand from her shoulder to cradle the side of her face. "What Splinter said earlier…he was telling the truth. You don't have to be afraid of us. We're gonna protect you."
Alex regarded him with those wide bright eyes and he was lost. "I know," she whispered softly, lifting a hand and placing it over his. They sat in silence, gazing into one another's eyes and slowly Raphael's common sense started taking over again. He realized how insane it was that they were sitting like this. They didn't even know each other! He jerked his hand back, his ebony eyes hardening. "Get some sleep," he muttered, quickly getting up and leaving her before anything else happened.
Alex was speechless. What had just happened? She watched his retreating back with a bothersome sense of disappointment, wondering why he had changed so abruptly. One minute he was caring and gentle, the next hard and distant. He was going to be zero fun to figure out. Sighing with more exhaustion then she even knew existed, Alex spread out across the couch, setting aside tonight's problems for the next day.