Author's Note:
I know, this next part is short...but it seemed to be the best place to cut it off. Thank you so much to my reviewers - wish I could invite y'all over for pizza or something. LOL, we could have our own little TMNT addicts meeting.
Rene: As always, thanks for your review. Yes, brace yourself.
Fallen Hikari: I seem to have hit a nerve with a lot of people. Oddly, I've never been afraid of drowning - but I'm terrified of sharks. Saved 3 people? That's incredible, what a great feeling. Honestly, kudos to you girl. But I can also sympathize with the fear of not getting there in time.
EntropyMage: Thanks for your review...I love being called evil. Means I did a good job!
Linchi: I think that I got it fixed, thanks for the heads up. Loved hearing from you.
Reluctant Dragon: Hit a nerve with you, too? Honestly, I'm not sure where the idea for this came from. It just popped into my head while I was running a few weeks ago (and listening to the song "baby got back"...obviously that had nothing to do with it.) How's that story coming? (wink).
Becca T: Glad that I was able to catch your attention. About the pov - to be completely honest, I have some sort of fear of writing in the third person. I don't really know why. Guess that should be my next challenge. So, although this is from Leo's perspective, it's really about all of them - and I'm glad that it came through. Your compliments were VERY MUCH appreciated.
Kikiyophoenix: Thanks for stopping by. We've had a lot of boundary pushing around this site lately, and I'm just glad to be able to add to the mix.
Deirdre: Wow, even your reviews are so vividly worded - I was extremely excited to get a review from you, and I thank you bunches for your praise. It means a lot coming from you!
Pacphys: Hope that you're recovering from your accident. That was an even bigger "whoa!"
Sprite232: You can't believe how much my face lit up when I saw that you reviewed. Couldn't wipe the smile off for hours. And I definitely share your fear of sharks. One of my babysitters let me watch Jaws when I was around seven...what was she thinking? I don't know if you've seen Jaws the Revenge, but at the very beginning, some guy on a boat gets his arm bit off - while the christmas song "first noel" is playing in the background. Every time I hear that song, I cringe. The christmas spirit has been removed from that one! And Plague...I'm working on it. (Smile) I'm at a tough scene, and I want to make sure I get it right.
ChibiRose: Yes, it is a sad reality. Thank you so much for your review, and I hope not to upset you too much!
Shannon: Lol, pardon your language? As you can see, I have no qualms with that. Honestly, that was one of the best compliments that you could have given me...lol again...because that's exactly what I set out to do. Thank you so much for your review - I appreciate it!
This time, I really do think that the reviewer responses are longer than the chapter...I'll make it up to you by posting the rest very soon. Be aware of swearing - Raph has a dirty mouth, especially when you make him mad.
(Leonardo's POV)
An icy snake of fear uncurled in my stomach.
Donatello's words had left me utterly bewildered and profoundly shaken – for once at a total loss of a course of action. I tried to clear my mind, to stay calm, but an uncanny silence echoed through my ears. That, and the ominous feeling of being watched. I had suddenly become acutely aware of Oroku Saki's presence – not in the room, but somewhere close by. It ignited my senses, and I could almost feel his dark shroud filter through me. Unmistakably evil, laced with a hint of pure delight…
The sensation made me shudder.
I knew that our lives had always hung by a thread. We were aware of danger from day one, and the thought of death was constantly gnawing away at the back of my mind. But I'd never truly believed that it would happen. I don't think that anyone does. We were so invincible…it seemed like, together, the four of us were always able make it through whatever was thrown our way.
But now, in here…I'd come to the realization that we'd reached the end of the line. And there was no way out.
Everything that I cared for – my whole family – was locked inside a glass prison, about to perish under the amused watch of our most hated enemy. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. For the first time in my life, I felt truly weak. Desperate.
Splinter…Master, what do I do? I silently begged him for an answer from beyond the grave. But I felt nothing – except my own guilt.
I'd failed, as a leader, as a protector, and as a brother. Normally calm and collected under pressure, I was falling apart.
The battle was finally finished. And we had lost.
Tension filled our small enclosure, tension so palpable that I could feel it surrounding me. Raphael shifted in his corner, his smoldering temper still evident by the clenching and unclenching of his fists.
"We don't have much time, Leo," he growled, not looking at me, but instead at the solitary door along the far wall.
"You don't think I know that?" I replied indignantly. "You don't think I know what's at stake here?"
Raphael muttered something under his breath, then swore fiercely. He raised his arms, preparing to take another strike at the wall, but something stopped him mid-swing.
Oroku Saki.
The door had opened, revealing his towering form, skirted by a half a dozen foot soldiers. Although he was in full uniform, the mask that normally covered his face was absent. A cruel smile touched his lips as his eyes met mine from across the room. He stood for a moment, drinking in his victory, then moved toward us with smooth, gliding steps.
He bypassed Donatello, who stood in the corner closest to the door, and circled around to me. He stopped when his face was only inches from the glass. I didn't back down, instead stepping closer to challenge him through the barrier.
"Leonardo."
I couldn't hear his voice, but I watched his mouth form the syllables of my name – slowly and exaggerated, hot breath creating fog across the glass. His eyes were narrowed in pleasure, his expression brazen. He was mocking me.
I kept my whole body still, refusing to give him the reward of a reaction.
"So much talent." Again, there was no sound to his words as his stare scanned over me. "Such a waste. But I will so enjoy watching you die."
I heard Raphael throw himself against his chains. "Fuck you, Saki! You don't even have the balls to face us like a man!" he yelled, loud enough to echo out through the top of our cage.
Saki's face darkened with anger. "Fool…" he yelled back, moving again to stand defiantly in front of my brother. Hate lit the space between them on fire – I had no doubt, that if he were free, Raphael could have killed him.
"Still so full of bravado, even as you stand on death's doorstep," Saki hissed. His eyes flicked to Michaelangelo, who still lay unconscious on the floor. "A shame that he won't wake up in time for you to say good bye…" He laughed evilly, spawning more outrage in Raphael, who struck ferociously back at the glass wall. The entire structure reverberated from the force.
Still laughing, Saki pivoted sharply away from him, spinning a finger in the air and watching two soldiers run hastily from the room. A few moments passed, then, distantly, I heard a rumbling noise in the ceiling above us.
"I win." Saki mouthed triumphantly.
Raphael hocked a wad of spit against the glass, giving him a bemused smile as it ran down the surface. "Go to hell, asshole."
Suddenly water surged from the suspended pipe.
