The Betrayal..
When I got home, I found Lea lying on the bed, watching television. Immediately she looked over at me when I walked into the room. "Hey, I am back," I said, I didn't like how she was looking at me. It was different. It was as if she was trying to look through me. I hope that she didn't know where I went that night. I walked past her to get to the comfort of my own bed.
"Did you have fun?" Lea asked. She was still following me with her eyes as if she wanted to talk about something.
"Yeah I guess I did," I chuckled nervously as I sat down on the bed, crossing one leg over another as if I was sitting in a lotus position. My hair and clothes still smelled like cigarette smoke and I knew that she could probably smell it. This made me feel even guilty so I tossed my hair behind me some to get the smell away from my nose. "I hope you didn't get too bored tonight." Guilt clearly in my voice.
"No of course not," Lea replied, but I noticed there was something different about the way she was talking. She seemed almost hurt or saddened by something. Was it me? Or was it something else? Through the years that I have known Lea, she was the one who seemed to be the more high-strung. Usually I was the one with the problems and she always stayed with me and helped me like a true friend. I hardly saw her sad by something. This really bothered me. "Lea, are you mad at me?" I asked as I looked over. I could see that her face was stricken with pain.
"No, I am not," Lea replied softly. I could see her shift her eyes back away from me as if she was uncomfortable with me directing the attention back at her. I could tell by the tone of her reply that she was not mad at me, which made me feel a little better. Or she could have been a very good liar. But Lea always told me she never lies to people so I think she was telling me the truth. But still she was clearly upset about something. I wanted to help her so much.
"You want to talk about it?" I asked as I continued to look at her.
I think my question kind of surprised her because she was almost startled. She may have been in deep thought about something. "No, it's okay, Mel. Really! I am fine. I am just really indifferent right now. It's kind of weird, I don't know why. But don't worry, I'll be fine," She smiled some to reassure me but she kept her gaze on the television. I think in fact that she wasn't telling me the whole truth. What was bothering her so much to where she kept her guard up so strongly? She spoke again, "I guess I am getting homesick. I kind of want to go home soon unless you really want to do something in the few days that we have left?" She was looking down at the remote, her voice was so soft that it really shocked me. She WAS definitely upset about something, but I had no clue what it was. I felt so helpless that all I could do was just look at her for a moment.
I felt like I was going to cry at that very moment. Maybe she didn't want to stay with me anymore? This was actually the only time that Lea and I had actually stayed together since we lived so far away from one another. Maybe she didn't really like me anymore and just wanted to go away? I then remembered the look on her face when she had entered the room when I had kissed Donatello. Maybe she was upset from that. I felt so bad. I had hurt my friend. I felt so weird by this. I decided to go ahead and let her know of my plans that I had. "Lea, that's fine. You can go if you want. I am actually planning on staying longer anyways."
Immediately Lea looked over at me, putting the remote down on the bed. I had gotten her attention. "Huh?" She asked, her eyes were wide with surprise.
Now the attention was back on me and I hated that. I grew nervous, I felt my brain swirling with what to say but there were so many things that I felt myself begin to stutter. I looked down at the bed covers, my fingers gently caressing the cover in nervousness. "Well I mean. I really like it here. I, uh, talked to Meredith and she said that there wouldn't be a problem with me staying an extra week."
"You have the money for this, sis?" Lea asked
"Of course! I have the money," I said very shortly, not wanting to go into this any further about the money.
Then Lea brought up the terrible question, "What about your parents? You told them right?" I don't know why I totally lost it when she asked me that, but I did. I think I felt kind of guilty because I had not call my parents back since the time my mom hung up on me. My mind was determined to stay in New York City. I was beginning to like the group that I was hanging out with. I learned from T that their name was the Purple Dragons. But lately they had treated me more like the family that I wish I had. T and the others didn't put me down for the way I was because they were just like me. I felt happy and comfortable with them. They let me do things I always wanted. My parents never gave me that kind of support. Maybe my family was looking out for my own good but I always wanted to live in New York City and I love concerts. My parents hated the way I dressed sometimes. My mom constantly gave me lectures on how I didn't look too feminine and how I would never attract any guys. I never really had an interest in men. I hated love, it sickened me. During my life I was unable to go to a lot of places even when I was over 18 because my parents were too controlling or so I thought. The Purple Dragons took care of me. They helped me feel accepted and maybe I did belong there. I felt the bitter words exit my mouth after Lea had asked that question. "I don't give a fuck about what my parents think." With that I had gotten up from the bed and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door. I wanted to get a shower to wash my hair to get the horrible smell of cigarette smoke out of it. I am not too sure on how Lea reacted after I had left the room. For that moment I didn't care. I was too overwhelmed by everything. I started to get undressed, but as I did, my mind started to zone out from reality. Although I thought I felt so happy being with the Purple Dragons, I did feel kind of sad. I couldn't believe I would be so hateful to my family and that I would be so secretive and deceitful to the only friend I seemed to have anymore. I stepped into the shower and started to rinse my hair. Then the image of Donatello entered my mind. He felt so concerned for my well being. He was like me. He was different from everyone else. He knew what it felt to be different and yet he remained so positive and happy from all the ill treatment he must have had through his entire life. I stood quiet underneath the water. I did long for his comfort once again but I knew there would be no way I could have it again. I felt so alone that I almost felt cold. For the days I have been in New York City, the days that I was with him, for once in my life I have felt so alive and complete, but now I felt so numb and hollow, like an empty shell. I turned and buried my face against the smooth shower wall and began to sob.
The next morning I clearly had slept in. It was around 10am before I actually woke up. Lea was sitting at the small round table near the wall eating her breakfast. I yawned some and then rubbed my eyes to get the sleepers from my eyes. "Morning," I said tiredly. I don't know why I was so tired.
"Morning," Lea spoke, her voice kind of muffled from some of the food that was in her mouth. "I brought your breakfast up." She pointed to the plate near hers.
"Thanks," I said smiling some. I admired Lea a lot as a friend. No matter how much hell I seemed to have put her in, she was always took care of me. I walked over and sat down in the chair and began to eat on the blueberry muffin that was on my plate.
During most of the day we bummed around the hotel. I don't know what was wrong. I seemed like there was a barrier between Lea and I. I could hardly talk to her and I knew she was still deeply troubled about something. She didn't seem happy at all as if she didn't even want to be here. I was thinking of taking her down to a nice little restaurant that evening in Chinatown to help cheer her up as a surprise, but that afternoon around 3pm, my cell phone rang. Lea and I were walking down around Times Square when it rang. She heard it ring too and looked over at me. I stepped over to the side to get away from the crowd and put my right finger into my ear to help me hear better as I put the cell phone up to my left ear. "Hello?" I asked.
"Yo, Mel. It's me, T," a voice on the other end replied.
I looked up at Lea, I could tell she was looking at me with curiosity, but I tried to make sure that I thought about what I would say before I actually said it so that way she wouldn't get too suspicious of me. "Oh, hey! How are you doing?"
"Good. Listen, is there a way you can meet me again tonight where you met us last time?" He asked. "It's really important."
I looked over at Lea nervously and frowned some. I had planned on taking her to Chinatown to eat, but now I couldn't. But this also meant that I would have to lie again about my whereabouts for the evening. "Sure. What's up?"
"Well it's about the attack that happened last night. Hun wants to talk about it some. He seemed very concerned. It shouldn't take too long."
"Alright, what time?"
"Can you meet us around 8pm? Same place as before?"
"Ok. I'll see you then," I said and pushed the end talk button on the cell phone. I let out a sigh. This was just great. I would have to be out again at night and I knew that Lea was going through some issues and I wanted to help her but how could I help her when I had to leave all the time? I stood there and pondered till Lea finally came over to talk to me.
"What's up?" She said, she was looking right at me.
"Oh t-that was Meredith," I said. "She wanted me to come over to her house tonight again around 8pm for a little while before we leave."
"I thought you were going to stay with her after this week," Lea said. I winced some knowing that I goofed up, but I tried my best to fix it up.
"Well I-I mean before you leave. I don't know what she wants for sure," I said, stammering some. I knew I had backed myself in a corner so I looked around nervously trying to figure out how to get myself out of this mess without alarming Lea. "Uh, hey Lea! I know it's kind of early for dinner but did you want to go down to Chinatown to get some food for supper tonight? My treat!" I smiled some.
"I have money, Melinda," Lea said, she seemed kind of annoyed.
"I know! But I want to buy your meal! Come on!" I said smiling big as I grabbed her arm, hoping that if I changed the subject some that maybe she would leave things be.
Things started to get better between us over dinner, which is good because that was what I had planned. Lea seemed to be more talkative and I tried my best to cheer her up. We reached the hotel around 7pm and I decided to go ahead and leave to go where I needed to meet T. As soon as I was getting ready to go this is when she grew quiet. I didn't wear my chain earlier that day, but I put it on that evening to wear. Lea watched me as she sat on her bed. "Do you want me to come with you, Melinda?" She asked.
"Nah, I'll be fine. I shouldn't be too long. I am just going to Meredith's for a bit and back. I'll have my cell phone so you can call me." I walked out of the hotel room, keeping our conversation very short because I didn't want to have her protest about me going out so late at night over to Brooklyn.
The subway ride over seemed to be a lot shorter than last time. Amazingly I remembered exactly where I needed to go to meet T. There was a slight chill in the air and I held my arms together and shivered some because I totally forgot to wear a jacket that evening. I walked into the "Underworld" club and made my way back to the backroom where we had the meeting last time, figuring that was where I needed to meet T. I recognized some of the people in the main area from my last time here, but there were some new people in here as well. Some of them looked around my age, maybe a lot younger. I opened the backroom and walked inside. There was sitting T and some of his friends that came to me last time and in front of them stood Hun. As soon as I walked in, I felt his gaze on me. "Ah, you made it," he said smiling big at me.
T turned his head around to look at me as well and smiled, "Yo, Melinda!"
I waved kind of shyly and walked to where they were. Hun looked at me and then motioned over to a space on the couch that was empty so I sat down. "I heard that you were attacked a couple of nights ago by one of those turtle freaks."
My eyes grew wide and I grew tense. T must have told him about the attack that had happened. I looked over at T for answers and he said, "I told Hun how we came out that night just in time to save you from one of those miserable genetic accidents." I frowned some by his T's last remark. I then looked at Hun to see him looking at me, waiting for an answer.
"Yes, I was," I said some kind of softly.
Hun looked at me again as if he was studying me. I didn't feel comfortable at all! I almost felt scared! Finally he spoke "The Master is here and wishes to speak with you about your encounter. The others may leave."
My eyes went wide and I looked over at T, he gave me a smile of reassurance and then walked out with his friends leaving me in the dark room with Hun and his Master, whoever he was. I looked at Hun's face as he watched them leave then looked back at me. "Master Shredder is here," he said and stepped back some. A figure stepped out from the shadows. It was the same man I had saw during the beginning of my trip in Chinatown! Hun bowed slightly at the man. I wasn't too sure on what to do so immediately, I got down on my knees and bowed to him.
"Please get up," the man said. "My name is also Oraku Saki, 8th generation Master of Ninjitsu. It is an honor to meet with you." His voice seemed so soothing and calm, it was almost kind of scary.
I looked up at him, shaking some, and sat back down on the couch. "I-I'm Melinda."
"You are from this city?" Saki said as he waved Hun off. I looked over at Hun, who bowed and walked out of the door and closed it gently. Now it was only me and this man here. I felt so nervous being in front of him. It was almost as if I was in at a job interview or something!
"No, sir. I am from Virginia. I was just on vacation. I was actually planning on leaving soon to go back home but I wanted to stay for the concert that one of the Purple Dragons gave me a ticket for. I-I'm just not sure if my friend or my family will let me stay longer," I said sadly, sometimes I hate myself for being honest when I shouldn't be.
Saki looked at me as I spoke as if he was studying my emotions. "You get along with your family and your friends?"
"Well honestly, sir. No, I don't. My family hardly understands me and I use to get depressed a lot when I lived there with them. I love my friend, but anymore because of some current events, her and I have grown apart," I said sadly, I felt tears rushing to my eyes, but I tried to hold them back because I didn't want to cry in front of this strange man, especially one who appeared to be so distinguished.
"So you feel so alone now don't you?" Saki said softly as he came up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
Finally one hot tear escaped from my eye and I felt its hot presence slide down my cheek. "Yes," I looked down at the floor trying my best to hide everything in me.
"That is probably why you sought refuge with the group that Hun runs. We take the ones who seem to be lost and sad and give them the life to where they can finally be themselves and be happy. You are most welcomed to join our group if you want. If you are interested I could teach you martial arts. Knowing how to protect yourself is fundamental in your life. For that way no one would dare tease you and you can finally be who you are." I smiled some at him. I knew he was right and I wanted that so much. All of my life I had been picked on from elementary through high school and even into college. I never seemed like I didn't belong and it made me sad especially when my own family seemed like that they didn't want nothing to do with me. "We are the family that you should really have instead. I can take care of you and give you whatever you may desire." I nodded my head and sat there quietly. The offer sounded so tempting, especially at this moment with what I had been going through for the past week. Saki spoke again, "We have been dealing with the issue of those turtle freaks like the one that attacked you for almost a year now. They don't believe in my cause to help those who seemed to be lost and make them happy. These green skinned freaks are highly trained in martial arts as well. From who? I do not know, but I am trying my best to train as many people as possible in Ninjitsu to help protect them from the turtles. T and his friends say that you were attacked by one of those mutant freaks the other night as well."
"Yes," I said sadly. I started to remember what Leonardo was saying to me. I felt so bad for betraying him but I was so upset at the time. Plus when he said that I should just stay away from Donatello, it crushed me tremendously.
"They said that the turtle spoke to you. Are you familiar with this turtle?" Saki pressed on.
I started to grow nervous. I knew that Saki must be an enemy of the turtles. I didn't know what to do. I felt bad for betraying Leonardo and his brothers for I still had some feelings for Donatello but yet again Purple Dragons had been taking care of me. "I-I'm not too sure on why he came to me, Master. But he's very hateful to me. I think because one of them had developed some sort of feelings for me. But I don't have any for them," I said growing angry thinking about Leo's words once more.
"So you have come in contact with them before?"
"Yes just that one time."
"And which one attacked you last time?"
"It was the one wearing the blue mask, Leonardo."
I saw a huge smile appear on Saki's face when I told him this, for what reason, I cannot say. "And you say that he has told you that one of the others has developed some sort of feelings for you?"
"Yeah…I don't know why. They are turtle freaks!" I said, lying, but yet my anger showing through.
"They are. Do not fall for them. These turtles only want to hurt anyone that they can. They are a menace to this city and one day I will help get rid of them. They will play around with your emotions. I fear that you are still not safe from them. Where exactly are you staying?"
"Well right now I am staying in a hotel in Times Square, but after I leave there I'm not sure," I said.
"You are more than welcome to stay at my skyscraper. I own a skyscraper in the middle of Manhattan. I can provide you with the food and the shelter that you may need. I will protect you from those freaks. But you must let me know if you have any more contacts with them alright?"
"Okay," I said. Oraku Saki had given me directions to his skyscraper and I stuffed them into my wallet. I said goodbye to him and left the "Underworld." It was around 9pm. I was only gone for an hour so it wouldn't be that bad. As I was walking away from the "Underworld," a voice cried out for me. It was familiar and completely shocked me.
"Hey, Melinda! Wait up!" the voice said. I turned around and there was Lea jogging over to me. My eyes went wide. Did she follow me here?