LEONARDO:

The fire stayed hot on my heels. My shell offered some protection, but the rest of my exposed skin was throbbing with the heat. The smoke, however, had me more worried. It hovered like a misty wall, blinding and stealing my oxygen at every turn. Nevertheless, my sprint remained determined and steady.

After a long distance, I thought I'd found the lair entrance near by. The smoke made it impossible to be sure though. Running my hand along grime-ridden walls, it came in contact with weathered wood. There. I turned the searing knob quickly and rushed in.

"Sensei!" I called out frantically.

No answer. The door behind me suddenly groaned as fire began to consume its exterior. Noticing it with alarm, I hurried to Splinter's room.

"Master Splinter?" I said aloud. I then groped through the darkness until I reached a bed.

"Leonardo?" came a weak reply.

"We need to get out of here! There was an explosion in the sewers!"

I heard shuffling until his eyes suddenly appeared. They shimmered a coppery rainbow in the light...light? I turned around to discover more flames licking the door frame. "Come on!" I said. I tossed the blankets off and lifted him up in my arms.

"Go!" He snapped.

I instantly leapt through the blazing doorway and over the flames. The main area of the lair was drastically diminishing. Our belongings became ashes swirling around my legs. Support beams caved in and smoke created a deadly overcast in which I squatted low to avoid. Frantically, I searched for an escape. The fire was blinding and destroying my home right before my tear-ridden eyes. All those years eliminated to sooty ruin, but there was no time to think about that now.

Splinter gradually grew limp. My mind became even more cloudy then the room, and my movements sluggish. It was only a matter of time before a beam suddenly collapsed on us. With a cry of surprise, I slammed into the floor. Splinter's form rolled away. I was pinned and prepared to die.

RAPHAEL:

Life is full of shit. More often then not, you're forced to step in it. That's why I'm here and not there. When I get back, it'll hit the fan. It always does, but what the hell. Life's short, right? And…I think I'm drunk.

"Yo, fill 'er up," I slide the glass forward.

The bartender eyes it then looks to me, "I t'ink yous had enough."

"Fill it, damn it!" He jumps as I slam my fist on the table and fills it quickly.

"To the rim," I add.

He does as told and moves off to the next customer without a word. Good.

I'm not exactly pleasant when drunk. In fact I don't' think I'm pleasant ever. I chug the whole glass. It takes a moment to gather my senses again after a rush.

Then I realize I'm outside in an alley. Why? I dunno. Do I care? No. Just another blank spot. I guess that's what I'm trying to do, blank out my whole life or somethin' while drownin' in alcohol. Suites me fine. I stumble around aimlessly. Things're lookin' hazy..blurry…ugh, I'm gonna hurl. Sure 'nough, I fall flat on my face wrenching my guts out. Kissin' the asphalt. What would Leo think of me now? Splinter? Brutal dry heaves prevent me from answering myself. The best interruption I could ask for. I slump in my own vomit. Did mention life can be a lot like a pool of throw-up too? There I go philoso- philosfly…thinking…again. Ugh.

"Hey there he is!" A voice shouts from the alley opening.

"That's the one. He didn't pay!" Another far off voice. At least it seems far off.

Approaching footsteps. I try to lift up somewhat and tell 'em to fuck off. Can't a man hurl in peace any more? Oh that's right I'm not a man. I'm not even an animal. A freak of nature. Ugh, how do I get off on these tangents? I try to reach down for my sai. Fumbling…can't find it. Where'd- A boot makes contact with my face. Blood, spit, and vomit. Guess it's as low as ya' go. I can vaguely feel myself being turned over.

"Shit, what is it!" one of them exclaims.

I can only assume my trench fell open.

"How the hell would I know? Just search it 'n leave it here."

They're goin' through my pockets. Their hesitation is worse, really. God forbid they touch something scaly and green. Hope they prefer lint over cash.

"Nothin'," the other grunts.

My vision grays over with spots during another crushing blow. The footsteps go away. And all I can wonder now as everything fades is what god out there hates me.

MICHAELANGELO:

Before I realize what's going on, I'm face down in sewer water. Not a pleasant realization, I'll add. I try to get up, but something flies into me with a resounding crack and rolls away. Again, I get up with a gag and following coughs. Smoke's everywhere, drifting from the alarm which is sparking like the friggin' forth of July. A large spark spits out and drifts to the sludge below. I step back when heat blasts my face as a blazing fire springs to life. Damn! Where's Leo? Don?

I slosh away from the fire and, luckily, bump into a limp form. I can't tell who it is. I sling him over my shoulder. He's lighter. I think it's Donny. The fire's coming dangerously close. I can't stick around for Leo. He should be okay, he always manages to get out of dangers like this.

With the added weight, I run along the sewer slowly. Cutting a sharp left, I grab the first ladder I run across. I have to anchor my feet and use one arm to lift the manhole cover away. The damn thing won't budge. I might have to put Donny down, but there's no time! I can see the fire spreading rapidly in the corner of my eye. Then, just when I think I really can't balance on the ladder, hold Donny up, and push against the lid, it suddenly lifts away. A hand reaches down. It jerks and grabs my throat. In surprise, I accidentally drop Donny trying to peal the firm fingers away. It jerks again and slams my skull against the concrete edge of the manhole. Color implodes across my vision before fading into black. I'm falling. A splash and intense pain jars my whole frame. Somehow I'm still conscious. I lift myself yet again from the water and watch the consuming fire rush towards me. It's only an arms length away. This could be my first glimpse of fire in hell. Guess I'll find out soon.