Chapter Sixty-Two
The Future
A few days later
Mona sat on one of the benches in Mutopia, she was still feeling stressed, yet the gentle sound of the rushing water in the canal soothed her soul if only slightly.
On her lap, she held a newspaper which Jake had picked up on his trip to the surface to speak with Hugh about the events involving Diablo.
On the front cover was the burnt down Cult's church with the headline 'Straight Truths Church Burnt down in Arson Attack'
It must have been through pulling a few strings on Hugh's part, but the Media announced that a group of people had attacked the Cult from the inside and set the church alight.
'It was an event which many members of the public considered karma on the notorious Hate Cult 'The Straight Truths Baptist Church' when a group of costumed vigilantes attacked the Cult during their Sunday Night service.
Members of the Cult fled the church as it burnt to the ground yet three people were killed in the blaze.
One was the stand in preacher of the cult as the real pastor and founder of the Church along with his wife and brother had been viciously attacked weeks earlier by a mysterious Raven dressed attacker.
As of now, Police are searching for the ones who attacked the cult with no such luck, they believe that the earlier attacks on the Preacher and his family, along with other similar attacks as well as the burning of their church is linked and that the raven dressed attacker wasn't working alone.'
Mona sighed in relief that the public were still unaware of the existence of mutants, yet she was still worried.
The following night after the attack on the Church, Tyroth and the Knights went searching in the city, and they found no trace of Diablo, nor the Disciples.
Mona again was worried that Diablo was laying low, and he would strike again, but it had been over five days and neither the Raven nor his Disciples had made an appearance.
Part of her wondered whether they had gone underground or had fled the city.
Neither Jack nor Devina had picked up any scents, and all the Knights had searched every dark corner of the city, up and down, and yet found nothing.
"Mona?"
The Lizard Lady almost jumped out of her skin, and she turned to see Raphael standing behind her.
"Raph?" she asked.
"Hey babe, are you okay?" Raphael asked walking over and wrapping his arms behind her before kissing her neck tenderly and looking at the newspaper.
"I suppose." Mona sighed as she leant back into Raphael's comforting embrace.
The day after the final confrontation with Diablo, the turtles, Master Splinter, April, Casey, and the girls arrived in Mutopia.
Mona was more than happy to see her family again and she couldn't help but break down in tears to which Raphael had held her close along with her adopted brothers and father.
Raphael was ready to berate his mate, but after seeing her in a such a state he felt he couldn't say anything to her and just knelt there in silence letting her cry.
Master Splinter and the other turtles had done the same thing whilst April and Casey held Kemeko and Pandora back until Mona had calmed down to hug the girls and apologise for running away to Chicago.
"You're still wondering where he is aren't you?" Raphael asked as he looked at the newspaper.
"Doesn't take a genius honey." Mona sighed "I just…I…I…."
"I know babe." Raphael comforted kissing Mona's neck again "I know this is so hard."
"It's torture." Mona whispered as tears stung her eyes again "All I can see is that look in his eyes, the same look he gave me at the temple of the well, and when I stabbed him…."
"He ran into your knife!" Raphael interrupted "You didn't intend to wound him!"
"I know…but still I…" Mona started.
"Shhhh." Raphael soothed and kissed Mona's temple "You are not the guilty one…you only did what you could."
Mona took a breath wanting to say something, but no sound came from her mouth, and she slumped down defeated, there really was no denying it, after stabbing her brother, whether it had been intentional or not, Callum was truly gone, and only Diablo remained.
Tears spilt from her eyes again and she let Raphael's comforting embrace keep her safe.
After a few minutes of holding his heartbroken lizard mate, Raphael informed her.
"I came looking for you because Tyroth's making an announcement in the Mess Hall to everyone." He spoke.
"He is?" Mona asked sitting up.
Raphael nodded.
"Everyone's gathering now." He said helping his mate stand up.
"Okay." Mona sighed then resting her head on her mate's shoulder she walked with him to the mess hall.
"Pandora and Kemeko are with Sonia and the Geckolings." Raphael reassured, "We'll inform them of what was said later on."
When the couple arrived at the mess hall, their took their seats at the front with the other turtles and Jake. Tyroth stood on a raised platform at the front with old George.
Sephie and the Knights were there too, and people talked in low voices, all speaking about the situation with Diablo.
Mona couldn't help but think back to the very first meeting Mutopia had after Diablo betrayed them and fled, and how she felt some of them blamed her and Jake.
Discomfort twisted in her stomach and chest, and she started to bounce her leg in nervousness.
Old George tapped his stick a few times to get everyone's attention and Tyroth also raised his hands to quieten everyone down.
As that happened, everyone went silent apart from a few slight murmurs from the back.
"My friends." Tyroth announced "For the past month, since the Traitor Diablo turned on us and fled, myself and the Chicago Knights along with Hugh's help, have been searching for him and hoping to bring him to justice for his crimes, and even I am ashamed to admit this, but each time we have tried, Diablo has been one step ahead or used his dirty tricks to evade us."
A few murmurs ran around the room and Mona sighed sadly to which Raphael and Jake squeezed her hands in comfort.
"For the past week, the Knights, Hugh and I, have searched high and low, left no corner unexplored nor stone unturned, we've gone through the city with a fine-tooth comb, and still no sign of Diablo."
The Mutopians all looked at each other in confusion as well as worry.
"You mean you've not found a feather?" asked Barry.
"Nor a claw?" enquired Cam.
"Not one!" Tyroth said and everyone started murmuring and chatting.
"I can only stress," Tyroth spoke again, and everyone went quiet.
"We are still going to continue our new normal, passwords will be updated regularly, Hacker will keep the systems checked as well as updated and make sure all the cameras around the Sanctuary are in working order, and rules will be updated and changed, we will have regular drills, and if a Lockdown is needed, it will happen."
The Dragon scanned the room.
"Are we all in agreement with this plan?" he asked to which everyone nodded.
"Good." Said the Dragon, then he sighed "I cannot predict the future, but wherever Diablo is now…I have no idea, since we found no trace of him in Chicago, we can only guess he may have fled the city, but should he ever return to Chicago, rest assured, we will be ready for him!"
"Hear hear!" Jack cheered and the Knights also clapped in agreement.
Tyroth wasn't wrong about Diablo's disappearance.
Many miles away from Chicago, Diablo and his Disciples had fled the city and had come to rest in the countryside.
After leaving Chicago the following day at dusk, they travelled a long way, hitching a ride in a large open back pick-up lorry that had stopped at a petrol station on the road they were following.
After a few hours, they escaped the back on the lorry where it had stopped at a farm and decided to rest for the evening in a large barn, it was luckily warm due to the fact there were cows in the barn, and they hid in the upper area where the hay was stored.
They knew they couldn't stay in the barn, as the owners could come across them, but it would suffice until they had rested.
Regan had indeed been interested in the blood of the cows below, but Diablo told her to stay away from them since if she made her appearance the cows would panic and alert the farmers.
Diablo sat on the edge of the upper area of the barn, looking out at an open hatch at the starry sky, thinking about what he had left behind.
He touched his chest where Mona had stabbed him as well as looked at where Jake had shot at him.
Part of him was saddened, as his siblings had tried to kill him, but he was angry too, that they would attempt to harm him like that.
He knew there was no going back, and he knew he would miss Jake and Mona terribly and could only regret he couldn't bring them over to his side.
"Diablo?" Ravage's voice was heard behind him.
The raven turned to look at the Locust who was walking over with a beer can in hand which he handed to Diablo who gratefully took it.
"Thanks!"
"Are you okay mate?" Ravage asked as he opened his can of beer and sat with him "The others are just getting comfortable."
"I'll join you soon." Diablo said, "I just…need a few minutes."
"I understand." Ravage said patting Diablo's back with his extra arm "You know, I never got the chance to say thank you for freeing me from that Cult, after such a shit life with those haters, I'm glad to be free and living a more exciting life as a Mutant."
Diablo smirked at Ravage.
"You proved your loyalty," he said, "And I was happy to welcome you as a Disciple."
Ravage smiled and sipped his drink.
"So where will we go from here?" he asked.
"I don't know friend." Diablo answered truthfully "We will find our place in the world and make an impact on it!" he added the last part with a smirk "All sinners of the world will know us…and what we can do to make them regret their actions!"
"And hopefully find more who will follow us?" Ravage asked hopefully.
"I hope so." Diablo smirked "I'm sure we can find some lost souls and recruit them to our side."
Ravage smirked in approval.
"I look forward to that day!" he said then stood up "Anyway, come and join us when you're ready."
"Thank you Ravage." Said Diablo as the Locust walked back to the piles of Hay to look for the other Disciples.
After Ravage had left, Diablo turned to look at the starry skies through the window of the barn and his thoughts began to circle in his head.
"Never in eleven years, would I find myself becoming a mutant, I remember the anger I felt towards my brother and sister, wondering why they did this to me and didn't just let me die by Shredder's blades.
But after realising what I could do with this new body, I began to know what my new purpose was, and I relish in the pain and misery I bring to those who deserve it! The Hate Cult, the Red Necks that killed Samson and Rex before I mutated them, Chasity's abuser, the men who killed Lamia, they all deserved their punishments, I have no regrets!
The final confrontation with Jake and Mona, as much as it pained me that we were no longer family because of our differences, I knew I had to stand my ground and what I believed in, and if they were unwilling to accept it, well, it's their loss!
I am no longer Callum Freeman, I am Diablo the Raven, Leader of my Disciples, my new family, wherever I go, they follow me.
They are grateful to me for the gift I have given them and have gotten the justice they deserve after punishing those who wronged them, and I know there are others out there that will be willing to follow me, lost souls, abused souls, I will be there for them, and give them the offer and the magical water.
Sinners out there, whoever you are, wherever you are! Beware, there is nowhere to run, or hide, for I am your judge, jury and executor, and you will never forget the encounter with me when I find you and make you pay the price! You will never forget your encounter with Diablo and the Disciples!"
The End….?
Phew! Wow! Well, it's taken about two years to do it, but finally United By Fate is finished!
Now I'm sure a lot of you will be wondering, will we see Diablo and his Disciples again?
Rest assured, whether you love them or hate them, Diablo the Raven and his band of Disciples will return!
Not sure when, but hopefully sooner rather than later! I'm always open to ideas! And I'm sure Diablo will recruit more followers with the stolen water he has in his possession!
But now it's time to move on to the next story! This time, a Crossover fic! The Ninja Turtles meet the Street Sharks!
I remember the cartoon and the toy line from the 90's and I did enjoy it, even though I saw a lot of similarities between it and TMNT.
What's the plot of the story? Well, that's for me to know and you my dear readers to find out which you will when I post it next weekend!
Stay tuned till then! Stay safe and have yourselves a great day!
Love Bloodrayne666