Author's Note: Hello there back for another chapter. Glazier Blue and I did our magic once more and we came up with this gem of a chapter. I bet you all are curious as to what happened in the last chapter, and this one will hopefully sate that hunger you all are feeling. We worked hard on this and should be good. Enjoy.

Chapter 3: Captive Prey

"Ughhh…." Donatello groaned miserably as consciousness slowly crept back to him. Ok where was he? What had happened? A voice in his head told him he didn't want to remember. Meanwhile the aching in his head was telling him that was the least of his problems as the burning pains all over his body were already making him shake. He tried to open his eyes as the rest of his senses came back. After a few minutes he gradually got the feeling that he was...floating? No, not quite floating. More like hanging? The pressure in his head and in his left hand was telling him all the blood was rushing to them. His fingers tingling, threatening to go numb from the uncomfortable position he was clearly hanging in. Whereas his right hand he couldn't move at all. Something had a tight grip on it, twisting it back behind him.

Eventually when he could open his eyes, everything was dark, blurry... and moving? This made his head spin even more, as his body remained unresponsive. He tried blinking several times to return clarity to what it was he was seeing. The ground...Was that the ground? His eyes squinted to get a better look. The slab of brick and stone... it was the ground, and it was moving. He noticed his left hand hanging and swinging slightly in the motion to the floor swimming up and passed him. The comprehension just made the world even more fuzzy. How could he be moving if he was unconscious? Then he noticed more movement just beyond his draping arm. Feet. Not his. They were walking in and out of the dark fuzzy corners of his vision. His legs meanwhile felt like they were floating... and yet still hanging uncomfortably. Something also had a deathly tight grip on his legs and his shell mostly from the right side. That was when it hit him. "Someone is carrying me?" Don thought to himself. It was too much of a fuzzy thought to be certain, besides who the heck could be strong enough to carry a 200-pound turtle shell over their shoulder?

That thought alone gave him a twinge of panic, though he didn't have the energy to act on it. He tried searching memories for the last person he had seen, which came up as a blank. But his ninja senses were telling him there was danger. Someone was taking him somewhere, and whoever they were, they were strong. He needed help. Grunting as more pain shot through his body, he tried to move his free arm and the dark corners of his vision suddenly increased with the effort.

He could feel it, he was passing out again.

Aware he was losing the battle with the time, he tried to reach his belt without alerting whoever was carrying him to a place he was sure he wouldn't ever willingly want to go.

He needed his brothers and needed them now. Even if he couldn't talk to them, the signal would inform them that something was wrong, and they could follow it. His hand shakily tried to reach up, slowly inch by inch. To his horror his fingers brushed over the pocket pouch only to find it empty. Obviously, the person currently turtle-napping him had known to remove it, cutting him off from help. So, whoever this was, knew who he was and his resources. Sadly, that was a long list.

He wanted to fight. He wanted to panic, but unfortunately, he didn't have enough mind power to coordinate any reaction. The last of his energy used up and he had lost the battle to remain conscious. As the world faded back to black, his hand gave way again, dropping down, continuing to sway free in the air. The fatigue was crushing as both his eyes finally closed with only one thought in his mind.

Donatello, you're in a shell of a lot of trouble!

An undetermined amount of time had passed before Donatello started to feel life return to him again. Still not much energy to spare, but enough for his senses to start waking up. He groaned again as the blissfully forgotten aches and pains returned. This time his eyes greeted him to a still, silent, and blurry dark world. The trip to this destination was obviously over, so what fresh hell was this? His eyes couldn't see anything as it was too dark. He would have to rely on his other senses to make a picture of his environment. The air smelled of damp and moss... It was very cool. Not freezing... Just a bitter draft making him tremble, biting at his tiny stinging wounds on his skin. He could also hear dripping water. Along with that was an eerie sound of wind blowing from all directions, as though surrounded by tunnels. The creepy echoing of the wind was coming from a little further away, so he was in a wide-open space.

His breathing caught. Donnie decided he had to take a chance, as he needed to know who had taken him. He refused to give in to fear, "Hello! Where am I?" The very first line of a kidnapping movie. He was so tired... Shaking his head, Don was still trying to wake up. Then gasped suddenly when he tried to move his arms. From the poor circulation and the cold, he hadn't realized his hands were bound high above his head. Now he knew, they suddenly burned with the pressure, throbbing his shoulders and the weight from his shell pulled him down. His feet were dangling in the air, toes barely touching what he assumed was a cold stone floor.

Suddenly a dim light came to life. A dusty bulb was hanging just inches above the dangling turtle, creating a dim small circle of circumference light around him. Still, it burned his eyes. He had to blink a few times before the shapes around him took form, as he could see the stone floor where his feet were barely reaching. He could see the rope around his wrists, but the other end of the thick rope vanished into darkness above him, so he couldn't see what he was bound too. And he couldn't make out what was in the wide room as it all dissolved into darkness just beyond the poor lighting.

The new light wasn't doing much to lessen Donnie's fears. Though he couldn't see his audience, he did feel like he was on display while suspended in the air. Someone wanted to look him over. Take in every detail of his form, like he was being examined. He could feel the eyes... But why?

This definitely was not one of Shredder's prisons. He would make sure his symbol could be seen from every angle of the room to strike fear into his captured victim. So not the Shredder, but this wasn't bringing him much comfort. Someone was here. Someone had turned the light on, but they hadn't decided to introduce themselves as of yet.

"Ugh…" The genius turtle grunted. The light brought with it a new noise … A chattering of squeaking and hissing... and there was lots of them, surrounding him, as though the light was suddenly chasing them away. Donnie gulped. He knew that sound. He had lived around those sounds in the sewers his whole life. Rats! Lots and lots of rats were moving around the space in the dark. Was he in the sewers? No, the smell was different, not better, but different.

Taking a few deep breaths, Donnie pushed down his fear of the unknown and did the only thing he knew he could do best in this situation. Assess it! This was how Donatello dealt with being afraid. Even if he was facing certain death. Though he wanted to live, he always knew it might happen... But this is how he would deal with it if he knew he couldn't prevent it. It was a way of taking back some control and help him accept it. Only his brothers and father knew this little quirk about him.

Plus, if he tried to contact his father and brothers telepathically, he could give them some information as to where he was or who he was with... But he couldn't put much hope on that. He had visited the spiritual plain only by the aid of his father or Leo. His mind was always buzzing with ideas to really be able to focus solo... Well NOW might be a good time to get good at that?

Keeping his voice low, "Ok...been taken by... someone...? Motives currently unclear. I hear dripping water, so we must be near water, or underground. Smell of damp... I can hear the wind from all directions, and I estimate for at least half a mile, so I am likely in a maze somewhere. Great... My arms and my legs are asleep...so chances are I've been here for a while." Donnie trying to distract himself from the eyes he could feel on him.

Looking down he could see the dried blood on his ankle from the multiple bites. This brought back the memory of what had happened to him in the Junk yard... He shuddered at the memory with repulsion. No stay focused Don! "The rats attacked me, but they couldn't have carried me here!"

"Haaaaaahhhhh!"

Donatello stiffened. An angry blood curling scream had just come out of nowhere. Shakily looking about, him as he tried to locate the source, but he couldn't pinpoint it. It had echoed from one of the tunnels, but he couldn't tell if the person who had screamed was in pain, or that he was just trying to invoke fear in him... Either way, it didn't sound good. He wasn't even sure if it came from a person... It was so… inhuman. "Who's there?!" Donnie called out. His voice echoing all around him... but there was no response. He kept trying to peer into the darkness to see anything but wasn't able to.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

The tapping was echoing throughout the room, catching Donnie's attention once more. Still, he couldn't locate the source. If he was surrounded by tunnels, it could be coming from anywhere. Was someone still messing with him? Soon the tapping turned into footsteps, but they were too soft to be anyone... It couldn't be the dripping water either! It was too solid. He could feel the fear crawling all over him, looking for a place it could penetrate his wall of defense and break him down from the inside. He tensed as the scream happened again, only this time he could hear it was coming from behind him, giving him the sense that he had being surrounded.

"Show yourself!" Donnie called out again, this time pushing forth his firm tone. He didn't want them to know he was shaking.

"Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr!" Again, the same deep exhale scream came out of nowhere, traveling through the darkness.

"The tunnels." Donnie told himself. It was just the sound bouncing off one wall to the next giving the illusion he was surrounded... The genius turtle didn't scare easily. Fear was irrational... but that didn't seem to be helping him right now.

He concluded that Bishop wasn't behind this either. This place was old, filthy. Dripping, stone floor with echoing... He must be somewhere abandoned or akin to it. Bishop's environment was always sterilized, sand was high tech and methodical. Scaring him like he was in a ghostly horror movie wasn't Bishop's style... But he had been in a place like this before... He just couldn't put his finger on where it had been.

*Click!*

Donnie was plunged back into darkness making him jump. All he could hear now was his breathing... and his heartbeat. He yanked at his restrains but they would not give. Darkness was a ninja friend and ally... but he didn't feel the safety of been concealed... not when he was tied up, helpless awaiting his fate.

Was scaring him a new tactic? Well, he wouldn't show fear! He wouldn't give them the pleasure of breaking his willpower.

"Am not scared of you!" Donnie declared to the darkness. "I am a ninja. I'm not scared of the dark! I'll just keep breathing." Oh, why didn't I listen to Leo when he told me to practice more on my sightless training?" He said to himself. Next time he offers it, I'll definitely take him up on-

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

Footsteps, much heavier this time... His senses telling him someone was coming closer when -

"GA-GA-A-AAAACCKKK!" Donatello was suddenly choking as a strong hand had shot around his neck from behind him. He couldn't see who it was, but he was more concerned about his air-ways been suddenly cut off. The action was so unexpected that the turtle didn't get a chance to take a deep breath. His eyes widen as his survival instincts kicked in and started thrashing, trying to dislodge the hold from around his throat. Gurgling coming next as he weakly moved his head trying to free himself. He tried to kick behind him, but his legs were still asleep. Even if they weren't, he was effectively hanging from the ceiling. His body wasn't able to get the support it needed to get any power into the kick. The grip tightened, quickly draining his will to struggle.

"Wake up legs!" His mind yelled at him. Oh god! He was going to be killed right here. He was going to die and never see his brothers or father again. Why? … Why had someone gone to all the effort to bring him here just to kill him?

By the time Donnie had gone through the list of why he couldn't fight off his attacker, lack of oxygen had started to take effect. He felt his body becoming sluggish as his lungs began to burn. Even in the darkness, Donnie could tell that his eyes were starting to cloud over...

Then just as his struggling slowed to a stop, his throat was released.

*GASP!*

He immediately gasped, causing his head to fall forward. Tears had sprung to his eyes as the huge gulps of air bled back into his burning throat and deprived lungs before starting a coughing fit.

Radiating pain, he continued to take deep and steady breaths, but it was anger that filled him.

"What... the... shell!?" He tried to say.

"A-AA-ACCCKKK!" Before he could, the grip returned, and the choking resumed. Thankfully, Donnie had managed to get a good breath in before the large hand came back. But that didn't seem to make it any easier. Shock had worn off, but panic had set in. He tried to study the hand that had him. All he could tell is that they were massive. Solid like steal, long but thick bony fingers, rough and tort as uncut fingernails cut into his olive-green skin. They effectively wrap nearly all the way around his entire neck to squeeze. He struggled in his bonds as the familiar burning to his lungs returned. Slowly his head fell back, as he could feel his body shutting down. Chances are he would pass out before suffocating. He hoped he would pass out first... if he was going to die, he didn't want to suffer too much.

"GYAAAHH!" Donnie gasped for air again as his throat was release just before he could pass out. He tried to gobble down as much air as possible, but it was difficult this time around as he started wheezing.

He could still feel where the hands had been on him. Instinctively he tried to pull himself away from the man that was standing behind him, uncomfortably close. But he wasn't going anywhere while strung up like this. What was this person's game? What did he want from him? If he was going to kill him, why didn't he just do it and get it over with?

This time the bony fingers moved slowly around his throat before squeezing once again. Donnie gasped expecting to be choke to death, but this time, though the pressure was crushing, it was slow and excruciating, forcing Donnie to feel just how completely powerless he was. The turtle suddenly jumped when he felt the attacker this time come up close to him, invading his personal space from behind. He could feel his breath on his neck. He was much taller and well-built than the mutant was. Donnie eyes widened, this time in terror as he felt the stranger press his body close. He began to shake, and his heart stopped. It felt like... like he was smelling him? What the shell? What the freaking shell was he doing? Donnie squirmed, but he could feel his body starting to get lax from the choking. Eyes slowly rolled into the back of his head and could feel himself slipping away when he was released again, but the attacker remained close by.

"GASP!"

But the release wasn't for long. The bigger built man repeated the motion a few times. Choking him like a broken record, only to release Don before he suffocated. Donnie still coughed and choked every time, but eventually he stopped struggling. Instead, he just tried to not panic. He focused just on his breathing. The attacker was trying to break him, to see how long he could last before his lungs stopped fighting for air. He didn't want to kill Don... yet. No, he wanted to torture him first.

"S…Stop!" Donnie tried to say in a painful raspy voice, but the word never made it off his tongue.

After another strangled cough escaped the young mutant, he realized his attacker was still there, closer to his face, this time at the other side. Donnie flinched in disgust as he then felt him lick the sweat off his neck. "Get off me! GET THE SHELL OFF ME!" He could only scream in his mind. It made him feel sick, but he was to distracted with the lack of air to react on what else he was actually doing to him. Soon enough Donatello was hanging limp and unresponsive, even as the painful wheezes and coughs broke out of him. This time around it seemed different. The choking stopped and the bony hands moved away from him, disappearing back into the darkness.

The humming of the fluorescent bulb came back to life, flooding the small area, illuminating Donatello's exhausted body. The extra time allowed him to get the wheezing under control and gather enough energy to lift his head. The area beyond the dim glum light was still soaked in darkness. He couldn't see his attacker anywhere, but he knew he was there.

Donnie was passed the point of scared now... Automatically he tried to assess what had happened, talking through what was scaring him in hope of conquering it.

"P-Phantom feeling...of his hand...on my throat...that will definitely leave a nasty bruise. Multiple states of oxygen deprivation...hopefully I don't lose any brain cells. Although...the light headiness isn't a good sign." Donnie then felt his neck and cheeks burn. "The licking and smelling of my sweat ... like he was... trying to collect... my scent... Classic acts of... of a predator seeking to indulge in his pray... before killing." Or he's just a sick sadistic bast-! Donnie cut off those dark thoughts in his mind before they started to scare him. No. That isn't why he was here. "This is a game... What else...? He's demonstrating his... control over me by almost killing me... just to let me go again... He wants me to know that he... can kill me at any time..." Donnie sucked in a breath. "Chances of getting out of here alive... Slim! Motive still unknown. Why is...he... doing this to me? What does he want?" Donnie asked this last question with desperation.

Cutting himself off when he heard the scurrying. Furiously looking about, him as it got louder. It was coming from multiple directions, but he didn't have the energy to search for him.

His senses were telling him that he was being surrounded by something. He still couldn't tell, and it was making it very hard to keep his brave composure.

"Hisssssssss!" He heard his attacker.

"What…what are you doing?" Donnie asked him. He knew he was there... Why was he hissing? Then his mind went back to earlier at April's shop, seeing that abnormal size rat hissing at him. The sound seemed similar to that, but...but…he was a human... wasn't he?

"Just... show yourself!" Donnie struggling wheezing voice demanded. Still no answer. "What do you want from me? Why are you doing this-? Gyak!" the teen jumped again, from behind the hand returned, clamping around his neck. This time the light remained on, but he still couldn't see him. To the turtle's relief he wasn't being choked this time. In fact, the fingers were lightly massaging up and down his neck. But it wasn't a kind gesture. The touch was a silent threat that he could kill him if he wanted too. Donnie shuddered getting creeped out by the unwanted touch.

This time Donnie stood stiff, waiting to see what happen next, as the seconds passed, Donnie decided to take a chance. He looked down at the bony hands around him, hoping to get a glimpse. Maybe he would recognize something, but then blinked puzzled by what he saw. He couldn't see the hand as the view was obscured with... bandages?

He felt the hot air hit the side of his face again, sending a massive chill down his shell as he finally heard the hoarse voice of his captor.

"To see if you're worthy, little one…."

Donatello's eyes then widened in utter horror. He knew who this was! "Y-You….? But how? You were dead!?" The mere sight of him made the turtle tremble. He had only encountered this person once before and it had taken all of them and Casey to escape with their lives. The first time he had kidnapped Mikey, and he had put the fear of God into him. Though his younger brother often brushed things off with a bad joke, they all knew Mikey had been somewhat troubled by that day of playing 'Protect the flag.' After the event he had only confided a little in Donnie because of the nightmares that followed. Mikey had gone to him seeking sleeping pills and Donnie had only given them to him if he told him why he needed them.

Thankfully there was nothing that had happened to Mikey that he couldn't heal from, at least physically. But that was only because he had gotten away. But mentally Mikey seemed different. He had described this person as a whole new level of cruelty. Mikey tried to see the good in everyone, no matter how hidden... But this guy had a darkness in him that could not be reasoned with. No feeling... Just a need to inflict the pain that he was clearly in. Donnie had promised he wouldn't tell Leo or Raph about it until Mikey had wanted too. He was just embarrassed. The two older brothers were always pointing out how much tougher they were in comparison to them two. But it went deeper than that. Suddenly Donnie was overcome with an emotion of wanting to make this... whatever he was? "Man" to pay for almost taking away that light from his little brothers eyes. Everything about what Donnie had endured so far suddenly made sense.

The Rat King still wanted to play, this time to the death! Now it was his turn.

A/N: Hope you like. How many of you guessed that it was the Rat King? Well in the 2003 series he was an interesting character but unfortunately only got one episode in the series, which is sad as I think plenty more could have been done with him. Well Glazier Blue and I put our heads together and came up with his actions, which we can't explain as it'll be spoilers. We hope to hear from you all and hear what you all think of the reveal. Feedback helps a lot. Till next time.