Author's Note: Hello there, we are back, we hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. Now that the calendar has reset Glazier Blue and I are back at it with this story. Now this is a chapter we have been excited in writing. Can't tell you much but it'll be good and we hope it's good for you all. Now enough talk and lets get to it, Enjoy.

Chapter 7: Predator Vs Prey part 1

Leo and Raph made haste back to the lair. Their minds running wild at the multiple developments they had only now realized had been unraveling around them. Donnie's disappearance had hit them like a brick. What the frustrating thing was, it was a brick they should have seen coming from a mile away. Every little sign that had come along so far, had been overlooked and ignored and now something much worse was on its way... and whatever it was, they were sure it had them firmly in their sights. Hindsight was cruel like that. They now found themselves middle of some game they hadn't even known they were playing... and they didn't even know who the opponent was? But it was too late. All the while running back to the lair, instincts were telling the two that they were running right into a trap, and it was closing in on them. But what choice did they have? The junkyard only yielded more questions than answers and whatever was plaguing their Master's mind was threatening his health.

Finally, as they came to a stop just at the threshold of a very quiet lair. Maybe Mikey had found a way to calm Splinter down? Raph put a hand on Leo shoulder before speaking. "So, what's the plan?"

"We go inside and find out what has happened to Master Splinter. Chances are we may need to call LH -"

"I know we have to help sensei fearless, but how do we find Donnie because that search came up with a whole load of nothing!"

Leo sigh, hoping the cracks in his mask of control were not starting to show, "I don't know Raph! This is killing me too, but we are NOT abandoning him!" Leo assured before Raph could protest further. Instead, he just nodded. The two hastily made their way inside quickly approaching their father's room. Though they didn't know how this could be, their father did seem to have some kind of strange connection to Donatello right now... If anyone had another clue as to how to find him, it was him.

"We just need to figure out what is wrong - !"

"AHHH!" A sudden cry from within brought the two brothers to a crashing halt and it was a good job they stopped because a moment later a shell came bursting through the paper of the sliding doors with such force that he flew right passed them.

"MIKEY!" They cried as their baby brother was sent sailing through the air before bouncing against one of the stone pillars. Raph was instantly at his side, cradling his upper body off the cold floor. Thankfully his shell had taken the brunt of the force. "Mikey talk to me? are you ok?!"

"What the shell happened!?" Leo rushed over; swords drawn with a defensive position for the new intruder.

Mikey's breathing was rapid, but he quickly opened his eyes, frantically looking around with terror like he had just seen a ghost. It was another moment before he realized it was Raph holding him before looking back at the new exit he had just created. He then tried breaking out of his brother's grip in favor of backing to a safer distance from the dojo. "He's... guys he's gone crazy!"

"Who?!" The two asked in confusion.

But it was an insidious growling coming from their sensei's room that answered the question. The three looked up to be greeted with a further "Hiiiiiiiisssssss!"

Their eyes widen as the gray, furry mass stalked its way through the ripped opening. More angry hissing and growling grew louder upon seeing the newcomers.

Leo lowered his swords a little only to look more confused. "Master Splinter?" He whispered in an unashamed fear filled tone.

Splinter was on all fours, saliva covered sharp baring teeth as another chilling hiss broke from his maw. His tail slashing side to side, like a scorpion stinger ready to strike at anyone who got close. What was most disturbing was his eyes. There were no pupils, nor irises, not even any whites... just glowing crimson, making the brothers want to back away even further. The moment only triggered more snarling and growling, and the deathly glare was dripping with that of absolute hatred.

But Leo was determined to reach him. "S-Sensei? Can you understand me?" Forcing aside all his nervous energy to take a brave step forward.

"No! Don't go near him Leo!" Mikey warned trying to reach for his brothers arm. "It's not him! Look at him Leo. That's NOT Master Splinter!"

"Well, who the shell is it then? Mikey what happened before we got back!?" Raph not taking his eyes off his father while shielding Mikey.

"I-I-I don't know...H-He was thrashing about... then he stopped... opened his eyes looking like... THAT! then he grabbed me, went crazy like Leatherhead in a bad mood. Then I was on the other side of the door." Mikey pulled himself up, blood running cold upon the phantom feeling of his master's hands around his throat. A new experience he never thought he would ever have. The two older brothers were quickly coming to understand why he was so scared.

"MOVE!" Leo recognizing the position Splinter took, he was about to leap. All three dived, scattering to avoid the vicious swipes. Wide eyed upon witnessing their father trying to attack them. Mikey was right. This wasn't their father, at least not in mind.

"S-Sensei, snap out of it! We've your sons!" Raph shouted resisting the urge to pull out his sai. This was his father. His sensei... He wouldn't really hurt them. This was so messed up.

"Dude, that's not going to work, I tried!" Mikey still trying to back away.

Splinter just replied with another vicious snarl as his eyes locked onto Raphael. "Oh shell!" The red banded turtle gulped when he suddenly leaped at him. Raph jumped back only just avoiding another deadly swipe. He barely had enough time to register before dodging a barrage of random swipes aimed at his torso. It's not like Raph could return the sentiments. He could easily strike back... but he was fighting his father...Out of his mind or not, it was still his father, he couldn't hurt him, none of them could, but blocking was only going to get them so far and it was clear Splinter was the one out for the kill.

*Crack!*

"Argh!" Just a second too slow, Raph felt the intense burning hit his ankles, knocking him off his feet, making him land on his shell. The rat had turned in a half circle, his tail acting like a whip, struck his son's legs with enough force to push him down. Without giving him any chance to reprieve, the rat jumped on his plastron, pinning him. Raph looked up in surprise, all of a sudden had a flash back of the two rats fighting at the junkyard, the smaller one having its throat ripped out from the one with the... Ohmygod! The one with the glowing red eyes! Wait a moment! But Raph didn't get a chance to think further on this. He could only watch in terror has his father snarling teeth suddenly lurch forward, aiming for his throat.

Leaf green hands appeared, grabbing the rat's robe, yanking Splinter free from the red banded turtle and throwing him far across the room. All eyes watched as their sensei sailed through the air, but he tucked himself into a ball, rapidly dipping until landing safely onto all fours.

Raph tried to hide it, but he could feel himself shaking from what had almost happened. "You ok?" Leo asked holding out his hand.

"Yeah... am fine..." (Secret language for 'really not fine!') "Shell that hurt!" Raph winced taking his brothers hand.

"What do we do now?" Mikey called over not wanting to draw the rats attention.

"We have to restrain him somehow," Leo instructed, yet hearing no kickback on it. They didn't like the idea, but it was the only solution for the moment. The three brothers took their positions surrounding him, but Splinter just smirked darkly. He knew every move they were going to make.

"I don't know what's going on, but I think am starting to connect some dots here Leo, " Raph informed him, but they couldn't focus on theories right now.

"Will figure it out after we take him down without hurting him... We can't use weapons!" They watched as he started to get up.

"Hurt him?! I don't think that is going to be a problem," Raph rubbed his ankle. "Just watch out for his tail."

"I don't understand what's happening?" Mikey shook his head in disbelief. "He's acting like a … like a...?"

"Like a rat! A feral rat!" Leo finished. The movements, the posture, even how he was attacking them had not gone unnoticed. Splinter's animistic counterpart was definitely in charge right now.

Splinter took another leap, not towards them, but around them, circling them at lightning speed. Before any of them could blink, each was kicked in the plastron without Splinter's feet barely touching the ground. They grunted as each fell to the floor just as their father came to land in the center of them once again, still on all fours.

"Feral but still managing to maintain some kick ass Ninjutsu? Fantastic combination!" Raph dramatically barked nursing his aching scutes. Their sensei retaining some of his humanity didn't seem to be a good thing right now.

Leo was the first on his feet despite the pain and Splinter instantly locked eyes with him as though he had been waiting to see who would step forward first. Charging, the rat rapidly closed the distance between them, extending his jaws ready to bite him, but he only caught air. Leo had quickly but barely maneuvered himself out of the line of fire. The leaf green turtle ducked and rolled out of the way before he could get his claws into him, but a sickening realization dawn on the blue clad turtle. Splinter was just playing with him.

*Crack!*

"Ugh!" The realization came too late. Leo cried out as his left leg buckled, feeling the sting of the tail strike his joints, easily forcing him to his knee. He didn't see Splinter's claws until it was too late. Truthfully, he had never seen them in action as an attack weapon before. Now he realized just how deadly they were. Splinter let out another hiss before doing a front flip towards him. To Leo's shock, both of his legs wrapped around the turtle's body. Both arms pinned to his side as the rat managed to keep himself in an upright position...with both of his hands free.

"Oof-Ugh-Argh!" Leo cried as his father's balled up hands struck across his face. The blows slowly disorienting. The blue clad turtle tried to power out and free his arms but apparently his sensei's legs were a lot stronger than he anticipated.

*Slash!*

"AHHH!" Leo yelped as the left side of his face felt like it had been slashed with several sharp knives. Then he saw Splinter's claw dripping with blood. His blood! Gasping in shock as to what had just happened, the pain was just starting to catch up with him... Burning spread down his face. Then he could feel the hot crimson run down his neck. He tried to blink away the stinging, but Splinter was about to take another strike when to his relief he saw emerald arms wrapped around the smaller form, pulling him free. Leo's hand shot up to nurse his face, as he just needed a moment to compose himself. It wasn't so much the pain from the slash, it was the fact that Splinter had done it. Was there really nothing of their father left in there? No, he couldn't believe that. Whatever had happened to him, or who had control of him, Splinter had to be in there somewhere! Someone else was doing this. That was the only explanation.

Leo looked up to see both Mikey and Raph holding onto the rat at either side. They had him. The fight was at least over. But the emotional trauma that was to follow was going to be much worse. It hurt them to see tears in Mikey's eyes. "I got him Mikey. Let go!" Raph strained voice as he forced his arm around both Splinter's arms and his mid-section, squeezing the struggling rodent. He wasn't looking to thrilled either, but Mikey had suffered enough today. Mikey didn't argue, as he didn't want to see this anymore, but that had been a mistake. Splinter's tail wrapped around the second eldest leg, yanking it hard. Raph support was pulled out from under him, making him fall back with a hard thump. His grip loosened allowing Splinter to squirm free.

"No!" Mikey rushed back trying to help pin the rat, but he had already flip backwards, coming to a stop behind Raph. The red clad turtle could only blink before he felt furry hands grip him around the shoulders and yank him up. He didn't get time to react before he was spun around and thrown against Mikey. The two collided, knocked each other over. "I... have this... horrible... realization... Raphie." Mikey choked when the air returned to his lungs. "All these years in training... sensei's been going... easy on us!"

Raph winced, "Maybe. But that doesn't explain the sudden superhuman strength!" Raph went to try and get off his brother only to have a furry foot collide against his face, knocking him back on his shell and almost unconscious.

"AH!" Mikey gasped only just avoiding the second blow of Raph landing on him. But now he was on his feet, the attention was back on him, and Mikey didn't get the time to duck and avoid the swipe. Only to vault over his sensei to avoid a leg sweep…which was another big mistake. Splinter did a one-eighty and struck just as his youngster's feet touched the ground. "Whoa!"

His left arm was then seized before he was flipped over the rat's shoulder, landing painfully on his shell once again. Head spinning, Mikey couldn't move until his vision had cleared. When it did, he wished it hadn't. Splinter was standing over him, his foot pressed against his shoulder, both hands gripping his left wrist. Without warning, he yanked on it so hard, Mikey heard the pop before he felt it!

"AHHHHH!" Then he felt it! Mikey squeezed his eyes shut trying to hold back another scream

as his shoulder was pulled from its socket. Splinter however only laughed as he watched his son tremble through the surging pain. But the distinct laugh made Mikey look up... That was not Splinter's laugh. It was too cold and arrogant... but he had heard it before somewhere else... No! It wasn't possible... He was dead -!

Mikey couldn't defend himself as his arm hung now limp against his side. Splinter was done with him for now. Just like in his room, Splinter grabbed him by the ankles and with little effort threw the teen far across the room. The next thing Mikey knew, he was crashing into something solid, then all the lights went out!

"Mikey!" Raph and Leo yelled watching the little brother fly through the air, vanishing in the direction of the kitchen. Still nursing their injuries, they got back to their feet ready for another round. They were getting their shells handed over to them and they didn't seem to be getting any closer to stopping him. But it was so confusing. Splinter was skilled, but his style had always been in defense. They didn't know this brutality in his art... And then there was how strong Splinter had suddenly become. He was skilled, but he had never been able to pick one of them up and toss them like a rag doll before... No, it wasn't just the eyes that didn't belong to him, This was NOT Splinter at all! It was just someone who looked like him.

It was not over yet. Splinter turned his attention back to the remaining two and without warning leaped at Raph, his tail lashing out once again. Raph cried out a curse as he fell to one knee. Then he proceeded to fix his arm around Leo's neck, choking him until he almost stopped struggling and flipping him backwards, slamming him on his plastron. When Raph went to intervene, he received a spin kick to the face, knocking him dizzy. In fact, every time one tried to get up, they would quickly find themselves forced back onto their hands and knees. Leo felt sharp pain at the back of his head sending his senses spinning. But he stirred when he heard Raph cry out in agony. What was Splinter doing to him?

Both brothers stunned, Raph had felt something razor sharp suddenly clamp down onto his right shoulder. Blood filled Splinter's mouth as he sunk his teeth deeper into the emerald green flesh. Eyes squeezing shut, he reached back beside him trying to get a grip of his father's robe and dislodge his sensei. A sudden ram into Splinter's gut from Leo gave Raph the extra moment he needed to prize the teeth free from his flesh. Energy now completely drained, Raph dropped forward, pressing his hand trying to stem the bleeding.

"R-Raphie…" Leo reached out for his brother trying to get a look at his shoulder. "You're hurt!

"We're all hurt... But it's nothing…" Raph spat out unconvincingly through shallow breaths and violent trembles.

The two quickly looked around searching for their attacker. He wasn't hard to find. Still blood dripping from his jaw, Splinter had once again retreated only to circle them, waiting for his next opening... Leo looked when he heard Raph's breathing hitched. It was only then Raph realized something else very disturbing. He looked down to see that his belt was empty. They both now looked at Splinter in horror, as he was waving Raph's Sais at them while mockingly tutting. For the first time ever in their lives they were truly terrified of their father.

Meanwhile in the kitchen Mikey came too... groaned and clutching his dislocated arm and bruised head. He needed to get up. He needed to help his brothers... But he wasn't going to be much help with his arm in this state. He couldn't just pop it back in its socket alone. Where was Donnie when he needed him?

Note to self. Pay more attention in Donnie's medical lectures! Still clutching his arm, Mikey hissed trying to find his feet. He spotted the large dent he had made in the refrigerator. The force of the impact had caused the door to break from its hinges. Shaking his head again, the orange clad turtle tried to think. He was beyond the point of terrified, but he had to do something. But what? They were seriously outmatched.

At this rate this Splinter impostor was going to kill them -!

Then Mikey eyes suddenly landed on something that was hanging out of the drawer of the fridge. It was in a tight seal vacuum packaging making sure that it didn't leak. "Now that could work!" An idea suddenly struck the young turtle.

A/N: Hope you like. Talk about brutal right? Well Glazier Blue and I wanted to go all out for this and how how brutal Splinter can be, especially if he was holding back the whole time. All three brothers now sporting injuries of their own, thus showing that something isn't right, big time. Now that Splinter has two weapons in his hands, it makes him just as deadly. I know this is a huge cliffhanger, but it's a good one and we hope you all can hold on. We're working hard to get back into the groove of things. Till Next Time.