Author's Note: Hello there, sorry for the long wait. Been trying hard to get this chapter right, as it is a good one. I give major credit for Glazier Blue for this one as she did amazing work on it. We really love how this came out and we hope you all like it. Especially after the cliffhanger we left you all on. Anyway, for now, enjoy.
Chapter 8: Predator Vs Prey Part 2
Donatello could now only hear his own labored breathing echoing through the moist tunnels. By now breathing was becoming something of a conscious effort. His throat felt too tight and to dry to allow the air to reach his lungs. Beads of sweat were trickling down his head as the struggle just to breathe normally grew. Still hung up by the arms, the genius turtle had been trying to find the best way to free himself while ignoring the burning pain and the popping in his muscles with every twist. He had to get away from this insane captor. With his bizarre display of cutting his throat…licking his blood, he was something more to akin from one of Mikey's horror movies about vampires than a person. He had quickly established that this vampire was also a crazy psychopath, with some impossible mental connection to every rat running around this tunnel. An unreadable agenda…and, oh yeah, he wasn't a vampire... maybe. Jury was still out on that. Still, not someone you wanted to make friends with.
The Rat King had just gone off and left him alone for some reason...Charming! Was Donnie's mini break down boring him? Rude! Though he should have been relieved, it was the fact that all his rats who had been surrounding him before, had just vanished along with him, further adding to the theory that the Rat man was in control of them somehow. I mean since when do hundreds - no! thousands of rats follow a man like obedient puppy dogs?! Unless he was the Pied Piper? Which means he would have a hard time out running the Rat King. How could he hide from someone who literally had eyes traveling to every small dark corner of the city? Even the Shredder and his endless supply of Foot clan of trained ninja's couldn't take First Place on that...Ok one earth shattering problem at a time!
Now it was just him and an eerily silence except for the dripping water. Escaping however was easier said than done. His throbbing arms bearing all his weight had put his legs to sleep. The first thing he had to do was get the circulation going again before attempting an escape. His toes were just barely touching the floor, so by extending his legs as far out as he could, it would take some of the weight onto his toes. It wasn't at all comfortable, but it relieved some of the pressure on his wrists. Eventually the tingling in his veins told him that the circulation was starting to return. Closing his eyes, Donnie took a moment longer to compose himself before cringing. He hated what was coming next.
"Ok…just focus…remember what Master Splinter taught you…clear your mind, don't feel the pain…or the fact that this guy might actually suck my blood out…or if this doesn't work, I will never be heard from again…Oh man! They must know that I am gone by now!" Donnie was picturing his brothers when they realized he was missing. Usually, he was the first one to know something was wrong when one of them would go radio silent. It didn't matter which one of them was in trouble, the reaction from each brother was always the same. Raph would be first storming out the door thinking he could cover the entire city in just one night. Mikey would be panicked and not far behind Raph, or he would be his understudy if it was Raph missing... which more often than not, it was. Leo of course blocking the path with his irritating logic that they should try and find a starting point first rather than just mindlessly kicking down doors to every enemy they had. Or if Leo was the one missing, then it would be him filling in that roll. Donnie had joked once that maybe he should go a step further than just having the GPS in the shell cells. Maybe he could find a way to have them, internally fitted with a LoJack. Hilariously Leo not understanding that it was a joke, had excitedly agreed, saying it would certainly be a great time saver and when could he start on that project?...Didn't seem so funny now.
In regard to witnessing the presence of Master Splinter was something Donnie was still trying to figure out whether or not it had been real? No, no it couldn't be truly him. His Master was a rat after all. The rat king could have done something to him against his will!? Or it might not be even Splinter at all because he would never be that cruel... The rat king was just somehow tapping into his deepest darkest fear. Only this begged the question, how did he do that? He wasn't a rat... and yet the rat king seemed to have kicked down the door to his brain and made himself at home. Here alone in the darkness, Donnie could admit to himself that what Spli– the Rat King had said about him being a stain on his clan's honor had only hurt because he believed it to be true on some level. There was one other possibility that was the most likely... but Donnie didn't want to consider it, because it was the worse one. The Rat King wasn't in his head at all... He was in Splinter's mind, saying all the things Splinter didn't want to say, at least out loud. Donnie heart sunk that bit lower at the thought. Because either way he decided that it must be true. Donnie shook his head. At this rate the rat king didn't need to torture him...he was doing a decent job of that himself. He just had to focus on escaping. He took a few deep breaths, holding his position until the tingling in his legs went away. Then lifting his right leg up, he folded it a few times, relieved to find it functioning. He repeated the same with his other leg and it yielded the same result.
"Ok…I may get only one shot at this… so best make it count." He said to himself as he looked up at his bound wrists. He could feel the blood flow back into them. Reaching up some more his fingers grasped at the rope above, gripping it tightly before balling them up into tight fists. With a strained grunt Donatello pulled, almost as if he was doing a pull up. His biceps slowly curled as his feet left the ground once more, but he tucked his legs up, slowly but surely curling his body.
He could feel his arms burning, like they were being set on fire by small sparks. Squeezing his eyes shut he pulled on the rope, allowing himself to pull his body further up as he slowly changed into a horizontal position…and then a diagonal position. He extended his legs forward, then froze as he nearly slipped.
"Focus…focus…" He froze, straining his muscles to prevent himself from falling back down. Every muscle was burning by now, but he couldn't stop if he wanted to regain his lost honor. His legs shot out once more and using his feet he wrapped them around the rope above, his legs wrapping around and gripping it with his toes. That earned a sigh of relief. Working quickly, he pulled on the rope with his legs, sighing once more as he felt the pressure on his wrists loosening. "Yes!" he cheered hanging upside down like a bat. Sweat fell, hitting the floor as he panted, trying to recover any lost energy. Now that the pressure is off his hands, he can just about untie himself, but it'll be tricky. "Score one for me…well…ok he may be in the lead but who's counting." With that Don's hands started to move about almost free. Leaning in, he tried biting at the knots. He wasn't interested to know what the rat king had planned for him. He so just needed to get the shell out of here!
Leo and Raph have yet to move from the horror-struck pose seeing their father's blood dripping teeth while holding Raphael's Sais. Already sporting enough injuries and emotional scars for a lifetime, the two were at a loss of what to do next. All they knew was that their Splinter, their father was gone... Forever or just for now, they didn't know. But if there was any trace of him still in there, they wouldn't be here awaiting this immanent fate. Meanwhile this impostor remained on all fours, ready to pounce at any moment. He was just toying with them, letting them wait for the strike. Again nothing like the father they knew and loved.
"L-Leo…what do we do?" Raph panted clutching at his shoulder, but the blue clad turtle didn't answer as he was at a complete loss... well not completely... he knew exactly what was going to have to be done if they couldn't stop him. Splinter, their father would have been the first to tell them, if they didn't have a choice... If there was no other way... That it was between death or survival and even against one of their own, the ultimate sacrifice would have to be made.
It was clear that whoever was making Splinter do this was counting on the fact that they wouldn't fight back with just as much deadly force... Not to mention that Splinter skills succeeded their own. But what choice did Leo have? Honestly, he was thinking hard for any other option available. He had to protect his brothers. No! He couldn't! For crying out loud please whatever forces were out there, please spare him from killing his own father!
Upon receiving no reply Raph looked at him and shivered at seeing Leo's tear's mixing with the warm blood that was oozing down his face. He knew what Leo was thinking but it was too late, at least for him. They heard the hiss before he attacked. Leaping from all fours. Splinter eyes were burning for only him. Raph closed his eyes awaiting his fate.
*Clang!*
Raph gasped in relief without even looking. He had crossed his sais with Leo swords enough times to know the sound they made when the weapons collided. Though grateful, he also knew now Leo's katanas had intercepted his attack, he was going to have to finish the job, and destroy their family! Looking up, he saw Leo's holding the sais back with his swords only inches from his face. Teeth gritting in determination as he forced the rat away from him.
"M-Master Splinter, please, stop! Don't make me do this!" Leo cried fighting against all the unsettling realities he was not wanting to address. How they were all going to end up dying at the hands of their father being one of them! Splinter only deeply snarled in response, his red eyes glared in bloody murder.
"Leo, look out!" Raph cried suddenly. Splinter was slowly forcing the swords outwards. Oh shell! He recognised the position. He knew what was coming before it happened. The rat, using the sais grip on the swords, easily threw Leo arms up into the air, breaking the hold between them before sending a heavy forward kick to the unprotected chest area. All the air was knocked out of the teen making him stumble back. Before he had even regained his footing, Splinter was already up close in his face, thrusting the sais at him. Leo only just managed to block the strike with his swords, but it was to close a blow and the thrusting continued. The speed alone was making Leo break out in a sweat as he tried to mirror and block every move his father made.
"F-Father…fight it!" Leo yelled not even hiding his desperation as the rats head snapped, trying to take a bite out of him. He would keep trying right up to the end, but the alternative was looming closer. "Ugh!" Leo felt the sais strike him, catching his right wrist in the prongs. With a strong flick of the wrist twisted and what followed was a loud pop and the leaf green felt his hand unwillingly forced open, releasing the katana with a clang. A second of horror focused on his right hand, he hadn't even noticed that the left had also been disarmed.
The next second Leo received another kick to the gut, sending him flying backwards. Before he had even landed however, there was a blur of green and red flying in between them, roughly shoving Splinter back. Raph, knowing he wasn't going to be much good in combat against the super ninja master who was currently fresh out of mercy. So he opted for a quick attack of brute force instead, in hope of just putting some distance between Splinter and Leo. It didn't have the desired effect long enough for Leo to recover. Splinter simply just grabbed Raph around the back of the neck, making him stumble back along with him. But the rat used Raph to pull himself up, spontaneously forcing the bulk of green muscle down to the floor, but not before quickly turning them both in a half circle, yanking hard with a strength they didn't realize he still had. Gravity did the rest as he let Raph go, smacking his forehead onto the concrete floor, coursing a concussion Raph knew he sadly wasn't going to forget. The whole motion was completed in a half a second and Splinter had made it look very easy. I guess that was what they meant when they said, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall!' After that, Raph was unable to move until the roller-coaster of surging pain with lights and stars had stopped, leaving Splinter once again free to turn his attention to Leo.
Before Leo was halfway up, Splinter had performed a fluid leg sweep, sending him right back on his shell again, sprawled out. He tried taking a gulp of air only to have that knocked out of him to as his father's jumped onto his plastron, pinning him to the floor.
Leo frozen upon seeing both the Sais aiming at him. Holding them high above his head, Splinter brought them down before Leo hadn't time to even bring his arms up to protect himself. A gasp as he expected the weapons to stab him. For maximum effect for a quick death was the throat... But the strike never came.
Instead, cold metal was felt on his…wrists?
The shock of the pressure, especially in his left side had Leo's eyes flying open. First, he saw his father still towering over him, eyes looking down at his handy work before looking back up at the blue clad turtle with a dark smirk. Leo tried to get up, but to his surprise, was unable to pull neither of his arms free? The movement also made a sharp burning shoot through his left hand, making him gasp. Confused Leo looked down at his sides, seeing Raph's sais embedded into the ground and the prongs were pinning his hands down! Hot pain suddenly started to radiate up his left side, and Leo got this feeling of dread in his gut that Splinter hadn't been very careful with his aim... Or maybe he had? The appearance of blood starting to pool out on the floor confirmed it.
"Oh shell! Oh shell! Freaking shell!" The leader trying to chock back a cry, but he could already feel his arm going into shock as he started to shake, which only made the pain worse.
Splinter didn't so much as blink at the horror of what he had just done. In fact, when he was sure that the eldest was no longer going to get in his way, he turned his attention back to Raph who was only just starting to stir from the 'ouch' in his head that was pushing the blackness away.
"N-NO!" Leo cried out. In spite of the pain, he still tried to pull against the metal restraints. If he could just get his right hand free first -? but it was just as trapped as the other one! His father had already slipped off of him and was making his way over to the red clad turtle, his tail lashing dangerously. Splinter wanted him to see him kill his brother first!
"No! Raph, run!" He yelled, sweat running down his face.
Still dazed from the head injury, but upon hearing his name in such a panicked tone, Raph looked up only to see his father strike him hard across the face, sending him down once again. A copper taste started to fill the teens mouth as a burning shot through the side of his jaw.
"Raphie!" Leo gasped again while trying to ignore the black spots appear in his vision from the blood loss. Either way he couldn't budge. Raph was on his own and all he could do was watch. Why was he just making him watch? Raph was hurt, but he, Leo was the easier target! They didn't even know if Mikey was still alive! Who or what had control of Splinter wasn't just fighting for survival? Combined skills with Splinter and their savage brutality, he was using it to torture them... torture him! It was almost like they knew he was the leader and they wanted him, Leo to know that he had been beaten by wiping out his pack first. A tactic used in nature, but only in the human world would a predator be this sadistic! Wanting him to see his brothers die... and if they did have Donatello too, it was safe to assume he was going to meet just as gruesome fate. This only made more blood gush from Leo's hand as he fought harder to free himself. Who could be this sick!?
"Aack!" A sudden cry from Raph as Splinter's tail wrapped around his neck. Panicked, Raph hands shot up trying to set himself free from the appendage, but it was too late as his feet left the ground, gasping as Splinter started to squeeze, crawling up the pillar, so his tail was resembling a noose.
"NO! Splinter... whoever you are, please stop! Just stop! Hurt me, not him!" Raph could hear Leo pleading for him, but it was background noise as the blood was pounding in his ears. Feet dangling, he tried violently kicking to break free, but he was just hitting air. Heart racing as his windpipe slowly was getting crushed. Desperation soon kicked in as the need for survival took over. His lungs were burning, and his vision was starting to darken. "Don't stop fighting Raph!" Leo shouted but he was feeling too lightheaded to listen. His movements were growing weaker...and he could feel himself trembling as the lights started to go out. As consciousness left him, so did his determination ... His feet stopped kicking.
"YOU'RE KILLING HIM!" Leo could only watch as his brother's life faded away, but Splinter didn't look like he had a care in the world as Raph's hands fell away and his eyes finally closed.
"Hey fake daddy, choke on this!" a familiar voice from the kitchen. Then something small and white was rather violently pelted in Splinter's direction, aiming pacifically for his head.
"HISSSSSSSS!" The rat snarled violently, only this time it sounded like he was in pain. His eyes suddenly burning, and his senses clouded. Disorientated he sent the red clad turtle crashing to the ground while he escaped up the pillar to the next floor.
Both Mikey and Leo listened to Raph's gasping with shocking relief. Clutching at his throat, he tried to crawl away from the rat before he came to his senses again. Whatever Mikey had thrown at him was freaking him out and Raph needed a moment to compose himself with the help of some of that sweet air.
"What the-" Leo watched as his father retreated up to the second-floor clutching at his nose and mouth. He had watery eyes squeezed shut in discomfort. His gaze then fell on the object his little brother had thrown at him. "Mikey what did you do!?" Indeed, the orange clad turtle was back nursing his right arm that hung limp at his side. His other hand however held a large ziplock bag with what looked like small white... balls?
"Onions dude! This stuff is like pepper spray to rats, remember!" The youngest declared.
"That's... That's brilliant. Mikey you're a genius!" Leo called over. Normally the young turtle would be beaming at the praise, but on this occasion, he was on the verge of tears and not just from the smell.
Despite the blood loss Leo sighed in relief watching the youngest run to Raph side trying to stem the blood from his shoulder. He could see Raph was at the mercy of a coughing fit and his movements were sluggish, but at least he was still alive.
Leo couldn't exactly call this a blissful moment. Just a moment to catch their breath. The downside of these moments in between the storms, it brought the horror of the first storm into shockingly clear focus. What the SHELL had caused this!? Was the loudest voice in their minds, but they couldn't dwell. Every second for regrouping counted.
Counting four shaky breaths before speaking, "I think I am in need of a little attention here too!" Leo addressing his predicament. The two looked up and upon seeing the blood pool out onto the floor beside him, rushed over.
"Dude! he... your hand?!" Mikey shocked at just how much blood he was seeing today.
"Holy freaking sewer apples! Mikey get…*Cough* a cloth, and the first aid kit *cough*... quickly!" Raph dropped down at his side examining where his prongs had entered through his brothers arm.
The orange turtle nodded before taking off to the kitchen been careful to watch out for any "enemies" that could be lurking by.
"Ok...it's *cough* not gone through...your wrist *cough*…. But your hand...has a new hole...*cough* We'll have to...assess the damage...to nerves later... But... you're going to need stitches."
"We all need stitches." Leo looking at his brothers shoulder. The bleeding had slowed, but not stopped. He was so disturbed... Their father had just tried to hang his brother! Something he knew their Splinter would never have been capable of. He couldn't hide the horror from his voice. "Raphie... are you ok?"
Raph has been curiously quiet while keeping eyes a little to close on his brother's wound. After a usually long pause, he just shook his head in dismay. "Well tonight isn't... going in my... *cough* top 100 favorite memories... of Dad! But I KNOW it isn't him, so..." He trailed off with the sadness descending his features even further.
Raph had been trying to free Leo's uninjured hand when he noticed that the rat in question was daring to slowly approach them from above... but Mikey was already back, his arm now in a makeshift sling, with the medical supplies and holding the bag of onions like they were a weapon, complete with a 'Don't even think about it' look on his face. A look he was normally used to receiving than giving. This was met with another 'hisss' before backing off. But he didn't go far. The rat was waiting for his moment to penetrate the new defenses.
Well, it was still progress!
Combined effort, it still took a little time to dislodge the thin spike from the ground and Leo's hand without causing more damage, but they couldn't take much time. They didn't know how long the onions was going to grant them a reprieve from having their shells handed to them. Finally, Leo was free. But they didn't have time to deal with multiple stab wounds and busted shoulders right now. "Heads up!" Mikey shouted seeing Splinter landing in attack position. Without thinking the orange clad turtle yanked out another one of the foul-smelling vegetables, throwing it harshly, just as he tried to make a swipe. One whiff and he was choking, retreating on all fours trying to protect his nose.
"Well, I'll be Mikey, this is the …. smartest... thing you have ever done!" Raph remembering what had been drilled into them since they were kids. Rats were very sensitive creatures and in general did NOT do well with onions! Even their eyes were stinging with the aroma.
Mikey dispute been in a shocked and panicked state 'humph' at his brother. "Do me a solid Raph, don't thank me for this." He said looking more heart sickened than ever. "You can call me smart at any time, in fact I insist on it, but not for this." The poor turtle looked pale, like he was on the verge of passing out. Never mind the emotional scars, he must have been in dreadful pain with his arm. That needed fixing as soon as possible, but they couldn't do anything with Splinter still on the loose.
Raph never thought he would miss his little brother's irritatingly shameless quips. The sadness of the situation seemed to have drained all of them of any usual character traits. He nodded in understanding, patting his little brother's uninjured shoulder sympathetically before turning back to Leo. "So, not to jump ahead or anything, but what the shell do we do now fearless leader?" Taking the cloth to stem the bleeding on his shoulder but they interrupted with another hissing from above. Raph's hand automatically went up to protect his throat. "And whatever it is, can we do it fast?"
Leo sighed, "Its cruel to Sensei but the onion has simplified everything. We have to knock him out! Hit him, drug him or tie him down, I don't care how, but we have to do it." Leo finished wrapping up his hand. The pain in his voice clear but so was the determination. "Ok I have a plan...But I don't like it."
"Well, its better than killing him! What do you have in mind?" Raph feeling the pain of his brothers sentiment. "As long as we can go find who turned him into this!" The anger in him rises again. It was the only way he was going to push down his fears and get his second wind. "Then we go look for Donnie!"
"Right. We need the cot in the med bay setting up pacifically for "unwelcome" company!" Leo ordered gravely. The rest of Leo's plan was said by hand signals as they didn't want to be overheard by someone who just happened to have super sensitive hearing.
Splinter flinched when all the lights in the lair suddenly went out. Normally it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Rats could see in the dark, but his taste and smell and his eyes were suffocating in the burning peppery odor filling the room below. The air was a little clearer up here... Too bad his prey was hiding down there in what was to him a burning forest. So, they had found a way to mask their scent from him! No matter. He was already finding this hunt to easy. The extra challenged might make it a little more interesting. "I might have fun after all." he said to his captive he knew had been watching the whole thing. But no more indulging. He was here to punish the reptiles and make the mutant rat his slave. So, he should just make it quick and snap their necks and be done with it!
Easily he could crawl around the circular room's walls and balcony a few times as he tried to get any of the mutants sent, but the onion odor seemed to be growing stronger down there. It was even starting to rise up through the air to the next level. Movement in the far corner of the room suddenly had his attention. He spotted the one he knew as 'Red' making his way out of the large main area. Dim light in his destination soon followed. The rat begrudgingly sniffing his trail. He didn't appear to have any of the foul-smelling onion on him. Seeing an opportunity to finish the job, the rat decided to hold his breath and slowly, silently made his way down in the dark.
It was unbearable for him down here. Curse this rats sensitivity! But he was accustomed to pain. He would force his way through it! When he came to the lower level of the lair however, he was suddenly met with the outline of the one he called 'Blue' from behind one of the pillars. Without stopping, he sliced the vegetable with his sword, releasing the potent stench of it before tossing it in his direction. Splinter didn't even have time to cover his nose before it hit his robe. Senses disorientated even further, he stumbled back around the pillar trying to escape. He made it as far as the next pillar before meeting a wall of the stench, delivered by a silhouette with Orange moving very fast past him. They were hunting HIM?! The nerve! He tried ducking around the other side and retreat back up to the next floor, but he had ran right into the arms of the blue turtle. A sharp knock on his head before he was quickly tackled to the ground.
"Mikey now!" He yelled over the nasty snarling from the rat. Moments later Mikey was also jumping on top of him, pinning him down alongside his brother. Due to the fact he just had one arm working, he could just force his body weight down on top of him while shoving more of the chopped onion into his face with his good arm. The more they could mess his sense's up, the better chance they had of restraining him.
"Please don't hate me Dad," Leo heard Mikey whisper in a voice that was close to tears. He sympathized. The rat master just squirmed violently, frantically trying to get away from the burning vile distraction, but he had completely lost focus of his goal.
"It's all ready!" Raph reappeared. Having the infirmary was brilliant, but they still had to carry him into it, and he wasn't exactly going to make it easy for them.
"We've got to do this quick! Mikey keep doing what you're doing with the onion. Raph, help me pick him up." Leo struggled holding onto the wiggling figure. At this point he was breaking into another sweat!
Raph obeyed, grabbing his father's upper body, lifting him up while pinning his arms. "Watch out for that bloody tail!" He warned looking at the thing with absolute dread. Mikey following them, making sure not to lose his mark. Together the three only just managed to get Splinter to the cot without releasing him, yanking the straps over him, binding his hands and feet as tight as they could without hurting him... too much. They knew their father was just too resourceful to allow any kind of leverage. If he was to get free right now, they would all be done for.
"Got it!" Leo informed them, locking the strap around his father's feet and torso and even his tail with a thick blanket. He wasn't going to take any chances. "Mikey, leave the onion's and go grab something we can use as a blindfold! We can't let him even have a visual advantage." The youngest nodded and ran.
"I'm done too!" Raph finishing off securing his hands and chest. This really did suck!
"Ok back up on three!' Leo ordered. Splinter snarling at the sudden pressure change, yanking harshly at the straps, but they didn't give. Originally, they had been seat belts from an old car from the junk yard. Donnie had made a few easy modifications to make them suitable for any unwelcome visitors that came to call. They never imagined they would be using it on one of their own. All they could do was wait and hope that his new and intimidating strength would soon leave him. It took some time, but his struggling did begin to slow down, and the bonds were showing no sign of tearing. As always Donnie's work stood up like a champ.
Mikey got a few close snaps and snarls when trying to wrap an old cloth around NOT his father's eyes! but the three could all sighed in relief knowing that the fight was over... and it was only by some miracle produced by their youngest that they had made it out alive... and they were no closer to figuring out who had taken their brother and if it was even connected? They all paused for a while, letting it sink in. Of course, it was! Now came the task of finding out who or what was responsible. They had to first tend to their physical injuries, but they all wondered if their emotional injuries would ever heal? How could they save them both? Could they even be saved?
A/N: Hope you like. Intense right? Raph nearly died, only for Mikey to come to the rescue. For those of you who remember the onion reference from ch. 1, good for you as it did come back to help them. Luckily they managed to restrain Splinter instead of killing them but the physical and mental damage has already been done. Now they have more pressing matters to deal with as Donatello is trying to escape, but what will happen next? Can't say, but it will be good. We thank you all for sticking with us with this and we hope to hear your feedback. Till next time.