Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, real life things got in the way, but here is the next chapter. And I have to say this one turned out really good. Believe me I can't wait to hear from you all on what you think. Glazier Blue and I worked on this to make it just as much of a "downer" as possible. I won't keep you waiting, enjoy.

Chapter 13: End of the Rope

…Alone…

…Outcast…

…Broken…

Those were the three knives piercing Donatello's heart as his sobs echoed through the myriad of tunnels within the sewers. If one were to follow, they would eventually come across a bound turtle with a stained purple mask, lying flatly down underneath a burning fluorescent light. Dozens of red eyes were closely watching him, to be sure he didn't try to escape again…but the young teen attempts had cease some time ago. No matter how frantically he searched for hope, his chances looked bleak... and pointless.

Haunted by things that had happened to him down here in the darkness of these tunnels. He could still feel where his fath-! Splinter had strike him... He was even too afraid to refer to him as 'father' in his head. Over and over again the words plagued him, casting him out of the clan. Disowning him, and leaving him in the clutches of his captor... He was devastated. Now try as he might, the young ninja couldn't find enough left within himself to care about escaping. Maybe it was just the slow blood loss, but it didn't feel like it was just his strength leaving him... He was disappearing. Everything he was, Rat King was mentally drinking him away, like he did his blood. He couldn't find the will to care about anything, not even his broken arm that was throbbing, painfully wedged behind his back… or the blood was still oozing down the side of his face and neck. His worse fears had come true. Nothing else mattered now.

Even if Donatello could escape, there wouldn't be anywhere to go. His home, his family, his clan…What good was he without them?

Never had the genius been genuinely fearful of his rat master's anger before. He had never believed he was capable of been so malicious. It was beyond just disappointment. He hated him, he believed Splinter really hated him!

The part of his mind that told him he was being manipulated had been silenced and replaced by that little voice he had always carried when comparing himself to his brothers... It was true. Now he believed it. Death was something they had always been prepared for, but it grieved him to know he was going to be killed feeling like this. He wanted his brothers and father here, to forgive him. To not be alone... But all had been stripped away, now he was just left to wait for his end.

"It's time little one. Have you made peace?" The dreadful but familiar voice suddenly came out of the dark like it had always been there. Donnie hadn't heard him come. Either the Rat King could move like a ghost, or he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. Another lesson he realized he must have failed to grasp. Slowly Donnie looked up, eyes locking with the large silhouette. He couldn't repress the chills running down his shell, as his breathing staggered, but he didn't reply. If no one was coming... If no one cared, if there was no hope and he was going to die, he wanted it over with quickly.

One last check... Nope. Splinter was all but silent. The rat master had forgotten who he was. The Rat King smiled to himself. Such a prize. He will spend years feeding off him, and when he found him in the physical world, and he would be a great weapon. A perfect piece for his growing army and the first thing they would do is feast on the remaining three sons.

In the meantime, RK just smirked down at the sight of the tears. The turtle was broken. He had won. He could almost feel the young mutant's strength running out from him and into his veins. Telepathically eating his energy as though he was one of his rat slaves, only this was better. As long as the turtle believed he was a disappointment and no one cared about him, purple's mind and vitality would soon be his. And what a treat he was! Now he just had to finish his ritual and indulge in his pray one last time before putting him out of his misery.

As he entered the small circle of light, the turtle wanted to tremble, but his body was unresponsive. Just the presence of his captor seemed to paralyze him, as all he could feel was his heartbeat racing.

Donnie gasped as his shell is grabbed and lifted up into a kneeling position. RK too kneeled down to meet him. Their faces mere inches apart as that warm, acrid, breath exhaled on him. Donnie's eyes rose at the sinister smirk, instinctively he tried to push back against the invisible wall behind him.

The Rat King leaned in, his slimy pink tongue rolling out before it pressed itself against his oozing cheek. Donnie's breathing stopped and body cringed upon feeling that fleshy appendage drag itself up his olive skin, lapping up the crimson that continued to fall. He wanted to recoil ... But all he could do was shut his eyes and mentally whimper as this parasite continued.

"Delicious! You're ready." RK whispered as the turtle's blood soaked his tongue. The taste gave him the jolt of adrenaline his system had been waiting for. Purple's blood had been rich to begin with, but now the taste had deepened. It was like he could almost taste his fear, and lost hope was the seasoning. It was a shame to waste such fine fluid…Still he could indulge a little before moving things along.

Chuckling evilly, his long, razor, nail went up and traced along the grooves of his olive neck. He could feel the muscles underneath quiver as the sharp tip pressed down into a depression. Slowly torturing the turtle as the finger made its way to the open wound.

"A-Ahh!" Donnie yelped as his wound burned at the claws trying to cut it deeper. Why must he keep playing games with him? Why not just do what he intended and stop pouring salt into the wound? Considering he had a dump truck of it unloaded on him…but that was beside the point.

"Just one single wound on your neck…" RK spoke up, making the turtle raise an eye, not sure if he wanted to know. "Why don't we fix that?"

"W-What are you-" Donnie finally managed to get some words out, for all the good they did him. His eyes bulged as RK's jaw locked onto his throat.

He may as well have taken a knife to it, as his teeth pierced right into the spot where his shoulder met his neck.

"GYAAAAAHHHH!" Donnie cried as his captor bit down into that tender flesh, punching the skin as though a pipe had sprung a leak.

The Rat King was rewarded with a torrent of blood that slowly filled his mouth. It was glorious. The turtle's blood was like drinking pure light, driving out all the darkness that had consumed him. But it wasn't enough, he needed more. A problem easy to remedy.

"Ahh!" Donnie's cried again but this time with less energy. He jerked as he felt the teeth dig in that bit deeper. His fight or flight responses kicked in as he tried to wiggle free, but it was pathetic attempt… His captor was made of iron. He wasn't going anywhere. Was this how he was going to die? Having his blood sucked out!? The Rat King had been upgraded from creepy psychopath to a vampirism like parasite. Donnie's eyes rolled into the back of his skull as the suction continued.

RK mentally laughed in bliss as his mouth enjoyed the rich crimson. He was also mentally drinking and savoring the turtle's fear and utter hopelessness. It was so addictive; he didn't want it to end... But he counted the seconds. Anything more than a few minutes and Purple's execution would be redundant.

Donnie still unable to move, was already feeling the effects of the mounting blood loss...why is the room spinning? Starting to feel…woozy, and lightheaded… He sagged in the iron grip until the rat king was practically holding him up.

"St-Stop" He had to stop…The rat king was literally going to drink him dry. He must have passed more than a pint by now? Maybe more… Dangerously more -

Donnie, not far from death was suddenly released and fell to the floor with a thud. The blood oozed, but at least slower. For a moment the purple clad turtle had no idea where to put himself as the room insisted on spinning. Meanwhile the Rat King stood over him enjoying the new flow of vitality running through him. The dim light illuminating the dribbling red, staining down his bandaged face was framed with a satisfactory grin. He licked his lips wanting more.

"You have been a joy. I thank you for your sacrifice, but I need you to be coherent for what is coming." He said in a low chilling tone.

Donnie's breathing was too heavy. Why could he not just pass out? His heart pounded, pumping out much needed and deprived blood, at the words more chills descend upon him, slowly overwhelming him.

"It's time…" Was all the rat king said. It sounded…so final. Immediately Donnie knew this was his end.

Donnie gasped suddenly as his injured shoulder was seized once more and lifted before being half carried, half dragged into the darkness. Still bound from hands to feet, he couldn't even muster an ounce of resistance against the cold stone floor. Tremendous pain flaring in his bound wrists. Both eyes squeezed shut as his nostrils flared, trying to keep his breathing calm.

He could hear the scurrying of many little feet running along beside them down the tunnels. Well at least he would have an audience.

Donnie built up enough courage to look at his surroundings and how much further they had to go. He could see a light in the distance, growing closer until they entered a new, large room. Seemingly larger than the previous one he had been kept in. Many walkways were high above them, broken and rusted over, showing their age. A stream of water rushed through the middle of the room from one end to the other.

But it wasn't the surroundings that grabbed the turtle's attention. No, it's what was hanging from a pipes from high above to ground level. Donnie's heart skipped a beat, as his body stiffened, and renewed fear took him.

"No…no…not like this…Not like this!" Donnie pleaded trying desperately to free himself. But the rat king easily just lifted him completely off the ground so they could complete the journey to the center of the room. With or without the blood loss, Donnie felt the remains of color drained from his face as he stared at the seven foot noose before being unceremoniously dropped beneath it and left to look up.

Thick, coarse rope folded, and threaded into a perfect knot. From just an initial look seemed to be sized right just for his neck. So…this was how he is to die? Hanged just like that of a criminal? No honor... No quick, painless death, but a slow, and agonizing suffocation. He only took his eyes off of his fate as he noticed movement to the side. The Rat King returned with a small stool… and a sack?

Boy was he really going all out.

There was so much Donnie wanted to say. Every thought swirling around in his mind like a tornado, but only the first one made it to his lips, "W-Why…? Why did you do this to me?"

The Rat King set down the stool before easily lifting the turtle to his feet, once again they came face to face. "You are very special mutant, that I cannot deny. But it is only the strong that will survive the darkness and cruelty of this life. The weak must sacrifice themselves and give their strength to those of us who can take on this world... You are a disappointment to your clan." He deliberately forced back his smirk. "It is only right that you don't burden them a moment longer... Think of this as doing you a kindness, putting you out of your misery. Your sacrifice is my survival, because 'I' will be the strongest of them all.

Donnie just looked at him with an expression that was somewhere between lost and mortified. He was supposed to be grateful this was happening to him?! Didn't seem to be a very good reason to end his life at sixteen years old. But he also knew it would be pointless to argue. If he was a burden on his clan, what choice did he have?

Donatello didn't even realize he was trembling again. He was trying to find some inner peace... The seconds ticked by as he tried to grab onto something, anything that could make his last moment bearable and forget he was being executed for the crime of... not been good enough!

This train of thought took him to his father and brothers... April and Casey and all they had done together. The things they had seen and accomplished together... Even if it had all mounted to nothing, the life he had had so far with them hadn't always been easy... but he could say with absolute clarity it had been extraordinary! and he wouldn't have changed a bit of it. Not one moment.

More tears were brought to the eyes of the purple clad turtle as he was rendered speechless. Being alone and rejected was his greatest fear. The isolation was more crushing than death, right? He barely registered being placed onto the stool and the rope been placed around his neck until the rat kings face came close to his, smirking with bloody teeth. "Any last words?"

Riddled with thoughts... A range of curses in his face would have been too easy. Breaking down sobbing would rob him of any shreds of dignity he had left. His pride had already long since gone, so no sarcastic quips. But just giving his captor that last bit of satisfaction was not appealing. No there was just one thing he wanted, then he could move onto the next life hopefully with a clean slate.

"P-Please…don't hurt them… Leave my family alone…"

This surprised the Rat King as his eyes raised. He had not expected his victim still to stick up for his family. Not after he made sure he believed they had abandoned him, even now purple would surprise him. Well, he had said, though unworthy, he was special inside, but he was still on a mission for revenge and to prove he was the strongest. If he wanted to keep their Rat Master, all four sons had to go, but there was no point lying about it now.

"I am afraid that is impossible. Orange is next on my list, then Red... Blue will be the last."

"What?! No!" But the small burlap sack was placed over Donnie's head and the rope tighten around his throat, preventing him from protesting. Still, he tried. "Mmph!" Donnie cried out. His words being cut off as darkness took him. The last thing Donnie would see was that terrifying face condemning his family.

To shocked to even cry, but glad his face was covered as the seconds dragged on.

"Splinter…Leo…Raph…Mikey…I'm sorry I was a disappointment…"

Then the stool was kicked out from under him

…and gravity took over.

A/N: Hope you like. Intense right? The Rat King is hanging our favorite genius turtle and Donatello is accepting of his fate. He's truly given up the will to live, thanks to what RK has put him through. And what a cliffhanger, right? No pun intended. When making this story, this scene was the focal point in which the story was being made around. I just had the idea of seeing Donnie being hanged by one of his enemies and the rest was built around it. I can't wait to hear what you all think, feedback is welcomed. Till next time.