Turtlefreak121: I'm hardly allowed outdoors anymore because thirty-five percent of my body has bug bites on it - and I mean this as about an inch of my body at random has up to eight mosquito bites. This happens every year. No matter what spray we use and how many layers we put on, I end up having to stay inside with long pants and cut finger nails so I don't break the skin! The first night the outbreak started I had a total of forty visible bites over my arms and legs. The next day there were more and I have one right over my spine so I can't scratch it without absolutely killing myself! (Umm...not literally obviously...) But, it comes with an up side - my sister now has to scoop up Cash's dog poo! (snickers evilly)
BTW - The Dark Half got over a hundred reviews? AND I'M STILL WRITING? THAT'S AMAZING! Usually my stories get some reviews after they're done and glaze over one hundred, but this is the first time I've had so many people keep up with the story as I write it! THIS IS GREAT! Thanks for all of the reviews, guys! They're really encouraging!
The Dark Half
Chapter Fifteen
By Turtlefreak121
Disclaimer: Ditto.
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Hope?
He ran as quick as his feet could take him. He knew if he only reached his brothers he could fight off these men - but there's no way he could do it alone, especially after they trashed his weapon like that!
As blood seeped over his eye ridge from the wound on his forehead, he looked back and saw to his horror that they were closing in and they were closing in fast. The sound of their metal tipped boots clicking against the ground with their every step seemed to echo over the laser-like shots from their guns - the guns aimed right at his head!
Ducking his head just a bit to avoid another blast, he looked forward and saw to his horror that there was a chain-link fence blocking his way. Though he knew he would not simply faze through such an obstacle, he continued at a full charge.
Suddenly, a blue-white streak zipping across the metal wires caught his attention and then he noticed a bright orange sign with the word 'Warning' on it. Underneath 'Warning' read 'Electric Fence - STAY OUT!'
"We got him!" he heard one of the soldiers behind him shout out.
They weren't getting him that easily!
Instead of stopping or even hesitating, he ran straight at the fence and at the last second leaped into the air. He was going to make it! He was going to get over the fence and onto freedom!
Slowly, it became apparent his mission was not to be a success. Either he did not leap as high or he had felt he had or the electric fence had somehow stretched up to grab him, he felt a strange charge go through his body.
The charge started in the tips of his right toes and slowly traveled up and out of his body. His eyes widened in horror as the sudden charge caused his right knee to begin shaking violently. His mouth opened in horror as his whole body gave into the quaking sensation.
Screams echoed throughout the night sky - his screams.
Slowly, he found himself free of the feeling and instead engulfed by a strange yet relaxing numbness. Then he found himself looking up at the twinkling night sky as it seemed to shrink from him. A rushing feeling escaped his sides as the buildings around him steadily grew taller. Even the fence grew as he suddenly felt the sensation stop and his body seemed to jump up for a second before he rested again - his only movement rocking uneasily on his shell.
His eyes began to slowly grow heavier and the night sky and buildings blur and disappear as the strange clicking noise of metal tipped boots closing around him echoed.
His head hung to his side and his mouth slightly opened as they looked down at him.
"We got the purple one," one soldier whispered into his walkie talkie.
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Leonardo angrily faced his double. However, between him and the look alike that held his younger brother captive was Raphael and Donatello's doubles - prepared to do anything to keep Michelangelo's nightmare continuing. Because of this, Leo couldn't risk doing anything at the cost of Mikey's life. He did not know how the nightmares worked, but he had a bad feeling that if this was Mikey's mind and Mikey believed this to be true - than anything that happened to him would occur.
There was definitely something sinister unwrapping here, and he couldn't risk loosing his family!
"Don't worry, Mikey!" Leo said coolly as he held his katana out to his imposter brothers and they all slowly walked in a circle. "These aren't the real Raph and Don - and that's not the real me that's got you!" he declared boldly.
Suddenly, both 'Raph' and 'Don' attacked Leo with force and speed alien to the older turtle. He had sparred with his brothers his whole life and though he knew that these were not his real brothers he had somewhat expected that they at least fought like his brothers. Then again, why would Aku give him that advantage?
With each passing moments in these nightmares, Leonardo was beginning to despise Aku more and more.
Slowly, his peripheral vision was finally taken off of his double and younger brother as Leonardo was charged at by Don who rammed the turtle leader so hard that he flew into a support beam and cause circular cracks to expel from the dent left by his shell. The cracks networked in a spider web-like fashion and showed to Don and Raph's amusement that they had hit him hard enough to at least knock him out.
"LEO!" Mikey exclaimed before the fake pulled back on his mask tails tighter.
The amusement of the imposters was silenced as slowly but surely, Leonardo stood up. Blood began to web its way over his clenched jaws and down his chin as he glared angrily at the fakes.
He would be alright - it stung, but less than it would have in reality. After all - Leo held the cards around her. He had the key - he knew that this was a dream...
The fake-Leo narrowed his eyes at Leonardo and then pulled Mikey eye level to him. Michelangelo looked at 'Leo' in horror as the fake grabbed his shoulders and then shoved him against a pillar.
"Do you believe him?" 'Leo' hissed at Mikey. "Do you believe this rag-tag fake over your family, you dishonorable ingrate?"
The orange-clad turtle began shivering as his eyes were stuck on 'Leo's' cold, dark ones. Eyes that were ready to kill...eyes that were ready to kill him if he gave the wrong answer.
Impatiently, the fake turtle shoved him harder against the pillar. "WELL?" the fake Leonardo demanded.
Gulping, Mikey narrowed his eyes and took in a deep breath as the blood from his previous injury still seeped down his neck and plastron. "Yes!" Mikey stated definitely. "Leo's my brother and he would protect me! Never would he try to hurt me like you!"
Leo smirked as he heard what Mikey said and then jumped up and preformed his split kick into both Raph and Don's faces, sending them both to the floor in confusion over Leo's sudden energy.
The fake's eyes widened in surprise at Mikey's statement before narrowing in a disgusted glare. He raised his fist behind his head and looked at Mikey's frightened face.
Suddenly, the fake felt a tapping on his shoulder and whirled around to see the real Leonardo standing directly behind him with a disgusted look on his face. Leonardo then held his fist back in preparation to sock his double.
"Don't ever bother my family!" Leonardo growled before following through with the hardest punch he had ever made in his life.
The fake's grip on Mikey's shoulders released and he fell to the floor. In shock, Mikey dropped to a sitting position shaking in confusion. His knees were up in his face as his body shivered.
In concern, Leonardo dropped to his knees next his brother and gave a comforting smile to him. "You alright, Bro?" Leo asked.
Mikey looked wide-eyed at his brother and nodded. "I-I think so..." he stated before looking at the imposter Leonardo. "Whu-Whut happened?"
"You're probably going to think I'm crazy, but..." Leo took a deep breath and nodded to himself. "You're in a dream that's being created by an alien that had a hold on that 'Max' guy I told you of earlier."
Mikey looked down to his feet. "Wh-whut's going to happen now?"
Leo extended his hand to Mikey who took it and they both got up. Leo took another breath and looked at his brother in a very serious and almost cold manner that sent a chill down Mikey's spine.
"We have to get out of your dream and help Don and Raph - if we can. I tried to wake Raph from his dream earlier but it didn't exactly work and I don't think you're allowed back after leaving a dream," Leo explained his theory. "We have to exit yours right now," Leo stated as slowly they both seemed to be slowly phasing.
Mikey looked down to his transparent hands and then at Leo. "How do I know this isn't part of the dream?" Mikey asked.
Leo blinked. "Actually...I don't exactly know if this is real myself. This actually could be my nightmare..."
The orange-clad turtle looked at him critically and almost panicked. "Wait! Are you saying I'm not real?"
Slowly, the two found themselves in the maze that Leo was very familiar with by now. Leo shook his head at Mikey's question - not acknowledging that Mikey was absolutely astonished to be in the maze-like prison.
"Try not to think about it, Mikey - this will probably go by a lot faster if...we..."
"Leo?" Mikey questioned as his brother's eyes became lusterless and his expression one of complete dread. Slowly, he began to approach his brother when Leo suddenly lashed out, hold his head and screaming. "NO! I DIDN'T DO IT! I DIDN'T KILL THEM!" Leo screamed.
Mikey looked in horror as the scene around them began to swirl and change into a dim and gloomy version of the lair. He felt sick at all the blood and the writings on the wall in blood. The lair swirled around them in a horrid fashion as a smell of death loomed around them. Then Mikey heard it - from every corner of the swirling room.
Screams of pain and torture the turtle couldn't even imagine. The echoing of snapping necks and slicing swords. Then the wails came along - screaming and screeching at him and Leo.
"YOU DID IT..."
"YOU DID IT..."
"YOU--"
"NO!" Leo screamed at the top of his lungs as blood from nowhere began flowing from his hands - but it wasn't his.
Mikey grabbed a hold of Leo's shoulders and shook him. "LEO! LEO! Wake up, Leo!" Mikey yelled over the wails. "You didn't do it! It's a dream! IT'S A DREAM!" he yelled at his older brother.
Slowly, Leo's shoulders relaxed and the scene began to melt away. Leonardo looked shaking to his quivering hands and felt like he was going to puke as he looked at the blood that slowly began to fade from his hands. He wiped his forehead with his forearm and fell to the ground in a sitting position. His eyes looked dazzlingly at the maze wall in front of him.
Mikey dropped to his knees next to Leonardo and was hugging his brother.
"It was just a dream, Leo! It was only a dream! I'm here! I'm here with you!" Mikey stated as he began crying himself.
"I'm fine..." Leo said dully before shrugging Mikey off and beginning to get up. "We've...we've got to get Don..."
"Leo...was that your dream?" Mikey asked in concern as he got up with his brother.
Leo nodded sadly. "It...keeps trying to drag me back...every time I get to this place it seems..."
Mikey blinked. "Where are we?" he asked.
Leo had not put serious thought into it before, but it was probably because he already knew. He always knew.
"We're in Aku's mind..."
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Even though Leonardo had specifically told her to stay home, April had to know what was going on. By the way that Leo had acted earlier she knew there was something devastatingly wrong happening and it was affecting the whole family. Sure, Leo had made it clear his brothers had no idea what was going on, they were always in these things together before they ever ended.
The thought that something frightened Leo enough to where he would rather risk his own life and tackle it alone instead of with his brothers frightened April to death and she hated to think of what it could possibly be.
April had never been much of the one for butting heads with the bad guys - she left that area to Casey and the turtles, but she couldn't let something potentially deadly happen to her friends without doing her all to stop it.
After all, the turtles and Splinter weren't just April's friends - they were her family. And with her sister being her closest relative and living in California, they were basically all April had. And she loved them.
That was why she was making her way through the garage just above the turtle's lair at the moment.
Everything seemed perfectly normal to her - nothing to hint that something dastardly was occurring downstairs. There were gadgets and computers lining the walls of the garage and scattered in messy piles that made it difficult to decipher what was finished and what was currently being worked on. That was how Don operated and April respected that.
Reaching the area of the garage where the elevator lead downstairs, April paused. The elevator was already up - not that it was that unusual, but once she stepped next to the doors of the elevator, a trembling began to take hold of her body.
The air surrounding the Y'Lyntian device was at least thirty degrees lower than the air around it. She felt a sense of dread surrounding the atmosphere and feared what lied beyond the otherwise normal appliance.
Still, this could be her family at risk here - she could not turn back now. After all that they had done for her, she couldn't get spooked by a strange feeling. Besides, she'd been to the turtles' lair hundreds of times and nothing - almost nothing - occurred actually within the lair.
The doors to the elevator peeled open the way you would suspect the doors of a science fiction space shuttle to open. An eerie, dim light expelled from the door as dust flew out from the bottom corners of the elevator. But what hit April the hardest was the death-like stench that flowed from within it. It smelt truly as if something had died within the elevator.
"What's going on here?" she coughed as she waved her hand a few inches in front of her nose to keep dust from entering her nose and mouth.
Slowly, and despite her intuition, April stepped into the elevator and waited the short few seconds in the elevator before it came to a steady stop and the doors slowly opened again.
The red haired woman blinked as her jaw dropped. It was as if she had been dropped off by that elevator into some sort of Twilight Zone!
The lair looked rusted and beaten up almost. Dust scattered across the broken appliances and torn furniture. Pipes and cords dangerously hung from the ceiling and second floor and ripped papers were scattered everywhere as water dripped down onto her from the cracks of the bricks - as if she was in a cave of some sort.
In the center of the layer where the turtles and Splinter had once trained, water was flowing across the floor with a monstrous 'lump' in the center with many long, tube-like appendages draped around the lair - into rooms and through cracks and holes.
In front of this strange thing lied five glowing pods that made April shiver in remembrance of the hornet creatures she and the turtles had encountered in a parallel universe once.
Worst yet, the smell had become even more nauseating and made April stomach turn at every whiff.
Her heart sunk - where was her family? Where were her friends?
Just as she was about to call out for them, she heard Leo's voice.
Don't ever bother my family! the voice echoed throughout the lair.
"Leo?" April asked out hopefully before her vision locked on a turtle standing between the pods.
There was a hard SMACK and the turtle fell to the ground unconscious - his body splashing in the murky water and sending ripples throughout the 'pool' in the lair.
Just as April was beginning to rush forward to help him, she noticed that this was not one of her friends! He wore a gray - almost black - mask and though he had katana strapped to his back like Leonardo they were not Leo's. In fact, April had seen the swords before - at least one of them.
"That's the turtle that must've attacked the store!" she gasped as she hid behind the pod closest to the elevator. She had only meant to hide from the unknown turtle but nearly screamed when there was a THUMP from inside the pod.
Falling onto her bottom into the water, April looked wide eyed at the pod as it shook back and forth with something moving inside it. She watched the silhouette in horror.
"NO! My sons..." a voice came from within the pod.
Confused, April got onto her knees and inched closer to the pod. Now daring to near the alien device on her hands and knees she leaned forward to the pod and took a deep breath.
"Master Splinter?" she asked in confusion before nearing the pod enough to rest her ear against it and wait.
There was a pulse-like beat from the pod as she heard sobbing from within. "My sons...my...my poor, poor sons..." Splinter's voice mopped within the pod. This was definitely the rat April knew!
"Hold on, Master Splinter!" April begged. "I'll get you out! I promise!"
April got on her feet and began looking around for something to pry open the pod with when she saw Leo's practice weapon rack. It had been knocked over, but its weapons had not strayed far. Sure enough, there was a spare katana in its sheath just beside the weapon rack.
Running over to it, April wasted no time in pulling the katana out of its sheath and then running back to the pod. She placed her head hesitantly on the egg shaped pod and quivered as her ear accidentally cam in contact with some of the yellowish slime dripping down it.
There was another pulsation. "Don't worry, Master Splinter!" she told him confidentially. "Just...if you can hear me stand back!" she warned before backing up a little bit.
Closing her eyes, April took a random slash into the pod and then opened them. Sure enough, there was the rat-master sitting on some type of gooey seat - but he seemed unconscious and weak. However, before April could do anything, the slash healed up and April couldn't get to the master before it completely sealed again.
This time prepared, April didn't bother with closing her eyes and instead sliced through the skin-like shell of the pod and wasted no time. She reached forward despite the slime and goo and grabbed Splinter's forearms.
To her horror, the slice was healing already.
"Forgive me for being harsh, Master Splinter!" she apologized before harshly yanking the ninja master out of the pod and falling back into the murky water with him.
Slowly, Splinter's charcoal eyes fluttered open weakly and he looked at April and blinked.
"April?" he asked out before reaching around her neck and hugging her.
"Master Splinter...what's going on?" April asked in confusion before the pod completely sealed shut and there was a rapid beating pulse from the prison. She looked at it and watched as the pulse sent out a ripple through the water and towards the strange thing in the center of the lair.
However, before it could reach its goal, two green feet sloshed through it. The turtle towered over April and Splinter and looked down at them with his katana already out.
"What do you think you're doing, Miss O'Neil?" the turtle hissed. "I thought I told you to stay HOME!"
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Turtlefreak121: Well, that's one dream down - one to go! This fiction could be done in a few more chapters... ... ... Nah... Maybe, though...
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