Rating: Overall story rated T

Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.

Warnings: Overall story contains disturbing imagery such as blood, gore and the like, and disturbing situations.

Summary: The world as they knew it has gone to ruins. The shadows, once their greatest allies, now harbour threats so great it's safer to risk walking in open daylight and Mikey and April will do anything to keep what remains of their family safe; even if it means abandoning home and everything they knew. This story is AU and a collaboration between sampsonknight and Zelgadis55.

Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.


T420000: You're welcome :-)

Guest: Yeah, it really should have been XD

Minnie1015: Forget scary, it's a terrifying world they're heading into. Hmm... yeah, let's hope Donnie's doing a good job looking after his baby brothers.

the butterflies: You're welcome. That's a question we may never fully know the answer to or maybe we will at some point? Who knows! As for them avoiding the walkers, the answer is in this chapter (and by default, the previous). I'm glad you understand Donnie's reasoning now. It's difficult for anyone, let alone one so young. Even if they are smarter (by far) than the average person.


Sekai no Owari

Ch 20

April quickly ran to the computer and remotely released the lockdown, enabling her to open the front door. Then she activated the program to blast the dog whistle over the speakers in the living room.

The sound pumped powerfully through the multiple speakers in the neighbouring room and overwhelmed, she grabbed at her ears and stumbled back, no longer able to function or even remain standing.

"Shell!" Mikey swore; he hadn't realised just how badly it would affect his friend. He immediately rushed to April's side and caught her before she could fall. "Are you okay, dudette?"

Blinking at him, she shook her head and yelled, "I can't hear you! This noise is horrible! Worse than Raph's favourite bands!"

"But is it worse than Klingon Opera?" Mikey asked distantly as he frantically thought. Not expecting an answer, he helped her to the nearby chair and took a deep breath, staring at the images pouring in from the security cameras.

After a moment, he also activated the camera by the entrance, watching the feed side by side with the inside feed. To his disgust, he saw nothing on the outside camera but plenty of zombies entering through the door from the inside. After a few minutes, the runners stopped coming but the shamblers and crawlers continued to enter. Biting his lip, Mikey glanced down at April worriedly, seeing she looked as sick as he still felt. Suddenly, he brightened as a thought occurred to him and ran away from her.

Looking frantically over the shelves of items in queue for being repaired, Mikey soon found what he was looking for and grabbed it before racing back to a slumping, pained-looking April. Grinning, Mikey lifted the item in his hands and placed it on her, covering her ears. The left earphone was a little loose, which is why he'd handed it to Donnie a few months ago but there was nothing wrong with them otherwise and since they were noise-cancelling headphones designed for his use at home, he hoped they would at least help.

The noise suddenly stopped, making April's heart likewise stop as her immediate thought was that the speakers failed. Then, realising she actually couldn't hear anything and that something was atop her head, she raised her voice even as she raised her hands, "Mikey?" Slowly she looked up to see him looking half-worriedly, half-pleased at her. Reaching up and feeling the earphones she understood and smiling, turned her gaze towards the monitors instead, "Do you think it would be a good time to leave or wait? The longer we wait the more chance we might accidentally run into whoever is behind this. I don't want them to know we are alive and hunt us down."

"I guess now's as good a time as any," Mikey replied critically as he turned back to the monitor and watched. Then suddenly realising April probably didn't hear his reply, he turned and nodded, giving her a quick thumbs up. "You okay now?" he asked, making sure to face her as he did, hoping she'd be able to read his lips.

"Dork," she snickered at his goofy grin and thumbs up, then nodded, "I'm okay but I'll feel better when we leave."

Mikey nodded again, his mind flashing to his brothers out there in the cold and wondering if they were safe or if the zom... Mikey shook his head violently, dislodging the nasty thought and focusing his attention back on the monitors.

"Then let's get this moving." April pushed to her feet, staring at the door. Maybe it would be wiser to let him take the lead considering she couldn't currently hear.

"Sure," Mikey replied. Striding over to the door, he picked up the two backpacks, shrugging one on and handing the smaller, lighter one to April. When she was ready, he handed her the bo staff and fixed Leo's katana holster to his shell. Truthfully, he wished he could take both swords for his brother in the future but he was far better with just the one than two and besides, the unnecessary added weight would only prove detrimental.

Taking another deep breath and telling himself the coast was as clear as it was going to get, Mikey unlocked the door and inched it open, peering cautiously out into the living room. The fetid smell hit him immediately and it was all he could do not to choke on the stench. Glancing back at April, he gave a sharp nod and silently swung the door ever wider. He slipped out through it and into their spacious living room with April close behind. Then, edging around the room and making sure to keep themselves to the backs of the rotting intruders, the two snuck towards the lair door.

Every fleeting moment felt like their last as they made it to the door, only to see the hordes coming from all directions. However, there was one path that seemed clear and April was hoped it would bring them into town as they originally planned. Tapping on the turtle's shoulder softly, she pointed to the tunnel.

Mikey nodded and began heading that way, all the while keeping a sharp eye out on their surroundings.

The journey that normally would take them no more than ten minutes took closer to an hour or at least, it felt that way. The patches of zombies thinned out to nothing the further away from the sound they were and even the stragglers they came across ignored them, in favour of the fresh meat promised them by the alluring sound. To think that all this time there had been a way to control them to a point or direct them away from an area and that such power was just a simple dog whistle. Reaching the manhole they were aiming to escape the sewers from, April paused, seeing two men with guns hovering around the ladder.

Touching April's shoulder softly, Mikey immediately backed further into the shadows, praying they wouldn't be noticed. As soon as they were around a corner, Mikey motioned to another direction.

Nodding April removed the earphones only to still hear the sound distantly behind them but thankfully, not as loud or painfully.

Following Mikey, April finally stopped him, tapping on his shoulder and leaning in to quietly murmur, "Mikey it's worse."

"What's worse, Ape?" Mikey asked, sotto voce.

"We had the impression it was some group doing this right? Well, it's not just some random group," she whimpered, shuddering as she felt sick and disgusted with herself.

"What do you mean?"

"You know that group I mentioned? The one that... when Leo ordered us... oh god, I thought Leo was being heartless, cold even at the time but now... now I think Leo ordered us not to help that woman because he knew it was a trap. What if this group was on to us for some time and Leo knew? Would he do what he did that day, turning a blind eye to protect us and without telling us what was going on?" April asked, feeling the tears in her eyes. She'd been so angry with Leo and even told him off before returning to the lair that day. Donnie tried to say something to her after but she refused to listen and kept the feeling that slowly ate away at her insides.

"Maybe," Mikey replied softly, hating the fact that once again no one had said anything about it to him at the time.

Sighing, April continued, "Mikey, this is that group. I recognised one of the guys back there."

Mikey glanced back the way they'd come, a wave of unfamiliar anger filling him at the thought. He clenched his fists at his sides and breathed out. "Well, if you're right, then there's a good chance there's more of them around," he murmured. "There's nothing we can do right now, we've gotta find Donnie, Leo and Raph before anything happens to them."

"Agreed but we should avoid them realising we have escaped or they will only hunt us down," April mused. "Mikey, what if we turn around and go back to the manhole? Who is to say the next isn't blocked off or there are zombies?"

Mikey stopped and thought for a moment. "Well, if it is, I guess we'll find out soon," he replied worriedly. "Let's continue to the next exit but we'll approach from above. Think you can keep your balance on the pipes?"

"Pipes...?" she gasped, "I'm not a monkey!"

"You're related though, Ape," Mikey joked cheekily. "Seriously though, it's not that high, dudette, only like about nine feet. You can hold onto my shell if you need to."

"Oh thanks, well I'm still not a monkey and you make it sound so simple... fine if I fall, I blame you, Mr. Ninja Turtle," April teased. Then she took a deep breath, steeling herself.

Mikey grinned and clasped his hands together, holding them out for her to run and jump into so he could toss her up towards the pipes.

"Ah no," April blinked at her crazy friend. Did he really think that would work for her? Knowing her luck she would head-butt the pipe or lodge a broken one into her skull and that didn't even consider the upper body strength Mikey had that would launch her like a damn rocket!

"Well, the other option is for you to climb onto my shell while I jump there carrying you," Mikey shrugged upon seeing her baulk; he really didn't want to do carry her up considering how gross he felt but he wasn't telling her that as he'd only worry her more when they were both already worried sick. "We're safer up there than down here, especially if there's anyone watching for us and I don't want to take too long with this. I'm scared for our bros," he explained plaintively.

"Oh, I'm fine with the walking on the pipe part but not thrilled with you testing how far or hard you can throw me. I know about your bets with Raph and I'm not giving you the opportunity to try it out! I will go with the reasonable and rational option please," April retorted, shaking her head, trying to hide the worry she felt so as to not make Mikey feel worse.

"And what's the 'safe and reasonable option'?" Mikey asked, trying to disguise the impatience in his voice.

"Well, it sure isn't you throwing me like a rag doll. Either you'll throw me too hard and I'll hit the damn ceiling or too light and I'll just smack face-first into a wall or the floor... So shell it is..." April answered then blinked at how she made it sound like she wanted to hit his shell instead. Clarifying herself quickly, she added, "I mean I'll hold onto your shell."

Shaking his head in anxious amusement, Mikey crouched down to make it easier for April to climb on. When she said she was ready, Mikey took a running leap, launching himself into the air to grab hold of the pipe and swing them up and over. He landed with a wobble due to all the extra weight from April, their backpacks, the extra weapons and the fact he still felt rather sick, but thankfully managed to regain his centre of balance. Standing still, Mikey waited for April to climb down and find her footing.

"Are you okay Mikey?" April asked, swallowing hard. She didn't like the feel of this pipe nor did she have that much confidence in her own balance or fledgling skills.

"I'm fine, dudette, you?" Mikey asked innocently, turning to look at the suddenly paler woman.

"Oh just peachee..." April muttered. "Can we continue before I'm paralysed by fear?"

Mikey breathed a laugh and then turned around, leading the way.

A couple of times as they walked, they noticed the movement of a couple of broken zombies crawling below them and the screech of terrified rats running in fear. More than once, the two had to crouch as they walked, the ceiling seemingly lower over the pipes as the pipes raised for whatever reason the architect decided. Finally, they came across the next exit from the sewers and Mikey froze. "Looks like you were right," he breathed. "They do seem to be laying in wait for us, like a vampire at a virgin ball."

April rolled her eyes at his metaphor, "Unfortunately," she agreed. "Do you want to try blowing the lair up? I don't want to be too far away in case the signal doesn't work or we get out of range, besides I want to hear it to confirm it's done."

"Sure. It will be a good distraction for them too," Mikey nodded towards the gun-toting scum below them.

"Yeah, and who knows, hopefully, they'll leave or step away far enough for us to sneak by."

"Perzactly," Mikey murmured, pulling April's Shell-cell out and flipping it open. Moments later, he had the program up and his finger hovering above the button that would blow much of their home to kingdom come. He felt sick at the thought of what he was about to willingly do so he began humming the first few bars from the opening theme to '2001 Space Odyssey' only to have April softly slap him and glare. Mikey grinned cheekily and whispered, 'Boom!" as he pressed the button.

Only a few tunnels away, Mikey heard the explosions begin and the sick feeling grew, knowing their home and all their belongings were going up in flames.

Again.

April placed her hand on his shoulder for support; she understood what he was feeling and whispered, "Leo told me when I lost 'Second Time Around', home is where your family is, not where the bricks and mortar are."

Mikey nodded silently and swallowed, Leo had told him something similar too when they lost their previous home. He tore his eyes away from the direction of their lost home and instead turned to watch the humans lying in wait below.

The explosion echoed off the walls as both men stiffened in alarm, staring widely in the direction of the lair. Moments later, something beeped in one of the guy's pouches and he pulled out a walkie-talkie.

"Josh here," he answered, "Yes sir, we heard it. It sounded like an explosion towards the freaks' base," he replied to whoever was on the other end. "No sir, none have come this way, it's been quiet... Yes sir... We will take care of it, sir... Yes sir... Roger."

"So what's the fuck is going on?" the other man questioned, as his partner released the safety on his gun before answering.

"We're ordered to make a sweep towards the freaks' hidden base and kill any of those turtle freaks we find but the boss wants the woman that been seen with them alive and unharmed. That means you can't just shoot whatever you see on sight, Hawley."

"He really does like his redheads don't he?" Hawley chuckled nastily, getting his gun ready as he followed closely behind.

Mikey's gaze hardened as he watched them, "Monsters!" he murmured softly, feeling April tense up behind him.

-:-

Mikey lifted the lid off a manhole cover with the letters WSNY engraved upon it and looked to April, "Ladies first," he offered with a chivalrous smile.

"Oh, of course. I'll let the zombie know that you're not far behind and that you're tastier than me," she chuckled, taking to the ladder and going down halfway before turning on her flashlight to peek around for any movement.

"It's times like this I wish I could still go inside my shell," Mikey grumbled, waiting to follow her down. Once April stopped at the midway point, Mikey followed, closing the lid behind him. "See anything?" he asked, looking around as best he could from above.

"Nothing but that doesn't mean there won't be at some point, especially with our luck. Did it look clear up there? No sign of anyone following us?" April asked anxiously.

For the past few hours after escaping the sewers unseen, they had to resort to hiding in the alleyways and taking detours that would have been reckless on any other given day but unfortunately, they'd had no choice.

Neither human nor turtle knew what the group had in their hands, what tech or equipment that they had stolen or killed for. It was horrifying to see firsthand how they knew about the lair, the location of the doors and where the cameras were without anyone in their family having known or suspected a thing. It was a testament to how obsessed, divided and desperate they'd been of recent that they hadn't even noticed.

For all they knew, this group could have been monitoring the city or some sections of it and who knew how long they'd been watching. It was safer for them to keep to the shadows and try not to draw attention to them. This including leaving any bodies behind. The few times they'd had to finish off a walking corpse, they took a moment to stash it in a stinking bin or hide it the best they could to not leave any traces of their passage behind.

April was happy Mikey was so skilled in covering his tracks and hers, otherwise, she would have feared they'd have been hunted down, which would lead those barbarians to their defenceless little brothers.

Now they were here, the underground river that flowed into the Hudson. This was also the same river the submarine used. By going this way, if all went well they might get close enough to be able to track Donnie's Shell-cell or at least determine where the sub went. They wouldn't get far since the amount of fuel left in the tank would in theory only bring them a few yards from the exit of the underground river.

"Didn't see anyone," Mikey confirmed, shaking his head as he peered intently into the gloom. Satisfied with both April's word and his sight, he jumped down, splashing into the waist-deep water at the edge of the river.

Following behind, she sighed, "What is with me ending up getting wet all the time? I'm starting to get envious that you guys can get away with wearing nothing."

"Shell, that's a terrifying thought!" Mikey gasped melodramatically, pulling out his Shell-cell again to see if it would pick up on Donnie's signal yet.

"Mikey!" April softly cried in disbelief, painfully aware they needed to be as quiet as possible, even down here, "I didn't mean fully nude! I meant when it comes to my shoes and pants. You know how disgusting and irritating wet shoes feel?"

"I've worn wet shoes before in winter and yeah, it's gross. As for you being fully nude, I would hope not! Because seriously! I wouldn't know where to look and you'd probably end up smacking me no matter where I looked. I couldn't take that kind of abuse and would have to walk around blindfolded!" Mikey exclaimed, horrified by the thought.

Circling her face she sighed, "The face is fine, but this region," she air circled in front of her breasts, "is off-limits, as is anything below," she exclaimed, also motioning further down, "which should be more than obvious. That includes my arse. If you look up and not let your eyes wander you would be just fine without a blindfold, but again who knows how perverted your curious mind might get."

"My perverted mind?" Mikey gasped in mock affront. "Mine? I'm not the one who's been burying his face into your chest every chance he gets the last couple of days! I'd just plain be way too embarrassed. Besides, I prefer petite blondes with slightly pointy ears and sweet but fun dispositions," he added cheerfully as he slogged his way through the river, not letting on how disappointed he was not to have Donnie appear on the tracker yet.

"You mean your fantasy crush? From that anime?"

"Just because you never met her doesn't mean she doesn't exist," Mikey sniffed indignantly. "My bros know she's real. Well, knew..." he fell silent, dismissing all thoughts of Kala from his mind and continued sloshing through the water, thankful that April likewise dropped the subject.

"Anything yet?" April asked after a while when Mikey checked the tracker for the fifth time since they came down.

"No," Mikey admitted reluctantly, "but this is the only way they could have gone. We'll come across them sooner or later, as long as they don't leave the sub when it runs out of fuel and if they do, hopefully, we'll find footprints to follow if the tracker still isn't picking up on them."

"How far until the end? I've never been down here before."

"Um... not really sure," Mikey shrugged. "I mean where we came down it was about seven miles to the Hudson River and we've been walking down here for ages now but I've got no idea how far we've gone."

"Okay," April nodded, not saying much after.

They continued on in companionable silence for some time, the only real changes to their otherwise dark world being when they'd see the faint light coming through manhole covers from far above. As they walked, they kept to the edge of the tunnel, not wanting to venture far from the walls knowing the river was deeper further out. As it was, they'd had a couple of close calls with one or the other almost stepping into a far deeper section. As such, April had taken out her borrowed bo and the two of them had taken turns in using it to test the depth in front of them as they walked. Finally, April looked down at her watch and saw they'd been down here for well over two hours.

"Mikey, this is taking longer than walking on the surface," April pointed out anxiously. "Not saying that was any safer but at this pace, it will be nightfall before we get out and I feel like we've been down here all day."

"I know," Mikey admitted, just as worriedly, "but we had to come this way because what if the sub ran out of fuel while they were still in here? Besides, we've gotta be getting close by now, surely," he pleaded.

"I hope you're right," she sighed again, feeling drained already with nothing to eat and weighted down with this constant pushing through the water.

"So do I, dudette," Mikey murmured under his breath. Just then, they rounded the bend and a faint glow appeared ahead.

"Is that the exit or a flashlight?" April asked, hopeful for the exit rather than the flashlight.

Mikey squinted ahead, hope filling his soul. "I think it's the exit." He pulled out the Shell-cell to check the tracking app again. There was still nothing showing ahead so he and April powered forward as best they could while wading through the water.

Finally reaching the somewhat fresh air, both blinked at the brightness of the day, adjusting to the light. Either way, April at least felt less claustrophobic and desperate than she'd felt in that tunnel. Squinting, she placed her hand above her eyes, scanning the shorelines for anything out of place.

"Ugh! I hate coming out of the dark tunnels in the middle of the day," Mikey grumbled, pulling out the tracker again. "I should so start carrying sunglasses on a chain around my neck or something."

"That would look godly, Mikey," April mocked, then became silent as she flashed a worried look at him. "Are they showing up?"

"Maybe you can help me find a nice pair sometime," he suggested, only half-seriously as he squinted at the screen. Finally, with his vision cleared somewhat, he could make out the screen and to his disgust, "Still nothing! There's no telling which way they've gone!"

"Mikey, the sub, it's on the other side of the bank," April pointed, feeling a rush of fear; if there was no reading, then that meant they'd abandoned it. That or Donnie had destroyed his Shell-cell so they wouldn't be able to track it. They'd checked before leaving the lair and it hadn't been left behind.

Mikey turned to look where she motioned, his heart sinking over it being on the other side of the Hudson. "Well, if they came ashore there, then there should be a trail to follow at least."

"Yes but one problem, in case you forgot, which was why the sub was our only escape."

"The fact there was no other exit from the lair that wasn't zombie-infested?"

"The bridges aren't accessible! Most were demolished, another is barely standing and the one left is a biter trap full of zombies which were trapped between the two gates the army put up to screen people through and the outbreak took it over not long after!" April exclaimed, reminding him of the horrific events that took place once people realised what was going on and panicked. Everyone had rushed to escape, leading to gridlocks, murder and more. The chaos was so bad, Leo wouldn't allow them to go to the surface until more than a week later for safety.

Mikey sighed. "We could always swim?"

"No."

"Or you could hold onto me again while I crawl along the underside of the bridge using the shuko spikes."

"Oh, hell no! I'd fall!" April snapped. That and she'd been watching Mikey carefully ever since he'd recovered from the bite. He still wasn't all there yet and there was no way he had the strength and endurance to manage that kind of climb for long. In fact, April was amazed he'd managed this long without collapsing.

"Well, do you have any other suggestions?" Mikey asked anxiously, looking all along the nearby shore, hoping to see a boat left behind. Basically, hoping for the impossible.

"Unless we find a boat, I'm not sure how we can get across. But swimming is out of the question! We... I will not make it. Our supplies will get waterlogged and drag us down and we can't survive long term without that stuff," April explained wearily, not liking how it sounded as though she was making excuses when the sub was so close and yet so far away.

Not far down the shore stood a boating club shed and Mikey motioned towards it, "Let's check it out," he suggested. "We might get lucky."

"Who knows," April shrugged doubtfully, following Mikey down the shoreline.

A few minutes later, Mikey cautiously pushed open the door, half expecting something rotting and horrifying to leap out at him. When nothing did, he breathed in relief and stepped inside. April waited in the doorway as a lookout.

Suddenly Mikey yelled in excitement! "I found one!" He rushed towards it.

"Seriously?" April flashed a look at him, unable to believe it was really that easy, "Or are you pulling my leg?"

"Seriously! Would I get this excited otherwise?" Mikey retorted good-naturedly. He looked up at the canoe, wondering why it was left there hanging in the air and how to get it down. "Come in and help me pull it down," Mikey called, realising it was a two-person job and that they'd have to lift.

"Okay," April agreed warily. "I don't get it though. Why is there a canoe still here? I would have thought all boats would have been snatched up in desperation. I mean, look at this place. It's been trashed and there are old bloodstains everywhere."

"Yeah... it is pretty gross in here," Mikey admitted, carefully avoiding looking at the stains too closely.

They quickly began pulling down the two-seater canoe and within a couple of minutes, had it on the ground.

"Well, it's a great canoe but..." April sighed looking around the old boat shed for anything she could use, "it has a huge hole in it. No wonder it was still here. Still, we might be able to MacGyver it up long enough to get us on the other side, if we do this right."

"Do you know how to fix it?" Mikey asked hopefully, looking around to see if there were any repair supplies nearby, "because Donnie, I'm not."

"Really? Oh right you're wearing the disgusting orange so you can't be Donnie," April snickered as she looked around more thoroughly, turning things over with the bo staff since she didn't feel comfortable having her hand near dark areas that anything could be hiding under.

"Hey, this orange isn't disgusting, it's stylish and sexy," Mikey retorted, swishing his hips seductively. "He was just jealous because he couldn't pull it off with his skin tone."

"Sure he was, that or he knew what I know, with orange comes this..." she pointed to him, "It's just wrong, on every level. Sexy would be not you and orange is too fake like Halloween."

"What do you know, Halloween is my favourite holiday," Mikey winked. Then he paused and continued in a quieter voice, "Or at least it was... I don't think I'll ever be able to see it the same way again now though," he added sadly as he returned to helping look.

Sorry," April said, finally gathering the last of what she needed to do a quick patch up with what was available.

"It's okay. Do you need me to help or should I go stand watch?" Mikey asked, looking towards the door uneasily.

"I got it, it should only take me a few minutes but I can't fully fix it or we'll be here way too long. I just hope it'll last until we get to the other side. That's all I care about."

Mikey nodded and wandered over to the door. He looked up and down the shore for anything coming at them and when there was nothing, his gaze instead drifted to the other side of the river where the sub sat aground as close to the river's edge as it could get.

Staring as intently as he could, Mikey was able to make out the hatch laying open and he closed his eyes in pain, terrified about what could have happened to his brothers since they abandoned the shelter and safety of the submarine. Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder he jumped in fright, whirling on the spot to see it was only April.

"I've done the best I can," April informed him quietly. "We should leave. I don't know how long this will hold but the faster we get to the other side the better. Grab three paddles and that bucket."

"Three paddles?" Mikey asked in confusion even as he moved to do as he was told. "There's only two of us, Ape."

"Always have an extra in case you lose one," she pointed out. "It happens. Things like them slipping from your hand or who knows what else. It's better to just take a spare than fooling around trying to retrieve it from the water."

"Let me guess, you're worried you'll lose yours?" Mikey teased as he picked up the requested items and tossed them haphazardly into the canoe.

"Nope, more like I fear you'll break yours with your iron grip when we get closer to the other side," she teased. "Now, let's get on the water. Place your pack over the centre bars for balance and I'll keep mine on to compensate for your heavier weight."

"Are you calling me fat?" Mikey gasped as he picked up one end of the boat, waiting for April to do the same. "Again?"

"Yes. Whenever you dress up, your shell does make you look a bit heavy on the hips, as I recall from that eye-watering bright dress you like so much," April grinned deeply, lifting the edge of the boat to bring it to the water.

"Why didn't anyone ever tell me?" Mikey moaned piteously. "My bros always assured me I looked great! Bunch of liars!" As he walked, he kept an eye on the turtle sub on the far shore, hoping against hope to see some sign of his brothers despite knowing he wouldn't. They were hightailing it away as fast as they could.

"Because no one wanted to think about it, since considering if you didn't have the shell you would be slim by human standards but that's natural, and don't make me feel bad," April pointed out, indicating for Mikey to lower the canoe into the water.

Mikey took his gaze off the small submarine long enough to glance at her, "Sorry," he mumbled, lowering the boat. As April climbed into the back seat, he held it steady. Then he pushed it out into the water and clambered into the front, barely avoiding capsizing it. April yelped his name and he tossed her a sheepish grin over his shoulder.

"Do me a favour, sit still and do not rock or make any sudden movements..." April begged him, taking her paddle and starting to paddle forwards.

"No problem!" Mikey replied cheerfully, taking another paddle and joining her.

It took them a few minutes to get their rhythm together and to steer straight but soon they had it, working in tandem as a near-perfect team. The current, however, was strong and they had to fight from being pulled downstream away from the aground submarine but somehow, despite their tiredness and lingering illness in Mikey's case, they managed.

Suddenly, as they crossed the halfway point of the river, a gunshot sounded out and something splashed in the water a short distance from their canoe.

"You've got to be kidding me!" April jumped.

Another gunshot whined and another splash, far closer this time.

"I wish!" Mikey exclaimed frantically as he paddled harder, his head twisting to look behind and causing the canoe to turn slightly.

April whipped her head back, feeling the dread claw at her soul, "How did they find us? We even went the long way to avoid being tracked down."

"You mean...?"

"Yes, it's one from the group that attacked the lair. Geez! How many people do they have? You can't tell me they have eyes everywhere! Especially since who would bother trying to cross around here anymore with the bridges out?"

"Besides us? I dunno," Mikey replied grimly, doing his best to straighten the canoe and get back on course again. Suddenly, another bullet whizzed into the water mere inches from their canoe. "Paddle harder April," Mikey exclaimed desperately. "Before they find their ra..."

Mikey yelped in fright as yet another bullet whizzed past, so close this time that he felt the breeze. Then to his horror, he realised he heard a crack immediately follow as another bullet whined. Looking down and back, he saw a brand new hole in the canoe and water slowly pouring in through it.

-:-


Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.

Just to let you know, the next couple of chapters (of this and 'How Much is that Turtle in the Window') will be delayed by a week each because I am finally finishing off 'And One to Grow On' with the final 2 chapters. The penultimate chapter will be uploaded next week, pushing back updates to the other 2 stories by a week each.