Chapter Forty-Five
On The Run
A few days later, Mona and the turtles stood at the entrance to Mutopia ready to go back to New York.
They were to take Ninjet, and Rattletrap was to fly them back.
Tyroth was firm with the rat to keep his mouth shut about his opinions regarding Diablo's betrayal, unless he wanted the turtles to turn him into bloody Swiss cheese.
Rattletrap was annoyed but he agreed and Jack volunteered to go along and keep an eye on him as well as make sure the turtles didn't attack him in case he did say anything stupid.
In the days following Diablo's attack, everyone had tried to get back to a normal routine, and Hacker was put to work in making sure the security was updated and everyone had been given a new password if they were to leave Mutopia, especially those who often left the sanctuary to scavage, like Cam and Barry.
Tyroth had filled Hugh in on the situation with Diablo, to which the Police officer was shocked and horrified, but he said he would do his part of keeping an eye on activities above ground to see if there was any trace of Diablo.
Jake also offered to help in any way he could, like Mona he felt responsible for Diablo and said he would do everything in his power to help.
"I feel I belong here in Mutopia." he said as he, Hugh and Tyroth sat together "I seem to have found a place here, and because of my connections with Diablo, I will do all I can to help find him, and bring him back."
Hugh had been impressed with Jake's bravery and determination especially when he found out about how he had tried to handle the situation when Diablo was threatening Mutopia.
"I see a lot of potential in you young man." he had said, "And I believe that if you wish it, you may wish to consider joining the police force."
Jake had indeed been ecstatic to hear such words from Hugh and he said he would consider it, after all he had been through in the past few years.
Standing opposite his sister, Jake felt tears in his eyes, Mona looked up at him and studied the scratch marks on his face from Diablo's talons.
Jake was lucky the talons hadn't damaged his eye,but James told him he would have a scar for life since they had cut deep.
Jake saw her heartbroken expression and squeezed her hands.
"I'll be okay sis." he said "I promise."
Mona nodded at him.
"I trust you Jake, and I know the Mutopians will look after you."
As she spoke, the Chicago Knights smiled and nodded at her.
"You have out word Mona." Amber said "Jake is one of us now."
Jake looked across to the marine iguana and chuckled before looking back at Mona.
"So much has happened." he said "It's almost unreal, I never imagined I'd find myself here, let alone finding you after so long..."
Mona agreed.
"I always dreamed of seeing you again, and Callum, but I never..." her voice trembled slightly, even though she had been given some comfort through the help of Tyroth and Leonardo, she still felt so much hurt over her younger brother's actions.
"I know..." Jake said placing his hands on Mona's cheeks in comfort "It breaks my heart too, but it was his choice and his actions."
"I wish I could bring him back." Mona whispered.
"So do I." Jake said "But until then, I will stay here, and I will do my best to look for him, and make sure Mutopia is safe, along with Chicago, and you must do the same in New York."
"We'll be back soon." Mona promised "You can count on it."
Jake gave a weak smile.
"I trust you sis." he said before leaning his forehead against hers.
Meanwhile the turtles and the children said their goodbyes to everyone.
Master Splinter was in a wheelchair as he bade George goodbye, he was lucky to survive the gunshot wound as it wasn't life threatening and thanks to James's quick thinking and experience he was able to close the wound yet he would be wheelchair bound for a bit until he healed.
Michelangelo was hugging Kate and kissing her before promising to let her know when he and the others arrived back in New York safely.
"I'll miss you babe." he whispered as he nuzzled her slit nostrils with his beak "I always do."
Kate kissed his beak.
"I'll miss you too."
Michelangelo also leant his forehead against hers.
"I'm also worried." he said softly "What if anything happens..."
"We'll be okay Mikey." Kate reassured her boyfriend then looked saddened as she felt his fingers dance over where she was shot and she in turn touched his arm that still hung in a sling.
"Whatever Diablo does, he's no match for us."
"You got that right!" Percy cut in, "He'd be a fool if he were to mess with Mutopians."
It was strange seeing the Grasshopper act so serious, but in all sense, this was no time for joking around, especially when there was the threat of a Rogue Mutopian.
Sonia and the Geckolings hugged Pandora and Kemeko tightly as they said goodbye.
"Will you come to New York soon?" Pandora asked.
"We hope so." Sonia said with a smile.
"Yeah!" Loki said "Freya and me love New York!"
"I'll miss you." Kemeko smiled "I always have fun with you."
"Stay safe you two!" Sonia said.
"And you." Pandora said hugging the Chameleon and the twin Geckolings before going over to Raphael and Kemeko did the same before walking over to Leonardo.
As the New Yorkers said their goodbyes to everyone, Tyroth walked over.
"I give you my word." he said "Diablo will be found, and he will be brought to justice." he turned to Mona who lowered her head and Raphael wrapped his arm around her.
"If he is found, I will inform you straight away." Tyroth promised Mona "I swear it! I will never hurt your brother intentionally."
"I trust you Tyroth." Mona said placing her hand on Tyroth's large paw "And I know you keep saying I shouldn't, but I'm sorry for what I've put you through, I never thought Callum would do this."
"No-one saw this coming Mona." Sephie said "No-one!"
"Exactly!" Tyroth said "Not you, not Jake, no-one saw what Diablo would do, what happened has happened, and all we can do is work together to make sure our home is protected and that we keep our eyes open should Diablo try anything."
"Thank you Tyroth." Leonardo said "We are forever grateful." he bowed to Tyroth, the other turtles, Master Splinter and Mona following suite and the Dragon bowed back, along with everyone else.
"Have a safe journey." Tyroth said before giving Rattletrap a glare to which the rat flinched a little and Jack gave the Dragon a reassuring look.
"We will." Leonardo said "Goodbye, and thank you."
Mona looked at Jake, and lifted her hand to wave to him, but as she did, Jake ran forward.
"Mona!" he said.
Mona paused and looked at her brother before he swallowed hard and held up his hand.
"Mona," he said "I almost forgot...but..." he took his sister's hand and opened it before placing a gold ring into it.
Mona's eyes widened as she looked at it.
"You asked Callum and I to look after it until you came back..."
"Grandmother's ring!" Mona cried looking at her brother.
Jake nodded with a smile.
"Yeah." he said "I found it in Callum's belongings when I went through his room earlier, I felt you should have it back."
Mona felt fresh tears come to her eyes as she thought about how Callum still held onto it after all those years.
"Thank you so much." she said placing it on her finger.
Jake just smiled and kissed the ring.
"I'm just glad I know you're alive sis." he said "And no matter what happens, the ties that bind us are still strong, no matter what."
Jake waved to Mona and gave a smile.
"I love you sis." he said.
"I love you too Jake." Mona answered back before walking with the Turtles, Splinter, Jack and Rattletrap to where the Ninjet sat to take them home.
As the New Yorkers left down the tunnel to head to the Ninjet, Tyroth sighed.
"Man..." he said "I never imagined it would be like this."
Sephie placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry hun." she said "They'll be alright, and so will we, I know Diablo's out there somewhere, but we'll be ready for him if he tries anything, in the meantime, we have to continue on, and keep Chicago and Mutopia safe, like we've done before."
Tyroth looked at his wife and smiled softly, a sense of new confidence welling in his chest.
"You're right babe." he said.
"Course she is!" Percy cut in "And anyway! If Diablo even dares challenge you, you can roast him like a turkey right?"
Tyroth was about to speak when suddenly the perimeter alarm went off and everyone almost jumped out of their skins before turning towards the entrance.
"Whose that?" George asked with a frown as the Chicago Knights stepped close to him to protect him.
"Diablo?" Sharky asked.
"No way!" Amber snarled "He wouldn't dare come back here."
"Everyone shhh!" Tyroth growled and held up his claws whilst Sephie quickly drew one of her arrows to fire it down the tunnel.
Just then, a flock of bats appeared in the entrance and they formed together before turning into a puff of smoke.
Tyroth and Sephie stood up straight and relaxed as they realised who it was, and before long, the smoke formed into the shape of a human woman with long ebony black hair and pale skin revealing it to be their Vampiress friend Devina.
She was wearing a black catsuit, yet she was also wearing some merchandise, including a blue jacket covered in badges and a matching cowboy hat.
"Hey there friends!" she said cheerfully "I've just returned from Las Vegas in Nevada! Boy was that a colourful place! Did I miss anything?"
She stared at everyone who frowned and she raised an eyebrow.
"Why the long faces?" she asked.
The Chicago Knights looked at Tyroth who rolled his eyes in annoyance and turned to the Vampiress.
"It's a long story Dev!" he said getting hold of one of her wrists "You better get comfortable."
"Ooo-Kay." Devina said still confused as she was pulled inside by Tyroth followed by everyone back into the sanctuary.
Meanwhile, sitting on a Gargoyle on a high building in Chicago, Diablo looked out over the lit up city, and towards the direction of where Mutopia lay hidden under Lake Michigan.
He frowned as he reflected over everything that happened in the past few hours.
After he had been chased by Tyroth, then Heather, then dropped into the water to escape and caught the side of the Fisherman's boat, he had climbed inside without them noticing.
Then still staying hidden, he had remained inside the boat until they returned to the harbour.
Luckily it was still dark and as the Fishermen were bust trying to make sure the boat was tied to the mooring he quickly flew off the boat and into the darkness and towards the city before dawn was to light up the sky.
Diablo didn't regret leaving Mutopia, he had made his choice and the residents had paid the price for standing in his way, he was free and he could do what he pleased.
But he did feel a slight twinge of sadness within him, thinking of his older brother and sister, deep down he didn't want to leave them behind.
"I'm sorry Jake, Mona." he whispered as he looked into the starry sky and the full moon "But I made my choice, I wanted to live my own life and follow my own path, and you chose not to follow me, you were fools not to follow me."
He thought again about the residents of Mutopia, and he knew that the Knights and Tyroth would not hesitate to go looking for him, and he knew he would have to spend a majority of his life now running, but he wasn't going to make it an easy ride for them.
He looked at the bottle of water he had stolen from the well and he thought again about how it had healed his injured wing, and how it had mutated him in the first place.
"I cannot predict the future." he said softy "But what I do know, I cannot stay in one place for long, Mutopia will come searching for me, to bring me to justice and imprison or sentence me to death for what I did, with this water in my possession, I can use it to my advantage, even though my purpose is to sought out those who have wronged, and sinned, I can find some souls who wish to follow their own rules, if they wish to follow me."
A smirk formed on Diablo's beak as he looked at the bottle then down at the city.
"I am now the hunted, but I will not be the only one, if they have an army to track me down, I will need to have one of my own."
Placing the bottle into his backpack, Diablo stood up and opened his wings before leaping off the gargoyle and taking off into the night.
And thus ends 'Falling Inside the Black' I hope you enjoyed it!
The New Yorkers have decided to return to New York, the Mutopians have decided to get back their normal lives, yet are fearful that Diablo is still out there.
As for the Rogue Mutopian Raven, Diablo is out there, and still in possession of the water from the well, and he's decided that he needs an army of his own, but who will he find to join him?
Well, all will be revealed in a new story I'm planning! So keep your eyes peeled!
Until next time! Stay safe ya'll!
Love Bloodrayne666