A/N: Thanks to Ravenshell for being an awesome beta!
Chapter 52
The tension in the room is more breathable now that Simone is gone. She doesn't know the real deal about Donnie being a mutant. From the look on Mr. O'Neil's face, he isn't too happy about April sneaking out. He walks past me getting a jacket from the coat rack.
"Where're you going?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"I'm going to get my daughter back," he says before disappearing upstairs.
"April's going to kill me." I facepalm with a groan. My phone still in my hand, I text Raph:
Alert, angry red-headed dad out for blood.
Just as I press send, I get an incoming message from my little sister:
Daddy needs you.
My chest feels like it's in a vice as I wonder if my dad is drinking again. I grip a tuft of my hair and breathe out deeply. The universe is not giving me any breaks today.
Mr. O'Neil beelines down the steps again as he stuffs something in his jacket pocket.
"I gotta go, Mr. O'Neil... family stuff," I mutter as I grab my pants from the microwave. They have pink blotches all over them. I sniff them; they smell like cotton candy and alcohol… ugh, fingernail polish. This day just keeps getting better and better. With more force than necessary, I tug my jeans on, snatch my coat, and slam the door behind me.
I should have known April would try to pull a stunt like this. She can't see the danger she's putting herself in. She's coming home with me if I have to drag her out of those wretched sewers myself.
The streets are busier than usual with Christmas coming next month. Even with all the people brushing against me as I keep a steady pace down the street, I can't help but feel like someone is watching me. A puff of wintery air blows from my lips as I try to overcome this feeling of paranoia. The anxiety started after I was rescued from the Kraang abduction and worsened as I recovered from being mutated into a humanoid bat. I've been doing better, reciting the same affirmations I once gave my clients when I had my practice, but after everything that's happened with Donatello's violent mutation, Gary going missing, EPF agents questioning my whereabouts, and now April in the sewers, the paranoia is slamming into me full force.
I press my back against a storefront as I look across the street. The guy at the bus stop is staring at me. He's pretending to look at the newspaper, but every few minutes he peeks over it and looks my way. I feel the outside of my jacket pocket where I stashed my handgun. I've never used it before but with everything closing in around me and threatening the safety of my daughter, I fear I may have to.
"I have to keep moving," I mutter to myself. Newspaper guy leaves the bus stop and starts walking across the street. I walk faster, shoving and pushing my way through the crowds of people. I manage to hide in a large crowd surrounding a street performer and watch as the newspaper guy walks past me. He speaks into an ear piece I can't see and I sink a little lower as I make my way to an alley. Dragging the manhole away from the opening, I climb down and heave it back into place. Somebody's trying to track me. It's either the EPF or whoever tried to kill Gary. I need to get April as far away from this mess as possible.
TBC
A/N: Short chapter, but another one is on the way...making up for lost time! You know the drill leave a review! You guys rock!
See you next chapter!
Poetique