A/N: Big thanks to my beta, Ravenshell!
Chapter 57
I followed Mr. O'Neil's scent back to the manhole in which he entered the sewers. His footprints were easily tracked, but only due to my keen sense of tracking. I used sewage water and debris to cover his tracks. Thankfully, I did not see or sense any other humans along this path. Perhaps he was more careful than I assumed. My deep breathing brings small puffs of air from my snout. The winter weather is setting in. My concern travels back to my boys, especially Donatello. The last thing he needs is to become sick on top of the turmoil currently in his body. Resting on the manhole's ladder, I ponder my family's current situation. I could have easily sent Leonardo to cover Mr. O'Neil's tracks but I needed this time away from the demoralized atmosphere in the lair. It is hard for one to remain hopeful in the midst of suffocating bleakness. It seems Donatello has no more options. There is no known way to reverse his mutation, so it will continue to progress. As it progresses it will take my son. I already saw the effects of this poison's iron grip as Donatello struggled to remember us…to remember himself. It is still uncertain whether he will even survive the mutation as he tussles against the impending changes in his body.
Then there is the threat of being discovered by this experimental agency. If they made an attempt to follow Mr. O'Neil, then surely they are snooping around his home, awaiting his return. The skies darken early this time of year, but I will not risk traveling above and will instead take the tunnels to our human friends' home.
My heart is still pounding from the run through the tunnels. At least the movement kept my body warm as the temperature continues to drop. The wrappings around my feet and hands keep the metal rungs of ladder from sticking to my warm flesh. Slowly, I ease the manhole lid up just enough to glimpse at my surroundings. Based on the shadowed area and the tires stationed on each side of me, I am underneath a vehicle of some kind. It will serve as adequate coverage for my surveillance. The O'Neil's apartment is across the street. There does not appear to be anything out of place. My ear twitches as I hear movement at the front of the vehicle.
"Hey Sage, we've been around the block at least five times already. You sure this O'Neil guy didn't get the heck outta dodge?"
"No. This guy's pure vanilla; doesn't want any trouble with the law. He wouldn't just skip town." The female's voice has an accent of Hispanic descent as she speaks to the male with her.
My patience has proven to be fruitful as a male and female voice come from the side of the vehicle. My stealth and silence are triggered as two pairs of legs come into view near the tires.
"Well he hasn't been home since he left early today and I lost his trail near Central Park."
"He'll be back, trust me. Go home, Johnson. I'll stake out for the night."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"You're really reaching for that Special agent position, aren't ya Sage?"
"Whatever, Johnson. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, sure. Hey, uh, Maria?...Be careful out here. There are a lot of freaks in this area and I ain't talkin' about robbers and rapists either." My whiskers twitch at the ignorant comparison of mutants and criminals.
"All part of the job, Johnson. All part of the job."
After a few minutes , I hear another car door shut and watch as its wheels speed past the car I am underneath, which I assume belongs to this Maria Sage.
"You're hiding something, Kirby O'Neil, the question is what…" She mutters to herself before getting into the car. The O'Neils cannot stay in our home, not right now. This agent is dangerously close to the knowledge of my family's existence. It would be wise for Mr. O'Neil and April to continue their routine life as not to draw suspicion. Lowering the manhole cover back in place, I pause on the ladder with a sigh. There is nothing but chaos within my family and surrounding it. I have been gone at least an hour and still no solution reveals itself to Donatello's dilemma only more obstacles. As I stand there in my cycle of thoughts, something catches my eye.
On the corner of one of the ladder rungs, is a reddish brown object no bigger than my thumb. At first I mistake it for a common roach, its exterior hard and with dull shine, but upon closer examination I see that it is a cocoon. More than likely it contains a maturing moth. Every once in a while caterpillars will find their way to the entrance of our underground world. It will slumber as its worm-like body transforms into a fuzzy winged moth within its cocoon. The small creature has no worries, trusting the bodily changes that will enable it to survive in the world once it emerges from its cocoon. A sensation of discovery hits me like electricity as new sense of hope permeates my once doubt-filled mind.
"Thank you, little one, for your enlightenment. May your new life be pleasant." I whisper to the cocoon before vaulting home.
TBC
A/N: A short, but very necessary chapter. ;) Stay tuned for more!
Poetique