If you want to listen to music while reading this, listen to Liberation by Marcus Warner.
WARNING: graphic depictions of violence and gore.
~Liberation: the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression~
Mikey forced himself to get up off of the ground, and picked up the weapons. He had to save them. This was the only way that Mikey could prove himself to his brothers. He needed to pull himself together and rescue his family.
Mikey began to equip his brothers' and friends' weapons. Leo and Kiki's katanas with Cassie's shinai, and D's staff on his back, while he put Raph's sais next to his nunchucks.
"I'm coming guys, I'll save you this time. I won't fail you."
Mikey saw the area that the coordinates told him to go. It was...an empty field. What?
Mikey looked over the note and then the phone in his hand. Good thing he actually listened to Donnie when he was explaining how to enter map coordinates in the T-phone. Looks like he was in the right place... then where was this guy?
"Glad you could make it. I was beginning to that you were a no show."
Mikey turned around when he heard that menacing voice. It was a face off with the...person. Mikey wasn't sure what to call him. He messed with his family, and his friends. No one who did such a thing deserved to even be called human.
"Who are you?" asked Mikey after a moment. The sun was setting, showing a glint in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners? My names is Bates Killoran. Don't worry, you don't need to introduce yourself, I've been watching you for the last 3 days, Michelangelo. I know what you are."
"Give me back my family." Mikey snarled ignoring that last part.
"Only if you agree to fight me."
"Many educated people are quite stupid, and many stupid people like to start fights for no good reason. Just give them back and we'll leave," Mikey said wisely.
"I will return everyone but Cassie. She's mine."
"She doesn't belong to anyone. I will do whatever it takes to free them!" Mikey was getting enraged.
"Fine, then," Bates scoffed. "Fight me. If you win I'll let everyone go, including Cassie. If I win, I'll let everyone go - except you are mine."
Mikey thought over this: no matter if I win or lose they'll be let go, if I lose...I'll be stuck with this wacko. It's a small sacrifice to pay for the ones that I love.
"Time's a ticking, turtle. Chop chop."
"I'll do it. But not until I see that they are safe."
"I suppose that is fair." Bates made a signal with his hands, and cages dropped down from the trees. The sudden stop was enough to rouse one of the turtles.
"MIKE! What the hell are you doing here?" cried Raph, once his senses cleared. The others were starting to come around. They began to rattle in the cage but it was in vain. Cassie and Kiki tried to pry the bars open using telekinesis. Nothing happened.
"What the hell...my powers aren't working." Cassie furrowed her brow, trying to summon everything she had.
As Cassie pushed, she growled. "It's like it's turned off...what did you do, Bates?!"
Bates grinned toothily. "I merely created a concoction in order to completely shut off your powers for a few hours. But don't worry, I'll be finished with my business. So sit back and enjoy the show."
"Mikey get out of here! You can't take him by yourself!" Leo yelled from his cage.
"NO I can do this!" Mikey yelled back to them.
Mikey turned around just in time to block a punch from an armed Bates. Mikey was able to grab the outstretched arm and flip him to the ground. Bates recovered quickly and got up from the ground. It was an all out fight. Back and forth, punches and kicks were traded rapidly.
They were both tired and panting.
"It appears you're at an impasse Bates. Just let us go," yelled April.
"Don't you ever talk to me you pathetic girl," Bates said in a devilish voice
"Hey watch it buddy," replied April, a little scared by the tone but trying not to show it.
Bates chuckled and continued to fight. When Mikey was pushed back, he felt something impale him.
"MIKEY!" he heard behind him. He looked down when he felt warm liquid trickling down his side. He saw a piece of silver sticking through him, and it was gone as fast as it came. He realized that he got stabbed by a long sword. He knew that it was supposed to hurt, but he didn't feel anything. But the blood loss was beginning to be too much. Mikey fell forward onto his knees. He tried to hold his side to stop the bleeding but he fell on the ground. Bates pulled out a long stick and pushed the button on the side. The end began to light up and spark.
"Let's see what happens when you get 230 volts coursing through your system." He struck the end with electricity of the staff against Mikey's chest. Mikey began to scream and scream and scream. Bates laughed clearly enjoying it.
The onlookers began to scream.
"LET HIM GO YOU BASTARD!" *Raph*
"STOP!" *Leo*
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" *Donnie*
Everyone was frantically trying to escape the cages, but they couldn't; the cages held strong.
"Mikey!" April yelled. She tried to use her own powers, but nothing was working.
"You really thought that I wouldn't inject you with the same formula?" Bates retracted out the staff and put it back in its sheath. He lowered her cage down to eye level. "I heard a great deal about you, April O'Neil. Hah, that name makes me laugh. You make me laugh. What kind of powers do you have? Oh wait, I don't care, because it's useless. I've seen footage of you using your powers. You have telekinesis and ranged telepathy?" Bates laughed uncontrollably. "Those are the stupidest powers I've ever heard."
"HEY WE HAVE TELEKINESIS!" Kiki and Cassie yelled from above.
"At least you're useful with them. Kiki, you have the ability to blind someone with your light. Both of you have the ability to manipulate the environment around you. And what does this one have? Bad feelings. You get bad feelings. HA! How stupid is that?"
"Bates!" Cassie yelled. "Leave them alone! This fight is between you and me. Let them go. Including Mikey."
Bates lowered Cassie's cage.
"Oh, sweetheart. I'll never let you go. Now that I got you back." Bates opened the door to the cage, and Cassie lost it. She tackled Bates and began to mercilessly punch him. Bates kicked her off and before she could get him again, he froze her in position.
"I'll fucking kill you! You hurt my friend and my sister! LET ME GO! I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Leo, Raph, and Donnie were emotional. Mikey was facing this...monster by himself. They were failing him. Leo and Raph were shaking in fear. Why isn't Mikey moving? They both thought the worst. They can't accept it. Donnie burst into tears and rocked himself back and forth.
Mikey...mikey please say something...chirp, squeal, do anything! Let us know you're alive. Donnie was hysterical. His little buddy, his only little brother might be dead, and he couldn't do anything about it, he was a failure.
Casey was threatening, pleading, and yelling at Bates to let him out. He going crazy. His littlest adopted brother was on the floor bleeding and dying.
As for Michelangelo, he dragged his eyes open and saw that Bates was tormenting Cassie. He looked up helplessly at everyone crying out in their cages. Come on...get on your feet Michelangelo! You need to save them! You're not weak...you're not! When Mikey that Cassie was at Bates' mercy, something snapped. He struggled to get up off the ground - and something was fueling him. Is this what true rage feels like? Something began to surround Mikey.
The others stared at him in shock, and were ecstatic before confusion took over. A dark aura was surrounding Mikey. His eyes were turning black. Everyone gasped. Bates turned around and threw Cassie down to the floor of the cage. He charged at Mikey but stopped scared when he heard a dangerous growl. Mike took this opportunity to pound his hate and fury into Bates. Bates was tossed to the ground, howling. His raven-black straight hair turned wet with his blood from the head wound. Mikey picked up Bates and growled.
"Remember, Bates, no matter what you do for the rest of your life, you'll always be a waste of space. If I ever see your face again, you'll never see another sunrise." Mikey falcon punched Bates and threw him across the field. The aura around him immediately left him and his eyes were baby blue again. He turned around and faced his family. His skin was already pale.
"I'm sorry guys…" Mikey fell to the ground.
"NOOOOOOOO!" They all screamed and began to frantically pull and push at the bars of the cages. They had to get out, or else Mikey wasn't going to make it. Casey then had an idea, and fumbled in his pockets.
"Donnie! Swing your cage towards me." Donnie swung his cage and Casey was able to hold onto it. He turned the cage until he reached the door. He managed to pick the lock, and opened the cage. Donnie leaped onto the branches.
"GO GET MIKEY! I'll open the rest!" Casey reached for the other cages. Donnie nodded and quickly climbed down the trees. He bent down to Mikey and felt for a pulse.
"How is he Donnie?" asked Raph after helping Leo down.
"He's alive, but not for long if we don't hurry. Raph can you carry him?"
Raph nodded and tenderly picked Mikey up off the ground. Donnie gently put Mikey's arms on his chest and used some pieces of cloths of press on his laceration.
"How far away are we from the farmhouse?" asked Leo.
"Where do you live?" asked Cassie.
"We live by the lake on the far side of the East part of the woods., stated April.
"Follow us!" The Amori sisters were about to run off.
"WAIT! How do you know where you're going?" asked Leo.
"Now is not the time to be questioning us," Cassie said firmly. "You either follow us and get to your house the fast way. Or you try and find your way through these forests alone. But since Mikey is your brother and he's our friend, it would be wise to follow us. Plus we know these woods like we know the color of our hair." Cassie grinned, before taking off. The turtles looked at each other before running off after them. Leo was trying to keep up but once and awhile had to stop to catch his breath.
Come on Leo keep going. You're little brother needs you...that's the least you can do for him.
"I need to get the lab ready!" Donnie yelled as they ran.
"I'm going to do something that I've only done once. But you trust me right?" Kiki called out, taking a stance next to Donnie.
"You've looked out for my little brother when he ran away. You helped him when we couldn't. He's been right about many things when we doubted him. If he trusts you, then I trust you." Donnie smiled weakly.
"Good. Can you land on your feet?"
"Um...yes."
"Good. Brace yourself." Before Donnie could get another word in, he felt the ground disappear from underneath him.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" screamed April when she saw that Donnie was no longer with them.
"I am very strong. I know it doesn't look like it, but I can have super strength when I see it necessary. He said that he had to...prep *pant* the lab…so I threw him in the direction of the house. He should be landing right...now." Kiki closed her eyes and held her head as she grunted.
"He has landed."
"How can you tell?
"I just can! The house is just past the river."
"How are we gonna get across?" asked Raph. It was then Cassie felt something inside of her, and she knew that the drugs injected into her had worn off.
"Here let me see him." Cassie used her telekinesis to lift Mikey out of Raph's arms.
"Hurry," she said, "I'm still a little weak. I can't hold him for too long." Raph and the others quickly crossed the river. Cassie gently directed Mikey over the river and set him down. Cassie fell to her knees and panted once Mikey was safely in Raph's arms.
"Cassie! You overexerted yourself again," declared Kiki from the other side, making her way back.
"No, just keep going. I'm not weak. I don't matter, nothing matters until Mikey gets better! Let's go!" Cassie picked herself and quickly crossed the river and began to run.
"Cassie! Please be careful! Remember what happened last time?" Kiki yelled asked from behind her.
"MIKEY COMES FIRST!" Cassie took off with Raph running behind her.
"What's wrong with her?" asked Leo, slightly limping while walking as quickly as he could.
Kiki sighed. "She hates showing vulnerability in front of people she doesn't know, plus she likes pushing herself to limits. It makes her stronger that way. She doesn't crack under pressure. She's the best sister in the world."
Before Leo could respond, April yelled that they were at the farm.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" yelled a voice from behind them. They turned around and saw Bates. He looked on the edge of death. He was bleeding everywhere. All the scars on his arms and legs were open and bleeding freely. There wasn't a part on him that wasn't covered in the sticky crimson liquid.
"How are you still alive?" asked Cassie angrily.
"Did you really think a pathetic turtle freak like that can defeat me?" He began to laugh and laugh and laugh, sounding like a maniac. He pulled out something that looked like a gun. Before anyone could react, Bates aimed and fired the gun at Mikey. The bullet burst open and out came a black liquid, landing on Mikey before Raph could pull him away. The liquid seeped into the Mikey's open wounds. Mikey moaned in pain.
"What the hell did you do?! What did you shoot at him?" screamed Donnie who had rushed out in time the liquid splatter all over Mikey.
Bates giggled. "Oh... I don't know. I just mixed some unlabeled liquids and powders from my house. So i can't say for sure what exactly is in there. Good luck wherever to-" His sentence was cut off when he was lifted off of the ground. Cassie was using her telekinesis to strangle him.
"I'm going to make sure that you never EVER OPEN THOSE EYES AGAIN! Take Mikey inside, I'll handle this."
They rushed inside, Raph was careful not to trip over the cords.
"Put him on the table!" Raph laid Mikey on the table with such gentleness it surprised Leo and Donnie.
"Is he goin' ta be ok Donnie?" asked Raph.
"I don't know. His stab wound is deep; he is losing lots of blood. He's going to need a transfusion and fast. I don't know his blood type, and I don't have time to analyze it." Donnie sagged as the weight of the situation was plunged onto his shoulders.
"Then what are we going to do?!" asked Leo
"...I don't know guys...I don't have the answer this time."
End of this chapter!
Will start and post next chapter ASAP!
Peace out!