Shattered Mind - Part 12 – (Month 5 / 3 hrs later)
Month 5 / 3hrs Later
The grey skies cast overhead; white glistening flakes gently came down joining the thick blanket that was on the ground.
It crunched under her boots as she hurried along, cold and freezing, the winter night started to nip at her skin, she ignored it for it wasn't important.
Wearing pants and only a heavy sweater that did nothing against the wind, she had tied Donnie's bandana around her neck loose enough for anyone to see what it was.
The only jacket that she was wearing, unfortunately wasn't a winter one, for Raph took the only one he owned when he left, she had to make do with his biker's jacket placing it's hoodie over her head for extra cover.
She had to find him, wondering around concealing herself from any humans that might notice her, she still needed something that Raph would recognize and hopefully it would make him approached her when he does.
What better then something he owned and loved?
April rushed onward, going down alleyways and areas of town she figured he would most likely be hanging around, being the dead of night regardless of the cold; he would no doubt be patrolling to pass the time.
(Please say he is around here! Not like I can jump roofs like Raph and his brothers can, yet in a way, I'm such at a disadvantage being on the ground like this…)
Sighing she didn't let it discourage her search, yes if she was on the roof tops she would more likely notice him, or have him notice her, but after what happen at her apartment, roof tops were a bad idea.
Turning down an alley April started to feel uneasy, as she stopped halfway in.
Beyond her there were no lights that illuminated the narrow passageway, luckily her eyes where keen at seeing in the dark, yet she had to admit it wasn't as good as the boys, but she still could make out the shadow lingering within the darkness, could it be Raph?
Standing there she debated if she should call out or not, what if it was him and he noticed her, but would flee thinking she was someone else if she didn't give him some sign she was there.
Then again what if the best choice was to keep quiet, whoever it was could be a street thug, or worse, calling to them could put her in a situation she wish not to be in.
Before she could figure the right course of action the dark figure became aware of her as it turned its attention towards her, she could tell it wasn't Raph for he was shorter and smaller in frame.
Considering it was best she just left, April turned around to get back to the street, unfortunately someone else approaching her had a different idea, as she became aware she was now boxed in.
At the end of the alley, coming from the street was a shady man wearing a big grin when he laid eyes on her, licking his lips with pure glee.
(I bet I can wash that stupid grin off of his face if I remove my hoodie… Second thought that might be a bad idea at the same time…)
April stop herself from removing her hood, when she noticed the gun hilt sticking out of the man's pants.
Great guns…her most favourite weapon in the world…
Slowly backing up, she remembered of the other individual, hopefully he didn't have a gun.
If she played her cards right and somehow use the other person as a decoy, she might be able to run out of the alleyway before the gun could even be drawn…that's if her luck hasn't run out yet.
"Oh sweetie where do you think your going," the man with the gun coo at her, gesturing her its best she stay put, so he can get a better look at her.
The only thing that was obvious that she was a girl was her long red hair that was hanging out of her hoodie, she started to wish she tucked it in.
"Sorry, but I have to be somewhere else," she answered as coolly as she could, while she didn't take her eyes off his gun and tried her hardest to make sure she knew exactly where the other guy was at.
"Come on baby, we won't bite, unless you want us too. Now take that hood off and let me see that lovely face of yours."
(Lovely…wow he is so off on that… I am not remotely pretty…)
Movement to her side caught her attention, as she suspected the short guy was with the so called sweet talker, the short man went to her quickly attempting to grab her.
To his dismay, she wasn't going to be taken off guard that easy, dodging him, and in return April grabbed the man's arm, then with all her strength threw him towards the shady man.
Practically flying through the air the man crashed into the other, with a thud they fell to the ground hard, surprised April stared.
(I did that…)
She couldn't believe what she just did; she was suspecting the man she threw would have just bumped into the other guy nothing more.
April really never thought her efforts would result in actually throwing the guy so hard that he flew like that, on top of that have both men start skidding across the ground from the impact she caused.
She knew the turtles were strong and she knew her own body's limits, yet she never considered her strength would increase when she was mutated.
"Get off me you idiot!" the shady man yelled at his partner that was on top of him.
(Oops I almost forgot about them.)
Turning around April ran for it, she wasn't going to take her chances; she needed to lose the thugs, for the next meeting the shady man wouldn't be so shy in showing off his gun to her.
Reaching the street, April decided going down the street a bit first, then go down another alleyway in attempt to hopefully throw the two men off.
Quickly she reached the alleyway, then followed it around a corner to what seemed to be a dead end.
(Ahh shit, maybe this was the wrong choice to make…did the men see me? Should I wait here, then back track when the coast looks clear?)
April shivered as she blew into her hands, they felt a bit numb.
Then suddenly April's heart leaped into her throat as she recognized the clicking sound that came behind her, it was someone pulling the hammer on a gun.
"Darling that wasn't nice of you, now be a good little girl and turn the fuck around and take that stupid hood off!" the shady thug demanded fearfully, his voice was full of anger.
Slowly April turned around, she desperately looked about to see if she could find a way to turn the tide on this situation, if she did this right she could take the guy down, but could she do it before he pulled the trigger?
"Well bitch take the hood off!"
With a gulp April knew if she did, he would just shoot her just over the sight of her, she had to stall him until she could figure a way out.
"I really don't think you would want me to do that," April said calmly.
"Shut up I didn't asked for your opinion! Do what I asked or I will shoot you now and throw your body in the river for the fishes," the man threatened.
(I need a way out, but how? I have to keep stalling him…)
"… Trust me you don't want me to…," before April could say another word the guy pulled the trigger, April froze, did it hit her?
"The next shot will hit you bitch, do what I asked!" the shady man re-aimed his gun at her.
Relief filled her on the notion she wasn't hit, but that will change in a second if she didn't do what he demanded, maybe the shock of seeing her could be the advantage she needed.
Slowly not saying a word April pulled her hoodie off, the man gasp on the sight of her, "What the hell is this, oh god you're hideous, freak! Die you disgusting, ugly monster!"
Advantage gone the man reacted faster to her then she anticipated, as he pulled the trigger.
(… Is this the end?)
April's life flashed in front of her eyes, then suddenly something grabbed her quickly, pulling her out of harms way, the bullet missed her hitting the wall that was behind her.
Unsure what just happened April found herself being held by two strong arms, she was overwhelmed by emotions as she saw her rescuer's face, it was Raph.
(RAPH!)
She found him; not the way she was originally attending, but she found him at last.
Gently putting her down, Raph went in front of her acting like her shield holding his arm out to make sure she knew to stay put.
"Don't you dare call her ugly or a monster you mother fucker!" Raph growled taking his sais out rushing forwards towards the thug in a heap of rage.
Raph was to fast for the man, before he even could pull back the hammer, Raph struck the man's gun hand with his sai making the man drop the gun, with his other hand Raph grabbed the guy thrusting him into the wall.
Hand wrapped around the guy's jacket near the neck, Raph picked him up off the ground, still pinning the guy against the wall.
Growling fearfully, Raph placed his sai at the guys neck, "I am sick and tired of you low life's picking on others! Now apologise to the young lady for the insults you said to her."
"Fuck off freak! I would never apologise to the likes of that thing, she is the ugliest thing I have even laid eyes on, not sure which one of you is more hideous!" the man mocked, daring Raph to hurt him.
"Why you!" Raph eyes fired up, "I don't care what you say about me, but her!" Raph sai came closer to the man's throat.
(Oh no I can't let Raph lose control! If he did kill that guy, it will eat at him in the end.)
Before she could say a word to Raph, something flashed towards the exit of the alleyway, as dread came over April when she noticed the other guy that she threw earlier standing there with a gun in his hand; he was going to shoot Raph!
Without a second thought April slid across the ground towards the gun that laid there, she had to do something, she quickly pulled the hammer, pointing it at the thug.
The seconds slowed down, she watched the guy pull back the trigger.
Everything became a blur, as she just stared, there laying on the ground the man was breathing heavily holding his shoulder; blood was starting to soaked through his jacket.
She shot him…
In shock she didn't move, "APRIL!" Raph voice rang in the mist of chaos, she couldn't believe she actually shot the guy, she hit him… is he dying?
"April, snap out of it," a gentle hand went over top of hers, taking the gun out of her hand.
Slowly she looked up with weary eyes, tears poured out when she made eye contact with Raph, "I…he was going to…" April tried to get out between sobs.
Caringly, Raph placed his hand on April's cheek stroking it kindly, "Shhh its ok, I'm fine. You did what needed to be done, if you didn't I…"
"But what if he dies…"
Shaking his head with a smile, Raph picked her up, cradled her in his arms, "Don't worry he will be fine, but its best we leave."
The guy that Raph had pinned to the wall ran towards his buddy, quickly Raph skillfully scaled up the wall to the roof and out of sight of the thugs, before one could try to shoot them again.
Safe on the roof far away from the alleyway they fled from, Raph placed April on her feet, then made sure she wasn't hurt, "Your not hurt are you April?"
Shaking her head, April just stared.
"Hey April its ok, you did the right thing. I promise you he will live, they always do, they are worse then cockroaches," Raph laughed heavily.
Looking at him, she noticed how cool he was with the situation; sure she got into fights before, but not ones where she used a gun…
This was a lot of weight on her, more then she wanted to admit or think about.
Realizing she wasn't cheering up, Raph gave her a sweet smile then wrapped her in his arms, "Damn it April please don't be upset. Come on I am trying not to get pissed at you for being out here alone, in the cold…Wait are you wearing my biker's jacket?"
April raised her eyebrow in disbelief, "Wow Raph really, normally people reframe from such statements about them being pissed off, that's not really a happy mood changing topic."
Looking down at her, he smiled wildly, "Nope it isn't, but you said something, and it did take your mind off the previous situation right?"
April sighed placing her head against his chest, "Do you really think the guy will be ok, I know he is a thug, but I don't want any blood on my…"
Holding her tighter rubbing her arms, Raph nodded, "I said don't worry, then don't. Now about you being out here…April…April, what's wrong…APRIL!"
Something seemed off, April didn't feel right as the world around her started to spin then everything went black.