Authors Note: I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything about this story, but here is the new chapter! Hope you all enjoy and leave a review telling me if you guys love it, hate it, or anything in between! Internet cookies will be involved!
Once top side, I all but fell against the nearest wall. Shaking my head, I slid down wall and banged my head up against it. Not the best idea, but it made me feel a little better after my little encounter with my brother. Maybe he was telling me the truth, that he actually wanted to get away from The Shredder. But another part of my brain was saying that he could just be setting up a trick so that his leader can get to the turtles faster and harder. Why does everything have to be so confusing? Can't things just be easy for me once in my lifetime? Why does it always have to be me!
"You alright there?" I heard a voice from my left say.
Snapping my head to the left, I see a woman with wild, red hair and a bag full of groceries in it. Leaning forward, I crossed my arms over my knees and said, "Not anything I haven't dealt before. Why do you ask?"
"Well, one of the tenants living in the same apartment complex as me was asking me to keep on eye out on someone who has the same description as you. I think he said his name was Casey or something along those lines."
"Casey's looking for me," I said as my eyes widened, "Did he say why?"
"He said that you needed to be home for food and that he needed to talk to you about things."
Standing up, I started walking towards the apartment building when I remembered I still hadn't gotten the red-heads name. Turning around mid-step, I said, "Excuse me for my rude behavior and such, I do live with a guy and all, but what's your name?"
"My name is April O'Neil. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Kris. Nice chatting with you and all, but I got to go and see exactly what Casey wants. If you need help with anything, just knock on the door and we'll do our best to help. I'm assuming Casey told you where we reside?"
Nodding her head, I turn back around and start for the apartment complex.
Taking in a deep breath, I opened the door and stuck my head in. So far, no sign of Casey. Walking in, I closed the door as softly as I could behind me. I don't exactly know why I did, but it seemed like a good thing to do. Sneaking in a little more, I peak into the kitchen only to see that he wasn't there either. Standing up straight, I scratch my head and say softly, "Wonder where he's at."
Shrugging my shoulders, I continue to my bedroom only to see that Casey was standing at the end of the hallway. Looking behind me, I say, "Whatcha looking at?"
"Who do think, Kris?"
"Me," I said while going into my room. Noticing he was following me, I flopped onto my bed and continued saying, "So why did you tell that April lady to keep an eye out for me?
"Because you've been gone longer that I've expected."
"That hasn't worried you before," I said while grabbing a book off of my bookcase.
"It worries me every time you're gone longer than expected. What if something happens to you? What if you run into Tony or some other Foot Member? You do realize how dangerous it is out there for you?"
Looking out the window, I take in everything he just told me. I mean, I know the Foot is after me and what not. But I'm not going to sit around, train, go to school, and do nothing about the problems in my life. There are bigger issues that need to be taken care of that come before me. One of biggest things is bringing down the Shredder. I don't care if I get hurt or captured, as long as the city is a little bit better.
"I actually did run into Tony on my way here."
His eyes widened for a moment before he said, "Then why didn't you come home right away? He could of sent some of his crew after you or something!"
"I don't know why I didn't come here to begin with," I replied a little bit more strongly than I had hoped for. "Its just that what we talked about really screwed me up, okay? He was saying that he wanted to leave the clan and shit like that. Part of me wanted to believe me but I've learned from the past to never really trust most of what he says to me. For all I know, the Shredder is now trying to use Tony to rope me back in and I can't really take it right now. Why is it always me that gets into these situations?"
Feeling the bed sink, I looked up to see Casey had sat down at the other end of the bed. For a moment he didn't say anything, but then said, "Well would you rather be someplace where you hated everyone and everything they did? Or would you rather be fighting for what you believe in? The Kris I got to know would rather fight for what she believes in, no matter what. I know that what I just said may not exactly relevant to what you said, but it is something to think about."
Nodding my head, he continues on saying, "While you do your thinking thing on the rooftop or where ever you do it, I'm going to go make something to eat."
Nodding my head again, I watch Casey walk out of my room and towards the kitchen. Bringing my knees to my chest, I stare out the window for awhile, not really know what to do. It just seems like every time something good happens in my life, two bad things happen that bring me down. No matter what I do, life hands me joker after joker, expecting me to win and triumph over the bad out there. Shaking my head, I head towards the window and up the fire-escape towards the roof.
Once I'm on the roof, I look out over the city and drink in everything I see. From up here, the whole scene looks surreal, like there's nothing bad happening, but I know different. I used to be part of one of the largest criminal groups there was. But as Casey had just told me, I came to realize that it was something I was against in every was, shape, and form. Plus, if I hadn't made any other the choices I had, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I guess some things do happen for a reason. What exactly the reason is, only time will tell.