Warning: This chapter contains gory moments. Just please beware

Chapter II: Nightmares

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

Raphael scanned the entire lair in a 360 degree rotation. Everything was in a mess. Furniture was broken, busted glass covered the floor, and an assortment of items were scattered all over the place. Almost as if a hellacious event had happened. But most of all, there was the blood. The red liquid, a substance that sustains life and yet the last thing we want to see, was all around. It was a bloodbath.

"What the hell happened?"

He felt something on his hands. Something not right. As he slowly lowered his gaze towards his hands, his eyes arched up into a bewildered expression. Both hands were covered with blood. Fully covered, as if they were drenched in a pool of the same substance. Matters didn't help when he saw what he was holding in his right hand.

A sai, dripping with blood. Raphael had no clue as to what exactly the hell was going on, nor where the location of the other sai was. Suddenly, fear gripped Raphael's soul like a vice. He frantically started his search for the whereabouts of his family.

Yelling each name of his family member, he first reached his brother Donnie's lab. Upon opening, the sight that beheld him immediately made him gag. Almost as if a sudden force had suddenly sucker punched his gut. Before him, he saw Donnie at his computer desk. Someone had overpowered him and smashed his head through the computer screen. Blood from Donnie's newly made head wounds trickled over the very keyboard he had spent many moments of his life at.

"Oh God, no," Raphael cried out as he quickly slammed Donatello's door shut.

"This can't be real, this just can't!"

As Raphael raced toward the kitchen for a couple of quick gulps of water, another unholy sight befelled the hotheaded turtle.

"Oh Jesus. Father…" Raphael whispered. There was Splinter, eyes that at one time filled with understanding and love, was now soulless like a doll's eyes. Three puncture marks under Splinter's neck was the cause of his demise. Not wanting to stare at the ungodly sight any longer, Raphael tumbled and wobbled towards Venus' door. At this point, Raph was a heap of tears, sobs, and cries.

"Venus! Venus, please for the love of God open up!"

As he opened the door, he prepared himself for the worst. But alas, there was nothing. Nothing at all remotely wrong in her room. 'Maybe she's okay,' Raph thought. He headed towards the Leonardo's door. Again he knocked and again his answer was silence. And yet again he opened the door and again their seemed to be nothing wrong. But as he entered, he could feel droplets covering his whole body. Almost like…rain.

Red rain!

He knew deep inside, but he had to look. Closing his eyes, he muttered and whispered prayers as he tilted his head towards the ceiling. As he unveiled his eyes, a sudden strain of sobs escaped. There was Leo, attached by his own swords to the ceiling. The swords stuck out of each arm, and his whole body was covered with bruises and cuts. Raphael ran out as quickly as he could and tried wiping the blood off of him like a frenzied animal.

He knew there was one more room to look into, the one he really didn't want to go into. Mikey's.

"Mikey. Venus. Please, please, please answer. I'm begging you guys, please."

Already he was a huge emotional wreck, and he knew that he couldn't take seeing Mikey like the others. 'Please Mikey, not you too. God, if you're out there, please let Mikey be safe.' As he opened the door, he saw Mikey's form sitting on the bed facing away from him. Raphael called out Mikey's name over and over. No response. With complete silence, he lightly touched Mikey's shoulder. Mikey's body fell backwards, with a sai sticking out of his chest.

"Oh God Mikey no. Nooooooo!"

"Yes!" A voice screeched.

As Raphael quickly turned around, he found Venus standing at the doorway.

"Venus, thank god you're okay. You don't know how happy it is to see you. But Mikey. I mean e… Everybody's… everybody's gone."

"Yes, I know," Venus monotonously said. Venus slowly, with a dead expression on her face, walked past Raphael towards Michelangelo's body. As she stood near Mikey's body, Raph felt like he was hyperventilaing. Venus stroked Mikey's face gently, lovingly. And then, with a quick bluntness and savageness, thrusted the sai out of Michelangelo's chest.

"Venus, what the hell are you doing?"

"You mean what the hell have YOU DONE?"

"What?"

"Oh, that's right. Who do you think did this? Who do you think concocted this massacre? It was you. You! YOU!"

Raphael slowly backed up, shivering and shuddering uncontrollably.

"No! That's impossible!"

"Is it really Raphael? How many times have you almost caused the death and destruction for your family, huh? How many times has your anger gotten the best of you? It was only a matter of time."

Closing his eyes, Raphael shouted, "No. I know I didn't do this. I know it."

"Oh yeah, Raphael. We all know the real you. You're a killer. A freak, a real life monster. I knew all along, I mean how could I love an animal like you."

"Stop it!"

"It's true. You're worthless. In fact, it's time to end this once and for all. Goodbye, Raphael."

At that moment, Venus turned the sai towards herself. The sharp points directed exactly over her heart. And as she prepared to enter the sai towards her…

"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Raphael screamed and almost fell off the bed. Yes, it had been a horrible dream. Sheets soaked with sweat, Raphael took in his surroundings and breathed a heavy sigh. He covered his head with both hands and slowly rubbed his eyes. Immediately after, the entire family rushed in. Raphael smiled, relieved to see his family again.

"Are you okay?"

"What's wrong?"

"Are you fine, Raphael."

Each family member asked if he was alright, and he gave each the same answer. 'Yes' and 'It was just a nightmare.'

"You know, you can speak to me anytime, my son. If you want to discuss this further," Splinter comforted.

"Yes, I know. Thank you Master."

As each member offered their goodnights and exited the room, only Venus and Mikey remained.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay, Raph?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks. Now get going to bed ya knucklehead."

Mikey still stood, carefully studying Raphael with a worried look on his face.

"I mean it Mikey, I'll be fine."

"Okay, see ya in the morning Raphie-boy."

Raph smiled and waved him off. Then his gaze turned to Venus, who had the same look of worry as Mikey had.

"What is it Venus?"

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to talk about it? I'd be willing to listen, I mean I really want to help."

"I'll be fine Venus, thanks."

"Alright. But if you want to talk, I'll be there for you. Anytime. Goodnight, Raphael."

"Goodnight Venus."

And with a comforting smile, she exited the room and closed the door behind her. Raphael dropped his head back to his pillow. New tears suddenly began forming. This wasn't the first time he had this horrible dream. It always seemed so real, and he wished he could get rid of them. He just didn't know how. Closing and his eyes and trying to regain his sleep, his last conscious thought was, 'Could things really get any worse.'

Next Chapter: Intro to Slash