Chapter :Lost

I thought I had fought off the infection, but it lingered. I've collapsed more times than I've been able to walk. As I search I struggle to find food, shelter, but mostly my brother. My throat is still painful but I daren't attempt to find any sort of medical help.

It's been almost a year now…almost a year since Raph was taken and I was cast out of the family, forced to find my brother or never come home.

I curl tight in the bushes between two houses, desperate for a chance to rest before I push on. I huddle there, shifting in and out of consciousness for who knows how long.

I know I need to rest.

I know I need to give my body time to recover.

I know I need to eat.

I know I need fluids.

But I can't stop for long, who knows what they'll do to Raph…I can't fail him again…I can't. I took so long the first time…I can't make him wait that long again.

It isn't until I hear the sounds of struggle and a child crying that I turn my head and get up.

I see them. It's a man, beating a little girl, not a slight spank on the butt, but beating her. Despite my pain and exhaustion I stubble to my feet and attack the man. My blows are slow and sloppy but he backs off. I stand still, shivering as I stare at him through barely open eyes. Then he lashes out at me and I yelp as I crumple to the ground.

I look up in time to see the belt come up and can't stop the shriek of pain as it connects with my face. I flashback to when Sensei slapped me for Raph's disappearance and sob. Another blow rains down on me, I'm still in front of the girl.

"MOVE YOU FREAK!" he shouts.

I shutter, but kick out with all I have and knock him off his feet. He staggers back and I manage to roll onto my plastron. Shivering I manage to stand, then I hear the girl screaming.

"DADDY!DADDY!DADDY!" she wails, I turn and see her clinging to the man who was beating her.

It seems I'm not the only one who still cares for the family that cuts me off…for the father that hits me.

I bow my head as I realize that the man is dead, I stole her father from her. I turn and shuffle away, back to my hole and curl there, tears streaming down my cheeks as I ache for my own family.

The next thing I know someone rips me out of there and tosses me into the street. Coughs rack my frame, but they don't care.

"He killed my daddy!" I hear the girl sob.

I yelp as the first blow comes, then another, and another, I scream frantic for help. I hear myself plead for them to stop.

I taste bile, I retch, I dry heave. My stomach is empty.

Then suddenly it stops and I'm jerked to my feet, I can hear people arguing. I'm dragged along and feet my feet and toes smash against stairs as I struggle to keep up.

I crumple to the floor when I'm released and simply huddle there, waiting. Waiting to be shot, to be branded, to be told I'm no longer free, that I failed my brother again.

I'm shocked when a kind, a gentle hand tips my head.

"It's ok," I hear a woman coax.

"Shhh," she whispers.

I whimper before I sag forward and black out.

Nelari's POV

I couldn't stand it anymore, watching them beat him, my mother and I both begged my father to intervene.

By some miracle, or maybe he just couldn't stand it anymore either, he did, brought the young man in here and let go. He collapsed as if my father's grip was all that was keeping him on his feet.

I haven't see my own kind since we had to move here for my father's job. I help my mom clean him up as he sleeps.

The fever is high…dangerously high and he's so thin. It's not until I see his neck that I realize…he was a slave.

The very thing my father fights to end, slavery.

To my shock I take the young man's hand and hold it gently. I'm shocked by the strength I feel there, I nearly drop his hand.

Even being as sick as he is…he's strong. I see it now the muscle that is still under the skin. What happened to him?

"Nelari," my mother whispers.

I glance up at her.

"Let him rest, I'll keep an eye on him throughout the night," she says.

Despite the urge to stay, I listen, too many people in here might make him nervous if he wakes.

~*~

It's three days later when he wakes up, the fever has finally broken and my mother was able to stitch his injuries and clean them properly.

I walk to find him standing, naked mind you, with one of the blades that were on his back pointed at me.

I'm too shocked to move and nearly drop the tray I'm carrying.

"Who are you?" he demands, his voice is a rich baritone.

I sense no fear in it…only a wariness.

"My name is Nelari," I tell him, "my family took you in and…you…you were very sick…"

I manage, forcing myself to look him in the eye.

He slowly lowers the blade and shifts nervously, eyes flicking toward the door behind me.

"I was just bringing food in for you…do you want to eat?" I whisper.

His golden-brown eyes flick back toward me a moment before going back to the door.

"No," he says softly.

His stomach gives him away, and I see him flinch a little.

Is he one of those proud types I wonder?

Like my father?

Who never likes to accept help?

"We won't hurt you," I coax.

Then to my shock he gives me a dark look, his eyes turn cold and he tenses like a spring.

"Everyone wants to hurt me," he hisses, "even the brat who I helped."

I flinch, and look at my feet, I fight tears as I set the tray down and leave.

"It's good," I whisper, gesturing toward the tray as I leave.

Back to Leo

Everything hurts, I'm sore, stiff, and so tired. I can't trust anyone here. I daren't touch the food, though it smells good and the water…I'm thirsty.

I stare at the ground and sit back on my bed, Katana clutched tight. I nervously touch the blade and tremble as it cuts into my hand, strange how pain makes me feel better anymore.

Hunger makes me feel strong.

I have to figure out how to get out of here, I have to find my brother. Have I been branded I wonder…am I a slave again?

I look up as a man comes in and steel myself for a beating. I could do it with my father, I can do it with a stranger, ignore the pain.

"So you won't eat," he says softly, more a comment than a question.

I don't respond, I only glare.

"We won't hurt you lad. You're safe here," he coaxes.

I simply look, still as a statue, they won't get to me. I won't fall for it.

"What did they do to you?" he whispers.

"Taught me to be like stone," I hear myself reply as I turn my back to him.

His hand touches my carapace seconds later.

"No need to be stone anymore lad," he whispers.

"I'm no one's property," I spit, lashing out at him.

He jumps back as I advance.

"I'M NO ONE'S PROPERTY ANYMORE!" I scream.

I won't do it, I won't stand by and be a puppet anymore. I won't be someone's pet, someone's messenger, I won't be a weapon, I won't be a babysitter.

"No you aren't," he says as I close in, arm raised to strike him, "You aren't mine…and you'll never be anyone elses as long as I can help it."

I freeze and step back, slowly dropping my arm.

I tremble and then back up and crumple into the bed, I'm aware I'm crying, but I can't stop.

He sits beside me, rubbing my carapace.

"It's alright," he coaxes, "it's alright."

I cry myself to sleep and when I wake he's back, coaxing me to eat, he takes a bite to show me it's safe and I gladly eat afterward.

As much as I know I need to find my brother, I can't bear to leave this safe place…where someone cares about me.

I stay there for days…weeks…months.

I daren't leave the room, I don't ever see the angelic girl again, I daren't ask about her. Then I find Raph's mask in my things and realize I have to find him, I can't leave him in the hands of monsters.

I leave the room then, walk out and stand in the middle of the living room. I see them, sitting together, the man, the woman who gave me clean clothes, and the are talking quietly, the angel sees me.

"Hi," she whispers.

They turn and look at me.

"Well come on in," the man coaxes.

"I have to find my brother," I hear myself say, "but I don't where to look. I don't even know where he is…where I am…"

"We'll help you find him," they say.

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