I rounded the corner at a dead sprint, using a quick moment to glance behind at the warehouse that was now quickly receding into the distance. I didn't know how close they were behind me, or if they were even chasing me, but I knew enough to be careful. And careful meant losing my invisible pursuers.
Spotting an alleyway on my right, I ran to it and slipped inside, glancing up at the rooftops for any large silhouettes. Nothing. Spotting a dumpster, I slid to a stop behind it and glanced around quickly, before pausing for a moment to catch my breath and think.
Because of my mask, they hadn't seen my face, so my identity was safe on that part. I just had to focus on getting back to my apartment without them finding me, piece of cake.
Hearing a noise, I quickly turned my head and looked at the entrance of the alleyway. Nothing. But that didn't mean anything, they could still be out there, hiding and watching me. I needed a place where I could move without them watching me from a distance. Something like…"Sewers…" I realized as I eyed a manhole.
Quickly, a plan formed in my mind as I prepared myself mentally. I would have to move fast. The less they could see, the better.
I glanced around one last time, then took off running towards the alley exit. Using a slight boost of telekinesis to prevent myself from slipping as I rounded the corner, I spotted a manhole in the pavement ahead.
"Now!" I said mentally as the manhole lifted just enough for me to drop to a slide, aided by the ice, and drop into the manhole. I hit the ground with a groan as the manhole clanged behind me, the sudden use of my power causing my head to throb in protest.
Gritting my teeth, I got to my feet and began to jog along the sewer, ignoring the smell as I relied on my sense of direction to lead me in the general direction of my apartment. As I jogged, I kept an ear out for the sounds of a manhole closing behind me, just incase I still had pursuers. I didn't think they could fit down the narrow hole, but who knew, anything was possible.
After what felt like an hour, I stopped at a ladder and climbed it, slowly pushing against the manhole in case I was in the middle of the road. I took a peek. Yep, middle of the road, but it didn't look like there was any traffic at this time.
Pushing the manhole aside, I climbed out into the dark street and put it back in place, then looked around at my surroundings. I wasn't far from my apartment at all. Lucky.
I pushed my bandana down to take in some fresh air, and then took off at a brisk walk towards home.
I groaned as sunlight pierced my eyes, forcing me awake. With a loud yawn, I sat and blinked a couple times as I looked around at my room. My 'hero' outfit was sitting on the floor next to my bed. The smell of sewer was still on it.
With a grunt, I got to my feet and walked to the bathroom where I flipped on the hot shower. Stepping into the shower, I thought back to the previous night. After I had gotten back, I had practically fallen into bed, stopping only to take my clothes off.
But the most vivid memory from the previous night was the final moments inside the warehouse. Those creatures. I don't know why, but as I thought back to their shapes, I felt like I recognized it some how, like they looked like some kind of animal or something. Unfortunately, It had been hard to get a good look at them in the dark light of the warehouse, so I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
Last night still on my mind, I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off, then found some clothes and headed down for breakfast with my laptop in tow. Finding my normal spot, I sat down and opened my laptop.
"A bit late today Mike." Claire said as she stopped by my table.
I glanced at the time. Nine o'clock. "Yeah, I guess. Late night.""
"Happens to all of us. Blueberry muffin, as per usual?"
I nodded. "Yeah, and put some hot chocolate with that please."
She looked at me in surprise. "Changing it up a bit today, are we?"
I shrugged. "I already woke up late. Might as well."
"Okay." She turned away with a small smile as she walked back to the counter.
Returning back to my computer, I pulled up the old page listing the Foot Clan's list of targets. The next one wasn't until a couple days from now, so I had time to kill.
My food arrived as turned my mind to other things, such as my music. I opened my music page and scanned the right side of the page, two hundred new views. A decrease from yesterday, but I couldn't complain. It was a good amount.
A few minutes later, I closed my laptop and got up from the table. I had been hungrier than I thought, and had finished my food in minutes. So it was time to head back to my apartment and perhaps work on making a new song.
As I was walking towards the door, I heard a yelp from my right. Turning quickly, I reached my arm out and caught the woman around the back as her coffee hit the ground and splattered across the ground.
Ignoring the coffee, I looked down at the girl, who was breathing heavily from fright. "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah…" She breathed as I helped her to her feet. "Thank you. I guess my shoes are just wet…"
"It was no problem…" I replied as Lucy rushed out from behind the counter with some paper towels. "Need any help?" I asked her I she started mopping up the spilled drink.
"No, no, I got this." She said quickly.
"Sorry about your coffee…" I said as turned back to the woman. "Here, let me but you another one." I offered as I grabbed for my wallet.
"No, I'm fine… You don't have to do that." She said as she reached into her purse and turned back to the counter with a sigh.
"Don't be ridiculous. Come on, will ten dollars be enough?" I asked Claire as I stepped up to the counter next to the girl. Claire paused as she looked between the two of us, then grinned. "Yeah, that'll be enough.
"That's settled then." I said as I gave her the ten. "Have a nice day." I said with a smile to the woman before turning and heading for the door.
"You too…" I heard her say as I stepped out the door.
I sighed as I looked at my laptop screen. It was eight o'clock in the morning, and I was back in the café once again. After I left the previous day, I had gone to the warehouse to see what had happened to the containers. There were police everywhere. I guess we had managed to stop the gang after all. After that I had gone back to my apartment to practice my telekinesis and work on another song for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately for me though, my views weren't racking quite enough views, which meant I was going to either have to score another deal with a radio station, or find a part time job.
My thoughts were interrupted as the woman from previous day approached my table. "Hey. It's me, from yesterday? Mind if I sit?"
"Oh yeah! Sure!" I say as I gesture at the seat across from me. "Feel free."
"Thanks." She said with a smile as she sat down, setting her coffee down on the table. "So… I don't think I got your name yesterday?" She asked as she looked at me questioningly.
"Oh, umm, my name's Michael. Michael Wellington." I say as I close my laptop and lean back in my seat. "What's yours?
"April. April O'Neil. Nice to meet you Michael." She said as she glanced down at her hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well April." I pause for a moment, as the name O'Neil rings a bell.
"And yes, if you're wondering, I'm the same O'Neil from channel six." She said as she looked back up at me, seeming a bit exasperated.
"Ahh. Sorry, you must get recognized a lot." I say, realizing how irritating it must be for her.
She waved her hand at me. "I'm used to it. Known as girl who jumps on trampolines and reports about it."
I chuckled. "Oh yeah, I remember seeing that one last week. It looked like you hated doing that story."
She gave me a look. "Was it that obvious?"
"Nah, but getting filmed jumping around in New York City sounds pretty bad." I point out.
She sighed. "Yeah… By the way, thank you for yesterday. That was very nice of you."
"Oh, it was nothing. I just happened to be the guy close enough to catch you." I replied with a grin.
We must have talked for an hour, but by the time she said goodbye to me on the sidewalk outside of the café, I had her phone number and was going to have dinner with her later that day.
It was a quiet little place; a little Chinese restaurant a few blocks away that served good noodles. As I entered, I glanced around to see if April had arrived, then spotted a sign that said, "Please seat yourself."
Taking another glance around to see if she was here, I took a seat at a table next to the window. A waiter was at my side almost immediately.
"Would you like a drink sir?" He asked, notepad at the ready.
"Just water for now, thanks." I said, looking up at him and giving him a quick smile.
"Yes sir." He replied, giving me a quick bow, before heading off to get my drink.
I looked out the window at the slowly darkening street as I kept an eye out for April. I was a little bit early, so I knew I probably couldn't expect her for another five minutes or so.
My water arrived and I thanked the waiter before taking a sip. I hadn't been on a date since high school, but I wasn't that nervous really. If April liked me, then it would be for who I was, not who I was trying to be. That's what I told myself anyways.
There she was. She waved me at from the sidewalk as she walked to the front door of the restaurant, then entered and came over to the table.
"Hey, I hope I didn't keep you waiting?" She asked as she sat down.
"Oh no, not at all. I only just got here." I said as I sat up in my street and took a sip of water.
Half an hour later, we stepped out of the restaurant and started walking down the sidewalk. "So how did you like the Chow Mein?" I asked, my breath forming a fog in front of my face as the night grew colder.
"It was good." She replied as she wrapped her arms around herself to shield herself from the chill of the night.
"Here." I said as I took off my jacket and draped it over my shoulders. "You look pretty cold."
"Thanks." She said as she gave me a grateful smile, which turned into a concerned look. "Aren't you?"
I shrug. "Nah. I'm used to it. I used to live in Alaska, so this weather is pretty nice."
"Alaska. Really?" She asked. "I'm guessing that you didn't actually live in igloos and such?"
"Oh yes, quite so, and we even rode polar bears to school." I look at her and chuckle. "Nah, I'm just messing with you. We lived in regular old wooden houses, and rode the school bus to school."
"I'm sorry, you must get dumb questions like that a lot." She said as she wrapped my jacket around herself tightly.
"Yeah, I do, but I've gotten used to it. But don't feel dumb about asking. It is pretty far to the North." I add as we continue to walk. After a few moments, I start to get the feeling like we're being followed, so I glance behind us quickly. Three guys were keeping pace with us, about thirty feet back.
"How far away is your apartment?" I ask as I bring my attention back to the front.
"Only a couple of blocks, why?" She asked as she looked at me.
"Probably nothing." I said as I glanced behind us again. She glanced behind as well, and then quickly looked ahead.
"Let's take a right here." She said as she picked up her pace a little.
"Good plan." I replied as I matched her speed while as we rounded the corner. I glanced behind us again as the three men rounded the corner.
"They're keeping pace with us. The sooner we get back to your apartment, the better." I say as we cross the street and take a left. A quick glance told me they were drawing closer, with only half the distance between us than before.
"How close is your apartment?" I asked quickly as I glanced behind us again.
"Two streets down. The big white one." She replied.
"Okay, run, now!" I said anxiously as the men began to run at us. We both started running, but they were close ,too close.
"Keep going. I'll hold them off!" I said apprehensively as I stopped and turned to face the guys. The closest threw a punch at me as soon as he got in range, but I sidestepped it and grabbed his arm, using my foot to trip his legs and throw him to the ground.
I heard scream from April and looked up to see a fourth guy step out of the alleyway and grab her by the waist. Unfortunately, this distracted me enough for the next guy behind me to slam his fist into the back of my head.
My vision flickered as I fell to the icy ground and stars filled my vision. In my daze, I didn't see the kick coming as it slammed into my side and knocked the breath out of me. I fell onto my side as I heard the men laughing at Aprils' attempts to get free.
I struggled to take a breath as my ribs burned in pain, when another scream filled the night. "April!" I gasped as managed to push myself up to one knee.
But it hadn't been a woman's scream that time. It had been a man's. And it quickly died away as I looked up to see April rushing to me.
"Oh my god… Michael, are you okay?" She asked as she helped me to my feet.
"Yeah. I'm fine… What happened…" I stopped as I saw exactly what had happened. One of the things from the previous night, more specifically the one with the nunchucks, stood in front of us.
Now that I could see it better, I knew what it looked like, a giant turtle, wearing an orange mask.
"Bro, those guys really messed you up." It, or rather he, said.
"Wha…" I gasped as I stared at the turtle. I could feel my heart racing as I looked at April, who did not look surprised at all to see the turtle, then back at the turtle.
"I know it's a lot to take right now Michael, but we should really get you looked at. Those guys hit you pretty hard." She said as she looked at the turtle. "Is Donatello nearby? It'll be easier to have him look at him than take him to the hospital."
"Yeah, he's in the area. I'll be back before you know it." The turtle said.
Pain lanced through me side as I looked down at the ground and gritted my teeth. "I think I might've broken a rib…"I gasped as we started walking the rest of the distance to her apartment.
"Donnie will fix it up." April replied as she helped me limp down the sidewalk.
"Who is that, another turtle thing?" I asked as I looked at her. She nodded. "And how did you meet them?" I asked as we reached her apartment.
"It's a long story…" She said as we started walking up the steps, each of which gave me a nice little throb of pain.
"It's seems like we've got some time." I reply. She looked at me for a moment, then began to tell me about Project Renaissance.
A few minutes later, I was laying on a sofa in her living room, staring at the wall as I processed all the information I had just received.
"You've got to promise not to tell anyone though." She said as she watched me. I laughed.
"As if anyone would believe me." I looked at her. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
"Alright, who's the patient?" I heard from the direction of the window.
"Holy Christ!" I said as I jumped in surprise, then immediately regretted it as pain lanced through my side, causing me grunt angrily at myself.
"I guess he is." The purple masked turtle said as he looked between us. I could only assume his name was Donatello.