My Best Friend

Author Dark Closure

Chapter 13

If asked about ghosts I would usually just laugh and brush it off. I've dealt with spirits that have never been alive before, people who have died and come back from the dead countless times. It wasn't like I didn't believe in ghosts, it was more like it was a part of life that didn't need questionin'. Sure Mikey would get upset and freak out like a chicken, but that didn't mean he couldn't handle it. He was a tough kid, like all of us. So when he started to cry when Donatello explained that he suspected that we had a full fledged haunting on our hands something inside me pulled dangerously close to snapping. Leo tried to calm him down, stroke his head and shell as tears soaked his skin and bandanna tails. I set my jaw while I spoke slowly, carefully, making sure that I don't scare the little guy any more than he already was.

"Take him into the kitchen and get him some water," it took everything I had not to yell, especially when Leo went to say something. Before he could I snapped out, "Now!"

Everyone flinched, I grimaced at the tone I used; a level of desperation, confusion and who knew what else. The best way to describe it was a voice used when trying to cover up a murder scene. There was a moment of all eyes on me, everyone scared, everyone terrified of me. It hurt a little but I wasn't gonna to give, I wasn't gonna be scared of them. They weren't goin' to win this battle. I haven't been fighting for/ with this family just to let them start messin' with us.

Unfolding my arms that I had crossed over my chest I pointed to the kitchen and spoke in a low tone that rumbled out of my chest like the growl of a wolf, "Now, Leo."

Dark eyes squeezed shut tightly, body tensing, mind fighting with itself as to take control of the situation or follow my orders. Leo finally pulled himself up to his feet, taking our brother with him to the kitchen. I waited until I could hear the sound of water running before turning my attention to Donatello. His wide eyes were on me, confusion was only on the surface of emotions. His mouth gaped, closed, opened, then closed again. Suddenly I felt old. My own brothers, flesh and bone, they were scared of me, I could see it in Donatello's eyes. I wasn't blind to the way he pulled back farther into the couch cushions when I shifted weight from one leg to the other. I didn't understand it, what was so scary about me? What was it that convinced them that they needed to fight me every step of the way? Why was this fight one that I felt abandoned in?

"Donnie," it hurt to talk. My insides were doing flip flops, twists and turns with hot pokers. I never felt so alone before in a house full of brothers, "What was it, that you needed to know again?"

"I... uh... it's okay Raph, I'll just tell him what I know. It's okay," he couldn't look at me any more, he distracted himself with the computer on his lap instead. It was quiet once more, he wasn't talkin' into that head piece of his, just staring at the window that flashed text asking if he was still on line. He didn't trust me. That didn't surprise me. I put a hand over my arm feeling the gauze and the slight sting of the wound it covered. It would seem no one trusted me. I stood there, my gaze turned to the floor as I thought. It didn't matter, they could not trust me all they wanted, I'd still protect them. They needed me. I'll be there to sacrifice myself for them, even if they didn't feel the same they were precious. They were the treasures in my life that kept me goin' all these years and I'll make sure I return the favor.

"Donnie."

"Yeah?"

"Give me your computer," I held out my hand.

"What?" He closed the top hard and fast, bringing the piece of equipment to his chest. "Raphael I know you're upset but-"

"I'm not gonna break it," I surprised myself with how soft I could speak, but then again, I was worn out. I didn't have the energy to fight with him, not after realizing I meant so little to my family.

His eyes were uneasy, with what I didn't know, but eventually he allowed me to take it. I opened it up finding the programs still active. I wasn't good with computers, but I still knew how to type and send messages. Sure putting in the letters and numbers was slow, but at least I got to start engaging this "expert" in a conversation. I found out his real name was Egon, as weird as it was. From what I could tell him he speculated that the amount of "spectral energy" left in the house became hyper active when we showed up, one or more of us having more life energy to spare causing the haunting to shift from the place it was at to attach to a person. It was uncommon but happened. Not much could be done until the energy of the ghosts become more solid and visible making something he called a wraith or apparition.

"Raph?"

I looked up from the screen, eyes narrowed on my brother with blue around his eyes. "What?"

"Is there... anything you... found out?"

I turned my eyes back to the monitor, speaking the truth was always the best policy. I always believed in that, one of the reasons why my family thought I was blunt and rude. I watched the text flip up, asking if it was okay for this Egon guy to come and study the situation. I frowned and closed the laptop after exiting out of the program, handing it back to Donatello.

"Raph."

"Nothing I already knew Leo," I passed him.

"Raph, wait," he reached for me. I pulled away before he could touch me, I didn't need the contact, not then, not now. The less physical contact with someone who didn't trust me the better. I avoided my family for the rest of the day, staying in places where I could simply watch over them as they interacted with each other trying to make things comfortable once again. I wanted to be down there with them, laugh with them, tell them that everything was okay. But everything wasn't okay. So I stayed away, I stayed awake, and I watched and I waited. Eventually they all fell asleep in the front room, tired from the stress of a rather uneventful day. I found myself nodding off, leaned over the railing. My head bobbed with drowsy intent. I blinked slowly, arms wrapped around me familiar to one of my brothers. A cheek pressed against my neck as I was givin' a tight hug. It eased me, started to chase away that feeling of being untrusted and unwanted. I was comfortable and warm, my eyes started to slid shut.

"Promise you won't leave me."

I nodded, "I promise."

"A promise... is a promise," those arms pulled me back before I could react. My body was hefted and thrown, my hand skimmed the railing and I was falling. I twisted to try to land on my feet, my eyes taking in the sight of my brother reaching down, eyes filled with tears as his lips moved saying in a whisper, "Promise me."

I didn't catch myself in time.

To Be Continued...