My Best Friend

Author Dark Closure

Chapter 16 (Third person)

The world of here and now, it was always different from that world that never changed; forever locked in the consequences that stole one's flicking candle of life. There were definite boundaries that were marked with beating hearts and air filled lungs. Once that boundary faded away, allowing the body to give release to the soul trapped with in the prison of flesh, that world of unknown comes to light. For some it was a tunnel of light, others a chariot that came to usher them away, but never the less it was all the same. They were gone from this reality and into the next. But what happens when that soul is not given the choice? Or perhaps, it refuses to go? Not much is known; how was one supposed to find a book and flip open the pages and read a manual as to how things like this worked? Simple, they were not supposed to. There was no book, no manual or leaflet, not even word of mouth that could guide one person into the truths of spiritual workings. The only thing given to those of the living were guidelines, something imprinted upon birth that spoke to them. "Never dabble, never dawdle, keep your eyes to yourself and the here and now. Never look back, never dwell in that intoxicating darkness for too long." Those were the rules or so it seemed. With rules so vague how was one supposed to know what they were to be applied towards. No one said anything, typically everyone just knew. But there are a few people who do not have those rules; skipped for some sort of cosmic level joke it would seem. Their boundaries fewer, thinner. Even though their heart thumped and their lungs breathed, it wasn't the same as others. No, they had special eyes, gifted ears, and sensitive skin. They could see through one realm into the next, hear people's cries, feel their desperation.

That was how he could describe it. The only way that he could answer to those questioning eyes, or at least that was how he thought. He didn't understand it, he just knew his rules were different. "Don't question, keep eyes wondering, never let your guard down. Keep those close safe from the sounds and sensations that was like poisonous fruit."

"Raph..." Leonardo was hesitant at first, his mind racing with instinct and emotion. How was he supposed to say this, or anything to that matter? It took him a moment, his hands softly coming to his brother's sides while helping the injured one sit up. He looked like he was in pain, and for Raphael to show it then it must have been pretty bad. Leo wanted to say something, anything that could grip this situation into familiar ground of "friend or foe". His leadership skills useless as all he could do was try to figure this all out.

"Mikey's... possessed?" Donatello's voice was soft, tired, almost sounding old, quiet how Raphael's eyes looked.

"Yes and no," an emerald hand gripped Leo's shoulder tightly for support, the simple movement he had just done feeling like a three hour work out right before bed.

"What does that mean?" He didn't mean for the words to snap with his jaw like that, but he was frustrated. They had dealt with spirits before, physical elementals that had bombarded their minds with terrifying attacks. With Splinter waking them from the horrible dreams that were given unto them, they were able to survive, to attack back. This was different though, there was nothing physical about it, and most likely nothing mental as well.

"It means," he heaved a cough, body still recovering from the shock of not being able to catch himself in that fall. "That Mikey's still got control, for the most part. There's... too many people trying ta' take over, fightin' each other givin' him the chance to remain up front while they duke it out."

Blue clad brows knitted, "Are you saying there is more than just one?"

"Duh, Leo. Isn't that-" he sighed, taking his good hand away from this brother and rubbing his face. He forgot, they don't know the things he does. How should he approach this?

"What aren't you telling us Raph?"

There it was, the "I'm gonna force it out of you because I'm the leader" tone of voice. If everything was normal he would have told him to back off, that he'd have better luck biting him then getting him to say anything. It wasn't normal though. His sight rested on Michelangelo, laying on the cot, padded leather restraints keeping him from moving in his sleep as the drug in his system did its job.

Sweet little Mikey, he was the one suffering from all of this. He could see what was happening, unable to control his own body as it moved with out his commands. He was helpless within himself. Raphael closed his eyes, hand running over his cast as he remembered the tears he saw as he fell. He knew that was his brother, the person speaking asking for promises was not. He needed to take the beast out of the little one, keep the family safe by doing that he had to break a promise of his own he had made a long time ago.

"I told... I told Master Splinter I wouldn't say," he began slowly, eyes still shut as to not be tempted to look at his siblings for any signs of rejection. He knew he was a freak, but even freaks had feelings. "But... ever since we were little I would see... things. I didn't know what they were at first. They scared me, I had a hard time sleepin' and I wouldn't be happy in the mornin' because of everythin'."

"What do you mean?" Donatello moved a little closer, a bit frightened as well as intrigued by the thought of being related to someone who could call the paranormal a part of their daily lives.

"I mean the cryin' and screams kept me awake, some times they'd touch me... like a-a slap on the face or a kick to the leg. Finally Sensei got me ta' tell him what was goin' on, and he showed me how to block them in away. The older I got the lest frequent it was, but the 'episodes' were more intense."

Leonardo reached up, his hand gripping the back of his bulky brother's neck and gave a gentle reassuring squeeze, "Is that why you're always so angry?"

"One of them, you're not exactly easy to get along with ya know?" Raph gave a small chuckle willing to look at his brothers now. They held no rejection towards him, only pained curiosity. It must have been torture to have to live through it all by himself, knowing he was different from the three he was closest too, having to promise never to tell them by their own father.

Red gave a heavy sigh, looking back at orange, "Mikey's not so different really, but he's... different enough. You know how Splinter always kind of made sure his chi flow was just right?"

"You mean how he makes Mikey meditate more than the rest of us because he can't pay attention?" Donnie let his younger brother idolly touch the bandages in a form of distraction.

"There was more reason behind that. Mikey he... how do you say it... um... he's a little bit weird. I mean, weirder than usual. With all that energy he's got he's like a walkin' beacon. These things, these ghosts, they don't have enough energy to reach people normally, so some times they end up findin' someone with energy to spare. And, if the person doesn't know how to control that energy well enough they can be takin' over."

"How do you know all this?" Leo was having a hard time taking all of it in, yet, at the same time it made sense, in an odd way.

Raphael was silent, slowly blinking, some how looking older than before as if this conversation was shaving off the years of his long life. The forest green turtle was about to ask once more, believing he wasn't heard properly only to have his brother speak up when Leo had opened his mouth.

"One of them told me. I didn't believe it at first, but I snuck around and over heard Sensei talkin'. Mikey got scared because Sensei started to yell at him for not paying attention, at the time I didn't understand why he was so angry, but now I know he wasn't angry. He was scared that we might loose Mikey some how..." Raphael struggled to get to his feet, Leo helping keeping him stable while Donatello had reached out, bandaged hands at the ready to catch if need be. An emerald finger reached up to auburn eyes and rubbed at them, all that was happening finally taking its tole on him.

"Raphie, what are you doing?" Donnie looked more than worried, if he pushed it his concussion could get worse.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not willin' to loose itty-bitty baby Mikey," the usually teasing tone was gone, replaced by a some what fond pitch.

To Be Continued...