Read and Review! Thanks! And it's not actually the end of the story, by the way, just thought I'd throw that out there.
-Leah by Michelangelo
Ch 4-Gone too soon
Mona ran towards the reactor, blasting and slicing through every Krang bot in her path. Sparks flew, plasma guns fired in complete chaos. She finally managed to finagle her way to into the reactor room. She drew her twin short sword and flung them in the machinery, sabotaging the mechanism and insuring a complete meltdown and power core overload. Dark brown eyes narrowed as she narrowly avoided a massive bout of Krang fire while retreating back the way she'd come. I just hope Raphael is at the rendezvous point.
Raphael ran, doing his best to avoid the laser fire of the Krang that were chasing him. One of them grazed the side of his face, burning him. "Ah!" The emerald green turtle grabbed at the wound, his face riddled with pain as he continued running. At long last the mutant reached his destination, the reactor core. He heard alarms go off and he knew that Mona had completed her part of the mission. Now for mine, he thought. Raph burst into the reactor room, defeating every Krang inside, before heading straight for the main console, where he thrust the small laser device Mona had given him into the circuitry, set to full power. The red-masked turtle fled as fast as his legs could take him to the rendezvous point.
As soon as I saw the red-masked mutant round the corner I sighed with relief. "You're late."
"Sorry again." He said, " Punctuality isn't exactly my strong suit."
"You're telling me."
The technodrome shook and the place began to literally fall apart. Pieces of metal, that had previously housed power conduits completely collapsed, and both mutants stared at each other, then at the metal. "We're running out of time." I said, my eyes narrowed. "Come on."
"Right behind ya." We ran to the nearest release elevator and I hacked into its controls, having it send us straight up to the highest level in the Technodrome. Once there, I looked at Raph and he nodded. We both took deep breaths and held them just as I pressed the release key and water came flooding in. The red-masked turtle, being an amphibian, adjusted to the water much quicker and he grabbed my hand and began pulling the two of us up towards the surface.
Something shot past us in the water and we both turned slightly. Krang?! Oh no. This wasn't part of the plan. Raph and I exchanged nervous glances. The brains in robot bodies were gaining on us, using their high-tech jet packs to propel themselves through the water. As soon as they were close enough one of them grabbed my ankle and pulled me down, making me gasp and lose precious air as I reacted with shock. I flailed, my tail whipping back and forth, trying to throw it off, but it was no use. In my panic I started breathing water and I could feel myself slowly drifting away, my fight becoming less and less active. I could feel the water in my lungs and my vision blurred before everything went dark. The last thing I saw was Raphael's sai impaling the Krang's head before he swept me up in his arms and swam away as fast as he could.
I was no longer just swimming for my life now, I was swimming for Mona's. And I can honestly say that I've never swam faster in my life. After what had seemed like an eternity I finally surfaced, doing my best to keep Mona Lisa's head above the water. A couple minutes later I crawled up on land, carrying my Mona in my arms. Wait. My Mona? Later, Raph.
I laid her down gently, her body was cold and limp, making fear rise up in my chest. "No. Oh please no." I reached over with one hand and took her pulse. For an agonizing moment I felt nothing and my heart burned in my chest. "No." I closed my eyes and focused on the feeling beneath my fingers and finally I felt it and I sighed in relief. But it was only for a moment. Her pulse was incredibly weak. I began immediate compressions and CPR, trying to get the water out of her lungs. "Come on, Mona." I kept trying to no avail. "Mona Lisa, please. I…don't want you to die! I-I love you. Please, please." I said, my eyes desperate as tears began to form. I can't give up. Not yet. I continued compressions and began mouth to mouth, before repeating the compressions. Finally I heard a hacking cough, and she lurched forward coughing rigorously. I put a hand on her back and patted it gently. I waited until the coughing had finally died down to throw myself at her, throwing his arms around her, desperately.
She returned it slowly, still slightly dazed from the experience. Mona's wet hair was strewn all about her face and sticking to it. I used my hands to push it away, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She looked up at me, before wrapping her arms around my neck. I bent down, pressing my face against her shoulder as I let the tears roll down my face. I tried desperately not to start blubbering, but I couldn't help it. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have been able to get that Krang off you sooner. I should've—"
"It isn't your—" she began, her voice croaky.
"I almost lost you! I thought you were dead! I thought…" she put her hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. The lizard mutant pulled herself up against me, pressing her beak to mine. I kissed back with fervor. I'd come far too close to losing her tonight and it made me realize just how much I need her. We pulled away from each other and I breathed out, "I love you."
Mona Lisa straightened, and for a moment I stood stock still, afraid of what her response would be.
"I'm sorry Raphael. But I think we need to end this now." She said, looking away from me.
My eyes widened and my heart sank. She doesn't... "What do you mean?" I replied, barely managing to force out the question, as my heart clenched in pain.
"Raph, I almost got you killed! Your family was kidnapped because the Krang wanted me. I can't—I won't take that risk again. I…I do, to a certain extent, I do reciprocate your feelings, but I can't. I'm not going to let you get hurt." She stared into my eyes and my heart felt a little consolation knowing that she loved me. I was about to kiss her, but she pulled away, stepping just out of my grasp. "Goodbye Raphael Hamato." My bright green eyes stared at her in shock and I grabbed her wrist, but Mona pried herself away from my grip. "I'm sorry."
"Mona, please. Don't." I said desperately.
"I love you." The lizard mutant said before she ran away down the shoreline.
I ran after her for a few moments. When I realized that she wouldn't be coming back, I collapsed to my knees, exhausted, utterly spent, and broken hearted. Tears rolled unchecked down my face as I cursed myself for being a complete and total idiot. I never should have said anything. This is all my fault. How could I ever have allowed myself to believe that anyone could love someone like me? Something like me? Freak, monster, disgusting mutant. Who would ever fall in love with a beast like you? It's over. It's all over.