Thief in the Night Ch. 9
As soon as Donnie had ordered Mikey to escape, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. His breaths came out in panicked gasps as he ran, his goal to reach the Lair getting closer and closer with each step he took. Before he even realized, he was in the sewers, running through the murky water in the tunnels. He was almost there! He was so close!
It was almost like his body and mind were in control. He knew exactly where he was going, and before he was aware, he could see the entrance of his home. He knew now he should start shouting, as his Sensei just might be meditating.
"Master Splinter!" Mikey screamed, his breath at the sentence coming out as a pathetic sneeze.
His next scream was louder, more desperate as he neared the doorway. "Master Splinter!"
He jumped over the turnstiles and stood there, leaning forward with his hands resting on his knee pads, panting. Splinter was standing as well, his ears upright and alert, one hand resting on his cane. It appeared he had been sitting in the Pit-or living room- just recently, since he was standing near the long line of benches.
The mutant rat seemed very concerned, especially since two of his sons had left their home and only one returned. He feared the worst, but needed an answer. "Michaelangelo. What has happened?"
While his voice outside was calm and collected, inside, his stomach was doing flips, his mind was going in all sorts of directions. Miley looked up, his light blue eyes unbelievably upsetting. Tears were in his tear ducts, threatening to fall out at any moment. Mikey breathed in a few more times, more to collect himself rather than regain oxygen, before he spoke.
"We-we were ambushed!" he started, his voice loud and panicky sounding. "Th-they got Donnie! There were too many Foot but...uh...we...we got a phone! I-it was a Foot ninja and Stockman talking to each other! A-and...and they're still at their normal spot! Where they always go!"
Splinter simply nodded his head.
"We-we gotta go now! Raph and Donnie and Leo and-"
"I agree, Michelangelo, especially since we know where they are and we have a goal." Splinter replied quickly, silencing his son. "But first, let me read those texts."
With shaky hands, Mikey pulled out the cheap phone and handed it over to his Sensei. Splinter held the phone up close to his face, since his eyesight wasn't as good as it used to be, but, started reading. Though, he wasn't aware that the phone would die any minute now, considering the battery has now dropped to two percent. Fortunately, Splinter was able to gather all the information he needed before the phone bit the dust.
Splinter looked up at his son, whose eyes were wide and questioning. He was obviously wondering what they were going to do about this, which left Splinter to think; what WERE they going to do about this?
"Michelangelo," Splinter set down the phone. "What time was Donatello captured?"
Mikey stared at the ceiling, pursing his lips in concentration. He searched his brain, thinking of when he and his brother headed out, when the phone the phone, when they got ambushed and when Donnie ordered Mikey to retreat. He remembered Donnie saying each capture took place at eight at night or slightly later. That's around when Donnie got captured. The time it took for Mikey to get here, despite his speed, took him around fifteen minutes at the least. And here it has been almost ten just talking to Splinter.
"Uhh...eight...ish? I guess? Time is moving too quickly, like, y'know, like-"
"And the time now, Michaelangelo, is 8:34. The sun should rise later. We still have time." Splinter interrupted. "But, my son, before we go and barge in, we must create a plan first."
"Aww, but Sensei," Mikey wailed, trailing his words for extra emphasis to show his disapproval. "That's boring!"
"I realize the time it takes to create a plan may be tedious, yes. We do not have time for such a thing. We must make a quick plan, however, just so you and I have a better chance at success." Splinter replied. "Understand?"
Mikey let out an exaggerated sigh. "Hai, Sensei."
"Good." Splinter said, walking towards the screen separating the dojo from the living space. "Then let us create a plan, shall we?"
Mikey nodded, following him into the dojo. They both sat on pillows on the ground and began to discuss. Mikey only prayed his mind wouldn't wander off.
It wasn't until shortly after Donnie got thrown in the cell that a loud knocking was heard on the door. This instantly brought the three out of their thoughts, for they knew whatever was on the other side would most likely not be good.
The door loudly slammed open and two guards came in, one holding food, which consisted of one bowl of rice and a cup of water, and the other held a box. The three turtles eyed the box suspiciously as the guard walked in with it. What could possible be inside? Torture devices?
The guard walked up to Leo and Raph, ignoring Donnie completely. He then knelt down as the other guard set down the food and be opened the box before him. Inside was not torture instruments, but medical supplies, and the guard instantly started using them to clean and tend to the two brother's wounds, which confirmed Leo's earlier suspicion.
They didn't care how much the cleaning and stitching process hurt. After all, the more pain the better, as long as it didn't kill them right then. And, as soon as they were done, they stood up and swiftly headed towards the door, standing there for a moment.
"The Shredder will be coming by soon." one of the Foot soldiers sneered. "Better hope and pray you won't be killed."
And, with that sentence hanging in the open, the guards closed the door.
Donnie, with his logical mind, instantly began processing what the guard had just said and began to panic. Only inwardly, of course. This was really, really bad. His brothers couldn't get hurt worse! After all, they already had wounds. Opening those wounds again could be catastrophic.
"Donnie."
Donnie turned his head towards the noise, which happened to be Leo, and judging by his face, it appeared he had called his name several times.
"You need to eat. When did you last eat?"
"Not too long ago, Leo." Donnie replied. "I'll be fine for a day. In fact, I could be fine longer. The body can last a maximum of three weeks without any source of food and three days without any-"
"Donnie. Please."
"No." Donnie shook his head, making his voice sound as stubborn as he could make it. "You all are injured! The best way for you to have a more successful healing process would be to keep up with your body's demand for food. You need to get an intake of protein and vitamins, and liquids especially. Without that, your body could slowly start shutting down. You and Raph both."
Leo simply stated back at him, his schpeal about food obviously not getting through to him. Or, he was refusing to listen to it.
"The last time I ate was before we left, Leo. It's only been a few hours! You both need this more than I do." He reached over and passed the tray to Leo. "Both of you should eat."
Leo sighed, obviously not liking this idea but he eventually nodded his head and slid the tray in between him and Raph. Donnie watched them eat, making it absolutely certain that his two brothers ate all of it. And, once he saw that the food and water was a gone, he let himself relax.
"The guard said that the Shredder would be coming soon…" Donnie thought out loud. "When-"
"I don't know and I don't care." Raph interrupted. "If I have to see that creep one more time, I'll bash his skull in!"
"I bit hard to do considering he wears a metal helmet." Donnie pointed out, which only received a nasty glare from his red masked brother, along with a growl of frustration.
"We will get out." Leo said, determination filling his voice. "There's still hope. Mikey went back to the Lair as far as we know."
"And I'm sure he's already told Master Splinter what has happened." Donnie added.
"So? Sure Sensei may know what's up but who knows how long it'll take them to get here?!" Raph objected. "We can't just sit here for another day!"
"You're right Raph." Leo sighed. "We can't."
He knew, one more day in this cell could be damaging. More wounds would be made, starvation could start to set and take its toll.
They needed rescuing and they needed it fast.
Authors note: Hey all! I'm sorry for my lack of chapters these past few months. I had my summer break and now I'm back in school and I honestly did not write much over the summer. Sorry about that! Anyway, this story is almost over, just a couple more chapters! I'll try to upload more frequently.