Chapter seventeen

Raph's big mistake & The regretful decision pt 1

Mikey turned around, hanging his arm over the couch and grumbled with a mouthful. "Wish someone—chewing, quickly swallowed—put that noisy chainsaw out of commission."

"Ya mean by putting our brother under." Leo corrected, folding his arms and raised his brow, giving his baby brother 'Don't even think about it' glare.

"Just kidding." Mikey joked

"Better be only kidding, Mikey. As don't ya remember what happen last time when ya tried to silence Raph?" Leo reminded

Mikey gazed the blue clad terrapin then tapped his chin, trying to remember when he did what and tried to remember the punishment he received then he answered. "Which time ya talking 'bout, Leo? I don't remember what I did." Mikey smirked

Leo shook his head and exhaled then walked away, lowly whispery to himself. "Oh Mikey. Oi."

Mikey watched Leo walk away, scratched his head then shrugged his shoulders and returned watching television and ate his chicken salted popcorn.

...Dreamscape...

Meanwhile upstairs, Raph slept but not contently as he was feeling...hungry. Raising up from the floor and walked down to the kitchen, looking for fresh bloody meat. His senses were heightened, higher than normal. Opened the refrigerator door and stood within it, looking for desirable piece of meat to eat.

April walked in the kitchen and noticed that Raph was standing in the fridge door, lowly grunting as he searched for food. "Raph." April called

No answer, just a low strange snarl was heard. The pregnant woman slowly walked towards the red clad terrapin, unaware that she is endangered.

Reaching for his shoulder and softly called out again. "Raph."

The red clad terrapin glared April with a frightening gaze as he lunged for her. April screamed, jumping back and tried to run, crying out for help but was silenced. Opening his abnormal were-terrapin mouth then bite April's head, clean off from her shoulders...raising his head and howled then continued to devour his prey.

...End of dreamscape...

"Raph—raph—wake up." a soft reassuringly worried voice cried. Shouting out in his sleep, crying out April's name. Tossed and turned then grasped a sai and drove it into the shoulder of the victim, trying to wake him as he rose.

Raph shook his head, breathed heavily then realised that he had stabbed April in the shoulder. "April—HELP!" raph shouted, as he draped his hands around April, stopping her from falling.

Don was first in the doorway of Raph's room, followed by Leo then afterwards Mikey and Master Splinter. Gazing in shock and disbelief. "What happened?" Leo cried

Raph sobbed, not answering his brother as he held April within his arms, praying he didn't killed her. Don immediately rushed to her side; quickly examined where the sai had penetrated then demanded to have April taken down to the infirmary. Raph carried the red haired woman to the infirmary, placing her down on the bed.

The purple clad terrapin did what he could to save their friend from the brink of death as the sai had pierced an artery and cause major bleeding. Grasping the sai handle then taking the weapon out of her shoulder without causing further damage. Immediately rushing against time to clamp the pierced artery, sew the open wound and bandage her shoulder then insert the drip, connected to the hydrating IV.

...Short time Later...

Don walked out to the doorway, sighed with relief as he was approached by his worried, concerned brothers while Raph brushed past Don and stopped, standing in the doorway. The red clad terrapin regretfully gazed upon April laying on the bed then slowly walked to the chair and sat down, not leaving her side.

"How is she, Donnie?" Leo asked

"She is stabilized and lucky to be alive." Don answered, wiping his hands.

"Can we go see her?" Mikey asked. The purple clad terrapin stepped aside, allowing his family members inside. They walked in the infirmary, saw raph sitting beside April and held her hand, overheard him apologising underneath his sobs. The old rat silently stood in the doorway, listening to his son's pleading apology.

"Oh god—April—I'm so sorry—Forgive me." He whispery sobbed, holding her hand between his.

Master Splinter walked up to the terrapin and stood behind him then asked. "What happened, my son?"

Sniff—"I was asleep—dreaming. Had a nightmare." Raph answered

"What kind of nightmare?" he asked

"I k-killed April—ate her—f-flesh." Raph replied

"Ew." Mikey stated. "Oaf."

Leo elbowed the orange clad terrapin in the chest, slightly wincing the wind out if him. "It was only a dream, my son." The old rat reassured.

"I could've killed her." Raph whispered, ashamed with his uncontrolled action.

"But you didn't—Come, my son. Let Miss O'Neil rest." Master Splinter reassuringly suggested

"I want to stay with April." Raph replied softly

The old rat softly smiled and nodded, leaving the infirmary. Leo led his brothers out, following their master also leaving raph with April, reassuring even though she on conscious from the anaesthesia.

...Topside—in the elevator...

Watching the elevator meter counted the floors down until reaching the desired floor. Looking at the photo once again, the placing it back in the envelope and squeezed it in her hand, tightly. Her hand began to drip of her blood as the sharp ends of the scuffled envelope had cut into her skin. Not wanting to assassinate anyone that shouldn't be killed but she promised her employer that the target would be assassinated and brought back as proof, the job is done. Brenna's inner conscious was telling her that it was wrong, telling her how could she assassinate the one person, who rescued and tried the best as performed to mend her injuries. 'What is with this woman that Oroku Saki wants her...dead! What has she done? Brenna thought

Leaving the Foot HQ and disappeared down the alley nearby. Leaping across the rooftops until she stopped and wondered what she should do. Pulling the sleeve up and unravelled the bandage on her forearm. Throwing away the bloody cloth and gazed upon her unmarked skin, as it was never cut and grasped her arm. Closing her eyes, two single tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to figure what she should do.

'What am I to do? Somebody please help me.' Brenna thought

Opening her eyes, wiping away the wetness from her cheeks then rose her head up and saw a church. Brenna was not a religious person as she can recall, maybe she was. Only if she could remember but couldn't. Crouching down on the edge of the rooftop and watched the wary lost souls, walking about—either chanting or preaching about the future and demanding those to return the church and pray. Brenna sighed, looked up and gazed the church as she thought about what she will be doing. Standing up, continued to look down the crowded streets but she turned around and walked the other way.

Flatting out the envelope and took the photo out once again then gazed upon the picture of the target. Running the tip of her index finger over the top end of the photo as she wished and hoped it would be different, especially someone else—not this one, why it had to be her?

Tearing the photo in half with the envelope and threw it away. The young assassin leaped the rooftops, searching for another that carried similar features to the assigned target. Which may take some time to find as this will be one assassination that won't be properly fulfilled but she needs the money to make a new life for herself and find who she is.

As daylight began to fall, waiting for a suitable prey that resembles close to thee as a replacement. Sounds of distorted shouting and arguing echoed within the alleyway, along Third Avenue. Crouching down, searching for where the distorted and suspicious argument was happening. In the far corner of the dead end alley, two people were arguing and fighting over money and what it appear to be—drugs.

"Is this all ya're have?" The drug dealer hissed, slugging the hereon addict.

The addict spat the blood that bled from her mouth than glared the dealer and replied, pleading. "Please—give me two weeks and I swear that I will have the money that I owe you."

"Too late." He roared

Brenna leaped down, grasped his hand as she hid in the shadows against the wall and dragged him then drove her hand through his chest, tearing his heart out. Throwing the dealer's body and heart to the ground then gazed the frightened drug addict that held her trembling hands out. "Take it...don't hurt me please."

Brenna stepped towards the woman, raising her hand. Just she was about to drive her bloody covered clawed hand down, the light shown upon the frightened citizen and found that she was only a young teen. Her eyes widen with merciful sentiment, lowering her hand then stepped back to the dealer's cold dead body and reached in his jacket, taking out his wallet.

"Go to a rehab clinic and get clean." Brenna demanded, as she threw the wallet towards the young teen's feet. The frightened girl reached out, grabbed the wallet and looked up then saw the alley was empty. Seeing nothing more on the ground was the drug dealer's blood that covered the pavement. Looking around, trembling with fear as she rose to her feet and ran to nearest clinic that was open. Watching above, Brenna stood and carried the dead man's body in one hand but the heart in the other.

Turning around, dragging the body behind her then let it—drop as she searched through his jacket again then found a small bag, filled with cocaine and stolen jewellery. Not feeling good, taking stolen watches, bracelets or rings but it may prove useful then realised it would be best to be left with the body and just take the heart instead.

The rain fell. The sweet scent of water was welcomed as she continued to search down Third Avenue for the perfect substitute to be put the place of the original target. As she took a bite of the heart, a sweet perfumed scent filled the air.

Leaping across the rooftops and followed the scent to the wearer, walking down the street. Finally a proper aged female. Observing and waited for the right time to take the replacement. The young businesswoman searched in her handbag for her house keys then had the sudden eerie feeling that she was watched. Quickly looked behind and saw no one suspicious, just tired construction workers walking by. Sighing with slight relief but still wary and inserted her key into the door as she stepped inside, something or someone pushed her inside and slammed the door shut.

Tripped over the side table by the door and fell to the floor, lifting her head up and looked around the room then frighteningly called out. "Hello—someone here?"

"One thing you should never do when invaded." Brenna told the victim

The woman frighteningly gasped and asked. "Who are you?"

Exhaling with abruptly sigh and replied as she slowly stepped out of the shadows, revealing her face. "You should never ask questions when you should be trying to—escape."

The woman pushed herself up and tried to find a way out, while Brenna stood watching her run then just slowly and patiently walked after the woman. Raising her hand and ran her fingers up against the wall, clawing the paint with claws while stalking her prey.

The woman ran to the kitchen, grabbing a large cleaver knife then hid in the kitchen pantry. Brenna walked in the kitchen, sniffing for the prey. She frightening breathed while hiding in the pantry and peeked through the creak of the door, watching the dark figure.

Leaving the kitchen and made the woman feel that she is safe. Sighing with relief, assuming to be safe as she stepped out of the pantry and walked towards the doorway of the kitchen when hearing the front door opened then closed. Placing the knife down, leaning over and breathed with relief then was spooked when grabbed from behind as her throat was slit.

Falling to the kitchen floor and choked on her blood. Breathing her last breathe when the answering machine collected the phone call. "Hi Julie-It's your mother. Call me—want to know about the wedding. Call me when you get this—bye." Beep.

Brenna breathed slightly heavier as she reached down to her left hand and saw the 2 carat diamond engagement ring on the dead woman's finger. Her lower lip trembled as she closed her eyes, realising what she had done. Leaning down and whispered in the woman's ear. "I'm so sorry."

Standing up and took a photo as prove after cutting up her face, disfiguring the features so it would not any different when taking the photo with small strands of her hair, back to the employer. Taking the ring off her finger and placed on the side kitchen bench but carried the body up to the room and wrapped, respectfully with a note—stating. 'I'm sorry.' Then left the apartment as nothing had happened, leaving no trace of evidence.

Closing the door behind her, then walked down to the alleyway and disappeared in the shadowy darkness.

...

To be continued in chapter eighteen...

Wow...what a dilemma, don't you think? Killing a woman that is betrothed just replace another. Will she ever confess her sins or conceal them like all other past dealings she made since trying to survive after loosing her family not long before? And what of Raphael? Will he figure what is happening to him before it is too late? Will April forgive and understand that raph didn't mean to stab her when she wakes up?

Read and review...tootles