Chapter twenty-four

...In the lab...

The purple clad terrapin examined the bullet, trying to figure who is the suspect and owner. Only found nothing more than that it came from a Nine-millimetre hand gun. The blue clad terrapin, stood close by—waited for an answer. Folded his arms across the upper scutes of his plastron and asked. "Anything?"

"Well—two things for sure." Don answered, softly. "Yeah, and?" Leo replied. "One—this bullet came from a nine-millimetre hand gun and two—the shooter." Don answered, cut off. "The shooter? Is what?" Leo said.

"That is the thing—I have no idea." Don replied, stumped. "What do you mean, you have no idea." Leo confusedly sniped. "That is exactly what I am saying, I have no idea. I don't know if the shooter is or was a cop—or may possibly could be either gang-member or just pity thief." Don explained, confusedly confirmed the suspects. The blue clad terrapin confusedly glanced his younger brother, with a risen brow as he was about to say something—a loud bang echoed from Raphael's room.

Both Leo and Don gazed eachother, wondering what was the loud bang—unhesitatingly ran out of the lab and bolted up to their brother's door. Standing outside as the strangely cracking and banging continued within the room—then suddenly the banging stopped.

Both Michelangelo and the old rat, joined them—standing outside the door as The blue clad terrapin prepared to grasp the door knob and open it as he was abruptly instructed, not to.

"Stop—wait, my son." Master Splinter instructed. Leo nodded, released the door knob and stepped back. The old rat stepped towards the door and quickly sniffed for any unfamiliar scents—after couple sniffs, his eyes widen with sudden wariness. Stepping back with his other sons and whispery instructed them to prepare as he also instructed Leo to open the door then step back.

Leo didn't reply, but did what he was instructed and opened the door then stepped back—defensively held his katana. Looking in the door and saw nothing but—pitch blackness and heard low growling.

"Master Splinter—what is that?" Mikey whispery asked. The old rat didn't respond, continued glaring in the dark room then whispery instructed once again. "My sons—run."

All three whispery replied, confusedly. "Run?"

"Run." He whispery repeated and leaped down from the stone platform as the were-terrapin bolted out from the dark room and attacked.

ROAR!

April rose up from the couch and wondered what the terrifying, echoing animalistic sound was."What is going on?" April cried, terrified then she looked up with frightening widen glance and gulped. "Stay hidden behind the couch, Miss O' Neil." The old rat abruptly instructed. April nodded, resumed laying position and inhaled three large breathes to control her heart rate and keep herself from screaming out loud.

"Holy crap!" Don shouted, back flipped—avoiding the were-terrapin's attack. Both Leo and Mikey followed their brother's and father's lead, avoiding been either killed or infected. The were-terrapin landed on the floor below, heavily and imprinted his landing in the concrete floor which also shook the dwelling of their lair.

The were-terrapin continued to growl and snarl—standing on all fours, examining each one of his soon-to-be chosen prey then finally—stopped. Glaring at Mikey with drooling desire and then traced his long wet forth-tongue along his mouth.

"Yikes!" Mikey whispery yelped.

"MICHELANGELO—RUN, MY SON!" Master Splinter instructively ordered, leaping to the were-terrapin's back. The orange clad terrapin stood, crippled with fear—froze and shakily watched. Leo aided their sensei in the assault, unknowingly that they were trying to defeat their own then suddenly, as one by one—were hit hard by the beast's large clawed paws. Leo skidded across the floor upon his shell, Don flew across the room until he met with the brick pedestal then landed on his torso upon the floor—on conscious and splinter was thrown across the room towards the other wall near the garage.

The were-terrapin stood on two feet then walked towards his prey that froze and trembled in fear. Leo pushed himself up, groaned slightly and saw that his baby brother still had not moved—he reached over for his katana, sprung to his feet—ran towards the beast and leaped up then drove his sword down into the beast's shoulder.

The were-terrapin leaned back, slightly and roared in agony then whacked Leo—once again, he skidded across the floor. Taking the sword out from his shoulder, throwing the weapon to the floor then ran towards the orange clad terrapin. The old rat leaped forward, draped his arms around the terrapin's waist and forced him out of the beast's path as it ran out of the lair.

Don pushed himself up from the floor, placing all of his weight upon his hands and knees, groggily groaned and then held his head. Leo sprung to his feet, once again and quickly went to his young brother's side—assuringly assisted him. "You ok?" Leo asked. "Yeah—I think so." Don answered, softly. "Master splinter? Mikey?" Leo called out.

"We're alright, my son." Splinter replied.

"What happened to you, mikey?" Leo worriedly asked. "I—I froze." Mikey whispery answered, stammeredly. "Froze? How you just froze?" Leo confusedly asked, confusedly blinked. "That is enough, Leonardo—this is not helping." Master splinter demanded. "Sorry sensei, sorry Mikey." Leo apologised. "It's ok." Mikey replied, accepting the apology.

"Now—Mikey go to Raphael's room and see if he is ok." Master Splinter instructed. Mikey went to his brother's room and searched for any sign of life while the others tried to figure what the beast was and how it become to be in their den.

"So, what was that—thing, master splinter?" Leo stammeredly asked. "I think—a were-wolf?" Don answered, conformingly. "Were-wolf? Whatever it is—my question is, how did it get in here?" Leo demanded.

"I think it was already in here to begin with." Mikey answered, when he returned with the torn mask. "What do mean?" Don said, confusedly blinked. "Look—this is Raph's bandana." Mikey replied, holding the torn red mask.

"Oh no." Don whispered. "How did he get infected?" Master Splinter inquired, curiously and concerningly blinked. "I think I know—raph was clawed last night by a large black wolf in the tunnels near the abandoned industrial area." Leo explainingly replied.

"We must find him before innocent people are hurt or worse." Master Splinter instructed.

...

...to be continued in chapter twenty-five...

Finally don't you think? Raphael has finally transformed but what of Brenna? Is she still sedated or has she also disappeared too and gone hunting with her newly infected companion? How long before Raphael's first kill and who will be the chosen prey to satisfy his blood lusting urge—will it be an innocent by-stander (a innocent civilian), a purple dragon member or a foot soldier?

This is beginning to become interesting, finally and somewhat frightening. What to expect in the next chapter?

Read and review, until next time—tootles