Hey look! An update to this! Finally... LOL... sadly, this book is coming to and end (finally) and has 2 chapters after this, including the prologue.
Enjoy the chapter.
Raph growled, his amber orbs flashing.
He'd lost Donny and Mikey a few miles back, hanging in a behind a large vent as he watched the two younger turtles run by, before taking off in another direction. He knew that it was a stupid thing to do, but he couldn't help it. It was all his fault Leo was in this mess. It was his mess, his guilt, and his punishment that he solve this.
Alone.
"Sorry bros," he whispered into the pouring rain. The storm raged overhead, hiding the tears sliding down his cheeks from large eyes, mixing with the wet rain droplets. "But I have to do this myself."
And so he pushed forward, one thought in mind.
Save his brother.
Then the thought of the young girl hit his mind, replacing the image of his scowling blue banded brother. The same girl he'd grown to love as a sister… maybe more. Her flashing blue eyes, her mischievous grin, her flowing back raven hair…
"Suri," he whispered her name painfully. Raph swallowed thickly.
It was his fault she was gone. If only she hadn't been with him… if only she had stayed behind… if only …
Before Raph knew it a scream tore from his throat as he fell to his knees in defeat, letting both fists smash to the ground in front of him. He could feel the rain pound on his shell and exposed legs – letting it drip into his eyes.
My fault Leo's gone…
My fault Suri was capturerd…
My fault…
My fault…
"It's all my fault." Raph choked out. Those two words seemed to echo endlessly in his head, never ceasing their endless taunts – never letting him a moment without guilt.
Why is everything my fault? I don't mean too… I don't mean to hurt anyone…
Raph sobbed, letting out all his anger and grief into his tears. The last time he'd cried, it had been with Suri. She'd put on soothing hand on his shell, rubbing in comforting circles while telling him that it wasn't his fault, that everything would be ok. That it wasn't his fault.
"If it's not my fault… why is everyone hurting because of me?" he whispered tensely. "My family… Suri… my brothers…"
My fault…
My fault…
"Stop it!" he screamed, grabbing his head with both hands. "I already know it's my fault! Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!"
He screamed loud and hard as the lightning sang around him and the thunder danced, their powerful feet pounding the heavens, both becoming a powerful storm of a chorus. He screamed it all out, letting the word – the voices – know that he knew.
It was his fault.
"And I'm going to fix it." His head snapped up, his amber eyes dancing up a raging storm, becoming a mirror of the lightning. He was still on his hands and knees, submitting to the voices. "Even if it kills me."
And just like that, the voices went silent, the once loud repeat of guilt dying away, buried forever in his mind.
One foot, then the other, brought him to his feet. Both fists were clenched tightly, his nails drawing blood from his palms. His plastron rose and fell, each breath hard, and his teeth clenched together, his breath puffing out of his flared nostrils like an enraged bull.
The feeling running through his blood… it wasn't his normal seeing red. It was more than that. The desire – the need – to go and save his family, it was like a fire, consuming him in one huge rush. It felt like his skin was burning and his eyes were on fire, but the thrill of it excited him. He loved it.
He felt unstoppable… indestructible… like he could roll the world like a basketball on his finger and shoot it at the three point line.
The storm raged on, giving Raph barely any way to think of another way. He saw only one way. To bring down Shaun. But not just anyway – there was no hope for people like Shaun. Death was the only way. And it was going to be delivered by Raph's own hand. He was going to enjoy watching the blood drip from his blade and pool on the floor.
They were taught that they should never pleasure in killing.
But Raph was going to like it.
He was going to take pleasure at every drop of blood added into the pool.
He was going to enjoy hearing the last stubborn beat of his heart.
He was going to love watching the final, last defiant look in his eyes as it faded away into the glassy look of death.
He was so caught up in it all, so caught up in the thoughts of bringing his family together once again, and along with the rampant storm around him, he couldn't hear the steps. But he did hear the small voice behind him.
"Raphie?" a small, tiny voice of a young child called out.
Raph turned, feeling his eyes going wide. "Sammy?"
He only saw her blue eye's blinking innocently at him before the darkness closed on him like a book, sealing him in it's dark clutches of night.
"Dude," Mikey breathed, pointing a figure at the warehouse. His blue eyes were narrowed, his face set into a grim smile as his other hand rested on his wooden weapon. Don sat beside him, his own eyes narrowed.
They watched as Shaun walked around, dressed in an expensive suit, while behind him followed a woman with waist length brown hair. She was in a mini skirt and office jacket, jotting down notes on a clipboard.
"Who's that?!" Mikey asked, letting out a long, sharp whistle.
Don rolled his eyes. "No idea bro, now stay focused!"
"Sorry."
"There's Leo," Don pointed.
Mikey looked over, following the finger to the large cage where their older brother was being held. Leo was slumped in the cage. At first it appeared the eldest turtle was dead, but the slight rise and fall of his golden plastron let the others know that he was indeed alive.
"I'll kill em'." Don snarled, gripping his bo so tightly in one fist, his knuckles started to whiten. "Who knows what chemicals they put in his body! He could be allergic for all we know!"
"Easy bro," Mikey laid one three-fingered hand on Don's shaking shoulder. "We'll get them… trust me bro," his own voice hardened. "We'll get them. They'll pay for hurting our family."
Normally Don would be worried at the tone, at the vengeance, in Mikey's voice, but he wasn't. He agreed whole- heartily. They were all going to pay. Whether it by his hand, or one of his brother's they were going to regret hurting his family, physically and mentally. The mental stress Shaun put on their family…
Don shuddered. This wouldn't be something any of them would forget soon.
"Let's just… figure out a way in there, ok?" Don murmured.
Mikey gave a small nod, before scanning the roof. Don was about to do the same, and add his own eyes to the mix, when a dark figure moving through the warehouse caught his attention.
"Mike," Don hissed, smacking his youngest brother on the shell. "Look, we got another figure to deal with now."
"Oh fun," Mike rolled his eyes, sarcasm dripping from his voice, but he also focused on the figure. "Who the shell is that?!"
"I…I don't know…" Don squinted against the rain that had died down to a light drizzle. One arm reached forward, rubbing the glass to clean away the fog and rain droplets.
Whoever it was, Shaun and turned abruptly around and was started towards the shadow covered figure. The shadow person stepped forward and Don caught the slight wave of black hair. His eyes widened.
"Don?" Mikey whispered, shock in his voice. "Is that…?"
Suddenly, the figure stepped forward, her arms waving around dramatically and blue eyes flashing while two burly guards carried the limp green figure behind them.
"Suri," Don's voice turned grim. "And she's got Raph."
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