Chapter 13
A strange weight is on him. Not as heavy as before, but it still won't let him up. Something pushes against his chest, wrists, and ankles. He refuses to let out a moan and calms himself, refusing to get angered by the fact that he can't get up. He stops and listens to the voices around him.
"Don, it's been five hours. If this stuff is workin' why are we still freezing?" a gruff voice demands.
"I don't know Raph. But if you haven't noticed, no one's coughing anymore."
Silence.
"Yeah... guess so," Raph finally admits.
"It'll still take time. But we're alive. And we're here for Leo."
"Yeah," Raph says weakly.
"Raph! Stop that scratching!" Don suddenly yells. "You're neck won't get better it you keep that up?"
Raph grumbles. "It's itchy. I never thought he'd swipe my sai from my belt."
"Well don't scratch. Or I'll have to change the bandage again."
"Fine." Raph is silent for a few minutes, then speaks up again. "Mikey still sleeping?"
"Yes," Don answers. "As you should be."
"You too braniack."
"I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with Leo."
"Anything?" Raph asks softer.
A pause.
"No. There's nothing on him or wrong with him."
"Then what?" Raph mutters. "Isn't there a way to find out what caused this?"
"Yeah, but it's going to take time."
Raph snorts. "That's always the answer." There's quiet stillness again until he mutters once again, "I wish that fire had never happened to him."
"Me too Raph. Me too."
The voices fade away. Not because the two turtles are leaving the room, but because Shade's mind has. He remembers the fire as they say it. And the breathtaking pain.
He screams out in pain. The fallen beam from the ceiling fell with a thunk onto his legs. At first he couldn't move as it burned into his skin, sending pain flaring through his whole body. He pushed the initial shock out of the way and tried pushing the beam off of him. The heat burned his hands, causing him to recoil. But the beam had to come off. He gritted his teeth and taking a quick breath, shoved the beam off of his legs. He weakly got to his feet and took another breath, choking on the smoke that filled the air. He looked around for the nearest exit, spotting a window and running as best as he could towards it. The roof gave a haunting creak and the ceiling started collapsing, burying the window he had intended on going through to get out.
"No!!" he yelled. He quickly scanned the rest of the building, his heart falling as he turned around and was finally forced to get down on his hands and knees to avoid most of the smoke. Even the stairway that had been there before was now gone. There was no way out. He was done for.
Another wave of fire exploded near the wall he was closest to, throwing him through the air. He landed next to a burning wall and nearly shrieked in relief. The explosion had broken the wall, leaving him a large escape hole. He quickly crawled over to it, trying to block out the pain in his legs and hands. Reaching the hole, he was sore, pained, and exhausted. He stuck his head out into the clearer air and suddenly felt himself falling. Falling through the clear air and down to the pavement below. Luckily he crashed onto a parked car, denting it's roof badly. He had the wind knocked out of him, his vision darkening on him. The burning building was raining fiery pieces down all around him, some landing on him. He slowly rolled off of the car and tried walking slowly away on his aching legs. He made it only a few feet before the building started coming down one floor at a time until it came down in a rush, sending debris flying everywhere, knocking him off his feet and sending him flying into the closest building. His head smacked against the brick, almost making him pass out. Holding tight to his consciousness, he picked himself up and only managed to stagger down the next alley, trying to get up the fire escape, when he slipped and fell, landing in a half full dumpster, blacking out instantly.
He woke the next morning when the sun shown in his eyes through the cracked open dumpster lid. Blinking wearily he rubbed his head and pushed the lid open. He climbed out and slid to the ground in the alley. His head hurt so much. Looking up and around, he had no idea where he was, what had happened, why his whole body hurt, and even who he was. All he knew was that he had to hide. From what he didn't know. He stood and slipped into the darkest corner of the alley and just huddled there until the sun went down that night. His stomach rumbled, forcing him to start walking and find some food. He walked the alley's blindly because he no longer remembered where he was. He stopped walking after awhile and looked up at the cloths lines above his head. One held a dark over coat and hat. He reached up and touched it. Some spots felt damp, like it had been washed recently, but not that recently. He tugged it down and pulled it on, grabbing the hat and shoving that on his head. Pushing his hands into the pockets, he continued his painful walk through the alleys.
He doesn't know how long he walked, just that the moon was now sinking in the sky, getting ready for the sun to come up. His legs only allowed him to shuffle along now. The pain overwhelming his mind. He didn't hear anyone come up until they put a hand on his back, stopping him in his tracks and causing him to turn around.
A young girl was touching him. She looked so young and frail and battered. She looked homeless. It broke his heart to see this young girl's condition. He almost forgot about the pain in his legs. Almost.
He blinked at her. "You shouldn't be out here," he said softly.
"I live out here."
"All alone?"
"No. I have my brother."
"How old is he?"
"Seven I think," she said timidly. "I'm two years younger than him."
He smiled at her. She was so young and innocent. He felt drawn to her and at the same time, afraid to let her see him. He felt he looked different than her somehow, but didn't know why.
"Can I help you Mr.?"
"Help?" he asked confused. "I don't know how you can. You should be home with your brother."
"He's just at the next alley. That's where we live." She grabbed his hand and started tugging him down the alley. "Come on. We'll help you."
He couldn't say no, so he let her lead him to the next alley and to her brother.
"What have I told you about wandering off sis?" The seven year old boy turned and stared. "Or about brining strangers home?"
"But he's hurt. And he's nice."
He pulled his hand away from the little girl and looked at her brother. "I won't hurt you or your sister," he said softly as he plopped down on the ground, leaning against the alley wall, needing to rest. His breathing was a little labored, the pain from his burns unbearable.
"What happened to you?" the boy asked.
"I got burned."
"Oh. Bad business deal?"
"No. Blazing fire."
"Oh. Ouch." The boy seemed to think for a moment before his eyes lit up. "Here, I know, we have something that will help." They boy handed him a broken jar. "It'll ease the pain."
"Thanks." He tried to smother the stuff on his legs and a bit on his hands, but he was worn and dizzy, unable to get the stuff on his burns.
"Can I help Mr.?"
Reluctantly he nodded to the girl. She grabbed the jar and helped smear the stuff on his legs. The boy quickly joined in. With the dark of night, neither of the three noticed his green skin. It was just thought of as darkened. They soon finished putting the stuff on his burns and settled down. The boy passed out a bowl of watery soup to each of them. It tasted it bland, but to him it was delicious. By the time his pain was starting to subside, the three of them were falling asleep in the small hidden hole in the alley as the sun came up.
When he awake that night, it was dark again. The two children still asleep at his sides. He quietly pulled himself from them and got up, walking over to the dumpster and sitting on top of it, thinking to himself. He didn't know how much time had passed before he heard the sound of the boy's feet.
"Sleep ok Mr.?" the boy asked.
He shrugged. "Fine I guess."
"You got a name?"
He stared off at the wall for a few seconds then shook his head. "No. I don't remember."
"Then let's give you one."
"How 'bout Jake?" the girl asked, joining them.
They boy shook his head. "Naw, what about Dark? You seem to like the dark like we do."
"No, that's not good," the girl protested.
"Fine, fine," the boy conceded.
He almost chuckled listening to the two kids trying to figure out about what to call him.
"Shade!" the boy and girl shouted at the same time.
"Shade?" he asked.
"Yeah," the girl said excitedly. "You like the dark."
"And we saw you wake up and sit in the shade of the building a little while ago when the sun was still out," the boy added.
He shrugged. Shade didn't sound half bad. "Ok. Shade it is."
The kids cheered.
"So what are your names?" Shade asked.
"Jack," The boy said.
"Dani," the girl said.
Shade nodded and stood, looking at them for a moment before speaking. "I have to keep moving." He jumped down from the dumpster.
"Leave?" Dani asked.
"But why?" Jack continued.
"I have to find where I belong." Shade paused and sighed. "I have to find my home."
The kids sighed and looked down at the ground. A tar slipped down Dani's cheek.
Shade stared at her and sighed inwardly. He bent down to them. "I'll come back and visit ok?"
Dani smiled. "Ok." She quickly hugged him, followed closely by her brother.
"And thanks for your help. The burns feel a lot better."
"Good," Jack said. "Visit soon ok?"
"Ok. I'll try as soon as I can."
The kids grinned.
Shade smiled and stood, walking slowly out of the alley as they yelled their good byes.
