The lightning flashed across the sky in the longest bolt the turtle had ever witnessed. The brilliance almost turned night to day for an instant, giving him an unpleasant view of the dark-clad shadows that nearly surrounded them. The wind kicked up so forcefully behind his back, it seemed to be siding with the enemies that were challenging him and his brothers to a never-ending battle. Nothing seemed to hurt their opponents. Whenever he or one of his brothers knocked one down or were forced to run them through, the shadows continued to relentlessly attack, like they didn't even feel the blows.
The turtles weren't so lucky. He could read it in his brothers' eyes whenever they were backed up close enough for him to actually make them out. They were all getting tired, and their assailants were displaying no sign of faltering. A heavy hand on his shoulder started to spin him around, and the turtle nearly lashed out at his assailant by instinct alone.
He took a deep breath when he realized that it was one of his younger brothers, and the turtle was trying hard to tell him something. He couldn't hear his brother's speech for some reason, and had to focus hard on his moving mouth to distinguish the word he appeared to be repeating.
Retreat.
Yes, retreat, he told himself. While we still have a chance.
The thunder rolled overhead as he whipped back around, just in time to duck a curved blade. He didn't even bother wasting the energy to try and parry it. There was no time left for defense. The distance from their rooftop to the next one looked impossibly far, but there was nothing left for them except to try and run for it.
On a whim he reached for his grappling gun, and fired the hook toward the building across from them. He nodded at his brothers while they covered him, and made what felt like a suicidal leap. Or it would have been a suicidal leap, without the strong cable to secure him to the next rooftop. He'd taken the jump first just to make sure that it could be done, but when he turned around to find his brothers, he couldn't see them.
Shell. Shell, where are you, guys? C'mon, you've got to get out of there.
He squinted through the rain that had started downpouring in the blink of an eye, frozen in that position as if his legs had locked up underneath him. The turtle waited uncomfortably on the ledge, anxiety growing for every second that he didn't see his brothers. Another unnaturally bright bolt of lightning split the sky overhead, revealing the desperate picture of one of his brothers being held aloft by his throat.
Before a word could even leap to his lips, the dark assailant handling the limp figure hurled him over the edge of the building. The turtle nearly took a pointless nose-dive off the roof upon which he was perched, in the hopeless dream of snagging something with his grappling hook and managing to catch his falling brother before he hit the ground.
Even as his feet were about to leave the ledge, black shapes momentarily blotted out his vision as his unassailable enemies sprouted wings. He took a startled step backward, stumbling over his own two feet before landing on his side. In a flash the hellish creatures had landed on his roof-top, touching down with a force that made the entire building feel like it was shaking. The turtle held his breath as he wondered if the building would collapse underneath them, and cringed as the demons hurled his two remaining younger brothers down in front of him.
He didn't want to look, couldn't stand to see the life drained out of them. One of the creatures inexplicably rescued him from the center of the circle, only to draw a blade on him. His own weapons were non-existent - they'd disappeared without any explanation.
"It does not suit you to allow your enemies to live," the taunting voice reminded him.
The blue-masked turtle came awake so violently that he wrestled over the side of the bed with a cry. He hovered on his knees on the hard-wood floor, panting heavily like he'd been running at break-neck speed.
"Leo."
The soft voice made shame wash over him like a flood, and he hurried to pick himself up.
"Leo," Calley repeated. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," he said stiffly. "It was an accident. I'm sorry I woke you."
"Were you dreaming?"
"I got startled."
"You always say that it isn't safe to surprise a ninja." Calley was trying to sound light, testing how he would respond.
"It isn't," he replied, rubbing a hand across his tired eyes. He couldn't muster a smile in return.
"Can I do something for you?"
"No," he answered. "I just need some air." And I'd prefer to get it alone, he added inwardly. Don't push it, Calley. Please stay here.
The blond woman gazed at him closely for a couple of seconds, and sank back down timidly. "Okay. You know where I am."
The blue-masked turtle strode out of the room, but he had the presence of mind to walk more quietly through the hall, lest he wake up someone else. Frustration burned in the pit of his stomach as he silently trotted downstairs through the darkened Great Room, and let himself outside.
Leonardo leaned against the porch railing wearily, and rested his head against the soft sanded surface. It was pointless to even look at the amazing night sky that was stretched out above him.
The dreams had persisted over the last few months, though their frequency seemed to have decreased. While the number of dreams was dwindling, the severity of the hopeless scenarios had only increased, along with the cold irrational reality that the visions presented.
The Akiudo were never invincible, and they don't even exist anymore. They were never that strong when the organization was intact.
Nothing bothered him more than Takashi's incessant need to address him directly, and remind him of the question Leonardo still hadn't answered for himself.
When our enemies have proven their deadly intentions time and time again, where do we draw the line? Mike didn't take the time to make sure Daichi was dead. Raph didn't mean to kill Yukiko, and I left Takashi for the police to deal with. We had an honorable duel. I could have killed him. I could have. Maybe then I wouldn't be haunted by these ghosts that are determined to make me question the decision I made.
Leonardo raised his head, drinking in the cold night air deeply.
What else could I have done? We can't get in the habit of killing everyone who raises a hand against us. But when people already know too much, like that stupid Bounty Hunter...
He rammed his fist into the railing at the thought of Blackford, who'd given the Akiudo the keys they had needed to get to the turtles to begin with.
It does not suit you to allow your enemies to live.
Takashi had challenged him with that statement after Leonardo had been taken captive by the Akiudo, speaking of the Bounty Hunter. Despite the sense of honor that had been instilled inside him from the time he was a child, part of the blue-masked turtle wanted to agree with Takashi's assessment.
It was risky of us to let the police deal with Blackford when he knew so much about us. Idiotic to spare so many men over the years who could have been our undoing.
The sound of the screen door had Leonardo turning, fixing on the figure of his purple-masked brother.
"Hey, Leo," Donatello said quietly.
Leonardo inhaled sharply to collect himself out of the dishonorable ramblings. "Hey, Bro. What are you doing up?"
"I just got off 'Mikey' duty. What's your excuse?"
Leonardo huffed softly under his breath and looked away from Donatello. "I need to breathe."
Donny rested his arms on the porch railing beside him. "Sounds like some angry air you're taking in."
"I don't really want to talk, Don."
"Do you want me to leave you alone?"
"Not forever, no. Right now, yes." Leonardo fought for an even tone, trying hard not to come across as cold.
Donatello hesitated, but then released his grip on the railing. "All right. I'm here if you need me."
Leonardo nodded gratefully as his brother backed toward the door.
I don't think that was too harsh. He didn't act like I hurt his feelings at least. Shell, I don't want to talk about this with anyone. I know that we did the right thing with the Akiudo, and that justice was served. I don't get why I have this nagging feeling that something isn't finished. We were never meant to be the ones standing in the place of judgment on people, meting out punishment for their crimes. Our job is to stop them, and let the law deal with them how they see fit.
I've never been this caught up in turmoil over turning someone in to the police before. Why am I letting Takashi do this to me? He can't even hurt anyone from where he is now.
Leonardo let the silent statement linger in the air, finally taking a couple of steps away from the railing to glance overhead at the innumerable stars that filled the night sky. There should be peace, he realized. I should have some sense of finality, and I don't. It doesn't make any sense.
The blue-masked turtle lowered his frame to sit on one of the steps, and remained quiet for a while. He heard the wind kicking up in the trees, followed by a distant howl that made him sit up straighter. Coyotes? I know they howl sometimes. We haven't seen any of the real wildlife yet, but that doesn't mean it isn't out there.
Leonardo shook his head. That's one of the hardest parts about the lives we lead. We can see the signs of our enemies or sometimes hear them around the bend, but there's no telling when a strike is going to come. Raph and I weren't looking for the Akiudo that first night we met. We stumbled onto them. It just happened. Now after an amazing climax that was our last opportunity to face them in battle, I'm still on edge, expecting the bogey man to be hiding around the corner.
As long as it had taken him to sit down, Leonardo suddenly rose with a jerk. I can't let this get the better of me. We've dealt with them, we freed the slaves, and the Akiudo has been disbanded. That's the end of it. These dreams are nothing but dreams, my own subconscious trying to tell me that nothing I do is good enough. Well, I've had it.
Leonardo turned to leave the nocturnal life to its playground, while he padded back upstairs to bed. Calley was wide awake and waiting for him, but she didn't ask questions as he rolled into bed.
"Sorry for keeping you up," he apologized. "I'm okay, Calley. I really am."
"It's all right if you're not, Leo. You don't have to pretend in order to preserve your honor in my eyes or anyone else's."
He nodded. "I know. It's funny how some chapters take longer to close than others, but I'm declaring that this one is officially finished," he said vaguely.
Leonardo reached out toward her, and she accepted his embrace uncertainly.
"It's only memories mixed with my imagination, Calley. Neither of those things have the power to kill me."
She shook her head. "Maybe not, but they still have the power to affect you," Calley said pointedly. "I should know, particularly where that gang is concerned."
The blue-masked turtle sighed. "You're right, Calley. I just can't help feeling like I may be feeding into it by brooding about it. I really don't want to talk about them anymore tonight, if that's all right with you," he said cautiously.
"Its fine, Leo. I know where you live if I need to get something out of you," she finished lightly to take the edge off the situation.
Leonardo felt a sense of relief. "Thank you. Let's try and get some sleep before the sun comes up."