Chapter 3
I lay down at the wall of an alleyway with difficulty. I had managed to find it by just passing by. In fact I would not have known about it, had a cat not meowed from inside. I kept a cardboard box over me that I had found in the dumpster at the back of one of the many shops lining the area. I yawned and closed my eyes, wanting sleep to overcome me, despite the fact that rain was gently hitting my face. I turned slightly and pain flared through my chest. I nearly screamed out in pain, but managed to keep it in as I clenched my teeth together. I scrunched my eyes up and swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I opened my eyes and sat up hissing with pain the entire time. I wrapped my arms around my body and stared at the ground. I was feeling miserable and had no idea what to do about it. I shivered from the cold wind blowing from the entrance and silently cursed life. I curled over and rested my chest lightly on my legs, in an attempt to keep warm. It was then that I saw a faint light flicker on from the street light. I looked up and smiled. Somehow seeing a streetlight turning on, made me feel glad to be alive. I shivered a little more and decided to go for a walk past my brother's house. I stood up, using the wall as support and walked off.
It took me nearly half an hour to reach my brother's house and what I saw made me grin happily. The curtain to the lounge room was left open and the light was on. My brother was about five years younger than I was, making him about twelve years old. He was sitting on the couch he had and was watching a movie with the two people who had adopted him. I knew them from when they came to pick up my brother. I had only met them the one time, before falling off the map. I looked down then decided to head off, knowing he was all right. I headed back towards the alley way and almost jumped when a hand touched my shoulder. I looked at someone in a trench coat and hat, stopping me from seeing their face.
"Come on, I'll take you back to the lair" Said the person.
"Raph?" I replied. The figure nodded.
"You have nowhere else to go and you're soaking wet" He replied. I looked at him.
"But I have no way to repay you" I replied.
"I'll think of something later. For now, you need to get dry and warm." I followed Raph and he took me to an open man hole. He climbed down the ladder and I followed. He led me towards a long tunnel and down a few hundred stairs. He stopped in front of a few pipes in a brick wall. I gave him a quizzical look. He reached a hand out, grabbed one of the smaller pipes that cut off and pulled it. The wall opened up to reveal a large door and inside was the lair. We walked in and the doors closed quickly behind us. Raph walked towards the lounge room and I followed. I was glad none of the other turtles were there. I was handed a towel and I dried my arms, face and hair. I handed back the towel and watched as Raph walked off. I sneezed then sniffed. Raph came back, holding a cup of steaming hot tea. He handed it to me and I took it. I blew on it then took a sip. The hot liquid went down my throat and I felt it hit the bottom of stomach. I looked at Raph.
"I just wanted to say that you know" I said, trying to apologise. It was a very hard thing for me to do as I had never been taught how to properly apologise. Raph turned his gaze to me.
"I accept your apology" He said, seeming to know how hard it was. I smiled meekly.
"So, where are the others?" I asked.
"My brothers? They are on night patrol. I left them when I saw you walking towards that house" Raph replied.
"Your brothers!? I thought you all were just friends." Raph laughed.
"I guess it's easy to see how you would assume that, but never the less we are brothers." I took another sip and turned my eyes away. My eyes fell onto a large area that held many TVs stacked together. In front of them was a couch and two recliners on either side of it. Raph stretched his arms above his head. "I suppose I should take you to your room for the night" He said. I nodded and skulled the last of my tea. I set the cup down on a table just behind the couch. I then followed Raph upstairs and towards a room with a small bamboo mat bed. Raph went to the entrance of the room.
"It may not be much right now, but you can make it into your place of sanctuary. I'm going to head to the surface to find you some dry clothing. I'll be back later" Raph said, turning towards me. I nodded and Raph left the room. I turned back towards the bed and decided to get a little sleep. I lay down on the bamboo mat and closed my eyes.