The lair was dark without the lights Master Splinter had managed to string around the home, and though it was only afternoon, it felt like the middle of the night. None of the children ever ventured out of their bedrooms after dark, because of obvious reasons. Leo, who had been curled up in front of the television, had jerked backwards as if he had been slapped when the tv began to glitch and jump around. And then with a dramatic click, it darkened.
"Master Splinter…" He called with a whimper. The whole lair had fallen into darkness. Mikey and Donnie, who had been playing an old pinball machine left abandoned outside the lair, jerked with alarm as everything fell from their sights. Miwa, who had been reading on the couch, rose to her paws and stepped towards her younger brother by the television with wide eyes.
"Master Splinter?" She called out, standing beside Leo as he leaned towards her for comfort. "Master Splinter, what's going on?" Mikey started crying, and he ran into the pit to seek his sibling's comfort. Donnie was close behind, though not as afraid. She heard him swallow.
"Why's it so dark?" Raph's voice carried from one of the corners, and after listening to his footsteps intently, Miwa jumped when she heard him cry out and a heavy thud reverberate through the ground.
Miwa was running towards the sound to make sure he was alright, accidentally tripping over Raphael in the process. "Hey!" He grumbled, shuffling in the dark as she fell against his shell. Whoops. "Get off'me!"
"Sorry! Are you okay?" She pulled herself into a kneeling position, searching blindly in the dark until Raph's shoulder appeared under her hand.
"Fine." Brushing noises. Raph sat up, and his voice became worried. "Master Splinter?"
There was no response. All five of them stiffened intently as a loud bang erupted through the air, vibrating through their chests and leaving them breathless. Mikey broke into sobs, and she could hear Leo and Donnie whimpering and calling for their father. She, herself, was afraid. That was loud. And unexpected. "What's going on? What's going on?" She started whispering, until Raph hooked an arm over her shoulder.
"C'mon, we need to get to safety!" He whispered harshly, reaching out to his other brothers. Leo was already standing up even without Raph's words, and Donnie was heading towards them. Mikey's arms threw themselves around his older sister, and she stared down at him incredulously though nothing could be seen in the dark. "Remember, Master Splinter told us that if anything ever happens and he's not here with us, we need to run or hide." The four-year-old whispered, somewhat reluctantly. Miwa wondered how much he craved to stay and fight the enemies, but she didn't dwell on it.
Another loud bang. The group flinched, and Raph was moving. "Come on, quickly or it'll get us!"
Miwa was nodding, her heart beating in her ears. "Where?"
"I know!" Leo suddenly exclaimed. "Everyone grab hands, quickly!" More shuffling. Miwa felt a stray hand grab hers and she gave it a short squeeze, trying to decipher whose hand she had. Raph had her other one, and Leo must have taken the lead. Mikey was still clutched to her, so the one holding her hand must be Donnie.
They moved in a line, Mikey finally deciding it was easier to run without clutching Miwa's body. He settled for grabbing Donnie's free hand, and they raced in the direction the cat assumed to be the kitchen.
The line stopped short when Leo gave a muffled yelp, and Raph snickered. "There's a wall there."
"Thanks." Leo muttered sarcastically, slipping into the curtain and leading his siblings inside. Miwa was older, but Leo had already settled to being their guide this time. So she didn't say anything as she moved with the group. Something squeaked, and Raph's hand tugged her over. Another burst of noise rang in the sky above them, and they all flinched in reaction. But then Miwa was stepping forward, feeling around and realizing they were getting into one of the lower kitchen cabinets.
She tugged Donnie after her, who sniffled and stepped inside. Leo and Raph shuffled as far over as possible to allow them room, and Miwa was pressed between Raph and Donnie in the cabinet. Once they were all inside, Raphael reached out and hooked the door with his hand, pulling and retrieving his hand back before it closed with a bang.
She couldn't tell if it was darker in here than out there. She shuffled into a comfortable position, eyes running around her as she tried to think. Seat beaded at the end of her hands, and she turned on her side so that she leaned against the wall with her shoulder. "Are we safe here?" Mikey whispered.
"We're safe here." Raph responded. "But you gotta keep your voice down."
Something bumped into Miwa's arm and she hissed in alarm, shoving back. "Watch it!"
"But what if it eats us?" Mikey's shrill squeak sounded from the other side of her now, as if he had thrown himself to the side. "I don't wanna get eaten! I don't!" He broke into another fit of crying.
"All it does it make noise though…" Donnie muttered softly, half-drowned by Mikey's loud tears. "If it was something that would attack, wouldn't we have seen it? Maybe it's only up on the surface? Maybe it can't come down here!"
His assurances were starting to calm Mikey, only until another sound ripped through the air and left them all pressed against each other in the tiny cabinet. Everything shook, even the walls around their hiding place. Miwa's neck was starting to ache from ducking. And then, ever so quietly, she heard the kitchen curtain's rings scrape against the pole. Someone had opened the kitchen curtain.
"Shh!" Leo whispered hastily, ducking back a bit more. They were all in a pile, arms around each other and heads ducked away with fright. Scraping sounds like footsteps filled the air that made Miwa shiver. There were various noises that followed, including somewhat of a small light. It spilled through the cracks of the old cabinet, and they all stiffened with horror.
This time it was all of them that screamed. The cabinet door swung open and they ducked their heads away in fright, only for them to die at the sight of their father's face staring back at them. A candle was in his hands, and the sudden light made the five of them squint. But that was their master, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Come out, my children. It is only thunder. It will not harm you." He held out a hand and Mikey grabbed it fast, leaping out of the cabinet and burying his face in his father's robe. Master Splinter gave a warm bout of laughter, putting a hand against his youngest son's head. Soon they had all crawled out of their refuge, closing the cabinet door behind them and pressing themselves against the father for comfort. It may not have harmed them in the first place, but it was good to have him to protect them. Just in case.