Hello, fellow readers! Obviously, this chapter involves Leo and the Shredder. I have nothing more to say, then to read, REVIEW (thanks for the reviews so far, but I need more thoughts!) relax, sit back, and enjoy!
Leo gasped for as much air as he could for only the short seconds his head was out of the water. It was what, the fifth time? Even though it was so short into the process, Leo was already feeling dizzy.
The Shredder ordered Dogpound to keep dunking the turtle's head into the pool of water, until he would tell them the location of his Sensei: Hamato Yoshi. He was willing to go to any means to get the truth out of him...even if it meant to hurt Leo so much, that he was on the verge of death.
The Shredder didn't care about the life of one pathetic turtle, especially if he was one of Hamato Yoshi's disciples. In fact, he would have killed Leo on the spot. But he needed the location, so he couldn't kill him...yet.
Dunking the turtle's head in the water was the first form of torture. If Leo didn't say anything about his father's location, then each form would get worse and worse...
"Keep dunking!" the Shredder boomed into Dogpound's ear. "I want to make it clear to the turtle that I am not playing games. I need Hamato's location!"
"My pleasure, Master," Dogpound said with a twisted smile on his face.
He kept bringing Leo back up and then back down, with a big splash. Unfortunately, Leo's head spent more time in the water, than it did out of it.
The times Leo was out of the water, even though it was for brief seconds, he tried to get as much air in his lungs as he could muster. But with all of his might, and with all of the strength he put in to it, he only breathed in about half as much oxygen as he needed before he was forced back down into the chilling water.
His lungs were hurting, bad. They became weaker and weaker each time he was dunked.
"Stop!" came the Shredder's deep voice.
Dogpound lifted Leo up from the water and tossed him to the floor. Leo breathed in as much oxygen as he could, slowly this time, trying to make his lungs stop from burning.
"Now, turtle," the Shredder spoke loudly as he knelt down in front of Leo. "Let's try this again, shall we? Where is Hamato Yoshi hiding!"
Leo, who was too busy breathing in air at the moment, said nothing.
He wasn't about to give in...not now. As much as he wanted to keep his head out of the water, he couldn't risk his family's lives. He had to be strong, and hold on.
His brothers are probably out there right now, looking for him. They'll find him in no time...But, will they? Leo didn't even know where he was. He just had to hope, he just had to. Hope was the only thing supporting him through this, right now. He couldn't give up on the possibility that he would eventually get of of here, that he would get back to his family, to his brothers, to his father.
So Leo just sat there, motionless, on the cold, hard ground, staring down the Shredder. For once, Leo wasn't scared of him. He was actually quite calm. That's probably because the blue-banded turtle knew that no matter what the Shredder said or did now, he wasn't going to tell him anything about his family.
The Shredder noticed this glint of confidence overriding the turtle. He didn't know the reason, but whatever it was, he was surely going to crush every last bit of the light glowing in him. He will not stop.
The Shredder actually found it a little amusing, that this lowly reptile thought he had a chance against his wrath. This, this incompatible creature actually thought he had a chance against his might. No, no. The Shredder was not someone to be messing with.
Suddenly, without a thought, the Shredder kneed Leo in his stomach, and quickly ordered Dogpound to start dunking him again, before he breathed in too much air.
"Dunk him, again!" the Shredder ordered.
"Certainly," Dogpound said between chuckles.
The knee in the stomach knocked the breath out of Leo. He was then forced to suck in not even half of his needed air supply, before his head was thrown back into the water with such force, that he accidentally let some air slip loose.
Leo thought instantly that he wasn't going to make it this time. He didn't have enough air to keep himself alive in the water. So, his body stopped resisting, as the remaining air left his lungs.
But surprisingly, Dogpound took his head and shoved it back up, just as Leo was about to lose it. Leo didn't know what to think of it. Was Dogpound helping him? He lifted him up so much earlier than the other times.
"What are you doing, Bradford?" the Shredder asked. "You're supposed to be drowning the turtle, not letting him breathe!"
"Well, I felt his body loosen up," Dogpound managed to speak, still very scared of the Shredder. "I thought he was going to die, and I know Master that you don't want that right now. You still need him alive."
"You have a point there, Bradford," the Shredder agreed. "It is true I do not want the turtle dead, now." The Shredder emphasized his 'now.' "But no more! I'm sure the reptile has had enough to breathe to keep him barely alive, during our little chat. Waste no more time! Dunk him again!"
Leo braced himself and tried to take in more air. Unfortunately, during the Shredder's and Dogpound's 'little chat,' Leo was coughing up water that his lungs forced him to take in when he thought he was going to die. Leo only took in way less than half of his desperately needed oxygen this time.
His head was thrown back in the pool, and his lungs felt like they were drying up. They burned and ached more than ever before. He needed air, and he needed it now. But how could he push Dogpound out of the way, when he felt like this? His muscles were already loosening up. Even if he managed to push Dogpound away and return up for air, the Shredder would surely push him back down again.
What was the point of resisting? What was the point of everything? He was going to die eventually, if he's with the Shredder. So...why not now? Everyone's going to die at some point in life, and if he's being tortured like this, why not take this as an opportunity? Why not take the easy way out and relieve himself of all of this suffering?
Leo made it his mission to die with the location of his family still with him. Leo would do anything for his family, even if dying was one of them. If he's dead, he's no use to the Shredder. He would never find his family, and they would be safe. That's all that Leo ever wanted...for his family to be safe. Despite the countless arguments and fights, he loved his family more than anything in the world. So...why not die trying to protect them? It was the sacrifice Leo was willing to make...to save his family.
Even when Dogpound loosened the grip on Leo's head, he refused to come back up for air. Dogpound tugged and pulled with all his his might to get Leo's head out of the water, but Leo was even more stronger, now. Nothing was going to pull him back up...nothing.
As Leo felt his body shut down, he opened his eyes and looked around at the water. He saw his brothers. He saw them playing and laughing and jumping around.
He saw Donnie, his smart-aleck younger brother. He was doing something smart with a computer, probably working on something the fate of the universe could depend on, something that 'Leo couldn't possibly understand,' as Donnie always put it. Leo smirked at his purple-banded brother.
Then he saw Mikey, his youngest little brother. The orange-banded turtle was eating slice after slice of pizza...like that wasn't a surprise. His baby-blue eyes were shining with hope and wonder, as he looked at the world with awe. Leo smiled, for he loved his youngest brother dearly, and who knows what kind of mischief he'll get into next. Mikey had a water balloon in his hand- figures- and threw it at Raph- Raphael.
Leo then saw his immediate younger brother. The red-banded turtle met Leo's gaze. They stared into each other's eyes. All the arguments, all the fighting, all the disagreements seemed to all be forgiven and forgotten in that moment. Then, something unexpected happened. Raph smiled. He actually, genuinely, smiled at his older brother. And for once...Leo smiled back.
Leo looked around, taking in his brothers, seeing them for what he thought was the last time he would ever see them again. Even though Leo knew they were figments of his imagination, he believed them to be real. He then closed his eyes, the image of his brothers still in his head, and thought,
Not a bad place to die.
So, did Leo die, or not? You'll find out two chapters from now...I'm killing you all, aren't I? Who would have thought that I was so mean!? LOL XD Anyways, please tell me what you think! Review, review, review! I love you all dearly, but I NEED more reviews! Thanks for reading and the next chapter should be up soon! MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: After I finished this chapter, I realized that turtles can breathe under water for a while. So, since I don't want to re-write the whole chapter again, just think of Dogpound holding Leo under water for long periods of time, instead of just a couple of seconds. I'm terribly sorry again. I know some of you may notice this and I wanted to point it out to the rest. Thank you all for you cooperation, and read on!