Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome back! I hope you are up for some action today, because that is going to be seen in this update! I won't ramble for too long today, so please enjoy!
The following morning, April sat at Casey's small kitchen table, sighing as she scrolled on her phone. Amelia's face was everywhere now, her death and the manner in which she died sending shockwaves through the city. She glanced up as Casey shuffled into the room, sitting beside her. She did a double take, raising a brow.
"That's what you're having for breakfast?" She asked.
"Uh, it does say breakfast bar on the label." Casey replied.
"That's not a meal." She commented.
"And you're not my mother, Red." He responded, to which she sighed.
"Okay, starve if you want to..." She got up after finishing, placing her dishes in the sink. She was about to wash them, when Casey stopped her.
"Don't worry about that. Just because you stayed here one night doesn't mean you have to be a maid." He nodded towards the door. "Bus stop's at the end of the block. Don't want you to ruin your perfect attendance record." He chuckled a bit.
April blinked, surprised at the fact that he wasn't being so self-absorbed for once. "Thank you. I'll get my stuff then. Um... thanks again for letting me stay."
"Don't mention it. I promise, I wasn't a peeping Tom while you were asleep." He said as he smirked, to which she rolled her eyes. The typical Casey was back.
"Not like there's anything I could do about it now, anyway." She said, going down the hall to grab her things. "I'll text you later." She said before heading out, making it to the end of the block just in time to catch the next bus.
Once she was dropped off at her stop, she glanced at her watch as she headed for the Channel Six news building. She was about to head inside when she thought she heard someone speaking through a microphone down the street. She craned her head, furrowing a brow as she walked towards the voice. When she was within good earshot, she noticed Grayson Roberts had set up a press conference just outside one of the buildings within the district, making an announcement to a growing crowd.
"... -and I am deeply saddened, deeply troubled today, ladies and gentlemen. This morning, upon reading the obituary..." He then held up a photograph of Amelia Smith. "This sweet... innocent girl had perished before the eyes of her devastated parents last night in the hospital. Imagine losing your child... only to find her beaten, broken, barely hanging onto life before finally losing it. If this does not move you, then I will show you a second picture." Grayson held up a screenshot of the hospital's surveillance, showing Leo bringing Amelia inside. "This is exactly what I feared, ladies and gentlemen. For whatever reason, this mutant, this... monster... practically threw the girl at the staff of this hospital before running off into the night like a coward. It's more likely than not that the mutant abducted the girl in the first place! And after they had enough of the frail thing, they decided to throw her onto the nearest person, like garbage, and claim themselves to be heroes. Let me ask you this, good people." He held up a picture showing a close up shot of Leo. "Is this the face of a hero to you? Does he- no... does IT deserve to be trusted after claiming this precious child's life?!"
The crowd erupted in anger, condemning Leo as they cried out in agreement with Grayson. April shook her head, not able to stand for this. She marched through the crowd, grabbing the microphone out of his hand as he looked at her in shock. "Stop!" She exclaimed, the crowd looking at her in surprise. "Leonardo... who is NOT a monster..." She shot a look at Grayson. "... is also NOT responsible for her death!"
"Then let me ask you, then... who IS, Ms. O'Neil?" Grayson asked. "These people, this child's mother and father, and Amelia herself, deserves this answer."
"And that's an answer I hope to deliver as soon as possible. Leo saved this girl."
"Saved her? That sounds like a bigger lie than what you just said about delivering us an answer. All empty promises, Ms. O'Neil... but I assure you, my promises will not be. People like Ms. O'Neil are under the delusion that mutants can coexist with us. You can see the outcome of that notion." Grayson glanced to the side at April as they began to shout at her, giving her the slyest of smiles. She stared at him angrily before looking out to the crowd.
"You may not believe me... I know this looks bad. I know that you're scared. What happened to Amelia was... there's no word for it. I want justice for her just like you all do. But pointing fingers based on prejudice, and not facts, Mr. Roberts... is not going to give Amelia, or her family justice. So, while you waste everyone's time here, I'm going to get out there and find the answer. That's not a promise, it's a guarantee." April said before shoving the microphone back into Grayson's hand, storming off as she headed back to the news building.
Later that evening, Donnie adjusted his glasses as he typed away at his computer.
"Anything on that DNA, Donnie?" Leo asked.
"Well, I was able to separate a few stray cells from the sample that aren't yours or Amelia's. We managed to find the pizza box that Mikey got from that clown in the alleyway the other day, and I was able to find a match." Donnie replied.
April growled in frustration from the couch. "That son of a bitch!" She yelled at Grayson Roberts on the television, much to the shock of the others. Footage of her earlier talk with the man was currently airing, with slanted commentary about her working with "killer mutants". "Now he's trying to twist ME into some kind of villain!" She shook her head, fuming.
"Um, you gonna be okay, April?" Donnie asked her worriedly, glancing over his shoulder. Truthfully, he wanted to take a swing at Grayson himself.
"I will be when that snake's smile is wiped off... sorry, I really can't stand that guy." April shook her head.
"Join the club." Raph scoffed.
"Who cares what some asshole says, April? Everyone knows you." Casey said.
"Because people like him can easily tarnish someone's reputation." April replied. "Someone who mingles lies with truth, manipulates."
"Maybe we should talk to him." Mikey spoke up then, the others looking at him. "Maybe if he saw we weren't bad, he wouldn't hate us so much. Remember what Sensei told us that one time? 'People fear what they do not know.' So... if he got to know us, he wouldn't be afraid anymore, right?"
"Not a bad impression of me, Michelangelo." Splinter approached, giving him a smile. "And though you have wisely heeded my words, there are some out there who refuse to learn and grow. They remain in the shadows, lurking, refusing to enlighten themselves."
"That's why he can't be elected as governor. If he is... I don't know what's going to happen to you guys." April sighed. "Although... maybe if I could just convince him somehow that there is someone else committing these crimes... he could have a change of heart. One can only hope..."
"Mikey." Leo approached. "Go do your rounds."
"You got it!" Mikey hopped up, heading out of their living area and into the tunnels.
"Uh... where's he going?" Casey asked.
"I've started a new routine. Every night, one of us is going to patrol this area of the sewer at a random time for a few hours. We need to be more proactive if we're going to catch this guy in the act. Donnie, keep working on that DNA sample." Leo said.
"Well, I should head out." Casey said as he stretched his arms. "Starting opening shift for deliveries tomorrow."
"Wait... did you get a new job?" April asked.
"No, just asked for the morning shift." He shrugged. "Wanted to free up my evenings so I can be a moral support here."
"Casey, that's-... thank you." April smiled.
"Anytime. Maybe after we finish all this 'clowning around,' I can take you out somewhere, huh?" Casey said. Splinter glanced over, noticing that Donnie's quick typing had stopped abruptly.
"Uh... sure, I guess?" April chuckled. "Where has this Casey Jones been all this time?"
"Around." He shrugged. "Alright, I'll see you guys." He nodded to the other turtles.
"Please be careful." April said, to which he nodded as he headed out. Donnie tightened his lips, turning back around to type on his computer, doing so a but more feverishly than before.
"Donnie." Leo said as he hovered beside his brother, then. "Focus." Was all he said before he wandered towards the surveillance system to take a glance.
Meanwhile, Mikey hummed to himself as he wandered the sewers, adjusting a small device on his head and clicking a button on the side to activate the headlight. He looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. He looked up when it began to rain outside, water beginning to cascade like waterfalls from the street drains. He approached one of the drains, looking up through it as he was barely able to see one of the street lights. He attempted to savor this moment, a glimpse into the outside world where he was rarely able to place himself in. Just then, something distracted him when it was washed in through the drain. Mikey took a step back, snatching up the object before it could flow away. He tilted his head as he looked at it, trying to make out the writing on the side. Just then, a shadow was cast upon him when someone crouched down from above, peeking into the street drain. Mikey blinked when he looked up to see a young child, who gasped upon seeing him.
"Woah- it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." He then looked down for a moment. "Hey, is this yours?" He smiled, holding up the object so the light could hit it.
A paper boat, with S.S Georgie written on the side.
The child looked at Mikey. "That's my boat." The boy replied, smiling as the rain flowed down his yellow rain coat.
"Here, take it." Mikey held it up to the boy, who frowned a bit.
"I'm not supposed to take stuff from strangers." He replied.
"Oh... well, I guess that's a good thing to do... but if it's yours, you should have it." Mikey replied.
"... What's your name?" The boy asked.
"I'm Mikey! What's yours?"
"I'm Georgie. I guess we know each other now." He smiled.
"Yeah... say, maybe you can meet my brothers sometime. There's Leo, and Raph, and Donnie. We all live down here." Mikey said.
"Do you have fun down there, Mikey?"
"Oh yeah, totally! We have games, and our weapons, and comic books, oh, and pizza!"
A pause. "Do you have any balloons?" The boy asked.
"Balloons?" Mikey scratched his head. "Nah, no balloons down here."
"Well... we have balloons up here, Mikey." Georgie spoke quietly. "All colors... and they float." He slowly reached his hand into the drain towards the boat.
Just then, Mikey's communicator vibrated, his other hand reaching to grab it as he glanced to the side for a moment. "Hey Donnie!"
"Mikey, you've been standing in the same spot for five minutes according to the GPS, Leo wants you to move around a bit more." Donnie said.
"Come up with me, Mikey. You'll float too." The boy said, his small hand inches from Mikey's.
"Uh... Mikey? Who is that?" Donnie asked when he heard the small voice.
"Oh! I made a new friend, his name is-" Mikey was cut off when suddenly, the boy viciously grabbed Mikey's arm, nails like claws sinking into it as he was dragged out of the drain. Donnie's heart skipped a beat when he heard his brother suddenly scream.
"Uh, Leo! LEO! We have a problem!" Donnie exclaimed. "Code blue!" He shouted as he hopped out of his chair, getting the attention of his brothers. "Someone's got Mikey!"
"Let's go, now!" Leo shouted, the turtles wasting no time with explanations as they dashed into the sewer tunnels. "Donnie, what's his location?" He asked as they ran down the tunnel.
"He was moving pretty quickly, but he's slowing down- his vitals are elevated, he's fighting back!" Donnie said as he glanced at his GPS tracker device.
"We're going to have to move quicker then. I'll break this guy in half if he leaves even one scratch on my brother." Raph growled, the three hopping out of the nearest manhole, ascending to the quiet street.
"Where, Donnie?" Leo asked tensely.
"This way, come on!" He shouted, the three sprinting in the direction his brother had been dragged off to. Suddenly, his distant screaming and struggling was heard when they came within earshot.
"We're coming Mikey, hang on!" Raph shouted before barreling forward, hopping over fences and shoving obstacles aside. He seethed when he finally found what he was looking for, coming upon Mikey trying to fight something off. He was on the ground, kicking at something that had a hold of his other foot.
"Hey!" Raph shouted as he whipped out his daggers. "You fight me now."
"Oh... look at this, Mikey. More meat for my turtle soup!"
"Get out here before I drag you out!" Raph shouted as Donnie and Leo caught up to him. The distraction allowed Mikey to scramble back, moving far away enough from the shadows as he limped a bit.
"You can't do anything to me. You're scared."
"I'm not afraid of anything!" Raph shouted.
"Raph, stop talking to him, he's just trying to distract you." Leo shot him a look before looking forward. "You already got away with killing Amelia. You will not take our brother."
"Indeed... she was scrumptious. I wish I could have had the rest of her."
"Guys..." Mikey sniffled. "I'm bleeding really badly..."
"Alright, enough talking!" Raph said before crying out, charging forward. Suddenly, the glowing eyes in the darkness disappeared, Raph swinging at nothing.
"Donnie, get Mikey underground!" Leo shouted as he tried to chase the echoing sound of sinister laughter through the empty side streets. He narrowed his eyes, crying out in frustration when he realized that he had once again lost their attacker.
"Leo!" Raph shouted upon finding him. "Forget that loser. Mikey's hurt bad. We'll get him another day."
After sparing one last glance, Leo nodded, following him as they made their way back to their underground home. As they made their way through the tunnels, Leo sighed as he watched Donnie help his brother back home.
He had allowed this to happen. And now, the attacker was still free to do just that once again.
Did you survive? Yes? Good! So, though the turtles were narrowly able to save Mikey, who will their attacker pursue next? Is anyone safe? Find out more in the next update! In the meantime, thank you very much for reading, and see you next time!