3: Donnie

Abandon

You know those movies where the trees at night look like killers and when lightning flashes on them, they look normal. Or they have scary faces. Well this entire wetland is that way!

One tree tried to grab Mikey and trap him in its trunk before I chopped the branch off. Another tried to strangle Raph but Leo's wings has some sort of spaze attack and slapped the tree silly. Mikey couldn't stop laughing after that.

As we're exiting the creepy swamp, my brothers and I wipe off our feet. Everything from glowing pebbles to gewy mud is trapped between our toes.

While we clean our appendages, Casey turns to the two angelic figures. "Okay, now can you answer our questions?"

Kate looks weary of Casey. Felix just shrugs him off. "That's not our job. Just keep following us and you'll learn what you need to."

Casey scowls, "And what if we don't?"

Felix shrugs," Then you don't."

"All we really need is the blue turtle, "Kate adds. Leo looks up at them, then back at his feet. Leo has been quiet since we got here. I wonder if something in this place has somehow affected him.

Raph seems to growl at the two," Well, if he's going, we're going with him."

Felix nods. He waits till we stop trying to wash our feet (which was unsuccessful) and we start to walk again.

Phmop-Tham!

Leo's wings fling outward. I jump before they could slam into me. Casey wasn't so lucky. Leo's white and red wing punches Casey square in the forearm. Leo hits him so hard, the puck head flew almost five feet from our position.

I laugh. It shoves its way out of my chest, through my throat and out my mouth. And now I can't stop.

"Sorry, Casey," Leo mumbles. His wings slump with his shoulders. Felix looks at Leo, chewing on his lip.

"I have an idea," Kate says. She starts walking to my big brother. Raph blocks her path. "Out of my way."
"Make me." Raph snarls back.

Oh, she makes him alright. I laugh even harder as Kate breathes in his face and Raph falls flat on his back.

"I can't breathe. I can't breathe!" I howl.

Kate wanders over to Leo. She crosses her arms, smirking, "You want to fly?"

Leo seems to relax as she comes up to him. He nods. "Sort of."

Raph is scrambling back to his feet now. He looks dazed and confused. Casey walks to his side, holding his arm like it's going to fall off.

"Leo, ain't flying nowhere.' Raph says. I can tell he's trying to be straight forward and firm but his dazed look isn't helping.

Kate rolls her eyes. She whispers something to Leo. Then with one flap of her wings, she's only a dot in the sky.

Leo stares up at her, like he's in a trance. Then my ears explode with Raph's scream, "LEO, DON'T YOU-"

Dust and dirt fly as Leo shoots after Kate. Felix is not far behind.

"LEO, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE WHEN YOU GET BACK DOWN HERE!" Raph screams at the top of his lungs in rage.

Mikey chuckles, "Since when we're you the over protective brother. "He says.

"I'm not." Raph snaps.

Mikey looks at me. He has this look that says Raph is being way too protective for his or Leo's own good.

I simply blink in response.

"Think they'll leave us?" Casey asks, shielding his eyes from the sun.

"No, Leo wouldn't do that to us." April replies.

Sure enough, April is right. We have walked down the path a little ways when they land in front of us. Leo looks like he's on the verge of tears, but he's happy. Happy tears.

"Leo, what's wrong?" Mikey asks. Leo shrugs.

"Nothin'."

Raph marches up to him angrily, "What did you think you were doing?"

Leo just smiles," I was being free."

I was being free. What does that mean?

"Hey, are we going to stand around all day or are we going?" Kate call up from ahead of us.

"We're coming, we're coming," Casey calls, then silently says to Raph, "She's about as impatient as you."

"Hah, hah. Funny," Raph snorts sarcastically.

Casey smiles, "I thought so."

We start walking again. Leo walks with Felix and Kate. He seems lighter. Like something was lifted off his shoulders.

"Um… Felix," April calls to the front, "Where exactly are we going?"

Felix looks back at us. He simply says, "Abandon."

"Abandon?" Casey questions, "What is that?"

"It's a town." Kate answers, "It's where people like us live."

Now Raph is getting ticked off, "Enough with 'people like us'. I want to know who you all are, what you are and why my brother has wings. Tell me! Now!"

"He's certainly demanding, isn't he?" Felix smiles. Leo shrugs. Kate scowls as she answers.

"It is not our place to tell you. Abandon is only a mile away. When we get there, we will meet Be 'Joke. He will tell what you want to know."

Raph frowns, "But-"

"Raph," Leo says, "Please." Leo has this look of something I can't describe. It's like a mixture of sadness and pleading. I don't think anyone could object to that face. And no one does.

Raph's angry face lightens a bit. He sighs, "Okay, Leo. I'll wait."
Leo similes. "Thanks, bud."

I think Raph tried to hide it, but he smiles, too. Leo hasn't called Raph bud since we were really little. I think he liked it.

As we walk, I think about names. Leo always had a name for us. Bud for Raph, Baby Turtle for Mikey, and for me, well, he named me after a candy. Smartie. I liked that name. Because of Leo, I wanted to live up to the name. And I did. Like Mikey, the baby brother. Make sense? The Raph and Leo, I can't help but wonder why they are not buds anymore. I recall what Raph always called Leo. Hero. Leo Hero. All Raph wanted to be was like Leo when he got older. After that I don't know what happened. They just became…different.

"Hey, Donnie," Casey whispers to me as we go over a hill. A town comes into view. From here it looks like a spook town but I could be wrong.

"What," I growl. If Casey hadn't said a word to me this whole trip I would have been really happy.

"Why did Leo call Raph Bud? It's not something I can hear coming out of either of their mouths."

"Why don't you just ask Raph?"

"Because I don't want him to pound me."

Figure. "Look, it's just what Leo called him when we were young. Now drop it."

Casey frowns but says nothing more.

As we draw closer to the town, I see that the town is completely made of wood and black iron. This town must get really hot during the day. There's a fountain in the middle of the town, clear as can be. A few people walk the streets. Some are mainly flying around. All their wings are spotted. There is no just one color.

As we enter the town, Kate raises her hands to the sky and says, "Welcome to Abandon!"

"Whoa," Mikey says.

"It's a big, goth city. " Casey says. Felix shoots him a look.

"Amazing," Leo mutters. He flaps his wings. The next thing we know he is standing over the fountain looking down at himself. We go after him. Once we're to him, we see him stretching his wings, looking at them like they are a second head.

"We're off," Kate calls to us, "See you later, Leonardo."

Leo waves to her as she and Felix leave. "Such nice people." He says.

Raph snorts, "Whatever."

Mikey nudges my arm, "Donnie, the Joker is here." I look where Mikey is looking. Joker my shell-

HOLY! He's right. A dude that looks like a mixture of Beetle Juice and the Joker is coming toward us.

"Uh, guys, "I say. They all look toward the man. He stops feet from the fountain.

"So another one whisked himself away." He says. He's looking at Leo. Leo seems to shrink back.

"You Be 'Joke?" Raph says.

"In the flesh," the man says. "Don't tell me. You want answers. And don't we all. Well, follow me and I'll give you some."

"Ugh, more walking, "Mikey groans. I elbow him. He shuts up.

Leo and Raph are at the front on Be 'Joke's heels. The rest of us trail behind, still in listening range.

"You six have fallen into the dream realm. It always happens to those who wish themselves away," He motions to Leo, "or to those who break through their dreams like the rest of you."

"What do you mean wish yourself away?" Leo asks.

Be 'Joke looks sadly at our big brother, "Son… what do you think your wings stand for?"

Leo looks at his wings," Um… I don't know."

Be 'Joke sighs, "No, I would suspect you wouldn't. Look around you. All these people have spot on their wings. Those spots mean something. Do you know why this town is called Abandon?"

"No, we don't," Raph snaps.

"Raph," Leo hisses.

"Abandon is named for the pain these souls have gone through. It's a refuge. Felix and Kate showed a few years ago. The black dots on Kate's wings stand for her parent's drug abuse. The neglect they showed her. "

I get it. This city is for those who are degraded. But how is Leo part of this? I am scared to know.

"You and Felix have something in common, boy," Be 'Joke continues.

"Leonardo." Leo cuts in.

"Both of your white dotted wings stand for self-harm."

Leo seems to pale even more. I see his wrists twitch.

"S-self-harm." Leo chokes.

"Leo, what does he mean," Raph asks. Uh-oh. This isn't good. We all tense up. Raph's voice has an edge to it. "Leo, you don't self-harm, do you?"

Leo pales even more. "R-Raph, just keep an open mind-"

Raph lunges at Leo. They are on the ground before anyone can move.

"Go for the wrists!" Mikey shouts.

"MIKEY!" I howl, slapping him.

April screams, "RAPH, LET HIM BE!"

Raph yanks Leo's armbands off in anger. Leo tries to push Raph off him but the second eldest has Leo pinned tightly to the ground.

Then Raph chokes. He jumps away from Leo so fast I don't see him pass me to go to Casey. Once he stops, he keeps his back turned to Leo. Leo stands up rubbing his wrists.

"You CUT!" Raph yells. "WHY? ANSWER ME THAT!"

Leo opens his mouth but Be 'Joke beat him to it, "Allow me, Leonardo. Your other wing is white with blood red. That stands for parental abuse."

"Leo can't be abused!" Raph howls as he turns to Be 'Joke.

The man sighs, "There always doubters."

My eyes widen as Be 'Joke swings his arm like he's about to hit Leo, but stops inches away. Leo flinches back and ends up falling on his butt. He curls into a ball, shaking.

April moves to my big brother. As she kneels by him and rubs his shell, Raph yells, "April, did you know about this?!"

April slowly looks up," Yes, I did."

"For how long, "I find myself asking. I can't tell what I'm feeling. Horror? Anger? Fear?

"Only a day," April says. She rubs Leo's arm. Leo doesn't uncurl.

"Well," Be 'Joke says," as much as I want to dwindle in you families problems, I don't. We have more to talk about before Old Jack chimes eight."

"Old Jack?" Casey asks.

"The clock," Be 'Joke summarizes. He helps Leo to his feet. Leo's face reads that he is ashamed. Then with a burst of anger, Leo rips off his other wristband.

Now I see what Raph saw. Deep bright scars line his wrists. There's letters there, too. One wrist has an R, A and a C. The other has an M, D, I C K together and an S. Those letters stand out among the scars.

Once he throws the band down, Leo marches off, Be 'Joke right beside him. We walk or rather jog to keep up with them.

I look at this city. So this is Abandon. A city for the abused. And Leo is a part of it.

I don't think I like Abandon at all.