Chapter 8

Darkness, maybe just a ray of light and then, pain. He opened his eyes with difficulty, one hurt, a blow had hit him on the arch; he hoped he hadn't lost his sight. The other burned from the blood seeping into him from a laceration on his forehead. As he struggled to focus on the images around him, Leonardo realized he was covered in blood. He realized he was hanging by his arms in the center of the room, his feet barely touching the floor. His writs were torn by the chains to which he was tied and supported, his arms were covered with cuts and purple bruises, the same way he had his legs, and surely he was hit there too. But his memories were confused, he only felt the weight of fatigue and pain. "Leonardo, focus," he mentally shouted to himself, even his voice had left him. He was weak, tired, and dehydrated. His throat felt dry and raspy from lack of water. "Scream..."

A tear fell slowly down his check making its way through the drops of blood on his face. He never wanted to show weakness, he never wanted to scream. In him he felt the weight of shame and dishonor for giving in to torture, for failing as a leader, as a brother and as a son. A black shadow interrupted the chain reaction of his thoughts, he looked at the still shadow in front of him, he saw his cold eyes, he had recognized them. "Erkon," he mentally focused.

"Break's over," said the Triceraton, taking a new 'toy' from the table of instruments of torture, it was something sharp and similar to a small spear. "I like it when you scream," Erkon mocked and began to cut the Turtle's legs and arms, first slowly as if to taste the Turtle's torment, then faster and faster and more lacerating.

Leonardo with all his spirit tried not to emit a sound, but something that wanted to resemble a cry involuntarily came out of his mouth. He could barely hear a moan of pain, his throat was burning with pain, he could not even remember the last time he had taken a sip of water. A set of sensations overwhelmed him, he just prayed not to cry out.

"I don't know how you have been able to withstand my tools, but my patience is wearing thin," the Triceraton growled. Without untying Leo's wrists, Erkon detached the chains from the pillar they were welded to, and Leonardo fell violently to the ground, having no energy to support himself.

"Don't think it's over yet, Turtle," Erkon chuckled as he cracked his knuckles. "I still have a few more tricks up my sleeves."

Leonardo winched, it's not over yet?, he thought with dread. Just how much pain did he intent to inflict on Leo?

In his confused mind, a tangle of thoughts. Where were his brothers? What were they doing here? That Alien in front of him was still going to cause him pain. "Mikey, Raph, Donnie, Master Splinter," were the last faces he remembered before he fell into darkness.

The sewers were dark and the four tot brothers were trying to find their way home. They were afraid, but they also knew better than to split up.

"I'm tired!" Mikey whined. Donnie smiled and knelt down so his baby brother could climb up onto his shell.

"Don't worry, Mikey. I'm sure we'll be home soon." He wasn't sure how far the Lair was, really, but he had faith in Leo. This was a test Master Splinter was putting them through. It was an exercise for them to find their way home by using their instincts.

The brothers came to a fork. Which way now, they wondered.

"We should go this way," Leo told them as he pointed down the right tunnel. Raphael frowned.

"Oh yeah, well I think we should go that way!" he pointed to the left path. "It's a short cut. We'll be home in no time."

"I don't know Raph," the oldest tot said with a shake of his head. "I don't remember Master Splinter ever taking us down that way. It could be dangerous."

"Fine, then you can go that way while I take the short cut. See ya at home!" then he ran off into the left direction.

"No, Raph, come back!" Leo called after him. "We can't splint up!"

But his hot headed brother would not listen and disappeared into the darkness.

"Should we go after him, Leo?" Don asked. He felt torn, he wanted to go after Raph, but he didn't want to leave his big brother either.

"No," Leo shook his head. "I doubt he's going to listen to us. Besides, we don't know anything about that path for sure. Maybe it is closer to home. Let him find his own way back."

They traveled down the right path. They could smell the Lair getting closer with each step. Finally, Leo spotted Splinter in the distance, sitting crossed-legged with a lamp sitting by his side.

"Master Splinter!" the blue masked Turtle yelled with glee. He ran to his father's embrace, nearly knocking the rat over. Splinter smiled.

"Very good, my sons," he praised them. "You have found your way home."

He then noticed that Raphael was not with them and felt concerned. "But where is your brother Raphael?"

"Huh? You mean he didn't come home yet?" Don asked. Splinter shook his head.

"I have not yet seen him."

"Oh no!" Leo started to feel worried for his red masked brother. "It's my fault, Master Splinter. Raph ran off in another direction and I didn't go after him."

Splinter placed a comforting hand on Leo's shoulder. "It will be alright, Leonardo. I will help you find your brother." he turned to Don and Mikey. "Michelangelo and Donatello, you will both remain here until we return with Raphael. Do not run off."

"I'll look after Mikey, Master Splinter," Donnie promised. Splinter smiled proudly and pet his genius son's head.

"I know you will. Leonardo and I will return soon."

Leo lead Splinter to the place where he and the others had split up. They followed the left path while calling out for the red masked tot.

"Help!" they heard Raphael call out. Splinter and Leo followed the voice until they found the tot. He was trapped under some wood. Splinter realized the tot had wondered into a construction site, this section of the sewers was under repairs.

"It is alright, Raphael. Leonardo and I will get you out of there."

The tot sniffled, trying to be strong for his father. Or maybe he just didn't want his older brother to see him cry. He was stuck and clearly hurt.

Splinter and Leo removed additional debris that had fallen on top of the Turtle before lifting the wood Raph was stuck under. Leo helped his little brother out and was surprised when Raph hugged him close.

"It's okay, Raph," Leo soothed him. "You're safe now."

"I...I wasn't scared!" the tot denied while whipping the tears from his eyes. "I just have allergies. It was dusty!"

"I am glad you are safe, Raphael," Splinter told him. "But I fear this part of the sewers is no longer safe."

"Why not?" Leo asked him.

"Humans will most likely return to this section. We must stay as far away from here as possible so they won't discover our Lair. I don't want any one of you four playing near here until the humans have finished their work and moved on. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Splinter," the two tots agreed in unison.

"Good. Now, come. We must return to the Lair. Your brothers are waiting for us."

The three returned home soon after and and were greeted by Don and Mikey. Raph no longer tried splinting up from his brothers after that day. He had learned that he was safer as long as they all stayed together.

Leo felt something splash his face and he opened his eyes. He frowned as he realized he was still in the cell with Erkon. So the Turtle had been dreaming of a time in his youth with his brothers. He was still on the Triceraton planet, separated from his brothers. Erkon had woken him up by splashing water on his face to revive the weak Turtle.

"Do try to stay awake, Leonardo," Erkon chuckled. "I'm not finished with you yet."

He began cleaning his tools that he had used on the Turtle. Leo managed to look up at the commander. He forced himself to speak, although his throat hurt.

"If you want to kill me, then go ahead. But at least tell me one thing. Where have you taken my brothers?"

Erkon seemed surprised by Leo's question, but he then chuckled again as if the Turtle had told a funny joke.

"You're still worried about your brothers in this situation? And what would you do if I told you? You're too weak to even lift a finger."

"Answer me!" Leo glared, ignoring his aching body. Erkon wasn't concerned about the Turtle hurting him.

"If you really want to know, then I'll tell you. But that depends on if you'll survive the night. By the looks of your injuries, you won't last much longer. Such a shame. I really wanted to make a soldier out of you."

He finished cleaning the sharp objects and tools.

"What did you do...to my brothers?" Leo demanded as he tried to stand. He could barely lift his body, but he wasn't going to pass out. Not yet. He had to know.

"Your brothers are suffering worse than death!"

"That's not an answer!" Leo glared. "I said tell me!"

Erkon turned on a bright light in the dark cell. Leo turned away from the bright light at first.

"I'm afraid I have no other choice. I've tried to be patient with you, but I suppose there's no other way."

Again, he called for his subordinates to renter the room. Leo prepared himself for whatever may come next. He may die, but that didn't matter. He just had to hold on for his brothers.

"Look at him tense!" one of the subordinates smirked. "He really believes we're going inflict more pain on him at this point!"

"He won't even remember who he is by the time we're through with him," Erkon told them. "They'll all be wrapped around our fingers soon enough."

The Triceratons surrounded Leo.

"You know what to do with him," Erkon told them.

"Right," the other subordinate saluted their commander. "We'll give you a full report when we're through."

Erkon turned and left Leo in the cell with the two subordinates.