Chapter eleven: A dangerous mission.
Donnie carefully removes the bandages to check Splinters injuries. He inspects the scars the other was given. The outer middle sides of his ears look torn up, one on each side reaching closer to the middle of his ears, there is a scar going from just above his nose to down the middle of his nose, and his upper eyelid has a scar that shows partially just above his eye, his eyelid very slightly droops because of it. "Well. They're as healed as it's going to get." He tells Splinter who nods in understanding.
"Thank you for your help Donatello. I am alright that they won't go away fully." Splinter assures Donnie who does feel a little better at hearing this. "Are you still sure you'd rather stay behind than join me and Michelangelo on the patrol? I know Casey and April have already gone for their patrol to check the areas safety."
"I'm sure. There's some stuff I want to look into. It might help us. Maybe. It's still in the planning phase but I want time to work on it."
Splinter nods his head to this. "Alright then." He starts to head off to meet Mikey only to pause. "Donatello."
"Huh?" Donnie blinks at Splinter wondering what is on his mind.
"Are you sure that there isn't something bothering you? Something that you'd like to share?"
Donnie wonders if Splinter realized he has other plans than what he is claiming. "Nothing new." He tells the other hoping it will be accepted. "We all want things to be okay. To be back how they were. And all that. So nothing we haven't all experienced."
"Hm. Well don't forget we are a family who works things out together."
"I know." Donnie promises and Splinter leaves with that. He feels a little bad about not telling Splinter his true plans. He waits for a bit to make sure that the other two are gone. He then makes his move sneaking out of the base. He carefully makes his way through the day part of the city. He thinks it might be his best bet. He doesn't want to risk Leo having followers follow him quietly. He feels like at least he'd know danger on Raphs side is coming better than on Leo's side. He makes it to a manhole cover and attempts to get it open. He struggles wondering if it was sealed shut by crystals on the bottom. He gives up and heads for a sewer pipe instead. He does have to walk through some of the draining out water. He just thinks that it'll be quicker than figuring out the manhole cover. He carefully makes his way through the sewers. He glances around spotting crystals both blue and red have been grown here.
Some of the crystals even keep the manhole covers closed from underneath.
Donnie figures that the two must be trying to prevent them from returning to the old lair... Or at least having more access to the old lair than certain entrances. He starts to think that doing this is a lot more dangerous than he originally thought. He is glad that he didn't bring anyone along with him and put them in such danger. He pauses upon hearing something up ahead. He ducks into a small pipe managing to hide there in the darkness.
One follower of Leo's and one follower of Raphs stop just outside of Donnies hiding spot.
Donnie wonders why they stopped and keeps a close eye on them just in case. He also makes sure his breathing is as silent as possible. He can't get caught. Not now.
After a few moments the two keep moving heading off towards where Donnie entered the sewers.
Donnie lets out a small breath of relief when the two are gone. He crawls out of hiding and continues towards the old lair. He tries to be quick as he doesn't want to be caught here. He arrives to the old lair feeling a little sad at seeing the door broken and half hanging on. He steps inside glancing around to check out the damage.
There is crystals grown around the old lair not fully covering everything though is very present. They mostly seem like they were placed there as warnings about coming back.
Donnie doesn't even want to think about what his lab must look like. He's sure that they must have really destroyed that area to make things not usable. He shakes it off and heads towards the bedrooms. He might be able to get this over with quicker than he thought. He starts with Leo's room first peeking inside to make sure the coast is clear. He sees crystals are in here as well. He looks around until he finds what he is looking for. He straightens as he holds Leo's extra mask in his hand. He stares at it as it looks untouched by everything. He clenches his hand a little before letting out a breath. He heads back out and goes to get Raphs mask too. He finds it easily and is slightly amused that Raph always had to have his two masks match.
Even if that was in places they were ripped from combat.
At least for Donnie it makes it match how he knows Raph. He jumps when he hears footsteps that sound like the ground sizzles. He lightly trembles guessing that must be Raph. He looks around for a place to hide. He can't get spotted. He ducks behind the tipped over bench press work out machine. He quiets his breath hoping that Raph won't come over here. He listens to the sizzling footsteps as they walk around not yet approaching the bedroom area. He holds Leo and Raphs extra masks close, holding them in one hand by his chest, in the hopes it'll bring him luck in not being found.
"It was here right? Fuck. Maybe we should have looked around more before jumping into these bodies." Raph mutters to himself and his words concern Donnie; Is that confirmation that the real Raph is gone? "Eh. I'll find it." He keeps walking around looking for whatever it is he wants from this place.
Donnie gets ready to run as the footsteps walk by the door of the room only to pause.
"For fun. I doubt they'll come back here. But if they do let's give them a fun clue. Not that they'll find out what it means. Just will be funny if they go in circles trying to find this. Pretty sure it's lost to time." Raph then sounds like he's using heat to carve something into the door of his old room. He then goes to Leo's room and sounds like he does the same. "There. Now what was I doing? Oh. Right." He opens the door heading right into the room Donnie is hiding in.
Donnie stays low and slightly holds his breath trying to stay silent. He swears that each footstep makes his heart skip a beat. He will be in serious trouble if he's found to be hiding here. He tries to mentally shake those thoughts off to try to focus on not being found out about.
"Huh. It was here all along." Raph goes to a spot that Donnie can't see from his position since he doesn't even dare glance to watch. "Chompy's favourite snack. Theres less than I thought there'd be but he's been doing so well. He deserves it." He starts to head out of the room with that only to slow to a pause by the door.
Donnie wonders what in the world Raph could be thinking now. He worries that he may have been spotted. He wonders if he should try to run before Raph corners him. He could also wait and try to make a break for it if the other does come over to him. His racing thoughts slow to a stop when Raph speaks once more.
"Might as well check out that lab. Maybe there's something hidden that we forgot to destroy. Could be interesting. Since I'm here and I'm a little bored." Raph heads off with that and it actually sounds like he's heading for the lab.
Donnie waits until he's sure that Raph is far enough away then he sneaks out of hiding. He has to get out of here while he still can. He pauses to take a silent picture of the doors to look at later. He tries to stay as silent as he can as he heads for the exit. He luckily doesn't see Raph anywhere though does see his footsteps still visible. He does see that Raph did go into the lab. He ignores it and gets out of there. He keeps on sneaking through the sewers until he's far enough away. He finally feels comfortable enough to run and does so making a break for the exit. He gets out and hurries away from there to get to the safety of a bush. He keeps low among the leaves and tries to catch his breath. He glances to the two masks still held in his hand. He holds them close to his heart, his eyes softly closed, as his breathing evens out. He opens his eyes and continues on back to the safe place. He hopes that they didn't realize he was gone. He makes it back and gets to his and Casey's room just in time.
There is the sounds of what sounds like at least one of the two groups returning.
Donnie takes his Bo staff and ties the masks onto it, right between where his hands usually go to hold it. He slightly holds up the staff to look at it once done. He made sure that the masks don't dangle too much to try to keep the least amount of damage on them. Plus he doesn't want them to get tangled on something. "For good luck from good memories." He whispers to himself then hugs his Bo staff close. He puts it away after a moment and turns as Casey enters into the room. "How was your patrol?" He inquires as his boyfriend flops down onto the bed.
Casey looks to Donnie with his hands behind his head like a pillow. "It was fine. There were some followers still checking out the area. Luckily we weren't spotted and there's no signs that they have found any way to our location here. So all seems well on that side."
Donnie nods his head glad to hear it especially after Mikey's close call. "Well. I guess we'll have to keep our eyes out." He slightly turns away to lay back and relax too.
"Say. I heard Splinter planning to himself another trip to the ruins." Casey mentions and Donnie meets his gaze at hearing this. "I don't know if anything is official. I think he still thinks that there is something there that can help us."
"Well if we do go back then hopefully it will go better than last time."
Casey nods his head. "Come here." He opens an arm pulling Donnie, who also shifts over to help, closer to his body.
Donnie nuzzles into Casey's chest with a happy churr.
"Damn you're so cute." Casey mentions happily making Donnie churr a bit more.
The two stay there cuddling until they hear Splinter and Mikey return. They go out to see how they're doing. They are glad to see that they are alright.
"Donatello. We will be going on a mission to the ruins after resting." Splinter informs Donnie who blinks in slight surprise that it's so soon. "This time it will be you me and Casey. I would like Michelangelo and April to go to another location."
"Another location?" Donnie tilts his head curious what Splinter could mean.
"They will be investigating the safety of the library. After the ruins you especially will be going to the library. Hopefully we can find some to bug at either location to help us out. I just would rather know how safe the area is first."
Donnie dips his head in understanding. "Yes Sensei."
"Get plenty of rest. It will be needed for the mission."
With that they all head to eat some food.
Tonight's macaroni is a bit more plain than usual though it can't really be helped.
They are running out of spices for Mikey to work with. And he hasn't gotten a chance to go to try to grab some more.
Later...
Donnie blinks before he could fall asleep. He just remembered the pictures. He glances to Casey who is already passed out. He feels happy that Casey is so close and one of his arms is even draped over his body. He is on his stomach while Casey is laying on his side. He opens his phone going to his pictures. He blinks at seeing what almost looks two different ancient magic symbols. He could almost swear that they'd go well in a movie or Tv show.
The one on Raphs door has what looks like flames made to look like the three top parts of a sai with a space between each, a square around it with a line that extends outwards in a loop from each corner, and a circle connecting each of the top parts of the loops together. Around the outside of the circle is what looks similar to Norse symbols like something is written there.
The one on Leo's door has two lines that swirl from an outer circle inwards to make a swirl, lines extend outward from the circle almost like one might do to draw a simple snowflake, on the middle of the lines is a star, at the tips of the lines is half of a circle propped up almost like crescent moons, and around the circle in between the lines is symbols that look like the ones on Raphs as if it is also writing.
Donnie truly wonders what these could mean, and what importance they actually have to what happened to Raph and Leo. He puts his phone away deciding to try to not think about. He really needs to try to get some sleep. He tries to focus on Casey's breathing trying to keep any thoughts from coming to his mind. He takes awhile of watching Casey sleep before he is able to finally fall asleep.
...
The group of three carefully pick their way to try to get to the ruins. They are truly hoping to not be found this time.
Splinter puts out an arm getting them to stop behind a bush.
Just in time as some of Leo's followers go by without noticing them.
Once it is safe to continue they go forward.
Donnie tries to keep his breathing soft despite being super nervous. He is super worried about them being caught.
No one has dared to speak a word to try to help avoid being caught.
Luckily this time they manage to make it and all of them take a breath of relief once in.
"Let's look around." Splinter leads the way as they look around.
Donnie doesn't see anything new or helpful. He does make sure to keep an eye out for those symbols Raph had basically gifted them. He isn't actually sure that they mean anything though.
It could have been just a trick to make them waste time trying to figure it out.
"Does any of this possibly mean anything important yet Donatello?" Splinter pauses glancing to said turtle.
Donnie shakes his head. "No. I don't see anything that stands out to me. At least nothing I haven't already looked over. None of this so far seems to indicate anything helpful."
"Hm. I see." Splinter turns away with a slight hum of thought. He looks around not taking a step forward. "What about a secret room?"
"If there is one then I don't know where it is. I thought of one spot which might have one. Or so we thought but me and Mikey couldn't find it." Donnie admits to Splinter.
"It's worth a look." Splinter turns to Casey. "Do you know of any way that humans might have hid a secret room of any kind?"
Donnie turns to look to Casey too. He now fully understands why Splinter brought him.
"It really depends. Some use things like movable stones. Or even moveable things like a light fixture. There could also be some object missing from a wall or something. However that one is usually more fantasy related than real."
Donnie thinks about where the twos cellphones were found. "Maybe we could try one spot. It was where me and Mikey found the twos phones. That's why I wonder if there might be something there. Even though on our first check we didn't find anything."
The other two nod and follow after Donnie who takes them to that location.
The three work together to check the area out for anything that might have been missed.
Donnie slides his hand along the wall trying to feel for any loose stones. He pauses as his finger brushes against what feels like some sort of carvings. He can't see them all too well on the stonework though. So he can't really make out what it is. He tries to push it and though at first it doesn't move he feels a shift when he tries as hard as he can.
Raph could probably easily move it. He always was the strongest in physical strength.
"Guys!" Donnie calls bringing the others attention to him. "I think this stone moves. But it's really hard to get it to move."
Casey takes over and tries to push it. He gets it in a little before he has to let it go. "Damn. That is hard to push." He lets out a breath at this while the stone slides back into place.
Splinter stares at the stone in thought ignoring Casey having let out a swear. His eyes show his mind trying to work out how they might be able to get the stone to fully move.
Donnie looks to the stone too as he tries to think how they might be able to do this.
"Both of you try to move it at the same time." Splinter suggests so Donnie and Casey put their hands on the stone.
The two push together and manage to get it to shift until it slides in on its own.
The secret room opens with some dust coming out. It also smells old and musty.
Donnie and Casey move back a few steps as it opens.
Once it's fully open Splinter is the first to head inside.
Casey and Donnie follow in after him.
The three look around noticing some paintings that were not anywhere else in these ruins.
The paintings show a dark figure. The dark figure looks like a horse with almost impossibly long legs. A slightly shorter snout than most horses, green eye glowing eye shapes with no visible pupil or iris, and what looks like purple smoke coming out of the outer corner of the eye away from the nose. It also looks to be completely made of shadows other than its eyes. There isn't even a visible mouth.
Donnie blinks as he also notices the two symbols Raph had left on the doors. He reaches up touching the symbols as he wonders what they could mean. He ignores the surprise that they actually do mean something. He softly tilts his head wondering what this could all mean.
"None of my history classes ever spoke of this." Casey mentions reaching out to touch one of the dark figures. "What is this place?"
Donnie quickly feels eyes on him as if Splinter and Casey are wondering if he knows. "I don't know." He admits really taking in the paintings.
Theres one of two creatures seemingly rising from two humanoid figures with witch or wizard hats. Then it looks like they go after a town of scared people. Followed by a painting of a wizard looking person standing arms outstretched, the sun and the moon depicted above him. This is followed by it looking like the two creatures are being sucked into a cube with the top open like a box. The two symbols are next to this. And finally what looks like a depiction of the wall hiding this room.
Donnie wonders if the two creatures had been sealed in this room. He however feels like that wouldn't explain what happened before. He remembers how evidence points to the two thinking that maybe something followed them from these ruins. He doesn't think that if the creatures were trapped here then they wouldn't have been noticed.
Something doesn't make sense.
Unless Donnie is reading it all wrong and it's cryptic for something else. He looks over the paintings again only to find his thoughts staying the same. He supposes that maybe the spell or whatever holding those things here was wearing weak. He does think that this could have allowed them to possibly slightly escape.
Perhaps only really influencing some of the world outside of here. Perhaps them coming to this place allowed the two to attach to Raph and Leo. That could be how they could have gotten partially out, maybe even slightly using the twos energy to have a part of themselves be out of that room.
Donnie blinks as he realizes that if his theory is true then Leo and Raph must have found this room. He thinks that they opened it no knowing what was inside, and unleashed the two creatures to fully take over. He also thinks that Leo and Raph must have had a part of themselves fighting this darkness... Only for them to fully fall to these creatures when they were killed.
Does that mean that the two might still be somewhere buried deep in their bodies? Or are they gone for good? Were their true selves actually killed or was it all used as a way to make the two weaker?
Donnie looks to Casey when the other puts a hand on his shoulder.
"You look like you're letting yourself go in circles." Casey mentions to Donnie who blinks realizing he is right. "Try to focus. You can bounce ideas off of us if you need to."
Donnie does appreciate the gesture and decides to share what's on his mind. "I'm looking at all of this and I keep coming to the conclusion. That these two creatures came from possibly some ancient witch or wizard or both. Perhaps a curse or something? Then when they went to the town a wizard seems to have sealed them in this room. I'm not sure what those symbols mean however. I think the seal weakened. Enough to let these things slightly attach to Leo and Raph. The two were still stuck here but could partially influence our two. When they came back to try to figure out what was going on they must have stumbled upon this place. Opening the door then allowed those dark creatures to try to fully take over them. However. I believe a part of Leo and Raph were still trying to fight them. So those creatures used the humans to get them killed. Which at least would have weakened them allowing full on possession. I can't say if this means there's a piece of them still in there or if it's completely gone. However that's my current theory of the events so far." He looks to the two symbols. "These two symbols have to be important in someway. Otherwise why would they be here?"
Casey turns to the symbols looking them over. "Maybe it's some magic thing? In movies they sometimes use basically a design to show magic. Usually each design shows a certain type of magic or certain magic spell. That's my first thought of what these could be."
Donnie nods as it does sound like a possible explanation. "If these magic symbols were used to seal those creatures away maybe we could use it." He glances to Casey as the other snaps a picture on his phone.
"Boys." Splinter calls causing the two to turn to him. He brushes away a small rock pile that's like just a pile of rubble.
Donnie spots the old scroll, old as seen by the paper yellowing with age and probably how it was made, inside and heads over to try to see if he can read it. He opens it having to brush off some of the dust first. He realizes that he does know this language. "This is Runic. I can read this." He starts looking over it as Casey comes closer to hear what it says. "Let's see... It says... The ancient spirits arose from the bodies of two powerful wizards when they were killed. They went to finish what the wizards started using powerful magic, their first task was to destroy the town before claiming the world. A traveling wizard refused to stand by when it was seen what was happening. He got some to bring these creatures of darkness to the temple. There he used a secret room to seal them inside with a powerful magic sigil, with the names written in ancient magic lettering, to seal them in the room. He made sure to include in his spell that their story would be written here. In worry of them ever escaping. Though he vowed that as long as the door is not open they shall not get out. That's all that's written."
Casey looks to the symbols. "So. The seals magic must have gotten weaker, or those things wore it down over who knows how many years. That means that those symbols are the ones that sealed those things in here. Plus that writing must be the names mentioned." He looks back to Donnie who looks up from the scroll. "Can you read it?"
"No." Donnie shakes his head and glances to the symbols. "The lettering is not one that I know of. It looks Nordic kind of however it's different too." He turns to Splinter who places a hand on his shoulder.
"That is alright. You did great getting a lot of the information figured out. We can return here later if needed. For now let's go back and share this discovery with April and Mikey."
Donnie nods his head in agreement. He rolls up the scroll deciding to take it along.
They head for the exit of the ruins hoping for a safe trip back the safe house. They luckily do make it back safely with April and Mikey already waiting.
"How was your investigation?" Splinter inquires to the two.
"It looks about as dangerous as any other building. No guards to specifically stop us from going there. Nothing like that. So as long as we're not spotted heading there then there should be no issues." April reports to which Splinter nods looking pleased. "What about you guys?"
"We found out some information about the creatures that possessed Leo and Raph." Donnie explains what they had found to the two who listen. "I am not sure how we are going to get those things out of their bodies. But if we do and we know how those sigils work then maybe we can trap them again. It's a long shot though."
"Well it is good to not be as in the dark as we were before." Mikey mentions offering a smile to his remaining brother.
"Let us rest for now. When we all wake up we'll make a plan of where to go from here." Splinter decides with everyone dipping their heads in respect and acceptance.
Casey leans close to Donnie as they all head their own ways for now. "Don't stay up trying to figure it out. I'm making sure you'll be sleeping."
Donnie can't help a smile at this. "Okay." He agrees bonking their foreheads together affectionately. He does hope that they can stop these creatures before the whole city is destroyed. He doesn't want to think about how much destruction Raph has let Chompy cause already. "I'll get the faucets running properly. Itll be plenty of distraction." He blinks when Casey almost seems like he was going to suggest something else. He sees the look of the other deciding not to. "What is it?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you do relax." Casey tells Donnie with a slight blush making Donnie think he's thinking of something else.
Donnie just can't really pin what it could be. "It will be nice for me. Though you can suggest something else if you have a better idea."
"It can be another time." Casey promises giving Donnies nose a kiss. "The faucets is a better idea since that is needed."
"Okay then." Donnie makes a mental note to get Casey to tell him what he wanted to suggest. He wants to know what was on Casey's mind just now.
The two go their separate ways for now so Donnie can fix the faucets.