Chapter Text
Aug. 24, 2020: abandoned convenience store🟢
Voices swirl in the darkness mixing with crackles and pops.
"Don't touch that! We don't know where it's been!"
"Get outta ere ya mangy furball!!!!"
"Heh! I bet if ya kick it harder we can get it to squeak like a dog toy!"
"It's so pitiful loo-"
A loud crack followed by the sounds of raucous laughter jolted Jade into awareness.
The cat springs to his feet scanning the area frantically when his vision focuses on the orange light radiating around him.
Fire! I need to get out of here!
The door!!!
Fire starts to spread around the doorway as Jade takes off towards it.
I can make it!
A loud resounding crack catches his attention as he looks up for a second. Their eyes widen as they see the flaming board that is falling towards them. He squeezes his eyes closed in preparation for the pain. Jade yelps as he is sent tumbling through the doorway. Smoke rolls off them as they stand and look at the sources of the problem.
"Trev! I thought you said this place was abandoned!"
"It is! It's just a mangy alley cat!"
Jade freezes in place as the second boy looks back at him.
"Hey, Dylan? Want to play stone the cat?"
Jade bolts down the alley as the boys bend down to pick up rocks.
"Hey! Get back here you little fleabag!!!"
Jade barely hears him as he turns the corner and vaults over some rubble in his path. His breath punches out of his lungs as he tries desperately to outrun the looming threat. They shut their eyes tight trying to calm the shroud of panic and anxiety clouding their vision.
PLEASE! Not again, I can't do this again!
They gasp and open their eyes when the ground disappears out from under him. He's sent rolling down the sloped concrete into a collapsed section of the sewers. Jade finally skids to a stop in the shadows of the tunnel. They lay there barely conscious as the effects of the adrenaline finally start to fade. He whines long and drawn out as he is unable to keep the darkness from encroaching on his vision.
Aug. 24, 2020: abandoned train station
beep beep beEP BEEP
The beeping of the heart monitor is all I hear as I turn my head to look at who it belongs to. Leo is lying deathly still on the medical bed. He's covered in so much medical equipment that you can barely see him. I sigh and turn my head back towards the leg cast I was resting against. A voice from the other side of the room catches me off guard and I turn to look back at them.
"Raph. You better not be beating yourself up about this. It wasn't your fault. It was theirs . "
Donnie's words make Raph shudder as he looks down guiltily.
"I know Don, it's just hard not to when I also hurt-"
" They made you do it! I know you! You're our big bro! You would never hurt us!
Raph's breath catches in his throat as he watches a teary-eyed Donnie on the verge of hyperventilation.
"You didn't break his leg or his arm. You didn't squeeze him until his shell cracked and his ribs broke. You didn't beat him so hard that his skull cracked and gave him a severe concussion. You didn't poke the hole in his lung. And you didn't cut his right leg to shreds!"
"B-But, I fought him. I almost squeezed the life-"
"THAT WAS THE KRAANG RAPH! They were controlling you."
Every muscle in Raph's body locks up at that name . He stares at Donnie in shock.
"You're our big brother and we could never be afraid of you."
Raph opens his mouth to tell Donnie that he shouldn't be trusted as much when an obnoxious ringing cuts him off.
"What is that incessant racket- Oh, it's me."
"What? What is it D?"
"There's been a perimeter alert in the north section in one of the collapsed tunnels. I'll go-"
"Oh no, you won't. I'll go. You're still wrapped up like a mummy sportin a pretty bad concussion yourself."
"But. It could be humans or- or them or a large animal-"
"I'll be careful Donnie. I'm just going to see what tripped it right? Raph'll be right back!"
Raph smiles softly at Donnie as he leaves the medbay. He walks down the winding tunnels slowly approaching his destination.
What if D's right? What if it is them ? What if they're still after us? What-
Raph's train of thought is cut off by the lump of fur sprawled out on the ground.
What is - a cat? What's a cat doin' takin a nap here?
He quietly approaches the cat. When it doesn't react to him he slowly leans down to inspect it. He realizes that the cat isn't actually that color. That it's covered in soot and blood.
It's hurt! I've got to get it to the lair!
He scoops up the cat but stops for a second to note how unusually big the cat is. Unlike most cats that could fit in the palm of Raph's hand, this one is big enough to lay across Raph's forearm.
It's bigger? And it's so fluffy too!!!!
Raph shakes his head back and forth before he begins sprinting back the way he came.
Raph can't get distracted now! I need to get the cat back to Donnie!