"Robyn?" April's eyes searched frantically in the darkness. The scritching noise was growing ever louder, but her sister had ceased all sound.
Something's not right...
"Robyn?" she called again, this time almost frantically. If anything had happened to her sister, she'd never forgive herself. Afterall, this was all her fault. Baxter wanted her.
"Robyn...?" Oh god, oh god...
She could hear the plaster crumbling, feel the creatures growing closer. A scream rose from her throat as the metalic jaws sank into her skin. The mousers! She knew it now, and the striking realization hit her like a slap on the face. Baxter had brought them back. The very memory of them would forever haunt her, but this - this was unreal.
"Why are you doing this?" she sobbed. But no answer came. She gripped the baby tighter in her arms, could hear Shadow's frightened cries as she pulled her near.
It isn't fair! They didn't do anything! Leave them alone! Please! It's me you want. Take me!
But the noise continued to grow, enveloping her from all sides, metal teeth gritting, mechanical legs stomping, jaws clamping, plaster crumbling. She scrabbled back toward the wall, the panic hitting her full force now. She knew these creatures, these monsters that she herself had helped create. They would stop at nothing until she was destroyed. Baxter would make sure of that.
They closed in, encircling her from all directions. There was no where left to go. With her back up against the wall, she clutched Christian tightly, shielding him as best she could with her arms, the strangled cries rising into her throat. As she cried out into the night, the creatures decended, feasting on her unguarded flesh.
"Come on, guys, this way!" Donatello whispered and motioned for them to follow.
They scooted across the darkened parking lot, their feet not making a sound as they trailed the business man to the end of the block. Stopping short, Leo ducked down behind a short brick wall. The others followed suit.
"He's going into that building over there!" Mike said, louder than he'd intended.
"Shhh! Mike!" Raph bapped him on the head. "Shush, will ya?"
Mike glared at him. What the hell was his problem anyway? He had been moody the whole darn trip. Mike was really starting to get sick of his condescending attitude.
They gazed across the parking lot at the brightly lit building before them. As the door opened and shut again, a wave of cheerful music, loud voices and clinging glasses wafted toward them.
"Oh great. Just what Raph needs - a bar!" Mike rolled his eyes.
Raph was about to tell Mike where to stuff it when Donatello interrupted his thoughts.
"The Rhino Room?" He squinted at the flashing letters. "What the heck is that?"
Leo shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe some of its proceeds go toward endangered Rhinosauruses."
Raph gave him one of his typical annoyed looks, a cross between frustration and mild curiosity. "I highly doubt that..."
Leo shrugged and rose to his feet. If they were going to do this, they had better make it quick. "Come on, let's go."
"God, it's great to be out of there!" Megan stretched in the seat, making sure to keep the coat bustled around herself. She didn't want Casey to catch a glimpse of her rounded stomach just yet.
Casey nodded. "Yeah, I hate hospitals. All those doctors prodding ya all the time...now those sponge baths...that's another matter..."
Megan grinned at him. "Oh? And does April know about this?"
Casey was about to rattle off a defense when he spotted the apartment. Quickly, his cocky grin faded and drooped into a concerned frown. Something was going on outside, and by the looks of it, a mass panic had broken out.
"Casey? What is it?" Megan stared, puzzled at the look of shock and horror in his face, but as soon as she followed his gaze to the commotion outside, she understood.
Through the fog that had formed on the window, she could see the group that had gathered in the street outside the building. A couple of police cars were just arriving, their lights and sirens full blast. Casey got out of the car quickly and gazed out at the mob.
"Casey? What is it? What's going on?"
He leaned his head in the window. "Stay here. Lock your door and roll up this window. I'll be back."
Megan sighed and did as he asked. Always the protector. Would he ever realize she was grown up now? Of course, as she gazed out at the scene before her, she wasn't sure she wanted to be out there in that mess anyway.
Another squad car pulled up to the scene, its siren whining. Three of the police officers were directing the panicked on-lookers to a safe spot out on the curb, trying to calm them down enough to get some sort of coherent statement.
What the hell is going on here...?
She allowed her sight to travel past the crowd, toward the rustic building that rose up just beyond. It took her eyes a moment to focus in her confusion, but once they did, she let out a gasp of horror.
"My god!" The windows were all black as if the power had completely gone out. In fact, as she rubbed the moisture off the window with her sleeve, she could see that the whole block seemed to be shrouded in night. Maybe the electricity had just gone out and some people got panicked. But that didn't make any sense. Why would the police...
She glanced back toward the crowd and let out a gasp as she finally spotted the source of the uproar. The whole left side of the building looked as though it had been chewed and eaten away by a pack of giant rats. Large holes, and what appeared to be teeth marks scaled up the outer walls, leaving clumps of broken plaster and brick in their wake. She rubbed at the window again, squinting into the night to convince herself that what she was seeing was real.
What the hell could've possibly--
She saw Casey push through the crowd at high speed, a look of furious determination on his face. An officer placed a hand on his shoulder and uttered something at him in an attempt to stop him from going any further. She couldn't quite tell what words were being exchanged, but before even a full minute had passed, Casey had struggled out of the man's grip and hurried into the building, baseball bat in hand.
"Oh shit..." Raphael rolled his eyes and headed for the exit. "I'm outta here!"
"Wait, Raph. Come on, we gotta find Collin. I need your help!" Don grabbed him gently by the arm and shot him a pleading look.
Raph moaned and frowned at him angrily, pulling his arm from Don's grasp. "Look around you Donnie! Don't you know what this is? It's a fucking gay bar for Chrissakes!"
Don just stared at him blankly for a moment as if Raph's words weren't quite penetrating. Raph rolled his eyes and shot Leo a demanding look.
"I'm not staying here. You think I want these guys oogling at me? This is rediculous--"
"Yeah, it is." Mike broke in.
The others turned to him, a little surprised at the quick agreement.
"I mean, look at us. It's obvious we don't belong in a place like this." He began to peel his coat off. "I mean, geeze, we aren't even dressed for the occasion!"
Leo gawked at him. "Mike, what are you doing? You wanna get us arrested? There are people in here!"
Michaelangelo just grinned wider and continued to peel off the jacket and pants, revealing a rather riskay looking leather outfit, complete with tassles and fringe.
"Oh no..." Raph moaned. "You didn't..."
Don slapped his palm to his forehead. Leo grabbed Mike by the arm, a little harder than he intended, and frowned at him angrily. "Mike, what the heck are you doing? I thought I told you to leave that rediculous thing at the hotel!"
Mike stared at him innocently. "Yeah, well, I wasn't planning on showing it off, but, you know, since we're here and everything..."
Leo was just thankful that the room was fairly dark and that most of the inhabitants seemed a little too preoccupied with drinks and conversation, among other things, to really notice them at the moment.
"Mike, take that shit off, right now!" Raphael demanded. He glanced up at Don, glaring at the black cowboy hat. "Between you and 'poindexter' over here, we almost got a whole--"
But his words were cut off by a gasp from beside him. "Look!" Don pointed toward a far wall. "There he is!"
Mike scooted up closer and narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man they were trailing. He was seated in the back of the bar at a dark table, another man sitting across from him. From the way they looked at eachother, the way their hands were joined, it was obvious they were more than friends.
"Woah!" Mike exclaimed. "So this is why he left Robyn..."
Don smacked him on the back of the head.
"April!?" Casey walked carefully, taking note of the unstable floor beneath him, fully aware that at any time the wood beneath his feet could give way, tumbling him three stories down. "April, you here?"
There was no sound, save that of a light scratching noise and a few thuds off in the distance. He frowned in the darkness, trying to familiarize himself with it, to figure out what it could possibly be. Little bits of plaster fell from the ceiling, coating his hair in white flakes. Talk about your dandruff problem, he joked nervously.
Maybe they had gotten out. Maybe they were okay...
But as he neared their apartment, his heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Knew it before he even opened the door.
"April!?" he shouted at the entrance. The sounds of struggle were the only reply. The scratching sound was growing louder, and he noticed there was a mechanical quality to it. His eyes squinted into the darkness as they tried to adjust, to focus on the room's contents. "April, Robyn? Are you in here?"
A soft whimpering could be heard from the far corner, by the kitchen. He took a step inside, making out a faint sillhouette in the dim light. "Shadow, is that you?"
"Daddy..."
He hurried to her, scooping her up in his arms as she wrapped hers around his neck. Shadow laid her head in Casey's shoulder, whimpering softly. He stroked her thick blond hair, cradling her gently. "It'll be okay honey, daddy's here." He was more than a little relieved to see she was safe.
A scream tore through the soft mechanical sounds. Another thump sounded, almost like the twang of something hard against metal. He glanced up quickly, realizing it was coming from the far corner of the living room. He gripped his bat and rushed forward, Shadow still clinging to him. His eyes struggled to adjust in the dimness as he called out again.
"April, is that you?"
"Casey!" The voice was weak but determined. "Casey, help! Get Christian! Please, help me!"
He hurried in the direction of her voice, sensing a forboding presence in the room with them. The scratching, the chomping, the breaking of plaster. Suddenly, something was at his legs, clawing and stabbing. He let out a cry, and gripping Shadow tighter, began to swing the bat.
He hit something solid, and a loud, brassy sound echoed in his ears. Whatever it was in the room with them, it was definately not human. In fact, it seemed it wasn't living at all.
"Hey, look Raph..." Mike whispered. "I think that guy over there is checking you out!"
"Shut up, Mike!" Raph turned and snarled at him, baring his teeth, as if to emphasize the point.
Mike backed away. "Okay, okay. But he is kinda cute...for a guy anyway..."
Just as Raphael's fist was about to make contact with Mike's face, something shot up between them, taking the brunt of the force. Raph glared at Leonardo's hand, which had blocked the punch, and then at his own fist.
"Leo! What'd you do that for?"
"This isn't the time for this! Do you wanna attract even more attention to ourselves?"
"What difference would it make?" Raph grumbled. "Tassle boy's already got half the place gawkin' at us."
Mike had already brushed off Raph's hostility and had returned to scoping the place out. He found it facinating how this city was so open about it's sexual orientation. Maybe he'd write a book about it once they got home. Bet that'll be a best seller... As he walked around casually, he could feel the eyes on him, wondering who or what he was, maybe even wondering if he'd like to...
Dammit, why do I hafta go to one of these places to get hit on?
"Hey..." Mike tapped Don's shoulder.
"Yeah?" Don looked at him absent-mindedly, his thoughts still on the man at the opposite end of the room.
"I think that guy over there thinks I'm cute." Mike whispered.
Don rolled his eyes. "Dream on!"
Raphael could feel his temper growing as he watched Michealangelo's antics. "That's it!" His eyes flared. "I've had enough of this. I'm outta here!"
"Raph, wait!" Don laid a hand on his shoulder. Raph turned his head slowly to glare back at him.
"You can't go yet." Don pleaded. "Come on, man, you promised you'd help me."
Raph sighed and flashed a look at Leo and Mike. "You don't need me anymore. You got these two chumps. And heck, Mikey seems to be enjoying himself. A little too much, I might add..."
"Hey..." Mike began, but Don didn't let him finish.
"Raph, please! You're the only one who--you know how important this is to me!"
"Yeah? Well maybe being home right now is important to me. You ever think of that? I have a pregnant wife at home for chrissakes!"
Don lowered his eyes, feeling a little guilty. "I know...but look, if we can just find out if this is him, we can track him to Trevor and get the hell outta here." He stared up at Raph, an idea forming in his head. "The sooner we find the kid, the sooner we'll be able to go home."
Raphael rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. He knew perfectly well what Donnie was trying to pull. Nevertheless, he knew he was right. It was hard enough sneaking aboard trains to make the trip with four of them to help guard eachother and keep watch. It would be nearly impossible for him to do it alone.
"Fine then." he said at last. "But as soon as we find the kid, we're outta here."
"Agreed." Don grinned.
Megan turned the key in the ignition and glanced at the dashboard clock. It's been almost a half hour. What could be taking so long...?
She began to worry. Had part of the building collapsed inside? Was Casey trapped? Where were April and Robyn? Were they hurt? A million horrible thoughts filled her mind. This was insane! She wasn't going to sit here any longer. What if they needed her help?
She glanced around outside, noticing that some of the crowd was finally dissipating. Several people sat along the curb, giving statements and nursing wounds. The police had done a fairly decent job of calming everyone down. Several times, one of the officers made an attempt to go in after Casey, but it seemed as though a new problem would arise before they had a chance. Either that, or they were just cowards. That must be it, Megan decided. They're worried they'll get trapped in there. That building could fall any minute. A firetruck drove up, its lights flashing, illuminating the night in an eery red glow. Megan shivered a little and pulled the jacket tighter around her. She opened the door and got up slowly, a light pain jabbing her in the abdomen.
"Not now." she said to her stomach. "They need me."
"Hey look...that guy's checking me out."
"Mikey, will you knock it off?"
"No, really. Look. I think he likes my outfit."
Mike wiggled his eyebrows at the guy and Leo grabbed him by the arm, hauling him off in the other direction. The embarassment flowed through him, so much so, he couldn't even speak, and Mike thought he could actually see a slight red tint to his cheeks, though it was hard to say for sure in the dim light.
"Now, Mike, I don't know what's gotten into you, but we aren't here to give these people a free show. We're just gonna track Collin, find Trevor and get the hell out of this place. Think you can handle that?"
Mike lowered his head in a mock pout. "Yes Master..."
"And none of that wise-cracking either, this is ser--"
"There you are." A voice interrupted. "I've been looking all over for you. You're thirty minutes late."
Leo glanced up at a red haired, blue eyed man dressed in a nice shirt and red tie. His eyes, although stern, seemed to contain a certain friendliness to them, and behind the thin lips, Leo thought he could almost see the traces of a smile. This man was no one he recognized. "Uhhh...I'm sorry, I think you have us mistaken for someone else..."
The man stared at them for a moment. "You are the entertainment, right? What am I saying, you have to be, looking like that." He eyed Leonardo and then stood there for a moment, just staring at Michaelangelo's attire.
As Donatello and Raphael came sauntering up again, the man smiled. "Good, I'm glad you're here. I was starting to think you stood me up."
Raph shot Mike and Leo a wary, questioning look. Leo shrugged as he waited for the man to continue.
"The costumes are back stage." He glanced at Mike and Don. "Looks like you two already found them. Well, get going. The customers are starting to get restless."
"No, please, you don't understand! My family is in there for god's sake!"
"I'm sorry, miss. We simply can not allow you to enter the building. It could collapse at any moment. It is very structurally unsound."
Megan was growing impatient. "Well, then why the hell aren't you doing anything? There are innocent people in there!"
The officer laid a hand on her shoulder, his face growing gentle in a feable attempt to calm her down. "Look miss, the rescue workers will be arriving any minute. They have special equipment to get in there and find any survivors. They're the best..."
The man's voice faded away in her ears. Any survivors...? All she could hear were the screams in her head. All she could think about now were April and Robyn and the kids. Her cousin was in there too. Her stupid, pig-headed cousin who always had to play 'Mr. Hero.' Now he too was in danger. Why couldn't he be more like Leo, or even Master Splinter? Why couldn't he ever think things through before acting? Wait...what am I thinking? Raphael's the same way...
Frightened screams tore through her thoughts as another chunk of brick and plaster broke free from the building, plummeting to the ground below, cushioned only by a few inches of snow that lined the pavement. As the ground shook from the cracks that had begun to form on the sidewalk, she lifted her eyes skyward, to the little black windows that bordered April and Casey's apartment. The eery darkness, the defeaning quiet that seemed to pour from the old building made her shiver. Something was terribly wrong. She knew she had to find a way to sneak inside.
"You know, I'm gonna beat the living shit outta you for this?"
Mike stared into the enraged, dark eyes. "Hey, this isn't my fault! How was I supposed to know my costume would be a hit?"
Raph snarled, and resisted the urge to punch Mike as the man ushered them on stage. Ain't no way I'm dancing in this getup for a buncha men...
Mike shifted his weight, glancing behind him as the curtain began to rise. "Hey Don," he whispered.
"What is it now, Mike?" Don moaned.
"Hey, does this outfit make my butt look big?"
Before Don could answer, a cheer rose from the crowd. He swallowed hard and flashed Leo a pleading look.
"No way! No way in hell am I doin' this, Leo!" Raphael spat. "You wanna give these guys a thrill, go ahead, but I'm outta here!"
"Raph, come on. This is important to Donatello, and to Robyn. We can see alot more from up here too. All we have to do is stay undercover for a few more--"
"Shove it!" Raph yelled.
As the music began, the curtain disappered from sight, leaving four embarassed, nervous turtles standing in its wake. In the stage light, their costumes were now fully illuminated. Michaelangelo stood in his full indian attire, complete with a headress he had found in the costume box back stage. His muscular thighs and biceps peeked out from underneath the skimpy fabric. This was more clothes than he was used to wearing on a typical day, yet for some reason, his modesty attacked him, and he felt overexposed. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but grin as he spared a glance at Leo, adorned from head to foot like a police officer. Leo shut his eyes for a moment, as if doing so would prove this had all been a bad dream. Donatello scratched his head nervously, the sweat pouring down from beneath the cowboy hat. Raphael grumbled obsenities under his breath as he glanced down at the black leather material and silver spikes barely covering his plastron. I look like a fucking biker for pete's sake...The shouting grew louder. Raphael yanked the leather, studded hat from his head in anger and threw it at the crowd. A comotion broke out for a moment as a whole herd scrambled for the hat.
"I got it!" A voice called out at last. A cheery ruckus of shouts and laughter broke out again.
"Screw this!" Raphael jumped down from the stage and headed for the door as the excited crowd descended on him.
Don glanced at Leo. "Think we should help him?"
Leo grinned for the first time in a long while. "Naw. Let him do it on his own. That is what he wanted, right?"
Mike and Don smiled, and after taking in a breath, began to lip sinc as best they could without a clue as to what they were doing.
What was taking that damn rescue crew so long? It had seemed like an eternity had passed since she'd argued with the cop, and still nothing was being done about the people inside. Leave it to the New York police station to really get things done, she thought bitterly.
Noticing that the officer's attention seemed to be distracted on something off in the distance, Megan began to make her move, strolling slowly and casually toward the building. A buzzing noise rose in the distance, and soon all eyes, including Megan's were on the sky. Something was up there...she couldn't quite tell what it was, but it was enormous, and it was coming at them rapidly.
"She's not breathing." Casey called into the darkness. The chattering was growing louder again, and he could hear the sound of more plaster breaking. Dammit! How many of these things does that psycho have, anyway?
April let out a terrified sob and ran into the kitchen. She searched frantically through the drawers, her fingers fumbling until at last she felt the reassurance of the cold, hard plastic in her hands. Fumbling nervously, she pushed the switch on the flashlight, bathing everything in its path with a dim yellow light.
The apartment was a mess. The couches were torn to shreds, and little peices of what had once made up the cushions were scattered everywhere. She shined the flashlight toward the ceiling and could see a large hole of broken plaster where some of the mousers had entered. The walls were in even worse condition, the big gaping holes allowing her to see outside into the hall.
Letting out a shaky breath, she hurried toward Casey. God please! Please don't let Robyn die! Please!
She shined the light down at Robyn's head. She could see the blood soaking her hair, running down the side of her temple. Gasping, she nearly dropped the flashlight in panic.
"My god! Robyn?"
Casey reached up and snatched the flashlight from her hand, examining Robyn's body in the dim light it provided. Her shirt was soaked with blood, her limp body lying in a contortioned lump on the floor. April covered her mouth with her hand and closed her eyes. This had to be a nightmare. It had to be.
Casey felt her neck for a pulse. Nothing. He rested his hand under her nose, waiting for the air to hit his fingers, but it never came. Cursing under his breath, he lowered his ear to her chest, listening intently for a heart beat. After a moment, he raised his head and glanced up at April. her face was streaked with her own blood, dirt and tears. He squeezed her hand gently.
"It'll be okay, April. Her heart's still beating..." barely.
"Young man! There's no need to feel down. I said, young man! Pick yourself off the ground!"
Don glanced at Leo. "Do you see him?"
Leo shook his head. "Nope. Not yet."
"I said, young man! Cuz' you're in a new town...there's no need to be unhappy!"
Mike's eyes scanned the crowd. "Look! There he is!"
Raphael was fighting off the crowd the best he could, but even with all of his ninja training, it appeared as though he was losing. Bits of the black leather were being torn here and there, leaving most of his plastron and thighs exposed. As he shoved the groping hands away, Michaelangelo couldn't help but laugh. Just wait till I tell Megan about this!
"...and I'm sure you will find...many ways to have a good time!"
As the lyrics poured from the speakers, Mike grabbed onto Donatello's arms, forming the letters for the crowd.
"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A! It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"
Don pulled free from Mike's grasp. Leo grabbed onto Raph's hand and helped him on stage as Mike sauntered over to the edge, wiggling his hips to the music.
"They have everything for you men to enjoy...you can hang out with all the boys!"
Don sighed and glanced in Collin's direction. He was getting up! It looked like he and whoever his friend was were about to leave. Guess we really suck...
"Leo, we gotta go!"
His brother spotted Collin and nodded. Raph grabbed onto the back of Mike's shirt and yanked him backward. "C'mon! We're outta here!"
"But..." Mike protested.
"Now!"
"Awww...you guys aren't any fun."
Chapter 6 Coming Soon!