TMNT - FITG: Chapter Four

Now, where was he? There was nothing around him to give him a clue to his location, only that he was in an alleyway. It was dark with only the nearby streetlights to help him see, so it was obviously some point at night.

Raphael didn't dare hang around here too long in case the turtles had heard him moving the manhole cover. So without any other thought for his surroundings, he ran. Using the same technique as in the sewers he took random turnings down different alleyways, yet again he didn't get far though before he was caught by another coughing fit. This one passed easier than the other one thankfully.

Though the wound Moshin had made hurt like hell. Raphael glanced down to see bandages covering it, but blood was seeping through them.

With a heavy sigh, Raphael put his head in his hands. Where was he? How in the world would he find his way to Karai? Then he felt something with his fingertips. Bandages. Bandages on his head. When had he been hit in head? Before he could remember? It had to be. It explained why his head had been hurting for as long as he could remember.

As Raphael glanced back down at his wound, he noticed his chest was not... well... a chest. Or at least, not a normal one. What in the world was he? Green, three fingers, strange chest. This was too much. It was only causing his head to hurt more to think about this. He could think about it when he was safe.

Slowly, Raphael got to his feet once more, heading for the street. Maybe someone could help him? Just to help him find Karai, that's all he was asking for. Nothing more.

As Raphael looked to the sky once more, as if looking for a sign of what he should do exactly, he noticed the sky was starting to lighten slightly. Was the sun coming up? He had another bad feeling about that. As if the sun meant something bad, but he wasn't sure what.

As Raphael approached the street he leaned on the wall of the alley for support. Maybe running all that way was a mistake. He felt sick, his breathing was worse than ever and his body was hating him for all the movement since he last woke up. He closed his eyes, tempted to just take a nap there. But he knew that was stupid. The turtles would find him.

Suddenly, the sound of something being dropped and glass breaking made Raphael's eyes snap open and look towards the street. There, he saw an elderly lady and the shopping bag she must have been carrying, now spilled all over the sidewalk. Was she okay? Raphael took a step forwards to check but stopped when he noticed the look in her eyes. They were wide with fear, her small frame trembling and she looked like she might be about to start panicking. What was wrong?

As Raphael took another step towards her, she let out a small cry. She started pleaded with him to stay away very quietly. She honestly looked terrified and that hurt Raphael. Was he so different, that he was a monster? She didn't even know him!! Or did she...

He glanced at her, his emotional and physical pain very obvious. He muttered something. A small sorry and ran. Where could he go? Up? Raphael couldn't explain it but he felt he had to go up. He quickly spotted a fire escape and used it. He climbed as fast as he could, but stopped once he got to the top. He had to rest. His breathing had grown heavy again. He was so dizzy. Raphael slumped to the ground, just wanting to rest.

There he sat, shaking slightly, looking towards the sky. Why did this have to be so hard? He just wanted to find his friend!!

The suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked around and saw no one, but he knew they were there. Raphael forced himself up, his body burning with the effort it took. He ran, but quickly found he had nowhere to go! The ledge... another building was close by. Could he jump it? Maybe..

As Raphael became increasingly aware that whoever it was, was getting closer. He ran towards the ledge and jumped. If he hadn't stumbled or nearly lost his footing he would have made it. But that was not the case. Fear quickly took hold as it became obvious he wasn't going to make it. Someone called out his name as he started to fall. The fire escape for the next building was close. If he could just grab that!

Though instead of grabbing his desired level, he fell to the next and his... chest... slammed into the railing. The air was forced out of his lungs as he flipped over the bar and landed hard on the fire escape with a loud metal racket.

There he lay gasping for breath, unable to draw any in, his body trembling due to exhaustion and panic. His vision blurred, his head swimming. What he could make out though was a lot of black approaching him. The black sea parted as something approached him. Raphael's eyes slid shut when he was finally able to breathe in again. Though he couldn't stop coughing. It was a weak, wheeze of a cough but it wouldn't leave him.

Gentle hands stroked his head. He could hear soft, calming words. With what little energy he had, he wrapped his arms around her. It offered him a small amount of comfort. He was safe. Karai had found him. Relief washed over him. She stayed with him for a while, not moving him. She was talking to others, organizing something.

As Raphael lay there, slowly slipping away, he noticed something. Her touches seemed no longer as nice as before. There was something more to them...
That was the last thing he noticed before he lost consciousness and the darkness claimed him.