This ran a little long, so I split it up, I'll post Chapter 18 hopefully tomorrow.
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Chapter 17: Escape
The moment the neon-like substance had entered Leo's system, his body felt like it was being consumed from the inside out by fire. He tried to hold his breath when the noxious gas started to stream through the mask, but it pressed it's way into his nose and mouth leaving a bitter train behind it.
The room shifted and the colors and shadows swirled together. He slammed his eyes shut, fighting back the wave of nausea. The darkness was overwhelming and it pulled him into it's frozen grip.
He was standing in a barren wasteland, nowhere to run or hide. Every fear...every insecurity was shaped into a demon. Large creatures with razor sharp talons and fangs. He was attacked from all sides. He fought, but they were too strong. Their bites and hits burnt like lava.
One hit....and he saw his brothers and father dead. Because of his failure. He wasn't fast enough...strong enough.
Another hit...his friends slain by the hands of their enemies. His enemies.
His fault.
His failure.
As he hit the dusty ground, the scene shifted. He was on a cold stone floor receiving kick after kick from Shredder's boot. The attack seemed like it would go on forever. He couldn't move or scream. He'd open his mouth but only a hiss of air would escape his throat.
He was plunged into darkness again. Usually he welcomed the darkness. There was no pain...it was an escape. But now he drowned in the sludge-like shadow.
He could almost hear his brother's voices. He wanted to call out to them...at least apologize. His mouth couldn't form the words.
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As the others made it to the elevator, an alarm blared through the building.
"What's goin' on?" Mikey asked, panic surging through him.
"I would say that someone has noticed that we are no longer in our cell." Don replied.
"Let's go to the sub-basement." Raph suggested. "We can get out through the sewer tunnels."
They made it to the sub-basement and exited the elevator.
"It's this way." Don pointed to his right.
As they started down the hall, Mikey peered around the corner.
"Uh, this way is a no go, dudes." He held up his hand to stop them. "There are soldiers by the door."
"Shredder probably has them guarding all the exits." Don sighed.
"Now what?" Raph shifted Leo to a more comfortable position. Leo groaned at the movement.
"I have an idea." Casey said as he shoved the mask back over his head.
"What kind of idea?" Don seemed skeptical.
"Trust me." Casey smirked and opened a door with the access card.
"Wait in here."
"Don't do nothin' stupid, Jones" Raph whispered harshly.
"We'll be outta here in no time." He tried to reassure his friends as he closed the door.
"Wait for my signal" he whispered through the door.
"Show time." he mumbled and ran down the hall toward the other soldiers.
"The turtles have been spotted at the north entrance." Casey shouted to the ninja. "Master Shredder wants all available soldiers to report there and stop them."
"We have direct orders to stand guard at this exit." The soldier replied.
"Uh...I'll stand guard here." Casey offered. "They'll need all the help they can get."
The ninja exchanged looks. They weren't suppose to leave, but if they could capture their Master's enemies, there would be great rewards for it.
One nodded. "Right." he said. "Do not leave this post."
The ninja darted down the hall.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Casey muttered under his breath. "Suckers."
He backtracked to the room that he left his friends in. He knocked twice and heard a knock in reply. He opened the door.
"Lets go!" He said as he removed the mask.
"Good job Case." Raph smirked. "I take back most of my insults."
"Thanks Raph" Casey rolled his eyes.
They exited into the sewer tunnels. Donny turned on his headset.
"April? Are there?"
"Donny!" She replied. "Oh Thank God! Did you get Leo?"
"Yes." April could hear the relief in his voice. "The real one this time."
"We are on our way. What's your twenty?"
"The tunnels under Foot HQ."
"Do you want us to met you at the same man hole?" April asked as she maneuvered the Battle Shell out of the alley.
"No, met us at the one on Forth Street."
"Gotcha! What's your E.T.A?"
"Ten minutes."
"We'll be there."
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Saki was steaming as he walked toward Starcher's lab.
"How could they have escaped?" Saki fumed to the soldier trying to keep up with him.
"I want all that are responsible brought to my chambers immediately! They will, no doubt, return for Leonardo. I want us ready! No more failures!"
"Y-yes m'lord." The soldier replied.
Saki threw the door open.
"Starcher! Where are you?"
His eyes narrowed and a small growl escaped his throat as he stared at the scene before him.
Starcher strapped to his own exam table and Charles trying to escape the shackles.
Leonardo gone.
"M-master Shredder.." Charles stammered. "I-I can explain!"
Saki turned to the soldier standing behind him.
"You know what needs to be done." He sneered.
"Hai Master." The soldier bowed and entered the room.
When the door closed all that could be heard was the metallic
'shhhinkk' as the soldier unsheathed his sword.
Saki could hear Charles' anguished cries as the elevator door closed.