Always

Chapter 1

Sixteen Years Later...

      Sophia sighted to herself as she locked up her flower shop. It was a small little store on 8th street, but it brought in a lot of money for her and April. They needed it too. Sophia had already finished college, as had April, but the eldest cousin was the only one of the two who had a job she thoroughly enjoyed. Except for... today. This very day every year was a reminder of the fire that took her uncle. And the anniversary of when she set Splinter and the others free. This day could never go by without her thinking of them and wondering if they're doing well. Sophia sighed, trying to ignore the ache in her heart that happened every time she thought of them.

      "I can't believe it's been so long.." She heaved another sigh. "I hope they're doing ok.." The twenty-five year old woman dug into her pocket for her phone as she walked down the street, needing a bit of a distraction. She dialed in a number and raised it to her ear to wait. She only needed to wait a couple rings before the call was answered. "Hey April!"

      "Hey Soph! What's up?"

      "Just calling to let you know I'm heading home. I'll see you in a few." Sophia smiled as she rounded a corner before scrunching her brows as a sudden thought struck her. "April...you...ARE...at home, right?" Silence gave her the answer and she sighed in exasperation. "Come on, April. Just let it go."

      "I can't! I know what I saw! The mysterious vigilante was there, I just have to prove it!" Sophia laughed at her cousins determination, before subtly noticing that she was being followed.

      "Whatever you say Ms Head of Wall Street." April huffed.

      "Don't patronize me."

      "Wouldn't dream of it." Sophia sighed. "Just be home, BEFORE midnight this time. Alright?"

      "I'll try. See ya!"

      "Bye." Sophia hung up and carefully slid her phone back into her pocket just before a hand clamped over her mouth, startling her. She was pulled into the alley, screaming out from the sudden snatching. Whirling out of the grip on her, she turned to find it was a thug that grabbed her. "What do you want?" Her voice was shaky from her fear.

      The man smirked dangerously at her. "Oh, nothing really," he stated casually as he slipped a knife out from his pocket. "Just feeling like having some fun." He stepped closer and grabbed her chin in one hand, laying the blade against her cheek, "How about it girly? Up for a good time?"

      In a burst of bravery, Sophia slapped the knife away and lifted her knee up, slamming it hard into his crowned jewels. She watched him collapse from the pain before she did the only thing she could do.

      She turned and ran.

      She tore out of the alley, pumping her legs as hard and fast as she could. Her mind raced for a plan as she heard his heavy foot falls behind her. Her heart was pounding.

      'What am I gonna do? I can't run home. It would lead him straight to April.' She gritted her teeth together. 'I won't let that happen!'

      In a last minute decision, she ducked around a corner and into an alleyway just up ahead and froze. This alley was a dead end. She looked around in a panic. She considered climbing up the fire escape, but that would leave her a sitting duck, a cat in a tree. Glancing down for a second, Sophia noticed a manhole cover in the ground just before her feet. 'Guess I'm going down!' Without thinking she lifted the cover and had just recovered the ladder when a noise made her panic. The thugs' footsteps had just entered the alley.

      Without hesitating, she slid down the ladder, missing the sewage. She took off down a pipe to the left, not sparing a single glance behind her. She didn't want to see how close he might be. She could only pray and hope that he doesn't catch her.

      'Oh god! Somebody help me!'