In the Arms of the Enemy (Raph x OC)

Chapter 21

Esme's POV

I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hair with a towel as I noticed the lit up screen on my phone. That was weird, I didn't remember leaving it on.

I walked over to my nightstand and saw the new text I had received from Raph. After today there was just no way I could stay here; the more I thought about it the more I was sure of my decision. As long as I was following Shredder's orders, whether I liked it or not, I would be helping in one way or another to hurt others. Once I was out of here I could focus on helping people, not bending to Shredder's will.

I threw the towel into my dirty laundry bin and flopped down on my bed, picking up my phone and replying.

Esme: That's perfect. See you then.

Raph: Stay safe.

I reached over, turning off the lamp and plugging my phone back into the charger, hoping that sleep would come quickly.

. . .

I winced, noticing that my normally warm bed for some reason felt stiff and cold beneath me. I tried to move to get more comfortable, but something around my arms and legs stopped me. My eyes shot open as panic overtook me at the realization that I was tied down.

The bright lights almost blinded me, making me squint my eyes as they adjusted to the piercing light.

"She's waking up Master Shredder," I heard Stockman's voice say. I finally managed to open my eyes, taking in my surroundings. I was strapped down to a cold metal chair in the laboratory, on my right side stood Stockman, on my left Shredder. I noticed Karai standing by the door, her body facing towards the wall, as if she refused to look at me. In the corner there was a stack of crates that seemed familiar, but I couldn't remember from where.

"What's going on?" I choked out, fear in my voice. I pulled lightly against the restraints, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" Shredder replied. My throat was suddenly as dry as a desert. There's no way he could know right? Not unless he had someone follow me.

"Master, I don't know what you're talking about," I breathed, noticing movement to my right and watching as Stockman suddenly wheeled over a gas tank.

"Karai told me you're the mole Esme, there's no point in playing dumb," he snapped. My attention immediately went to her. Why? Why would she tell him that?

But wait, does that mean he doesn't know about the plan to run away?

"I'm sorry master, I won't ever do anything like that again. I promise, please just let me go," I pleaded, feeling my breath hitch as Stockman attached a tube with a mask on it to the tank.

It felt like I had swallowed a cotton ball, my chest growing tighter by the second.

"No, you won't. I've learned that the hard way with you Esme. No matter what I do, no matter how many times I have to teach you the same lesson, you just don't learn," Shredder sighed.

"But this, this will ensure that you don't disobey my orders ever again," he continued as Stockman reached up and began to put the mask on my face. I tried to fight it, jerking my head away from him as tears filled my eyes, the realization of what was about to happen hitting me like a ton of bricks. I remembered where those crates were from. They were the same ones used to hold the mind control serum.

"Dad please!" I cried, the tears streaming down my face now as Stockman managed to get the mask on me. I fought desperately against my restraints, the edges cutting into my skin.

"Don't do this," I sobbed, hoping that he'd come to his senses and realize how monstrous of a thing he was about to do to me. His daughter.

He watched me carefully, and for just a split second I gained the smallest bit of hope that he would have a change of heart.

"Do it."

Stockman turned the wheel, causing the gas to start moving through the tube and up to my face.

"No please, please, please, stop! Karai!" I called for her, like a lost child looking for their mother. I looked through blurred vision at her frame by the door, watching as her body tightened, her fist clenched so hard that I saw a drop of blood fall from it. The purple gas reached my face and in my panicked state I didn't even think to try and hold my breath.

It didn't take long before everything went black.

Raph's POV

I checked my phone again, each passing second she wasn't here making me even more concerned. It was twenty minutes past when we were originally supposed to meet up and she wasn't answering any of my texts.

"Alright, that's it, I'm going to Shredder's lair," I finally decided, shoving my phone in my belt.

"Let's not do anything rash here, she could just be running a little behind," Leo said, stepping in front of me with his hands up.

"That's what you said ten minutes ago Leo. And it's what you said ten minutes before that. She hasn't answered any of my texts, and she's late. Something bad could have happened to her and I'm not going to sit around here twiddling my thumbs while she's possibly in trouble," I snarled, shoulder checking him as I marched past.

"Wait," Leo called from behind me as I reached the fire escape of a building. I looked back at him, fully prepared to give him a piece of my mind when he spoke up again.

"We're not just gonna let you go to the Shredder's lair by yourself," he said, walking over to me.

"Yeah, we wanna be sure Esme is safe, too," Donnie chimed in.

"Count me in!" Mikey exclaimed, smiling at me as he came over. My muscles relaxed, my anger subsiding.

"Thanks guys," I replied.

"Alright, let's go kick some Foot Clan butt," Leo said, running up the fire escape and onto the roof. The guys and I followed, running from rooftop to rooftop before finally stopping as we got to Shredder's lair.