Lost To Darkness - TMNT 2012 Fanfic

Chapter 6

MIKEY'S DISAPPEARANCE: 5 DAYS

Raph's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he and Donnie leaped from one rooftop to another, scanning the dimly lit city of New York below. The night air was thick with tension, matching the unease that had gripped them all since Mikey's disappearance. Leo, Splinter, April and Casey, even the Mutanimals were all tense after Mikey disappeared. Morale wasn't always this bad, was it, or did losing the youngest make them confront the truth of what the group was like without him?

"Donnie," Raph growled, his grip on his sai tightening, "we've been at this for hours. Still no sign of him. This is driving me nuts."

Donnie's voice was steady, but concern etched across his face. "I know, Raph. But we can't give up. Mikey's out there somewhere, and we're the only ones who can bring him back."

Raph's frustration continued to fester like an open wound as he and Donnie navigated the rooftops. He couldn't help but clench his teeth at every dead end they encountered. His impatience was getting the best of him.

"Donnie," he grumbled again, his grip on his sai almost white-knuckled, "we've been running in circles, and for what? Nothing!"

Donnie's voice remained steady, his analytical mind working to keep Raph's emotions in check. "I understand, Raph. But remember what Leo always says: 'Patience is the key to success in any mission.' We need to stay focused."

Raph shot a sideways glance at Donnie. "How does Leo do it? He's always so calm, even in situations like this."

Donnie shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Leo's got this Zen thing going for him. He believes in leading by example. Maybe one day, you'll pick up some of his patience."

Raph snorted and rolled his eyes at that comment. "Yeah, right. I'll leave the Zen stuff to Leo. I've got other strengths." He finished it off by brandishing his Sai, before sheathing it back once again.

Donnie chuckled, trying to ease the tension and nonchalantly waved it off. "That's for sure, Raph. But right now, we need to find Mikey. So, let's take a deep breath, refocus, and keep searching. We'll find him, I promise."

Raph begrudgingly nodded, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Alright, Donnie, let's keep going. For Mikey." He pushed his irritation aside, allowing determination to replace it as they continued their pursuit for their brother, frustration and all. The city sprawled beneath them, its secrets hidden in the shadows, just like Mikey's whereabouts.

As they leaped from building to building, Raph couldn't shake the gnawing worry in his gut. He knew he had to keep his frustration in check, but it was a struggle. He thought of Mikey's infectious laughter, his easygoing nature, and how he always managed to lighten the darkest of moments with his humor. "Mikey's been through some tough spots before," Donnie mused, trying to keep Raph's spirits up. "He's resilient, Raph. He can handle himself."

Raph grunted in response, but he couldn't help but think about the worst-case scenarios. The Foot Clan was a formidable enemy, and they didn't take prisoners lightly. "I sure hope you're right."

Donnie's T-Phone chimed with an incoming call, and he quickly pulled it out. Seeing Leo's name on the screen brought a mix of relief and urgency. He answered the call, his voice tense but determined, "Leo, what's up?"

"Guys, we need to regroup back to the lair. You two need to get back here." Leo's voice had said, his  voice filled with concern. "Something's not right, but it might be related to Mikey."

"Alright, we'll be there." He shut off the phone and turned to look Raph, concern etched across his face.

"Raph, it's Leo," Donnie said, his voice low. "He wants us back at the lair. Something's not right, and it might be connected to Mikey."

Raph clenched his fists, torn between their relentless pursuit and the urgency in Donnie's voice.

"Alright," Raph reluctantly agreed, "let's head back. Maybe Leo's got a lead we don't."

With a final glance towards the distant cityscape, they turned away from their rooftop vigil and made their way back to their lair, a sense of unease hanging over them like a storm cloud. All they could do now was hope that Leo's call would provide the missing piece of the puzzle and bring them one step closer to bringing Mikey home.

Raph and Donnie made their way back to the lair, their thoughts filled with worry for Mikey. The sense of unease that had plagued them during their rooftop search seemed to intensify with every passing minute.

Upon their return to the lair, they found Leo waiting with a grave expression. Casey had already gone home, leaving the three brothers alone to discuss their next steps.

Leo wasted no time and began sharing the information he had gathered at the scene where Mikey was last tracked. His voice was filled with concern as he relayed what he had discovered. "Guys, me and Casey ended up checking out the scene where... Mikey's T-Phone was last tracked, and we found some traces of how they managed to carry away Mikey without... any of us noticing."

Raph couldn't contain his agitation as he listened to Leo's report. He slammed his fist against a nearby table, his voice a mixture of frustration and anger. "Enough with the details, Leo! Tell us where they took him! We can't waste any more time!"

Donnie placed a reassuring hand on Raph's shoulder and turned his attention to Leo. "We need to know everything, Leo. Every detail could be a clue. Take a breath and continue."

Leo nodded, appreciating Donnie's calm approach. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before elaborating. "Alright, guys. It looks like they used the sewers to move Mikey. Probably to avoid surveillance. And I found this..."

With a solemn expression, Leo retrieved Mikey's mask from a pouch and placed it on the table for his brothers to see. It was a stark reminder of their missing brother, and a heavy silence hung in the air.

Raph clenched his fists, his frustration now directed at the situation rather than his brothers. "We can't let them get away with this, Leo. We have to find him, no matter what."

Donnie's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "The sewers make sense. It's a network they could easily use to move undetected. But we'll use it to track them down, we've been living here for far longer than they've been. Maybe we can find some clues they left behind."

Leo nodded in agreement, his determination matching that of his brothers. "You're right, Donnie. We know these sewers better than anyone. If they've left any traces behind, we'll find them."

Raph's frustration had transformed into a fiery determination. He picked up Mikey's mask and clenched it tightly in his hand. "We're not gonna stop until we have Mikey back, safe and sound. And we'll make the Foot pay for what they've done."

Donnie began to access the surveillance systems and databases he had set up throughout the city. "I'll start running a comprehensive search through the surveillance footage for any signs of the Foot Clan's movements near the sewers. With a bit of luck, we'll have a lead in no time."

Leo smiled to himself... things were looking up for them.