Fractured Mind, Unyielding Will

CHAPTER 1: Isolation.

I began to open my eyes as I slowly rose from my bed. I felt worse than ever, my headache intensified, and I felt warmer than usual. God, it's so hot! I couldn't take it anymore. Therefore, I removed my blanket to try to even my temperature. It didn't feel any better, since the cold air made me shiver. It was 8AM, an earlier time than when I regularly wake up.

Then, I heard a knock at my door. "Donnie?" Raph asked me, his eyebrows knit and his shoulders slumped. He was also wearing a surgical mask to avoid the risk of getting infected by me as he began to step foreword.

He seemed concerned as he entered my room, approaching my bed. He then put his hand on my forehead, and asked, "How are you feeling, D?" As he said that, I can't help but wonder to myself, what happened last night? I just blacked out all of a sudden, it was crazy. Even someone like me can't explain whatever happened. Maybe I was too exhausted, perhaps stress overload? I just had to ask.

"Raph. Tell me," I continued, "What really happened last night? I am quite curious about your input, because I don't know what happened to me either!" His face shifted a little, hesitating to say his answer.

"Well, you just..you know, fainted all of a sudden. No idea why." Fainted? Really? I said with a hint of sarcasm. My ass really thought I was dreaming, and to no surprise, it's real. Thanks, brain fog. "Luckily you didn't injure yourself. I caught you before you hit the ground. You okay?" Raph scanned me as I looked at him, rather vexed. Does he really want to know that badly? Yawn. This will take all day if I were to explain myself.

As I try to sit up, my head spins and a wave of nausea hits me again. This time, worse than ever. I groan and collapse back down onto the pillows behind me.

Raph eventually noticed my discomfort and fetched me a glass of water from my nightstand. "Here, drink this, we left it for you last night." he says gently, holding the glass to my lips. This felt a little weird, like I was being infantilized in a way, being fed as if I'm a baby hamster. But, hey, anything to cure this suffering. I sipped a bit of the water but pulled back, harshly coughing as Raph backed away.

"What the hell?" I took a moment to pause. Sneezing, coughing. Overall respiratory issues. More key points to form my hypothesis, hopefully leading to my conclusion, I thought. The cough started out rather dry, and scratchy. On the other hand, I felt as if a train hit me or something, along with an unbearable pain in my shell, triggering my need to stimulate.

Raph sat back on my bed then looked at me with deep concern and spoke softly,
"Maybe you should see dad, Donnie. He might be able to help you!" Well I could, but I'm still not certain on what he'll do to heal me, so I feel a little uneasy. But I nodded in agreement anyway, knowing that my health was declining fast.

He helped me out of bed and supported me as we made our way to dad's room. As I walked, my legs shook with each step. My calves swelled, and my ankles were brittle. It sucked overall. Due to that, it resulted into Raph having to carry me on our way there. Which by the way, I had mixed feelings about.

As we entered his room, I saw him sitting on his couch, watching his usual TV dramas and game shows, staring blankly at the screen being projected. His eyes being penetrated by the lights- alright, fine I'll stop. Raph clears his throat to get his attention, causing dad to open his eyes and turn towards us both.

"What is it now, boys? I'm watching my show." He asked the both of us, quickly getting up from the couch. Raph explains the situation and my overall bothersome health condition. I'd say his explanation is rather vague, but if I were to explain it, it'd be way more accurate. Well, in this case with my sore throat, I'm afraid I can't support his explanation well. Sigh.

Splinter walks over to me, placing his hand on my forehead to check my temperature.
"You do seem quite ill," he says with concern. Wow, what a surprise, only now you found out? I comment, not like I was expecting that to happen. "As in, how exactly?" I asked him, I took a moment to cough. It was wheezy, yet filled to the brim with phlegm that I couldn't seem to spit out.