Alternate Allure

CHAPTER 26: FROM THE START [Part VI]

You fight with everything you have to not lose your mind. You kick, punch and throw elbows, but no matter how hard you do, the Kraang's grip tightens. Your heart slams against your ribs... the inside of the helicopter feels too small, too suffocating. Your brain's screaming at you to get out, but all you can do is fight harder... until the world starts to go in slow motion.

It starts as this tiny stab right behind your eyes, slowly turning into the worst migraine you've ever had. Then it spreads. Burning, pulsing. Your vision goes fuzzy, your thoughts get all scrambled, and it feels like something inside you is ready to punch through reality itself. You scream, a raw, painful sound that rips out of your throat right as an invisible wave of force explodes outward in every direction, a ripple that tires through the air, invisible but potent.

The Kraang droids convulse, their bodies jerking, sparks crackling from their joints. The pilot, momentarily disabled, loses control. The vehicle veers sideways, tilting dangerously. The sudden lurch sends you falling off the helicopter.

'Oh, hell' You think, right as the floor isn't there anymore, and you're falling.

Wind slaps you in the face, the city is rushing up way too fast. You brace for impact, but instead of pavement, you crash against something hard. A plastron. Donnie's arms lock around you, trembling but firm. His eyes scan your face, wide and frantic. After a few seconds where you both catch your breath, Donnie finally croaks out.

"Are you... okay?"

You're clutching your ribs, head spinning, still trying to get your eyes to focus and to piece together what exactly just happened. Whatever it was, it left you confused and your consciousness wavering... But hey! You're not dead, so... win?

"I... yeah. I think"

"Dude! That was insane!" Mikey yells from somewhere nearby, running towards you.

"What the hell even happened up there?" Raph demands, sweat dripping, breathing like he fought an army—which, fair, he kinda did.

"I... I lost the power cell"

Leo sighs, staring up at the chopper shrinking into the night sky. "Yeah. They got away"

"Ah, man..." Timothy jogs over, watching as the helicopter disappears into the distance. "It looks like I mucked everything up, didn't I?"

"Hey, bro, it's not your fault" Mikey claps him on the shoulder.

"Um, actually, Mikey, it is" Leo mutters under his breath, not even trying to hide the side-eye.

"Not entirely" Donnie cuts in, shooting Tim a guilty half-smile. "I'm the one who sent the Shellraiser through the wall, and that's what cracked the power cell" Then he looks at you, voice dropping just a bit. "You good to walk, or do I need to, you know, carry you the rest of the night?"

You snort, shaking your head.

"I can walk, Dee. Just... I'm tired"

"Great" Leo says. "Then we head back to the lair. Patch up. Come up with a new plan... But first, somebody's explaining what went down in that helicopter, because that wasn't normal"

You wobble to your feet, knees jelly, suddenly very aware of the headache still thumping behind your eyes.

"Cool. Fire away with the questions, Sherlock" You rub at your temples, as Mikey aids you to walk.

Everyone starts moving, talking over each other, but out of the corner of your eye you spot Donnie hanging back, shoulders tight, eyes flicking between you and the others. For him, everyone's voices blur into one messy soundtrack, but he's not hearing any of it. Not really.