Remember. [TMNT 2012]

58. The Sixfold Trap; Elizabetta

Song: Let Go - Red

I struggle to keep my footsteps silent as we enter Shredder's lair. Leonardo severely ticked me off, and I want nothing more than to stomp away. How can he be willing to let three people, whom never meant to get involved in such a mess, die? Would he still feel the same if it was me on the other end? Does he even care if I die tonight?

I'm not sure why, but the thought of him not grieving over me pierces my heart where it's weakest.

I shrug these thoughts away. I know the only reason I snapped at him is because I haven't forgiven him for nearly killing me. It was irrational and stupid, and I feel bad about it.

I'm not sure why I'm sensitive around him all of a sudden. A few months ago, I wouldn't have cared less if he almost dropped me off of a building, as long as he apologized. I would have understood it was an accident and moved on. But I can't do that now; not when he knows of my crippling fear.

   Maybe we're falling apart.

   The darkness inside the building is blinding. I can't see passed my fingertips. Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck rises, and I get the feeling we're being watched.

   "Guys-" I start to whisper, but a hand covering my mouth silences me.

   I get pulled away from the others and dragged into another room. My heart pounds with fear as I am forced into a very bright room. I gasp in pain as I'm tossed onto a cold, tiled floor. I try to stand back up, but whoever brought me into the room shoves me back down.

   I look around to see who attacked me, but there isn't anyone there. I am completely alone- or so I first thought.

   "I am one of the mo-zzz-st intelligent beings-zzz on Earth, and even I never expected to zzz-see you again."

   That voice. That hard, cruel voice. It's slightly different, more pest-like, but I know who it belongs to. The owner of it is the reason I met the turtles; the reason I became who I am.

   Baxter Stockman.

   But the creature before me is no longer a man. It's an oversized fly, it's hideous legs and head twitching involuntarily. It's wings keep it in the air so it's hovering just above me. It's disgusting.

   I feel bile rising in the back of my throat, but I swallow it back down. "Stockman?" I ask in utter shock. "Let yourself go?" I can't help adding sarcastically.

   He ignores my question, obviously not in the mood for games. "I thought you would be dead by now," he comments observantly. "By my calculations-zzz, you should have lo-zzz-st your mind months-zzz ago."

   Instantly, I forget my pain and sit up, eyeing him warily. "What are you talking about?" I wrinkle my eyebrows in confusion. Why would I lose my mind?

   "You incompetent human," Stockman spits mockingly. "The zzz-serum I injected you with!  It had nothing to do with mutating your mother into a zzz-stupid zzz-spider!"

   I just stare at him. He sounds crazier and crazier with every word that escapes his mouth.

   Suddenly, a loud crashing noise catches my attention. I jump to my feet and spin around, both my daggers unsheathed. I relax, however, when I see it was just the turtles, Master Splinter, April, and my brother.

   Raphael's eye catches sight of Stockman and he growls. "You!  I knew you were behind this!"

   Donatello peers over the red-clad turtle's shoulder. "Um, behind what, exactly? There's nothing in here," he says.