Race. [TMNT 2012]

9. The Anger of Her; Charlotte

I storm down the road. It feels strange to have feet again, rather than paws. I am used to moving at a faster speed. I was able to do a lot more things as a mutant. I felt powerful, beautiful, and happy.

But that's all over, thanks to Raphael. First, he turns me back to human without even asking if I want it. Then he proceeds to think I should thank him for what he did. Finally, he keeps showing me the cold shoulder, like I did something wrong. Well, I most certainly did not!

He has definitely earned himself a one-way ticket onto my hate list. He is a hideous, disgusting freak with a terrible attitude. I just want him and his other turtle mutant companions to leave me alone.

I feel bad for abandoning Lucy. She's become my best friend in this time of crisis, and now I'm just storming away from her. Then again, she understands me better than anyone now. I saved her when she was starving, and she saves me by knowing how to help me deal with my emotions. Even now, she knows leaving me alone is a part of the therapy.

Still, that doesn't prevent me from being angry.

"Char!" To further deepen my irritation, I hear my brother's voice behind me. I keep going, hoping he will give up.

"Char! Please!" Casey calls again, but I am too stubborn to stop.

"Go away!" I call angrily over my shoulder. He may be my twin brother, but he is just as irksome as the rest of them. I an better off on my own.

"Charlotte, please just talk to me!" Casey begs, something he hardly ever does. It's too 'uncool' for him. Plus, he is never one to show weakness.

The fact he is that desperate finally makes me pause. I turn around and wait for him to approach. "What?" I sniff, lifting my head higher to show I am still annoyed.

The dark teenager stops in front of me, a guilty frown on his face. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry," he says softly.

"Really, Case?" I snap. "That's the worst apology I've ever heard! You're so ignorant that you don't even care what you did wrong!"

"I do care!" Casey insists, his brown eyes glowing with sadness.

"Then you should know that I'm mad at you for ditching Dad and I!"

Casey's eyes light up with realization. "I didn't have a choice, Char," he says, his voice pleading for forgiveness. "I searched the house for you guys before I left, but I couldn't find you. Plus, one of my friends was badly hurt, and I was responsible for keeping him safe." His expression is drowning in remorse.

I glare at him. "You were responsible for your family, too!" I argue. He isn't getting off the hook that easily.

"I thought dad would take care of you," he mumbles, suddenly avoiding my gaze.

"Yeah, when he didn't know what the heck was going on?" I scoff. "I was the only one who knew about the Kraang, Casey. Even after I explained it to him, he kept demanding a real answer. He thought I was making it up! When the Foot found us, he didn't think they'd actually kill him. So, he started insulting them and telling them to back off. Then..." I trail off, not wanting to say what happened next. "The point is that you left us to defend ourselves, when you clearly had a get-away we all could have used! Dad would still be alive!"

Casey looks slightly irritated now. "I told you I couldn't find you! What was I supposed to do?! Search the city for weeks?"

"Yes!"

"I didn't have weeks, Char, and neither did Leo!" Casey's voice starts rising until he's yelling. "He was dying. My friend was dying. Doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

I get in his face. "Those turtles mean nothing to me!" I shout.

"Well, they should!" Casey snarls back, getting in my face as well. "They're all I had left when the Kraang abducted the city!"

"Family should be first!" I retort. "You always said so!"

"How was I supposed to stick to that when I was watching Leo die?!"

"You should have found a way to get us, and him, all to a safe place!"

"You're so selfish!"

"You're not being too considerate, either!"

"I was trying to save a life!" Casey's face is red with rage. "Why can't you accept that?!"

"Because... Because I needed my brother to be there!" My voice breaks, and tears run down my face. I don't mean for it to happen, but I can't stop it once it starts. I find myself spilling my heart out to him. "I was terrified, Case. Those pink creatures with laser guns gave me nightmares. I woke up every night screaming..." I look away, ashamed of my weakness being exposed. "My dad could never calm me down. I needed you there to help me. To protect me. To protect all of us. That's all I wanted."

My voice is barely more than a whisper. I back away from my brother and lean against an old building, sinking to the ground. I bury my face in my hands as I force myself to relax.

Casey lowers himself beside me and uncovers my face. "Hey, I'm sorry," he says softly. "I didn't know about that. I would have been there if I could have."

I sigh and pull my hands away from his grasp. "It's over," is all I can manage to say. Normally I would say that it's ok, but I can't. It hurts too much for that.

"I'll make it up to you," Casey promises. And by the determined look in his eyes, I know he isn't bluffing.

"I'm not going back there," I change the subject. "I refuse to have anything to do with those freaks."

Casey seems reluctant. "They're not bad guys, Char. You should give them a chance. They're actually pretty cool."

I open my mouth to respond, but I don't get the chance. Something wraps around me and flings me at a wall. I slam into it and land on the ground, groaning.

I hear my brother call out to me. I pull myself into a sitting position, looking at who had thrown me while rubbing my pounding head.

To my horror, a huge mutant tiger is standing in front of me. His eyes flash with danger and he whips out a long blade. An evil smile crosses his face as he moves towards me. Footbots takes up positions behind him, surrounding my brother and I.

I only have time to scream before the tiger lunges at me.