Race. [TMNT 2012]

23. The Confession; Charlotte

I dully push the food around on my plate. Everyone around me is finished eating and they are chatting away. They all seem to have forgotten about the doom hanging over our heads, even if it is just for a little bit.

I, on the other hand, have serious matters on my mind. I am hiding a big secret from all of them. Though I know I can get on just fine without them, they have been willing to take me under their wings. And in turn, I deceived them.

Confessing the truth to Raphael had only made me long to tell the others. Especially my brother, since we used to tell each other everything.

I try to lose myself in their laughter, but every smile I manage only makes my heart ache more. It's impossible to stay happy when I'm weighed down with guilt.

I guess it's time to tell them all what really happened.

I clear my throat to get everyone's attention. They look at me promptly, curious expressions lighting up their faces. All except Raphael, who looks like he might get up and leave.

Lucy, whom has a talent for reading my mind, can immediately sense what's happening. She looks up at me and gives a quick nod, as if she believes I'm making the right decision.

Nerves make my heart skip a beat, but I have to tell them. They deserve to know.

"I, um... I have a confession to make," I begin slowly, shuffling my feet underneath the kitchen table. This is going to be hard.

Casey immediately looks interested. "What is it?" he presses.

I swallow the lump in my throat and continue. "Do you all remember how I wanted to leave the FEAR laboratory so badly?" When they all nod, I go on. "Well, I have an actual reason. You see, Dad and I were used as guinea pigs there..." I explain everything to them. About being offered protection from the Kraang, to my dad getting murdered by Tiger Claw. I don't hold back a single detail. It's time I treat them as equals instead of nuisances.

The entire time, Lucy listens patiently. She sways her head side to side like she normally does, her pink lips pursued thoughtfully. She's heard this story before, but I've never gone too far into detail. I only gave her a summary, because she can't stomach too much violence. However, these guys will want to know everything.

By the time I finish, everyone eyes me with dumbfounded expressions. And Raphael; well, let's just say I never knew he could look so surprised. He must have assumed I wouldn't come clean to the rest of them. I'm glad to have proved him wrong.

Casey is the first to speak. "I thought Dad died trying to protect you from the Foot," he says uncertainly.

"He did," I insist, trying to make up for the half-lie I fed him a long time ago. "But it just wasn't in the way that you thought it was. He didn't want either of us to be treated as guinea pigs anymore, so he stood up for us. That's what got him killed." The last sentence comes out as a whisper as I realize how angry Casey is at me.

He jumps out of his chair and leans over the table, his brown eyes blazing. "You lied to me!" he snaps.

"Only a little!" I reply hoarsely with emotion.

"You're my sister!" Casey goes on, outraged. "We're supposed to tell each other everything! Especially something as heavy as this!"

I'm never one to shrink away from a fight; when I'm not in the wrong, that is. But right now, having lied to my brother and deceived his friends, I know I've made a huge mistake. I'm the one at fault, and I deserve to be yelled at.

Admitting defeat, I bow my head. "I know," I murmur. "I'm sorry."

Casey looks taken aback; actually, everyone does. I guess I have been a little hard on all of them, and I probably seem like a monster. But in my defense, I wasn't sure if I could trust them or not. I'm still not sure.

Casey doesn't accept my apology. "I'm going for a walk," he grunts and heads out of the kitchen.

"Casey, wait." April starts to go after him, but I stop her.

"Let him go," I say simply. Shockingly, she sits back down and falls into a thoughtful silence.

Casey slams the front door, making the walls rattle, and we're left in a short silence.

I can literally feel my words slowly absorbing into their minds. They finally have my horrible backstory. I hope they won't feel so threatened by me now, though there is only a slim chance of that happening. I am still the annoying and helpless girl of the group. Until I do something that proves myself, at least.

Donatello clears his throat and fixes his russet gaze on me. "Not to bring back scarring memories or anything, but would you be willing to share more about this mutagenic substance you got transformed with?" he asks carefully.

I shrug. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, you said the scientists synthesized lioness DNA with the substance, and then you mutated into that very creature," Donatello says slowly. I can practically see the gears turning in his head. "That must mean it works like mutagen when mixed with plant or animal DNA, but it acts as another type of substance on its own."

I just stare at him. What is he talking about?

"What did they call it?" Donatello presses.

"Um..." I think for a moment. "I heard someone say it was called... 'mirror mutagen' or something," I finally answer.

Donatello's eyes brighten massively. "Mirror mutagen, huh? That confirms my suspicions." He stands up and runs out of the room, coming back a little later with the jar full of green ooze. He makes his way over to Raphael, his gaze fixes on the little turtle on the table in front of him: Michelangelo.

Raphael eyes the techy-turtle warily. "What are you doing?" he growls warningly.

Donatello unscrews the lid on the jar. "I have an idea," he says simply.

"You aren't gonna hurt him, are you?" Elizabetta asks worriedly, her green eyes scanning the goop.

Before we can register what is happening, Donatello lets a drip slip from the jar and land on Michelangelo.

Raphael and Elizabetta leap out of their seats, panicked.  "NO!" they scream in unison.

But it's too late.