Race. [TMNT 2012]

050. Mischief; Lucy

My last encounter with Raphael is still swirling through my mind when I get home. I feel like I did something wrong by just standing there while he fought those weird creatures. I could've thrown a brick, I could've run for help. Something. Anything. Yet I stood there beside the man with the shotgun, totally helpless.

To make matters worse, Raphael seems to have picked up on my refusal to fight. When he knocked out all the creatures, he only had pure hatred in his eyes. He also left in the most unceremonious manner and ignored me when I called his name. He was just gone.

I drag my feet into the living room, feeling drained of all my energy. I just can't get my mind off how ruthless Raphael treated those creatures. Sure, they were trying to kill us. But that doesn't mean he had to be so violent. We could have just turned and walked away. Or barricaded ourselves back into the grocery store. The point is that he didn't have to hurt them.

As I glance at the floor to check for Lilac, I receive a shock. She's gone!

"Lilac?" I call as I run out of the living room. I race into the kitchen and see her peering out of a window. She turns to me and gives me a wag of her tail in greeting, her pale blue eyes lit up with joy.

"Lilac!" I exclaim, wrapping my arms loosely around her neck in a hug. "You're alright!"

Lilac responds by licking me on the face. I laugh and release her, wondering how she got better so fast. The rain had touched her, yet she's perfectly fine. Maybe the rain really doesn't change animals, only people.

Lilac slept for most of the day, so I know exactly what she wants. "You want to go for a walk?" I ask her in a high-pitched voice which makes her tilt her head. Then she barks once in agreement and runs for the front door.

For a minute, I'm not sure if I should go back outside when it's so dangerous. Then again, those weird creatures aren't anywhere near the park. They're on the other side of the city. With that in mind, I decide a small walk is worth the risk if it makes Lilac happy.

Smiling, I dart after her. I don't bother grabbing a leash. Instead, I fling the door open and we run out into the afternoon city air.

Lilac and I race down the sidewalk. Her tongue hangs as she lopesaround beside me, her ears and tail being blown back by the wind. I can't resist giggling as I keep pace with her, amused at her reaction of being out in the fresh air again.

Within a matter of minutes, the park comes into view. I slow my pace and let Lilac run ahead as my stomach twists up. Looking at the wide open space reminds me of Raphael and how much he despises me. It's all my fault that he feels like that; I should be trying harder to cheer him up.

I believe I owe him an apology.

As I approach the park, I narrow my eyes to scan for Raphael. I carefully look over every inch of the dead shrubbery, making sure I don't miss a single spot. The tree line renders no figures, however. It's calm and quiet without a trace of giant turtles. All I see is Lilac trotting around with her tail in the air.

Disappointed, I sigh and head over to the bench. I am so drowned in thought that I don't notice someone else is already sitting beside me. A voice speaks, startling me.

"Hey, Lucy." It's Casey.

I nearly jump sideways to get away from him, but I somehow manage to keep my ground. Tensely, I look up at him, painfully reminded how short I am even when I'm sitting down. And it doesn't help that Casey is practically a skyscraper.

"Hi," is all I can muster up the courage to say.

I don't like sitting here with him. It's not that I think Casey is a bad guy, it's just that he gives me a weird vibe. I'm not totally sure that I trust his strange behavior and I'm not sure if I ever will. He's just very, very odd.