Race. [TMNT 2012]

047. Rage; Lucy

My breathing hitches and my heart races faster than it did while I was running. The man glares at Raphael, shoving the barrel of his shotgun against the turtle's forehead. His hazel eyes pierce right into Raphael's, and the turtle creature returns it steadily.

   "Don't you dare hurt any of us!" The man rages, his bulging biceps contradicting the gray hairs on his head. His accent is heavily southern. "We've dealt with your kind already and we won't tolerate it anymore!"

   Peering over his shoulder, I see that there are other people huddled inside the small grocery store. There's an older woman holding onto a little boy. Beside her is an elderly couple who looks scared out of their minds. Adding to that is a young woman and a cashier. They all stay as far away from Raphael as they can get.

   What's their problem? Sure, he's a giant turtle. But he isn't that scary. Besides, don't they remember the posters hanging up all around town?  Actually, that's a bad Idea, considering they were wanted posters.  Maybe they're better off being startled for different reasons.

   Raphael grits his teeth, immediately fired up by the gun pressed against him. "Are you crazy?" he snapd. "I haven't done anything to you!"

   "Don't play that card," the man retorts, forcing Raphael's head back against the wall. "We ain't stupid!"

   "I could give you ten reasons on how you are stupid!" Raphael shoots back furiously, his fists clenched together tightly. He looks as if he's about to burst into a pile of lava.

   "Watch it, freak!" The man growls.

   Raphael shoves his finger at the man's chest, despite a gun being aimed at his cranium. My stomach lurches as the man cocks his shotgun.

   "Now, listen here you piece of disgusting human," Raphael snarls, ignoring the fact that he is being reckless. "I haven't done anything to you, and I don't appreciate you pointing dangerous things at my face!"

   I flinch at how cold he is. He's awfully brave for someone that doesn't have the upper hand. Or maybe it isn't being brave, but something else. A much darker, careless emotion.

   After all this time, I still don't understand how he can be so rude to someone. Why can't we all just get along?

   The man switches his attention to me, his hazel eyes gazing at me sympathetically. "Did this creature hurt you?" he quizzes me, a frown of concern on his face.

   I shake my head honestly. He's been one of my close friends for a while now, whether he feels the same or not.  And having dated my best friend, I'm inclined to watch over him for her now.  He's a good companion, even if he does have a bad attitude most of the time.

   "I think there's been a misunderstanding," I say timidly, looking uncertainly at Raphael. Speaking up amidst conflict not something I like to do, but I don't have a choice this time. "He won't hurt anyone. We were just trying to escape the rain before it hurt us."

   The man doesn't look reassured, only skeptical. "I know what kind of creature this is," he explain, a persuasive note to his tone. "He turned into that because he got hit by the rain. And now he's here to kill us, just like all the others."

   I shoot Raphael a confused expression, but he's too busy glaring at the man with the gun. Raphael looked like this before the mysterious rain started. He isn't a victim of the liquid, that's for sure.

   Unable to face the man, I look over the people huddled in one corner of the store. With the most sincerest expression on my face, I tell them, "He was like this before the rain started. We really don't know what creatures you're talking about."

   The man keeps his gun steady, but his face morphs into one of disbelief. "You don't know?" My puzzled expression must convince him, because he continues. "The rain... It changes people. But not in the way you're thinkin'. They become these disgusting, raggedy pink creatures. They move slow, but they're powerful. And when they touch you..." he trails off, as if the result is horrifying.

   I blink, fear taking me over. What does he mean? Raggedy pink creatures that you can't touch? That doesn't make any sense.

   My thoughts suddenly flicker to Lilac.  She got touched by the rain.  Will it turn her into a weird creature as well?  My nerves are calmed my a simple fact, however.  He said it affects humans, not animals.  Lilac will be fine.

   "Well, Raphael isn't pink," I speak slowly, my voice quivering slightly. One wrong word, and Raphael is going to end up in a lifeless pile on the floor. "So he can't be one of them."

   "How do we know you're not working for someone else? Like that Oroku Saki fellow? Huh?" The man spits at Raphael, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

   I wrinkle my eyebrows in confusion. Who's Oroku Saki?  Then I remember with a jolt.  It's the same man who killed Charlotte.  The Shredder.

   Raphael's eyes glisten with sudden grief, but he recovers fast.. "He's dead, you idiot," the red-clad turtle snaps. "Get out of my face already!"

   "Please, don't hurt him," I beg, coming to stand between them. I know Raphael better than this.  If he was in his right mind, he wouldn't be trying to provoke a bullet through his head.  He's was a broken soul. And no matter what he says, I'm going to do everything I can to heal him.  Even stop this man from shooting him.

   The pleading in my eyes convinces the man, and he lowers his gun slowly. "Fine, but stay away from my family," he orders Raphael, before spinning around and storming back to the group of scare people.

   "I want to leave," Raphael announces as he spins around to look out the glass door. His bandana is furrowed like angry eyebrows and his green eyes are lit with fire.

   I try to ignore the fact that he's being completely ungrateful. But I'm not one to yell, so I take a deep breath and straighten up beside him. I can't help being reminded how short I am as I only come up to his shoulder. Charlotte was so much taller...

   "But the man said that if the rain touches you, you'll turn into a weird creature," I remind him as I shake my envious thoughts away. I have the strangest feeling that he doesn't care, however.

   "You mean the man that put a shotgun to my forehead?" Raphael asks with a growl. "Yeah, I totally believe whatever shell-brained stuff comes out of his mouth."

   I crane my neck to look up at him. "Why test fate?" I ask quietly. "Just stay in here until the rain stops. Please."

   Raphael doesn't respond, but he doesn't open the door either. Instead, he gazes out sadly at the magenta raindrops, a reminiscent emotion in his eyes. His shoulders sag suddenly, as if he has given up on everything.

   I bite my lip. Why won't he just let me in?