MONSTER (TMNT 2012)

New Life

Chapter Three: New Life

Rats were not on the menu.

No matter how appealing they seemed in his other form. The temptation that crawled through him was sick and disgusting. He wouldn't allow it. Never in a million years. However days past and Michelangelo was starving.

Food was a rough deal. Normally Michelangelo would just order a pizza and call it a day, however his unpredictable shifts left him with no options. Rats scurry past his foot, fleeing from the trash fan with meals at hand.

His stomach growled heavily but he eyed the trash cautiously. Though it was day time, Michelangelo had no choice. He hadn't eaten since he was mutated. He was willing to take the risk. He watched slowly as a man from the restaurant walked out back, tossing a fresh bag.

After he seems to safe enough, the turtle jumps at the bag, tearing it opened. He watched as trash fell onto the dirty New York alley floor. Most of the trash was skin from fruits and veggies and napkins. However nothing promising. That was until he saw a plate of leftover pizza just slide out. His stomach roared again. He picked up the slice, eyeing it. His hunger was terrible yet for some reason looking at this slice of pizza didn't feel the same. Part of him was glad for a slice of good old New York pizza. However another part found it uninteresting. Like he hadn't just found food to eat. He decides that it wasn't time to be picky. Food was food. Not to mention he loved pizza!

Mikey gobbles the piece up before jumping back to the ladder he came down from. This whole endeavor was risky and now he had to hide. He makes it to the roof, noting there wasn't any place he could really hide from. Though thag wasn't concerning him cause when he looks to his left he sees a water tower standing in the distance which had a curious white streak painted against it. Making a quick leap he makes it to the tower. Pushing against where the white streak was, the door opens. Michelangelo was back. He slides the thing shut before sitting inside.

Inside the water tower was Mikey's hangout. With cozy bean bags, comics, and heck even a portable radio. He's had his secret hideout in the works for a while. Before he was mutated, this place was where he'd go to be away. To destress. He filled it up with a few items that he loved and would visit occasionally to make sure nobody was messing with his place. Even had a second story room. Up there he kept a blanket and a sorry excuse for a bed which was made out of another blanket. Screams comfort.

It wasn't much but it was all he had. At night, he sits in here. Looking through his stuff, trying to keep entertained. However he's more careful with that. He had enough shredded comics to start another collection. When he shifts, it isn't exactly easy. His whole body is twisting and bending. Bones replacing other bones. He's been caught reading and suddenly finds himself a snake. He wanted his inventory to last him so he tries to be more careful. However there's one thing he wouldn't touch. Not ever. A collage of photos that covered the walls of his fortress. Pictures of him and his family. Leo, Raph, Donnie, Master Spilinter, April, and Casey. He couldn't afford to lose them.

Michelangelo is suddenly knocked from his thoughts when he feels his stomach twist. A sharp pain like nothing he's felt before. Thag pizza wasn't doing too well. Grabbing a bucket, he vomits what little amount of food he had straight into it. After heaving it up, the thought of pizza sent chills down his spine.

As his body trembled over the can, he felt something. The animal inside him. It wanted to take over again. He tried to fight it. He couldn't turn. Not now. His body began to sweat, his vision was getting dizzy. Man, that pizza really messed him up.

"Please not now...now now-" Mikey begged, curling his fingers on the ground. His body trembling as he fought the rising urge inside of him.