ʀɪsᴇ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs!

~•☽︎༒︎☾︎•~

Central America

May 10, 13:17

      Drops with a soothing ringing crackle break on the large leaves of jungle plants, thunder rumbles in the sky, which heaves and shudders the air. The ground has become sticky and soft over the past week, because it was raining almost incessantly, so that the feet of the "newly returned Ghost of the Jungle" were almost stuck in ankle-deep mud, so master sai, with a juicy plop and under the weight of the sticky mud, rolled down the rock and vines into a deep camouflaged cave, which, surprisingly, I haven't suffered too much since his brother landed in Central America last time. As if he hadn't used it at all while he was there.       After glancing around the dark room, which was illuminated only by smoldering embers and gaps above, from which rainwater poured into a stone pool in a shallow waterfall, Rafael went over to him and scooped up cold water with a makeshift ladle, pouring it on dirty feet.       The space itself was quite spacious: on the right was the very pool, the water from which went deep into the holes in the stone, so it did not linger in the cave and did not rise above the waist to overflow over the sides; on the left, on the contrary, everything was dry, because there was always a fire and, in general, a more residential place. a stretched hammock, candles, a wire with items of clothing or equipment hanging on it, as well as a blanket, some dishes, a special place for weapons and photographs where the whole family is together, as well as a separate place hollowed out of the rock for books.       Leaving wet footprints and having previously wrung out the fabric of the raincoat, master sai hung it on a wire along with the mask, exhaled calmly and went to the dry half of his shelter, and, putting pre-collected supplies of firewood and branches on the fire, sat down on a kind of fabric tatami, furnished with candles. His always focused and even a little stern gaze immediately fell on the photo, where they are 17-18 years old with Leo, and Donny and Mikey are 16-15. A warm smile appeared on his face from pleasant memories and a slight homesickness, because he had not been there for almost 2 years, even though he knows from chat conversations that everything is fine.       During his time "in Leo's shoes," he became really calmer, although the first half of the year was frankly unbearable that he was ready to give up everything and return to New York.       "I'll have to go to Donny's or Leo's birthday." was his last thought before he lit candles to meditate according to the schedule, steadily at 7 p.m.       The murmur of droplets, the sound of the wind on the surface and the crackle of the campfire fade into the background and everything around seems to quiet down when Master sai concentrates and plunges into his subconscious.…

~•☽︎༆☾︎•~

      Darkness. There is no light, no gap, but Raphael sees himself: he is sitting in the same Lotus position as at the moment of the beginning of meditation. Lowering his eyes down and looking at his feet, he had a split feeling: he was either floating in the air or falling down.       "How strange… This has never happened before..." a thought echoed in him head, and it seemed that it was so loud, as if it had been spoken aloud, that it echoed through the space. The rebel didn't fully understand where he was, and he was completely disoriented. There are no sides where you can go, neither up nor down, neither to the right nor to the left on any path. Master Sai, after looking around a couple more times, began to stand up, and to his surprise, there was a hard surface under him that appeared out of nowhere.       — How is this... — the turtle frowned, kicking the invisible floor. — It turns out that I'm still in my cave, but I can't see anything around. Hmm, this is something new, we'll have to write it down later... - Raf turned around and decided to go somewhere, maybe he'll come at least somewhere, right?       And so, as soon as the owner of the scarlet bandana began to move, some multicolored spots spread out from his every step, which spread out and lined up into some kind of three-dimensional picture. "Oh, this is my favorite roof," Raphael thought and smiled, following his memories, and the further he went, the clearer and clearer this place became in colors and shades, but there was no wind, no sounds; the city was filled with people, but no one moved — time It stopped here. Hothead loved this place, because it was at this height that he had a beautiful view, which he often imagined before going to sleep. And this is a memory from his teenage life and the moment when he first came to the surface alone, without taking anyone with him. It was a thirst for new sensations, and he got it. It was a moment of "selfishness," so to speak, but it was wonderful, and he wouldn't regret it even if someone from his family found out about it.       "So that means… Am I in my head?" he looked at the city's skyline and looked up at the roof itself, examining the various antennas. After that, he was captivated by the crimson sunset. The sun did not leave until the end, and on the surface of the ocean there was a sunny ribbed path, also frozen in time. There were ships in the distance, but they weren't moving either way. This view involuntarily made Raf smile and he wanted to sit on the ledge, but suddenly a rustle swept past the shell and he turned sharply to see who it was from his memories that ran, but instead of "someone" on the roof there was a thick cloth that stretched like a path in the opposite direction from the sunset. Without hesitation, Master sai approached and took the beginning of the "path" in his hand, rubbing it between his fingers and examining it.       There was puzzlement and incomprehension in his gaze, and why was there any kind of velvet carpet? There's never been anything like this in him life... or has there? At one point, the end of his mask hung off his shoulder, and daredevil noticed that the thick, heavy, velvety fabric was the same color as his bandana. This made him grin and realize that this was definitely not the case in reality.       - My path? Heh, it's ironic. Yes, and velvet. — Raf ran his eyes along the fabric and was enveloped in curiosity, what could this mean? Some kind of mental clue? Or maybe this path will lead him to some forgotten but important events? Or maybe it will show you what needs to be changed?       "Mmm, Leo, it seems I have surpassed you, ahah," tormented by curiosity, Master sai put the cloth on the concrete and stood on the edge, walking along it. "So soft ... it tickles my feet," yellow—eyed noted to himself and looked down. What he saw made him freeze in surprise. He was standing on a cloth in the air! Between the houses! And underneath it was a road filled with cars and people. Daredevil quickly shifted his gaze to the fabric, then down. Deciding to make sure of his doubts, he put his foot over the edge of the path to check if he could walk through the air in his dream.

It turned out not to be. Maybe only on this velvet.

      With a slight shudder, Raphael shook his head, driving away the obsessive thoughts and walked along the floating road further, looking at everything below and to the sides, until he looked ahead, where everything, as at first, lined up in a three-dimensional picture.       "Uh-huh, everything that I remember is lining up... hmm, but what happens if this path leads to a place that I don't know?" he thought, looking at the skyscraper and his reflection in the glass. He stopped for a couple of seconds, peering into his eyes. For a moment, it seemed to him that they had turned completely black, and dirty blue-red-gray iridescences began to spread from the red pupils of his cheeks to his chin, and the veins bulged. The rebel staggered back and rubbed his eyes.       "I'm getting uneasy.… I need to wake up..." he shivered and walked on faster. And so, there came a point where Raf hardly knew the city, and the fabric still didn't end and went into the distance. He decided that once he started, he needed to finish and get to the end.       The city became darker, and all the buildings became more distorted and dimmer, until the rebel walked through the darkness at all, going beyond the bright metropolis that shone behind his shell. The only thing that was clear was the path, which began to glow bright red with each step of the guy, illuminating the space in a peculiar way. Master Sai did not slow down and only walked faster along it in order to reach its end, which seemed to have never existed.       "And this is exhausting..." he thought and closed his eyes without slowing down his pace. "Although, I don't feel any physical fatigue." — at this conclusion, I opened my eyes and quickly looked around.       "What the hell?!" Master Sai's pupils narrowed in surprise. He staggered back from the tall trees that appeared out of nowhere. Moreover, they were so huge compared to daredevil that he involuntarily tucked his tail under his shell.       "Are these... redwoods? Or whatever they are..." — he raised his head up, trying to see the tops, but his neck hurt already. And now, this darkness of the forest, which was in the depths, brought cold and fear. Raphael swallowed and looked into the distance, where the path went, and the thought of turning around and running back was beating harder inside. And this bright red glow from his footprints, illuminating the roots of the trees, only made it more Gothic.       "Get to the end, it's not as scary as you imagine"       - WHAT'S THIS? - The rebel turned pale, almost falling off the path into the abyss. This voice sounded so harsh, but so multifaceted that it was impossible to determine its exact source and where it came from, although there were three options: from the trees, from above (from the sky?) and in his head.       "Don't be afraid of me, just follow what I say"—and here comes the voice again, monotonous but distinct, almost without emotion. I can't tell if it's female or male.       Rafe looked at the trees again.       - And who are you?       "You don't have to know that."       - How businesslike, - the amber-eyed man chuckled and caught himself thinking about the girl.       "Go faster, or I'll throw you out of here, it hurts,"       Raf looked down sharply and watched that this voice... it was the velvet that was speaking, shimmering and glistening, right at the moment of speech.       - Damn it,— Master Sai's eyes widened like never before. — the road is talking to me… And I'm with her... - the former All-Seer put his hand to the back of his head, rubbing it a little and exhaling. — Oh, I don't like this... - he took a deep breath and exhaled, entering the forest and walking swiftly through the fabric. — Although what makes me think that some kind of… Is it possible to believe a talking fabric...? - Master Sai shook his head, trying to clear his mind. As soon as he passed this wall of huge trees, another forest began to line up behind it, of natural size, so daredevil walked through it, feeling more or less normal.       Everything green and saturated was recreated around, the day was created and the fabric lay so beautifully on some forest irregularities that I wanted to stop and take a picture of it, because this scarlet color in the sunlight was incomparable. But now something else was bothering the yellow-eyed man.       "It's not from my memories… I do not know such a forest..." the rebel slowed down his steps to examine this beauty, though frozen, as if dead.       "Go faster," the voice rang out again, but louder and more insistent, and the fabric sparkled, giving off sunbeams that blinded for a moment.       - Is it that urgent??? - Raphael objected, indignantly looking at the fabric, almost stomping on it with his foot.       "You have no idea how. Your brothers are already worried why you haven't answered your phone for so long."       — Wait, what? — this phrase puzzled the yellow-eyed man and he poked the path with his foot. - What do you mean? I always call them on Wednesdays, and today is Tuesday.       "It's been two days and you haven't contacted them. Stop poking me!"       - What two days??? This can't be happening, I sat down to meditate on Tuesday before going to bed, and tomorrow I have to call them on Wednesday morning. It can't be Thursday already! — Raphael, he held his head and sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes. "No, well, that's kind of crazy. I must have lost my mind." — this thought flashed through his mind on its own, but it was immediately answered:       "You're wasting your time, if you don't go, it's going to be Friday soon. Hurry up at last!"       With a puzzled glance at the fabric and a snort, Raf took off, running forward, now wondering only one question.: how does time flow here, and is it true that it's almost the third day...?       Master Sai ran across the fabric, not having time to look around. It was getting darker and darker with every step. It was already evening, and he had barely taken 100 steps! And so, the path seems to have led to the cherished place. Rafe came out to a large, camouflaged house, but made with style.       "And whose house is this...?" — turtle went to the door, under the bottom of which, into the house, went the fabric. He took a deep breath and knocked, but there was no bell. The door opened as soon as he knocked on it. The amber-eyed man opened it completely and looked into the house, examining the room, but it was faded and completely blurred, distorted, as if from clouds, and the velvet led into a room whose outlines were clear: a door jamb, a small threshold, and something inside ... it seems to be chairs?       Purposefully, the rebel walked over the fabric and it seemed to him that it was getting warmer and even softer ...

      This is the very "hearth" from where it starts!

      Raf walked with his head down, and when he entered the threshold, he slowly looked up along this velvet and stopped at the end, although it is more accurate to call it the "source" of the fabric. Daredevil did not take his eyes off him, because… He saw that this velvet at the beginning was the most ordinary woolen threads that... knit with knitting needles?!       Then he saw the hands that… Did you knit this velvet??? What's going on here anyway? How does wool make velvet??? And then... a woman's forearm, chest, neck... head…       "You've finally come," she looked up from the knitting needles and looked at him, smiling a little. He froze…       A sky-blue mask, the ends of which were braided into a long braid hanging from her shoulder; hazel-colored eyes with long eyelashes; light green smooth skin, on which there were only small, barely noticeable scars — as Raph could assume — from cuts. No, it wasn't self harm, it was training. Surely she is also engaged in martial arts, because her body is toned, and her movements are clear and well-honed. It is impossible to explain this understanding that someone is engaged in fighting. This feeling comes with experience by itself, and you already clearly know that this is probably your future opponent, just by looking at him.       — Why are you frozen? - She smiled and got up from the table, walking past Raf as if he were a ghost, and went to the sink, where there were overturned glasses on a towel. — It's not like this is your first time here, — the girl took one and began to pour water into it.       - What? — Rafael was a little taken aback. — Is this not my first time here? — he already asked again, and then immediately began to look around. "What...?" daredevil squeaked in his head, almost relaxing in place and sitting down on the floor. "Is that... I've been walking for so long... to my own kitchen?! To our lair??? But what about... the forest and this house? What's going on here anyway??? Holy shell, I wish it was just a similar interior, otherwise I'll just go crazy..." Master Sai closed his eyes and put his hand on his forehead.       — Judging by your expression and gestures, — the girl turned to him, smiling. — You know what I was talking about. Her eyebrow, which had a small scar on it, twitched slightly, betraying malice.       — And I don't like it at all. — Daredevil opened his eyes, but immediately she shoved a glass of water into his nose.       - Then should you clear your head?       — Most likely... - Rafael carefully took the glass from her and, after focusing on it for a couple of seconds, looked into her eyes. — Tell me honestly, are you just a figment of my imagination? Although… I don't understand anything that's going on here at all. I even think differently!       — Ahah, — she burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand, walking around him and sitting down in her seat, moving closer to the table. - No, Raphael. Schizophrenics don't dream, and they certainly don't meditate, - she rested her elbows on the table and clasped her hands, resting her head on them. — and they don't get into... *** — this word was uttered by the girl and her lips moved, but it was completely inaudible. The guy jerked his head, listening.        - Excuse me? Can you repeat that?       — In... ***, — the same thing again: she speaks, but nothing is clear. Master Sai closed his eyes and put the glass on the table, pulling out a chair and sitting on it.       — Well, to hell with it. What's more important is that you know me, and I know you...- His critical thinking seemed to be returning.       - I told you, you needn't to know me. Or rather, you're not supposed to know me. - She picked up her knitting needles and continued knitting. — About two years. No, three. In the same way, you're not supposed to... or rather, YOU are. I mean, your whole family isn't supposed to meet with us. Again.       —By us? "Again"? "How many of you are there?       - If you see us, - she continued, as if she hadn't noticed the questions. - Don't you dare come near. - She looked up at him. — the consequences are deplorable for Hamato and for **-****.       — Who's 'US'?- Yellow-eyed tried to ask carefully.       - If you see it, you'll understand.       - Okay, - Master Sai fidgeted and took a deep breath, and then touched her hand, gently taking it, the girl still. — Then I have one last question. — he paused for a moment, thinking and retelling. — Two questions.              When he made this movement, the reptile looked at him in surprise, and her needlework fell down onto her lap.       - why? - He looked into her eyes, and they gradually filled with discontent. — And what do you mean, 'again'?       — These questions are inappropriate, as are your actions. - She said a phrase as cold as a weapon and roughly pulled her hand away. - Were you even listening to me? What I said is not a request, but unacceptable actions, and even more specifically, an order.       — The questions haven't changed. — Raf raised his eyebrows a little and sighed, put his hands on the table. - If this is — he looked around the room. — something like my mind, which means you can do anything here. Show me why?       - You weren't listening to me at all. - She exhaled.       - I want to know the reason?       — Well... — she got up and stepped on the fabric that had fallen from her lap, turning her shell to the guy. — I'm telling you for the last time. Don't you dare date us for two more years. We're not supposed to meet. Otherwise, both families will suffer.       Raphael sighed heavily, glancing at the patterned shell of the girl.       His voice was full of frustration and indignation.       - I'll pass it on to the brothers. Although how can I tell them this at all? "Hi everyone, I came back from the jungle because I saw a girl and she said I couldn't see her." — with a ridiculous fake smile, Rafael spread his hands a little, imagining how absurd such a situation was.       — Donnie banned me as a mental patient in a cage. — Daredevil exhaled heavily and shook his head, rubbing his eyes, already thinking about what to say. And so, he wanted to get up from the table, but his gaze was attracted by the glass, which before his eyes took the shape of a glass.       - Are you doing this? - He looked at the girl, but there was no response. He looked away from her and took a glass, sipping a little water in it. A pleasant taste formed on the tongue, but it was strange.…       —Really, - the girl finally spoke after a pause, exhaling. - I beg you very much... - her voice trembled and she hugged herself. — Tell it to the brothers. You shouldn't... - she slowly hid in the crying and began to tremble. Raifael was speechless and felt uncomfortable at that moment.       — Hey, — he took a couple of small steps towards her and noticed that she was a head shorter than him. - Don't start crying. I told you I'd tell them everything.       - We're not supposed to meet. - She said it in a whisper, sniffing and wiping her tears at the same time. - They shouldn't… They shouldn't... - the words faded with each pronunciation.       "I don't even know what to do..." the rebel thought and touched her shoulder to try to calm her down somehow. Maybe the conversation will drag on and he'll find out who she is? But then she began to pronounce the phrase with renewed vigor and more often, as if in a delirium.       — Yes, I understood that we shouldn't, but... — master Sai frowned a little and tried to look into her face.       — WE MUST NOT MEET AGAIN! THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH FOR THE SECOND TIME! - She suddenly screamed and turned her head towards him, getting closer, almost nuzzling his nose with her own. Raf, seeing her face, recoiled and froze in mute horror as she repeated the phrase louder and louder.       Her eyes had been ripped out, and blood was pouring from the empty sockets onto the floor, splashing out and filling the kitchen as she repeated the same thing. He froze in a daze and fear that held his body, and his heart seemed to stop when he saw those empty, literally, eyes.       - DON'T YOU DARE TALK TO ME!" DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT ME! DON'T YOU DARE LOOK FOR ME! - She screamed in his face and clung to his shoulders, so hard that Master Sai could barely push her against the wall. She hit her shell, but did not fall, but stood with her head down and breathing heavily, while a stream of blood poured out of her eye sockets like a waterfall. The guy wanted to shout, but thick liquid gushed out of his mouth, and his gaze fell on the glass he was still holding in his hand. The water turned scarlet red, became thicker and glittered. From surprise and the realization that he had just spat out this "water" that tasted like iron, Rafael dropped the glass and it broke into small fragments, which immediately drowned in blood. Horrified, the rebel looked up and realized that this blood pouring from the girl's eyes, like a river, was his path that led him to this kitchen.…       - Don't you dare…

~•☽︎᯾☾︎•~

      Raphael came to himself so abruptly that he fell from the hammock directly onto the cold stone and, breathing heavily, put his hand to his head. I could still see those terrible images of blood and broken glass, reflecting the empty sockets of the girl. Covered with goosebumps from the cold and terror, daredevil was brought out of his stupor by the realization that he had fallen. From the hammock. Although he was originally sitting on a tatami mat on the other side of the cave.       And then something clicked inside again and Master sai jumped to his feet, quickly picking up his phone and ... froze in mute shock, staring at the lock screen.       Date: Thursday, May 12, 5:51 p.m. It's been more than two days!!!       "I'm moving to New York. Right now." — without a second's hesitation, throwing all the necessary things into a backpack, the "Ghost of the Jungle" moved out of the cave to the nearest airport, anxiously checking the call log and making sure that the brothers had called him more than once during these two days…       And EVERYONE seemed to be calling.       Yes, even from Splinter 4 missed!       At least 2-3 calls from everyone…

Except Leo.

It's suspicious.…

But it's not too important right now.

      It wasn't a long wait for the right flight, but the flight itself seemed to take forever. Constant questions that became so intrusive that him head throbbed. Who is she? Why did you see it at all? Why was it so real? Why did he feel so afraid at that moment that he couldn't move? Why did this seemingly short sleep actually last more than two days? How did he fall from the hammock? What was with the glass anyway? Why did the water become blood? Why, and generally who is not allowed to see? Who can't we meet? How will he understand that it is impossible to meet with them? AND anyway... WHAT MEAN, WERE THEY ALREADY ACQUAINTED? when??? How do you understand... "Again"?       There are too many questions. And there is no answer to them yet.       And the next moment, the endless mental flow was interrupted by the rumble of the landing gear opening, and the cold wind cooled the head of master sai a little. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and smiled, squinting at the native lights of the city, before jumping down.       "I'm home..." — as soon as this phrase flashed through Raphael's head, before he dived under the water, the master of the two-armed sword on the other side, beyond New York, froze, barely lifting a cup of fragrant coffee to his lips and looked out the window, looking at the sky, which directly attracted the attention of his wife.       - Is something wrong, dear? - She dried her hands on a towel and hung it over the back of a chair, coming up behind him and placing cool palms on his shoulders.       - Do you feel anything? - He didn't even flinch, but just put his hand on top of hers, still warily peering somewhere into the stars of the deep night. The woman exhaled, closing her eyes and hugging her husband's neck, pressing her cheek to his cheek, concentrating.       — Mm-hmm... well, in a couple of minutes it will be Friday the 13th and a full moon, as well as rain, most likely.       — No, honey, not that.       - Then what? - She opened her eyes and rested her hand on the arm of the rocking chair in which her husband was sitting, crossing his legs. A slight rocking forward made him look at his favorite features and smile, pulling his wife by the forearm and sitting her on his lap, wrapped in a blanket. She laughed and made herself comfortable, laying her head on his shoulder.       - I didn't fully understand myself...- he exhaled, leaning back in his chair, which creaked a little. — I thought you could tell me something. — he chuckled a little, closing his eyes.       — What was it like? - Kunoichi, who wields two swords and the art of poisons, asked a leading question.       The man furrowed his brows, thinking and pausing.       — Category No. 3...? - The swordmaster tensed up from his own guess and only furrowed his brows more, clearly not wanting to think about possible scenarios.       - You mean a dummy...? — having come to her senses a little, the wife looked into dark brown eyes, raising her head anxiously, but a strong man's hand only pulled the edge of the plaid over her head, like a hood, and the swordsman only hugged the woman's body tighter, hugging her to him.       — Worse, A Rookie. — the man exhaled heavily, forcing his wife to roll her eyes and laugh with his phrase. — But I think that… It seemed to me... it just seemed to me. I hope…

~•☽︎༒︎☾︎•~

To be continued…