Song: Run - Bring Me The Horizon

I was wrong. Evelyn must be hurt by our fight, because she doesn't contact me again for a study session. But that isn't the worst part. What hurts the most is waiting on the park bench for an hour and Evelyn never showing up. I repeat this action for three days straight before I realize I have completely lost her. She is gone, both as my friend and my tutor.

    On the last day of November, I don't have the patience to wait for Evelyn. I do, however, casually walk by the bench to see if she is around. Unfortunately, all I see is a blank and snowy structure.

    That is the last straw. I can't believe she has given up on me like that! For someone so determined for me to learn, she certainly doesn't share the same perseverance for actually pursuing the matter.

    I'm not sure why I care. If a girl doesn't want anything to do with me, I tend to get over it within a couple of days. But Evelyn's absence bothers me much more than it should. It's like she is controlling part of my emotions. It's as if she is a switch to turning my heart on and off, and she is flipping it up and down like a pinball machine lever.

    I hate it.

    I angrily kick an icy rock and carry on my way. As I travel down the sidewalk, I avoid the turn that takes me to Evelyn's mansion. Instead, I head straightforward and decide to visit the pier.

   I've been checking the pier every night since Raphael and I were mauled, suspecting that those gutless furbags would return. On the contrary, they haven't shown a glimpse of themselves since then, and I've lost most of my hope in finding them again.

    My hope flares up again, however, as I arrive at the docks. I spot the unmistakable outline of Tiger Claw, Fishface, and Rahzar. They seem to be searching the pier for a specific item as their devilish eyes scan the numerous crates. Something tells me that I need to prevent them from finding it.

    I want to go down there and whip their tails by myself. Even I know that is a terrible idea, though. After attempting to stop them alone a few weeks ago and getting my butt handed to me in the process, I know it's a losing battle. I am better off calling in back-up.

    I reach for my phone and quickly remove it from my pocket. I send a swift S.O.S. to the turtles in a group message and then stow it back into its safe place. Now, all I can do is hope that my team gets here in time.

    The cold air chills me to the bone as I crouch in my hiding spot. The stars, which are normally so bright, are hidden behind clouds. Snowflakes slowly fall from the dark clouds, covering up the footsteps I had littered on the docks. Thankful for the coverage, I relax against the brick wall beside me.

    I am not sure how long I wait, but by the time the turtles arrive my skin is frozen. I can feel goosebumps crawling up my arms as the patrol silently glides towards me. Through the dim light from the half-moon, I can just make out a blue bandana as a face is thrust into mine.

    "Where are they?" Leonardo asks, but I don't have to answer. Just as the eldest turtle peers around the brick wall, his pupils dilate with wrath. He doesn't give anyone a chance to come up with snazzy mockery. "Close in, team," he orders, before sneaking closer to the pier.

    As we get closer to the evil mutants, we all dive behind tall stacks of crates. I peer out just enough to see Tiger Claw giving orders to Rahzar and Fishface. He doesn't look very pleased.

    "You informed me that the crate was here," Tiger Claw growls, his claws unsheathed. "I do not appreciate you fools wasting my time."

    "It is here, Master Tiger Claw," Fishface says in his smooth, accented voice. "Baxter Stockman confirmed it on the order sheets."

    "Then find it," Tiger Claw snarls impatiently. "Or I will cut you into my dinner. I've been craving sushi for a few days now."

    Fishface cringes, but Rahzar interrupts the conversation. "Here it is," the huge skeletal dog mutant announces. He hooks his long, sharp claws around a rather small crate and holds it out to Tiger Claw. "This contains the good that you are searching for."

    Tiger Claw's yellow eyes gleam with approval. He snatches the crate from Rahzar, admiring every inch of it. "Excellent. Now we only need one more crate, and our plan will commence," he rumbles.

    With a nod from Leonardo, the four turtles and I leap out from behind our hiding spots. "Not so fast, furry scumbag!" I jeer as I hold my baseball bat out threateningly. "You ain't going anywhere with that!"

    Tiger Claw looks faintly amused as he gazes at the strange team opposing him. "I have never seen such a miserable group of challengers. Is it possible that the turtles have grown weak without the rat to guide them?" he mocks as he shows his white fangs.

    "No way!" Michelangelo protests as he twirls his nunchucks. "Master Splinter taught us everything we need to know for our whole lives!"

    Leonardo conveniently changes the subject. "Put the crate back, Tiger Claw, and no one gets hurt," he orders.

    Tiger Claw laughs coldly as Fishface and Rahzar come to stand on either side of him. "That's not going to happen," he replies with a smirk.

    "Good!" I exclaim as I ready myself to attack. "I didn't wanna see you freaks walk away without a few broken bones."

    "Me either," Raphael agrees with a low, animal growl.

    Taking that as a sign to attack, the mutants charge at us. Tiger Claw goes straight for me, slicing his claws through the air in an attempt to injure me. He takes a secondary swipe with his other paw, which narrowly misses me. I leap back just in time to avoid another score, unable to get an advantage over the mutant tiger.

    I keep stepping backwards until I get closer to a crate. I jump up onto it and stretch my baseball bat up with a smirk on my face. I swing the weapon down, but it barely touches Tiger Claw's ear as he slides backwards. I try to readjust my blow, but my feet are knocked out from under me before I can do anything.

    I tumble to the grounded, hitting my head off the corner of the crate. For a split second, A flash of red covers my eyes. Then I see my turtle companions wrapped up in their own horrendous, losing battles. How are we failing so fast?

    I groan as Tiger Claw suddenly towers over me, showing off his fangs. He aims his claws right over my chest and growls, "Lights out, hockey boy."

    Before the tiger can deal a blow, however, he stumbles sideways as a huge weight hits him. Donatello has appeared with his bo-staff at the ready.

    "Leave my friend alone!" the purple-clad turtle shouts as he thrusts his wooden weapon at the tiger. A blade shoots out of the tip and cuts the corner of the mutant's face. Blood drips out of a small cut hidden in the tiger's orange fur.

    Tiger Claw hisses, his teeth glinting dangerously in the faint light of the street lamps. "You will pay for that, turtle," he rumbles angrily as he whips out his gun. He starts shooting pink lasers at my friend.

    But Donatello is ready. He nimbly leaps from foot to foot as he dodges the lasers, his bo-staff waving around like a flag. He finally regains his balance long enough to aim a blow at the mutant. Donatello manages to put another cut in the tiger, but not before he got blasts in the shoulder with a laser.

    "Ow!" Donatello lets out a yelp of pain and falls onto his knees, dropping his weapon.

   I jump up and rush to Donatello's rescue. "Get away, you oversized stuffed animal!" I spit at Tiger Claw. I yank out some hockey pucks and quickly smack all of them at the mutant.

   Unfortunately, Tiger Claw is an expert at predicting where the pucks will land. He simply takes side-steps according to where the pucks fly, then he starts firing his gun again. His yellow eyes are round moons of hatred.

    I manage to deflect a few lasers with my baseball bat until one snaps it clean in half. I toss the broken pieces to the side and roll away from another shot. I clumsily uncover my taser and thrust it blindly at my attacker. I let out a gasp of triumph as the electricity touches a body.

    As I look up, however, I realize it didn't hit who I expected it to. Donatello looks like a fried chicken and his eyes are crossed.

    "Donnie!" I exclaim in horror. "That wasn't meant for you!"

    "That s'ok, ma'am," Donatello slurs as invisible birds swirl around his head. He reaches forward and touches my face with his whole hand, before collapsing to the ground.

    I look up to call Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo for help, but they are still preoccupied. They've both been forced against a wall of crates, cornered by Rahzar and Fishface. The latter mutants have devious smirks on their face and are obviously about to deal some killing blows.

    I start over to help them, but Tiger Claw blocks my way. He aims his gun at me with a wicked grin on his furry lips.

    "Come, we are leaving," the tiger mutant calls to his companions. "I want to save their doom for my master plan."

    I watch, astonished, as the mutants back up. Tiger Claw keeps his gun trained on me until he is a safe enough distance away, then all three of them bolt into the shadows.

    "Don't let them get away!" I shout as I run in the same direction.

    "Casey, no!" Leonardo's voice stops me. I spin around to see that he is trying to get Donatello to stand up. The purple-clad turtle looks half out of it, and he keeps mumbling random things.

    Raphael and Michelangelo rush over to help hold the tall turtle's weight. "Wow! And he says I'm the crazy one," the orange-clad turtle comments as he gazes at his jabbering, injured brother.

    "We've got to get him back to the lair," Leonardo declares with a worried expression. "I'm sure this is temporary, but his burn wounds still need to be checked."

    "But Tiger Claw got away!" I insist as I keep shooting glances at the direction that they vanished in. "Don't you care about the weird crate thing that they got their filthy paws on?!"

    "Whatever it is, it can wait," Leonardo says firmly. "Donnie can't. Turtles first," he reminds me as he lifts Donatello up and heads the shadows.

    I grit my teeth. "Let me take Raph and Mike then. We can track them down and finish them off by ourselves," I say.

    Raphael doesn't seem to appreciate my idea, however. "You saw what just happened. We couldn't get an advantage over them with the five of us. We'll be cat food if it's just three of us."

    "And I like being a turtle," Michelangelo adds with a sophisticated nod.

    I frown. I won't admit it, but Raphael is right. How did we lose so easily?

    Raphael claps his hand on my back and starts after Leonardo with Michelangelo tailing him.

    I let out a frustrated puff of air and stare off into the distance. This isn't over. Tiger Claw even admitted that his plan hasn't started. Apparently, he just needs one more component and he's ready for action. I'm not sure what that plan is or how it's going to be executed, but I do know something for sure:

    Tiger Claw is suddenly a lot more dangerous than he used to be.