ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : VANO 3000 - RUNNING AWAY

{↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺}

1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:47

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{✘ーRaphael POVー✘}

I need some coffee.

My head hurts.

Worse sleep ever.

Not that it can get any worse.

What day is this now?

Screw a day. More like a week.

Nah a month is more like it.

Theses dreams just came out of no where.

...Who is she?

It's the same one too.

...Who is she?

It's always the same.

...Who is she?

I need to figure this out.

...Who is she?

Maybe I'm just stressed?

I'm not doing Leo's stupid meditation-

Maybe Splinter can help me....

-----

I pull my body out of bed. Grabbing my bandana from the edge of my mattress and tying it around my face.

Spike, my pet turtle, looked up at me with eyes that read; "Good Morning" I smiled, pet his head gently, then gave him a soft kiss on the head.

Lifting him up and brought him out of the room with me. First going to the restroom to splash some water on my face.

Turning on the lights and setting him down gently on the edge of the sinks counter. Turning on the faucet, waiting for the water to turn cold before taking my three finger hands and splash the cold water on my face.

My body immediately reacted from the coldness of the water. Kind of waking me up fully. Lifting my head back up and staring face to face with the man in the mirror.

I take a good look at my appearance. I like to consider myself a handsome mutant. If those words could even go well together.

I try to have somewhat of a confidence. Even though in reality humans would see me as the most disgusting thing in the world.

Who cares what they think anyway? I sure as hell don't.

My leathering green skin.

Scratched up and cracked plastron.

The back of my shell looked worse from all the previous battles.

My hideous green snout.

Emerald colored eyes.

...Geez, I'd get pay big bucks if I were in a freak show. Somebody get me a contract.

I looked over at Spike who had a sad look on his face. As if he could tell I was talking bad about myself.

"...You hungry, Bud? Let's get you some breakfast."

Picking him up once again. I turn off the light to the bathroom and headed out to the kitchen. It was rather early in the morning so my bros and Sensei were still asleep.

I prefer mornings to my self.

I place Spike on the table. Opening up the fridge and pulling out a head of lettuce. I prefer to feed him fresh vegetables.

I'll usually ask April to get them for me. But only from fresh markets.

Only the best for my, Spike.

Pulling of some pieces of lettuce and laying them out for Spike to eat. Watching as he crunches away hungrily.

I hummed amused. Going over to the coffee machine and setting it up. Pouring in the coffee grounds and water.

Pressing the button and watching the magic process.

The machine was kinda noisy but it was done type of ambience. It was rather quite.

Taking a seat at the table waiting for my coffee to get done.

I still couldn't get that dream out of my head. It's gotten so bad that theses dreams also became daydreams.

What's wrong with me?

"Is something troubling you, my son?"

I familiar voice brought me out of my inner dialogue.

"...Just bad sleep, Sensei.."

I responded with a yawn. Still feeling groggy. Sensei nodding in response, going over to the stove just to make him some tea.

"Care to talk with me about it? Issues are better fixed once shared with the person you trust."

I stand up also once hearing the coffee maker go off indicating the coffee was done. Grabbing a mug and pouring in the hot coffee.

"...I've been having theses dreams."

"Dreams? Aren't dreams a good thing?"

I take a sip of coffee after pouring in the right amount of creamer and sugar. Trying to reword my words.

"Well, they aren't really nightmares but I can't say there good dreams either...It's this girl-"

"A girl?"

"I've never met her! She has (Skin Tone) skin, Short/Long (Hair Color) hair, and her eyes....they were bright yellow. As if they were glowing."

Master Splinter's site never left me. I could tell he was just as curious as I was.

"But...she was chained. All over. Her arms cuffed up and chained from each side of a wall. Keeping her arms up. Her legs cuffed to the floor as well."

I began to reimagine the dream. She looked so tired and irritated. The room began to heat up as sweat drip down her face.

She clenched her teeth tightly and began to breathe hard. Her body glowing in heat.

A spark of flames come off her face and body. The room lighting up more. The heat getting excruciating as she screams out in agony. As flames consume her body once more. Taking over her like it did in all the other dreams.

That's where it always ends. And I wake up. Body shaking and sweating. Even with a fan on in my room I always wake up with night sweats.

O

nce finishing my story. I watch Master Splinter place is mug down. It was a Rat mug Mikey had made him for Father's Day years back.

"That is quite a dream, Raphael."

He responded with. Making me rub my head. Sitting back down at the table.

"I can't take it anymore, Sensei! All these dreams. They must mean something! The sweat and panic I feel every night- it can't be a coincidence right?"

I stare at Master Splinter. Hoping he would give me a good awnser.

"How about I tell you a story, Raphael."

"... No offense, Sensei. But I don't think a bedtime story is going to help."

"...Spike, bite your leaf if you want to hear my story."

I look at Spike. Hoping he wouldn't do it. But sadly, he looks up at the two of us and takes a bite of his lettuce. I groan and facepalm.

"Very well."

-here we go

"Back in the 12th century. There was once a samurai... His name was Sanada Masamune. He was a young and fearless worrier."

I rest my head on my palm. Listening in on the story being told to me. Wondering where he was going with this.

"He to had odd dreams about a female. A female he's never met nor knew the name of. He would claim having strange dreams about seeing her. How every time he saw her in a dream she was being hurt or attacked. Barley on her feet and in so much pain."

My head stuck up slightly. Now intrigue about the topic. My eyes holding interest.

"He also claim to feel her pain. Everytime in the dream where she was injured, he to could feel it. It was a pain he endorse for years. Still never being able to find the woman... Through time he began to grow feelings for the woman in his dream. Feeling shame that he couldn't save her."

Once hearing that. I felt my plastron ache. I place my hand to my chest. Feeling my heart...

"... No more was he going to endure it. He was tired of seeing her feel pain. So he sent out to the accident Goddess of Love, Benzaiten. He begged her to awnser his question. To know if the girl in his dream was nothing more than his imagination, and if he has just gone mad...."

"...Then what, Sensei?"

"She told him that the woman was instead real. And that those dreams weren't dreams, but visions. Explain to him that your soulmate links to your mind. Meaning that you feel his or hers everything. Wether it's happiness or pain."

Soulmates?...

"Once gaining the knowledge. He sent out in search of his soulmate. Being told that no matter where you are ... you'll always know where your true love lays. It took them years... But he finally found her. In her beaten form from years of abuse by her family. He took her away. Promising she'll never feel pain again... And he kept that promise until the day he died."

I blinked owlishly.

Wait....that's it??!

"That's it!? Sensei, how is that suppose to help me? A fairytale about True Love? Really? If I wanted a dumb awnser I would of asked Mikey."

Soulmates? Yeah right...No such thing!....

But...why does my heartache everytime I think of her... She can't be real right? It's just dreams....

Right?

Master Splinter strokes his beard. "All dreams have meaning, my son. Perhaps it is a message...How do you feel about this girl?"

"I don't know her, Sensei! She just started to show in my dreams a month ago! And, how I feel about her?....I-....I...."

---

How can I feel about her...?

...I've never been in love...

But I know theses dreams can't be coincidental...

"Morning Sensei, morning Raph."

Leo came into the kitchen. Coming behind him was also Donnie working on a gadget. I didn't realize how fast time went. As it was now later in the morning.

Mikey somehow was already in the living room watching TV with a bowl of cereal in hand... Wait how is that even possible? We were in here this whole time!

Sensei greeted my brother. Before turning back to me. Giving me a bit of a worried look.

"... I wish you had told us earlier, my son. You haven't been looking well these past few days. Your training has been getting sloppy too. And you've been dozing off more lately. Maybe you should have Donatello take a look-"

"NO!"

I grip my mug tightly and slam it down on the table. Making it shake slightly as all eyes were on me. Feeling embarrassed I stand up.

"I'm fine, Sensei .... Forget I said anything. They're just stupid dreams... I'm going back to my room. Call me when training begins."

I picked back up Spike. Leaving my coffee on the table and heading back into my room. Closing the door behind me. I could still feel their eyes watching me as I leave out.

Ones closing the door. I sit on the edge of my bed and bring my hands up to my face.

"There you go again. Pushing away everybody that only wants to help you... You wonder why you're not the leader?"

I insult myself. Spike sitting next to me places his small hand on my thigh. But I was too deep into my self-pity that I didn't even notice at first.

"Why would anybody be your soulmate. Your heartless and cruel. You're not even good enough to be on this team. What makes you think you'd be good enough for someone else?..."

As I continue on this rant. I felt my body began to heat up. At first it was a slow Heat. But then it became full-fledged burning. I began to overheat. My body sweating profoundly. Why was I so hot all of a sudden?

Quickly running over to my fan and cranking it all the way on to maximum cool. Bringing my face towards it. My bandana strings blew. Letting out a sigh as I felt a tiny bit of relief.

"... What is happening to me?"

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To be continued