Chapter Text
It was late at night, 3:17 AM to be exact, and everyone in the lair was asleep, all except Mikey, he couldn't seem to fall asleep, and he didn't know why, he was tired, so why couldn't sleep? Even if he was slightly tired he could pass out right away and today's training left him exhausted but why couldn't he sleep?
Maybe it's from all the leftover adrenalin, but training isn't that exciting, Maybe if they fought some huge bad guy patrolling it would make sense for him to have some excess energy, but it was just basic training they didn't even do any "fighting". All that happened was they did a bunch of boring meditation and practiced some ninja moves.
Mikey didn't know what to do so he thought, maybe he could just go outside for a quick walk to take a breather and let go of some energy, Nobody would notice, a quick in and out. He sits on the edge of his bed before hyping himself up and finally getting up and walking into the living room, stumbling over his feet.
Mikey is tired and a little nervous, Mikey didn't sneak out of the sewer often, he never really had a reason to, and when he did it usually never went well and when he got home he would always get in trouble and wouldn't be let out of Splinter watchful eye for weeks. Even at 15, he isn't allowed to leave without permission, especially alone he thinks maybe if he doesn't leave the sewers he won't get in as much trouble cause he didn't technically leave and he won't even be going that far anyway.
Micheal glances at his skateboard debating whether or not he should bring it, he hesitantly decides not to cause it was a quick trip and a skateboard might be too loud anyway, he quickly grabs his nun-chucks and puts them in his belt just in case he needs them, he doesn't think anything bad will happen but you can never be too safe. At least that's what Leo always says, seems like all of Leo's "wise words" are in fact getting to him.
Mikey goes to leave his room, As he goes to open the door to leave his body comes to a sudden halt before he opens his door, A nagging feeling that he's forgetting something overcomes him, but he can't remember what exactly, he has his nun-chucks what else does he need?..
Mikey scans his room quickly to see if he missed something, but he can't see anything he thought was important to take with him, so he leaves his room, using his years of ninja training to sneak by his brothers and father's room. Mikey doesn't have a quiet bone in his body but he still makes it to the sewer entrance without waking anyone.
Mikey can't help but start having doubts about doing this as he gets closer to the exit, What if he gets caught sneaking out or worse sneaking back in, What if something happens and he needs his brothers, or what if something happens in here and his brothers need him- okay that one is not likely, but still who knows?
Mikey shakes his head to stop any more rapid thoughts, it is starting to make his head hurt, Mikey thoughts tend to be more out of Mikey's control when he's tired, his thoughts go everywhere since he's too tired to focus on something so he just focuses on everything. Mikey shook his head again overthinking stuff is making his head hurt but shaking it repeatedly also made his head hurt, There is no winning here.
Mikey takes a deep breath and makes his decision to go on a quick walk around the sewer and come straight back. Mikey really didn't want to get in trouble but he wanted to get out of the lair for a few minutes. Mikey jumped into the water and left into the sewers.
---
After emerging from the water Mikey stands there looking around trying to figure out which way to go. "If I go to the left I might see Leatherhead, but if I go to the right I might-" his train of thoughts stopped, and when he was turning his head to face the right sewer tunnel he caught sight of another tunnel he didn't remember being there, straight ahead. He must've been too tired to notice it getting out of the water but now that he has, he grows curious stepping closer to the new tunnel.
"Tunnel number 3?"
Usually, the tunnel numbers were longer than three digits, but this one was a single digit, Mikey's curiosity grew the more he looked into the tunnel it seemed to be going just straight for miles, Why? Was this a new tunnel? He would have known if a new tunnel was built it's right in front of the lair and besides this tunnel wasn't here yesterday when he was going home with his brothers or was it? No probably not Donnie would've pointed it out, so what is it?
Mikey walks closer noticing how dark the inside is, he was never a fan of the dark, he'll tell Donnie about this tomorrow, or maybe he'll lead Donnie to this tomorrow so he doesn't have to explain how he found it, maybe he should do some quick exploring, so they'll kinda know what to expect when searching tomorrow, he walks into the tunnel, stomach-turning and fidgeting with his hands
As he walks only a couple of feet away from the entrance the light disappears like a door just closed behind him, but there was no noise it just went away, the boy screams as he quickly reaches for his T-phone for some light, he feels around his belt he can't feel his T-phone, he realizes left his T-phone was the thing he couldn't remember to grab earlier, how could he forget something like that, Donnie and Leo are always telling him to bring his T-phone whenever they leave, how did he forget, he only brought his nun-chucks which in this situation feels useless.
The turtle tries to run back from where he came from but it's a lot longer than before, Why is it still going, Is he running the wrong way, no he swears he came in this way, Did he already turn around he only walked a couple of feet, what if he didn't? What if he walked further in and then forgot about it? He doesn't know, he's always had a bad memory but it can't be that bad, is it? he starts to run the other way maybe he was just going the wrong way.
Mikey felt his eyes water as his curiosity turned into fear, he was now by himself in the dark, and he had no way of getting in touch with anyone, no idea what was happening, or if he was even in the same tunnel, this can't be happening maybe he did fall asleep and this is just a bad dream, where he's in a pitch black tunnel alone, he was never good with being alone or trapped so mix those two together and you have Mikey's worst nightmare.
His head hurt, everything was so confusing.
Mikey would always get panicked quickly and usually, his brothers would snap him out of it but now he was left with his fear, with his only option to maybe get out is to run. Everyone thought Mikey was the most optimistic of the group, which to a certain degree is true, but Mikey was quick to think of the worst to happen and believe that it's true when in a situation like this.
-- 2 hours of walking later
He ran and ran till he couldn't run anymore, and fell to the ground shaking, with more tears pooling down his face, he was lost in a never-ending dark tunnel, he just wanted his brothers to get him, he didn't care if he gets yelled at or lectured he just wanted to be with them, he hated being away from his family. If he thought he was alone as a hatchling he would cry and scream until someone found him, but any attempts to call for someone now didn't work.
"Guys!!! Please!! I'm lost!! Guys?!! please..."
The boy's attempt to scream fails as his voice goes quiet and wobbly.
Only he could hear his screams, his sobs echoed through only his ears.
Realizing that he was truly alone, he felt like the only thing he could do was go forward, unable to tell if he was going deeper into the tunnel or not, It didn't matter he knew no matter where he went it would be the same tunnel, no matter how many steps he took it never ended up anywhere, he was trapped he has no escape, he might be lost forever, never to see his family or friends again, stuck in an endless loop.
-
His body was tired from exhaustion his vision blurry from tears, but it didn't matter he could barely see his hands in front of him, as he walks and walks his body grew sore, and he flopped down onto the ground, throat strained and dry from multiple attempts to call for someone, his eyes bloodshot and burning, and his face is stained with tears and snot. He can no longer keep going, but he still tries to pull himself forward with some hope left that he will make it to the end of this hell hole. His eyes shut as his body succumbs to the feeling of exhaustion, Mikey passed out before he could even protest against it, at least Mikey was right about letting go of some energy with a quick walk.