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April opened her eyes to blackness. There must have been a power outage, that was the only time the City ever got this dark. Except, wasn’t it morning? It had been morning, at some point. Or maybe that was yesterday. She couldn’t lie in bed all day trying to puzzle this out, there was somewhere she had to be. April started to roll over to look at the clock on the bedside table, forgetting for the moment about the blackout, and bumped her head against something hard and angular. Her arm scraped against something rough when she reached up to rub her bruised forehead. She felt around with both hands, fingers brushing against more rough surfaces on either side of her. April closed her eyes, not that it made much difference in the dark, and fought against her rising panic. There wasn’t enough space for her to sit up or roll over.
She tried calling out and choked on the dust coating her throat. She coughed, swallowed, and tried again. Her voice sounded stronger that time. Holding her breath, she listened desperately for any sign of there was something else living beyond the walls of her tomb and was rewarded with sounds of movement somewhere to her right. April called out again, anxiously. The sound stopped, and for a horrible moment she feared she had imagined it. After she wasn’t sure how long, she heard a shuffling close by her ear followed by a grunt, then a chunk of debris beside her slid aside and light spilled in through a hole big enough for her to crawl through.
April wriggled around until she was able to pull herself through the opening, grinning in relief at finally being out of that cramped space. As soon as she was able, she sat up and looked around. She was in some sort of vaguely circular hollow under a pile of tightly packed rocks and broken wooden beams. April estimated the whole space was a little smaller than her apartment. More rocks were scattered around the grey dust of the hollow floor or heaped into mounds like the one she had been trapped under. The light was coming from a handheld camping lantern sitting in a small gap in the wall where three huge boulders butted up against each other. She could see someone standing over her out of the corner of her eye – undoubtedly whoever had cleared the way for her – and turned toward them gratefully to offer her thanks. April’s relief, as well as her smile, faded when she discovered her rescuer was Shredder.
“You don’t look all that thrilled to see me,” he said, crossing his arms.
“Generally, as a rule of thumb, never thrilled to see you,” she replied. “Would have much preferred it if . . . quite literally anyone else had found me.”
“I’m afraid beggars can’t be choosers. Now, since I helped you, it’s only fair that you help me.” He reached down and gripped her arm, pulling her to standing. April shrieked as pain shot up through her leg. She pitched to the side when it buckled underneath her, and Shredder grabbed her other arm to steady her before she could collapse to the ground.
“My foot,” she groaned through clenched teeth. Shredder helped her hobble over to a relatively flat chunk of rubble and sat her down with her leg extended, then crouched in front of her and picked up her foot. Before she could say anything, he’d unzipped her boot and pulled it off along with her sock. April didn’t have much medical knowledge but could tell her foot was horribly swollen, dark bruises blooming around the ankle. She gripped the edge of the rock tightly while Shredder examined her injury, hissing whenever his probing fingers found a tender spot.
“It’s not broken,” he said finally. “But your ankle’s badly sprained.”
“Appreciate the consultation, Dr. Oroku,” April said dryly. Shredder shot her an irritated look and carefully set her foot down. Standing again, he wordlessly removed his cape and began tearing it into strips. “Ugh, you can’t be serious,” she said under her breath.
He pretended not to hear her as he finished ripping the material apart, then knelt once more and began wrapping her ankle with the improvised bandages. “What did you think I was going to do?” He asked mildly. April didn’t bother answering that question, just watched him deftly wind the strips of purple fabric around her foot. The light she’d so been grateful for just a short time ago after being in the dark for so long was making her eyes water and triggering a migraine.
“Don’t suppose you have any pain killers in whatever magic pocket you found that lantern in,” she said while he was tying off the binding. “My head is killing me.” Shredder looked up at her sharply, something like concern flashing in his eyes. After giving the knot one final tug, he stood smoothly and retrieved the lantern. “Hey, what are –“ she protested when he grasped her chin and tilted her head back so she was looking up at him. He held the lantern above her face a moment, the light sending shards of pain shooting through her skull, then lowered it to his side and took a step back.
“You have a concussion, too,” he said bluntly.
“Great, that’s just what I need,” April grumbled, wiping away the tears pouring down her cheeks. “How can you be so certain about that? Do you get an honorary medical degree when you finish ninja school?”
“Recognizing and treating injuries are some of the earliest lessons in training. I’m sure you can guess why.” He nodded to the wrapping on her foot. “Your friend Splinter could have done the same for you.” Left unsaid was the fact Splinter had been the one he’d learned it from.
“Too bad he isn’t here instead,” she muttered, pain and circumstances making her surly. “I actually enjoy his company.”
“Why thank you, Shredder. How fortunate you were here and willing to administer first aid for me,” he spat before turning to replace the lantern in its alcove. “Ungrateful little — I ought to just leave you here and continue searching for a way out.”
“What’s stopping you?” she shot back.
“There is no way out,” he admitted begrudgingly, looking down at the ground. “When I heard you, I’d hoped . . . your Turtlecom . . .” He glanced back up at her.
April reached into her pocket for the little communicator. The cover had been crushed and some of the internal wiring was poking out of a large crack in the back. “Don’t think that’s an option,” she sighed and stuffed the useless device back in her pocket. “Take it your comlink is broken too?”
“It’s functional but no one is answering. Probably something in the rubble above us blocking the signal. You need to elevate that foot.” April blinked, disoriented by the abrupt change in topic. Shredder quickly scanned the hollow, then pointed to a darkened corner where a wide slab of rock jutted out from the wall. “Do you think you can get over there?” She grimaced but nodded weakly. He helped her up and supported her weight as she slowly hopped across the space on her good foot.
“Why’d you do it, anyway?” April asked when she had settled into her new spot, back resting against the wall and both legs stretched out on the ledge in front of her. He looked at her questioningly and she rocked her bandaged foot back and forth a tiny bit in answer.
“There was no reason not to,” he said, sliding a chunk of debris under her heel. “Plus, I thought it might generate some goodwill with your turtle friends assuming they found us first.”
“Ah, well at least it wasn’t totally for selfless reasons. Would hate to have it get out that you’d do anything out of pure altruism.” April was suddenly struggling to stay awake. That little bit of exertion moving across the hollow had been enough to wear her out. “Where even are we? What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” She shook her head, then noted with alarm she was in the dark again. It took a tremendous effort to force her eyes back open. In the brief moment before they refocused, she saw two Shredders looking down at her with that same odd look of concern from earlier. “Resting is the best thing you can do right now.”
April snorted. “Right, like I’m going to just take a nap while you’re . . . over there.” It would have been a more impressive argument if her eyes weren’t already drifting shut again.
“Since there’s no way for us to get out, it’s highly unlikely anything can get in, either.” He laughed quietly. “Don’t worry, Miss O’Neil. If anything dangerous were to get in here, I’ll protect you.”
“Not really what I was getting at,” she mumbled, words slurring together drunkenly. Her eyes refused to stay open any longer. She felt her head lolling to the side. The last thing she remembered before slipping into unconsciousness was thinking that Shredder hadn’t ever answered her question.
***
“Coming up tomorrow, I’ll be conducting a live interview with the director of the new Stockton Street lab. He and his team have been developing a new, affordable, alternative fuel source derived from recyclable consumer plastic. We’ll be discussing their work, as well as the long-term impact he hopes it will have on the environment . . .“
***
April’s first thought upon waking was she would need to add a stiff neck to her list of injuries. Her second thought was it didn’t help the pounding in her head at all. She groaned and lifted her head, massaging the protesting muscles with the tips of her fingers.
“How as your nap?” April blinked her eyes open and looked over at Shredder sitting on a little pile of rubble under the lantern, turning a small stone over in his hands.
“I was dreaming about . . . an interview I need to do.” She frowned. “Or maybe I . . . already did it?”
“Buried beneath a pile of rocks and dreaming about your job.” He chuckled. “You’re even more of a workaholic than I ever imagined.”
April glared at him. “Surprised to see you’re still here.”
“I told you,” he said patiently, tossing the stone aside. “There’s no way out.”
“Thought you might have, I don’t know, portaled out by now.”
“Krang’s still not answering me. Starting to think he might be doing it out of spite.” The light from the lantern glinted on his armor as he stood and walked across the hollow to stand beside her. “How do you feel?”
“‘M thirsty,” she murmured, less thrown off by the abrupt shift in conversation this time. “And still tired.”
“Fatigue’s to be expected with a concussion,” he said gently. April got the impression he was speaking from experience.
“How long have we been here?” She asked, rubbing her arms in the chill that had settled in the hollow while she slept. Concern flickered in Shredder’s eyes, so fast she might have imagined it.
“Impossible to tell. Could be hours, could be days.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What, you don’t have a watch?”
“Doesn’t really go with the outfit.”
“Fair point,” she conceded, the corner of her mouth quirking up in amusement. After considering briefly she said very quietly, “It doesn’t feel like days.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “No, I suppose you’re right.”
April shivered again and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “When did it get so cold in here?” The look of concern was unmistakable now. Shredder removed one of his gauntlets and laid the back of his hand on her forehead. She almost wished he’d left that little bit of armor on; the cool metal would have felt wonderful against her skin. . .
“You’re developing a fever.” The concern shifted to annoyance, and he dropped his hand. “I’d offer you a blanket but the only thing that could have been used for that purpose is, well.” He looked meaningfully at her foot.
“This day just keeps getting better and better,” April moaned and leaned her head back against the wall.
“It could be worse,” he said reasonably, sliding the gauntlet back onto his hand.
April scowled up at him. “I have a head injury, a sprained ankle, and am trapped in a cave-in with one of my least favorite people in the world. How could it be worse?”
“You could be alone.” He pointed to lantern behind him. “In the dark.”
She winced and looked away. “Sorry.”
“I’m going to go ahead and chalk that up to the head injury.”
She looked back up at him and said apologetically, “I’m stuck in here with you means you’re also stuck in here with me. I know you don’t really like me much either, so this can’t be any more enjoyable for you.”
“Being trapped anywhere isn’t all that enjoyable to begin with. And I wouldn’t necessarily say I don’t like you, Miss O’Neil. Mostly I find you . . . useful.” He flicked a hand dismissively. “Though I guess you are far more pleasant to have around than Krang.”
“Gee, thanks. I think there might have been a compliment in there somewhere.”
“No, now you’re hearing things,” he teased. “Definitely a result of the head injury.” His eyes glittered merrily for another moment before he sobered. “You should get some more sleep.”
“There a reason you want me well rested?” April asked suspiciously, though her eyes were starting to drift shut again.
Shredder spread both his hands. “There’s little else to do.” Gravel crunched under his boots as he returned to the other side of the hollow and resumed his seat under the lantern. April watched him go, feeling oddly disappointed their chat had ended. Another wave of shivers passed through her. She hunkered down against the wall, teeth chattering, and stared at her foot wrapped snugly in purple cloth until sleep claimed her once more.
***
“10:15am, reports of an explosion at 1-9-8-4 Stockton Street. City FD is en route now. Be advised, the stability of the structure is unknown at this time.”
***
April was jolted awake by a high-pitched buzzing that sent vibrations through the walls and the rock ledge she lay on. A loud grinding sound high above her started up soon after. “What’s that noise?!”
“The building’s collapsing on top of us,” Shredder said calmly beside her.
She turned toward him sharply, heart hammering in her chest. “You don’t seem too concerned about that!”
“I finally made contact with Krang. He’s working on getting the portal open now.” He reached out and gently stroked her hair. “And I’ve decided to take you with me,” he added softly, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. April whimpered around the knot of fear that lodged in her throat seeing his eyes light with a malicious glee that carried the promise of many horrible things. “Go back to sleep, Miss O’Neil,” he said coldly. “The next time you wake up, we’ll be in the Technodrome.”
He left her then, cruel laughter mingling with the noise of the crumbling building. April was caught between desperately wanting to be out of the hollow and terrified imagining what Shredder might have planned for her once they were free. The sounds of shifting debris above her grew louder. Dust and small stones started raining down on her head. The lantern was going dim. She’d lost track of Shredder.
The next time you wake up . . .
It must have been the concussion scrambling her thoughts that convinced April if she could just stay awake, there was no way they could take her to Dimension X.
***
“And now for an update on a story we’ve been following. A little after 10 o’clock yesterday morning, an explosion occurred at one of the laboratories on Stockton Street. The building sustained significant damage which eventually caused the whole structure to collapse. Search and rescue teams have been on scene since then sifting through the wreckage looking for a group of lab employees and visitors that had been inside the facility before it came down. Moments ago, the fire chief announced the last of the victims has been found. We’re being told she is alive and being taken to a nearby hospital. Everyone who was in the building has now been accounted for.”
***
The wheels of the gurney clattered over linoleum tiles.
"Female, late twenties, early thirties. Unconscious, likely head trauma. Injury to the left lower extremity. Dehydrated . . .”
***
April had never been so frightened to discover she had fallen asleep.
The next time you wake up . . .
The awful buzzing and grinding sounds had stopped. Only a periodic beeping somewhere, hard to tell how close, disturbed the silence. She must be in the Technodrome now. She didn’t want to open her eyes and see the cold metal walls of her new prison. If she kept them closed, she wouldn’t have to. If she kept them closed, she could somehow keep it from being real.
More details of her present situation filtered in as sleep faded, much as she tried to block them out. She lay on her back on a flat surface that, while not overly comfortable, was at least more yielding than that rock slab. A blanket had been spread over her. There was something fastened around her wrist. Manacles? Seemed overkill to chain her down since she couldn’t walk. She clenched her fists angrily and felt something pinch the back of her hand. Her head still hurt. Tears slipped from beneath her eyelids and soaked into the thin pillow under her cheek. A sob welled up inside her. She let it out, loud and uncontrolled, not caring who heard it. Or if anyone would.
“Are you awake?” April’s eyes flew open hearing the unfamiliar voice.
The first thing she saw were the rails of a hospital bed. Did the Technodrome have a sick bay? It must. Even aliens needed medical attention at times, didn’t they? Tubing from an IV bag snaked down to the cannula inserted into a vein in her hand. A plastic hospital ID bracelet was wrapped around her wrist. Lifting her gaze a little higher she saw, not the blank metal walls she was expecting, but a row of wide glass windows. And beyond them, a beautiful view of sunset over the City. April raised her head and looked in the direction the voice had come from. A petite woman with long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and a nurse’s badge clipped to the pocket of her scrubs stood in the doorway.
“Where am I?” April croaked.
“City General Hospital,” the nurse said, coming around to stand beside the bed. “They brought you in from that collapsed building on Stockton Street. You’re lucky. What I hear, you were the last person they found. You have a concussion and – “
“A sprained ankle,” April finished. “I know.” The nurse stared at her, bewildered. April burst into tears.
***
The doctors advised April stay overnight for observation given the severity of her concussion and dehydration. The turtles hovered around her while she sat up in bed later that night. Visiting hours were long over, the sky outside the windows solid black.
“So Shredder really wasn’t involved at all?” April asked. She’d told them everything about being trapped under the collapsed building, and they’d filled in the blanks about the lab explosion and rescue mission.
“Nope, just your regular old run-of-the-mill lab accident,” Donatello confirmed. “That . . . took the whole building down with it.”
“Seriously, of all the people you could have hallucinated, why him?” Raphael asked.
April scrubbed her face with both hands. “I dunno. Maybe because usually when I’m faced with life-threatening danger, he has something to do with it.”
“You have no idea how scary that was,” Leonardo said anxiously. “Watching it all play out live and not being able to do anything. Seeing everyone else get rescued and not knowing if you were. . .” He reached over the rail and squeezed her hand. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” The other turtles nodded solemnly, each with the same haunted look in their eyes. April smiled, touched once again by their concern.
“Can you guys stay here with me?” She didn’t want mention she was worried if she fell asleep again, she’d wake up in some prison cell in the Technodrome.
“Of course!” Leonardo said immediately.
“At least until morning rounds start,” Donatello amended. Seeing her nervous look he quickly added, “which won’t be for several more hours yet.”
After a few more words of encouragement and reassurance from the turtles, April lay down and settled in to sleep. Despite feeling comforted by her friends’ presence, she still resisted slipping under as long as possible.
***
April opened her eyes to darkness. The overhead light was turned off. They’d closed the door to her room earlier to prevent anyone walking by from looking in and seeing the turtles. Now, it blocked out all the light from the hallway except for a thin strip near the floor. The soft ambient glow of the City seeping in through the windows was just bright enough for her to pick out where the turtles had arranged themselves around the room. Michelangelo had claimed the big recliner, the others were stretched out on the ground. All four were snoring softly.
“Certainly a better view than anywhere in the Technodrome,” Shredder said from where he leaned against the window, gazing out at the streets below.
April tensed. “Are you really here or just in my mind?”
He turned toward her and raised an eyebrow. “What do you think?”
“Guess I should have figured out none of it was real when you treated my sprain. The real Shredder wouldn’t have done that.”
“You can’t say that for certain. I’m a figment of your imagination. At some level you had to believe it could be possible.” He crossed the room and stood beside the bed. “I promise those aren’t poisonous.” He gestured to the vase of flowers that had been placed on the bedside table. “But then, if they’re not real there’s nothing to worry about.” April laughed wryly. Shredder leaned forward and brushed her hair back from her forehead. “Take care, Miss O’Neil,” he said fondly, then slowly faded away.
April pulled the blanket up to her chin, rolled onto her side, and closed her eyes. For the first time in a day, she didn’t worry about what she might find the next time she opened them.