Well here it is, the first chapter of Jailed and the last in the trilogy of Behind Bars. In case you've first started reading this trilogy, the order is: Caged, Imprisoned, Jailed. You can check them all out on my profile! Please enjoy!
Raph knew life had never been easy. Living in New York was difficult enough as it was, but being a freak made life….well….even worse. But being a captured freak – Raph sighed.
He knew where he was – he was stuck in the same cage he'd lived a month in - in the same trailer of Macaster. Both hands were chained close to the steel floor and the rough leather muzzle was back on his face again.
I soo did not miss this. He thought, annoyed, as he gave a jerk on the chains. They held fast and every clank the links made drove him crazy. It was like they were taunting him…and he did not take well to being taunted, especially when there was nothing he could do about it.
Curse you Macaster. When I get out of here, you'd better be in Japan on a tiny island where it'll take me longer to get to you. Maybe you'll get lucky and you'll get eaten by a polar bear – like on Lost.
"You captured him again?" a woman's voice asked from outside the trailer door.
Raph tensed. Macaster had gotten a new vet – the last one had an unfortunate drowning when dealing with the crocodile. The new woman, he'd met her on the way in, was stocky and short with boy short blonde hair with long bangs in front, framing her badly tanned face. She had hazel eyes and was always chewing gum.
The trailer door creaked open and light poured in.
Raph wished he could cover his eyes from the harsh rays of the sun but all he could do was squint as the two dark shapes moves towards his cage.
"He looks like he's in bad shape." The woman murmured, moving her face close to the bars, peering in at Raph with a critical eye.
He squirmed under her piercing hazel gaze – he didn't know what it was about her but he felt weak and helpless under her gaze.
That's because you are stupid….now what? He thought annoyed as she reached into her black medical bag, coming out with a stethoscope. Shell no!
He squirmed away as far as his chains would let him, growling under the muzzle. He saw that it was thicker than the last one, and instead of a mesh covering in front, it was a thick plastic that shaped out his beak with a few breathing holes in it. There was a leather strap in back that was tightly strapped and buckled on. He could feel the cold steel of the buckle on the back of his head, way out of access for him to even hope of getting it off.
"He's beautiful." She said, reaching through the thick bars and sticking the cold steel end of the stethoscope on Raph's chest.
Raph jerked back as felt the cold steel circle touch his plastron. He didn't like that this woman had complete control of him – every part of him.
With a gulp, he decided to see if she'd fall for the 'poor animal' line. Summoning his best Mikey look, he stared at her with big amber eyes. It didn't matter how desperate he was, he refused to let out a whimper like Mikey would when he showed off the look.
"Is that muzzle really needed?" she asked, obviously falling for it.
Raph bit back a chuckle. Sucker….
Macaster took one look at Raph and did a double take. "Odd." He chuckled. "Whatever you do though, despite his look, don't take off that muzzle. It was made for a reason, understand Suzy?"
Suzy? Raph thought in relief as she removed the stethoscope from his plastron and removed her arms from the bars. She even buckled up the bag after putting away the stethoscope, noting his discomfort with it open.
"What's his name? Suzy asked, stepping back.
"Raphael." Macaster said impatiently, checking the watch on his wrist. "I really need you to go check out the tigers. The large male, Fang, seems to be favoring his right hind leg."
"I'll check him out." She promised and with one last sorrowful, somewhat regretful look at Raph, she left the trailer.
"Ya think ya won turtle?" Macaster hissed, kneeling down, staring at Raph in the eye.
Raph met his gaze evenly, summoning every ounce of anger and rage coursing through his body into his amber orbs. Ya don't scare me Macaster.
"Well think again. I've learned from our last encounter turtle." Macaster let out a deep chuckle. "You'll be lucky to go anywhere but outside this trailer, except for training and shows. The collar you have on has a special device in it, along with a tracker. But this time, I've placed barbs on the inside so you can't take it off without taking half your neck with it. Only I can take it off," he held out a small remote device from his pocket. "So this time turtle, you're out of luck."
Raph let out a growl, feeling the plastic around his mouth vibrate from his noises. He hated not being able to cuss his heart out or use his colorful words.
Shell Leo, you always told me those words should only be used on those who deserve it. Leo, bro, I think Macaster fits that bill.
But the only problem was, he couldn't. Drat, now I'll have to wait for the next time I see Shredder.
"Macaster?' A huge built man, obviously a weight lifter, stuck his head into the trailer. He looked unfazed at seeing Raph so the turtle could only assume he was part of it. "We're ready for you."
"Thank you Harold. Would you mind watching the turtle for me? I don't trust him just yet."
"Yes sir." Harold crossed his bulky arms across his chest, making his way heavily across the floor. The chair creaked under his weight when he sat down.
Well at least we don't have to worry about him sneaking up on us. Raph thought as he stretched out on the floor.
There was no straw or peat on the ground to comfort him from the cage floor. He watched the man for as long as he could before growing bored with it. Sitting back up, he leaned his shell against the back of the cage, deciding to try and aggravate the man.
He would make sure Harold was watching before making himself go cross-eyed and putting on silly faces. He wished he could stick out his tongue to add to affect, but the plastic over his mouth was still there and just as annoying.
"Knock it off turtle." Harold said gruffly.
Raph smirked and went on with what he was doing. What was he going to do? Unlock the cage and come in here?
Be my guest.
"Turtle, I'm warning you."
Even Raph could hear the empty threat in his voice. If he couldn't talk or cuss or fight, he could at least annoy his captors. He had a funny picture of them just letting him go for being to annoying. But of course that wasn't going to happen.
"Ya know turtle," Harold said randomly.
Can they call me something besides turtle? Geez, people, where ya'll imaginations go too?
"I don't think you remember her, but Becka, Macaster's daughter? Well she ran away a few days after you were taken by some crazy pajama-wearing cult or something like that." Harold waved his hand dismissively. "Some think she committed suicide. Others think you ate her."
Are they really that pathetic that they blame me? And I ate her? Was someone high when they came up with that one?
"Others think she ran away and joined the circus – a different one while I think she just got annoyed and ran off."
Ya think?
"Macaster is really ticked at ya, ya know?"
There's a club that he can join. It's nice too cause everyone kills each other off fighting for who's going to kill me.
"Ya might not survive here long."
Buddy, I came from New York. This is nothing compared to the Big Apple.
"I pity for you."
Same here buddy, cause it ain't me who's going to get their butt kicked.
"Macaster has been preparing this trip since the moment he got offered you as a reward."
I've been preparing a trip too. Unfortunately, mine keeps being canceled or delayed due too severe idiots running around and possible chances of Hun and Shredder.
"We're leaving the United States in two weeks."
….is it too late to get a refund on my ticket? Shell, this is bad. Very bad.
Hurry guys….hurry.
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