Luca sat at the table with his family, sipping at the soup that had been made for the meal that day. He sat there, staring at the soup the entire time, going through his memories with a slight frown.
`How did that guy know me.....? Why does it feel like I know him.....? Something he said was familiar, but what was it? I can't remember what he said.......This is so frustrating......and there's that tattoo I don't remember getting......and dating Jasmine feels.....wrong? I don't remember proposing to her either, but we're scheduled to be married......why can't I reme.....'
``Luca, is something wrong with your meal?'' Bertha snipped at the spaced out hybrid, frowning deeply.
The young reptile snapped out of his trance and smiled at his step-mother. ``No, nothings wrong. Just remembering a funny guy in the street the other day is all mother.''
``Funny? Funny how?'' she inquired like she was actually interested.
``He said he knew me. He hugged me and was this big burly guy. I can't remember what else he said, but he was very rude to Jasmine, so I suppose it wouldn't matter what he said, right?'' Luca laughed softly, trying to make light of the topic.
Bertha however looked horrified, glaring at Luca now. The young reptile swallowed hard at the glare, his smile falling into a puzzled frown.
``You went outside?'' the woman demanded.
``Yes.....i-it was my idea. I wanted to go back out in public like when I was younger. I-I didn't see the harm in one day of adventure,'' the singer tried to defend.
``YOU WERE TOLD NOT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, YOU STUPID FILTHY CHILD!!!'' the woman shrieked at Luca, bolting out of her chair and smacks Luca with all her might. Luca ended up tumbling out of his chair due to the force and landing on the floor with an audible thump. He held his cheek and looked at her with wide eyes.
Before Bertha could take another step towards Luca, however, her own eldest son quickly stepped behind her and held her back. ``Mother, calm down. You need to remember why he's even here!''
That snapped Bertha out of her rage and a sudden look of worry filled her entire face. Suddenly dropping to her knees, she tenderly touches Luca's stomach, trying to be sure that she didn't do any visible damage to him.
``Go see the doctor and have him check to make sure everything's fine, right now!'' Bertha commanded quickly, pointing in the general direction of the doctor's office.
Luca slowly nods before standing up to his full height and heads over to the doctor's office, extremely confused on his step-mother's reaction.
`Why did she touch my stomach.......am I ill....she hasn't had that kind of anger outburst in years....she did seem a bit tense recently.......within the last month I think.......what could have made her so angry...........?'
Luca continued to the doctor's office with these thoughts running through his mind, mindlessly rubbing his tummy. The action catches him by surprise when he was about to knock on the door.
`Now that's bizarre......Why was I.........?'
Before he could finish his thought, he winces in pain when a throbbing headache attacks his head.
`M-maybe I should lie down......'
Instead of walking into the doctor's office like he was told, Luca slowly made his way to his bedroom, holding his head while continuing to rub his stomach. The headache throbbed and stabbed at his mind harshly, making it difficult for him to walk a straight line.
When he finally manages to make it to his room, he finds he's having a hard time breathing. He tries to take gulps of air, only finding it harder to breath. Luca stumbles into his room, trying to keep his balance while he makes his way to his bed. His vision fuzzing up with the world spinning, Luca landed less than gracefully onto his bed, gasping for breath.
His world was growing dark.......there was some noise behind him.......a deep voice that shook him to his core........a light.......and before Luca was swallowed by the darkness, a moment of clarity allowed him to form one coherent thought.
`Raph.......help.......'
