The day was too quiet. Too quiet for the area you were going to on a foray. An old shopping center, all rusted, with mold and cracks in the walls. You were looking for supplies. Six people and two mutants - almost a family. You were leading them. Leo stayed on the other side of the city - to cover the tunnel through which you were supposed to return.

You thought everything was calm. You were wrong.

A roar.

The air exploded with a flash of poisonous pink. A metal frame tore off the ceiling with a crash. One of the people - instantly died.

"KRANG!!!" — someone screamed.

They walked like shadows in the smoke. Not immediately visible. But when they saw - it was too late.

"EVERYONE BACK!" — you screamed, pulling out a pistol. "GO AWAY! GO AWAY!!!"

They hesitated. They wanted to fight. But you stood between them and the enemy machines. Yourself. Without panic. Like a shield.

"I SAID — RUN!!!"

And at that moment one of the Kraang rushed forward. An artificial blade — made of blued metal — pierced you through. You flinched. The air burst from your lungs like a flash.

Someone screamed your name. You stepped back. Your knees were shaking, the world was swimming. But you turned around, the wound gaping under your ribs, blood pouring out like a stream — and fired. Point-blank. Right in the eye of the one who wounded you.

One of the mutants that was with you grabbed your hand and started running, since you didn't have time. Through the smoke, through the screams, you somehow managed to escape. You passed out while running.

"...Leo... tell Leo... that I tried..."

Your eyelids became heavy and your eyes closed. Your body weakened and fell first to your knees and then completely, face down.

The other mutants saw this, and one of them, quickly reacting, grabbed you in his arms, and they began to run as fast as they could to the shelter. Fortunately, it was not far to go..

A few minutes later, they had already run up. They immediately burst into the shelter and started calling for help from anyone they could see and asking for help.

Donnie just happened to be passing by. His eyes widened slightly when he saw you, and he quickly directed the mutants to the med bay.

After some time..

You were lying on an old operating table. Everything around was gray and dirty. Blood had flowed into the rags under your back. Your face was white. Your lips were cracked.

"The pressure is dropping!"

"Where is he?"

"She needs to be stitched up immediately, she's dying!!!"

Noise. Voices. Knock. The door swung open. And he burst in.

Leonardo.

Your face was smeared with ash, the bandage was askew. He didn't say anything. He just came up. He just stood and looked. At you.

You were unconscious. Your body jerked. They were stitching you up alive, you were delirious. You were saying his name through the blood. You were whispering fragments.

He knelt down. He took your hand. It was cold.

"…I…" — he couldn’t speak. His voice broke.

"I was in such a hurry… I… ran… You had no right to do this alone."

He was shaking. He leaned towards you. His shell touched your hip. He hugged you by the shoulders. Carefully. You moaned quietly — from pain. But you didn’t wake up.

"…They said that you managed to save them. You… you… always do this. Heroine," his lips trembled.

He leaned down to your head. He covered his face with his hands. The fabric of the bandage was wet with tears.

"I made it. I'm with you. You won't die... you won't die, do you hear?"

You moved. Just a little. Your lips trembled. A sound escaped them - not a word. Weak, ragged.

He straightened up. His eyes were in tears, but sharp as blades.

"Hey. Hey. I'm here. I'm holding you. You're not alone."

He leaned his forehead against mine. Closed his eyes. His whole soul was in that touch. In that quietest whisper. — "Please... just live."