HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 5

Michelangelo was having the most fantastic dream ever. He was the most popular guy in high school. He'd just won a surfing trophy and a football trophy and a video gaming trophy. He won them all the time. He was the school champion of everything. And his girlfriend was the prettiest girl in the school, plus she was also almost as good as him at skateboarding, video games, ninjitsu and kissing. Life was amazing. Mike walked across the grass in the sunshine, amongst regular people, all of whom greeted him admiringly. He'd never felt so happy. His girlfriend sat on a wall with three of her friends who he was thinking of introducing to his brothers, but only if his brothers were nice to him and did his chores for the next five years. His girlfriend smiled at him. She was beautiful, perfect in everyway. One of her friends was blowing bubbles. They floated past him reflecting rainbow colours in the sunlight.

Another girl had a cat on her lap and sat chatting to it as though it was a baby. Mike was about to speak when the cat spoke back. Mike blinked. That wasn't right. The cat morphed into a polar bear, snow began to fall and Mike felt the temperature drop.

He woke with a start and shivered. He was very cold and his room felt like a freezer. The frigid room wasn't particularly unusual, living in the sewers had many drawbacks and this was only one of them. This cold was different though. Mike sat up blinking away sleep.

A large pair of grey eyes stared into his own. Mike almost shot through the roof. The girl stepped back, her head tilted on one side. Mike only just managed to repress a scream, he felt a little foolish and began chuckling nervously. The ghost couldn't hurt him, but her appearance was puzzling.

"What are you doing here?"

She smiled and then vanished. Mike's room warmed almost instantly. He shivered and got out of bed, no way could he sleep now. Wrapping a blanket around his shoulders he wandered through to the lounge and sat on the couch, flicking on the TV. He wondered whether he should go and wake up Splinter and inform him of the ghost's appearance in their home. It almost six in the morning, Splinter would be up soon anyway.

Almost six am. Mikey shook his head. He was never up this early, not unless Leo dragged him out of bed. He sighed and clicked the channels over searching for cartoons.

Soon the door to Splinter's room opened and Splinter emerged looking a little bleary eyed. He did a double take when he saw Mike.

"Michelangelo, what are you doing up this early?" Splinter looked about. "Where is Leonardo?"

"Asleep sensei, he didn't wake me. I got up because," Mike paused, thinking to himself. Had he imagined it? Dreamt it? No, he was sure that he hadn't. "The ghost of that girl was in my room."

Splinter frowned. "What would it be doing here? Are you sure you did not dream it?"

Mikey thought of his awesome dream about high school then the weird feeling he'd woken up to. The sudden drop in temperature. Her pale, staring eyes. He hadn't imagined it that was for sure.

"I'm sure, sensei. She was here. My room was cold."

"She has never been here before." Splinter stated.

Mike nodded and rested his chin on his hand, watching Splinter make some tea.

"Odd indeed." Splinter gazed at Mike with concern for a moment. His son seemed confused, possibly shaken, though he didn't seen frightened.

"Why don't you go and get a shower, Michelangelo. It may relax you a little."

Mike nodded and left the room.

Splinter couldn't help dwelling on it as he poured boiling water into the teapot. There was no doubt about his son's sincerity, but Splinter could help hoping that Michelangelo had dreamt it. He'd always had an incredibly vivid imagination.

Michelangelo's voice suddenly piped up cheerfully, interrupting Splinter's thoughts. "Sensei! Donnie fell asleep in the shower!"

Splinter blinked. Then he heard Donatello's voice.

"Mike shhhhh! You don't have to tell him!"

Splinter sighed and put his tea down, made his way over to the bathroom and poked his head around the door. Don scrambled up quickly, his feet slipping on the wet floor. Splinter's brow furrowed.

Don grinned sheepishly. "Morning sensei."

"You have been in there all night?"

"Um," Don wondered how long Splinter had been awake. Would he get away with pretending he'd got up very early instead of coming home very late? He decided not to risk it. Splinter got up very early sometimes.

"I was tired. I went to bed late." Don grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist. "Can you believe I fell asleep in there, huh?" He padded out quickly, trying to get to his room before Splinter questioned him.

"Donatello."

"Yes, sensei…" Don shut his eyes.

"About these late nights on your computer. Perhaps you should take a break from it for a little while."

Don shook his head vigorously. "I wasn't on my computer, master. I went out." Anything was better than Splinter withdrawing his computer privileges.

"Late? On your own? When did you return?" Splinter questioned.

Don sighed. "I don't know."

Splinter raised his eyebrows.

"About half four… ish." Don winced. "Five… maybe…"

Splinter raised his eyebrows. "What was so important that you were out most of the night?"

Donnie's mind worked overtime trying to think of a plausible story, but his brain didn't work as it should. It was sluggish and uncooperative, tired, and possibly clogged with dirty black sludge from the dark part of the sewers the girl had died in. Leo had gotten Don into this, there was no way he was going to let himself take all of the blame, but there was also no way he could bring Leo into it without being a bit of a telltale.

Splinter shook his head slowly. "Leonardo was distracted all evening thinking about this ghost. Was he with you?"

Don gave a hesitant little nod.

Splinter wore a pained expression. "I will speak to you both when he wakes."

Splinter said no more so Donatello escaped to his room.

Splinter went back to his tea and wondered what would possess the two most level headed of his sons to go out so late at night to an unfamiliar and deeply unpleasant part of the sewers without telling him. Leonardo had, of course, been concerned about the ghost of the young girl, and had also been subdued all the previous day. He'd focused on little else, driven to distraction about her death. It must have to do with the ghost. Splinter wondered if it would be wise to forbid Leonardo to get involved or if it would make things worse. His thoughts then turned to Michelangelo. He had been so sure he'd seen the girl in his room and Splinter did not doubt his son's sincerity. If the ghost had indeed been in Michelangelo's room then perhaps it was too late to forbid Leonard to continue with his quest to help the ghost. Splinter cupped his tea in his hands lapsing deeper into thought. There was a sudden crash, Splinter sat bold upright. It was turning out to be an eventful morning.

Raph stormed out of his room, a wild look in his eyes.

"Raphael." Splinter said. "What is it?"

"That damn ghost! It was in my f…" Raph paused, just managing to stop himself from swearing in front of Splinter. "…my room!"

Splinter looked behind Raph and peered into his room. It was empty, but it really needed cleaning. However, now was not the time.

"It was there!" Raph spluttered.

Splinter nodded. "I know. Michelangelo saw it earlier. Would you fetch Leonardo and Donatello for me, please? I would like to speak with you all."

Splinter sat at the table awaiting his sons. He noticed a dirty item of jewellery on the table and picked it up. At first he thought it might be April's then ruled that out when he saw it was covered in sewage. He examined it closely. The stench emanating from it turned his stomach. Splinter was used to the smell of the sewer. This smell was different, it was foul… evil smelling. Splinter rubbed at a flat rectangular part of the bracelet trying to make out an engraved word. He knew where it was from and who it belonged to. Splinter gave an impatient shake of his head. He couldn't believe Leonardo would be so thoughtless as to bring the bracelet home.

Mike came out of the shower whistling a jolly tune. He'd almost convinced himself that the ghost's appearance had been the result of an over active imagination, too much pizza, and the late night movie.

One look at Splinter's angry expression and his whistle faded.

"Are you okay, Master? You look like, well…" Really pissed Mike was going to say, but decided against it.

"Please sit down, Michelangelo. I wish to speak to all of you."

Mike sat, Raph returned with a yawning Don who was followed shortly by Leo.

Splinter held up the bracelet. Raph and Mike both looked at it blankly. Don massaged his temple and glanced furtively at Leo.

"It belongs to the girl." Leo said.

Splinter nodded. "Yes. Why was it brought here?"

"I want to find out what happened to her," Leo replied. "She showed us where the bracelet was. I thought we could use it to trace her."

"Oh great." Raph gave an angry snort. "That thing was in my room, because you brought that here?"

"What was in your room?" Leo asked.

"Both Raphael and Michelangelo have had visits from the ghost this morning." Splinter explained. "It must have an attachment to this bracelet."

"Six am, Leo. Six am!" Mikey moaned at his brother.

"Oh. I didn't expect that." Leo said.

"I don't want to wake up to that dead thing in my face again, Leo." Raph growled.

"Can we just take the bracelet away and put it somewhere else?" Don said. "Like…"

"Like where it came from in the first place," said Raph. "I'm taking it back, no way am I living with a ghost." He picked up the bracelet.

Leo stood quickly. "No. I need that. I'm going to trace her with it."

Raph rolled his eyes and sneered. "How? It's got the name 'Susan' written on it. Now I'm no human," Raph spread his arms, his whole demeanour screaming sarcasm. "…but I'm pretty sure there's about half a million Susans out there. Past and present."

Leo reached out his hand. "I'll manage. Give it back."

"Leo, you've gone crazy." Raph shook his head.

"Give me the bracelet."

"I'm taking it back."

"Give me the bracelet," Leo's expression darkened.

"Enough." Splinter interrupted. "Raphael give Leonardo the bracelet."

"Fine." Raph dropped it into Leo's outstretched hand. His eyes narrowed. "Good luck."

Leo glared back. "Thanks." He said stiffly, he looked past Raph at Splinter. "Sensei, I'm going to visit April, she might help me."

"First I would like to speak with you."

Leo winced. "Please sensei, now that the ghost is in our home I'd like to get this over with and put her to rest as soon as possible. I shouldn't be too long at April's."

Splinter frowned, then gave a nod. "As you wish." He trusted Leonardo to do what he thought was right.

Description
Chapter 5

Michelangelo was having the most fantastic dream ever. He was the most popular guy in high school. He'd just won a surfing trophy and a football trophy and a video gaming trophy. He won them all the time. He was the school champion of everything. And his girlfriend was the prettiest girl in the school, plus she was also almost as good as him at skateboarding, video games, ninjitsu and kissing. Life was amazing. Mike walked across the grass in the sunshine, amongst regular people, all of whom greeted him admiringly. He'd never felt so happy. His girlfriend sat on a wall with three of her friends who he was thinking of introducing to his brothers, but only if his brothers were nice to him and did his chores for the next five years. His girlfriend smiled at him. She was beautiful, perfect in everyway. One of her friends was blowing bubbles. They floated past him reflecting rainbow colours in the sunlight.

Another girl had a cat on her lap and sat chatting to it as though it was a baby. Mike was about to speak when the cat spoke back. Mike blinked. That wasn't right. The cat morphed into a polar bear, snow began to fall and Mike felt the temperature drop.

He woke with a start and shivered. He was very cold and his room felt like a freezer. The frigid room wasn't particularly unusual, living in the sewers had many drawbacks and this was only one of them. This cold was different though. Mike sat up blinking away sleep.

A large pair of grey eyes stared into his own. Mike almost shot through the roof. The girl stepped back, her head tilted on one side. Mike only just managed to repress a scream, he felt a little foolish and began chuckling nervously. The ghost couldn't hurt him, but her appearance was puzzling.

"What are you doing here?"

She smiled and then vanished. Mike's room warmed almost instantly. He shivered and got out of bed, no way could he sleep now. Wrapping a blanket around his shoulders he wandered through to the lounge and sat on the couch, flicking on the TV. He wondered whether he should go and wake up Splinter and inform him of the ghost's appearance in their home. It almost six in the morning, Splinter would be up soon anyway.

Almost six am. Mikey shook his head. He was never up this early, not unless Leo dragged him out of bed. He sighed and clicked the channels over searching for cartoons.

Soon the door to Splinter's room opened and Splinter emerged looking a little bleary eyed. He did a double take when he saw Mike.

"Michelangelo, what are you doing up this early?" Splinter looked about. "Where is Leonardo?"

"Asleep sensei, he didn't wake me. I got up because," Mike paused, thinking to himself. Had he imagined it? Dreamt it? No, he was sure that he hadn't. "The ghost of that girl was in my room."

Splinter frowned. "What would it be doing here? Are you sure you did not dream it?"

Mikey thought of his awesome dream about high school then the weird feeling he'd woken up to. The sudden drop in temperature. Her pale, staring eyes. He hadn't imagined it that was for sure.

"I'm sure, sensei. She was here. My room was cold."

"She has never been here before." Splinter stated.

Mike nodded and rested his chin on his hand, watching Splinter make some tea.

"Odd indeed." Splinter gazed at Mike with concern for a moment. His son seemed confused, possibly shaken, though he didn't seen frightened.

"Why don't you go and get a shower, Michelangelo. It may relax you a little."

Mike nodded and left the room.

Splinter couldn't help dwelling on it as he poured boiling water into the teapot. There was no doubt about his son's sincerity, but Splinter could help hoping that Michelangelo had dreamt it. He'd always had an incredibly vivid imagination.

Michelangelo's voice suddenly piped up cheerfully, interrupting Splinter's thoughts. "Sensei! Donnie fell asleep in the shower!"

Splinter blinked. Then he heard Donatello's voice.

"Mike shhhhh! You don't have to tell him!"

Splinter sighed and put his tea down, made his way over to the bathroom and poked his head around the door. Don scrambled up quickly, his feet slipping on the wet floor. Splinter's brow furrowed.

Don grinned sheepishly. "Morning sensei."

"You have been in there all night?"

"Um," Don wondered how long Splinter had been awake. Would he get away with pretending he'd got up very early instead of coming home very late? He decided not to risk it. Splinter got up very early sometimes.

"I was tired. I went to bed late." Don grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist. "Can you believe I fell asleep in there, huh?" He padded out quickly, trying to get to his room before Splinter questioned him.

"Donatello."

"Yes, sensei…" Don shut his eyes.

"About these late nights on your computer. Perhaps you should take a break from it for a little while."

Don shook his head vigorously. "I wasn't on my computer, master. I went out." Anything was better than Splinter withdrawing his computer privileges.

"Late? On your own? When did you return?" Splinter questioned.

Don sighed. "I don't know."

Splinter raised his eyebrows.

"About half four… ish." Don winced. "Five… maybe…"

Splinter raised his eyebrows. "What was so important that you were out most of the night?"

Donnie's mind worked overtime trying to think of a plausible story, but his brain didn't work as it should. It was sluggish and uncooperative, tired, and possibly clogged with dirty black sludge from the dark part of the sewers the girl had died in. Leo had gotten Don into this, there was no way he was going to let himself take all of the blame, but there was also no way he could bring Leo into it without being a bit of a telltale.

Splinter shook his head slowly. "Leonardo was distracted all evening thinking about this ghost. Was he with you?"

Don gave a hesitant little nod.

Splinter wore a pained expression. "I will speak to you both when he wakes."

Splinter said no more so Donatello escaped to his room.

Splinter went back to his tea and wondered what would possess the two most level headed of his sons to go out so late at night to an unfamiliar and deeply unpleasant part of the sewers without telling him. Leonardo had, of course, been concerned about the ghost of the young girl, and had also been subdued all the previous day. He'd focused on little else, driven to distraction about her death. It must have to do with the ghost. Splinter wondered if it would be wise to forbid Leonardo to get involved or if it would make things worse. His thoughts then turned to Michelangelo. He had been so sure he'd seen the girl in his room and Splinter did not doubt his son's sincerity. If the ghost had indeed been in Michelangelo's room then perhaps it was too late to forbid Leonard to continue with his quest to help the ghost. Splinter cupped his tea in his hands lapsing deeper into thought. There was a sudden crash, Splinter sat bold upright. It was turning out to be an eventful morning.

Raph stormed out of his room, a wild look in his eyes.

"Raphael." Splinter said. "What is it?"

"That damn ghost! It was in my f…" Raph paused, just managing to stop himself from swearing in front of Splinter. "…my room!"

Splinter looked behind Raph and peered into his room. It was empty, but it really needed cleaning. However, now was not the time.

"It was there!" Raph spluttered.

Splinter nodded. "I know. Michelangelo saw it earlier. Would you fetch Leonardo and Donatello for me, please? I would like to speak with you all."

Splinter sat at the table awaiting his sons. He noticed a dirty item of jewellery on the table and picked it up. At first he thought it might be April's then ruled that out when he saw it was covered in sewage. He examined it closely. The stench emanating from it turned his stomach. Splinter was used to the smell of the sewer. This smell was different, it was foul… evil smelling. Splinter rubbed at a flat rectangular part of the bracelet trying to make out an engraved word. He knew where it was from and who it belonged to. Splinter gave an impatient shake of his head. He couldn't believe Leonardo would be so thoughtless as to bring the bracelet home.

Mike came out of the shower whistling a jolly tune. He'd almost convinced himself that the ghost's appearance had been the result of an over active imagination, too much pizza, and the late night movie.

One look at Splinter's angry expression and his whistle faded.

"Are you okay, Master? You look like, well…" Really pissed Mike was going to say, but decided against it.

"Please sit down, Michelangelo. I wish to speak to all of you."

Mike sat, Raph returned with a yawning Don who was followed shortly by Leo.

Splinter held up the bracelet. Raph and Mike both looked at it blankly. Don massaged his temple and glanced furtively at Leo.

"It belongs to the girl." Leo said.

Splinter nodded. "Yes. Why was it brought here?"

"I want to find out what happened to her," Leo replied. "She showed us where the bracelet was. I thought we could use it to trace her."

"Oh great." Raph gave an angry snort. "That thing was in my room, because you brought that here?"

"What was in your room?" Leo asked.

"Both Raphael and Michelangelo have had visits from the ghost this morning." Splinter explained. "It must have an attachment to this bracelet."

"Six am, Leo. Six am!" Mikey moaned at his brother.

"Oh. I didn't expect that." Leo said.

"I don't want to wake up to that dead thing in my face again, Leo." Raph growled.

"Can we just take the bracelet away and put it somewhere else?" Don said. "Like…"

"Like where it came from in the first place," said Raph. "I'm taking it back, no way am I living with a ghost." He picked up the bracelet.

Leo stood quickly. "No. I need that. I'm going to trace her with it."

Raph rolled his eyes and sneered. "How? It's got the name 'Susan' written on it. Now I'm no human," Raph spread his arms, his whole demeanour screaming sarcasm. "…but I'm pretty sure there's about half a million Susans out there. Past and present."

Leo reached out his hand. "I'll manage. Give it back."

"Leo, you've gone crazy." Raph shook his head.

"Give me the bracelet."

"I'm taking it back."

"Give me the bracelet," Leo's expression darkened.

"Enough." Splinter interrupted. "Raphael give Leonardo the bracelet."

"Fine." Raph dropped it into Leo's outstretched hand. His eyes narrowed. "Good luck."

Leo glared back. "Thanks." He said stiffly, he looked past Raph at Splinter. "Sensei, I'm going to visit April, she might help me."

"First I would like to speak with you."

Leo winced. "Please sensei, now that the ghost is in our home I'd like to get this over with and put her to rest as soon as possible. I shouldn't be too long at April's."

Splinter frowned, then gave a nod. "As you wish." He trusted Leonardo to do what he thought was right.