Disclaimer: I don't own bubkis.

A/N: That's right I managed to knock off the 2nd Chapter whoo! Kinda a borin' one, it and the 1st were fillers to get to the main story. So good news, IT'S DONE!

bad news, I STILL CAN'T FIND THAT STUPID OUTLINE GRRR!! DX

Chapter 2: Under the influence of the beast

October 23, 2010--NYC sewers--9am

'When it rains, it pours,' Donatello thought wryly. Wry was not a word one would usually use to describe the good natured turtle; but nothing had been usual about the last two weeks. He just couldn't fathom it. How could things have changed so abruptly? It just didn't make any since! There wasn't any logical explanation, or any form of explanation for that matter. At this point he no longer cared whether the reason was logical, insane, paranormal or whatever; he just wanted something, anything to explain what was going on. If he just knew what had caused the problem perhaps he could do something! Anything was better than just sitting there feeling completely useless and helpless. He wished to the gods he could make things right but the problem was, he didn't know what went wrong in the first place! And to make matters worse, the source of his distress wouldn't let him help, any of them help!

For a moment he briefly considered pulling a Raphael and go bust down the youngest turtles' door; but quickly decided against it', sensing it would do more harm than good. Instead, he opted for sighing despairingly, casting his gaze towards Michelangelo's door with a heavy heart. Even with all his books and knowledge, he couldn't for the life of him figure out what was causing his brothers' illness. Whatever this affliction was, medication wasn't providing any relief and now he couldn't even get into the room if something happened! There had to be something they were missing, something Michelangelo wasn't saying. He tried to think of any odd occurrences in the days leading up to this. There was only one incident he could think of, it had seemed insignificant at the time, but maybe…

(Flashback)

It had been only a day since they found the carvings and Donatello had kicked his brothers out for the time being so he could work on them in peace. About noon Mikey rushed through the entrance slightly out of breath, not unlike most days. He would have just gone back to deciphering the cryptic writings they had found had he not noticed the flash of terror that Mikey tried to hide, and was that blood on the floor?

"Mikey what happened?!" Mikey nervously shifted his right hand behind his back. "I--uh I tripped, yeah that's it!"

He grabbed Mikey's injured hand to examine. "Uh huh. Do you need me to clean that?" Donny didn't believe him for a second, fully anyway, he did look a bit scuffed up; but he let it go seeing that it was just a flesh wound and wouldn't need stitches.

"Nah, I got it bro, just a scratch."

"Are you su--"

"Yeah yeah it's fine, I gotta go!" And with that Mikey rushed off to his room, slamming the door shut, leaving a bit perplexed Donny.

(End Flashback)

It had been two days later that Mikey fell ill and now he had to wonder, what had Mikey left out about that day?

--(Leo's POV)--

Leo sat, candles dimly lighting his room as he tried, unsuccessfully, to meditate and calm his raging mind. He was confused and confusion was not something he handled well…ever. When topped with worry, he became absolutely intolerable.

He tried to focus on the shadows dancing along his walls.

Things were out of his control, this was unacceptable. As leader he must always be in control. How had things gone so wrong? His gut was screaming at him that something had taken place without his knowledge, he just wasn't sure what yet.

Sweat dripped down his furrowed brow from frustration.

He suspected Donny knew ore than what he was letting on; but if it was important he knew Donatello would speak up. Still…perhaps this situation required less patience and more stealth.

--(Raphael's POV)--

Raphael had always been the most straightforward, face everything head on, ask questions later one of the family. Which was probably why he was currently hunting for clues in the sewer. Something had gone down and he wanted to know what the hell that something was. He had been following the light trail of blood that Mikey had left behind; was Mikey's current ailment the result of an infection?

He stopped in shock where the blood originated; large claw marks had all but decimated the walls and ground into a pile of grey dust and rubble. All Raphael could do was gape. This was definitely not an infection.

--(Michelangelo's POV)--

Mikey tossed and turned restlessly in a feverish haze where nightmares plagued his mind. Or he wished they were nightmares; but no, these were memories. Memories of two weeks ago, when he had been attacked by…he wasn't sure what exactly. Everything had been a blur, he could only recall a hulking figure, large fangs and glowing golden eyes with ebony slits for pupils, snarling, yearning to devour him.

"Ahhhggh!" Mikey howled in agony, cringing from the pain. It felt like molten flames were licking at his insides. He couldn't make it stop! What was going on?! His body suddenly went rigid; it had felt like he had been struck by lightning as a sharp pain rocket through his body. His eyes shot open as he gasped for breath unable to breathe. He couldn't move! He had to make it stop! 'Why won't it stop!' were his last coherent thoughts before darkness consumed his vision.

A/N: What was it that attacked Mikey? And what is happening to him? I'll never tell R&R! ;)