CHAPTER 1: 17 YEARS AND THE MESSAGE ON THE WALL.

"Come out come out wherever you are!" The sneaky but decided voice of Casey Jones broke the morning silence, but the girl that was peacefully sleeping in the bed didn't care an inch about it. After some seconds, a sound of feet touching delicately the floor echoed from somewhere in that empty room. Then, a diabolic voice whispered:

"You don't know the power of the dark side, Casey Jones!" Julie muttered irritated: "Oh, shut up!" After the "Hey!" Of Casey, the girl gave up and took her mobile from the bedside table and switched off the alarm, and with a tired look and sigh, laid her head back on the soft pillow. Then she suddenly snapped up. Wait a second! It was Monday today! Also, today was her…birthday! She jumped down the bed and felt like a new and happiest person on earth. Julie ran down the stairs fast as lighting and said good morning to her family.

"Good morning darling! Happy birthday! 17 years! Time flies so fast!" Nancy said sighing happily. Adrian, her little brother, kissed her cheek and the girl sat down at the table, ready to devour her pancakes.

"Calm down! Or you'll have a big stomach ache!" Her dad Phil said laughing.

"Sorry dad, but I'm in a good mood today!" She rose up taking her plate and cup to the sink. She dressed up and brushed her theet and took her bag. She waved goodbye at her family and ran out of the house. Julie felt so happy! Jumping small jumps of excitement, she went towards the school, when a traffic light stopped her without turning green. She said angrily:

"Oh come on! I have a biology test this morning!" But the light didn't hear a word and stayed red. She sighed irritated. Then, from a dark corner, strong arms took her in his arms and jumped high and landed delicately as feather on the roof. Julie managed to suffocate a scream and made a sigh of relief when she saw the beautiful chestnut brown eyes and joke full smile of her boyfriend.

"Leo! You scared me!" She laughed.

"Sorry…how are you?" He asked starting to jump roof to roof as it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Good, but you shouldn't go out during daylight!" Julie said rising her eyebrow.

"For once, I'll make an exception." They had now arrived at school, and Leo took her behind the building so no one would have seen him. Julie hugged him and he said:

"I should have told you I was coming, but you were already gone when I came, so I followed you!"

"Don't worry, you saved my life! That traffic light wouldn't become green! How dare he?" Leo laughed. Julie smiled and her heart became warm. She loved his laughter so much.

"Happy birthday princess…" He kissed her quickly. "I have to go now. See you later!"

"Of course!" She nodded. Leo jumped on a roof and ran away towards Julie's house. She remained still there with dreamy eyes. Then she came back to reality. Oh no! The biology test! The girl ran inside the school. She arrived just in time. Julie sat down making a 'yuhuuu!' of victory. Her friends Marta and Sara sat down at the bench on her side.

"Wow! You came in time! Did you wake up early?" Marta asked joke fully.

"No, this time I woke up in time, but a stupid traffic light didn't become green! So my boyfriend took me to school ju…" She stopped, biting her lip.

"Ju what?" Sara asked looking strangely at her.

"Nothing, never mind. When we arrived here he said happy birthday to me and he called me princess!" She looked at the ceiling talking with a dreamy, happy and dazed voice:

"He's from another galaxy!" Sara and Marta said happy birthday to her.

"Oh, he's so romantic!" Marta said joke fully jealous. Julie laughed. But their chat was interrupted by the professor that entered the classroom, saying that the lesson would now start. Julie then concentrated on the school the rest of the day.

After school, Julie went home and when she entered, the Turtles, April and Splinter were in the living room, ready to fill her with joy full hugs. They congratulated her and at 19.00 they all ate dinner and ate an amazing chocolate cake. Julie opened the presents and she had fantastic present. In a few words, she had a fantastic birthday, and everyone was happy and satisfied. But the mood in the room would soon change. Nancy switched on the TV for the news.

"Welcome to Channel 6 News! We have received a shocking news…" All gathered in front of the TV.

"There has been a mysterious homicide in an alley of Silent Street, and our reporter Carlos has gone there for us to take a look. What can you tell us, Carlos?"

"Hola Jack! Hi to you too, people at home! As Jack has told us it has been a mysterious and brutal homicide. The doctor has managed to identify the victim: It's Mr. Matthew Forbes..." Julie let out a small scream. It was her history teacher! Carlos continued:

"The doctors said the murder must have take place at 02.00 of the night. It seems that the killer must have very gory manners of killing people, judging from the merciless way he killed Forbes. The police say that he let the man bleed to death, making him suffer while he was slaying him with apparently a very sharp blade, maybe a sword. The murder weapon hasn't been found yet, but it has left very obvious traces: The place is drenched in blood. But the strange thing doesn't end here: the killer has left a strange message written with the blood of the victim that the police haven't decoded yet: 'The dark lord is returning' Strange, isn't it? Well, it's all for the moment! From Carlos Chieng O'Brien Chambre: Ta, haya!"

Nancy switched off the TV, shocked over every she had seen. Julie felt her stomach writhed for the disgust. The images on the TV were horrible. The Turtles looked incredulous at each other.

"He can't mean…" Mikey started, hoping that it wasn't the person he thought it could be. Splinter looked serious at his sons.

"My sons, it seems that someone is trying to resurrect Shredder, or know something that we don't. We have to do something, before more people gets killed." They all nodded, and Leo stood up and said:

"We can patrol the city at night so we can stop eventual criminals!"

"Good idea Leo! We can start tonight!" Donnie agreed. Julie's family looked worried at them.

"Don't worry, we'll protect New York!" Raph reassured them. The Turtles had to go home to prepare themselves. Before he went too, Leo gave Julie his present: a pair of earrings shaped as roses.

"Thanks! They are so beautiful!" She hugged him and Leo caressed her hair. Julie looked at him and said worried:

"And if Shredder is really behind this homicide? He won't surely stop! And if he tries to kill you again?"

"Don't worry Julie! We'll do our best. The most important thing is that you never stop believing, because it's when we lose hope that the darkness attacks us."

"You're right. I'll do my best too! Good night!"

"Good night!" He smiled. Leo disappeared in the portal together with the others and Julie went to bed. She thought that she would have been strong, for her family and for who she loved. She closed her eyes, falling gently asleep.