At this point in my lucid writing career I have decided that it would be best if I quit my late night horror movies and crime shows. Yup. It would keep many of these bunnies from nipping at me I do believe.

So, for the time being, while my muse is alive and I'm in a Halloween spirit, this story will be continued.

TMNT, characters © Mirage Studios
story © Turtlefreak121

Wormwood
Chapter Two

I watch them return home, jealously watching their breaths, their movements. I take in all the things they can do that my spirit is no longer capable of in its current, hostless form. I realize that they are unaware of how watched they are. I know that they are unaware of what danger they are in.

They have not a clue what can and shall await them soon.

The one named Michelangelo laughs obnoxiously, filled with his own sense of joy. He twirls his nunchaku disrespectfully. I feel my soul withering at his blatant disregard for true ninjitsu.

"We're gonna be going to a Haunted House!" he laughs. "I can't wait! I've always wanted to go to one!"

I grin at the irony. They are already in one.

"You'll be the first one to run out screaming, Mike," the Sai wielder retorts.

"I beg to differ!" the other complies. "I've been watching the Slash-a-Thon for two weeks on the t.v. to get ready for this!" he explains enthusiastically. "I can even watch 'Nightmare on Elm Street' now without having nightmares, can't I, Leo?"

I watch the leader stand beside the quiet, fourth brother. The leader has on a scowl. He, oddly enough, is the most tolerable in the sense of a true ninja. He is also the one I despise the most for just that reason.

"I'm still not sure if the Haunted House by April's house is a good call," he mutters lowly. "Just because Master Splinter has gone to the farm for some enlightenment does not mean that the rules no longer apply."

"Yar not pullin' out, are ya, Fearless?" Raphael snorts.

"You said we could do it on Halloween, Leo," the meek Donatello agrees. "Everyone will think we're in costume and April and Casey said they would go with us to keep from any questioning."

Leonardo was not impressed. But he is not as much in control as he would like to believe. I can see that he is not a true leader or warrior. He caves to his subordinates' wills. "I'm not... I'm just not sure if Master would be alright with it."

"Oh, forget it, Leo," Michelangelo laughs with a wave of his hand. "Nothing's going to-"

As I adjust my position in the room, I see a flicker from the turtle's eyes. As he stops, he more directly faces where my spirit invisibly lies.

"He sees you from the corners of his eyes," Wormwood whispers. I feel its presence as I am part of it. I agree. He saw me out of the corners if his eyes, as many of the living claim to.

They could not see me watch them before for I was a single apparition. Now I am a collective presence. Now I am part of Wormwood. I can feel this supernatural power flow from my center, expel to the air around me. Strong chi should pick it up...

"What, Michelangelo?" Leonardo questions with a skeptical raised brow.

"I thought I saw someone!" the turtle gasps.

Almost immediately all four turn abruptly toward me. I stare back, cold and unmoving. I had never expected to have my presence being aware and my living instincts are still embedded within me. I worry. I can only imagine that I had been seen by my mortal enemies.

"Yeah, too many scary movies, Mikey," the normally quiet Donatello quips. He smiles teasingly toward his brother before turning around, the others following his example and moving on their way toward the kitchen.

I know this habit of their's. It is a regular ritual in which they all ravaged their cabinets for snacks upon returning home. I can feel relieved once more. I realize they did not see me.

"You have nothing to fear," the rest of Wormwood croaks. "They cannot see you. You do not exist to them."

I wish to be within the kitchen with them and, immediately, I, and Wormwood, appear in their blissful mists.

Looking around myself, I feel enraged. Wormwood is correct. I am completely before them, here to remind them of my demise, to haunt them with my dying soul. Despite my plans, however, they are completely unaware of my trials of Limbo.

As they open the cabinets and laugh, opening up the cabinets, I feel my rage expel once more. I feel my anger leave me, as if it is a separate entity, then it overcomes me like a fireball. I can see only my death at their hands. I can see only my hatred of them.

I tremble with this rage.

The kitchen trembles along with me.

The turtles pause their habits and stare at each other, grabbing to countertops to level themselves. Michelangelo stares with widened eyes toward the glass on the shelves. He flinches as soon as one glass falls from its position and shatters on the countertop by Leonardo.

I feel myself become very amused with this sight and laugh, my anger fading like a willow wisp and the tremors simultaneously ending. I realize the power I had just demonstrated was in fact mine.

No. It was Wormwood's.

"The shell?" Raphael hisses as he regains his balance.

"Anyone else thinking 'The Amityville Horror'!?" Michelangelo squeaks.

"Not now, Mikey," Leonardo sighs as he rubs his temples. He is filled with an anger of his own. He cannot stand for phenomenon he cannot control. "I have a headache."

"What else was it, then?" Michelangelo presses, looking around wildly once more. His brothers are assuming this is to assess the damage. I know that he is, in fact, searching for another glimpse of me. He wants to confirm my fault.

"Subways must be getting some work done on them," Donatello sums up as he bends over to see how much of the shattered glass is on the ground. "Raph, can you get me the broom and dust pan?"

I take in their movements, how they work to fix and asses their current issue.

I feel proud.

"You shouldn't," whispers Wormwood to me. "You should not have ended so soon."

A burning feels my chest and I glare into the image before me. I know that Wormwood is correct. I am correct.

Next time shall not end with a broken glass.

...

A/N: Fleshing out the storyline I conceived. Have some patience with this one please!

Feedback appreciated.