Mikey ran in.

"What's wrong?!" He gasped and drew his nun-chucks. "Zoey! What are you doing to her?!"

Zoey held me like a dog on a leash, smiling. "Michelangelo. How good to see that you are still the runt of your family."

"I'M NOT A RUNT!"

The rope around me loosened a bit. I still had trouble breathing, but I could move now. I swept Zoey's legs.

"Oof!" Zoey dropped the rope and fell.

I took off the 'collar' and helped Donnie up.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I rubbed my neck. "A little sore, though."

Zoey got up and brushed herself off. "That really hurt. You must put some carpet in here."

I grimaced. "Nice try. I guess the truce is over?"

"Why, of course, stupid." Zoey smiled again, teeth showing this time. "Now that my cover is blown, I suppose I will need what you call back-up. Oh, Karai!"

A tall, slender girl dropped from the ceiling. She had black hair with a large blonde streak in it, and her eyes were shrouded by heavy make-up.

"You must be Taylor. Pleasure. I guess."

"Karai." Donnie held his staff in defense. "I should have figured you'd be with her."

I wasn't distracted by this new girl. "You both have to get out... now."

"I heard your fighting is exceptional. Let's see if it's true." Karai jumped with a slender katana in hand.

I gasped. It was the same blade from my nightmare, without the masks. I couldn't move. Karai came closer and closer, and I thought I was gonna die. But she was blocked and thrown back.

"Leo?"

Leo guarded me, frowning. "Karai."

"Leo. It's been a while hasn't it?"

I blinked twice. "You know her?"

"She's the daughter of Sp- Shredder."

"Makes sense now." I ran towards her and kicked her in the head, then the arms, then the chest. I threw her off when I punched her.

Zoey looked at me, an inquisitive look on her face. Karai got up and wiped a bit of blood from her mouth.

"Impressive. Let's see if you can do better. Ha!"

I got kicked in the neck. Zoey held me down as Karai fought off all three Turtles at once. She started to glow lavender.

"You are weak. I am the much better half. I know what to do, who to choose. I know things you cannot even imagine." She somehow slipped the rope back on my neck.

"Gah! You-chok-me!" I sputtered.

"Oh, I know. Say good-bye, Taylor."

"NO!"

I looked to my left. Leo knocked out Karai and leaped in between me and Zoey. Zoey's face registered surprise, then she smirked.

"Oh, right. I suppose I should crush your spirit first, then kill you? If that is so, then..." Zoey slapped him across the face. "OW! What the-"

Leo winced. It obviously hurt, but he wasn't gonna fall that easily. He kicked her into the air and cut the rope around my neck. Zoey was soon up, her glow around her and Karai.

"This is not over! You, Leonardo, need to get out of the way!" And she disappeared with her new assistant.

I rubbed my neck and felt tears in my eyes. Leo offered his hand. I took it and noticed the hand mark across his face. I put my hand in the exact same position.

"I'm so sorry, Leo." I whispered.

"It's okay." He kissed my forehead. Donnie and Mikey walked over.

"Are you okay, Taylor?" Mikey shook his head. "I still can't believe she keeps getting away! I think she should leave you alone." He smiled. "Come on, Don. Let's get something to eat. I'm STARVING!"

I chuckled. Mikey was always so cute, and he knew when I wanted privacy. I faced Leo. We slid to the floor, holding each other's face. Then I remembered Raph and the fight.

"I don't want you guys to fight. That's not gonna win me over."

Leo stared at me, holding me in a trance with his deep blue eyes. "Then what will?"

I drew a sharp breath. I couldn't answer that question.

"I gotta go." I ran out of the room to tell the same thing to Raph, hoping he won't ask me the same question.


"Who is it?!" The sounds of hand against punching bag emitted from behind Raph's door.

"Me."

The sound stopped. The door opened. "Yeah?"

"It's ten o'clock. You should be sleeping. Everybody else is."

"I'm not everybody. Anything else?"

I shuffled inside. "We need to talk."

"What's up?"

"I don't like you and Leo fighting. That's not doing anything for me. That's tearing me apart."

"Fine. I won't fight."

"Good, 'cause it won't win me over."

"Then how do I win you over?"

I sighed deeply. Instead of answering, I hugged him. "Just don't fight each other. And be there when I need you. Like earlier."

Raph passed a hand over my neck.

"What's this?" He pushed me away and lifted my chin. "What happened?"

"Zoey came back. With someone named Karai."

Raph looked at me as if though I wasn't alive. "What?!" He punched his bag, knocking it off the chain. "I knew I should be close to you at all times."

"Please don't." I touched his face. "The rest of the family's in trouble. Especially Leo."

He turned and grabbed my arms- hard.

"Raph? What's wrong?"

"You need to choose. Now." His grip got tighter. "Me... or him?"

"Ow. Raph, you're hurting me."

"WHO?" Tears streamed down his face.

"Raph! RAPHAEL!" I struggled. "YOU'RE HURTING ME! LET GO!" I kicked him.

He let me go and shook his head, wiping away the tears. "What- what happened? What did I do?" He dropped on his knees.

"Are you okay?"

"All I remember in my dreams... you dying... because Leo killed you." Raph looked at me, and I felt like I was staring at a sad puppy.

"I'm fine. Your brother would never do that. He'd never... kill me." I kissed his cheek.

Zoey cackled in my head. "Of course he would not. Unless I gave Raphael the idea."

"Zoey."

"What?" Raph looked at me.

"Nothing."

"I will kill you, Taylor. I will have Raphael. I will be myself again."