We sloshed through the swamp as quickly as possible.

"Oh, man!" Mikey panicked. "If Donnie doesn't turn up soon, we'll have to tell Splinter!"

"We'll find him." I hope.

The sky turned a black and blue color, reminding me of a bruise I had obtained earlier in the week practicing with roots from nearby trees were harder to see. I steeped cautiously, slowing down the group.

"What's taking so long?" April complained.

"Sorry. I just can't see the roots, so I don't want to- AH! TOO LATE!"

I sat in the muddy water, holding my ankle.

"What happened? Did you hurt yourself?" April looked at me with concern.

"Nah. I'm just sitting in the freaking mud, holding my ankle, wincing in pain for no reason." I looked at her with the word 'Duh' all over my face. "Yes! I hurt myself!"

"Yeesh. Just making sure." She helped me up.

"OW! MY ANKLE!" Zoey's voice rose above the trees.

Wait. I looked in the direction of the shout and looked at my twisted ankle. Is her pain connected through mine?

"That was her, I think! Let's go!" Mikey started towards the sound.

"Wait." He turned around. "She might have moved." I sighed deeply. "April... kick my ankle."

"WHAT?!" Mikey screamed.

"WHY?!" April looked at me like I was crazy.

"Just do it."

She raised her eyebrows and kicked my twisted limb. A thousand volts of pain shot up my leg. I held in the scream. Zoey, however...

"OW! DEAR GOD, THIS HURTS!"

I nodded. "Let's go- now!"

I climbed onto Mikey's back and headed to the yelps of pain Zoey kept letting loose. She soon came into sight, in a clearing, holding her foot.

Donnie brightened. "Guys! Finally." He started struggling against the ropes that held him to a large root. "Help me!"

April was the first to bound over to him. She pulled out a pocketknife from her pocket. Once he was free, she hugged him tightly.

"You're okay!"

"Yeah. That female maniac wanted to hold me ransom to get to Taylor." Donnie blushed. "You- you were worried about me?"

"Of course!" April closed her eyes. "I worry about all my friends."

"Yeah." Donnie chuckled nervously and looked at the ground, obviously sad. "Friends. That's all we are."

Mikey placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should get out of here before she gets up."

"Fine. Let's go."

I looked at Zoey before leaving with Mikey. She peeked beneath her bangs, her eyes demon-like.

'This is not over.'

I stared her down and the group headed home.

'Isn't it?'


"There." Donnie finished putting the cast on my foot. "I'm gonna go make some crutches."

"'Kay."

"Oh, and Taylor?"

I looked at him expectantly.

"Next time, be more careful."

I pouted.

"You want to get hurt all the time, don't you?"

"No!"

"Then why are you pouting?"

I exploded. "BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY FAULT I GET HURT! BUT DON'T WORRY, DONATELLO! I'LL MAKE SURE I'M MORE CAREFUL NEXT TIME I TRY TO KILL MYSELF!"

I stormed out the lab, hopping on one leg to my room. When I opened my bedroom door, however, Raph was sitting on the floor, eyes closed, while Leo was asleep on my bed. I walked over to them and sat down in front of Raph.

"Hello?"

He didn't respond. I waved my hand in front of his face a couple of times before moving on to my bed.

"Leo? You awake?"

He didn't respond either. I climbed onto my bed and hopped on Leo with my good foot.

"WAKE- UP!"

"What- are- you -doing?!" Leo rolled over and fell on the floor, sending me on top of Raph.

"OW! My foot!" I sat on Raph's chest and held my ankle, keeping tears in my eyes.

"Hmrf? What's going on?" Raph looked at me and tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

"I hurt my ankle. It's nothing."

Leo helped me up. "I'm sorry, I thought you were Mikey jumping on me." He looked at the clock. "It's midnight. What are you doing up?"

"Hm, let's see." I sat on my bed and put my hands on hips. "Well, Donnie got kidnapped."

"What?!"

"Where is he?" Raph jumped up.

"Oh, chill. he's fine- no thanks to either of you! Zoey took him to the swamp, and I twisted my ankle on the way there. Lucky for me, my pain is her pain."

"Well." Leo sat beside me. "It seems like you've had an interesting night."

Raph sat on my other side, giving his older brother a glare. Leo did the same and then frowned. He got up and offered his hand.

"Let's go talk- in private."

Raph took my hand. "Or you can stay here with me and talk."

I forced my hand out of his and pushed Leo's aside. "I think the both of you need to talk to your brother and apologize for not being there. In the meanwhile, I'm gonna sleep. Good night."

I laid down on my side, curled up with my useless leg stretched out. I heard Leo and Raph's footsteps shuffle out the door. Closing my eyes, I relaxed.

"Taaayloooor."

"Mom?"

"Taaaaaaylor. Get up, sweetie."

I got out of bed and headed out the door.

"Mom, where are you?"

"I'm above, mija. Come to the surface."

I went to the living room. The exit from the sewers seemed to glow, begging me to go above ground. So I went up the ladder. Halfway there, a note was attached to a rung. I snatched off.

"Turtles and/or Splinter:

Me and and Donnie went to the dance. Don't worry, he's covered and actually looks like a human boy, however tall. We will be back at around 2 in the morning. I'll call you before we head home.
Thanks, April."

I crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the water, right at Raph's feet.

"Taylor? Where are you goin'?"

I ignored him and followed my mother's voice up above.

"Taaylor. You are almost here."

I climbed out of the hole, being careful with my ankle. The air was cold, and I could easily feel it with my shorts and sleeveless tank-top on.

"Mama? Where are you?"

"Here."

Zoey appeared out from nowhere. I snapped back into focus and stumbled. Donnie had never given me the crutches.

"What? Need these?" She had crutches. "Donatello is very handy with sticks and vines, is he not?"

"Those are mine."

"You never claimed them."

"But she needs them more than you do- I'm sure." Raph came up behind me.

"Raphael!" Zoey smiled. "I am so glad you are here. Obviously, you changed your mind about me?"

He pulled out a sai. "Obviously not."

Zoey raised an eyebrow. "Fine. It is not the end yet. I will give you some more time. In the meanwhile, I will only say this: I love you."

"So?"

"So Taylor loves you." And she disappeared.

"What?" He looked at me. "Is that true? You love me?"

I started to sweat as his face neared mine.

"Uh..."