Part 22
Part 22

The bright, silver garments were passed out one by one to Leonardo, Michaelangelo, and Donatello. Craig had gotten them into a dressing room where luckily no one was in there for the time being. Suiting up was rather difficult with the huge shells on their backs. These were the extra extra extra large size for the men whom were built like football players. The fabric hung on the Turtles. They weren't exactly TALL football players.

"I have one regret about having short arms and that's this..." Donatello held up a sleeve way over his hand.

"Well, at least you won't have to worry about gloves!" Michaelangelo pointed out.

Leonardo tried on one of the gloves with some difficulty. As he said, there were no such things as three-fingered gloves. His first finger barely fit through where the index finger went on a human. Craig reached out to help but Leo snapped back.

"Um, here, can I try something?"

Leonardo relaxed and held still. Craig reached up and touched his hands to situate one of them into two of the holes. Leo watched him like a hawk while Craig fiddled around with
his fingers. It wasn't working. The space in-between each finger prevented his one large finger to slip through.

"Wait a minute, Craig." Leonardo reached for his trench coat and pulled out his own set. Craig gawked at him.

"You had those the whole time?!"

Michaelangelo smacked his head dumbfoundly. "Oh, yeah! Duh! The gloves in our coat pockets! So, three-fingered gloves do exist, huh Leo?"

"That's if you make them that way, Mike."

Donatello was fully suited except for the helmet. He had to fold up his sleeves to keep them at his wrists. He too, took his coat and searched the pockets for his gloves. His fingers brushed something else within one of the pockets. Pulling his hand out, he found a folded up paper. Emiko's note. Clutching it, he looked to see a wastebasket resting by a vanity table.

"Come on, guys! We'd better get going now." Craig headed for the door.

Don placed the note in his backpack behind the table with the others and headed out with the group. He had no idea why he didn't throw it away instead. It was painful to look at.

The group started down the halls in a marching pattern. Even though short, the Turtles past the test of going through the restricted area. The soldiers saluted and allowed them to
pass. Craig was in the front, leading the way down to Sam's room. He approached the door with a key in hand.

"This is it guys, no turning back." They nodded as he backed away from them.

Sam paced the room, checking her watch. It was getting darker. Almost five o'clock on a Tuesday evening. The door to her room opened once more. Once again, three soldiers walked in wearing the full attire; their faces hidden in the black helmet. There was something odd about the way they looked. They looked short and bulky. All three entered and the one in the front waved a hand to the other two behind him. They stepped back outside and closed the door. Sam had seen this act earlier and crossed her arms.

"Craig, is that you again?" The soldier did nothing but stare at her. "I know you're short Craig, but not that short." She stared back at eye level. Michaelangelo approached her with hands at his sides. "You're not Craig, are you?" The helmet shook it's head. "Who are you, then?"

Mike looked around to make sure no one was watching. Removing the helmet, she stared into Michaelangelo's bright, expressive face.

"The Calvary has arrived, ma'am!"

"Oh, Mike!" Sam smiled and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him all over his face. She then squeezed him tight, not wanting to let go ever again. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"You can't get rid of me that easily. Heh." He pulled her away, smiling in her face. "We're here to get you out of this place!"

Sam eyes widened gleefully. "All of you?! You're all okay?"

"Yeah, we're cool!"

"Were those your brothers in those silly suits?"

"Yeah, your friend, Craig, helped us out big time. It's him we owe the thanks to."

"God, that's wonderful."

Michaelangelo looked around. "Now, that we know where you are, we can escape later tonight when the guards are off-duty."

"The guards are never off-duty, Mike. And I can't wait till tonight to escape."

"Why's zat?"

Sam looked to him sadly. "Craig didn't tell you?"

"No. Tell me what?"

"The master is sentencing me to death." Michaelangelo gasped. "At nine o'clock tonight." She could see his eyes becoming glassy.

"No, way...." He said in utter disbelief. "No, that won't happen."

"But it will. Tonight."

"Then we're taking you with us now."

Michaelangelo quickly kissed her before reapplying his helmet. Sam could already sense this was not going to be easy. Opening the door, the others, including Craig, stood by watching.

"That was easy!" Donatello quipped.

"It's still going to be tricky getting past the guards." Michaelangelo recalled the first section was heavily active.

Leonardo looked to Craig.

"We still have to find the others."

"Others?" Craig turned to Leo whom said nothing. "I mean, uh, yes. Others. That wasn't a question to you." He turned to Michaelangelo. "What others?"

Mike threw down hand. "Aw, Leo! He's cool! The others are my bro and his girl, Risa."

"I knew there were four of you guys!" Craig looked proud to Leo. Then frowned. "Wait a minute. Risa?! As in Marisa Stratford?"

Leo shrugged. "Uh, I guess that's her last name. How many Marisa's are in this compound?"

"One in particular. And she died. It's impossible that she can be the same one you mentioned."

"Craig, anything's possible here." Sam eyed at him.

"Well, where would she be? Her room? Scouting around? This place is so huge, it's hard to find anyone half the time!"

"Tell us about it!" Mike and Don said it at the same time.

Sam shook her head.

"She was in trouble the last time I spoke with her. There's something very evil that's been done to her. If you've seen her, then you must know why she is acting the way she is."

"That's right, Leo." Mike looked to him. "When she screamed, you told me it was out of her control. You said you'd tell me later why she did that." He tapped his wrist to an invisible watch. "So, guess what? It's later!"

"Mike-" Leo started to say something but stopped. He was incredibly exhausted.

"Mike." Sam took over. "She's been cursed with some sort of witchcraft. It's something to prevent her from seeing or even mentioning you guys. I wanted to go to my room to look in one of my books to see if I can help her."

Michaelangelo stared with interest.

"You study witchcraft?"

"Wicca, Black Magic, White Magic, Glamours, but yes, some forms of sorcery. I know one or two thinks in the spellbound world. If I could just get a hold of what he used, there might be a chance."

"So, how can you help her?" Leonardo crossed his arms.

"The master's chambers might have a book or something with the spell he released on her. What's been done can be reversed. Except a love spell but that usually ends in death."

"Bummer." Michaelangelo mumbled.

"I just don't want to risk you getting caught while wondering around." Leonardo frowned to her. Sam thought for a moment.

"Do any of you have handcuffs?"

"Yeah, but, wait till we're alone!" Michaelangelo twisted his belt to show her. She groaned.

"I need them now, smarty! It's a diversion. Soldiers take me to and from places in handcuffs like to the restroom and other necessities. They'll just think you're escorting me somewhere."

"Good plan." Don nodded. Leo did the same.

"Come on, Mike. Put those things on me." She didn't have to tell him twice. He had to get the feeling of putting them on sooner or later. "The longer we wait, the more time gets wasted. If Risa has seen you guys, the entity is probably very active and causing much mischief."

"What does it look like?" Michaelangelo peeked around to Sam's front.

"I haven't seen it but you'll know it's around when the room temperature drops incredibly low. It's ghost-like. Demon-like. A threat to whomever it preys upon."

"Sounds serious." Leo said quietly.

"I've only told you half of it. Let's hurry to try and stop it."

Raphael was able to catch his breath while hiding off in another area. The figure hunted him through every corner. It was a game of cat and mouse. Raphael was cut pretty bad on the many slashes that were blade against skin. He was bleeding badly at the thin slits in his arms and legs. Blood was dripping from each wound, leaving a pattern on the floor to trace his every move.

"Damn, damn, damn!" He rubbed at the cuts. Looking up, his eyes met with two sunken ones. "Shit!" A quick duck saved his head as the ghost swung its sword violently. Raphael rolled away and stood up, rushing forward too fast for his weight. He ended up tumbling instead, yet creating his fall into a somersault. In training, there's always a right way and wrong way of falling down. "This is such bullshit! Such....yaaaah!" He ducked again, wondering if he should keep his head hidden in his shell. Another slice hit his plastron, doing not much damage from the tough barrier. A turn around caused the sword to cling with his shell. Easily bounced off. The figure kept coming on strong.

Risa couldn't wait any longer. After soaking in the tub and putting on clean clothes, she placed on Raph's coat over her own and headed out the door. The fedora hat was bent up in the
coat pocket. She didn't need to wear that silly thing like he did. The halls were unusually empty for that hour of the day. The time was reaching 6pm when classes would be starting or ending. Either way, the halls would be crowded. Something was terribly wrong.

Fools the soldiers were to fall for Sam being escorted by the so-called 'guards.' Once out of range, Sam was still eager to help Risa with her little problem. Next stop. The master's chambers.

"I've been there many times when asked for assignments. As a soldier, I'm in a hire rank then Risa is. Well, more like, I've had more experience and training then her."

"So, where's the Big Guy now?" Michaelangelo uncuffed her.

"Probably out doing his roundabouts with selected students."

"roundabouts?" Leonardo asked.

"Administering the blood potion into them. I'm sure Risa told you about it."

Donatello nodded. "Yes. Well, it's more like we discovered it in the lab in the basement. You were being drugged also, correct?"

"I suppose. I wouldn't remember that much if I was. I just recall numerous meetings with the master. Alone."

"Jerk." Michaelangelo said quietly.

"Come, help me check these shelves." Sam started to finger around at the labels of books. "It should be an out-of-the-ordinary-looking book. Leather-bound would be my guess."

The group scouted around the desk, drawers, the opposite shelves across from Sam, and even checked around the walls of the room where other books were stacked. Minutes were passing slowly. Sam was getting worried that he might return from his hourly business with the students. She kept glancing to the front door with caution.

"Ah! What's this?" Michaelangelo rubbed the large book with it's smooth cover. "Is this it, Sam?"

Sam rushed over and took it, eyeing at it's beauty and ancient inscriptions.

"God, I hope so." She opened it up and was mesmerized by the gorgeous text of calligraphy. "Pray this is it, guys. Or Risa's a goner."

More like Raphael would be a goner. The ghost was unstoppable as people caught Raphael running around like a lunatic by an invisible force that only showed itself to him. This was getting him nowhere. Somehow, he ended up on the fourth level, one flight above Risa, whom searched endlessly to find him.

"Goddamn it! I'm going to have a heart-attack from this thing! That's not worth dying over! Whoa, shit!"

The ghost floated along calmly, swiping the air with it's sword. Surprisingly, with all the hits it made on Raph, there were no blood stains upon the blade.

"Help me, you stiffs!" Raphael shouted to the people standing in the doorways. They freaked when they saw his skin getting sliced by nothing there. "Had enough, schmuck?!" The figure shook it's head 'no' and raised his sword again. "Aw, Jesus! Thanks for the warning, pal!"

The people could do nothing but gawk at this crazy creature appearing to beat himself up. What did they know? Raphael wasn't sure how long he could hold out before fainting.

Sam reached her room to snatch as many of her precious books as she can into her own satchel. Grabbing her coat and some belongings into a backpack, she knew there wasn't much there that she brought in with her when she first moved in. Clothes were not a worry. She could always buy more later. If there was a later. The Turtles and Craig watched her move around with such speed, swinging her backpack behind her and throwing the satchel over her neck.

"Okay, let's see here...." She opened the leather book on her desk, clicking the overhead light on to see. "Which spell would it be? God, I don't know what I'm doing!"

"Try anything." Michaelangelo put a hand to her shoulder.

"Are you nuts, Mike?" Donatello's eyes widened. "If she tries anything, she could do something terribly wrong!"

"Wait, I know this stuff." Sam waved her hands frantically. "Sort of. It looks somewhat familiar to me. Ummmm....."

"We're doomed." Craig looked away. "Look guys, I gotta head back and distract the other soldiers. They'll think something's up when you don't come back."

"Aren't you coming with us?" Sam looked up to him, then back at the book.

Craig stood silently, letting those words settle in. She wanted him to come with them. It was a lovely thought on her part to care like that.

"No. I belong here. You guys get her out. It was nice working with you, Sam. I'll miss you."

Sam looked up fully, blinking several times. Before she went to hug him, he turned and left the room.

"Goodbye....Craig." She said quietly. Michaelangelo patted her shoulder. Craig was right. There was no turning back now.

The hospital chart read: "Condition unknown." The doctors were baffled by the health status. It had been one day and the condition had worsened over that period of time.

"I can't figure this out here." One doctor check the X-ray of the skull. "What the hell is that?"

"I know. I saw that too." Another doctor pointed with his Ball-Point pen. "I thought it was a blood clot when I first looked at it. Could be something far more worse."

"Let's run some more tests."

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

The doctors wheeled the frightened patient into the X-ray room where the large machine pointed down on the bed. The room was all white. White everywhere. The nurse placed a
thick covering over the body and pointed the machine to the head to take the snap shots. Over and over.

"Doctor, come look at this." The nurse bent a finger to the doctor. "Open your eyes again for me, please." The nurse said to the patient. Upon looking, the doctor gasped and stepped back. The eyes were glowing blood-red and the patient made low growl noises.

"That's not blood-shot is it?" The nurse asked stupidly.

"That's not even normal, Helen."

"Should we put in eye drops, doctor?"

The doctor stared, his hair raising on end.

"I think we should call in a priest, instead."

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