I know this has taken forever. Apologies if anyone was actually enjoying it… I swear I'm going to keep up to date with it…. ~Loolaa

Lost In Shadow

Chapter 5

Mikey was having a great dream, he was at high school. He was one of the most popular guys in school. He'd just won a surfing trophy and was now on his way to see his girlfriend. Life was great. He walked across the grass, in the sunshine, amongst people, he'd never felt so happy. His girlfriend sat on a wall with three of her friends. He grinned at her. She smiled back; she was beautiful, perfect in everyway. One of her friends was blowing bubbles; they floated past him reflecting rainbow colours in the sunlight. Another friend stood suddenly...

"I'm off to the rabbit melding factory, now," she said, walking away. Another girl had a cat on her lap; she sat chatting to it as though it was a baby. Mike was about to speak when the cat spoke back. Mike blinked. That wasn't right. The cat morphed into a polar bear, snow began to fall and Mike felt the temperature drop.

He woke with a start and shivered. He was freezing and his room felt like an ice box. The room being cold wasn't really that unusual, living in the sewers had many disadvantages and this was only one of them. This cold was different, though. He sat up, blinking away sleep, and opened his eyes.

A large pair of empty grey eyes stared at him from a white bloodless face. Mike almost shot through the roof. The girl stepped back, her head tilted on one side. Mike put his hand over his plastron, feeling his heart thudding hard against his chest, then felt a little foolish. He knew she couldn't hurt him, but the obvious thought struck him.

"What are you doing here?!"

She smiled, and then vanished. Mike's room warmed almost instantly. He shuddered and got out of bed, no way could he sleep now. Wrapping a blanket around his shoulders he wandered through to the lounge and sat on the couch, flicking on the TV. He wondered whether he should go and wake Splinter up to inform him of the ghost's appearance in their home. It was six a.m.; Splinter would be up soon, anyway.

Six a.m..... Mikey blinked. He was never up this early... unless he was dragged out of bed by Leo. He sighed and clicked the channels over.

Soon the door to Splinter's room opened and Splinter emerged looking a little bleary eyed. He did a double take when he saw Mike.

"Michelangelo... What are you doing up this early?!" He looked about. "Where is Leonardo?"

"Asleep, sensei... he didn't wake me... I got up because..." Mike paused, thinking to himself. Had he imagined it? No... He was sure that he hadn't...

"….the ghost of that girl was in my room..." Mike frowned to himself, thinking he sounded ridiculous. Splinter looked puzzled.

"What would it be doing here? Are you sure you did not dream it, my son?"

Mikey thought of his great dream about high school... then the weird feeling he'd woken to. The sudden drop in temperature... Those dead eyes, all pale and starey. He hadn't imagined it, that was for sure.

"I'm sure, Sensei. She was here. It was cold..."

"She has never been here before..?

Mike shook his head and watched Splinter as he moved over to make some tea.

"Odd indeed." Splinter gazed at Mike with concern for a moment.

"Why don't you go and get a shower, Michelangelo. It may relax you a little."

Splinter's eyes followed him to the shower room. Mike appeared to be quite apprehensive by whatever had disturbed his sleep. Splinter couldn't help dwelling on it as he poured boiling water into the pot. Michelangelo's voice suddenly piped up, interrupting Splinter's thoughts. "Sensei!! Donatello's fallen asleep in the shower!!"

Splinter blinked. Then he heard Don muttering.

"Mike... shhhhh! You don't have to tell him!"

Splinter poked his head around the door, Don scrambled up quickly, his feet slipping on the wet floor. Splinter's brow furrowed.

"...why...?"

Don grinned, sheepishly. "Uh... I was tired.... I went to bed late." He grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist, and padded out quickly, trying to get to his room before Splinter caught him, but it was too late.

"Donatello..." He paused.

"...yes, sensei..."

"About these late nights on your computer… Perhaps you should take a break from it for a little while."

Don shook his head vigorously. "I wasn't on my computer, master. I went out." Anything was better than Splinter rebuking his computer privileges.

"Late? When did you return?" Splinter questioned.

Don sighed. "I don't know... about half four... ish…" He winced.

Splinter raised his eyebrows. "What was so important that you were out half the night?"

"Well..." Don shrugged. Leo had gotten him into this, there was no way he was going to let himself take all of the blame… "I couldn't let Leo go out by himself..."

"Leonardo...?" Splinter shook his head slowly. "I shall speak with him when he wakes."

Don turned and scurried off to his room.

Splinter drank his tea and pondered. Why would Leonardo and Donatello go out so late? They hadn't heard any news of The Foot Clan since The Shredder had died for the second time. It couldn't be that. If Leonardo had any information he would have let Splinter know.

Leonardo had, of course, been concerned about the ghost of the young girl, and had also been subdued all the previous day. It must have to do with the ghost. Splinter's thoughts turned to Michelangelo. He had been so sure he'd seen the girl in his room and Splinter did not doubt his son's sincerity. Splinter cupped his tea in his hands lapsing deeper into thought. There was a sudden crash, Splinter sat bold upright.

"...now what...?" He muttered as Raph stormed out of his room, a wild look in his eyes.

"Raphael..." Splinter said. "What is it?"

"That damn ghost! It was in my..." Raph paused, remembering not to swear in front of Splinter. "..My room...!"

Splinter looked behind Raph and peered into his room. It was empty.

"She was there!" Raph spluttered.

Splinter nodded. "I know. Michelangelo saw the same earlier. Would you fetch Leonardo and Donatello for me, please? I would like to speak with you all."

Splinter sat at the table awaiting his sons. He noticed an item of jewellery on the table and picked it up. At first he thought it might be April's then ruled that out when he saw it was covered in sewage. He examined it closely. The stench turned his stomach, which was unusual. He was used to the smell of the sewer. This smell was different, it was foul... evil smelling. Splinter rubbed at a flat rectangular part of the bracelet, trying to make out an engraved word. He immediately knew where it was from and who it belonged to. Splinter gave an impatient shake of his head. He couldn't believe Leonardo would be so thoughtless as to bring the bracelet home.

Mike came out of the shower whistling a jolly tune. He'd almost convinced himself that the ghost had been a combined product of an over active imagination, too much pizza, and the late night movie.

…But one look at Splinter and his whistle faded.

"Are you okay, Splinter...? You look like... well.... " Really pissed off... he was going to say, but decided against it.

"Please sit down, Michelangelo. I wish to speak to all of you."

Mike sat, Raph returned with Don who was followed shortly by Leo.

Splinter held up the bracelet. Raph and Mike looked blank. Don massaged his temple and glanced at Leo.

"It belongs to the girl." Leo said.

Splinter nodded. "Why was it brought here?"

"I want to find out what happened to her," Leo replied. "She showed us the bracelet. I thought maybe we could use it to trace her."

"Oh great." Raph pulled a face. "Is that why it was in my room, because that's here?"

"In your room?" Leo repeated in disbelief.

"Both Raphael and Michelangelo have had visits from this ghost." Splinter explained. "It must have an attachment to this bracelet."

"Oh… I didn't expect that…" Leo raised his eye ridge.

"Creepy," muttered Mikey. "I really don't want to wake up to that again, Leo."

"Me neither." Raph scowled.

"Can't we just take it away and put it somewhere else?" Don asked. "Like…"

"Like where it came from in the first place," said Raph. "I'm taking it back, no way am I living with a ghost." He picked up the bracelet.

Leo stood quickly. "No. I need that. I'm going to trace her with it."

Raph rolled his eyes. "How? It's got the name 'Susan' written on it. Now I'm no human…" Raph spread his arms, his whole demeanour screaming sarcasm. "…but I'm pretty sure there's about half a million Susans out there. Past and present."

Leo reached out his hand. "I'll cope. Give it back."

"Leo, you've gone crazy. I mean more than usual..." Raph shook his head.

"Give me the bracelet."

"Fine." Raph dropped it into Leo's outstretched hand. His eyes narrowed. "Good luck."

Leo glared back. "Thanks." He said stiffly, he looked past Raph at Splinter. "Sensei, I'm going to visit April, she might help."

Splinter gave a nod and watched Leo leave. Raph jerked a thumb at the door he'd just left through.

"He's lost it…"