Chapter 1

The area around her was cold… dark. She couldn't see anything. She was simply floating in place, looking this way and that trying to figure out where to go from here.

Looking above she didn't see any lights. Looking below she saw none either. Ahead…. Nothing. Behind her… Nothing.

It was as if all there was to this realm was floating and nothingness.

"Loralie."

She looked around quickly, wondering who spoke her name.

"H-Hello?" She called, bubbles flying from her mouth when she spoke.

"Loralie."

Where was that coming from? She spun in her realm, trying to find the source of the voice.

She squinted in the darkness, seeing a light. She started moving forward as the area around her illuminated.

It was a coral reef… One deep down beneath the sea. The girl looked around, finding herself feeling at home in this colorful place.

"Loralie…."

She swam passed a sunken bottle and doubled back, looking at her reflection, gasping.

Looking back at her was the face of something else entirely.

"AHHH!"

THUD!

Loralie Hunter hit the floor in a heap, tangled up in her blanket as she struggled to get loose.

"Leggo!"

Sometimes she didn't know how she wound up waking up like this. It was odd. She hated small spaces before… but now she couldn't help but huddle into things as deep as she could. It was just instincts.

She squirmed, whining a little before the blanket finally came loose as she flopped on her side, relieved to be out of that pickle.

Loralie waited a moment before sitting up, yawning, stretching her arms above her head. "Well that was a weird dream." She mused to herself, running a hand through her hair. What time is it…? She got up wandering over to a clock that was mounted on the wall.

10:50 PM.

Her sister was still at work and wouldn't be getting off until eleven.

I told her not to get a shift at McDonalds but she wouldn't listen to me… She sighed as she went over to the radio, turning it on and looking around their abode.

It was an old boathouse, modified to be more of a home, however temporary it would be. It had been a rough two months since they had taken off, but it was proving worth it so far.

Just need to be able to afford more than just the literal basics… Winter's coming soon… The downside of this, was they relied mostly on batteries for their radio and that got expensive. The boathouse initially had electricity to power the overhead lights but that had been cut a long time ago. They tried to get it started a few times but they only got nearly electrocuted for their trouble. Emmaline had declared it a matter of pride and now their funds besides food was going to go into getting a generator working in there and a space heater so they wouldn't freeze.

"We could just go back home if it gets too bad Emma."

"IT'S A FRICKEN MATTER OF PRIDE!"

Working at AMC and McDonalds isn't exactly a prideful job sis… She thought as she swept up a bit, humming a little. "It doesn't matter who you hurt… If you're just proving you're the best…" She sung quietly under her breath.

She passed a mirror that they had found in the junkyard and halted looking at her appearance. The very reason they were in hiding now… and to her, the reason she was still alive.

Loralie had been mutated three months ago from a sick human to what constituted as a "healthy" shark mutant. Her appearance remained a mix of human and Epaulette shark, from the beige skin covered in dark brown spots, to the large white rimmed black spot on her cheek, to the dorsal fin protruding from her back.

The last one being the biggest pain when she wanted to sleep at night. She sighed a bit, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

But it was better than being dead.

"Lora?"

She turned seeing a girl older than her by about two years enter. Her appearance mimicked Loralie in her human life but had more maturity and her own features. This was Emmaline Hunter, Loralie's sister, her best friend… and her only friend at that.

"Hey sis." She smiled, dropping the broom and running over to her sibling, pulling her into a hug.

Emmaline hugged her back, keeping her close for a moment. "Hey you… Thought you would be asleep."

"I woke up…" She gave a sheepish look. "Bad dream."

Emmaline frowned, leading her sister over to her own bed, sitting with her. "Wanna talk about it?" She asked as she looked around for her spare clothes. "We can while I'm changing."

"Eh… It was weird." She replied, turning as Emmaline changed out of view.

"Define weird?" Emmaline called, albeit a little muffled from trying to get her uniform shirt over her head. "Ugh I swear I gained weight! This shirt is smaller than it was!"

"You picked the smallest size possible claiming you couldn't possibly have gained a few pounds from getting free popcorn at AMC." Loralie pointed out, glancing behind her at her sister. "And wearing a tank top under that."

Emmaline rolled her eyes, managing to get loose. "I am so going to prove you wrong on that. I did NOT gain weight!"

Loralie rolled her own eyes, giving her an unimpressed look. Emmaline was always like this. Always worried about her weight, even now. It was just another nervous tick of hers. Emmaline, the brave one of them, the fighter… Who was also terrified of subway trains and had an irrational obsession with her weight. "Good luck with that." She said in a sing song voice turning away.

Emmaline, while Loralie was busy, held her pajama top close to her body as she turned examining herself in the mirror. No bruises… Nothing weird… No bumps… Good… She sighed in relief before pulling the shirt up over her shoulders and buttoning it. She herself worried about more than just her weight… But it was part of it.

She supposed she could be called obsessive but she just wanted to be around for a long time, to look after her sister. No one else will… Not like this… She thought before sitting beside her sibling. It was quiet as the girls looked around their small home. "So um…"

"Think we could sneak back home and pilfer my ballet shoes…?" Loralie asked quietly, remembering the pointe shoes she had loved so much. She missed being able to do at least that much. Most of her life spent in ballet class and enjoying the freedom the dancing gave her. Even if she was by herself it was better than being by herself bored half to death.

Emmaline gave a shrug. "I dunno Lor'... I really don't… If we try mom and dad might catch us… I love them I do… But… We can't go back there… We just can't."

Their parents were never abusive. They were far from it… But it was the fact that they had grown used to the way life was now. Emmaline didn't want to accept help and their parents… Their hearts were in the right places,but their minds weren't at times.

"Okay… Yeah it was a stupid idea…"

"No… It wasn't. How about this? I'll buy you some new ones for Christmas?" She offered. Loralie's head shot up in surprise.

"New?!"

"Yep, the AMC I work at is right around the corner from a dance academy. I could use cash directly to buy a pair of pointes in your size. Just give me the measurements and stuff… But it'll have to be the "big" gift. Nothing else… Those things aren't exactly cheap."

Loralie smiled, hugging her sister, squealing a little. "You're the best sister EVER!" She laughed, giving her a nuzzle. Emmaline giggled, returning the gesture.

"Nah… Just dorky ol'Emma." She said before kissing her sister's forehead. "Now go to bed."

"Kay!" She giggled, practically dancing to her own bed.

Emmaline laid down, closing her eyes, relaxing.

Just as she started to drift, she swore she heard her sister humming a song from one of her recitals.

Promise… I'll take care of ya sis…. And I will do anythin' to see you happy…

Just a little more… Just a little…. He steadied his hand slowly, tipping the vial towards the flask in his other hand, eyes narrowed in focus. Almost there… Almost-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

THUD!

He jumped, nearly dropping the chemicals, growling a bit. He capped the vial and set the flask down, venturing out of his lab, looking around his home to see what chaos had befallen his brothers… Again.

Hamato Donatello sighed as he watched Raphael chase Michelangelo around their lair. "I'M GONNA KILL YA MIKEY!"

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEELP! LEO! MASTER SPLINTER! DOOOONNNIIEEEEE!"

"Splinta' and Fearless won't save ya this time! And Don won't either not after LAST TIME!"

Oh yes.

LAST TIME.

He felt his eye twitch a bit recalling the last time he had tried to "help" Mikey. THAT had ended in disaster.

"What'd he do this time?"

Donnie looked over to see his blue masked brother emerging from his room. "Depends, I haven't asked yet."

"HEEEELP! LEOLEOLEOLEOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"I'LL TEACH YA TO COME INTO MY ROOM AND STEAL MY CHIPS!"

Ah.

His stash.

It was no secret the boys all had stashes of something or other in their rooms. Even as children, which displeased Master Splinter immensely but as his boys grew they had their preferences and preferences in what they didn't wish for their brothers to touch.

Taking one's stash could lead to a painful bloody demise if not careful.

Leo wisely stepped out of the way as Mikey tore past and into his room, slamming the door in Raph's face.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

'Remember Raphie, murder is illegal." Leo pointed out.

Donnie shook his head. "Guys, it's a little late for this isn't it?"

Then again…

This is when we're usually wide awake…