Before I share the chapter, I just want to see if anyone reading this would be interested in an idea I had.

So I was thinking of also posting the story to wattpad, but aside from that, I was thinking of illustrating certain scenes to help with visualizing. I think it'd add a creative element to the overall story - they'd be drawn in a style either of my own or similar to the 2003 turtles. Thoughts on this? Let me know!

Rayn frowned. In front of her was a floating island, with two giant floating rocks on the left side like a kind of pillar-course laid out for one to jump across.

The island itself was simple, with grass and vines hanging down the side like it was old. But a floating island just doesn't appear next to a cliff.

On the structure itself was a large.. Door. It was floating a few inches off the ground and had a kinda eerie glow around it. The flickering light was bright enough for even her to see, and it was a gradient of green to blue - almost cyan.

Rayn took a step across the landscape towards the island, walking across until she got to the rock. The rocks were too big for her to jump across alone. She just simply couldn't make it across to explore.

But even if she were thinking that, she found herself still attempting to leap across - but she landed on the edge of the first rock with a jolt throughout her whole body and clung for her life.

She found her hands growing slippery and started to call out in a scared, almost unnatural voice - "Help!"

In the distance, she turned her head and saw Donatello running towards her, followed closely by his brothers - but even with all her strength, she could not hang out anymore.

And then she felt herself falling.

Rayn woke up in a panic, the falling sensation still ringing through her body. She felt as if she had just fallen back onto the couch, but that wasn't even possible.

She sat up, stretching and throwing the blankets into a messy heap towards the edge of the couch.

With her sensitive hearing, the redhead could hear low voices coming from the other side of the huge room - but they stopped when they heard her get up.

Rayn brushed it off and headed towards the lair's bathrooms to shower and get dressed.

Of her previous wardrobe, she managed to scavenge a few of her favorite pieces of clothing. Rayn used her phone to play music softly as she showered and then dressed, throwing on a pair of dark jeans and a blue cold-shoulder top which she loved.

The redhead stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself as she started to brush her hair.

The girl who stared back wasn't the same as she was two weeks ago. In fact, she had been noticing subtle changes to her appearance which took her by surprise. She thought the chemicals that ugly Hun guy put in her had finished long ago, but apparently not.

Her wavy red hair had noticeable darkening towards the tips, like the same color as her ears, and she noticed her fingernails had gradually changed to become more like claws. Her nose was more pronounced and protruded more, becoming snout-like. But at least she didn't have fur, the girl thought to herself. But after a while, wearing a hat to cover her ears wouldn't cut it anymore.

"Hey, Rayn." A voice said from behind her, which made her jump and turn around reflexively.

Mikey stood at the entrance to the bathroom, looking at her. He held a cup of coffee out to her. "Wanna play some games?"

"Sure." She replied absently. Her thoughts were still jumbled, but playing with Mikey would be able to help. Hopefully.

The excited orange clad turtle squealed in delight and raced over to the couch, followed by a slower Rayn.

"Oh great, another Mikey." Raph commented as he came out of his room, hearing the excited babble of the youngest turtle echo through the large lair, followed by Rayn's quiet voice.

"Nah, not really." Don peeked out of his room. "She's got some more brains than our bro."

The hothead huffed and leaped down to the first floor, followed by Don. Leo was nowhere to be found - probably meditating or something.

She and Mikey had managed to get towards the boss level of the game they were playing. She forgot the title, but Mikey had explained many times it was his favorite and so she tried her best to keep up with his avatar.

Her eyes were weary because she hadn't gotten up to get another cup of coffee, and she felt herself start to zone out unintentionally. She still played the game and replied to Mikey's chatter, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Something about that dream she had was bugging her. She didn't know what, but it served some kinda special meaning to her. That, and her constant worry about Wylan. What was he planning? Were they going to try to kidnap her again? Was she putting her friends in danger?

Suddenly, she felt a sharp jolt of pain in the back of her head, like someone had hit her there. She felt herself drop her controller, but her vision grew fuzzy and she had no idea what else happened. Distant shouts hit her ears, but her mind couldn't make them out.

What was wrong with her?

She didn't know how long she was in that state until she felt her shoulders being shaken, and slowly the fog lifted.

"Rayn?" Mikey's masked face filled her vision. Rayn was on the floor, with her friends surrounding her. The fallen controller was next to her.

Rayn winced, rubbing the back of her head.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Don asked her, as he and Mikey helped her up.

"I—" Keeping a hand on the back of her head, she let them help her to the couch. "I don't know."

Leo, who had joined the group but was unnoticed by Rayn, exchanged a glance with Don.

"Can I take you to the lab? Maybe we can figure out what's wrong." Don asked Rayn, who nodded.

Don helped Rayn get up again, but she was able to walk on her own now as the pain started to fade.

The youngest turtle followed, as the game in the background showed their avatars paused in front of a large door, weapons in hands as they prepared for the battle.


"Stockman." Hun entered the lab, his large bulk heading straight towards the table Doctor Baxter Stockman sat at. "Did the test work?"

"No." Stockman replied, typing away at a computer. "The girl isn't responding, she's resisting."

"How?" The giant slapped Stockman's keyboard away from the desk, making the man stand up and his chair swivel across the floor.

"Hey! I just got that!"

"Stockman, you said that would work. Why didn't it? The girl needs to be under our control." Hun growled.

"It's just a minor setback." The genius readjusted his glasses, walking back towards his computer. "She can't resist for much more."

"You better be right, Stockman," Hun stamped on Stockman's keyboard as he headed for the door, destroying it. "Or you'll see what else the Shredder has in store for you."