Journal entry N°13- Don's journal:

13

Triskaidekaphobia: Fear of the number 13. Superstition related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th, called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

In Spanish-speaking countries, instead of Friday, Tuesday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck. I think Leo said Tuesday the 13th is Martes Trece in Spanish- I don't know, I didn't spend two years in South America so I'm gonna trust him on this one.

Like always.

It doesn't mean I'm a boot licker, don't judge!

Now, you may be asking yourself: Donnie, what's with the random knowledge bomb?

As a turtle of science, I'm always investigating; from the smallest changes in my environment to the weirdest gadget I find in the dumpster, I just need to analyze and study them to quench my thirst for knowledge.

However, I don't consider myself as a superstitious turtle. That's Mikey's department.

Sure, we've had a few unexplainable experiences and I can't say our "luck" is the best but black cats, broken mirrors, clovers, Friday the 13th, Martes Trece- those things didn't say anything to me and I never paid much attention to them.

Until she came into our lives.

To be honest, I never pegged Who as superstitious- or afraid of anything but butterflies- but I guess even I can be mistaken.

I started noticing her change of behavior around those particular days a month after she moved with us. The day before and after Tuesday the 13th or Friday the 13th she was fidgety, anxious- almost scared of leaving the lair- but it all changed when the day in question came; when she was back to her usual self, calm, collected, happy… maybe too happy.

Unbeknownst to Whoey, I began to study her.

I marked every single Tuesday and Friday 13th I could find in the calendar. I also marked the day before and the day after, of course.

It was a matter of patience; lucky for me I have enough of that, even more than Leo and Sensei together.

Not bragging or anything, I just thought that you should know.

I know to some this may sound creepy but here are some of my notes during the process of observation:

Every 12 prior Tuesday or Friday 13th- same thing with every 14- Whoey entered the kitchen and briefly looked at the calendar. Then her eyes would widen before she glanced back at the calendar. She would spit out whatever she was eating or drinking at the moment, coughed then ran to her room before one of us could ask her if she was ok, then she disappeared in her room and we didn't see her after three hours.

When Who finally came out, she was dressed in green from head to toe; she had an evil eye bracelet in the right hand and a clover dangling from a golden chain around her neck.

None of the guys asked her about this; I think Leo knew what was going on but didn't say anything- always the considerate one.

The whole day I observed her, she was always looking behind her back, at the floor, avoiding stairs and black cats. Also, she freaked out if someone spilled salt on the table during lunch and when we accidentally hit any glass or mirror.

Curiously, when the cursed 13th came, Who left all those weird antics behind and acted… weirder than usual.

The green clothes and lucky charms? Gone.

The fidgeting and anxiousness? What's that!

Spilled salt, broken mirrors? "Clean up on aisle 3!"

Black cats? "Here, kitty kitty! Come to Whoey~"

The pattern repeated every year for 2 years.

This year, the 3rd year since Who moved permanently with us, things hadn't changed at all but that wasn't really annoying me.

What was really annoying me is that after 3 years, I still hadn't found an explanation to this… phenomenon, if it could be called that way.

The phobia is called Triskaidekaphobia yet she wasn't scared of 13; she freaked out over 12 and 14! It didn't make any sense!

I knew I would not rest until this mystery was solved so I gathered all the courage left in me and I confronted Whoey. Trying to avoid the creepy I've-been-watching-your-every-move part, I asked her about her aversion for the days before and after every Tuesday/Friday 13th.

The answer she gave me was quite... interesting.

"Just because witches can't have bad luck doesn't mean they can be careless, Donnie" She said with a smirk that would have made Raph or even Shredder himself proud.

"Also, people are so distracted looking at me breaking all the bad-luck rules that they unconsciously do stupid things and end up breaking a rule as well! Seeing them freaking out over that is just hilarious!"

Like I said before as a turtle of science, I'm always investigating but from now on, I think I'll stick to studying advanced alien technology.

Trying to figure out how Who's mind works is difficult.

And disturbing.

Shell, what day is it today? Dammit, now I'm scared of 13's! Or should I say… scared of what Who has planned for this 13?

End of Journal entry N°13

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Whee! I'm updating stuff!

Oh and to those who are reading "Race Against Death"?

I lied.

You'll see what I mean when I get to the next chapter.