Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you're having a great weekend, and I am back with a new update! Things are going to continue to heat up, so I hope you're prepared! So, without further ado, please enjoy the next part of the story!

Casey sighed, stopping as he approached his decrepit childhood home. As he stared at it for a moment, the trio of turtles stopped behind him.

"So, what is this supposed to accomplish?" Raph asked.

"Just let him do what he has to do." Leo replied.

Casey closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a breath. He reopened them when he felt someone move past him, staggering back to see it was his father. He looked upon the porch as he approached, seeing himself and his sister laughing as they ran up to hug him. He saw his mother smile as her husband planted a kiss on her cheek before the four entered the house.

"Come on." Casey said, the four going up to the front door to enter. When they did, Casey hesitated when he saw it was exactly as he remembered it- no longer a decaying husk, it was a warm home filled with family and love. The turtles were unable to see this, and Raph was on guard, remembering what transpired the last time he had gone there.

"Uh, you guys? Why's Casey staring at that wall there?" Mikey asked uneasily.

Casey furrowed his brows, shaking his head when he saw his mother turn from the window. "Hi, sweetie."

"Mom? What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Where else would I be?" She chuckled, approaching him to give him a hug. "How was school?"

Casey cleared his throat. "Mom... I'm not in school anymore. I finished. Kind of."

She tilted her head, chuckling. "You were always so silly, you and your wild imagination. Your father's already upstairs... I was waiting for you. Funny, I thought I would see your sister first."

"Mom..." He sighed. "She's- A- Abby... is in a psych ward. She's been there for years. And you've been gone, mom. You gave yourself up when you were both kidnapped." He shook his head. "You're not here."

She stared at him for several moments. "I've always been here, sweetie, and so have you. I would know. I've never left."

"Maybe it's time we do. There's nothing left in this place, mom." Casey said.

"Arnold." She smiled, patting his face. "Those friends of yours have been a bad influence. Listen to your mother. She knows best. They're only going to cause you trouble. It's time to come home. Your father and I are exactly where we need to be. We're just waiting for you kids. Abby is very close. You have to let your friends go home, too."

"Yeah." He nodded. "But first, you're the one who's going home." He shut his eyes, tightly, focusing as a loud shriek filled his ears, penetrating into his mind. He focused on a small orb of light, the orb growing slowly to disperse the darkness. When the orb finally prevailed, he staggered back, opening his eyes to see that no one was there. He sighed, holding his head as Leo approached him.

"Casey, what is it?" He asked.

"I think I did what I was supposed to do." He glanced back at the turtles.

Back within the lair, Splinter's ear flickered as the telephone rang. He shuffled over, extending a hand to take it off the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hello, Splinter. I am aware the others have not returned yet. Just know that Casey was successful in what I set him out to do." Doctor Sleep said.

"That is relieving to hear." Splinter said.

"He will need to fine tune his Shine if he has any chance of saving April, let alone taking on Pennywise. I discovered something that the creature is able to do. It is able to project itself to other places and present itself as the apparition of a human passed. Essentially, It can wear their soul like a mask. This is how my father succumbed to his madness years ago. The spirits have the ability to affect physical objects, such as moving things and opening doors. I had a premonition that It was going to attempt to do the same to Casey. Thankfully, It miscalculated. However, it came at a price- now it knows that Casey, too, is a shiner, hence why he did not succumb to its manipulation. This task was both beneficial and a risk to us. It is going to continue to try to strip his and April's protection- your sons- and expose them to greater danger. I am aware that Donnie is incarcerated. He has a strong emotional connection with April. This is also, both a good and bad thing. I know they mean everything to you. I do not have a child of my own, but the one I'm trying to protect may as well be. I truly wish I could be physically present to assist, but I cannot place her in harm's way. I have seen the price paid for those unprepared attempting to fight this evil."

"I understand. Regardless of their shortcomings, my sons will band together to do what they must. They will play their part and do it well. I have my utmost confidence in them." Splinter replied.

"I believe they will as well. Unfortunately, I cannot speak much longer. Eyes are always watching. Take care." Doctor Sleep said before ending the call.

As he placed the phone back on its receiver, Splinter glanced behind him when Casey returned with the other three turtles. Once they settled in, Leo looked over his shoulder. "Casey's getting a good handle on his power. Now, we need to get a handle on breaking our brother out of prison."

"And how are we going to do that, huh? Last time we broke into the police station, we nearly had our shells handed to us." Raph said.

"No need to remind me that the genius behind that move was you, Raph." Leo shot him a look. "However, when all of that happened, we had Donnie and April at our backs. Now, we have to do this without the mastermind."

"No more dream team..." Mikey sighed sadly.

"Look. Let me talk to Rebecca. Ever since you guys saved the city from being vaporized, I'm not a pariah there. I can at least get information, if anything. We need something to go on before we just decide to make a heist."

"Since when do you think before you jump, Jones?" Raph smirked.

"Since Donnie and April's lives are on the line." He replied, and Raph couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Leo nodded as well. "Alright. Casey, you head down to the police station. Find out what you can, and then-"

"Freeze! Hands where we can see them!" A sudden shout came as about a dozen police officers infiltrated into the lair.

"Woah, are they mind readers too? You can just ask them questions right here, Casey!" Mikey said.

"They're not here to chat over tea, Mikey. Get your hands up." Raph growled.

Leo swore under his breath as they all complied. When he heard footsteps, his eyes darted as Splinter entered the room. "Dad, just do what they tell you."

"Why have you come here?" Splinter asked.

"Get your hands in the air, right now!" A police officer shouted. "We will shoot!"

Leo hissed. "Dad, please-"

"I am your sensei, Leonardo." Splinter met his gaze. "And this is our home. We have a right to know why they are here."

"I'm not going to protest at the expense of you getting hurt." Leo said.

"Leonardo. I cannot let them take you. Too many lives are at stake." Splinter insisted.

"Gentlemen." A voice said then, someone weaving through the police officers until he stood at the forefront.

"Roberts... you bastard..." Raph muttered.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why we're here. I'm truly sorry to have to come to this. April... is very upset that it's come to this as well." Grayson said.

"Don't you say her name, you- ah!" Raph exclaimed as he was tazed.

"Raph!" Mikey exclaimed, about to go to his aid when one of the officers threatened him. He bit his lip, furrowing his brows as he slowly stood back upright, hands in the air as Raph slowly got to his feet.

"Where is she?" Leo pressed. "Just give her back to us. We're not trying to sabotage your campaign or hurt you, Grayson. We just want to help this city. We want to help people. If you know anything about this creature, I'm begging you. Please. Just help us do what's right."

Grayson pursed his lip. He took out a familiar photograph, looking at it for a moment. "Do you know who this is? April didn't either when she saw her. But she did see her... in a vision. My sister, like her, had the power to shine. What she did was considered atrocious. Unforgiveable. Taking the shine of children through torture. But you know what I think? She did them a great service. She showed them the truth of this world. She showed them that great power comes through great suffering. Those who cannot bear that pain should sacrifice their power to those who can endure it. Those children now live peacefully in the life beyond life. See... Pennywise and I..." He shook his head. "We're not all that different. You're looking at me, and you think being compassionate will lead to success. It will only result in failure- at least, in your eyes. I almost pity you. You're a poor excuse for a life form, you have no drive for what truly matters." He chuckled. "Our story wasn't all that special- mine and Rose's. We came from abuse. But we soon learned to make our pain theirs. We learned the rules of give and take. And when she was taken from me, I promised both her and myself that I would take the world, because that's what she was to me. Anyhow... we'll discuss this further when you're escorted to the proper facilities."

"No! You cannot take my sons-" Splinter emitted a cry as he was tazed, falling to his knees.

"Get off of him!" Raph shouted, bowling his way through officers.

"Raphael, stop!" Leo shouted.

"No! You can stand here and do nothing, I-" Raph hissed when he was knocked unconscious, falling to the ground. Mikey's voice cracked as he called his brother's name, Leo slowly closing his eyes as they were taken into custody. As they were, Grayson approached Casey as he glared daggers.

"I understand you've gotten in good graces with the police chief due to certain events. Do not think this connection is going to benefit you, Mr. Jones. I hold all the cards now. Your fate will be sealed soon enough. I suggest you accept that and cooperate. Once you're out of the way, I will find your... other friend. I'm going to make him watch while his sweet little niece suffers until death."

Casey scoffed. "Man, when I get my hands on you..." He shook his head. "... you're going to be seeing my face in your sleep if I let you live."

Grayson shrugged. "I'm glad to know you at least have dreams still. Take care, Mr. Jones. You know who's coming for you next."

As Grayson turned, the entire police party filed out, taking the turtles and Splinter with them. As they did so, he glanced over, hearing the TV playing in the background.

'A search warrant for a group of bio-radiation class mutants, a clan of turtle brothers named after various Renaissance artists, has been filed after video footage throughout Manhattan captured the previously altruistic individuals terrorizing citizens throughout the city. Some described them as "monsters," "savage," tearing through the streets in a feral manner. One of the brothers is currently a suspect in the slaughter spree case in the business district. As of now, we have no idea if this is connected to any of the other concerning acts taking place throughout the city. More to come shortly, but first, we have Ms. O'Neil with us, making her first live appearance since that harrowing night.'

As Casey watched, slowly approaching the TV, he stared at April's face on the screen, the words blurring as he could only focus on her.

But it wasn't her. It was only a mask.

'... what do you think should be done in regards to recent occurrences, Ms. O'Neil?"

Casey watched as April smiled stiffly, slowly turning her head to look into the camera.

"... Kill them. Kill them all."

'Yes, that is a good solution, and understandably, the best way to handle this situation. For now, thank you everyone for watching, and we'll see you at the six pm coverage.'

As Casey slowly backed away from April's dark expression peering into his eyes, he began to hear the sound of screams swelling in his mind, his vision darkening until he was no longer conscious. Some time later, he groaned as he came to, something capturing his attention. He rubbed his head, looking over his shoulder when he realized the telephone was ringing. He stumbled as he made his way over to it, grabbing it off the receiver. "What?"

"Casey. How are you holding up?"

"Let me think... April's who knows where, Donnie's in the slammer, Leo, Raph, Mikey and Splinter just got hauled off, there's a killer clown still on the loose and Grayson's running the show here. Otherwise, everything's peachy, thanks for asking." Casey snapped.

"I understand your frustration. I called because-"

"Really? You understand all the way from the middle of nowhere?!" He threw his arm up. "Look, whatever it is you want to tell me, I already know, okay? You can stop being captain obvious, I know that you know what's going on because of your mind powers or whatever. If you really want to help, get your ass down here or up here or wherever the hell 'here' is in relation to you!"

"Casey... believe me, I did not want for this to happen. Pennywise is cunning, and unfortunately, his allies make the situation all the more difficult. You have a far more difficult choice to make. Going on a wild goose chase for April alone is not an option. You either need to pursue Roberts, or you need to find a way to break the turtles free from their imprisonment. I know the path ahead seems daunting. Believe me, I have been in life or death situations since I was a child, just like you. But you have friends, confidantes, and they will help you."

"I gotta get down to the police station. Rebecca is the only person I know that can help who isn't kidnapped or in the slammer. Not going to like it... but I don't really have a choice. I'll let you know if it works or not." He said before slamming the receiver down, throwing his back pack over his shoulder before heading out.

Rebecca exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look, Jones." She began. "The evidence is plastered all over. I have no choice in the matter here. They have a shitty defense."

"It's all a lie. This creature is wearing their faces like a mask. It and Grayson have fooled everyone. April is still missing out there." Casey said.

Rebecca stared at him flatly. "Really? Then who was this that was just interviewed-"

"It's not her." Casey emphasized. "She's trapped somewhere."

"So you're saying that someone is impersonating her?" Rebecca asked. "Jones, this isn't invasion of the body snatchers."

"You're right. It's worse. I don't care what strings you have to pull. You've got to let them go. We need to find April and kill this thing." Casey exhaled sharply. "The longer we play around here, the less chance we have of saving her."

"Casey... I really want to believe you. I do. I can tell that you're speaking with your heart here. But the heart is different than the law, and I have to follow protocol." She replied.

Casey pursed his lip, nodding. "So you're pretty much telling me that you're just going to let everyone get killed. Okay. I get it." He got up from his seat, moving past her.

"Jones. Jones!" She exclaimed. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Just keep following protocol. You do your job... I do mine." Before she could respond, he walked through the door, heading out of the police station and back to his apartment. After thinking for some time, he grabbed his hockey mask, his backpack, gearing up. As he was about to leave his apartment, the phone rang. He stopped, glancing back at it before shaking his head, going out and closing the door behind him. Just then, his cell phone rang. He rolled his eyes as he took it out.

"Casey, being reckless is going to help no one." Doctor Sleep's voice was heard.

"Neither is sitting in your mother's basement playing phone tag." Casey spat.

"If you end up in jail, any chances of saving April will go right out the window. Listen to me."

"No. I'm done talking." Casey growled. "I'm busting the reptilian gang out of jail. I've got connections, in more ways than one. You taught me a few things, I have to give you that. Now, I'm going to use it. Call me when we're underground." He ended the call without another word, slowing to a stop where he closed his eyes, inhaling the cool, night air. "This may just be crazy enough to work. If I can pull this off... you guys owe me one." He said to himself, reopening his eyes as he headed for the prison.

"Hey. Did you see the game yesterday?" A security guard asked as they stood post outside the police station.

"Yeah, that grand slammer was something, huh?" Another guard chuckled.

"Those Yankees man, never get old. Thinking of taking my son next month. Boy loves baseball." He then noticed someone approaching, straightening up. "Jones, visiting your girlfriend again, huh? Come on, man, just because you're like Batman around here doesn't mean-" The guard stopped, widening his eyes. "J- Jones, behind you! Damn it, code blue!" The guard exclaimed, he and his partner seeing a man in critical condition limping on the street on the opposite corner. As they ran toward the man, Casey glanced over his shoulder.

There was no man there.

Casey slowly exhaled. "Can't believe that worked." He said, waiting for some of the other guards and police officers to leave their posts around the perimeter of the building and just inside. When the coast was clear, he used his fob to enter through a side door, quickly entering a pass code to deactivate the alarm. He closed his eyes for a moment, reopening them. "Of course they couldn't make this easy..." He groaned before heading down the stairwell.

Inside the prison cells, Raph stared ahead, his expression serious. They had huge chains around their wrists, ankles, and neck, several guards posted outside of their cell. Mikey sighed, staring at his feet. "Man... I could go for some-"

"Mikey, if you say you could go for some pizza right now, one more time, I'm going to use your chains for an early execution." Raph spat.

"Hey. We're all in the same boat here. Mikey, stop whining, and Raph, stop threatening him." Leo said.

"Why should I?! We're stuck here in some cramped cell for something none of us did, Donnie isn't even with us, he's in solitary confinement, and they're probably going to kill him for murders he didn't commit! And while everyone thinks April's hunky dory, she's probably rotting somewhere-"

"Don't even say it, Raph." Leo cut him off. "Don't count her out-"

"Why, because you want to believe that somehow we'll rise up and be the heroes and save the day?! Guess what, Leo, let me give you a little wake up call, alright? April is dead! You hear me?! She's DEAD!" Raph shouted.

"Stop it..." Mikey whimpered.

"And what are you going to do, cry?! The both of you need to grow up and get with reality. No one's coming for us, or her." Raph growled.

"Hey." An officer approached the guards then, nodding toward the door. "There's a situation on the square."

"So? You go handle it, isn't that your job?" One of the guards scoffed.

"Chief wants all hands out there. She told me to tell you guys." The officer said.

"Hey. Listen, you pipsqueak rookie. We handle down here, you handle up there, that's how things work around here-"

Just then, the officer grinned widely, laughing at him. When the guard was taken aback in confusion, the officer lunged at him, the other guards scrambling for their weapons. Inside their cell, the turtles hopped to their feet as multiple rounds of gunfire went off, soon being silenced in a bloody scene. The sound of a body dragging was heard, the turtles silently dreading what came into view next.

"Appetizer's ready!" Pennywise said in a sing-song voice. "Don't worry... I'll save you three for the main course." It looked over its shoulder. "The skimpy second course should be here aaaany minute." It chuckled.

"You son of a bitch!" Raph growled as his chains tugged at his wrists, unable to get to the cell bars. "We're in here because of you, after what you did to April!"

"Oh, don't worry... soon the show will really begin." Pennywise cackled sinisterly.

Casey threw himself against the wall as officers and guards flooded the hallways, listening as he could hear frantic chatter among them and their walkie-talkies. When he heard of a code red in the heavy containment chambers, he hissed under his breath. "Damn it you guys, can you stay out of trouble for one second?" He said to himself, making his way towards there once the coast was clear.

Rebecca sighed as her phone was ringing off the hook, slamming the palm of her hand on her desk. "What the hell is going on?!" She shouted over to her secretary.

"M'am, I can't keep up with the influx of calls!" The secretary replied. Rebecca got up from her desk, about to head out when an officer suddenly intervened.

"Chief, we need you to stay here. We're putting the station on lockdown." He said.

"The hell are you- what is going on?" She asked.

"One of our rookies went haywire in heavy containment." He said.

"What?! We're going to security. Bring up the damn cameras." Rebecca said. When he tried to stop her, she shoved his hand off her shoulder. "I am your chief and I'm telling you to escort me to security, NOW." She snapped, the officer nodding as he complied.

Mikey gulped as Pennywise stared at the trio through the bars, licking already bloody lips. "Is he going to try to come in here?"

"I don't know, Mikey, but if we're going to go down, we're going down fighting." Raph said.

"No." Leo narrowed his eyes. "If it wanted to attack us, it would have. It's waiting for something."

Just then, the security lock was deactivated, the door to the heavy containment chamber opening. Pennywise turned, grinning all the more when Casey entered through the door, halting upon seeing the deranged clown and the trio chained and behind bars. He groaned, glancing at them.

"Well, shit." He spoke. Pennywise did not hesitate, lunging for Casey. He dove behind the guards' quarters, scrambling to find a weapon. He managed to find a spare gun, as well as a chain with a dozen or so keys on it. Pennywise hopped behind the counter, hissing as Casey kicked at him before firing his weapon. He then turned, trying to hop back over the counter when he was grabbed. "Take this and get the hell out of there so you can help me here!" Casey shouted, tossing the keys toward the cells. It skidded along the floor, Raph struggling against his chains to reach them.

"Damn, where's Donnie with one of his weird gadgets when we need him?!" He exclaimed.

"Just get it!" Leo shouted, internally panicking as Casey struggled to hold up against Pennywise.

"What does it like I'm trying to do here?!" Raph snapped at him, one of his large fingers slipping through the bars as he tried to inch the keys towards him.

In the security room, Rebecca shooed the guard out of the way, sitting in the chair as she typed furiously. She brought several screens focused on the heavy containment chamber into focus, rewinding them. She narrowed her eyes, watching as the rookie officer in question entered the area before beginning to viciously attack the guards there. Her eyes widened when after the guards were either slaughtered or fled, the rookie turned to look right up at the camera slowly, grinning eerily as before her eyes, he reverted to the creature's clown form.

"My God..." She breathed. "Jones wasn't making this up... and neither was Donnie." She shook her head as she tried to process this. "I'm going down there."

"M'am, this is a highly dangerous-" The officer stopped when she shot up, grabbing his lapel.

"This thing is a threat to this entire city and it's in our police station. The only possible chance we have of destroying it is in those chambers." She then hesitated for a second, taking a step back before taking out a key, unlocking a lock box with other special use keys inside. She shuffled through them for a moment, taking one into her hands. "You're going to shadow me. If you see anything dangerous, we go to a safe area immediately until the threat passes, you hear me? There's something I have to do before I get down there." She said, nodding toward the door as the officer was once again forced to comply with her demands.

Well, it seems our heroes are in a pretty sticky situation! However, will Rebecca be a resource of help for them now that she's seen the creature with her own eyes? Will the turtles break themselves free in time to help Casey? Is there any hope for Donnie and April? There will be more to come, so keep an eye out for updates! Thank you all for reading, and please leave your thoughts in a review! See you next time!