- Chapter 53 -

Within the Woods

"Welcome to the Sewer Hour! Boy do I have a doozy of a story for you today, folks. Good rule of thumb, don't mess with mutagen. If you do, you might end up turning your brother into a plant." Mikey paused for a moment. "Yes folks, you heard me correctly. One of my brothers got turned into a plant. He got better though, but it wasn't easy. Let me tell you about what happened… "

Raph and Hisako took Leo out for some training, encouraging him to stay on his feet and walk to build up his strength again. They marched through the woods, Midnight running around and smelling the area happily.

"We gotta build up those muscles," Raph told him. "You've gotten super-weak."

"Don't rub it in," Leo said flatly.

"Hey, anyone would be weak after three months in a coma," Hisako pointed out. "Don't be hard on yourself, bro. Just take it one step at a time."

Leo did so, but even on a crutch, he had difficulty walking. "I don't think I'm ever gonna be the same again."

"Don't talk like that!" Hisako said sternly. "You were there for me when I almost gave up! You pushed me to go the distance, now I'm pushing you . Now try again."

Leo sighed, and they made it to a creek, which Raph directed him across. Leo made it a few steps before falling. Struggling back to his feet, Leo pulled out the glass flask of mutagen medicine Donnie gave him and took a swig, but within minutes looked and felt dizzy and nauseous. Raph and Hisako looked on in concern as Leo doubled over and vomited into a small pile of soaked plants near the creek.

"Okay, that does it," Hisako snatched the bottle out of Leo's hand and threw it away. "Donnie's not giving you any more of this glop."

Leo nodded, still looking greener than usual, and Raph sighed. "Let's call it for now."

With that, Raph and Hisako helped Leo back to the farmhouse, unaware of the mutagen in Leo's vomit soaking into the plants and dirt…

At the farmhouse, the group sat in the living room as Hisako blasted Donnie for the failure of his mutagen medicine.

"You said your mutagen 'elixir' was gonna help Leo, make him better! All it did was make him sick, Don!" Hisako ranted, poking him in the chest. "No more playing with that stuff, okay?!"

"Alright, fine," Donnie gave in. "It was worth a shot."

Leo sighed, looking at the others. "I can't stop thinking about Splinter and Kasumi. Maybe they're not really gone."

Vee turned to him. "Leo, we all saw it. As much as we want to believe they're okay…" She looked down solemnly.

"Maybe Leo's right," Kagome piped up. "They were ninja masters. The best in their generation."

"I'm an optimist, Kagome," Donnie said. "But I'm also a realist."

"We'll worry about that later," Mikey decided, picking up the remote. " Crognard's about to start!"

He turned on the TV, but the episode barely started to play before the power suddenly went out.

"Oh, what the hell?" Vee cursed.

"I didn't do it!" Hisako objected, holding her hands up.

"It's just a blown fuse," Donnie said, standing up. "I'll fix it in two shakes of a turtle's tail."

At that very moment, the fire in the fireplace went out.

"And it looks like we'll need more firewood," Raph deadpanned.

"Anyone else getting a little freaked out?" Mikey said nervously.

"Just a draft down the chimney," Kagome dismissed. "It's pretty windy outside."

Mikey shuddered, gulping audibly. "Why do I get the feeling that… we're about to get killed?"

Vee rolled her eyes. "You have got to stop watching scary movies before you go to bed, Mikey."

"Raph, go see about getting some more firewood," Leo ordered. "Don, go check on the fuse box."

Both turtles obediently went to do so.

-X-

Outside, Raph chopped up firewood with an axe, unaware of the menacing presence watching him from afar. As he hacked away, he heard leaves rustling, and stiffened.

"Hello?" he called out. "Mikey, if you're trying to scare me, knock it off!"

All he got for an answer was crickets and whistling wind. After a minute, he sighed and got back to chopping.

"Easy, Raph," he muttered. "Don't get paranoid."

After a few minutes, a shadow fell over him. Raph sighed, turning around.

"Mikey, what the hell are you-" he cut himself off at the sight of the creature before him, and let out a scream of horror…

-X-

Inside the farmhouse, Hisako suddenly perked up.

"Did anyone hear that?" she asked the others, getting nervous nods.

"That scream…" Kagome let out. "It was Raph!"

"Something must've gotten him," Mikey said before freezing up. "This is straight-up horror movie stuff, yo! Something's out there, looking for victims! I can feel it in my gut!"

"Mikey, get a grip!" Vee ordered.

"Vee's right. Freaking out isn't gonna do anyone any favors," Leo added. "We'll split up and look for him."

"Split up?!" Mikey repeated. "Haven't you seen the movies?! When you split up, the monster hunts you down one at a time, starting with the good-looking comic relief guy - ME!"

"Donnie, take Mikey and search that way," Leo went on, ignoring Mikey. "Vee, take Kagome and search that way, April and Casey, take that way."

"What're you two gonna do?" Kagome asked, gesturing to Leo and Hisako.

"We'll stay here in case Raph comes back," Leo told them. "I won't be much help out there, anyway."

"I've got him, guys," Hisako assured them, patting Leo on the shoulder as Midnight barked in agreement.

"And if it is a horror movie, just remember the three rules of survival," Casey said. "Don't have sex, don't drink or do drugs, and don't say, 'I'll be right back.' Because you won't be back. (1)"

"Also, don't take a shower, and stay away from stairs. (2)" April added.

"And it's usually the black guy who gets offed first," Kagome included. "We're safe in that regard."

Hisako clapped her hands, snapping them back to attention. " Focus . We can do Horror Movie Trivia Night after we find Raph. I'll be damned if we lose anyone else."

"Right," Kagome said. "Let's go find him."

With that, the three teams went off to search for their missing member.

April and Casey went off into the woods. April shuddered, rubbing her arms.

"I've always hated these woods at night," she admitted. "When I was a kid, I was sure monsters were gonna creep out and eat me."

"Well, don't worry," Casey assured. "This creep isn't gonna getcha. You're a kick-butt kunoichi, and I'm Casey Jones."

"Technically, I'm just a kunoichi trainee," April said. "But you're right."

"Of course I am," Casey replied. "Now let's go find Raph."

As they went, April stiffened, sensing something off. "You… ever have the feeling you were being watched?"

"Why?" Casey questioned. "You picking something up with your telephonesis?"

"Telekinesis. And no, you're thinking of telepathy," April replied. "Anyway, let's keep moving."

-X-

Mikey shook with fear as he followed Donnie.

"I… I dunno, Donnie," he said nervously. "You think he got lost? Maybe he got eaten by a rabid squirrel."

"Mikey, a rabid squirrel wouldn't be enough to get Raph," Donnie said. "Now calm down and help me look. Just stay close to me."

Mikey promptly jumped onto Donnie's shell, piggybacking him.

"Not that close, you idiot!" Donnie snapped, shrugging him off.

"Sorry," Mikey said sheepishly. "I think I inherited Hisako's anxiety."

"Mikey, that's not even possible," Donnie told him before sighing. "What do you think they're doing right now?"

"Who?" Mikey asked.

"April and Casey," Donnie answered. "I can't stop thinking about them going off on their own. Alone."

"That's what's got you so worked up?" Mikey asked, raising an eyebrow. "They're looking for Raph the same as us. I know we live in the sewer, but get your head out of the gutter."

"Either way, what happens when two teenagers who like each other go out into the woods alone?" Donnie questioned.

"In horror movies, they make out and get slashed," Mikey replied. "In real life, they help in the search party. Seriously dude, when I'm the voice of reason, you know something's wrong."

Donnie rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who suggested we were about to get killed earlier."

Eventually, they came across an old shack in the woods.

"Well…" Mikey let out, "that's ominous."

"It's probably been abandoned for a while," Donnie mused. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to check it out."

"Famous last words…" Mikey muttered.

Nonetheless, they slowly opened the shack door, and were surprised by what was glass bottle of mutagen Hisako tossed away was mounted on an altar, surrounded by candles... and suddenly, a massive, leafy plant creature jumped out at them, barking like a dog. They looked it over, seeing the red bandana tied around its face, and realized what, or rather who, it was.

"Raph?!" they both let out.

"He's all leafy and weird-looking," Mikey said. "What the flip happened to him?"

"It looks like he's been… infected by something," Donnie mused.

Suddenly, a vine lashed out from seemingly nowhere, ensnaring Mikey and lashing him to the ceiling, while Donnie was lashed to the wall with a scream.

-X-

Elsewhere, Vee and Kagome heard the twosome screaming.

"That was Mikey and Donnie," Vee let out in shock. "Oh, my God, Kagome... Mikey was right. There is something out here!"

"He's never gonna let us live that down," Kagome muttered before the two ran in the direction of the screams.

They made it to the outside of the shack… and at that very moment, vines lashed out, grabbing them and yanking them in.

-X-

April also heard the scream, and gasped in horror.

"Donnie!" she shouted, running in the direction of the scream.

But she didn't make it too far before Casey let out a scream. She stopped and whirled around, seeing he had disappeared.

"Casey?!" she demanded in a panic. "Casey, this isn't funny!"

Suddenly, her powers flared up, reminding her of… something approaching her. Panicking, April turned and ran for the farmhouse, seeking the only people she could think of to help.

-X-

Leo propped himself up on his crutch, walking out the door of the farmhouse. He stumbled, leaning up against the wall.

"Get on your feet, Leo," he growled. "Stop whining and get up."

"Leo!" Hisako shouted, running after him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"I can't just sit here and do nothing, Hisako," Leo insisted.

"You're in no condition to go out there, Leo," Hisako retorted. "Believe me, I understand your frustration, but-"

She cut herself off, sensing April coming. Sure enough, April burst out of the trees, scared out of her wits.

"Leo! Hisako!" she shouted. "Something's out there! It-"

Before she could go any further, a vine lashed around her ankles and yanked her to the ground before dragging her back.

" HEEEEELP! " April screamed in sheer terror.

Hisako gestured toward April, the girl being surrounded with a green halo as she began a tug-of-war with the mysterious creature.

"Hang on, April!" she screamed.

More vines lashed out and wrapped around April, and Hisako's hold broke as April was dragged into the darkness of the trees with a bloodcurdling scream.

"No, damn it!" Hisako screamed. "Not again…"

She collapsed and pounded her fist on the dirt, tears in her eyes. Midnight whined, approaching her person with a whine.

"Why…" Hisako let out. "Why can't I save my family?"

Leo hobbled over, determination on his face. "Get up, Hisako. We're going after them."

"What?" Hisako looked over her shoulder at her brother. "Leo, you can't fight… and I…" She looked down at her hands. "I can't even save one of them. Just like I couldn't save Dad and Kasumi…"

Leo grabbed Hisako by the collar and yanked her to her feet, gently yet firmly. "Hisako, look at me! It's not too late. We couldn't do anything to save Kasumi and Dad, but we can do something now!"

Hisako looked surprised, but quickly shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

"Right…" she let out, focusing. "Right."

"We are not losing anyone else," Leo declared. "No way in hell."

Hisako's expression steeled, and she looked out at the trees where April was dragged off. "Damn right we're not. Whoever or whatever that thing is, they took some of our own. And now they're gonna pay."

April slowly came to, her head pounding. She slowly opened her eyes, and gasped in shock to see everyone but Leo and Hisako lashed to the walls of an old shack with vines.

"Oh, God…" April let out. "What's happening?!"

"Well, we found Raph," Donnie told her.

"Downside, that's him down there," Mikey added, gesturing to the moss-pile creature that was once Raph on the floor.

"Raphael?!" Kagome exclaimed, looking at him. "What happened to you…"

Raph barked as he went over to them, nuzzling Kagome's cheek.

At that moment, the door was thrown open, and in walked the owner of the shack. It was a massive, muscular figure made out of swamp mud and moss, wearing overalls from an old scarecrow. On its face was Casey's hockey mask, and mutagen flowed through its body like blood.

"AHHH! It's the Creep!" Mikey screamed, getting looks from the others. "What else do we call it?"

"Works for me," Casey shrugged.

"Seriously?!" Vee demanded. "This thing turned Raph into a plant, and we're naming it?!"

The Creep walked over to the mutated Raph, who whimpered in fear as it grabbed him by the face. Something green flowed from Raph into the Creep, and Kagome furiously struggled to get free.

"What are you doing?!" she screamed. "Let him go, you monster!"

The Creep turned to her, and dropped Raph, now a drained, immobile pile of moss. Everyone looked in shock and horror as they realized what happened.

"It… it fed off of him," Donnie said in shock. "Like some kind of mutagenic fertilizer."

"You bastard!" Kagome shouted, tears of rage flowing down her cheeks as she continued squirming. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

The Creep knelt down to her, and Kagome's breath caught in her throat as it sniffed at her for a few minutes, before huffing and walking away. It then turned to Mikey, preparing to grab and drain him as well.

"What'd I tell ya?!" Mikey said, struggling. "Funny guy goes first!"

Before the monster could grab Mikey's face however, noises reached their ears.

"Help! Help!" came a familiar male voice.

"Somebody? Is anyone there?!" came an equally familiar female voice. "We need help!"

The Creep stopped, turning toward the door and going out to investigate.

"Leo and Hisako…" April realized.

-X-

The Creep exited the shack looking around. Out of nowhere, a shuriken hit it in the back of the head, followed by a loud whistle. The monster turned, seeing Leo and Hisako standing there, ready for a fight. Midnight stood next to them, hackles raised and teeth bared in a growl.

"Give us back our family, freak," Leo demanded, calm but cold.

The Creep glared at them, then grabbed a pitchfork near the door.

"Okay, swamp thing…" Hisako said, pulling her tessens from her belt. "Get ready for a world of pain!"

The Creep shuffled towards them, and Hisako quickly launched both of her tessen at the thing. Leo charged forward, limping slightly as he slashed its side, drawing white sap-like blood before it backhanded him aside, dropping his other sword. Leo slowly picked himself up, reaching for his crutch as the monster approached. The Creep gripped its pitchfork and raised it overhead as it approached Leo, but Leo grabbed his crutch and jabbed it into the mask's eye hole, causing the Creep to cry out in pain as Leo sprung up on his good foot, ramming into him.

The Creep staggered backwards as Leo fell to the ground, wincing in pain. He barely managed to pick himself up before the Creep recovered, growling at him in response. Just then, Leo's dropped sword was surrounded with a green halo, spearing him from Creep let out a pained grunt and dropped to its knees, allowing Leo to take his other sword and stab him through the front, using his good foot to kick him back as Hisako rushed over to help him up. The two then hurried over to the shack, heading inside and seeing their loved ones tied up.

"You guys okay?" Hisako asked as she cut them all loose.

Leo noticed the mass of plants on the ground, raising an eyebrow.

"What the-?" he let out.

"Raph…" Kagome looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. "That Creep sucked the mutagen out of him."

Hisako went wide-eyed, then scowled as the shack began shaking.

"Oh, that thing is mulch!" she shouted.

As if on cue, the Creep threw the door open, pulling Leo's katana out of its back. Hisako immediately whirled on him and thrust her hand out, sending him flying back and knocking Casey's mask off of its face. The Creep slammed into a tree and Hisako ran after it, picking up its discarded pitchfork as she went. She advanced on the beast as it looked up, revealing a deformed, noseless face resembling Jason Voorhees'.

"Man…" Hisako said, calm but cold. "You are one ugly motherfucker."

Before it could react, Leo plunged his sword into the Creep's chest, impaling him to the tree. The others quickly ran out and Mikey lashed the Creep to the tree with his kusarigama chain.

"That's what you get for messing with my mask, freak," Casey snarled, replacing his precious hockey mask on his face

"Okay," Donnie said. "Let's get him back to my lab."

"Raph…" Kagome let out, having gathered up Raph's leafy remains in her arm. "Can you save him?"

Donnie sighed. "I... I don't know, Kagome. I honestly just don't know."

The next morning, Raph slowly opened his eyes and sat up. He looked himself up and down, seeing he was back to his normal self, and almost immediately, Kagome tackled him in a hug.

"Thank goodness you're back!" she said, sobbing as she clung to him.

"Uh… yeah," Raph said, patting her back before turning to the others, who were crowded around him.

"What happened?" he questioned. "I remember chopping firewood, then everything went black…"

"That mutagen medicine Leo puked into the creek," Donnie explained. "Somehow, it mutated the swamp plants, and made some freaky swamp monster."

"It did what now?" Raph asked in surprise.

"It's true," Vee said. "It drained you of your mutagen and turned you into a plant. Serious nightmare fuel."

"Luckily, Donnie was able to transfer it all back to you," Mikey said.

Donnie nodded, holding up an IV tube. "It took all night. Hisako and Leo never left your side."

Raph turned, seeing Hisako and Leo sitting off to the side, asleep on each other's shoulder. Midnight was curled up on their laps, snoring lightly.

"That's what siblings are for," he said with a smile.

Kagome hugged him tighter. "I was so scared… We already lost Mom and Splinter. If we lost you too, Raph... I don't know what I'd do."

Raph hugged her back, gently running his fingers through her hair. "I'm right here. And I ain't going anywhere."

He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head before standing up. "So… what happened to the monster?"

Donnie held up a jar of mud, sealed tight and marked as The Creep. "Without the mutagen from your blood, it turned back into swamp goo."

"And we're gonna make sure it can't hurt anyone else ever again," Mikey added.

"Good," Raph turned to Leo and Hisako. "Let's let them sleep for now."

April draped a blanket over the two of them. "We need to heal up, and get to training. We've got a city to take back."

"Couldn't agree more," said Raph. "Our home needs us."

"Yeah, it definitely wasn't easy, but we persevered and made it through, especially my big bro. He's still got a ways to go before he's 100%, but he's getting there. So, if there's one thing you should take away from this, it's that you should never let the world get you down. Pull up your shells and put one foot in front of the other. Do that, and you'll make it through. Have a good evening folks, and never forget: Anata wa hitori janai."

Author's Note:

(1): Scream reference.

(2): Psycho reference.

Please R&R. Until next time!