I walked with Merrill with my arms hugging the crook of his arm. We walked through the busy street of this small town where we were placed. Mrs. Cuddles was riding on Merrill's shoulders while Worm Boy was hiding in Merrill's shirt pocket. Humans and yokai greeted us – well, mostly to me; everyone kept glaring at Merrill like he was carrying disease and he was affecting me.

"I can't wait to get out of here", my friend grumbled, "They're looking at me like I'm seconds away from doing a crime. All we need is people yelling at me; it'll feel like past New York City."

"Get away from Beauty, you degenerate!" Mrs. Higglebottom, a usually sweet little old lady, kicked Merrill's shin and shuffled away.

Merrill swore in Spanish. "I'll kick the wrinkles out of you, bruja!" I held him back before he decided to tackle the elderly lady.

"Merrill! You're going to beat a little old lady!" I tried consoling him.

"She kicked me! What was I supposed to do? Smile and wave?! Not this pendejo!" he defended.

"In this place, yes, you're going to have to." I dragged him away from prying eyes to the quieter streets. "I've been here for a week, and I only managed to grasp a few pieces of information."

"Wait, you've been here for a week?! We've been here for a week?! I was unconscious for a week?! Why can't I remember shit?!"

"You need to calm down!"

Merrill dramatically flailed his arms around. "I'm calm! I'm so calm! I'm like a gentle breeze before a tornado!"

"...are you done?" I quirked my eye.

He jumped his arms. "Yeah, I'm done. I needed to get it out of my system. What's the plan?"

I sighed. "No clue. All I've done is gather as much information as I can. The Beast torments this town at night and kills anyone alone. His main target is Beauty, Beauty was promised to Gregory-"

"Still a lame ass name."

"Gregory", I stretched, "the town's hero, a war veteran, and a fantastic hunter. If they're married, Gregory stays more and protects the citizens here."

Merrill scoffed. "What a lame-ass excuse with a lame-ass name. He wants the full V.I.P. access between your legs."

I crossed my arms along with an eye roll. "Of course, you would think that."

"Tell me I'm wrong."

"Oh, you're not wrong. I'm just stating that you have a dirty mind."

He gasped, dramatically. "Lee. It's like you don't know me. My mind is both a blessing and a curse."

I rolled my eyes. "Despite us not remembering, Mrs. Cuddles and Worm Boy do."

"Hold up. You guys know how we got here?"

The worm beamed with pride. "Certainly! A great anchorman-slash-reporter-slash-hair enthusiast -"

"Please get to the point before I crush your squishy body." I gave Merrill a pointed look. "What? Time is crucial."

Warren cleared his throat. "While remaining stuck in this dark, fairy tale loop, I wrote down each key point in what transpired the last few times", he said, pulling out a few sheets of paper from inside his person. How he managed to hide in himself is a mystery. Merrill took the pages and inspected them. "All these cycles have in common is that you disappeared in every scenario."

"What? I'm gone and Leo gets married?!"

I shook my head. "I don't think so if I'm still here", I stated.

Merrill stroked his chin. "There're too many resets. The outcome wasn't what they wanted. They keep resetting until they approve... the question is where did I go?"

"Only you have the answer to that question."

"I just woke up this morning to see Barry my parental guardian which freaks the shit out of me."

"Yeah... apparently, Barry has been your guardian since you were abandoned as a baby. He took care of you; well, your character in general."

"It's... creepy... he's caring... and... he's better than my dad", Merrill solemnly looked down.

I had the urge to hug my best friend. "Merrill..."

"Sentimental moment over! Can we focus on the objective!" Warren intruded.

"Yeah!" Cuddles included as she bounced on Merrill's head, "I should be the one consoling Master! It's the slave's job in pleasing their Master!"

My friend rolled his eyes. "I hate you guys already, but the worm got the point." He reviewed the notes. "Some of these said Leo... oh... shit."

"What?!" I exclaimed, coming over. I grabbed one of the papers. I saw one of the points and my blood turned cold. It said... I died... "No! This can't be!" I grabbed another sheet. Two scenarios said I died also. I grabbed the rest. Almost all of them... no...

"Leo... you okay?"

"Heh... how can I be okay if I died a few times... ha! It's like I'm living a fairy tale. Oh, wait! I am!"

"Maybe that's why the story is resetting. You weren't supposed to die. Something happened that led you to die-"

"Can we stop talking about me dying!" I wrapped my arms around myself. This was nothing to be calm about. My heart was threatening to burst and it's not the usual fluttery feel of it.

My friend laid his hands on my shoulders. "I know it's scary but we need to push forward."

"You're not the one repeatedly dying! I hope I don't remember each death! I'm not ready for that!"

"Leo, calmate. We're gonna get through this. I know we will." I felt like he said before, but I chose not to say it. How many other things he told me, yet I don't remember any of them.

Out of nowhere, I was yanked by my mask tails with force. "No smoochy face with Master!" Of course, it was Merrill's fangirl pulling the strings. "Nothing will make me stop!"

"Cuddles, release him."

The rabbit let me go with glee. "Okay!" I glared at the smiling rabbit.

"Hey, Warren, can you enlighten us on how we got here?"

"With pleasure", the worm began, "there was I scouting the surroundings..."

~Lady Ai~

I, Warren Stone, the Teenage Mutant Losers' mortal archnemesis, have found one of their reliable allies! With much research, I was able to pinpoint his location. Merrill Damian Ramirez; age 16, soon to be 17; parents away on business; lives in the uptown region. The plan was simple. Ambush Ramirez and take him as a hostage to lure the turtles into a trap! I'll finally destroy them like they destroy my life!

Plan A: reckon. Gather information on the target. Tonight, I was to sneak into his estate. Rich mansions always have an expensive security system. It will benefit me to know its circuits inside and out, even if I must electrocute myself. I made it to the mansion with such gusto in my new body I was winded by the time I made it to the front porch. I studied the large door. I needed to knock on the door and sneak my way in. My best bet was one of the servants would open the door.

I heard footsteps coming my way. I quickly hid in a nearby bush watching the mysterious stranger making their way to the porch. They were wearing an oversized cloak with their hood covering their heads. I dropped something on the doormat before they rang the doorbell. They scurried away in the night disappearing beyond sight.

I narrowed my eyes at the object laying in front of the door. I slithered to it, but the door opened revealing a young man wearing casual wear noticed the object. Now's my chance! I ran over to the entrance with every strength I carried. I made it through before the kid went in and closed the door. I huffed and decided to grab and hold on to his baggy pants. I marveled at the mansion's inside. It was huge even in my size.

"Weren't you supposed to leave, Karl?" Lo and behold. My target came to me. Oh, how joyous my luck became. Merrill came up to Jeremy (I guess) wearing a grey tank top and matching sweatpants. His tank top showed his metal arms. He was wiping his face with a towel. He must have finished a workout.

"Dude! I hate that name! If I'm not in uniform, it's Scratch!" Jeremy protested.

"Not gonna happen. If you're still in my house, you're still Karl and you haven't answered my question", Merrill said, "You're usually in a rush to get to your night classes."

"I was, but I saw this book outside your door. I thought you ordered a neurotic novel from Amazon or something." Jeremy gave his boss the book. Merrill inspected it.

"It was just lying there like this? Not packaged? Not even an address?"

"Hey, I saw it and thought it was yours. I gotta bounce. Peace, boss man." Karl left in a rush. I managed to stow off before the kid left the premises.

I watched Merrill looking through the pages. "Huh... this book is blank... is it a fancy journal? Maybe a grimoire... that would be dope. Alright, I know where to place you." He left past the living room. I followed him. He went through his living room to another room. I managed to get to the door, but I was grabbed by a metal hand. "Who the hell are you?" I was met with blue eyes.

Damn! I was caught! I thought I was well hidden! I cleared my throat to hide my uneasiness. "I am Channel 6's anchorman, Warren Stone!"

"Who?" he asked, tilting his head.

I frowned. Seriously! I was the face of Channel 6! I was nominated for New York's Bachelor! "Are you kidding me?! A mutation and everyone forgets me! Does anyone watch the news anymore?!"

"Sometimes I do and most times I don't care. Here's a better question: what are you doing at my house?"

"Um... uh... um..." I started to panic. I didn't plan to the point of getting caught! This was a recon mission! Wait... I have an idea! "Interview! I came for an interview!" Nice save, Mr. Stone. Why, thank you, Mr. Stone.

"...do I look like I was born yesterday? Cuddles! Front and center!" A light blue rabbit with long ears burst through the doors. It looked familiar.

"Yes, Master!" she sang, "I finished washing your laundry!"

"I got people washing my clothes... did you smell my laundry again?"

"...no..."

"Why is one of my socks on your head?"

"...it's not yours?"

"It had Jack Skeleton on it."

The talking rabbit tossed the sock aside, looking as innocent as possible. "What is your command, Master?"

The goth heavily sighed. "We're gonna talk later. Take this interloper and kick him out." He tossed me like I was trash.

Cuddles grabbed me. "Will do!" I pulled her ears. "Hey! My ears aren't meant for pulling! You're a meanie!"

"I'm not letting a talking bunny get the best of me!" The next thing I knew, I was in a fistfight with her. This could be the second strangest thing I've ever done since turning into a worm tops all strange things.

"Uh... what did I walk into?" We stopped our fight to see one of those blasted turtles standing next to my target! This was turning into an exaggerated failed mission!

"One of the most annoying shits in my life... I need coffee along with painkillers. I'm gaining a headache just hearing these two on a death match", the human groaned.

"I could brew you a tea that helps with migraines. I make those for Donnie whenever he gets headaches. One cup should do the trick. Would you like one?" Leo pushed the idea.

"I'd like that", Merrill replied with a smile. The turtle's face flushed while he played with his mask tails.

"So! Love the fancy book. Did you buy fancy porno literature from Amazon?"

"You're the second person who asked that question. One of my workers found this outside my door without it being packed with no address."

"That's weird. Was there anything in it?"

"Nope. The entire book is as blank as a white canvas." The boy turned the pages but stopped at the first page. "What's this? 'And so, it begins...' what the fuck?" With those words said, the bay window broke with a heavy wind blowing through. A tornado circled the fluttering pages.

"Merrill, close the book!" Leo yelled.

"I'm trying, but it won't close! I need an extra hand." Cuddles and I started to float as we watched a boy and a turtle struggle to close a hard-cover book. With the power of teamwork (ugh, how cliché), they managed to shut it. My opponent and I ungracefully landed on the floor. The entire library was a mess. Tables and chairs were turned over and books were scattered around the room. We were safe. What a rush... now I need to make a quiet escape.

Suddenly, the book opened with more power than before. An angry tornado turned into a furious hurricane. Me and the rabbit were pulled by the current until were grabbed by the two teenagers who held tried to push their way to the window. Unfortunately, they, too, couldn't withstand the gust and debris. All four of us were pulled inside the book!

Merrill held onto Leo with us between them until we were pulled apart. I saw the two teens holding a hand desperately to stay close. They lose their grip fast. The goth realized it, too.

"Lee! I want you to stay together! I promise I'll find you! We'll get through this!"

The blue-banded turtle nodded. "I know! You better stay alive!"

Merrill smirked. "If it means getting to you, always!" They lost their grip and went their separate ways. "LEO!"

"MERRILL!" Colors swirled around us.

Then, darkness...