When Raph said I was a genius... yeah... I didn't expect him to bring us to the mall. I thought he wanted to drag his brothers to my place to watch the competition. Unfortunately, that wasn't his idea. What Raph had in mind was sneaking into a department store in the mall to use their WiFi. April used to work there and got fired a day later; for what I don't know. Who knew their password was 1? Talk about stupid; stupid yet genius.

While the turtles tuned in on their cells, me and Alex were left abandoned on a table. I decided to play MapleStory M while Alex fumed beside me. "What's the point in joining in the fun if you're left alone?" he asked.

"Yup", I answered, not caring in the slightest bit.

"I mean I practically designed this ensemble for Raphael to pay attention to me. Now he's admiring his phone rather than admiring yours truly."

"Yup."

I heard a huff from the fashion designer. "Excuse me", he whispered, harshly. "Aren't you bothered by Leenie Beany's avoidance of you?"

Fucking DUH I was! Leo's not talking to me, and I was reduced to playing games on my phone! Yeah, I'm pissed. "Didn't you tell me to let him come me first?"

"I did but you're deflecting more than usual. It's unnerving."

I exited my game, looking around the store. "Wanna bounce? Got a whole mall to ourselves. Let's explore."

"By all means, let us go since we're not WANTED!" Alex yelled, mostly toward a distracted snapping turtle. I gave the red-eared slider a final glance before leaving the department store.

We explored the bottom floor first. I was disappointed in the laid-back security here. Even the cameras were turned off. Then I realized Donnie, the genius that he is, must've hacked the security feed.

"You should've let me stay home", I muttered.

"Oh, you're blaming me now." I turned over to Alex who looked more angry than necessary. "Made any progress with your hubby?"

"Touche, dipshit." I stopped. What am I doing? What's the point in coming along with the turtles with one of them doesn't "I don't know what to do, Alex. I tried talking to him, but he kept avoiding me. Even staying away doesn't help. I just want this whole standoff shit to be over, you know."

"You two need work. I'm willing to offer my service. Again. If you're willing to listen."

"Am I going to like this elaborate plan of yours?"

"Darling, it's as simple as reciting the ABCs. Question. How do you feel about close spaces?"

I'm already hating his plan.

~Lady Ai~

I frowned watching Merrill leave with Alex. Yeah. It's better this way. Merrill should be with someone in his league. If he goes out with Alex, he'll be happy and with a human. Everyone wins!

'Is species important in your generation?' Light asked.

I REALLY don't want to talk to you.

'Someone needs to talk some sense into you and my faith in the blond human vanished like a speck of dust. In all fairness, he should have added more to his so-called advice.'

I looked at my phone and frowned again seeing an ad. I'm busy, Light. Can't you lecture me tomorrow when I'm not too invested in the skating finals?

'And you like to avoid the unsettling atmosphere.'

Light, go talk to someone who cares! They went silent. I cringed. Light... I'm sorry... I didn't mean it... I was just... frustrated...?

No answer. I didn't know they were emotionally sensitive.

I sighed before standing up pocketing my phone. I looked at my brothers to see how deep their concentration was on their screens. I headed out to find the closest bathroom. Maybe splashing some water might help. Walking through the mall gave me chills. I mean... it shouldn't be, but something about it made me uncomfortable. And I suddenly felt cold. Sure it's November and the temperature gets a bit cold now and then, but this kind of coldness... I can't really describe it... it's too cold... like being in a blizzard in an ice age a hundred times!

Maybe I'm exaggerating and overreacting.

I bumped into a full force colliding with me. "Leenie Beany! Thank God, I've found you!" I blinked seeing Alex's panicked expression. What's wrong? He and Merrill weren't gone that long. "Come quick! Merrill's in pain!" He is? How bad is it? Please, no!

I laid on hand on his shoulders. "Where is he, Alex? Where's Merrill?" I couldn't think straight. I had to push away the negatives and the doubts. Alex pulled me by my arm. All I wanted was to see if my friend was okay. What if our last encounter was a dumb argument? I don't have a repeat like back at Big Mama's hotel. I was led to a... janitor's closet? What? "He's in here? It was the only place I could think of. Only you can help him", Alex explained. There were too many gaps in his explanation. No! I need to check if Merrill's alive! I need to heal him before I'm too late.

I charged through the door entering the janitor's closet. It was spacious for a closet; well, it wasn't that big. It was enough to hold a year's worth of cleaning supplies. I stepped further inside. No sign of Merrill; I couldn't feel his presence anywhere. Then, my only exit immediately shut. I rushed over to the door jiggling the handle. "Alex! This isn't funny! Open the door!"

"Sorry, darling! I can't hear you! This door is too thick to hear your demands!" he said on the other side.

My eye twitched. The door's not that thick! I could hear him clearly, but before I could tell him off, I heard his footsteps getting further away. I huffed. Seriously? He thought I was going to sit back and not do anything. No spank you! I stepped back while lifting my hand picturing a ball of light glowing in the dark room.

…

…

… nothing...?

… … … anytime Light... … I need an 'Exit Stage Left' here... hello? Come in, Light! Don't tell me you're still sour after I yelled at you. That's barely a yell! … Okay, ignore that last part! But I'm sorry! Please...? I sighed hearing no response. Fine! It's not hard to get out of a locked room!

I pushed my shoulder against the door. I winced feeling pain. Owie! Nope, not Raph. With how budged in place, Alex must've found a chair and placed it underneath the handle. A few kicks should be enough for a quick escape. I lifted my leg ready to bust my way out until a click and the room was lit. "Leaving so soon? I was hoping we could have a quick chat." I froze.

I slowly turned locking eyes with a blank stare emo who was taking his hand off a dangling sting from a lightbulb. I made sure to look annoyed. "Are you this desperate to talk to me?" I asked, crossing my arms. "I didn't expect you to pull the 'cliché locked room' trick."

"First off, it was Alex's idea. He wanted us to finally talk", my friend said. "Secondly, I think it's a perfect time for a cliché especially since a certain friend of mine kept avoiding me like I just contained the black plague."

I scoffed with an eye roll. Why tonight of all nights? "Do we have to talk about this? Or whatever 'this' we're discussing?"

"Well, when are we going to talk?" he walked closer. "Days? Months? Years? Maybe on my deathbed?"

Merrill was being overly dramatic, but his last statement struck a nerve. "Don't you dare joke like that!" I glared poking roughly on his chest. "Do you know how many times I've seen you get hurt or killed?! You died, Merrill! Probably twice, I don't know! I can't deal with that!"

"Oh, so sorry! Didn't you read the fine print of heroism? It comes with the job!"

I shoved him. "You're not a hero!"

"Last I checked, neither are you!"

I chuckled, not a funny kind of chuckle, more of an angry one. "I sometimes forget you're an asshole."

"Comes with the package, baby. All I want to know is why. Why are you avoiding me? At our wedding-"

"I'm stopping you right there! The wedding wasn't real! I said those things because it was our one chance home! Nothing else!" His eyes shifted into many emotions in a vast number of seconds. Our one source of light flickered. The shadows shifted.

After, his stare became blank again. "I don't believe you..." of course he doesn't. "If all you said at the ceremony was all an act, why were you calm? You were too calm to say, 'I love you'. I mean, bravo performance and all, however, I know you meant it. Just as I meant it when I said my vows." Don't do this, Merrill... please... we can only be friends... "Why? Why are you pushing me away? Why is there a giant gap between us? Just... why? … I thought... I thought you... love me."

"I DON'T LOVE YOU!" the lightbulb burst; shards of glass falling like raindrops; the room became pitch black. No light in sight. I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. Even with my cell's light, it wasn't enough to brighten the closet. "Merrill?" I called. If you can hear me, I don't mean it! I was... angry...? Merrill? Merrill, please! I'm sorry! It just blurted out!

I heard mumbling. I followed it. The mumblings got louder as I got closer. I spotted Merrill crouching on his knees and covering his ears. I crouched beside him. "Merrill?"

"...make it stop..." what? "Make it stop. Too many voices! Everyone is talking! Too many voices! Yes and no! Shutupshutupshutup!"

Oh my God... did I hurt him? Was the light snapping his doing? No, the dark responded to his emotions. Did I make the lightbulb pop? Did I...? Did I snap? What about the voices he mentioned?

"Merrill... there's no one here... it's just us..." I touched his shoulder. My ears rang with voices! I saw my arm touching his shoulder seeing it consumed in darkness. I couldn't pull away. So many voices! How did he go through with these voices?

A searing pain pierced my head. I was brought into a room with mirrors. I knew that room. It's Merrill's gym. I looked around the gym. I spotted a little bird with messy black hair being scolded by a tall woman.

"What have I told you about your katas? You're distracted again!" the woman – which I assumed was his mom.

"I'm sorry, Mom... I'm trying... I really am! I swear!" the boy defended. Hold on... messing black hair... metal arms and legs? Merrill?

"Sorry doesn't fix mistakes, Merrill. You need to be perfect. No mistake. No flaws. You need to be the shining beacon of a new era." Yup, that's definitely his mom.

"I thought practice makes perfect. Besides, isn't perfection overrated?" I chuckled. What a Merrill thing to say.

His mom grew silent until she said, "Perhaps an hour in the closet might teach you to respect your mother."

Little Merrill's eyes widened. "No! Don't put me in the closet! The monsters are gonna get me!" However, his pleas were ignored as the woman grabbed his hair and forcefully pulled her son to a closet. My body moved on its own and grabbed her arm; unfortunately, my arm phased through it like a ghost. Oh, right. I'm in Merrill's memory.

"Enough with your whining. You're eight years old. You're old enough to know monsters are not real." She shoved him into a small closet and locked the door. Merrill pounded the door with his tiny hands. "Some meditation will ease your childish tantrums." She walked away, ignoring the cries.

I was immediately transported to Merrill who was desperately pounding and kicking the door calling to be let out.

'Why did you let her push you around?'

Merrill gasped. He looked around the dark room. He covered his ears with his hands. "You're not real!" he shouted into the dark abyss.

'He said we're not real. Can you believe that?'

'He's young. He is too pure to open his mind.'

'Too young?! How the blood hell can he hear us then?!'

'I think he should run away. Surely a new family will take better care of him than his so-called parents.'

'I say kill her. She's a bitch. She deserves to die.'

'I agree. Kill her. No one will suspect a child. A simple push down the stairs or a pinch of rat poison in her alcohol.'

Merrill whimpered like a scared puppy. I heard too many voices as a little kid, especially hearing the dark tones at a young age.

I crouched beside him. Tears streamed out of his eyes. Meeting my friend now is different from then. I never saw him being afraid of darkness. He pretty much embodies it. Embraced it. If I were to hear strange voices as a kid, I would be scared shitless too.

I remember one night I couldn't sleep 'cause I had a nightmare (I didn't what it was) so I snuck into Dad's room where he was already asleep. I guess I wasn't quiet enough since Dad woke up the moment I got onto his bed. To get me to sleep, he sang me a lullaby. It helped; I managed to fall asleep easily. If it helped me back then, maybe it'd help Little Merrill.

I took a deep breath.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are"

Instead of sniffles and sobs, it was nothing but silent. I looked over at the kid. He stared with his innocent eyes. I blinked. I thought I was in a memory. "You sing nice", he told me.

I looked away. My chest fluttered. Even as a kid, he's got charm oozing out of his skin. "Thank you", I muttered. "Feel better?"

"Yeah. You made all the monsters go away. I wish I could do that. Mom told me they're not real. That's 'cause she never hears them."

I tilted my head. "Have you ever... talk to them?"

He shook his head. "They won't listen. Everyone loves to talk. Everyone has an opinion. They have loud voices."

"I have a friend; you remind me of him. If he wants someone to listen, he talks. If they don't, he gets louder."

"So...? I need to be loud for them to listen?"

"Well, that and take charge."

"Take charge?"

"Yeah. Show them you mean business; show them you wear the big boy pants; show them you are just as loud, strong, and brave as they are."

"Brave? Me?"

"Yep. You gotta show 'em whose boss."

He looked down letting my advice sink in before lunging his tiny body onto me. I barely caught him with how sudden it was. He wrapped his arms around my neck. "Thank you... Leo."

I gasped, feeling the same piercing pain entering my head.

~Lady Ai~

What happened? Me and Leo were locked in a janitor's closet... we were arguing... that wasn't new... apparently, it's our new thing...

Next thing I knew... he said... he said he hated me...

Everything got dark after that.

Until the voices came back.

I haven't heard from them since I came back home from allegedly killing Mrs. Cuddles. The voices wouldn't stop talking. But... they stopped... it was quiet... a peaceful quiet.

I opened my eyes. The closet was still dark beside a small light creeping through the door's crack. But my attention was drawn to the turtle whose lips I'm locking with. I have got to start remembering when we get to make out! Those are moments you can't forget! Leo's eyes fluttered open. His eyes grew comically wide. Before the slider got to push me off, I pushed back. "For a turtle, you're a good kisser."

"I... I um..." he's so cute when he stutters. "I'm sorry!" Que? "I'm sorry I avoided you! I'm sorry I blocked your number! I'm sorry that I said-"

"No", I stopped him. "I should be saying sorry. I kept pushing you. I was impatient. I should've given you time. I should've listened to Alex. I'm sorry."

Leo stood up with flushed cheeks. "Right! We both apologized! Possibly we made up by making out."

I stood up too. "Can we kiss again? Maybe add sexy music to set the mood. Give me one minute and thirty seconds. I could find one with jazz."

Leo gave me a chilling smile before giving me a slap across the face. "Wake up and smell the pizza. Not gonna happen."

"First off, that was hot. Also, I wasn't talking about sex. Give me some credit."

The slider cleared his throat. "Please tell me your powers can get us out of here."

"It could", I hummed. "But how about this?" I walked over to the locked door. I did a spin kick which caused the hinges to break and the door open. We walked out of the closet.

"Uh... you could've done that sooner."

I appreciate a 'thank you' with that snark. "I didn't think Alex would lock us up in the closet."

"Oh, gee. Trying to get his friends to stop arguing and talk, I would do the same thing."

"Sure you would with your chicken legs." A clutter of noise disturbed our playfulness. "You heard that?"

"The loud noise coming from above us. No."

"Your sarcastic remarks hold a special place in my heart."

"And your love language holds a special place in mine." The slider looked at me and grinned. I returned the gesture.

"Wanna go check it?" I asked, eagerly.

Leo smirked. "Do you need to ask?"

I smirked back. I walked over to the glass ledge and jumped onto it. "Shall we?" I asked, holding my hand out. My friend grabbed it as we both jumped off the ledge. I deployed my hand. It released a grappling wire. My hand grabbed onto a higher ledge. We zipped up to the next few floors. We landed in a sports store.

"Alright, Spiderman. I see you", Leon said after I let him go.

I pushed my hair out of my eyes. "Come on. That deserves a kiss."

"I'll think about it." The turtle had the nerve to sashay with his hips bopping. A light interrupted our banter. We crept over to it. We hid behind a couple of mannequins.

Two figures were standing in front of Jule's Jewelry Story using a torch to break through the gate. There was something else that threw me off.

Why were their heads on fire?