Chapter 2: The Wise and the Curious

The underground lair still felt unreal. Erin stood in the dim lighting, taking in the strange yet familiar details—the mixture of high-tech equipment, old furniture, and the lingering scent of pizza. It was one thing to read about the turtles' world, but being here… actually being here… sent a shiver down her spine.

"Come on," Leonardo said, motioning for her to follow. "There's someone you need to meet."

She hesitated for only a second before trailing after them. The turtles led her toward a quiet chamber near the back of the lair, its entrance framed by an old sliding door. The atmosphere shifted the moment they stepped inside. The space was warm but not from any heat source—something about it radiated wisdom and patience.

And then she saw him.

Sitting cross-legged on a woven mat was Master Splinter. His fur was a mix of gray and brown, his long robe flowing around him as he turned his calm, knowing eyes on Erin. He studied her for a moment, his gaze profound and unreadable.

"Master Splinter," Leo began, bowing his head slightly. "This is Erin. She… isn't from here."

Splinter's ears twitched. "Ah," he murmured, his voice smooth and firm. "A visitor from another world."

Erin swallowed. "You… you believe me?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I have lived many years, my child. The world is full of mysteries—far beyond what even my sons have seen." He gestured for her to step closer. "Tell me, how did you come to be here?"

She recounted the events—the library, the comic book, the frozen time, and the blinding light. Splinter listened without interrupting, nodding thoughtfully as she finished.

"It would seem," he finally said, "that you have fallen into the space between reality and fiction… a rift between the world you know and the one you read about."

Donatello's eyes widened. "That… actually makes sense."

"Wait, it does?" Erin asked.

He adjusted his glasses. "Think about it—stories are more than words on a page. They hold power. If something triggered a break between your world and this one, you could have been… pulled through."

Mikey grinned. "Dude, that means you're a real-life isekai protagonist!"

Erin blinked. "Isekai?"

"Y'know, the whole 'trapped in another world' kinda deal," he said. "Super common in anime!"

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mikey, focus."

Splinter stroked his chin. "Whatever caused this… must also have a way to reverse it." He looked to Donatello. "I trust you will assist her in finding a way home?"

Donnie straightened. "Of course, Sensei. I'll start running tests right away."

Erin let out a slow breath. At least they were taking this seriously.

"Until then," Splinter continued, "you will stay here. You are a guest in our home, and my sons will ensure your safety."

A small weight lifted from her chest. "Thank you."

Donnie wasted no time. When they left Splinter's chamber, he ushered Erin toward his workstation, where half-dismantled gadgets and monitors flickered with faint green light.

"Alright," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "We need data. Lots of data."

"Uh… okay?"

"First things first." He grabbed a small handheld scanner and waved it over her. The screen flashed with static, then an error message.

He frowned. "Huh. That's… weird."

"Define 'weird,'" Erin said nervously.

"You're registering as… normal. No strange energy readings, no foreign matter—just a regular human."

Mikey leaned in. "Well, that's a letdown."

"Wait, no, this is good," Donnie muttered, clicking through his screens. "If she doesn't have any unusual properties, whatever brought her here is external—probably tied to the book itself."

Erin's stomach dropped. "But the book isn't here."

A heavy silence fell over them.

"Then we need to figure out how it works," Donnie said. "Something triggered it. If we can recreate the conditions…"

"We might be able to send you home," Leo finished.

The idea should have filled Erin with relief. Instead, she found herself hesitating. Would she really be able to go back? And, more importantly… did she want to?

It was getting late—not that Erin could tell, given the lack of sunlight.

"So, where's she gonna sleep?" Raphael asked.

Leo exhaled. "Good question."

They all looked around. There were four rooms, one for each, and an old couch in the central area.

Before anyone could argue, Mikey threw an arm around Erin's shoulders. "No worries! She can have my room!"

Erin blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah! I got the comfiest bed; the walls are covered in epic posters. You'll love it!"

Leo gave him a flat look. "Mikey, where are you going to sleep?"

Mikey grinned. "Duh! I'll crash on the couch. Or maybe Raph's floor. Y'know, for bonding time."

Raph scowled. "Touch my floor and die."

Donnie sighed. "Well, at least that's settled."

Mikey led Erin toward his room. As promised, it was filled with bright posters—superheroes, anime, and an impressive collection of action figures. The bed was covered in mismatched blankets, a small lava lamp glowing in the corner.

"Make yourself at home!" Mikey said, throwing himself onto the beanbag chair beside the bed.

Erin sat down, running a hand over the soft comforter. After everything that had happened, exhaustion finally caught up with her.

Mikey smiled. "Don't stress too much, dudette. Donnie's a genius. He'll figure this out."

She gave him a grateful look. "Thanks, Mikey."

One thought ran through her mind as she lay down, staring at the ceiling.

This was just the beginning.