Donnie opened his eyes quickly, his heart racing. He didn't hear the steady breathing of Leonardo next to him. And it was two thirty in the morning.

"L-Leo..?" His voice squeaked as he slowly got out of bed, fearing the worst for their leader. The entire farmhouse was silent as he slipped into the hallway. It was so cold, he could've sworn they were outside.

Donnie rubbed at his arm, remembering that Raph had stabbed him just days ago. Since then, Donnie had rarely left Leo's side, feeling the turtle in blue could protect him from any danger.

"Leo.. are you out here?" He bit his lip and peeked into Mikey's bedroom. His younger brother was sound asleep, thank god. Just as he was about to shut the door, a hand was rested on his shoulder from behind. Donnie practically jumped a mile, and shouted.

"Donnie, it's just me.." Leonardo said, just as startled as the purple turtle.

"Where were you..?" Donnie hugged him, sighing in relief. "You weren't with Raph, were you?"

Leo shook his head. "That would be idiotic, Don. And you told me not to. Therefore I have to listen."

"Well, if you weren't with Raph, where were you?"

Leo looked around nervously and led him to the bedroom. "I found something outside, and I didn't want to tell you about it until the morning."

"Something to do with Raph then? Because he goes nuts at night?" Donnie bit his lip.

"Yeah. It's outside. Come with me?"

"You honestly think I'm staying in here by myself?" Donnie held his arm, looking at Leo.

"This might scare you though..."

As the two brothers went outside, Mikey opened his eyes, feeling a feather-light touch brush across his cheek and shoulder. "Leo? Donnie?" He didn't look over but could guess who it was just by the gentle touch.

"Not quite.." Raph's emerald green eyes glistened from the moonlight at the window.

"You're not allowed in here Raph.." Mikey shivered.

Raph crawled into bed behind Mikey and hugged his middle. "I have to. It's me. Well, kinda me. We don't want to hurt you. Raph is dying and we need to cheer him up a little." Raph spoke in third person, thoroughly confusing Mikey. "We? Raph? How are you dying? Who's we?"

Raph gently stroked his cheek. "We are the spirits that inhabit your older brother. And while we find him foolish, we have to keep him alive. He is dying. So we brought him to you."

Mikey scratched his head, confused. "So, if you've been possessing Raph, have you been controlling him all the time?"

Raph shook his head. "No. The only time we lose complete control of him is when the sun is at the highest in the sky."

Mikey scowled. "What do you want with him anyway?"

Raph's lips curled into a smile. "When Raphael was born, he had a bright spirit like yours. But yours was always too bright and powerful to penetrate. His had doubt in it, fear, jealousy.. the easiest ways to break into someone's soul is through their weaknesses."

Mikey's eyes watered as he hugged Raphael. "Please let him see me. Tell him I love him, and I'll be right here.." On the inside, he wanted to kill the spirits. But you can't do that.

"He can hear you. He is crying. But he is joyful, I assure you. Now sleep, so he can too."

He kissed his cheek and sniffled. "Okay. Goodnight, spirit things."

"Goodnight, little brother."

Meanwhile, outside, Leo led Donnie into the woods. It was so dark and cold, Donnie's teeth chattered loudly. "Are w-we almost there?" Donnie whined.

"Yes, plum, we're almost there." Leo muttered.

"Plum? Did you just call me pl-" Donnie gasped and looked up at a large wooden structure. "Know what that is?" Leo looked at him.

Donnie nodded, whimpering. "It's freshly built gallows."

Leo took his hand. "Either he's going to kill you, me, Mikey, or himself. And we just can't let that happen. Let's save Raph."