Turtles Forever

All Hallows Thieves

The apartment hummed with warmth, the golden glow of string lights casting playful shadows across the cluttered coffee table. A half-eaten bowl of candy corn sat abandoned next to Mikey's masterpiece—a pumpkin so lopsided it threatened to roll off the table. Pumpkin innards sprawled in sticky heaps, seeds clinging to sleeves and shell ridges like stubborn confetti. Venus watched, her pale violet eyes flickering with amusement as Mikey proudly plopped a tiny blue mask onto his jack-o'-lantern's jagged grin.

"Hey, look! I made a Leo-o'-lantern!" he declared.

Raph snorted, flicking a seed off his plastron. "Definitely got his charming smile."

Leo didn't bite, still brooding by the window, fingers drumming against the hilt of his katana. City lights blurred beyond the glass, drowned out by the chatter behind him.

Mona, etched careful lines into her pumpkin's surface—a silent smile, serene but sharp. Nearby, Elizabeth giggled, squishing handfuls of pumpkin guts between her tiny fingers. Alopex hovered over the twins, Luna and Una, their tiny forms bundled in improvised cloaks of old blankets. "No eating the seeds," she chided as Una's little paws twitched toward the bowl. Donna, who was curled beside Venus, her fingers grasping at the frayed edge of her mother's blue mask. "She's out like a light," Venus murmured, her chi-sight catching the slow, steady pulse of the strange turtle's energy.

Yuuki's knife slipped with deliberate roughness, her pumpkin snarling up at Raph. "What do you think?" she mused, adding another crooked fang.

Raph leaned over, squinting. "Kinda looks like you when Mikey forgets to share the last slice of pizza."

April's cat-ear headband bobbed as she adjusted her tail. The knock came just as she reached for the door—Casey stood there, hockey mask gleaming under the hallway light.

"Where's your costume?" April deadpanned.

Donnie nudged his glasses up. "That *is* his costume."

Raph lobbed a pumpkin seed at Casey's chest. "Every night's Halloween for Casey Jones."

Casey's grin was audible, muffled behind the mask. "Told ya I'd match the theme."

April rolled her eyes but linked her arm through his, tugging him toward the hall. "Okay, *we're* going. Try not to burn the place down."

The door shut—silence for half a breath—then—

**BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!**

The antique shop's alarm screeched, jarring and digital. Raph's smirk returned as he flicked a seed at Donnie's forehead. "Your turn, genius. That alarm's your baby."

Donnie caught the next seed midair, sighing. "I *told* April the motion sensor's glitchy with wind drafts—"

"I'll go turn it off," Mikey sing-songed, already vaulting over the couch. His shell barely brushed the cushions before he disappeared down the stairs, orange tails whipping behind him, disappearing downstairs.

The antique shop was eerily still, dimly lit by the flickering street lamps outside. Mikey crept forward, ears straining—until a faint shuffle of movement near the back shelves made him freeze.

Three figures in dark, overly elaborate costumes—like something between a movie monster and a burglar—were rummaging through the shelves, their gloved hands scattering priceless knick-knacks carelessly.

Mikey crossed his arms. "Uh, guys? Trick-or-treating's *outside*."

The thieves spun, startled. One cursed under his breath, yanking a crowbar from his belt. "So much for stealth."