"Have you ever seen a haunted house? You know the kind I mean. That old dark house that's usually at the end of a dimly lit street. The owners haven't been seen for years no one really knows why. The windows are broken and boarded and the shutters hang loose on their hinges. The sidewalk leading to the front porch is broken and overgrown with grass and weeds. The trees have grown wild, their gnarled branches brush against the sides of the weathering house, making strange noises in the night. There's a high vine covered fence and stone wall around the property with a rusty squeaky gate. Is it there to keep somebody out? Or is it there to keep something inside? It's a house that people avoid walking past at night for strange sounds come from within its walls and it's said that eerie lights can be seen both in the attic windows and in the cemetary graveyard to the side of the house, our story revolves around this mysterious mansion. Nights not long ago, several mutants were walking home from the movie "THE HAUNTED MANSION" The night was cool as lightning broke through the sky. The wind began to blow as the lightning cracked again while thunder rolled across the heavens to change this pleasant evening into a night to be remembered. The lightning struck again and illuminated the front of the old mansion, it began to rain. Leonardo, Raphael, Ninjara, Donatello, Michaelangelo, Zitz, Rash and Pimple ran toward the old house, through the old iron gate and onto the porch for protection. Protection??? If only they had known..."

Huddled together on the porch the turtles, vixen and toads stared at the rain coming down in a steady downpour like a gray wall of water. Every now and then lightning flashed like camera strobes going off and thunder rumbled & boomed like explosions erupting. None of them wanted to risk running home in this weather, and risk catching a cold or flu.

NINJARA: Oh Ralph, look at that rain come down. We'll never get home on time.
RASH: I agree, sensei Splinter is gonna kill us if we show up late.
RAPHAEL: Hey, it's cool. We'll get home, besides it's not quite midnight.
DONATELLO: But this old porch isn't gonna keep us dry though.

The purple-masked turtle was concerned about the raindrops falling on their heads from leaking cracks in the warped boards of the arched roof above them. He now turned his attention to the front door, studying it carefully before he started twisting-turning the doorknobs in his effort to open them.

LEONARDO: Uh, what are you doing?
DONATELLO: What does it look like, leader? Trying to get front door open, no one lives here.
ZITZ: We can wait inside till the storm's over then continue home so Splinter will not worry.
PIMPLE: Gee, I dunno... I hear this house is supposed to be haunted.
MICHAELANGELO: Haunted?!! No way, bro.
PIMPLE: Oh yes, haunted. Ever since the owners who lived in this manor passed away years ago no one else has purchased this house or rented it due to mysterious occurances that take place within its walls.
MICHAELANGELO: Ooooh, now you tell me. < Scared look >
NINJARA: Not me, I'm not going inside that house. I'd rather stay out here and get wet.

The vixen was afraid of what dangers lurked inside should they dare enter but at the moment none of the other mutants were in no position to argue about going inside or not going inside. Finally, Donnie suceeded in opening the doors and peered into its gloomy interior, then turned to the gang.

DONATELLO: Come on, don't be afraid. I'll light a match.

Taking a matchbox from his utility belt, he struck one and cupping it in both hands held it aloft and stepped through the open door with Leo, Mike, Ralph, Zitz, Rash, Pimple and Ninjara following behind on his heels. Once across the thresh-hold the gang found themselves inside a large chamber known as the Front Parlor. Candles burned dimly along the rich wooden walls in scounces, the walls covered in Victorian style wallpaper rising up to meet a plaster relief ceiling overhead. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling, its flickering candles illuminating the darkness of the chamber around. The floor was covered in thick dark rugs and the windows were hung with heavy velvet drapes that hung like limp flags in a still breeze. The windows gave views of the property outside even though some were missing pieces of glass in their frames and patched up with wood and/or cardboard. Carved doors and archways led to hallways in every direction. A grand staircase rose at the end of the hall in a horseshoe shape which was connected to another staircase.

And between the staircases stood a Victorian fireplace with hot coals in the grate but barely any flames emenating from the burned-down logs. There were several chairs & coffee tables positioned throughout the Front Parlor, all covered in sheets and layered in dust & spiderwebs. The gang stood gazing at the sight before their eyes in wonder and awe.

ZITZ: Well, I'll be...this house is still full of furniture. It's as though someone still lived here.
LEONARDO: Looks that way, like a museum.
RASH: Who would want to tour a museum like this one? Not well preserved or maintained in good order, clean-up so to speak.
RAPHAEL: You got that right, dust everywhere. Ack, gross, yuck!
NINJARA: There's a candelabra, light some candles. < She points out candleholder on nearby table >
DONATELLO: Okay, this match is about to burn out anyway.

He quickly touched the nearly flamed out match to the candleholder and they flared to life instantly when suddenly, without warning a mysterious ghost voice spoke from out of nowhere!