The Shadow's Secret│TMNT

49 || The Aftermath of Defeat

My mind was screaming at me to do something! To help him! And I tried to think of something but my brain was nothing more than an utterly useless mush. Angrily, I clenched my fists, gripping the electric prod harder and–

Wait. An electric prod.

"Raiya!" Leo's desperate voice drew me from whatever strange trance I'd been suspended in, and I was suddenly hyper-aware of an approaching enemy from behind. My instincts kicked in and before I knew it, I was spinning a full 360° with the prod extended to whack my attacker in the head. The Foot soldier dropped to the ground.

I wasted no time in raising the prod above my shoulder like a javelin and throwing it with as much force as I could manage. It struck the back of the Shredder's armour and sent courses of bright, shocking blue snaking across his entire body. He yelled in pain and convulsed beneath the electricity's temporary grasp, allowing Splinter a few moments to recover and get to his feet.

My lips turned upwards in a triumphant smirk. Yeah, I hope that fuckin hurts, asshole.

Though my success we short-lived, as I almost immediately felt a sensation like a million scorching pencils jabbing my back. And that was only the beginning.

The muscles in my back jolted and contracted of their own accord as my skin burned and itched painfully from each pulse of electricity. I tried to move but my body's only response was to crumple to the ground in a writhing ball of agony. An awful soreness was instantly curling around my back and gradually spreading to my stomach, arms, neck and legs while they continued to twitch and move of their own accord.

Dimly, I was aware of yelling. Though my focus was more on the raging pulse emanating from my burning heart.

And through all the pain of my convulsing, unresponsive muscles beneath each searing charge of electricity, I thought, they're going to kill me. Those bastards are actually trying to kill me. And I can't stop them...I'm gonna die.

And my world fell into darkness.

••• 影の秘密 •••

I woke to an explosion.

The entirety of the lair shook from the charges, giving me a split-second's warning before the walls and roof exploded, shooting cement projectiles into the air.

Forcing my aching muscles to cooperate, I rolled so I was curled up against the closest wall and hoped that I wouldn't get nailed by any flying cement. My body burned and my vision was hazy, though I suppose it could've been due to the heavy dust suspended in the air. I waited a few moments with my head tucked down and my knees were drawn to my stomach, praying that the lair wouldn't collapse on me following the explosions. Thankfully, it held steady.

I released a breath and raised my head, surveying the irreparable damage dealt to the turtles' home–

Oh my god.

"Leo!" I called, coughing on inhaled dust. "Donnie!" I leaned against the wall, wincing past the soreness in my legs as I got to my feet. "Mikey! Raph!" The only reply was a deathly silence offered by the once-sanctuary. "Splinter!" But there was only more silence. Frustrated tears burned at the corners of my eyes, both from the pain and the loss of the turtles. I had no idea what happened, no idea where everyone was or if they were okay or what. I didn't know anything! With a defeated, shaky cry, I leaned back against the wall and pressed my hands to my grime-coated face. What do I do?...What the hell do I do!?

Just...Calm. In an attempt to collect myself, I released a breath of air uneasily and ran my fingers down through my wildly tangled hair.

"What do I do?" I whispered, wishing the concrete would supply me with an answer, or the silence would just stop being silent!