TMNT Hunger Games (Featuring Your OCs)

Chapter 24: Safe and Sound

Jason dashes across the rocks, the sun beating down on him. He's more determined than ever now, knowing that there's only four tributes standing between him and going home. His bow and arrows gleam in the sun as he runs, his knives secured in his belt. He feels strong, unstoppable.

He slows down, looking over the area. This one spot of the woods is charred, like a fire rolled through it. He looks along the ashes, noticing the line where the fire stopped burning. He straightens up, choosing a direction and starting again.

"I'm coming for you, District 4," he mutters.

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Tyler and Shelby sit in a shady spot created by the numerous rocks in the area. His foot is still blistered and hurts like crazy, the older Bradford only growing more worried for him.

"I just don't know how to help you," she admits forlornly.

"Don't worry about it, Shelbs," he says weakly, a small laugh in his tone. "I'll be fine. Just-"

A beeping sound goes off outside, making Shelby perk up. She dashes out of their cover to see a silver parachute floating down above her, beeping softly. She rushes forwards and grasps the container in her hands, opening it. Inside, there's medicine and bandages, obviously of Capitol grade. One note sits nestled within the supplies.

Help out Ty, Shelbs. Sorry for everything.
- Aiden

She smiles weakly, looking up towards the sky. She murmurs a quick thank you before heading back to Tyler, knowing that her younger brother probably only got these supplies with a huge amount of support from the District 4 residents.

The medicine makes Tyler almost cry out with relief. It works fast, starting to slowly knit his burnt skin back together. Shelby generously applies ointment and wraps up his foot, sitting back as he happily wiggles his toes.

"Think you'll be able to walk?" she asks.

He pulls his hiking boot on, getting to his feet. He winces a little, but his smile hides that swiftly.

"Yup, I'm all good! I'll just lean on you if I need some more support," he says.

She rolls her eyes. "Your optimism is annoying."

He shrugs. "It's better to see what's good right now instead of focusing on the bad. That's just the way I see things."

He tries to take a few steps, but he shudders on his ankle. Shelby shakes her head and gently supports him, doing her best considering how much taller he is.

They start walking away, although it's rather slow going. Both of them are exhausted, dirty, and grieved. These Games are taking more out of them than they like to admit.

Shelby hears a soft snap behind them and she glances over her shoulder. For a second, she doesn't see anything. Then, the silver gleam of an arrow catches her eye. Jason stands behind a small cluster of rocks, just peeking out enough that he can take aim. His arrow is pointed right at Tyler's back.

She reacts instantly, instinctive protectiveness for her brother taking over. She throws her body in front of him as the arrow flies, burying its sharp point in her chest with a thud. Her mouth falls open in a silent scream, pain arcing through her. She almost thinks that she'll start healing, but they took that from her too.

Tyler screams, catching her hastily as her body grows too heavy for her legs to support.

"No...no no no...no..." he whimpers, repeating the same word over and over again as he clings to his big sister.

Jason watches them from his spot, remaining straight-faced. He feels himself grow heavy with the weight of another kill, slipping his bow over his shell silently. He turns away, leaving Tyler to mourn, and sets off, planning to find District 7 next.

Shelby looks up at her brother, icy tears streaming down her face. She manages a weak smile, but it comes out more as a pained grimace.

"It's o-okay, Ty," she whispers weakly, her breaths hollow. "I v-volunteered for t-this. I knew this w-would happen." He wipes her tears from her freckled cheeks, her eyes flickering to the arrow still stuck in her chest. "I'll f-finally be f-free."

"I still didn't want it to happen," he cries, stroking her hair. "I don't want to be alone. I need my big sister."

She shudders, her purplish blood staining her tribute's outfit. "We'll be t-together soon, Ty. W-Won't we?"

He nods weakly as he pulls her to his chest. She shuts her eyes, the pain making her feel numb as she rests her head against her brother's chest. His heartbeat is strong in her ears, like it's always been. For a moment, she wishes that they could go back to the Tributes' Tower. She'd take his teasing about their chariot outfits over his tears any day.

"T-Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"M-Mom used to s-sing that l-lullaby..." she whispers hoarsely. "C-Could y-you..." She coughs, a trickle of blood staining her lips.

He nods, hugging her gently as she lets out another ragged cough. He breathes deeply as he forces his thick voice to sing, wanting to comfort his sister in her last moments.

"I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, 'I'll never let you go.'
When all those shadows almost killed your light.
Hold on to this lullaby.
Even when the music's gone.
Gone.

"Just close your eyes.
The sun is going down.
You'll be alright.
No one can hurt you now.
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound."

A cannon goes off as Shelby's body goes limp. Tyler sobs even harder, burying his face against his sister's neck. She's gone. She's truly gone.

He rocks back and forth slowly, letting himself cry as hard as he humanly can.

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Shelby Bradford's face appears in the sky immediately after the cannon goes, the District 4 emblem on display below her serious picture.

Leonardo and Destiny watch as her picture disappears. The turtle gently takes her hand, squeezing lightly as his thumb brushes over her promise ring.

"Twenty dead..." she whispers, her breath catching in her throat.

"Four left," he finishes, sounding just as strained.

She looks at her feet, fiddling with the black streak in her bangs. He pulls her closer to him, his sapphire eyes determined as ever.

"Come on, let's find a place to spend the night," he whispers.

Destiny only nods. The two of them walk off together, hand in hand, the crushing weight of what's to come hanging over their heads like an unwelcome cloud.