The bus drops us off, leaving immediately after. Iida begins to lead the way farther inside when Shoji speaks up suddenly.
"Wait. I smell something... Gasoline?"
Kaminari looks around. "Maybe there's a fake pileup in there, for training pu-"
He's cut off by a shrill scream in the distance. It's quickly followed by several more and my blood runs cold. We take off towards the cries and the smell of gasoline only grows stronger.
"What the hell...?"
Everyone skids to a stop as we come across a clearing in the city. It's filled with rubble and a pit lies in the center. Above it, a large cage rests on a small, unstable platform. The distant screams are now all too clear.
I'm dumbfounded to see everyone's terrified parents in the cage. I instinctively seek out my mother but I can't find her. Around me, everyone calls out to their family member. Moving closer to the pit, we find the source of the smell...
It's filled with gasoline.
"Where the hell is Aizawa sensei?!"
A cool, mechanical voice rings out at the question. The tone carried a sense of hostility.
"Aizawa is down for a nap.
A nice dirt nap."
Taking a step back from the pit, I glance around nervously for the source of the voice.
"A dirt nap...?"
"Aizawa sensei's dead...?"
An uncharacteristic scoff escapes me before I can even think to hold it back. There's no way sensei would die that easily. The rest of the class seems to be in the same boat as they hurl responses to the disembodied voice.
"Calm yourselves. You are free to think this is a joke, but be aware that there are hostages in play."
Everyone scans the area, trying to find the hidden assailant when Shoji speaks up again. "Not here. The voice is coming from the cage."
"Inside the..."
"Correct. I am in here with them." A dark figure approaches the bars and the parents flinch back. He's tall, dressed in a black mask, cape, and cowl. My heart skips a beat.
Iida pulls out his phone to call the authorities when the villain shakes his head.
"I should mention now that contacting your school or the authorities is not permitted. Ah, and I'm afraid that Denki's quirk cannot help you either."
My eyes narrow.
Somehow, whoever this is, knows about all of us and what our quirks are. Part of me is hoping this is a test. The rest of me knows I can't ride on that being true; stakes are too high.
The man continues.
"Fleeing or seeking outside help is also forbidden. Attempt to run, and it will be your parents that pay the price."
At his words, the parents begin to panic and I feel a sick feeling at the lack of my mother's presence. Maybe she just got called into work or-
I'm pulled from my thoughts at the sound of the man speaking.
"I flunked out of U.A. High. Gaining entry in the hopes of becoming a hero was all I ever had. That an excellent specimen such as myself failed is proof enough that this world is cruel and misaligned. Imagine that. Me, a drop out? However, if left to your own devices, only the brightest futures await you children. That is why-"
He's cut off as Bakugou snarls viciously. "So you put on that stupid black cape just to throw a little tantrum, you dumbass?"
"Kaachan!"
"I'm already bored. Let's blow this guy to kingdom come!" He lets off a series of explosions in his hands before taking off towards the pit.
"Slow down. Or have you already forgotten about the hostages?"
The man pulls the nearest woman towards him. I notice it's Bakugou's mom. The ashy blond skids to a stop and the look on his face is terribly similar to how he looked when we were taken by the League.
He clicks his tongue angrily. "Great job getting yourself caught, hag!"
His mom fires back with just as much vigor. "I've told you a million times not to call me 'hag', you little punk!"
There's a shocked silence at the outburst and someone mumbles something about family resemblance. In the cage, a woman who must be Midoriya's mom speaks up timidly.
"Mrs. Bakugou, please, we're hostages, remember...?"
"Oh, right."
"Pipe down." She's released and shoved aside by the man.
Midoriya takes a step forward and I watch him nervously. "What are you after, here?"
"What am I after? Only one thing- the utter destruction of you golden children and your bright futures. And slaughtering your parents is just the way to do it."
Ojiro speaks up, voice quivering slightly. "All this, just to get to us?"
I'm startled when Kirishima pushed past me to shout loudly at the man. "You got beef with us? Then bring it! But leave our folks outta this!"
The man chuckles darkly. "Oh, but it isn't your bodies I aim to destroy. No. It will be much more painful when your parents suffer and you would-be heroes have nobody but yourselves to blame."
"If you truly walked the path of the hero once, then stop this foolishness!" Yaoyorozu can't contain herself, yelling angrily.
Mina is quick to follow her lead. "Exactly! And you're headed for the slammer when all's said and done!"
"Oh, I have no intention of escaping. After all, I have nothing left to lose. So for my final act, I might as well savor your decent into agony as you watch your parents perish. Now, who to start with...?"
The villain moves towards the parents who all shrink away, fearful. I find myself getting increasingly concerned at the situation at hand. I distantly wonder if he already got rid of my mother... Or perhaps I've lucked out. Maybe she's safe at the hospital.
As everyone struggles for a plan, Midoriya suddenly turns to me. "Can you get into the cage and maybe get them out while we distract him?"
I start to nod in agreement when the villain speaks up again.
"Don't bother sending your little [Y/n] in here or someone will be dead before he can even touch anyone. A single pop and it's over. Funny though... his mother appears to be absent. I wonder why..." He trails off and I'm almost certain a sick grin is under that mask.
My breath hitches quietly and I try to stay focused. Some of the others start a distraction and Todoroki turns to us.
"Midoriya- Our only chance is a sneak attack with you."
"You think?"
The stoic teen nods. "You're good at that. Smashing the unsmashable, and all that."
Midoriya quickly works up a plan with Hagakure floating towards the villain with a stungun and I take a step back, feeling useless. The green haired boy turns to me.
"Once he's pinned, get up there and teleport as many people out as you can, alright?"
I nod, turning my focus to the villain. He seems to be getting fed up with the distractions, pacing angrily. "I said, silence. Do not make me repeat myself!"
Hagakure almost as him when he suddenly kicks the stungun from her hands, growling. "It seems an invisible pest has wormed it's way over here!"
He slams the cage door open, stepping out, and draws a lighter from his cape.
"I had hoped to serve up individual doses of suffering, but no matter. We will all dine in hell together!"
My heart drops suddenly as he drops the lighter into the pit, transforming it into a raging inferno. A choking wave of stifling heat rolls over us and I'm frozen in place.
Oh god...
---
Part of me wonders if you all will end up disappointed or let down with what happens but I've had this particular idea in mind since I wrote the USJ chapters.
Thank you for all your support!!