8 Bit Glitch

Part 31~Static

Taking a deep breath, I got ready. Charlie stood by my side. Tapping my knee I tried to quiet the tension currently consuming me.

"Calm down Izu, he'll be fine." Charlie could clearly see that I didn't believe her. "He's a hero right?" Charlie eyed me as I nodded hesitantly. "Then he'll be fine."

Sighing, I returned to the rhythmic drumming on my leg, letting it ground me. Soon Denki will switch off the power and things will start. Things will be okay. They have to be.

They won't be.

~~~

Denki gulped as he stepped down the long staircase. He gently pushed open the door, spotting the large black breaker box.

He cursed as he struggled to open the box, breaking the lock off and looking over the number of switches. "Right, turn them all off." Running his hands down the switches, turning them all off.

Everything went out, every light, every camera and every small spark of energy dwindled to nothing.

"Okay, now just the difficult ones." Letting out a shaky breath, Denki stepped towards the large room. "No problem. No problem at all."

~~~

The second the lights switched off, Kakashi jumped into action. He pulled at the smoke, covering the hall in fog and making it hard to see a few feet in front of them.

"Woah, woah, woah! What's going on?!" Owl stepped back, his eyes wide as he tried to kick away the mist.

Mark leapt into the fog, keeping low as he walked toward the civilians. He easily helped up the injured and helped them back into the corridor as Charlie and I moved around the outside of the room.

We kept our eyes on the stage, silently counting down the minute we had until the cameras turned on.

30 seconds to go.

The stage was in our sights.

20 seconds.

We were almost there.

10 seconds.

We could practically touch it. This was it. Stage one is complete.

~~~

Denki stepped into the room when he felt something push him from behind.

Or almost complete.

The door slammed shut as Denki screamed for help.

~~~

Yelping, I didn't have time to react as someone grabbed the back of my collar and swung me around.

I screamed as my shoulder hit the stage, popping out of its joint.

"Izuku!" Charlie jumped out the way as she dodged the blade swung at her neck.

Owl gleamed, a crazed smile on his face. "Looky Bossy, you were right!"

The lights turned back, the fans spinning to remove the smoke and reveal Kakashi and Mark where they stood.

"You thought you could sneak up on us, laughable!" Owl grinned, grabbing Charlie and throwing her to the stage. "Bossy saw your little friend walking down to the breaker ages ago! She's already dealt with him."

My eyes widened as I pushed myself up. "What have you done to Denki?!"

"Is that its name, I just called him the annoying sparky guy. This could have all been avoided if you just stayed quiet and let us do our job but no, you had to make things difficult and now we're going to have to teach you a lesson." Owl chuckled Kakashi onto the stage, grabbing Mark by his hair and pointing the knife at his throat.

"Mark!" Mark's brother fought against his restraints, his heart racing in a blind panic. "Let him go!"

"Oh? You care for this one, maybe I should kill you instead." Owl smirked, grabbing Mark's brother off the floor. "What's your namey?"

"John, the name’s John."

Owl shook his head. "No, no, no. Johnson is the only John here, I'm going to call you... Bony!" Owl spun John and Mark around, chuckling as he sang to himself. "Eeny meeny, my knife 'Stabby' on a course so true. Through Bony's heart and Marky's lung, the one I chose is you!"

Owl wasted no time, plunging the knife into John's shoulder. He screamed out in pain as Mark fought harder against Owl's arms. Owl took back his knife, plunging it into John's stomach.

John screamed as Mark cried out. "John! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!"

Owl grew happier with the pain he was causing them, spinning them around.

I couldn't watch this! I couldn't watch this!

"Stop it!"

Charlie grabbed me, suddenly filling the air with electricity. I focused on everything I had, summoning everyone around me.

Johnson cursed as he grabbed Owl, bringing him out of the way. The characters cut open the binds that held the heroes captive.

"Mum!" Charlie tackled her mum into a hug, close to crying as her mum hugged her back.

"We need to go!" I grabbed them, pushing them off the stage. "Come on!"

Dashing past the chaos and destruction my character was causing, we rushed back and through the doors.

Mark pulled his brother up, dragging him away as Owl swiped at the mantis. Charlie sighed as we turned the corner, turning off her quirk and looking dead.

Her mother looked over her in panic, scolding her for using her Quirk. Charlie shook her head, saying how she was fine but we knew she was lying.

I rushed backstage, throwing open the hatch that led down into the tunnels.

John peeked his head over my shoulder with a small gasp. "It's still here."

Turning to everyone, I grabbed a piece of paper. "Right, this will lead you out, follow it carefully or you'll never come out again. Mark every turn you make so if you make a wrong turn I can find you again."

Mum stared at me in shock. "You're not coming with us?"

"Denki hasn't returned yet and dad and hundreds of other civilians haven't been rescued. I'll keep the villains busy while you get help."

Charlie glared at me. "No! You're not doing this!"

Smiling slightly, I stood up. "I'm a hero, it's my job."

~~~

Denki's head spun, his motions getting weaker by the minute. "Please... Izu... Help me..."

Footsteps echoed from outside the room. Denki could barely lift his head to see who was there.

"Please..."

The figure smirked as they leaned in. "This is your fault, Static."