Sunshine Traitor (ENG)

Chapter 22: Hanta Sero

I am sorry in advance. I cried myself to sleep after writing this chapter. Please read the tags again, as this is probably the heaviest chapter so far.

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Hanta tries to open his eyes, but immediately closes them back against the bright light. He groans softly. Everything hurts and he wonders what he has done to be in such a state. It feels like there are a thousand needles in his legs, the muscles in his arms are stiff from being tense all the time and his head is pounding so hard it makes him dizzy. He tries to open his eyes for the second time, and this time he manages to get them blinking to adjust to the light, even though there is not much. In fact, the room is relatively dark, lit only by a lone low-energy bulb that flashes once every so often as if it is about to give out.

When, ignoring the bursting headache, he tries to figure out where he is, he finds that he cannot move an inch at all. He is lying on the ground with his arms tied behind his back: each hand is tied over the opposite elbow as if he has his arms crossed behind his back. He is trapped and even if he wanted to move, even with the slightest movement, his arms scream out in pain. It stretches his muscles in a very uncomfortable way, and he does not know how long he has been sitting here like this.

Suddenly, he hears a door open followed by several footsteps. He carefully lifts his head to see who it is, and his fears are confirmed: the league of villains. "Is the clean sleeper finally awaking?" Dabi grins wickedly at him and Hanta feels the chills run down his body. Behind the fire manipulator, Shigaraki and Toga also enter. How on earth did he get here. Yesterday he was just lying in his bed on campus and now... UA is supposed to be the safest place in all of Japan. How did he get here? How safe was UA really?

He gathered all his courage and tried not to let his voice tremble, "What do you want from me?"

"Don't think too highly of yourself." Says Shigaraki as Dabi brutally pulls him upright, making him unable to suppress a small cry. The leader of the trio walks up to him, crouches down in front of him and takes hold of his chin with three fingers to look him in the eye. "We don't want anything from you. You are the bait." A fourth finger sets itself dangerously on his skin and Hanta knows there is now only one finger between him and the end. He tries to control his breathing and not let his kidnappers notice how scared he is. He must be strong until someone can come and help him. He must persevere. Shigaraki stands up and walks away again and Hanta releases his breath that he had held for so long.

Suddenly he feels a little more self-confident now that death is no longer so close. Maybe he can free himself with his quirk, maybe there is a way out. He tries to use his quirk, but the position of his arms only allows him to shoot tape into his hands, leaving it all messed up. And as if that disappointment wasn't enough, he suddenly feels a hot hand on his back, along with a deep voice. "Escaping already?" How could he forget that Dabi was behind him. "What shall we do with this rebellious prisoner?" He sounded crazy and disturbed and despite the glowing hand on his back, he felt cold sweat running down his head.

"May I cut him open?" Toga enthusiastically jumps up and down as if she is about to receive a Christmas present.

"No," Shigaraki's stern voice is almost a relief. "Knock him unconscious, but don't injure him. We don't need him right now." Hanta doesn't even get time to protest or complain before a strong hand punch him straight in the stomach. He did not even see where or from whom it came. Black spots dance in his vision as he suffers another blow and another and another. Until his field of vision is completely black and everything becomes numb as before.

<<<~~~>>>

The second time he wakes up, it takes him less time to realise where he is. The pain in his arms immediately brings him back to reality and the pounding in his head seems to have gotten worse, which does not make it easy to think about an escape plan. The room is not quite the same as last time as there is someone sitting next to him, tied up and a muzzle over his face. He recognises Shinso next to him and he knows they are both tied up like this so they cannot use their quirk. Why do the bad guys have to be so smart?