Atrocious

- Chapter 33 -

I could feel moisture.
Warm wetness in my hair, flowing slowly down my forehead.
I knew it was blood and was inevitably confirmed when I wiped it off.
My fingers turned a dark red and I concentrated on not regurgitating the apple:

'They're coming'

As quickly as these images and voices were in my head, they always disappeared just as quickly. And since I was trapped, they had disappeared completely.
For a little while, I had hoped that the haunting had ended, but I knew that I was inevitably connected to Izuku and Katsuki. I still wasn't sure exactly how.
I lay exhausted in the living area of the scarred face.
Ever since he had dragged me there and left me there, he had ignored me. Maybe he had forgotten about me, but I didn't want to risk getting up and fleeing.
I simply straightened up and slid over to a wall to support myself and keep a close eye on him.
Some time passed and I watched him walk up and down. His coat moved back and forth in unison with his steps and I grew tired at the sight.
He seemed to notice and clapped his hands.
I startled and he laughed. As he took a seat on his sofa, he looked at me closely and grinned.
Me: "What?"
Dabi: "What's your name?"
"I thought you did such a great job of researching and kidnapping the right people!"
"We did that too -Anna. I want to know what your real name is and, above all, who you are."
"I'm not going to answer that."
"You already know what I'll do to you if you don't cooperate."
"I'm already in hell, what would you do?"
"Oh, I could think of a few things."
"You Dibdab, you're just a hypocrite. Do what you want to do, only I want an answer to my question"
He raised his eyebrows but remained silent, gesturing with his hand to continue.
"Who's coming?"
He sat up straight and propped his head on his hands:
"The downfall of those who are doomed. Shikaragi will build an army of invincibles and destroy anyone who does not serve the cause. I don't care, as long as my family's line is finally wiped out!" Anna watched his tired features contract more and more into a sickening grin with every word he spoke.
The stapled skin tightened under his loud and unpleasant laugh.
"Who's your family?"
"You don't have to care, because you won't live to see it anyway."
"Because you're going to kill me?"
"I won't be the lucky one but you'll be serving a good cause."
I asked, but he didn't answer. He looked me up and down with interest, but he was suddenly disgusted.

The pressure in my chest became unbearable and pushed its way up my neck until I opened my mouth and - laughed.
I laughed in pain, fear and incomprehension.
Only he didn't have to know.
The pressure in my chest lessened with every laugh and finally dried up completely.
I breathed carefully in a regular rhythm and wondered why my body had decided to react in this way.
I looked up and straight into Dibdab's expression, which turned to sheer hatred.
Upset, he jumped up and before I knew it, he grabbed me by the scruff of the neck again and dragged me out. Out into the hallway, through the corridors and past the countless doors.
My screams were loud but were swallowed up by the dirty, damp carpets and I tried to ignore the pain in my head and joints.
I thrashed about wildly but this scarred face was simply faster and stronger.
"You're boring," he began and I looked up, if he gave me the chance to look up.
"Weak like the others."
He yanked open a door.
On through the next hallway.
Another door.
Next corridor.
And finally we reached a large door. It seemed to be made of metal or a metal alloy, solid and indestructible.
He let go. Gasping and covered in blood, I watched as he slowly pulled the door open.
A loud squeak sounded and I caught my breath.
Whatever he was going to do, my mind would take it.
Whatever he did to me, my body would take it.
I knew he would grab me by the hair again and I let him.
I fell down the stairs with a thud as he swung and I clutched my battered hands to my head to avoid worse.
"Worthless."

"I'm not worthless. You're just arrogant and obnoxious!" I spat as I came to the foot of the stairs and wiped the blood from my face.
"Me?" he asked, slowly walking down the steps, "Turn around and you'll see I'm not going to be obnoxious."
His laugh was disgusting and loud and when I turned around, I understood his point.
My heart slipped into my pants and I felt my stomach turn.

This could change everything.

"Shit..."