A Dance to Death

Shadows

The sound of my shoe rapidly hitting the concrete floor filled the room. My eyes moved everywhere. The feeling of staying in one place made my skin itch. My body was shaking. My breathing was heavy.
What was that dream? Why was there shadow figures all over my room? That's never happened before. I feel like my skin is going to fall off. I feel like I'm going to explode. Someone please make this stop.
A soft touch on my shoulder startles me into reality.
"Peyusha, are you alright?" Compress asks, pulling up a chair.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I think..."
"You don't seem fine. You seem much more disconnected."
"Well, I think I'm just paranoid. I had a dream about my dad, then when I woke up it was like my quirk was set off."
"How was it set off?"
"I don't know. A bunch of shadow people surrounded me then melted away like they do when I deactivate my quirk."
He sat back in his chair.
"I think you just had a bad dream and your quirk activated. It's most definitely nothing too important, so don't stress over it."
He patted my shoulder before walking away.
Probably nothing? That's what everyone says. They all think I'm crazy.

A sharp stabbing pain rushed through my arm as I picked the skin off of my arm.
I need to get out and do something... Anything...
Pandora looked over at me.
"Pey, you're acting weird."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are. Go out for a walk."
"I don't need a walk! I need answers."
"I told you not to worry about what happened last night when we talked the first time," Compress sighed.
"You don't get it!" I exclaimed, "This has to mean something! I need to find out why."
"Maybe Mariko can help you," Toga replied, her voice slightly tired.

Mariko was close to us for one reason, she was married to the Hero Killer, Stain. Staring at her is like staring at beauty, but it seems like underneath that beauty is a troubled woman struggling to deal with the truth of her husband.
I feel pity for that woman. She's always so kind. She forced any bad part of Stain away and believed he was good. If only she knew.

"I'm not talking to her. She's going to use her stupid quirk on me and force me to look at my biggest regret. I don't want to relive that day, let alone learn from it," I bluntly responded.
"What is your most regretted day, Peyusha?" Pandora questioned.
"I'm not saying."
"If you aren't prepared to face what you regret, then you aren't ready for answers."
"What do you regret, Pandora? Your mommy not loving you, or is it the day you tried to kill yourself?"
Pandora glared at me like I was her prey.
"I advise you to watch what you say."
"Please, you don't scare me."
"But I know what will! Go for a walk."
I rolled my eyes, storming off.

I looked down at the people on the street. The sunset was pink and purple. I was still in my school uniform.
Being away from the house seems to be enough to calm me down. Touya, you'd love the sunset if you were around.
My eyes swelled up thinking about him, and the day he decided to leave me alone here.
How could you do this? How could you just leave me here?
I let a tear roll down my cheek.
You left me just like my dad did.

"You're telling me that after you tamed the Beast thing, we're going to merge with the Meta Liberation Army? We're trying to take over the world, not start meaningless riots!" I exclaimed.
"Not only that, they tried to kill us," Pandora added.
"I don't care what you two think, we're doing this. We have to start somewhere," Shigaraki stated.
"But why here? I mean, not even Pandora likes it. That's saying something."
"Both of you shut up and do what you're told to."

I looked around in the black void I was in.
"Dad, are you there?" I shouted, "I need answers!"
"You're not ready for answers, Ushy."
"Why not? You left me with nothing but this necklace! I need to know what's happening to me! Please, I'm begging you."
"Pandora is right, you're not ready for answers until you understand your regret. You want to help people, but you hurt those around you. You need to find yourself, not follow Touya."
"But I'm doing what I think is right!"
"Are you?"
"I think I am."
"You don't know for sure. You'll figure out the answer when you're ready for it."
"Dad!"
"Look around you. Look at who you're hurting."
I gasped for air, looking around me. Shadows covered the room. I knew what they looked like now. Yuudai, Kimiko, Darling, young Touya, and my dad. I reached out for my dad, but the shadows melted away, leaving me on my own again.
Stop leaving me. I need to know.