𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐧𝐡𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬

[48]

Two of hearts

48

___

Y/n's chest screamed with each ragged breath she took, a burning pain that radiated through her lungs and threatened to stop her in her tracks. But she couldn't afford to stop. Not when the stakes were this high. Her legs were heavy, every step a battle, but she pushed forward, her eyes locked on her father. He was still too far ahead, his figure cutting an imposing silhouette as he moved with an unnerving calmness.

As she ran, she could feel the panic rising in her chest, the same dread she had felt earlier now amplified by the sheer hopelessness of the situation. She had already been through so much, her body bruised and battered, but none of it compared to the psychological warfare her father was waging against her. This wasn't just a physical battle; it was a test of her will, and he was revelling in her suffering.

Ahead of her, she could see Bakugo, Kaminari, and Kirishima, each of them focused on helping the actors around them. They weren't engaging with the acting villains, likely thinking that the exam was still just that—an exam. They had no idea that a true monster was among them.

The fact that she couldn't see her father anymore sent a wave of unease through her. Where had he gone? Had he vanished into the chaos, or was he just waiting for the right moment to strike? The uncertainty gnawed at her, fuelling her desperation to reach her friends before it was too late.

As she closed the distance between them, she stumbled, her feet catching on uneven ground. She managed to keep herself upright, but her balance was off, and she could feel the world tilting dangerously. Finally, she caught up to them, her breath ragged and her body on the verge of collapse.

"Bakugo! Kirishima! Kaminari!" she called out, her voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.

The boys turned at the sound of their names, their expressions quickly shifting from confusion to shock as they took in her dishevelled appearance.

"Y/n, what the hell happened to you?" Kirishima exclaimed, his usual cheerful demeanour replaced with concern.

"Yeah, you look like you've been through hell," Kaminari added, his eyes wide with worry.

Bakugo's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, catching her by the arm just as she stumbled again. His grip was firm, almost protective, and for a moment, his usual harshness softened. "You're gonna fall on your ass if you keep this up, dumbass," he said, though his tone was more worried than anything else.

Y/n tried to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she forced the words out. "You... need to run... now..." she wheezed, her voice strained and shaky.

The boys exchanged confused glances, not fully understanding the urgency in her voice. "Run from what?" Bakugo demanded, his eyes narrowing. "What's going on?"

Before she could answer, a deep, menacing chuckle echoed from behind them, freezing the blood in her veins. The sound was low, almost amused, but it carried an underlying threat that sent a shiver down her spine. The boys turned in unison, their eyes widening as they saw who stood there.

Scorchrend.

He was standing just a few feet away, his imposing figure looming over them like a shadow. His eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction, and a smug smile played on his lips as he watched them. He didn't need to use his quirk to be terrifying; his mere presence was enough to make the air feel heavy with tension.

Y/n's stomach twisted in knots as she locked eyes with her father. The fear she had been trying so hard to suppress now threatened to overwhelm her. This wasn't just another part of the exam. This was something far more dangerous, and her father was making it clear that he was in control.