Fell for a Villain?

In danger

Y/n’s POV:

The nightmares were getting worse. Now and then, they clawed their way into my mind, leaving behind a trail of confusion and fear. At first, I thought they were just random dreams—stress from school, training, and everything else life threw at me. But lately, the lines between dreams and reality were blurring, and I could barely tell them apart. Five times now, I'd mistaken one for the other, waking up in a cold sweat, heart racing, unsure if what I’d seen had happened.

I decided to go for a walk, hoping the fresh air might clear my head. I needed to breathe, to think, to figure out what the hell was going on with me. Walking around closet town quiet this time of day, the setting sun casting long shadows across the buildings. My footsteps echoed in the space, grounding me, and reminding me that this, at least, was real.
“What on earth is going on with me?”

I whispered, my voice sounding small in the open air. “Five times… I’ve been confused about what’s real and what’s a dream for five times now.”
My mind replayed the moments like a broken record, each time more vivid than the last. The first time, I was at a sleepover with the other girls.

We had stayed up late, talking about heroes we admired and sharing ghost stories. I had laughed so hard my sides hurt, my friends’ faces glowing in the dim light of the lantern. But after I fell asleep, everything shifted. I blinked, and suddenly, I was alone in the room. The laughter vanished, replaced by an eerie silence. I called out their names, but there was no answer.

My heart pounded as I searched the empty dorm, every shadow twisting into something dark and unknown, I’d woken up in fear. Then there was that night after I’d managed to get Bakugo and Kat to stop fighting. They were arguing in the kitchen over some stupid recipe, Bakugo yelling at her that insisted she was ruining the dish. I’d stepped between them, raising my voice then they finally backed down.

Later, I dreamed of the memory of what happened before I went to UA A voice, low and whispering, called out my name, sending chills down my spine. It was a voice I didn’t recognize, but it felt so familiar like a long-buried memory clawing its way to the surface. I woke up gasping, the voice still echoing in my ears.

The third time was more like a memory than a dream, that twisted into a nightmare. I was an adult again, my body older and taller, but my heart still the same. I was with my friends, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. But then their faces changed. They looked at me with suspicion, accusing me of lying, of keeping secrets even though that secret is out now. I tried to explain, but my voice wouldn’t come out.

The scene darkened, shadows creeping in. A voice, low and whispering, called out my name, sending chills down my spine. It was a voice I didn’t recognize, but it felt so familiar like a long-buried memory clawing its way to the surface. I woke up gasping, the voice still echoing in my ears again. And then there was my family. I hadn’t thought about them in years. I’d buried those memories deep, but the dreams brought them back with a vengeance.

I saw the man I used to call my father, his face a twisted mask of anger and disappointment. He left without a word, turning his back on me, and no matter how much I screamed, he wouldn’t stop, wouldn’t turn around another memory I hate thinking about.

I shook my head, trying to clear the images. “No,” I muttered to myself, “I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep letting these dreams control me.” The fifth nightmare loomed at the edges of my mind, a dark cloud I wasn’t ready to face yet. I could barely handle the first four. I found myself near a park, where a bench sat under the shade of a tree. I collapsed onto it, burying my face in my hands. Why was this happening to me?  My thoughts drifted off and I stared at the sky.

A soft breeze rustled through the leaves above, carrying the faint scent of summer's end. It was calming—almost enough to make me forget my troubles. Almost. I closed my eyes, letting the wind caress my skin, trying to anchor myself in the present. I wasn’t back there, I reminded myself.

Just as I opened my eyes, I noticed two figures approaching: a teenage boy and an older woman who appeared to be his mother. They walked with purpose, but there was a gentleness in their steps. The woman offered a warm smile as she spoke.

“Excuse me, we’re looking for a girl named Y/n. I’m a friend of her mom.” I raised an eyebrow, a bit confused. “Uh, I’m Y/n. How can I help you?” The boy stepped forward, his voice earnest. “My mom needs help moving some things. She had surgery a few weeks ago, and after she talked to your mom about it, she mentioned you.”

His mother nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Your mother speaks very highly of you.” “Uh, my mom didn’t mention anything about it,” I replied, still processing. “But I guess I could help.”
I got up and started walking with them, trying to make conversation. “So, how do you know my mom?” “Oh, we’re childhood friends,” the woman said with a warm smile. “Really?” I asked, skeptical.

“She’s never mentioned you before. Wait, what was your name again?” I stopped walking, noticing that we were heading toward an older, rundown building that looked out of place. My unease grew with every step. "My name is Kurai, and this is my son, Kuro,” she replied casually. I slowed my pace, feeling a knot form in my stomach. Something wasn’t right.

“My mom doesn’t have any friends named Kurai,” I said, my voice steady but tense. “I don’t trust you.” Before I could turn and run, Kuro grabbed me from behind, covering my mouth with a cloth. The scent of chemicals flooded my senses, making my head spin. A dark figure emerged from the shadows, moving swiftly to pull a hood over my head. Panic surged through me, but it was too late. Everything went black.