𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 | 𝙱𝙽𝙷𝙰

2

I woke up on a cold, unforgiving metal slab that served as a bed. No mattress, no pillow, just the hard surface beneath me. The room was small and bare, save for the faint light filtering through a tiny barred window high in the corner.

The sunlight barely made a difference, casting dull, almost lifeless beams across the cell. My head throbbed, the pounding in my skull nearly drowning out my thoughts. Instinctively, I muttered, "Veil," expecting the familiar warmth of my flames to flare up and illuminate the space around me.

Nothing.

I frowned, a flicker of panic rising in my chest. "Veil," I said again, my voice sharper this time. Still nothing.

"What the fuck..." I cursed under my breath, the frustration clawing at me as I tried to lift my hands. That's when I realized—my wrists were bound. Quirk-restraining cuffs. The cold metal bit into my skin and a sinking feeling settled in my gut as the realization hit me: I was in a jail cell.

A long string of curses tumbled from my lips as I sank back down onto the metal bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing. This wasn't good. Not at all. My head was pounding too hard to even think of an escape plan, and without my quirk, I was as good as trapped. Every moment I stayed here, the situation only worsened.

Minutes later, the sound of the cell door creaking open made me tense. I forced myself upright, squinting as a figure filled the doorway. It was a man—or rather, a man with a cat-like face. His yellow eyes gleamed as he stood there, his voice curt. "Get up. You're coming with me."

I glared at him, the urge to fight bubbling up inside me, but I forced it down. My options were limited, and I couldn't afford to make things worse right now. I rose from the bed, my legs feeling unsteady beneath me. Stumbling slightly, I followed him out of the cell and down a series of narrow, poorly lit corridors. Each step echoed off the walls, amplifying the oppressive silence that surrounded us.

We eventually arrived at a room with a single table in the center. One chair on my side, two on the other. The officer shoved me down into the lone chair, securing my hands to the table with more cuffs, just to make sure I couldn't move an inch. The whole time, he double-checked the quirk disruptors on my wrists, ensuring they were locked tightly. Afterward, he stepped back, standing guard by the door in silence, his watchful eyes never leaving me.

It wasn't long before the door opened again, and three men stepped into the room. The first was an officer, his stern demeanor and uniform a dead giveaway. The second looked rough around the edges—disheveled, almost like he lived on the streets, but his serious aura told me there was more to him than appearances. And then there was the last one—a creature that looked like a bizarre blend of a rat and a mouse. He was smaller than the others but had a presence that immediately commanded attention. The two unusual figures took seats across from me, while the officer remained standing.

The officer was the first to speak, his voice casual but direct. "So, kid. You know why you're here, right?" His sharp eyes locked onto mine, searching for any sign of a response.

I held his gaze, saying nothing but letting my glare do the talking. I wasn't about to make this easy for them.
He took my silence as confirmation, nodding slightly. "I'll take that as a yes. So, here's the deal—we ran some blood work on you while you were out. Found out who you are." He flipped through a few papers before continuing. "Your name's Bunny Saito, isn't it?"

At the sound of my name, my glare deepened. I hated hearing it, hated the way it sounded so... childish. Bunny. It felt like a cruel joke, especially in a moment like this. My fists clenched under the table as I bit back a retort.
The rat-like man across from me let out a soft chuckle, his beady eyes twinkling with amusement. "Bunny, huh? What a cute name," he said, his voice mocking. "Doesn't quite suit you, though, does it?"