Vengeance [BNHA]

Chapter Three

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, someone was watching me. The longer their gaze lingered, the more phantom sensations gripped me. I could feel invisible phantasmal hands exploring my body and tried my best not to react. It made me want to scream and also made my stomach turn. Glancing around I spotted two familiar faces, Shota and Hizashi. They were standing next to a police car parked outside of the community center where I was headed for one of the many group therapy sessions.

What were they doing here? Shota waved me over. I hesitated before approaching them. The detective they were talking to was wearing a long tan trench coat and had dark hair and what I would probably normally have considered kind dark eyes. He extended a hand to me in greeting. I didn't take it.

"Detective Tsukauchi." He introduced himself and dropped his hand to his side not seeming offended by my refusal to accept his hand.

"Rin." I replied softly not wanting to give them any more information. I felt uncomfortable facing the three of them together. It was difficult for me to be around most people, men were far worse for me to be around and I hated being outnumbered. They all seemed to notice my tension simultaneously and took a step back to give me space. I appreciated it, but I was still on edge. "Why are you here?"

"Your brilliant suggestion." Hizashi smiled.

"What brilliant suggestion?" I frowned.

"To look into the motive." He added.

"At first we couldn't connect anything or think of a motive, but finally we found that five of the victims had been on trial for sexual assault, it's kind of a stretch but we think that might be why they're being targeted." Detective Tsukauchi replied.

I forced myself not to react. They were pretty quick to put that together. How close was I to being found out? "You think its someone here?" I asked.

"Well not necessarily, we discovered one of the victims' victim attends this group therapy so we thought we'd observe and see if anyone is acting off. My hunch is, if they are connected than more than likely it's someone's husband, father, brother or something of the like going vigilante and trying to avenge their loved one." Detective Tsukauchi said with a grimace.

"Makes sense." My voice came out in a monotone.

"Anyone come to mind?" Shota asked me.

"Everyone who knows someone who's gone through..." I trailed off, unable to say it as the smell of blood, cheap cigars and whiskey overpowered my senses, memories from that night poured into my consciousness. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to scream. My body trembled.

Shota looked as if he were going to reach out to me like he thought I might lose my balance; he withdrew his hand as I instinctively flinched. "Sorry." He looked to me; his dark eyes filled with worry.

Hizashi and the Detective looked equally worried and sympathetic.

Detective Tsukauchi looked down at his phone, "it's almost time."

I nodded and walked away without a word, escaping into the community center. The group leader, Amaya, a warm single mother of three greeted me with a calming smile.

"Good Afternoon, Rin. I'm so glad you could join us today." Her amber gaze flicked behind me as Hizashi, Shota and Detective Tsukauchi stepped through the doors. She turned her gaze back to me, giving me her full attention, "will you be sharing today?"