My Oath to You [Under Reconstruction]

Chapter One

I jolted awake. My body was naked and strapped to a cold metal grate. Frantically looking around, I noticed I was in a glass box. How did I even get here? I pulled against the restraints but no use. Suddenly, a voice echoed over an intercom, "03, you're awake." I struggled against the restraints wrapped around my arms and legs hoping for a break. The intercom continued, "Struggling won't save you now. It's no use." I stopped struggling and yelled, "What's happening? Where am I? Please tell me!" The voice over the intercom showed no emotion, seemed even static, "You're in the final stages of quirk mutation and manipulation. We plan on... adding... some DNA. Consider it, gene therapy." I cried out fighting against the restraints, panic taking over my body again, "What is that supposed to mean!? I don't know what's going on!" The intercom interjected briefly before cutting out, "You'll know soon enough."

Below me, I could hear water rushing into the tank. Dread gripped my heart and I started pulling against the restraints even harder. My breathing became erratic and my heart raced. This can't be happening. This just can't be happening. Not again. I felt the icy cold water against my back and my body flinched in surprise. It wasn't long before I couldn't keep my head above water. I inhaled my last breath of air and held it. I squeezed my eyes shut as I couldn't keep them open in the freezing waters. At that moment, It felt like time had stopped. I could hear the hum of some kind of machine below me. Then suddenly, I felt large stinging sensations all over the backside of my body followed by a stabbing pain. I accidentally let out my air and began to choke on water. I thrashed around as the water filled my lungs. Adrenaline overcame my body but I was still too weak to break the restraints. I couldn't help but think, "This is how I die."

My eyes sprung open. I sat up in my bed grabbing the shirt over my chest while panting and out of breath. My clothes were soaked with sweat and I was shaking uncontrollably. The door to my bedroom then swung open and Doctor Zeterra rushed in. She seemed to be out of breath as well, "Nozomi, are you alright? What happened!?" She came to the edge of my bed and collapsed next to it, she gathered my hands in hers and brushed aside my pastel hair. In a soothing and comforting tone, she asked, "Was it that dream again?" I gazed into her forest green eyes, they seemed full of worry with her brows furrowed. Her once long strawberry hair was now cut short, to the chin. The cut complimented her soft round features while also making her jaw and cheekbones stand out.

Staring at her face brought me great comfort as she was my angel, my savior. I couldn't help but let the tears flow. I nodded, unable to speak. She understood and pulled me into her warm embrace. Not letting go, she crawled under the covers with me and held me. She whispered sweet comfort, "It's alright. We're not there anymore. We're fine. You're doing great. Deep breaths." I found her soft melodic voice so soothing. I know she's asked me repeatedly to not put her on a pedestal after everything that has happened, but she's my saving grace. She pulled me out of that place.

4 years ago, I was a subject of the Villainous Alliance back in America. They liked to call themselves The Red Plague. Doctor Zeterra worked under them as a scientific researcher. When she was enlisted, it was originally to find a way to enhance quirks in a consumable product. Essentially, a drug meant to give power to the villains. The project quickly went south when she was assigned to The Enhancement Project. It was different. They were experimenting on innocent and orphaned children. The end goal was to enhance a child and "install" more than one quirk. In this day and age, quirks are everything. The more power you have, the easier it is to climb that ladder of power. For some, it strengthens them for the better. For others, it corrupts their very core. Doctor Zeterra, or now secretly Akira, fled the organization and took me with her. We were lucky to have made it out alive. Akira had to make a lot of connections and with those, we were able to flee America. Now we live in a small apartment in Japan. Akira has an old friend who lives here. She said that if the time was right, we may need them.