Lightning in a Bottle

Chapter 8: Locked Away

(Shinsou's POV)

It's dark and heavy. Like I'm drowning in black smog. I'm breathing but I can't feel the air entering my lungs. I feel so suffocated. I can't see anything. I can't hear anything besides my own breathing. I can't feel anything besides the scratchy roughness of a rope around my wrists and ankles, the cotton fabric of a blind fold around my eyes, and the sticky tightness of duct tape over my mouth.

Where am I?

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echo in my ears. My heart pounds anxiously in my chest as they get louder and louder. I can't see them, but I can feel the presence of another person approaching me. The air around me feeling even heavier and smothering.

"Interesting that he would choose someone like you," a voice says, masculine and firm sounding. "You are nowhere near worthy of the beauty and grace that is Chargebolt."

A hard lump forms in my throat. It's the stalker.

"He deserves to have someone capable of appreciating his electric personality," the voice continues. "Someone who can add to his bright and positive aura. You give off nothing but doom and gloom. You are unsuitable as a boyfriend for him."

Yeah, because a literal stalker like you would be better.

I'd be lying if I said his words didn't cut a little deep though. Denki is like golden sunshine; he's so lively and brilliant and striking. He glows so much that it's like his breathtaking face and body can't hold all his radiance. He's like... Lightning in a bottle.

And I'm just me. An insomniac who has panic attacks that I rarely remember in the middle of the night and has been keeping my job a secret from him. I'm just his fake boyfriend; easy to replace, easy to forget.

But he's someone I could never forget.

I can't think about that now though. I have to lock these feelings up; at least for now. I have to focus on trying to figure out who this guy is and escape. Denki is probably worried about me. How long have I been here?

"He may think he's happy with you," the voice begins speaking again, this time sounding closer than before, "but he will soon realize that he deserves someone with much more grace. You are nothing but low life scum."

Keep calm. Don't let him get to you.

"I've spent a good amount of time gaining information on you, Hitoshi Shinsou. I know everything. Your family, your adopted fathers, your quirk..."

My heart is going to explode. Everything is suffocating. My head is killing me.

"Tell me, does Chargebolt know about your job?"

No... How did he find out? How?

I can feel his presence hovering right next to my ear as his voice becomes more bitter. "Does he know you're an underground agent who uses their quirk to gain confidential information?"

My fingers are twitching with the urge to punch him. If it weren't for the fact that I can barely move, I probably would have. It's taking everything in me to endure my boiling blood. My body is trembling with the amount of rage pent up inside me.

How the FUCK did he find out?!

I flinch at the sudden brightness of a light burning my eyes when the blindfold was removed from my face. I blink a few times, adjusting and taking in my surroundings. First thing I notice is hard and grey concrete floor. But I quickly bring my gaze up to finally see the stalker.