One…
Two…
Three…
Breathe…
Four…
His body racked with another fit of coughs as he tried once more to push himself up off the ground. Blood trailed from his lips onto the unforgiving pavement, barely visible under the shadow of night. Loose gravel bit into his already skinned knees and palms; fingers now tightly curling into fists. The boy felt nothing but fear as he tried desperately to assess the situation, his thoughts jumbled and incoherent. A paralyzing, all-encompassing terror rooted deep within the soul took hold; though it had never truly left now had it, just sitting there, festering beneath the surface like a disease.
His power thrummed just at the edges of his consciousness; present, yet unattainable. Maybe that was the most terrifying aspect of it all, his inability to protect himself.
Tentatively he glanced down at the impossibly large red stain blossoming across his coat. Three broken ribs. Most likely a collapsed lung. Concussion. Puncture wound to the abdomen. Damn it. Think. Think… You're bloody smarter than this, you should have known better…
Five…
Six…
After what seemed like an eternity the dreaded sound of those shoes returned, echoing throughout the expanse. A low hum, akin to a whistle, to accompany the ever approaching footfalls. Each like another nail being driven into the metaphorical coffin. Shit. This can't be happening once more. I won't go through this again. But I got myself into this, my own stupidity is at fault. Where is everyone? Oh wait, I never did call for back up now did I?
Seven…
Digression to hyperventilation.
Why can't I breathe? Oh yeah my lung.
I'm not thinking straight. Whyyyyyyyy?
Eight…
The first droplets of rain began to fall, immense and heavy all around him. The walking has now halted. Just feet from the kid. With the last bit of resolve he still carried he pushed back his fears and shakily looked up. In the dark all but a silhouette could be glimpsed, round eyes seemingly glowing in the pitch blackness. Evil eyes. Eyes like mine.
One more attempt was made to get up, again unsuccessful, resulting in him falling limply into the muddy puddle near his left side. The injured side. He had to clench his jaw to hold back the scream that never quite escaped his mouth. Chest heaving through the effort, he raised his head once more to catch a glimpse through a blurred lens. The boy never got the chance. Faster than his eye could comprehend, the figure was there; an unseen hand fisted in his tangled mess of hair. His roots yelled in protest, and the muscles of his neck grew taught as he was forced to look at the other's face. The face he tried to suppress, to forget. The low and unhinged laugh that he knew all too well.
Such a violent magenta shade, almost purple…
What is it?
Nine…
"To be honest, I was so hoping to meet again in different circumstances, you do understand that right?" That was a question that wasn't meant to be answered, and only met with a loud hacking in return. The man's voice was like nails on a chalkboard, incessant. The illuminating light returned when he felt something deadly sharp press just below his chin.
"You do remember what I taught you the last time, don't you? I am certain your friend does."
Everyone… God, I'm so sorry… Please…
The razor pressure on his neck increased, nearly halting all air intake. Even his last flames of anger and hatred could not muster the strength in him to attack once more. It was over. Simple as that. As soon as the thought came, it departed. What followed was anything but quick. The blade slowly began cut a path across his throat, slitting a gagged line through the soft tissue of the esophagus. This new pain eclipsed all that had come before it. He could feel his energy slowly ebbing with the tide of blood spilling down his shirt, and the coppery build up along his tongue. The hand released its fistful of hair, and the head attached fell unceremoniously to the ground; the crack that resulted was deafening.
Try as he might he could not formulate words past the incoherent gurgling.
Please…
"I have missed you Midoriya Izuku. We are going to have so much fun."
Ten…