For you are dust, and to dust you shall return...
That was the last thing Teresa heard in the darkest place she ever found herself in. She couldn't see the floor nor what was in front of her. For all she knew she could be floating?! Nobody ever really knows what happens when we die. We expect to see a glorious gate with an old man reading a holy book that dictates whether we get to enter or drop down to the fiery pits of hell. Nobody ever suggest that maybe there was nothing at all. We just die and that's it. There's nobody waiting at the other end... its nothing.
Time no longer existed in the pit. That's what she called it for now. Stranded in darkness, Teresa was left to her memories and thoughts. Sometimes the memories would be so vivid that it felt like she was back with her mom walking to the Gonzales bakery in their Sunday attire. It was drizzling that day and both her and her mother's dark brunette hair tips were damp. But neither of them cared because as soon as they entered the building, they can smell the sweet bread dancing up their nostrils. That moment was like heaven. And the next she remembered to be like hell.
Nobody ever expects to die and neither did her mother. She died at her job waiting for Teresa like she always did once she got off from school. Teresa knew what death looked like and now she knew what death is.
Death is dark and cruel. They said in death that you will find peace but Teresa found only emptiness and loneliness.
Each memory came across her mind like scenes in a movie, when she couldn't remember the next part, she moved to a different scene. Until she saw a scene that didn't belong to her. It was a girl that sort of looked like her but wasn't her. She was under piles of rubble and seemed like death was ready to swoop in, if it hadn't already. The memory felt more real than anything she had ever felt. It was as if she stepped into an open window and entered to this girl's world. Teresa for a moment was finally no longer in darkness.
She can see people yelling frantically but no sound came from their mouths. People saw her but didn't really see her. And they really didn't see the girl beneath the rocks practically dying. It finally came to Teresa's understanding that they really didn't care. They were more concerned in getting their loved ones to safety.
"No one's going to come for me" the girl whispered her hazel brown eyes staring at her. But this time she was really looking at her.
"No, they aren't" Teresa replied. She didn't know what to do for her. She doesn't exist. She was nothing.
For a moment there was fear in the girl's eyes, but then there was nothing. Teresa wanted to assure her that at least she would have a companion in the pit. Well she would have to explain what a pit even was, though she doesn't know much about it herself.
"I want you to take it." The girl spoke again only this time her voice growing fainter.
"Take what exactly?" Teresa came closer to the girls body kneeling in front of her. The girl held Teresa's hand so softly and smiled. She was ready to die. I wonder where her parents are? Are they dead too?The next two words that came from the girl's mouth made absolutely no sense.
"My quirk"
At that moment, Teresa felt everything. The amplifying sound rushing to her ears but nothing and I mean nothing could compare the immediate pain coursing her entire body. She regretted all the bad thoughts about the pit. This was worse, much worse. When the pain did stop, darkness returned again.
She woke in a hallway that smells like wet concrete. The pain that shot through her body was now replaced with sudden aches. Teresa didn't remember being in this place. She was with the dying girl in a fallen building. She was supposed to be dead!
When she moved her arm to rub her eyes, the dangling of broken shackles swayed across her face. She felt a heavy weight on her chest and immediately knew she was not safe. Scratches and bruises covered her arms. The clothes she's wearing were old torn faded brown pants that reminded of her grandfathers and a white shirt that had black smudges.
It was clear to see that she just escaped. But from what?
"Everyone hurry and close the doors. We can't let 3401 escape!" Male voices can be heard echoing from behind her. She didn't need someone to tell her who was 3401. She ran straight to what felt like an endless tunnel. Red lights were flashing from each end of the hall and the males voices were growing louder
"There is no escape 3401!"
Teresa knew better to never look back but she did anyway. But what she saw made her run faster. A man with a face of some fruit fly and a body of a man. This has to be a nightmare Teresa thought frantically. None of this is real! But yet she was running like her life depended on it.
Joy swelled inside her once she saw a beam of light shining through the door. She thought she was going to make it. She really did. Until the two men shut the doors immediately. Teresa was trapped.
"We tried playing nice kid but now we got no choice" He had a sharp knife in his hand and white mohawk which was the only thing normal about his appearance.
"Stay away from me" Teresa warned. All she had was empty threats and didn't know what she could do. She didn't even know how she got to this point. The only thing she did know is how royally screwed she was. It was three against one and no one was going to save her.
"Get real kid." The man behind her swooped his arm around her throat.
"You have been a pain in the ass kid, ever since the boss brought you. But now its clear to see you don't have a quirk. We can just kill you right on the spot and no one will care!" He laughed.
These guys are completely insane. They are going to kill me because I don't have a...a...a quirk? Wait...
"What the hell is a quirk?!" She yelled in frustration. The guys now stared back on the petite girl as if she was the crazy one.
"Kid you're either really dumb or just trying to buy time. Either way. You die today"
Teresa had instinctively kicked her legs in panic before the guy could slit her throat. At that moment the second craziest thing happen. A large mass of rocks and concrete from the wall slammed against the three guys. They were hit hard enough to appear unconscious or hopefully dead. It didn't matter to her if they were or not because she quickly open the doors and found herself immersed in a busy city. She didn't take a moment to view her surroundings of the people coming from work or school. She could have stopped and asked for help but nothing could prevent her feet from running. All she knew was a group of men that looked like insects were trying to kill her!
She kept running and running until she eventually hit something. A boy in a black uniform fell onto his back. Teresa had finally stopped running and can hear her heart thumping from her chest. The boy on the floor had a different reason for his heart thumping.
A pretty girl is on top of me! The boy squealed in his head. The girl immediately got up from the ground. She was in clear distress and seemed to be in trouble. The boy saw awful marks on her arms. "Did something happen? Were you attacked by a villain?" He asked seeing the girls eyes to be filled with fear and confusion.
"Villains?...yeah sure." Teresa answered not sure what to call those men but that vocabulary fit better than any word she can think of.
"Eh Deku, What's a loser like you doing here" A boy with to other guys behind him like some pack spoke.
"Ka-Kacchan!"
The other boys were surprised to see him with a person, let alone a girl. Teresa didn't know what to make of them but they didn't appear normal. The guy with blond hair had red devilish eyes! They have got to be some halloween contacts or something.
"You got yourself a girlfriend, Deku. Why would any girl wants to hangout with you" a boy that was slightly husky stared at him with envy.
"No! It's not like that honestly" Deku's face was boiling hot for a moment and then remembered the girl needed help. "Maybe there's a hero on patrol we can repo-" He didn't get a chance to finish the rest he was going to say because by then the villain was here. Like something out of a movie came a monster with four arms with yellow piercing eyes charging toward them. The screams of pedestrians could be heard as they frantically tried to get out of the way.
"Where are you!" The voice roared and it was nothing like the kids ever heard of. The boys that were behind their blond friend ran for the hills. Teresa looked at the boys and saw one was ready to fight and the other was frightened but not for himself but for her.
"C'mon we have to get you somewhere safe!" The boy grabbed her hand but she stopped him. "What about him?" She pointed out. The boy named Kacchan had his arm extends combusting loud explosions from his palms. Teresa was completely amazed. How can he do that and why was the other kid not as shocked as she?
Go ahead and run, you bunch of wimps. I'm gonna beat this villain and when I do. I'm getting recommended to U.A. high" Teresa couldn't even understand what this boy was thinking but she knew he was asking for a place in the pit. Everything that stored inside her burst out. "Are you fucken insane! You are going to fight a monster to get into some school" Teresa had hit her point. This place is insane. She needed to get the hell out of this place. She needed to wake up!
"Kacchan watch out!" The boy next to her tried yelling but it was too late. The villain was not some petty criminal. Whatever treacherous things he's been doing, he had done it for years. This villain was going straight for the kill and Teresa new this.
"DIE!" The boy blasted the villain and for a moment, she thought he had won. In the debri, the monster leaped into the air his hand held together ready to give his final blow. Neither of the kids on the sideline knew how to help. Teresa had already died before so she knew what to expect. He on the otherhand didnt, she made a run for the stupid boy grabbing him by his school collar and throwing him out the way. Teresa had her arms out hoping that it block any damage to her face. Instead of intense pain, she heard a loud thud and vibration. Teresa didn't realize how hard she closed her eyes, that when she opened them it was almost painful. When she had them fully open, her jaw nearly dropped. A line of rocks from all mixed minerals had the villain push a few yards from the other side.
Deku was at awe seeing such a powerful quirk besides his old childhood friend. However the blond boy that tumbled next to his classmate was completely furious. This girl was trying to steal his chances to get in U.A. He marched over to the girl practically almost lifting her up "So you're trying to get into U.A to" He sneered. Teresa was fed up and annoyed with males manhandling her. She didn't mean to have a rock dropped on his foot but she wasn't sorry for it. The boy let go of her and immediately tended to his foot.
"You little shit" He growled his eyes narrowed up at her.
"Then don't touch me. Creep" Teresa's head was pulsing and didn't know what to do. Did she actually do something or was it just a weird coincidence that a line of sharp rocks emerged.
"Is your quirk a type of rock manipulation? or maybe it's earth type manipulation because I saw some dirt and grass emerged from the ground to. This quirk is almost similar to another hero named Cementoss but his quirk is only cement" Deku was talking nonsense to Teresa. Everything he was saying was coming from comics and superhero movies. She couldn't have done this.
"Shut up idiot! So what exactly is your quirk" He questioned trying to see what kind of competition he was up against. That word again. She shouldn't have been surprised to hear it again but it no one seems to want to answer it
"What's a quirk?" She asked again already regretting her boys were looking at her like the men before. They thought she was crazy.
"Have been living under a rock or something! You don't know what a quirk is!"
"Christ, it's just question! Can you please just answer it!" Teresa was hanging on a thin rope and its ready to snap!
"It's a unique ability that 80% of the population has" Deku answered.
"Except for you loser" Kacchan replied. Deku looked miserable hearing those words. It seemed like having a quirk was important in this world.
"If I can give you mine. I would" Teresa answered truthfully. She didn't want this. She didn't want any of this. She didn't even want to be here.
"You want to be like this loser? Jeez you are an idiot"
And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. Teresa was ready to drop kick his butt but Kacchan wasn't going to let some small fry intimidate him. He had his hand on top of her head and his other hand pulsing explosions.
"Keep it up it and I'll blow your head off" Kachan reminded her. Because of Teresa's head held down she saw a bunch of rocks and decided to practice this new quirk. Things tend to happen when she moved her arm and legs. When Kacchan thought she had given up, a large rock smacked him right in the back of the head.
"Guys we should find a hero. The villain can wake up any minute" Deku tried to step between them but he internally regret it.
"Shut up Deku! The villain isn't going to wake up!" Kachan yelled pointing at nothing but rubble.
"Uh...Kacchan" Teresa spoke before he blasted her off to the moon. For a second, he didn't believe her but in one swift movement the boys were slammed to the sidewalk leaving Teresa by herself with the villian. She didn't know much about her new power but if she could knock him out once maybe she could do it again?
You are coming back with me one way or another" The villain went for a fierce punch and she only dodged it by chance! She wasn't a superhero. What was she doing fighting a monster?!
The villain caught her this time, strangling her by the neck. He could easily snap her like a twig but he was trying to make her go unconscious. Teresa knew if she blacked out, she'll be back in the pit. Touching the building with the tips of her fingers, she felt the energy of this intense power and immediately clench her fist as hard as she can. Shards of rocks flew out the building causing the villian to release Teresa. She made sure there was a large distance between them. She couldn't beat him at least not until she fully grasp her new power but she did have a better idea.
The villain went for another charge at her but this time she wasn't going to let him throw the first punch. She had the gravel and rocks compiled together and trapped him in a makeshift ball. The villain couldn't move but this didn't stop him from trying. Everytime he thought he break free, piles of more rocks weighed on him. Teresa thought she could go on forever until she felt sudden heaviness in her arms and legs. She was coming closer to her limit but she didn't want a chance for the villain to be set free.
Luckily she didn't have to wait for much longer until a large man with the face of a comic book jumped right in the scene. The man was literally a picture of a superhero. "NO NEED TO FEAR FOR I AM HERE!"
Teresa instantly release her power and fell to her bottom. She felt like she just did a marathon and decided to go for a light jog afterwards. She was exhausted.
"Great work, young student for capturing this villian. Have you chosen a high school yet?"
"No..." What was the deal about high schools? How about an ambulance or maybe hey kid the cops are on there way to take the villain. The last thing on Teresa's mind was applying for highschool
"I recommend applying for U.A high. You have a remarkable quirk. What is your name?" She didn't realize how popular this man was until news reporters and random people start gushing around him. She couldn't even see the two boys on the sidewalk. "Young lady, can I get your name?"
Oh yeah right...sorry... its Teresa" She answered.
"Well Teresa, I sense you're not from around here" He was spot on that part. If her expression did not show how lost she was her American name didn't help much either.
"Well, young Teresa, let's head to the police station to get a full report. And from their we can see how we can help you" He placed his enormous hand on her shoulder and she felt a great sense of security and peace for the first time since she arrived.
She was going to be okay.
"Oh wait... who are you again?"
The crowd stood frozen in shock, jaws dropped. This was worse when she didn't know who My Chemical Romance was. Teresa should have known better to never ask a question unless she wanted to be portrayed stupid or crazy.
"I AM ALL MIGHT!" The man smiled so brightly that it made her chuckle. There is no way that this guy is like this all the time she thought:
And that my friends...begins Teresa's story.
A/N: Had this idea in my head decided to give it a try and write it. Hope anyone reads it enjoys. :)