BNHA: Dual Fates
Chapter 35: A mysterious case.
A/N: Trigger warning! Turn back now if you get queazy easily! Blood and a decent amount of it just at the beginning of this chapter!
You have been warned.~
Some years ago-
I'll kill him... A feminine, mature voice, full of rage, echoed through the empty abyss before her. I'll kill him, for this... again, with a grudge lacing her words, radiated through her mind as nothing but a black space surrounded her. He's dead to me... finally, her last sentence faded into nothingness. Shrouded by darkness, as a pair of dead, black eyes flashed for but a second into view and disappeared just as fast.
Soon, a forest masked by thick fog surrounded a clearing that exposed some sort of dirt mound and many vines that grew over it. A crow, which landed on a pale hand sticking up from the ground, moved just slightly and its neck was snatched.
Its thrashes and flails barely made the hand budge, its useless attempts to get free only made things worse. For the hand yanked the poor bird into the dirt mound and blood spurted from the small hole it was yanked into.
That crow didn't look like the first victim the hand had taken, seeing as gore littered other particular spots around it as well and a stray, severed finger which laid in the leaves.
Dirt, where the hand sucked into, shifted and rose, as though something pushed it. When the surface tore into fragments, a head full of long silver hair lifted and dangled from a pale neck.
The very hand that killed the crow, clenched onto the edge of the hole that was made and let droplets of blood soak into the soil. Wavy pigtails, incredibly long and unkempt, cascaded over her scarred, dead body that was full of stitches. Decay in some spots proved how long she was in there, for even the blue and sleeveless, V-neck top she wore was torn. Her black skirt tattered and filthy was held up by a worn-out belt.
Around one leg and arm, were bandages that hid any possible, unsightly parts on her limbs. Dead, black eyes that were once full of life, examined the ground around her as though there was something she was looking for, and there was.
Not too far from her, sat a pair of cracked and rusted round glasses near the dirt mound she sat in. Very slowly her arm reached out and the two silver strands on top of her head, which made a shape of a heart together, swayed slightly from her movement. So did the extremely long bangs that hid one of her eyes and reached past her stomach.
The now bloody hand she used to snatch up the crow, had picked up the glasses and was soon pushed up the bridge of her nose with a close of her eyes.
Within seconds, her gaze snapped open into a fierce stare that could possibly kill anyone if looks could murder.
Moments later she wandered through the forest, her arms dangled slightly and swung from side to side as her deathly stare glued to a cute couple who danced around like children. They were happy, full of life and love, but in her eyes, all she could see...was delicious warmth that her lips desired.
The two, beautiful couple stopped in their steps to gaze upon the pale woman and appeared as stunned as dear in headlights. Not so much as fear, though, but astonishment at seeing someone appear wounded walking in their direction.
"Miss, are you alright?!" Quickly, the female who previously strolled alongside her partner, raced to her with pure concern on her face. Her warm hands grasped those pale shoulders to try and hold her still but nearly flinched at the stone-cold sensation when her fingers rubbed down the silver-haired woman's arms. "Y- You're freezing!" Panic rose in her eyes before her head whipped around to look at her partner.
"Miri! Look out!" Her partner, who tried to yank her from the stone-cold woman, shrieked upon seeing those pale fingers grab her throat and pull her back.
"AAAH!" The sweet woman screamed, feeling her own flesh get torn apart from her neck, and watched her lover try and pry the dead woman off. Each smack, thrash, upon the pale woman hardly did anything in her process of feeding.
"No, Miri! Get away from her!" It was too late... The lover's screams and cries for the other only made matters worse, for even the partner was taken. The fresh corpse of Miri fell with a thud as soon as her pale hand reached out to grab for the girl's sweetheart, only to have it get smacked away with a harsh blow of a hand.
The lover's hand, to be exact but it lasted for just a few seconds because the deathly woman hit their head hard and caused their unconscious body to fall. Her next victim, now bathed in their own blood, masked the dirt and pooled around her feet.
She didn't know that she was near the exit of the forest, a pathway made of soil led just outside of it and exposed civilization. There wasn't anyone out there though, just a few factories nearby and some empty vehicles that were parked. Across from the factories and the road that sat in front of it, was a cliff that overlooked a bustling city.
However, a girl with dirty blonde hair with a cute school girls' uniform that looked to be for a small child, stood and watched the whole display at the entrance of the treeline. The iron in the air, crimson coating the ground, and an undead woman sluggishly making her way towards the road. Her dead stare, full of piercing anger focused on the road and ignored the gawking child that wasn't too far ahead of her.
Pale fingers twitched as blood trickled down their tips and from her lips, completely satisfied from the warm flesh she ate. Footprints of red made a trail in her path and stained the pavement, however, an abrupt stop next to the girl made the child hum curiously.
"Hi, lady!" A toothy grin, full of supposed innocence, was given to the dead woman who only stared furiously at her in return. "You like that red stuff too, right?! Right?! I love it too! Are you lost?" Pure silence befell the two, eerie and uneasy the vibe would be to most people except for the child who had pink tints dusting her cheeks.
Quiet, not even a stir or a single sound from the woman, all she did was return her rage-filled gaze to the road and continue her walk. I will find him... I will kill him, I will give him the taste of my vengeance. Her thoughts echoed and didn't even care if she was being followed, not even if it was the girl she just met.
~~~Present day~~~
Uviel's eyes shone brightly with awe at the sight of Momo's large, iron gate. Whoa, she's loaded too? her monologue gasped and couldn't keep her gaping mouth closed.
There her classmates stood, awestruck by the sight of such a big and impressive gate surrounded by trees. "Wow! I knew she was rich, but I didn't think she was this rich..." Denki broke the dumbfounded silence with his words full of bewilderment.
Is there a problem with being filthy rich, Denki...? It doesn't matter if someone is or not. Uviel couldn't help but feel her one eye twitch and for annoyance to swell inside; her family's fortune was being referred to when she asked in her mind.
"Everyone, I have been waiting for you!" From a simple click of the doorbell, a speaker made Momo's voice reach out to them, and as if on cue, the doubled gate opened. "Please, come in!" Cheerful and welcoming she was, Saito was amazed by the security.
Time had skipped ahead to show the students sitting in the study hall, where everyone was seated at a long table complete with wooden chairs. Uviel, who was dressed in her hoodie, a red tank top, and her spats pants, viewed all of the sparkles around her. Everything looked so clean and neat, and the fireplace nearby only added to the rich factor of her home.
Wow, and here I am in a tiny house with a loaded account that could last me one or two lifetimes... Maybe even more. To be honest, now that I think about it, I've never told anyone aside from Haru about my family's wealth... A sigh escaped her upper black lips before her hand rose with a pencil in it. Her study sheets and her pencil were enough to have with her since she didn't find it necessary to carry anything else.
"I feel so out of place, it's making me nervous..." Said Ojiro with unease on his face, as he remained sitting across from Sero who agreed.
"Was is it?" In came Momo dressed in a long red shirt and white shorts. A delighted background expressed her happiness when she pushed in a cart full of cups, saucers, and a teapot. Plates, as well as various snacks, littered its surface and appeared just as fancy as everything else.
"Oh, nothing,~" The group, in unison, spoke with contentment except for Uviel. The redhead already knew what it was like to have a lot of money, but not telling anyone about her wealth in the past just made her look like she wasn't enjoying the fanciness.
"Saito, are you enjoying yourself? And, would you like some tea?~" Momo's smile broadened and picked up a cup, a bit of concern could be seen in her eyes all the while.
"Yeah I'm...fine, and yes tea sounds nice," Shyly mumbled the cybergirl. Momo strolled the cart over to Uviel and began to pour her tea, which she could smell its sweet aroma. Delicious already, she could almost taste it by its scent alone and it made a content hum leave her lips. "It smells good," gradually with her small hands, she took the cup carefully and sat it aside. "I'll have to pay you back for this, t- thanks," her quiet words only made the raven-haired girl nearly gasp.
"No, no! I can't let you do that, it's very expensive and you're my guest!~" Her hands clasped together from glee and what she heard next, not only surprised her but the others as well.
"Don't worry, I- I can afford it. Really," Her cheeks burned brightly, and felt a ton of eyes stare at her. From her pocket, Uviel pulled out her wallet and took out some money that was very surprising to see. Her genuine but shy, small, smile almost made the others fall out of their seats, and Momo nearly drop the teapot.
"WHAT?!" In unison, everyone stood from their seats with dumbfounded expressions plastered. It wasn't every day for people to come across rich folk, especially when they already knew of one in their own classroom and now- there's two?
"It's alright! Really, haha!" Quickly Momo sat her tea down and rolled the cart to the others, unaware of the confused cybergirl who blinked in her direction with still yet- her cash out.
After that- time passed; going from minutes, to hours, and to days. Though, during those times there were moments when Uviel laid in bed reading Ochaco's texts. They were the same as the past ones, she kept asking about who it was that she liked and wouldn't stop sending them even to this day. Her eyes continued to gaze upon those many texts with her cheeks burning from hesitation. Ochaco... What would you say? I'm scared to answer... Her small frame curled up in bed after her phone was put away.
~~~The next day, Written exam~~~
I'm grateful that Momo let me study with them, but, to be honest... Those studies were pretty easy. I think I would've been fine on my own, but I guess it's safer to study just in case. Her thoughts echoed as she stared at the paper in front of her, whereas everyone else looked like they were struggling to even write something down.
Her blue hues examined all of the students, some looked like they were already done and a few others appeared to be having some trouble. For Uviel, all she did was stare at her paper, for she had finished all of her work and rolled her pencil around.
Quickly, from her bag, she pulled out her phone and checked messages to see if Kirishima sent anything. A cute blush tinted her cheeks when she saw two new messages by him, so, without any hesitation, her fingers raced across her screen. Touching it to open the messages just to see encouragement and a ton of flower bouquets that sparkled. Good luck with your written test! One said while the other one, that had the flowers said- You haven't said anything to me since I mentioned your voice. I'm sorry if I upset you... was his last text, which seemed to have been sent around the time she fell asleep last night.
Her fingers danced across her screen to reply as fast as she could and could hear her own heart pounding in her ears. I- It's okay! I was just, um... I didn't know how to answer. What did you mean by my voice? Have you heard me sing before or are you talking about...just in general? She had to ask, she needed to, or her own conflicted emotions would eat her alive in the long run. She had a beet-red face with a frown on her upper black lips, however, her determined eyes said that she wanted answers.
"Pencils down, everybody!" Aizawa, who lifted his hand to gain their attention, demanded everyone to stop. "The last person for each row, collect the answer sheets and bring them here." It was then, that Momo began to pick up the papers after their teacher's words.
Everyone who studied with her gathered around except Saito, to which the cybergirl simply sent her a nod and an appreciative smile. All Momo did was return the gesture and continue chatting with her other friends, so now it was time to move on.
"Hey, Mr. Aizawa?!" Mina, who rose her hand to gain their teacher's attention, made everyone quiet down a bit and view her.
"What is it, Ashido?" In front of him, the stack of answer sheets was being neatly aligned when he adjusted them and patted their bottoms against the surface of his desk.
"I heard that there used to be someone who was very smart with sciences and other stuff, a long time ago. He even had an assistant once, but rumors had it, that the assistant went missing. Is this true?" Questioned the pinky, as her eyes studied their teacher for an answer.
"Unfortunately, yes... This is true, it's been a case for years now. No one's uncovered their mystery, so it's uncertain if the assistant went missing or not," his dark eyes closed after a sigh escaped, then sunk into his sleeping bag to rest.
"Hm, that's weird... M- Mr. Aizawa? How...long ago exactly, did this mystery appear?" Now it was Uviel's turn to question the teacher, who apparently tried to fall asleep but groaned.
"Roughly nine years ago, maybe..." annoyance was clear in his voice after he answered and it shocked Saito.
So much so, that her breaths stopped for a minute before they turned into light gasps. Everyone grew confused at this, they all stared with risen brows or curious eyes. Harshly into her seat, the cybergirl fell back down, eyes wide with disbelief and surprise. "What...? That can't be a coincidence..." quietly spoken, her words were almost a whisper but they were still heard.
"What's a coincidence?" Kirishima walked around and over to her, to see what was wrong. Now they were all a bit concerned, excluding Bakugo of course.
"N- Nine years ago... I was...six years old at that time, when..." Hesitant, she was too much in shock to even notice the worried stares of her friends and now, even Bakugo was peeking over his shoulder at her.
Her memories flashed, replayed the moments when two drunk men in a car drove by and used their quirks on her. It sent her to a hospital with sirens blaring in her ears, while her parents kept trying to call out to her. "Do you remember what I said, about how I got my cybernetics?" her gaze met his at that moment, and soon, light from recognition lit up his eyes.
"Yeah..." his frown worsened as he pondered on Uviel's past, of what she told him at Golden Buns.
"Do you think, my cyber doctor..." Trailed off, her words quieted and her attention moved to the floor, full of disbelief. "Is somehow connected, to that ca-" suddenly, her eyes became half-lidded and her body acted as though it completely shut down.
"Uviel!" Upon hearing Kirishima's outburst, when he reached his arms out to catch her, everyone stood from their sears in a panic and their faces lit up with astonishment.
"What happened?!" Ochaco ran to her side after the darker redhead sat on one knee and propped her up in his arms. Surrounded by Momo, Mina, Mez, and a few others who were purely worried for her well-being.
Quickly, from behind his desk stood Aizawa and flung his sleeping bag aside. "What's going on?" His feet raced across the room to reach her and stood just a few inches away from the unconscious cybergirl, whose eyes were barely open.
"I don't know! She just, blacked out! Is this what you meant before about her acting as if someone shut her down?!" His voice rang loudly with devastation, meeting the students' ears and his teacher's.
"Yes... I need to get the principal! Everyone, stay back and if she starts to move strangely then don't let her leave this classroom!" As fast as his feet could move, Aizawa hurried to the door and left the students alone with a potential threat.
"U- Uviel, wake up!" Kirishima's devastation never left his face, his arm gently shook her tiny frame in hopes of waking her but failed miserably.
"Tch- if she so much as twitches, I'm firing my blasts at her..." Bakugo spoke up and lifted his hands in preparation. His face was full of annoyance that pulled on his brows harshly, making him appear more angry than irritated.
"Do that- and I'll end you," A sharp, dangerous glare from Eijiro was shot over to the dirty blonde. His threat wasn't meant to be taken lightly, for his strict eyes screamed to him that he was being serious.
"As soon as she was about to ask us, about them possibly being connected somehow, she blacked out," Jirou's concerned, wide eyes gazed upon the cybernetic girl who laid limp in Eijiro's arms.
Then soon, all fell silent and suspense had filled the air while they waited for something to happen.