Toga: ''It's probably just the wind...''
She spoke nervously, her voice barely above a whisper, as the door creaked open seemingly on its own.
Dabi decided to take the first step towards the door, trying to appear unconcerned as if nothing was wrong, yet secretly scared.
Dabi: "See guys? It's probably just the wind. I don't feel anything."
He said calmly, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. He shone a flashlight to see what was down in the basement. The basement smelled so bad; it was as if something had died down there.
He quickly covered his mouth and nose, the intense smell making him gag as if he had stumbled upon multiple decaying bodies. With his flashlight leading the way, Dabi hesitantly began his descent into the basement.
Curiosity getting the better of them, everyone followed Dabi down into the basement despite the overwhelming stench. The flashlight beam cut through the darkness.
Dabi stops as his eyes widen just to dead bodies of children hang up on the walls. It was simply horrifying but it was strange that nobody else saw it only him.
(In his mind).
"What's going on here?"
As he moved the flashlight around, expecting to find something shocking. Instead, all he saw was a normal-looking basement, as if the dead bodies of those poor children had vanished into thin air.
(Out of his mind).
Toga: "Aww man, it's just a boring old basement,"
She muttered, she disappointment clear in her voice. She had been expecting something more... interesting, something that would explain the strange occurrences and rumors surrounding this place. But all she saw was a dusty, empty basement with nothing out of the ordinary.
Dabi: "Yep, I know."
He said calmly, his gaze fixed on the basement.
Lady Nagant: "So it was just the wind!"
She exclaimed with a relieved smile, her earlier tension melting away. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head at their overactive imaginations.
Lady Nagant: "Guess we got spooked over nothing."
(Outside of the abandoned house).
An goat cult member, clad in a plague doctor mask, stood silently outside the abandoned house, his gaze fixed on the dilapidated structure. He appeared to be waiting for something or someone.
As dark energy suddenly swirled around his body, catching him off guard, he felt something shift within himself. A new power emerged from deep inside him—a strange ability to copy any power he encountered, no matter what it was.
Kai: "What is this?"
He asked himself, wondering what it was.
Suddenly, excruciating pain coursed through his body, causing him to bleed profusely.
(In his mind).
"What's happening to me?"
He thought desperately. With immense effort, he forced himself to teleport back to the town that never stops bleeding.
The Goat Cult Leader: "I guess it's happening to you faster than expected."
He said calmly.
The Goat Cult Leader: "But the first link is utilizing the full extent of the book's power. You might be in pain for a few days."
Kai: "Well...great."
He muttered sarcastically as he tried desperately to stop the bleeding. He had no choice but to stay here in the town that never stops bleeding.
(In his mind).
"Does it hurt only me or the rest of the links?"
He wondered. He paused momentarily, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Wait a second... So the first link decided to use the book's power to its full max?"
"But why?"
(Out of his mind).
(At the abandoned house in the basement).
Overhaul: "There's... a door..."
He whispered softly, his voice slightly slurred from the medication he'd taken to maintain his mental stability. His eyes fixated on the door, mind racing with possible implications.
Overhaul: "A hidden one..."
He reached out a trembling hand, fingers brushing against the faded wood.
Lady Nagant: "He's probably hallucinating."
She said softly, a note of concern in her voice as she gently guided Overhaul up the basement stairs. Her eyes flickered with worry as she watched him stumble, his eyes fixated on something only he could see.
Toga: "He said there's a hidden door, let's go find it!"
She declared, her enthusiasm momentarily overshadowing Lady Nagant's concerns about Overhaul's mental state. She ooked around at the others, waiting for their responses before heading back down into the basement.
Dabi: "Uhh, no."
He interjected, his voice flat and disbelieving. He looked directly at Toga.
Dabi: "Overhaul's high as hell on pills right now. Whatever he thought he saw is probably not real."
He crossed his arms.
Toga: "So?"
She retorted, turning to face Dabi with a challenging gaze.
Toga: "At least it's something interesting. We're just standing around doing nothing."
She shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Toga: "What's the harm in looking?"
Dabi: "Fine, whatever."
He snapped, his annoyance clear in his voice. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched onto his face.
Dabi: "Great idea, let's ask the guy who's hallucinating out of his mind to find a door that probably doesn't even exist."
Toga grinned mischievously at Dabi's annoyance before turning and heading back up the stairs. Lady Nagant tried to protest as she approached Overhaul again, but Toga was already pulling him back down into the basement.
Lady Nagant: "Hey, what are you doing?"
She demanded sharply, her grip tightening on Overhaul as she tried to stop Toga.
Overhaul: "I hear... voices down there..."
He stammered, shaking violently as Toga tried to pull him down the basement stairs.
Lady Nagant: "He's terrified; this isn't a good idea..."
She maintain her grip on him while shooting Toga a worried look.
Toga: "He's high on pills."
She pointed out callously, glancing back at Lady Nagant.
Toga: "Everything he's hearing is just in his head. It's fine."
With a firm tug, she dragged Overhaul down the stairs, despite Lady Nagant's protests and Overhaul's escalating panic.
Toga: "Where's the damn door, Overhaul?"
Toga asked sharply, releasing her grip slightly to let Overhaul stand shakily on his own feet. The dim basement lights flickered ominously, making shadows dance across their faces.
Toga: "There are no fucking voices down here."
Overhaul remained silent, his finger trembling as he pointed at the heavy cellar door buried beneath layers of dust and cobwebs. Lady Nagant's hand on his shoulder was the only thing keeping him somewhat grounded amidst his panic and drug-induced hallucinations. The basement air grew colder as they approached the door.
Toga: "Well, who has the balls to go down there?"
Toga challenged, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the room. Her tone was a mix of bravado and mockery, daring anyone to step forward. The tension in the basement thickened as the group exchanged uneasy glances.
Overhaul: "Everything is... fine..."
He repeated softly, his voice barely audible as Lady Nagant gently prompted him to recite it like a mantra. He took deep, shaky breaths, trying to calm himself down as instructed. The repetitive phrase seemed to ground him slightly amidst his chaotic thoughts.
Toga: "I think Dabi should go down there."
She declared, his grin returning as she pointed at Dabi.
Toga: "He's got nothing better to do anyway."
She pushed Overhaul aside slightly to get a clearer view of Dabi.
Dabi: "Why won't YOU go down there?"
He snapped back at Toga, his glare intense and annoyed.
Dabi: "It was YOUR fucking idea to check the cellar."
He crossed his arms defiantly, refusing to budge from his spot.
Lady Nagant: "That's enough squabbling."
She interjected firmly, her voice cutting through their arguments.
Lady Nagant: "None of us want to go down there alone, so why not just..."
She paused, forcing a gentle smile.
Lady Nagant: "...act like adults for once? Let's all go together."
Toga: "But that would be so boring,"
She mocked, rolling her eyes as she grabbed the rusty handle of the cellar door. With a swift push, she shoved Overhaul inside before anyone could react. The heavy door creaked shut behind them.
Lady Nagant: "Overhaul!"
She cried out in alarm, rushing to the cellar door. She tried to pull it open, but Toga had already locked it from the outside.
Lady Nagant: "Toga, what have you done?!"
Her face paled as she pounded on the door frantically.
Toga: "He'll be fine."
She shrugged nonchalantly, leaning against the wall beside the locked cellar door.
Toga: "If he starts screaming like a little bitch in there... then I'll let him out."
She smirk grew wider at the thought of Overhaul trapped alone in the dark cellar below.
Shigaraki: "Toga, let him out NOW!"
He commanded sternly, stepping right in front of Toga with his arms crossed. His eyes flashed dangerously as he glared down at her.
Shigaraki: "You're not going to leave him down there like some kind of fucking prisoner."
Toga: "He's going to be fine."
She retorted with a smirk, not backing down from Shigaraki's intimidating presence.
Toga: "It's just a joke. Overhaul can handle a little darkness."
She pushed off the wall, her grin never faltering as she challenged Shigaraki's authority.
Dabi, frustrated by Toga's stubbornness, decided to take matters into his own hands. He grabbed the cellar door handle and gave it a mighty tug. To everyone's shock, the door swung open unexpectedly wide - too wide - pulling Dabi forward into the cellar with tremendous force. Before anyone could react...
The cellar door began to emit an unnatural suction force, pulling everyone in its vicinity downward - Toga, Shigaraki, and even those trying to escape were dragged towards the black void. The sudden gravitational shift caused panicked screams in the dark, eerie space.
Shigaraki: "Fuck!"
(In the darkness).
Overhaul: "You're awake..."
His gentle voice echoed in the darkness, his sad eyes reflecting the dim light filtering in from the cellar entrance. Dabi's head throbbed as he slowly opened his eyes, finding himself face-to-face with Overhaul, who seemed to be sitting beside him.
Dabi: "The fuck?!"
He cursed, jumping to his feet too late. The last thing he felt was the unnatural shift of space around them, and now they were suddenly in a strange, dark room with no clear exit.
Overhaul: "My medicine... it must have worn off..."
His voice trembled, his eyes darting around anxiously as he clutched his head. He feared that his debilitating hallucinations would return in full force now that his medication had worn off.
Dabi: "We need to find the others and get out of this fucking nightmare first."
He growled, grabbing Overhaul's arm firmly but gently to keep him focused.
Dabi: "Your meds can wait until we're somewhere safe. Right now, we stick together and find an exit before your hallucinations kick in."
Overhaul nodded, trying to steady his breathing as he leaned slightly against Dabi for support. The sudden change in environment was already making his vision blur slightly at the edges, but he pushed down the panic, trusting Dabi's practical approach to the situation.
Overhaul: "Right... stick together."
This will continue on the next chapter.