The knock echoed in the silence like a death toll. My pulse spiked, every nerve in my body screaming trap.

"Koda," I whispered, my voice low but sharp. "Who's at that door?"

His face was pale, drenched in sweat. He shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his cheeks. "They... they said they'd come if I talked. I didn't mean to—"

"You didn't mean to?" I snapped, keeping my voice quiet. "You've been part of this from the start! Who are they? Who's pulling the strings?"

Todoroki's hand was already raised, frost creeping toward the door. "We can't stay in here."

The knocks came again, harder this time.

"Tick-tock," a low, mocking voice said from the other side.

"Koda, answer me!" I hissed, gripping his shoulder. "Who is it? Is it the League? Someone inside UA?"

Koda's gaze darted between me, Todoroki, and the door. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

Then the handle twisted.

"Move!" Todoroki barked, throwing up an ice wall that slammed into the door just as it creaked open. The barrier sealed it shut, the temperature in the room plummeting.

"We're not staying here," Todoroki said firmly, grabbing Koda's arm. "Midoriya, let's go."

I grabbed the notebook and followed, adrenaline buzzing in my veins. Whoever was out there—they weren't just here for Koda.

They were here to clean up loose ends.

We moved fast, slipping through the darkened hallways of the dorm. Koda stumbled between us, his breaths ragged and uneven.

"Where are we going?" Todoroki asked, his voice steady despite the chaos.

"The teachers," I said. "We need backup. Aizawa's not here, but—"

"They'll kill me," Koda interrupted, his voice breaking. "You don't understand—they'll kill me if we go to the teachers!"

"They'll kill you if we don't," I shot back, keeping my eyes on the shadows ahead. "This ends tonight, Koda. No more running."

We turned a corner, and the sight of the exit doors brought a brief surge of hope—until I saw the figure standing in front of them.

Tall, shrouded in darkness, their face obscured by a hood.

They didn't move.

Todoroki stepped in front of us, his right side flaring with flames. "Stay back."

The figure chuckled softly, the sound low and amused. "You're making this harder than it needs to be, little heroes."

My grip on Koda tightened. "Who are you? What do you want with him?"

"What do I want?" The figure tilted their head. "I want what I've always wanted: obedience. And Koda here was such a good little pawn."

Koda whimpered, his legs giving out beneath him. I caught him before he hit the ground, my blood boiling at the sheer terror on his face.

"Leave him alone!" I snapped, stepping forward despite every instinct telling me to stay back. "He's done. Whatever you're trying to do, it's over."

The figure laughed, the sound echoing through the hallway. "Oh, Midoriya. You really think this is over?"

And then, faster than I could react, they lunged.

Todoroki's fire exploded outward, but the figure was quick, dodging with an agility that set my nerves on edge. I pulled Koda back, my mind racing.

"Todoroki, hold them off!" I shouted, dragging Koda toward the side exit.

But before we could move, a second figure appeared, blocking our path.

Trapped.

The web had closed around us.