Chapter 35 - Bound by Shadows

You could feel the weight of their gaze on you, their disappointment and fear hitting you harder than any blow. The ache in your chest, the guilt that gnawed at your insides—it was unbearable. But you couldn't stop. You had no control. The anger, the rage, the bloodlust—it all consumed you, leaving you a shell of the person you once were.

As Iida shoved you away, you stumbled back, the world around you feeling distant, disconnected. No, please... don't... The voice in your mind, the remnants of the person you used to be, begged for clarity, but it was drowned out by the beast inside.

Stain's cold, mocking presence loomed behind you, and his hand fell heavy on your shoulder. His voice was venomous, sending a shiver down your spine. "You're nothing more than a weapon, Y/N. A monster. I'll make sure you remember that."

Before you could react, the sharp, searing pain of a dagger slicing into your neck sent a scream tearing from your throat. You felt the blood dripping down, your body jerking in shock. It was like your body was fighting against you, as if it knew you didn't deserve to be in control.

Stain's cold voice hissed in your ear, his words laced with malice. "Fly."

It wasn't a request. You could feel his Quirk tightening around your mind, forcing you to comply. The wings that had once been part of you, now twisted into something darker, sprang to life. You didn't want to, but your body obeyed. You took to the air with a painful, shrill screech, flying away from the wreckage, away from the people who still cared about you.

"Y/N!" Izuku's voice, raw and filled with heartbreak, echoed through the alley as you flew higher. You wanted to stop, to turn back, to apologize, but you couldn't. You could hear the desperation in his voice as he called for you, but it was like hearing it from a distant dream.

Shoto stepped in front of Izuku, holding him back as if he knew the danger of pursuing you now. "Let them go," he murmured, his voice heavy with sorrow. "It's not safe for anyone."

Izuku struggled against Shoto's grip, his face contorted with anguish. "But... we can't just let her go... she's not herself. Please, we have to save her!"

Tears streamed down his face as he sank to his knees beside Manual's body, unable to tear his gaze away from where you had just flown. Iida stood silently by, his face pale and twisted with sorrow, his mentor's lifeless form still in his arms.

But none of them could reach you. Not anymore.

The wind whipped around you as you soared through the sky, the pain in your neck mingling with the pain in your heart. Every beat of your wings felt like a betrayal, a reminder of everything you were losing. You could feel Stain's cold, mocking gaze on you, a predator in the shadows, enjoying the destruction he'd caused.

You had become his weapon, just like he had wanted.

And the worst part was... you didn't know how to stop it.

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The air was thick with tension as Stain dragged you into the League of Villains' hideout, the cold stone floor scraping against your bloodied body. Every breath you took was ragged, and the pain in your neck where the dagger had been was sharp, searing. Your wings, once a source of strength, felt like dead weight as you were unceremoniously tossed onto the floor.

The world around you spun as you lay there, the cold seeping into your bones, a feeling that mirrored the cold emptiness inside. You wanted to fight back, to break free from Stain's control, but you were too weak. Your body wasn't yours anymore.

Stain stood over you, his gaze cold and triumphant, as he ripped the dagger from your neck, causing you to gasp in pain. Blood pooled beneath you, the metallic taste in your mouth mingling with the overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Shigaraki emerged from the bar, his eyes wide with surprise as he saw you, writhing on the ground in agony. His expression flickered between concern and rage as he snapped, "What did you do?!"

Stain didn't flinch, his posture relaxed as he casually shrugged. "I got her to you, didn't I? She's yours now, but she's mine to control. I ride her, and that's final."

Shigaraki's face twisted into a mask of fury, his pale skin almost glowing with the intensity of his anger. "You hurt her, you bastard!" he snarled, taking a step forward, but Stain was quicker. The knife flashed in the dim light as he lunged toward Shigaraki with a growl, but before it could reach its target, Kurogiri materialized between them, effortlessly intercepting the blade with a calm, collected air.

"Stop, both of you," Kurogiri's voice was cold, but firm, his usual calm demeanor cutting through the chaos like a knife. "Stain did what you wanted. He brought her here, as you thought he would. But enough of this fighting."

Kurogiri turned his attention to you, still lying on the ground, struggling to keep consciousness. His dark eyes narrowed as he bent down, binding your talons with chains that clinked with a heavy, suffocating sound. The cold metal bit into your skin, a further reminder of how far you'd fallen.

As he placed a muzzle over your mouth, you wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, to fight back, but the pressure in your chest made it nearly impossible to breathe, let alone speak. Every muscle in your body was on fire, your wings twitching involuntarily as Kurogiri hoisted you up with ease, dragging you toward the basement.

Your body felt limp as they carried you, the world around you fading in and out of focus. You could feel their eyes on you—Stain's smug, victorious gaze, Shigaraki's intense, conflicted stare, and Kurogiri's ever-impassive expression. You had become a pawn, a weapon for their amusement and their plans.

The basement was dark, damp, and cold. The air smelled musty, and you shivered as you were thrown unceremoniously onto the stone floor. You could hear Kurogiri calling out for Gran to prepare potions, but you couldn't focus on it. Your thoughts were scrambled, your emotions twisted into a knot of anger, fear, and betrayal.

"Let's hope she stays like this," Kurogiri said quietly as he looked down at you, his voice devoid of any empathy.

You didn't know if you could fight back. You didn't know how to free yourself from this nightmare. All you knew was that you were trapped.