Chapter 63

"Akira?" I croaked, my voice rough.

She flinched, her crimson eyes widening in terror before focusing on me. I frowned, confused, until I saw the horror reflected in their depths. I followed her gaze down to my arms. Red marks, like angry welts, marred my skin.

"The old woman… what is her quirk?" I asked, my mind racing. "And why does she want your blood?"

Akira sighed, a shuddering breath that spoke volumes of fear and resignation. "My blood… it's regenerative. It's a family thing. Our quirk is tied to our body fluids. Blood, saliva, anything. I'm the only one who really mastered using it outside my own body."

I understood. A blood-based quirk, a potent healing factor, and this… this hellhole needed it. "So, how did you end up here?"

Her eyes dimmed, shimmering with unshed tears. "My mom sold me… for money. Most of us here are either sold or kidnapped. I was one of the lucky ones, those who are kidnapped normally have it more rough. She noticed I was more like my father and hated me after he died in war. They only were married by a quirk marriage."

The casual cruelty of it was sickening. I reached out, taking her small hand in mine. "I'm so sorry, Akira."

She managed a weak smile, a gesture that didn't reach her eyes. "It is what it is."

Suddenly, she was unwrapping one of the bandages on her arm. Before I could protest, she let the blood drip onto my arm.

"Akira, what are you doing?" I demanded, confused and concerned.

Then came the burning sensation, a searing heat that spread through my veins. It was intense, almost unbearable. I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to recoil. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped. The heat faded, leaving a cool, tingling sensation in its wake. I looked at my arm. The angry red marks were gone.

A grin spread across my face. It worked. I could move again. I pulled her into a careful hug, mindful of her injuries. "Thank you."

I quickly found some bandages in the room and wrapped her arms, doing my best to minimize further blood loss. Then, I shrugged off my jacket and draped it around her shoulders. It swallowed her whole, the sleeves hanging past her hands. I chuckled softly, the size difference almost comical in this grim place.

"Where do we go from here?" I asked.

Akira just shrugged, her face paling slightly. "This is my first time in this room."

Damn. I looked around the cell again, searching for any sign, any clue. The walls were bare, the single door looked impenetrable. Just as I was about to give in, she reached into the pocket of her gown and pulled something out.

"I snatched it from the guard when he was distracted," she grinned, holding out my watch.

A wave of relief washed over me. I took the watch, strapping it onto my wrist. Without hesitation, I pressed the activation button. The watch face shimmered, and then, with a soft whirring sound, my suit began to materialize, forming around me like a second skin.

"Okay," I said, my voice ringing with newfound confidence. "Let's get out of here."