AMP 58 Sneak Peek

The next chapter still isn't close to being done. Maybe like halfway or forty-percent? But, I just wanted to share this to give a little peek at the shit that's about to go down.

~...AMP…~

(Early Morning: Tartarus Prison)

Kaina sat on her cot, back against the wall, sketchbook resting on her legs. She had picked up sketching a long time ago, after earning enough goodwill points to be allowed a hobby. 

She could tell that they were very hesitant to give her a pencil, but they relented. Perhaps they were hoping instead of stabbing a guard, she’d just end up killing herself instead.

Kaina perked up as the door to her cell opened with a screech of metal, her personal tin can finally opened for the day. 

…But, it was too early in the day for recreation. Way too early.

She sat up in bed, brow furrowed as the door fully opened, revealing a young man with blonde hair and scruff. Clearly a hero, based on the outfit. But, the true dead giveaway was what followed him. He stepped through the door, closing it shut behind him, the locks fastening with a loud clank of metal. 

Red, vibrant wings stretched out behind him…

Hawks groaned as his wings popped, flapping them a little, “Why are so many doorways so small? Anyway, morning.”

“...” Kaina swung her legs over the side of the bed, remaining silent as she watched him carefully. 

“...Right, anyway. What’s up? I’m Hawks, and I’m here investigating an attack that happened last night. You hear about that? I dunno, how fast does news travel here? You see any current events on the library computers?”

“Not for a few days,” Kaina shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hawks’ little smirk never left his face as he just gazed at Kaina, not saying a word. He leaned against the door, crossing his arms, “...Hm. Well, last night, there was a charity gala. The HPSC one they hold every year in Tokyo. You went to quite a few back in the day, right? Anyway, during the night, a bullet shot right through the skyroof and landed right in front of All Might, just barely missing him. Now, don’t panic. He’s perfectly fine. Figured you’d be concerned since you used to run around with him.”

Kaina squinted at him, humming to herself, “Not many people know about that.”

“Ah, what can I say? Big fan. But, a Pro chased after the assassin, goes by the name of Pixie Bob. You ever heard of her? Blonde hair, blue eyes, long strand of hair at the front, been on all the tabloids lately.” Kaina didn’t say anything, merely shrugged in response. “Well, apparently, she actually got to fight the assassin. Got a pretty good look at ‘em too. A woman. Pale skin, short, pink and indigo hair, and stick with me for this one…Her quirk seemed to be a rifle that extended out of her arm.”

Their gazes were both completely unwavering, Kaina’s completely blank, and Hawks slightly amused, thinking he had control. 

“Quite a coincidence.”

“Pfft! Understatement of the century.”

“It has to be a coincidence. I’ve been here the whole time. The whole time being six-years, by the way.”

“Yeah, it would appear so,” Hawks nodded, hands on his hips as he began to pace. “As far as the guards are concerned, you haven’t left your cell. There was actually a weird incident with the guards on your rotation. Did you hear about that? Apparently, they all were visited by the League of Villains. Uh, some glorified crew running around as villains, just in case you didn’t know. But, they were all unconscious for what seemed like days, and suddenly they woke up in their homes, perfectly safe and sound. The craziest part is that they all clocked-in for work. They’re on record, they’re on the security cams, everything.”

“Hm, you’re right. That is pretty crazy. What? Mind control? Not exactly my department.”

“Not a bad theory,” Hawks nodded. “But, you see, the League also attacked a campground with hero students not too long ago. Reports from one of the teachers say that one of the villains just completely melted into nothing but a puddle, and yet they reappeared just fine later on. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t that just his quirk? But, the guy seemed to have a fire quirk. So, here’s my theory…Dopplegangers.”

“I’ve seen crazier,” Kaina shrugged. “Buddy, is there a fucking point to all this? If you’re here to kill me, kill me.”

Hawks scoffed, staring at her in confusion, “Kill you? What are you talking about?”

“You know, it really is impressive,” Kaina continued, ignoring his question. “They have their hands shoved so far up your ass, they can puppet you from this far away. You think I’m a doppelganger? Then just kill me. I’d rather die than spend another second wasting away in this Hell, all for the pure scum that have you on a leash. You’re their new little pet. I should’ve known. I should’ve gotten you out of there the moment I saw you.”

“Whoa-ho-ho! What the fuck are you talkin’ about, lady? They forget to pass around the sedatives today?”

“You’re that little boy they dragged around all those years ago. We met in the lobby at the Musutafu branch. I should’ve saved you…But, now it’s too late for you. Just like it is for me.” Hawks, for the first time in years, was left utterly speechless. The moment he walked through the door, she knew who he was. She had been waiting for six years to see who walked through that door. “Tell me something, though. If I’m a doppelganger, how’d they get me out? There’s no way on Earth that they could possibly sneak me out.” 

“...Portals,” Hawks answered, his smirk finally gone. “...One of the League members can create portals. To what extent, we don’t know. But, if I had to make a guess on limited information? He can at least create a portal to somewhere he knows. They come in, go to your cell, tell him where to put a portal.”

“Hm…” Kaina stood up from her cot, humming to herself. She slightly raised her right arm, Hawks’ eyes flickering down as his muscles tensed up. “Not bad, kid…Now, do your job.”

Like two outlaws under the high-noon sun, they drew their weapons. Kaina’s arm folded, her rifle extending out and aimed right between Hawks’ eyes as his wing swung forward, a razor sharp feather firing right towards Kaina. 

The alarms blared, sensing the use of both quirks. Red lights flashed, the screech of the alarm ringing across the entire section of Tartarus. 

The feather pierced right through Kaina’s chest, forcing her back and slamming her against the wall. 

Kaina’s body began to lose its form, melting like wax as globs of reddish-brown sludge began to fall from her skin.

Hawks grimaced in disgust as he walked over her, looking at the body as he continued to fall away. He looked down at her rifle, noticing the chamber was empty. She never had a bullet to begin with. 

Then, the lifeless body suddenly jumped forward, grabbing Hawks by the collar

“You go on back to your masters now, kid. Tell those motherfucker’s…” Kaina gripped Hawks’ collar, refusing to let go as her body fully melted away, a wide smile on her face, "...I’m coming for ‘em.”

Her body completely melted, falling into a puddle in front of Hawks. He blinked a couple times, eyes wide as he stared at the puddle, his feather soaking in the middle of it. The door behind him swung open as guards began to pile into the cell, weapons at the ready as they looked around for Kaina. As they all eventually noticed what Hawks was looking at, they surrounded the puddle. One guard looked up at him, brows raised, “...What happened?”

Hawks merely shook his head, his feather floating back up and returning to his wings as he turned around and walked away, “I have no fucking idea.”

~...AMP…~