Chapter 17: The Puppeteer's Cue

As we turned to make a break for it, I caught sight of Mr. Compress, his eyes fixed intently on us from the edge of the alleyway. His gaze seemed to hold a mixture of curiosity and calculation, and I could sense that he was sizing us up. Dabi's eyes lit up with excitement as he followed my gaze, and he took a step forward, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Ah, Mr. Compress," Dabi said, his voice dripping with courtesy. "I see you've arrived. Magician, won't you be kind and trap them again to help us tie them up? I don't want them to leave so soon." Mr. Compress's expression remained neutral, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes as he nodded and began to circle around us. His Quirk, Compress, allowed him to shrink objects to a tiny size, and I knew that we had to be careful not to get caught in his trap. Bakugo's grip on my shoulder tightened, his eyes flashing with a fierce protectiveness as Mr. Compress closed in. "We need to get out of here, now," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. But it was too late. Mr. Compress had already spotted his target, and with a swift motion, he compressed the alleyway's walls, trapping us in a narrow, enclosed space. The air was thick with tension as Dabi began to laugh, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ah, perfect," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now, let's see... how long will it take them to escape?" Shigaraki's voice cut through the air, his tone laced with boredom. "Enough games, Dabi. Let's get to the point." Dabi's smile never wavered, but I detected a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Patience, Shigaraki," he said, his voice laced with deference. "The game is just beginning." As he spoke, Mr. Compress began to manipulate the compressed walls, creating a maze of tiny tunnels and narrow passages. Bakugo's eyes narrowed, his grip on my shoulder tightening as we navigated the treacherous terrain. But I knew that we couldn't keep this up for long. We were trapped, and Dabi's plan was already in motion. It was only a matter of time before we found ourselves in a world of trouble. The question was, what did Dabi have planned for us, and how could we possibly escape?