Chapter 12: A Barren Tavern

Everything went dark. When I came to, I found myself lying on a cold, wooden floor. Groggily, I sat up and looked around, taking in my surroundings. I was in a large room that resembled an old, abandoned tavern. The walls were made of worn, wooden planks, and the tables and chairs were scattered about, as if they had been pushed aside in a hurry. The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs hung from the ceiling like ghostly fingers. But what struck me as odd was that the room was completely empty. There were no patrons, no bartender, no signs of life anywhere. It was as if the tavern had been deserted for years. I struggled to my feet, my head spinning. As I looked around, I saw the other members of the League of Villains scattered about the room. Dabi was leaning against a table, his eyes fixed on me with a cold, calculating gaze. Mr. Compress was sitting on a chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, a lazy smile on his face. Kurogiri was nowhere to be seen, but I could sense his presence, lurking just out of sight. And then, I saw him. Bakugo was sitting on a stool, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of concern and anger. He was restrained, his wrists and ankles bound by thick ropes. As our eyes met, he saw the terror written all over my face, and his expression hardened. Just as I was trying to process my surroundings, a voice cut through the air. "Look who woke up," Tomura Shigaraki said, a wide smile spreading across his face. He was standing by the bar, a glass of clear liquid in his hand, which he raised in a mock toast. I felt a shiver run down my spine as Shigaraki's eyes locked onto mine. Bakugo's gaze flicked to the villain leader, his eyes narrowing in anger. Shigaraki chuckled, clearly enjoying the fear and tension in the air. "Welcome back, Vesper. I trust you're feeling... refreshed?" He took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. But before I could say anything, Bakugo spoke up, his voice low and menacing. "Shigaraki, let her go. She's not going to help you with anything." Shigaraki's smile grew wider. "Oh, but I think she will. You see, Vesper has a certain... potential. And I think we can help her unlock it." I felt a chill run down my spine as Shigaraki's eyes seemed to bore into my very soul. What did he plan to do with me? And how was I going to escape?