**Chapter 9: The Dark Portal**

The darkness seemed to swallow us whole as Mr. Compress, still grinning, held up the two orbs, each containing Katsuki and me. Dabi, who had been watching the scene unfold with great interest, took a step closer to Mr. Compress. "Take the girl out of the cage, real quick," Dabi said, his voice dripping with an unsettling enthusiasm. Mr. Compress nodded, and with a swift motion, he deactivated his Quirk, releasing me from the airtight orb. I stumbled out, gasping for air, my heart still racing from the sudden confinement. As I emerged from the orb, Dabi's eyes locked onto me, and he took a step closer. I could feel a chill run down my spine as he reached out and grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not ungentle. Behind us, Kurogiri, who had been quietly observing the scene, suddenly raised his hand, and a shimmering portal appeared before us. The air seemed to ripple and distort, revealing a dark and foreboding entrance. I felt a wave of panic wash over me, and I began to cry, tears streaming down my face as I realized the gravity of our situation. Dabi's grip on my arm tightened, and he quickly covered my mouth with his hand, silencing my sobs. Just as Dabi was about to drag me through the portal, a loud yell echoed through the air. "VESPER!" Deku shouted, his voice full of alarm and urgency. Dabi's eyes flicked towards Deku, and for a moment, he seemed to hesitate. But then, his expression hardened, and he pulled me towards the portal. "Time to take our little experiment to the next level," he said, his voice dripping with malice. As we stepped through the portal, I felt a sense of disorientation, and everything around me seemed to blur and distort. I was trapped, with no escape in sight, and the darkness seemed to be closing in around me.