Chapter Text
I expected … more.
Media always showed people in my predicament more active, more vocal.
But … I was quiet.
I wasn’t screaming.
I was moving, I knew I was doing that, but…. everything else?
While my body thrashed in the icy waters around me, trying to find it’s way back to the surface, my mind wandered. Yes, I was focused on trying to get oxygen, trying to go back the way I fell through the frozen lake. But, this small thought that grew with each passing second nagged me, pounding in the back of my head as darkness began to encase my vision.
I’m gonna die.
I chuckled in my head even though I was crying, the hotness giving me a little warmth, reminiscent of tiny kisses. I never thought I would go out this way, drowning in some frozen lake close to home. Never in a million years. But, life loves to throw curveballs at us when we least expect it.
As I stared at the sun peeking it’s head through the hole I made in the ice, it’s rays mocking me through the dark waters, I wished. I knew I only had mere seconds left, the cold of the lake and the lack of oxygen a deadly combo to be stuck with, so I used it to wish.
Give me a second chance. Please.
It was more of a plea than a wish, but I had no time to correct my grammar, not with how numb I was beginning to feel. Not with how I felt my heart beginning to slow down. Not now. Not ever.
The last thought on my mind was my family, my bubbly baby sister playing in the snow as my younger sister made snow angels. Filled with happy thoughts, I closed my eyes.
------
I opened my eyes.
…..
Wait, what?
Confusion flooded through my brain as I realized what I just did. I was just drowning-wait, I drowned, I know I did. How am I alive? How did they save me so fast? Questions racked my brain as I turned my head to look at my surroundings.
Hospital. I’m in a hospital. The thought of being used by some creeper was crossed out of my mind as I eyed all the medical equipment surrounding me. I brought my attention to the window, noticing the fuzzy buildings beyond the glass.
That’s...that doesn’t look like home.
Slowly, I lifted myself up, struggling a tad from weakness. A sigh escaped my lips once I was fully seated up, no longer leaning on my arms for support. I brought a hand up to my face, rubbing the skin as I thought about my current situation. I knew I wouldn't have my glasses, which sucked a lot of dicks, but what can I do about it. Threading a hand through my hair, troublesome as it was, I made a mental checklist, making sure I at least knew my basics.
My name is [y/n]. I’m from the United States. I was born on [RANDOM MONTH, DAY, YEAR]. I’m 16.
I repeated it a couple times as seconds ticked on. Nothing seemed strange other than the buildings that looked not from America. But.. something was off. I couldn’t put my finger on it. This didn’t feel like home nor did it feel like America. Heck, I don't think I’m anywhere I know of.
The door in the left hand corner of the room opened and in walked an old lady dressed weirdly familiar. A syringe was sticking out of the gray bun on her head and she walked with a cane that was a syringe. She was short, very short. Even though her eyes seemed close, She had a small amount of surprise written on her face.
“Didn’t think you would be awake.” She stalked towards me, her ‘cane’s clicking echoing throughout the room, as she continued.“Nasty fall you had.”
“F-f-fall?” I whispered, voice scratchy.
She nodded, stopping to take a seat on my left, suddenly gaining some height. “You fell from the sky. Through a portal might I add. All the heroes around thought it was a villain attack. But, it was only you.”
I felt my stomach begin to twist on itself, head beginning to throb as I tried to process what the doctor, I think at least, was telling me. Millions of things raced through my head, trying to find an answer, but only one made sense. It had to be it because how could i remember anything from my previous life if i had just died?
This is my second chance.
I fell silent as my body grew numb. Did I think my wish would work? No, no i didn’t. Do I know where I am? No, no I don’t. But, I had a hunch. And if it’s true, I would lose my shit because there was no way this could be real. I was taken out of my thoughts by the doctor, lifting my head up from my lap to look at her.
“Do you remember anything before you blacked out?”
Should I tell her? I thought as I fiddled with my fingers, bringing my attention back to my lap where my hands rested. After a second, I came to the conclusion I should. Letting out a breath, I spoke, albeit it a whisper.
“I...I was drowning. I fell through a- through a lake. It was winter and I was ice skating with some friends. I couldn’t…. I couldn’t make it back up.”
I lost my voice at the end, the shock of drowning then coming back to life still present in my mind. I heard the doctor hum, fingers tapping the top of her cane as she thought. But, I need answers, now. Rubbing the skin of my left hand, I raised my voice just a tad.
“Where am I?”
I felt her pause before answering. Why did she pause?
“We are in the U.A infirmary.”
That name. That’s the name of an anime high school. Why the fuck am I in an anime high school. Where the fuck am I?
I nearly jumped when I heard the door click open and a mass of red, white, blonde and blue walked in. All Might. It was whispered into the air as he walked over to take a seat in front of my hospital bed. I felt my skin tingle and my breath hitch as a growing thought began to bang on my head the more I stared at All Might. This has to be a prank right? Or the works of the Make-A-Wish foundation, right?
Right?
“Are you okay, little one?”
No.
My train of thought was broken by All Might’s voice, the smile on his face more concerning than ever. I realized that there was beeping resonating throughout the room and one look behind me showed my heart rate picking up. My ability to speak was gone with the wind, knees weak and palms sweaty. I nodded my head as slowly as I could, which was enough, I think, for All Might’s sake.
“Well, now that All Might is here, I would like to ask you a couple of questions as well as answer anymore that you have.” Recovery girl, because that’s who she resembled, spoke up.
I felt myself calm down a bit at the sound of her voice, heart monitor showing that. I nodded my head meekly as I rubbed my fingers.
“Do you remember your name?”
Mustering strength not to start shaking, I answered, no longer whispering. “[y/n].”
“Age?”
“16.”
“Date of birth?”
I paused, mouth open ready to speak. I never knew the year that the anime took place in. So, god knows what their reaction would be to my birthday. But, I bit the bullet and told them my birthday.
…….
Silence.
Complete silence.
I swear i heard a pin drop a mile away.
I felt sweat drop on my forehead as I wrung my hands together, feeling something build in the air. Recovery Girl fixed her glasses, cane tapping lightly as she cleared her throat. I felt All Might’s smile shift slightly. I don't think I was supposed to feel that.
“2003 you say?” She spoke up after a minute. “Do you know what year it is?”
“20-2019?”
All Might cleared his throat and I don't think I was ready for the words that would come out his mouth next.
“The year is 2317.”
I felt something shatter within me, something break. But I also felt something light up as I came to realize exactly where I was slapped into. This wasn’t some sort of prank or something my parents set up for me for when I wake up. I felt water build up in my throat and surround me as my ability to breath was stolen from me.
That same choking feeling.
That helpless feeling.
I wasn’t ready.