Mystery from Another World--MHA

Part 187: Shigaraki is not allowed to sleep

Not everyone wanted to stay in Canada even long enough to throw the Originals off, but they could see the wisdom of misdirecting them...so they gave in.

But the prisoners were another story. Most of them were mad about being taken. They didn't even understand that they were captives.

It was hard to put it together, but through persistence, Shine and Wally got them to explain that they thought they were kept in cells for their own safety.

Some of them had memories of being mistreated, but they believed it was heroes that had done that--because they'd been told that by their new friends. They didn't understand that the dome was a hidden base in the woods. They'd never been outside since arriving. They thought it was a regular camp that got raided by enemies, which they now thought the group was.

The group had no personal relationship with them to fall back on...and after probably two hours of arguing and coaxing by turns, Shine and Wally almost gave up any hope of them realizing the truth.

Kayla didn't even try to help.

"It won't work." She crossed her arms. "The Commander knows what he's doing. They aren't gullible, they're just...clean slates. They're suspicious as adults but have the blind memories of children, not seeing the flaws in their caregivers... I'm sorry if you thought it would be any different, but they trust us. They won't trust you. You just kidnapped them."

Wally was about ready to snap.

"But we didn't!" he said.

Kayla shrugged.

"You mean...the only thing we can do is let them go?" Shine was exhausted by now and short tempered. "What kind of solution is that?"

"I'm telling you, as long as you keep them here by force, they'll think the same," Kayla said, "Now, you can call the authorities, but that won't help. Even if they believed you, and that's a big if, none of these people will testify to being kidnapped by us, and they'll say they were at that camp willingly, and the camp is recognized by the county. They'll arrest you, not us."

"Are you just okay with this?" Wally demanded.

Kayla's expression wavered. "It's...not my doing... I didn't set out to save all of them, you did. I was sticking with one. I'm sorry if that bothers you, but I'm not the optimist you clearly are. I'm a realist. They won't come with you."

Unfortunately, she seemed to be right.

"All right..." Shine sighed, "All of you," she addressed the prisoners, "we're going to let you go...since we have no choice...but you can't go back to that camp, partly because you don't know how to get there."

They glared at her.

"So I suggest you call your families, friends, whoever you can," Shine said, "We'll assist you with that. Ask them what happened. If you don't believe us, maybe they can help you. Are you all willing to agree to that?"

"How do we know this isn't a trick?" they said angrily.

"If you'd rather be alone in the middle of Canada on your own, you can walk away now." Shine crossed her arms.

To the kids' shock, some of them did walk away then, saying they didn't trust heroes...

But most weren't that committed. After all, at least she wasn't threatening them.

Momo helped them make the calls and gave them all enough money for a couple nights at a motel. She could do that easily enough.

"I don't like just letting them go," she said, "Won't the Originals find them again?"