"From that day on, the house was haunted by the spirits of the woman, the husband, and the wife. No one dared to step in. Legend has it that you could only survive the night if you weren't alone. Only a pair can defeat the malevolent spirit of the wife. And if your love was true, they say that the spirits of the husband and the woman would appear and help you. But if you have hatred for one another, they would kill you instead."
Chloe smirked as she saw her classmates tremble. Lightning struck outside their classroom window, and she almost laughed when she saw some of them jump. But she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Marinette, who was comforting a teary-eyed Mylene.
"It's just an urban legend," Marinette said gently. "And Chloe was just trying to scare us."
"You think you're so brave, don't you, Marinette?"
Marinette glared at Chloe. "I didn't say that. I'm just trying to help. You frightened most of us to death with that story."
"You're always trying to make me look like I'm the bad guy."
"That wasn't what I was implyi-"
"I'd like to see you try to survive in that house by yourself!" Chloe interrupted, arms crossed. "I hope the spirits come and finish you off. All three of them! Then I wouldn't have to see your stupid face ever again."
Everyone gasped at the menacing tone in her voice. Chloe stormed out of the classroom with Sabrina following after, a look of uncertainty on her face. Marinette could only slump her shoulders and sigh. She didn't want to let it show, but the story Chloe told got under her skin. She was frightened, and that threat didn't help at all. She could only hope that she could take her own advice: that it was just an urban legend, nothing more.
The rain brought no comfort to Marinette that night. She tossed and turned in her bed, unable to fall asleep.
"It was just a story," Tikki said comfortingly.
Marinette looked away. "I know, but still. I can't help feeling so afraid."
Tikki opened her mouth to say something, but something behind Marinette's shoulder caught her eye. Confused, Marinette glanced behind her and saw nothing but shadows. She looked back at her kwami, holding her in her hands. "Tikki, what is it?" she whispered.
"I saw something," Tikki whispered back, her tiny voice trembling.
Marinette could feel her heart beating loudly in her chest. She held onto Tikkit for dear life. There was a creak, then, darkness.
"I've never seen this house before," Chat Noir wondered aloud to himself. He was taking a walk in the rain, unable to fall asleep. Suddenly, he felt a cold breeze brush against his face. The hair on his neck and arms stood up, and his heart filled with a sudden and unexplained fear.
He stood frozen as he watched a dark shadow sweep below him, making its way into the house. For some reason, he couldn't draw his eyes away from it. Then, he saw her.
Within the black mass, he saw Marinette, still as a doll. The shadow carried her into the house.
He moved without even realising it. In an instant, he found himself inside the house, running after Marinette, who was being flung to the end of the hallway. He caught her in mid-air, then, wrapping her safely in his arms, they fell to the ground.
Chat Noir looked at Marinette, who was lying under him. Her eyes were closed, her face was pale and her body was as cold as ice. He held her face gently in his hands. "Marinette," he whispered.
No response. He shook her slightly. He whispered her name again. When she didn't respond, he brought his face to her chest, desperate to hear the sound of her beating heart. When he heard it, he sighed. He looked at her face again, and brushed her hair out from her eyes.
Why isn't she waking up? he thought to himself. He sat up and brought her to him, hoping to warm her up. He waited. Then looked around. And waited some more.
They were in an old house, that house that he had never seen before. The interior was vintage, almost gothic, from the carpet, to the furniture, to the wood on the railings of the staircase and doors.
The door.
Carrying Marinette in his arms, as though afraid he would lose her if he let her go, Chat Noir walked towards the front door. He braced himself, then kicked it down. Beyond the door was only darkness. But it was the exit, it was where he had come in from, he was sure.
So he walked into the darkness, hoping to feel the rain on his face. When he looked around once more, he fell to his knees. He hugged Marinette closer to him.
A cold hand touched his shoulder. "What's wrong, Chat Noir?" he heard Marinette whisper.
Chat Noir pulled away from Marinette to look at her face. He smiled slightly, glad she was finally awake. "What's wrong?" she asked again, her voice sounding stronger this time.
He sighed. "I walked out the front door," he told her sadly.
Marinette waited, holding her breath. "I walked out, carrying you, hoping to get out of this house."
She looked around. It was dark, and Marinette couldn't see much. But she knew what he was about to say. Still, she asked, "But?"
"But," Chat Noir began, his voice tense, "we're right back where we started. Marinette, we're trapped in this house."