The hallway they step into is cold, and blank, and bare, and very long. It reminds Adrien of home, in a really depressing way...
And then suddenly they're at the end, and he realizes that where he thought the hallway extended, there is simply a wall, with a very small door. "Enter," the man in green and woman in red chant.
Félix grips Bridgette's hand tightly. "How're we meant to fit?" he mutters. "It's tiny, it won't work."
Manon runs toward the door, giggling as she tries to push through... opening up the whole wall. "Whoa!"
The room is incredible, covered in every color imaginable, with beautiful flora, and incredible landscape. "What... are those flowers?" Bridgette whispers, stepping in slowly, eyes widening as she blows a bubble of gum. "I've never seen anything like them!"
"It's candy," Félix says softly, looking around. "It's insane, but it's all candy. You can smell it, it's practically overpowering."
The man in green looks annoyed. "Yes, yes, quite right," he mutters. "All edible, all the plants, and rocks, and even the workers are edible."
"Are you?" Chloé sneers.
"Yes, little girl, but that is called cannibalism and it's actually frowned on in most societies," he snaps.
Félix walks down the path, plucking a candied cherry from a tree, inspecting it. "This is impressive," he admits begrudgingly.
"Enjoy," the woman in red laughs. "Eat to your heart's content."
The cherry passes his lips, and he almost immediately gags, coughing up a pit. "What the hell? I thought it was candy!"
"The separation machine must be acting up," the man in green smirked. "What bad luck."
...
Adrien wanders through the wonderland, wide-eyed, when he hears a voice. "Adrien, get out of here!"
He spins around, and has to fight a scream of horror.
The thing behind him has skin made of taffy, lips of frosting, hair of black licorice, nails of cherry drops, and a dress made of chocolate... and human eyes.
Familiar, blue eyes.
"Adrien, you need to run, please!" she tells him in a hushed, terrified tone. "I'm not supposed to talk, but I know what they're planning, please, leave!"
"M-marinette?"
Her eyes suddenly go blank, as she steps backward, hidden by the trees. Adrien pushes the branches away, but she's gone...
"Whatcha lookin' for, kid?"
Adrien spins around to see the man in green, giving a very frightening smile. "J-just wanted to find out if there was any white chocolate here, it's my favorite..."
"Nasty stuff," the man in green wrinkles his nose. "Tikki loves the candy, but I never understood it myself. I much prefer cheeses."
Adrien forces a smile. "That's sort of silly, to run a chocolate factory if you hate candy."
"Not really. I don't eat the candy. That's not what it's here for." He tilts his head. "Try a Maridrop."
Adrien schools his expression into one of mild curiosity, forcing that blank taffy face out of his mind. Those eyes... "What's a Maridrop? Where do I get one?"
"Right above your head," the man in green points to the branch dangling over Adrien, at the shiny red droplets of candy that hover over his head.
Maridrops. What's in a Maridrop? It can't be what the dreadful feeling that twists the insides of his stomach is telling him it must be. And he's being very silly, because if he's right, he's at the mercy of a mad man who cannot under any circumstances know Adrien's getting wise.
He reaches up, plucking a Maridrop from it's branch, and letting it slide down his throat. It's sweet, sweeter than any candy Adrien has ever tried, floral almost, with the dulcet hints of what he can only describe as innocence, kindness, and compassion. It takes just like what being around Marinette Dupain-Cheng always felt like, and Adrien thinks he'll quite easily throw up when he gets home, for although he knows it is impossible, the pounding of his heart makes him face the fact that it is the truth.
"Do you like it very much, kid?" Plagg asks, raising an eyebrow, and flashing a terrifying smile, full of sharp teeth and dangerous glinting rage. "Are you in love with the taste? Well?"
Adrien is spared having to answer by a scream.
...
Manon Chamack is screaming, fighting to stay afloat in the river of chocolate, while the woman in red watches, smiling idly.
"What are you doing?" Bridgette screams. "Save her!"
"Oh no. Police. Help," the man in green laughs.
Félix rolls up his sleeves, running to the edge of the water, before tripping on a candy rock that was certainly not in his path before. By the time he scrambles to his feet, the screaming has stopped...
For Manon is being sucked up a long tube.
"What is this?" he demands, horror in his voice as the tube sucks the little girl up. "Where is she going? How did she fall in?"
"The little brat was sullying the river," the woman in red snaps. "She slipped and fell... she's off to the fudge room now."
"The fudge room?"
"Where she'll be..."
Suddenly, children emerge from the trees, in perfect synchronization... children made of candy, like the girl Adrien saw before.
Children with human eyes.
They begin to sing.
"Manon Chamack! Manon Chamack!
The great big greedy little brat!
Manon Chamack!
So mannerless and vile
So greedy, foul, and infantile
'Come on!' we cried, 'The time is ripe
To send her shooting up the pipe!
But don't, dear children, be alarmed;
Manon Chamack will not be harmed,
Manon Chamack will not be harmed"
Adrien stares around in horror, as his eyes meet Marinette's. She stares him down, continuing the song.
"Although, of course, we must admit
She will be altered quite a bit.
Slowly, the wheels go round and round,
The cogs begin to grind and pound;
We boil her for a minute more,
Until we're absolutely sure
Then out she comes! And now! By grace!
A miracle has taken place!
A miracle has taken place!
This greedy brat, this louse's ear,
Is loved by people everywhere!
For who could hate or bear a grudge
Against a luscious bit of fudge?"