Fortune Favours the Bold
It was hot.
The smell of smoke and burning was everywhere. Marinette moved through the streets of her home, running passed burning houses and fleeing people. Two of the giant wooden soldiers had caught alight and were tearing through the village blindly, not caring whose homes they set fire to. They were easy enough to avoid and like Chat had said, she kept to the shadows when she could.
"Mama!" the cry of a child rang out, distracting her from her course, "Mama! Where are you?"
She recognized that voice.
Turning immediately, Marinette caught sight of something that made her stomach drop. She changed direction, running out from the shadow of the houses towards the village green. The burning soldiers were stumbling almost drunkenly towards each other, the sound of their wooden limbs cracking from the heat of the fire. They were going to collide for sure.
In their path, was a little girl.
"Manon!" Marinette shouted, running so hard her side started to stitch with pain. She ignored it and kept moving, willing her sore muscles to keep going. Embers danced around her, flying free from the burning homes around them. Smoke stung her eyes and throat.
She ran.
Manon stood, looking dazed and terrified in the middle of the green. Tears streaked her ash stained face. She turned at Marinette's cry, but didn't seem to see the burning, wooden men lumbering towards her.
"Run!" Marinette cried, finally drawing the girl's attention to the danger she was in. But Manon froze, her expression one of abject horror as a scream of terror fell from her lips. As the giants came close, Marinette reached the young girl, grabbing her roughly around the waist and pulling her along without stopping. The force tripped her, making them roll together in the dirt. Marinette tucked Manon close, hugging her tightly as they skidded to a halt. The sound of cracking wood was followed by a dull crash. The hood of Chat Noir's cloak had fallen over Marinette's head and she had to whip it back to see what was going on. The two giants had met in the centre of the green, falling and breaking in over each other. They collapsed into a pile of wood and ash, splinters of flame licking up into the air. Neither moved again.
They were made of wood. Of course the fire eventually brought them down, but…
She looked around at the damage already done to the village and grimaced. In their pain, the giant wooden soldiers had wreaked havoc. Countless homes were burning or smashed in. She could make out the forms of the unburned soldiers, moving through the ash and the smoke. There was screaming and she saw more than one villager running in panic as they tried not to get swept up in the rampage.
She frowned as she watched
"Marinette? Marinette! Thank god!" it was her mother's voice calling out to her.
She leapt to her feet, pulling Manon up with her and checking the girl over for injury before she turned to find her mother's arms around her. Sabine crashed into her daughter, hugging her with a force that almost pushed the breath from Marinette's lungs. She didn't care too much about that though, she was more concerned with hugging back. There had been a terrifying moment when she was bound to that tree in the Border when she thought she would never see her parents again. She sagged with relief, biting back tears of joy. An instant later she felt her father's enormous arms wrap around them both.
They were still alive.
Sabine and Tom drew back, checking Marinette over just as Manon stayed clinging to her waist, bawling in fear. Marinette kept a hand on the girl's shoulder, keeping her close and giving what comfort she could. She had known Manon since she was a babe and didn't like to see the small girl in distress.
She took in her parents. Tom looked exhausted. His huge shoulders were sagged down with relief. His shirt was covered in soot and ripped at the collar. Sweat ran thickly down his face and his hands were marred with scrapes and burns. Marinette's heart squeezed, wanting to know what her father had been doing to garner the injuries.
Her mother was just as soot covered. The blue eyes she had given to her daughter were red and wet with tears, her dark hair dishevelled and a scratch marring her forehead.
Marinette was sure she didn't look much better with her ripped skirt and stockings. Her hair was still in the braid she'd made that morning, but she felt covered in sweat and dirt and soot. The smoke stung her nose and throat, making her voice hoarse.
"Did everyone get out?" she asked hurriedly, too aware of their exposure on the green. Behind them the local tavern still seemed to be mostly intact, though some of the windows had been broken in.
"A lot of people are hiding in the church," her mother said with a nod.
Marinette could understand why. The church with its thick stonewalls and slate roof was easy to turn into a fort during these situations. Many believed that the Akuma couldn't cross over consecrated ground, but the fact had never been proven.
"We need to go, now," Tom said, looking cautiously for any sign of the wooden, faceless soldiers. Sabine started to pull at her arm. Marinette was about to follow, but something stopped her in her tracks.
She had something else she needed to do, didn't she?
But she'd found them and isn't that what she had wanted to do all along, make sure her family was safe? She could get them out now, hide with them in safety like Chat Noir had ordered. She'd done her heroics for the night; no one expected anything more from her.
But like the irrational urge that had sent her running towards the burning village, it stopped her from leaving now. There was still Nathanael, after all and Chat Noir...
Chat Noir!
"Where is Chat Noir?" she asked before she could rethink her options, "Have you seen him?"
Sabine frowned in surprise, still tugging at her daughters arm to follow.
"He was headed to the Mayor's home," she said after a moment, "That's where most of these…things were going."
Marinette bit her lip, indecision wracking her.
"No," her mother seemed to read something there, "Marinette, you can't help him. This is wizard's work. He'll stop it like he always does."
She knew that. Of course she knew that. It was just…she had to go.
"I'm sorry," she said, already backing away.
"Marinette! No!" Manon cried for the first time, looking up at the older girl and tugging pitifully at her skirts.
Marinette almost melted at the sight of those eyes.
"Not the baby doll eyes, Manon," she groaned, tightening her resolve around her like a shield, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but I have to."
Before she could succumb to one of her biggest weaknesses, Marinette took off at a run once more, tearing herself away. Her family and Manon were crying out for her to come back, her father even tried to follow her, but as soon as Marinette hit the shadows between the houses, she was able to lose him in seconds. Was it the cloak? Marinette supposed it was, gripping the sleek material around her and drawing the hood back up.
The Mayor's house was the largest in the village. A stone built, two-story home with room for servants and a private stable. Mayor Bourgeois was supposedly a minor lord in his own right, but had been given governance of the village some twenty years previously. There were rumours of some scandal in the Capital that had sent him far to the outskirts of the Valley. Marinette didn't know if it was true, but she didn't think too long on it either.
The sight that met her made her pause in her tracks, and she hid in the dimly lit space between the houses on the opposite side of the street. Her foot kicked against a discarded oil lamp in her hurry and she had to jump back quickly to avoid breaking it. A tiny flame still burned on its wick, hardly casting enough light to see by. She could hear Chloe screaming and crying from where she was being held by one of the wooden soldiers, her body hanging aloft as she struggled against the grip. Chat Noir was there, facing against three giants. He had a staff out and as she watched, was using it to vault over the monsters and keep them at bay. Her eyes widened in awe as the weapon magically extended and contracted according to his will. He moved with ease, slipping past each attempt to strike him as sleekly as the cat he was name for. He'd done this before. He knew what to do. He knew how to fight.
What possible help was she supposed to be?
None, of course, she scolded herself, you idiot. You stupid, stupid girl!
Why was she even here? She wasn't supposed to be here, she should be helping her family get to safety, trying to find anyone else who needed help. That would be more useful, that would have been sensible. This was wizard's work and she wasn't a wizard.
She watched as Chat ran at one of the giants, leaping up and ramming a clawed, gloved hand straight through its chest. The wood began to rot and break apart. The soldier couldn't scream, but it seemed to be moaning as it completely collapsed in on itself. The sight shook her. This was the power of the Black Cat, one of the most formidable magic users in the Kingdom. Pure, raw destruction.
And then she saw Nathanael.
Stretched and thin, he slinked into view, pencil working rapidly on his pallet. He drew and the lines of a spear started to form in the air. Chat Noir hadn't noticed. She opened her mouth to warn him, but before the shout could fall from her lips, the spear was finished and flying towards the wizard. The speed of it all shocked her. She didn't even see how Nathanael had managed to do it. Before the spear even struck he was busily working on another one. Thankfully, Chat Noir seemed to notice in time, avoiding the deadly weapon. Unfortunately, the distraction gave one of the giants a chance to backhand him, sending the black clad man flying into a wall. A wall not ten feet from where Marinette hid.
Chat got to his feet, but seemed dazed. The giant lumbered forward, reaching out and grabbing him in its enormous hands. Chat didn't hesitate, clawing at it and sending the destructive magic through the monster. The wood rotted and fell apart once more, as sure as if it had aged hundreds of years in mere moments.
Chat was dropped, groaning in pain and clutching at his side.
Nathanael was drawing again, inching closer to where they were. A manic look crept over his face.
Marinette looked around for anything that could help stop Nathanael, her eyes fell on one solution. Her hand went up to undo the cloak, tearing it off her shoulders. She grabbed the lamp, breaking it apart to pour the oil inside over the cloak, soaking the material in the flammable liquid. The tiny flame caught light immediately.
Chat Noir was not going to be happy about this.
She pushed the thought away and then ran towards the enemy, pulling the cloak along with her like a fiery flag. Nathanael was enclosing in on Chat Noir. So intent on his prey, he didn't see her coming. She screamed, as she grew closer and flung the flaming cloak at him. It smacked into him as though a wind had suddenly slammed it there itself. He flailed and cried out, waving his arms around to get it off. Ignoring the twisting in her stomach at what she had just done, Marinette didn't hesitate to yank the wizard by the shoulder, making him limp along with her to safely. She half carried him, making them duck into one of the houses before Nathanael could see what transpired.
Please don't let him see. Please don't let him see, she chanted in her head, over and over again. The house was dark and quiet, not yet touched by the wooden soldiers' rampage. She didn't pause, dragging Chat Noir up into the very rafters of the house, not stopping till they were securely out of sight, with only a tiny round window in the very top room to give them any idea of what was going on outside.
Chat Noir was panting, holding his side and wincing. He looked up at her, green eyes boring into her for a long time.
"You're not supposed to be here," he said darkly.
He watched her irritably. She was about to retort when a flicking motion caught her eyes in the dim light. Sure enough, a long thin piece of leather was waving out behind him, swishing from side to side like an irritated cat.
"Is that a tail?" she blurted.
The green eyes narrowed.
"Don't change the subject," he snapped.
Marinette took a deep breath, the answer already there.
"I can help," she said quickly, "Nathanael won't hurt me."
"You sound so sure," he snorted.
"He wants to marry me, he isn't going to hurt me," she said firmly.
The tail swishing stopped.
"Oh please don't tell me this is all because of a jilted lover," the wizard groaned, "Those are the worst ones to fight!"
Marinette blushed.
"I didn't reject him," she protested, "He was already an Akuma when he proposed. I told you it was something Chloe said to him earlier."
She glowered at him.
"And he's not my lover!"
"Beaux then?"
"He's my friend!" she emphasised.
Chat paused.
"That you're marrying?" he asked, clearly not believing her in the slightest.
"No!" she snapped, "Not that its any of your concern. I can still help you. I can get close to him."
The green eyes were practically slits now.
"Its dangerous," he said finally, "You're a civilian. I work alone."
"But you don't have to," she snapped at him angrily, "You don't have to fight him alone. You're outnumbered and hurt! This is my village. My home. Why shouldn't I help? Why shouldn't I get to stand up for my people?"
He didn't say anything, but his green eyes blew wide at her words. Marinette cringed inwardly, but didn't back down. She wouldn't back down. She didn't know what had led her to this point, but she was here now and she knew she had the right to be here. No one, not even the powerful, immortal Chat Noir was going to tell her otherwise.
Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by a loud roar that shook the very house they were taking shelter in. They both crouched low to the floor, peering out of the small window carefully to see what was happening. Nathanael had peeled the burning cloak off him, seeming completely unscathed by the experience. Marinette wasn't sure whether to be grateful or disappointed about the fact. The strange skeletal look Nathanael had been taking on seemed even more ominous now. His red hair was wild atop his head and he looked mad. No. He looked…inhuman. There was pure rage in his voice and he was yelling orders to the assembled soldiers, telling them to find Chat Noir. She almost sighed with relief. So he hadn't seen what happened to them. The remains of the ruined cloak lay as a burning husk at his feet, the light from the flames growing low as it ate up the black material.
"You burnt my cloak," the cat-man whispered morosely, scowling at her.
She scowled right back.
"Better the cloak than you," she hissed.
One of the soldiers lumbered passed, searching for them.
"I told you to hide in the fields," Chat continued, sounding annoyed.
"Its my home," she repeated, "And if I hadn't come, you'd be a dead kitty right now."
He opened his mouth to reply, but thought better of it, shaking his head instead.
"You're crazy," he huffed.
"And you need help," she said easily, "Do you want it or not?"
His glare stayed, but he nodded nonetheless.
"Fine," he said shortly, "Any ideas?"
"His sketching pencil," she said, "He used it to make those…things. I think it might be the source of his powers. If we can destroy it –"
"Then at the very least he won't be making anything else," Chat nodded, though he had a thoughtful look on his face, "Alright, it's a good idea. You helped, well done. Now go hide in the fields."
She gave him a withering look.
He sighed.
"Fine, fine!" his glowing green eyes bore into her, "Stay low and don't do anything too reckless, got it princess?"
She smiled at him widely.
"Wouldn't dream of it," she said, her smile growing at his irritated expression, "Chaton."
"I'm going to regret this," he huffed.
~ML~
"Are you feeling okay?"
Chat Noir looked up at her question, green eyes a little bleary from pain. He gave her a shaky grin and nodded. He took away the hand he was holding his side and stood straight.
"Don't worry about me," he assured her, "Its only a bruise, I'll be fine. Just be ready."
She hesitated.
"What if I mess up?" she asked quietly, self-doubt clawing at her, "I mean, you don't think I can do this. What if I-"
"You won't," his voice was firm this time and he actually smiled at her. Not a mocking smile, a sincere one, "Like you said, you have the right to defend your home and save your friend. Not a lot of people would even want to try. Not a lot of people would have come back here after being targeted by an Akuma like you did. You can do this. I believe you can do this. Plus…"
He smirked.
"You're too stubborn not to succeed."
She almost laughed at that, taking strength from his words. He watched her for a long moment, peering her up and down.
"Just one thing," he said and before she could react he had used a clawed glove to tear the top of her bodice, exposing the tops of her pale breasts. She gave an angry yowl, snapping her hands up to cover them.
"Why would you do that?" she snapped, furiously.
"Trust me," he said, sounding entirely disinterested, his eyes on her face, "It'll help."
She wanted to hit him, but knew they didn't have time. Silently she vowed to get her own back later and pulled her dress up to try cover up. Unfortunately, this just made her already short skirt hike up higher. Red with embarrassment, she gave up, letting the material slide down to expose the top of her chest. She sent him one last glare when he bowed, opening the door in a gesture that clearly read, 'ladies first.'
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from the house. She lurked around the shadows for a minute, watching for her time. Chat Noir moved too, disappearing to get into position. Marinette took a deep breath to steady herself, peeking round a wall to see where Nathanael was. They had a plan. A good plan. A crazy plan, but it was a plan. She just had to stick to it.
He stood not far from her, though he seemed too distracted to notice her watching him. He looked agitated, his face twisted in rage and…pain. He was pacing, muttering to himself unintelligibly. The giant holding Chloe came closer, kneeling down on one knee, it presented her to him, holding her out. For a moment, Nathanael looked like a dark king accepting homage from his vassals. He sneered at Chloe, whose blonde hair was torn loose as she whimpered in fear. Marinette felt a stone in her stomach, never having seen her child tormentor look so…helpless.
"This is all your fault!" he roared in her face, his voice taking on the hissing, terrible quality that shot a spike of fear through Marinette, "All of it! You selfish, spoiled little –"
He grunted, clutching his head in pain again. Marinette started, having forgotten about this strange action.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" he hissed, dragging his bony hands over his face, "I'll find him! Just let me finish this and you'll get what you want Hawkmoth!"
That name again. Just who or what was he talking to? Was he talking to anything at all, or had the Akuma driven him mad?
He growled. The firelight coming from the burning houses of the village highlighted his lurching silhouette in the night and he became a wild and terrifying beast. It was like the longer the Akuma remained controlling him the more it twisted and changed him. Marinette felt the fear crashing through her renewed. She couldn't go out there! What was she thinking? He'd see through her in a moment. He wasn't stable. She couldn't do this!
I believe you can do this.
She shook herself.
"Okay," she whispered to herself, "Okay."
Nathanael had recovered, the full force of his fury now directed at Chloe. Her head was sagging and it looked like she had finally passed out. His long fingers crept towards her throat.
"Nathanael!" Marinette cried, running from her hiding place, "Nathanael!"
He turned at her voice, blinking with surprise. Immediately, he looked like a different person again, shrunken and exhausted.
"Marinette?" he called, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"
And he was Nathanael again. Sweet, awkward Nathanael. She could see him there, behind the monster's eyes. In his worry and the softening of his face when he saw her. There was Nathanael.
She ran right into his arms, letting his bony frame press against hers as she hugged him. She didn't have to pretend to be afraid.
"Chat Noir," she said hurriedly, "He – he attacked me in the woods. I escaped, but I couldn't find you! I was so scared!"
His arms travelled around her. She shivered under the icy touch. He was as cold as death and her skin felt like furnace in comparison.
"I won't let him hurt you," he still sounded manic, perhaps if he was less so he'd pick up the holes in her story, but she was depending on him believing what he wanted to believe, "You're safe with me."
"How?" she cried, "How could you possibly stop him? He's a wizard!"
He drew back from her, smiling that terribly grin.
"I can make anything," he said, "Those flowers, my army…they're just the beginning. Not even Chat Noir is powerful enough to stop me. I told you I would take care of you."
"I don't understand," she made her voice shake. Thankfully she seemed to have drawn his attention from Chloe, his attention was completely focused on Marinette.
He brandished his pencil, making quick work on his pallet. She looked around for what he was creating, when she felt a heavy weight around her neck and on top of her head. Her hands travelled there and she felt something heavy and metal there. Astonished, she removed a crown from her head. It was gold and strewn with blue gems; they glowed in the red light from the fires. A matching necklace hung over her neck. Sweat beaded Nathanael's brow when she looked up at him, but he looked excited and giddy.
"You are a queen," he said, clearly trying to be romantic, and in any other situation, it might have been, "I will give you the world."
She blinked, not daring to look around for Chat Noir. She just had to get that pencil away from him.
Seduce an Akuma, she just had to seduce an Akume. Simple enough.
This was a stupid plan.
"That's amazing!" she said in her best fawning voice, "You're amazing, Nathanael. So talented and strong…I know I'll be safe with you here."
His pale cheeks turned rosy while he preened under her praise.
She licked her lips, knowing she had to tread carefully in the next part.
"Can I see it?" she asked, "I want to see what makes you so strong."
She kept her gaze on his, trying not to appear too hungry for it, too desperate to be done with this farce. She resisted the urge to cringe when his gaze fell down to her exposed chest, openly staring down her bodice. Ignoring it, she pushed forward. Damn that cat for being right! She fluttered her eyelashes and moved closer, tilting her head to the side in an attempt to be coy.
She felt giddy and hot herself. The danger of the moment, the rush of adrenalin coursing through her all worked to make her feel…alive.
Nathanael hesitated, staring down at the pencil.
"I –"
"I just want to hold it for a second," she pushed, inching forward, "I just want to feel your power too. I want to feel closer to you. I need to feel closer to you."
She angled her head up, her lips inches from his. The hot feeling in her blood pushed her forward, directing her actions.
"I suppose," he said, cold breath hitting her face, "Just for a second."
"Just for a second," she confirmed, holding out her hand.
He brought his hand up, about to drop the pencil into her hand and she felt it brush her fingertips. So close. His eyes suddenly screwed up in pain, glowing purple – purple? Had that happened before? She hadn't noticed - And his gaze frantically went to the side. Marinette followed it, already knowing the plan was ruined even before she saw Chat Noir coming towards them.
Nathanael's snapped his hand away, rage and betrayal bursting into his face. He took his pencil to his pallet, frantically drawing something. Marinette grabbed his arm, trying to stop him. He threw her off, twisting to look at her with nothing more than unadulterated hate.
His eyes were still purple, but the colour was slowly fading away as he spoke.
"You tricked me!" he hissed, "He was right about you! You – you're just like Chloe! You selfish, manipulative bitch!"
He was going to hit her. His hand was raised and she was already wincing away from it when she was pulled away. It was Chat Noir; he had pulled her away, carrying her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She bit back a scream. They landed together on a roof and he set her down, green, cat-like eyes watching her worriedly.
"Are you alright?" he panted.
"I think so," she nodded, still shaking.
"It was a good try," he said quickly, "Wait here, I'll-"
He didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, because very suddenly Marinette sound herself in darkness. She thrashed, not sure what had happened, only to find wooden walls around her, above her, below her and the chest of a leather clad wizard in her way. She flushed a little and drew back quickly.
"What happened?" she said frantically trying to find a way out of the confined space, "Where are we?"
"A box," Chat's voice gave a bitter laugh, "He drew us into a box!"
"Can you get us out?" she thought frantically, "Your staff! Your staff extends, doesn't it? Maybe you can…?"
"I'm on it," he started, and then stopped.
There was a series of green flashes. Marinette squinted, realising they were coming from him. Chat cursed loudly.
"What is that?" she asked.
"Me reaching my limit," he said finally, "I need to end this now."
"How long do you have?" she asked.
"Five minutes."
"Five...!?" she gaped, "How..?"
"By getting us out of here, that's how," he grunted, wrapping an arm around her waist, "Hold on!"
She held onto him, still blind in the darkness. She could feel his heartbeat drumming rapidly against her skin. She closed her eyes and waited for the crack of wood breaking as he used his staff to spring the box apart. He released her immediately and rushed at Nathanael who had been approaching them from below. Not knowing what else to do, Marinette worked on climbing off the roof.
She could hear them arguing, the sound of fighting making her move faster. It took some footwork and she had to kick off her shoes to keep her grip on the walls as she scaled herself down. She'd never hope to do this on a regular basis, but for some reason the height and the climb didn't bother her at all. When she returned to the ground, Chat was back to fighting a wooden giant and Nathanael was frantically drawing all manner of things to throw at him. She didn't think, she just moved.
Her feet, now only covered in hole filled, ripped up stockings, padded quietly on the ground as she moved. Her eyes were locked on the discarded spear from earlier. If she could just get to it…
Then what?
The thought almost made her pause, but she couldn't stop moving. She didn't know what she was going to do, she just knew she had to do something. She was a few feet away, running like a madwoman, when something grabbed her. It was Nathanael.
She hadn't even seen him coming towards her.
His hate filled eyes were on her and she bit back a scream when he pulled her back against his chest, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Give up Chat Noir!" he called, "Or I will kill her!"
Chat had just taken down the soldier and was marching towards Nathanael. This made him pause. Marinette struggled, till she felt something sharp press against her jugular. Chat's face, from she could see of it, was ashen.
"Don't do this," he said calmly, "You'll regret it. This is the Akuma speaking, not you. You love this girl, remember?."
Nathanael was practically shaking in fury.
And then everything happened so fast.
Another wooden soldier had appeared behind the cat, pinning him to the ground, a massive hand pressing so hard against Chat's chest, Marinette was sure she heard a rib crack. He gave a groan. Green flashed again, from the ring on his finger she realised.
Not much time left.
Nathanael laughed, loosening his grip on her. Not much, but enough for her to move.
She went straight for the pencil in his other hand, getting her hands around it and snapping it in half with all her strength.
For a brief, terrifying moment, nothing happened.
Nathanael let go of her, howling as if in pain. The sound dug into her, piercing straight through. He collapsed behind her, his eyes rolling up in his head. The soldier pinning Chat Noir went limb, but fell forward, keeping him trapped on the ground.
"The butterfly!" she heard him yell out frantically, "Don't let the butterfly escape!"
Confused, her eyes went to the remains of the pencil in her hands and sure enough, something was emerging from it. A black winged butterfly flew out from the remains, flitting up to disappear into the darkness.
Or it would have, but Marinette leapt up, opening her hands to catch the tiny creature.
Her hands wrapped around the escaping butterfly, trapping it with her fingers. As soon as her skin touched its soft black wings, they started to burn. Fire raged up through her arms and she screamed. A pulse of energy shot through her, out of her and then everything turned white. A female voice called her name.
"Marinette…"
~ML~
White, everything around her was white.
Marinette found herself standing in the midst of nothingness.
No, not nothingness. There were storm clouds ahead, but they weren't in the sky. There wasn't any sky that she could make out and she wasn't sure which way was up or down. The clouds hung in the space in front of her, so close if she reached out she would be able to touch it. They billowed and shook as lightning clashed within them, illuminating the dark vapours for seconds at a time. In the light she could see the silhouette of someone moving in the cloud.
"Marinette…" it was the woman's voice again, this time it sounded clearer.
Thunder clashed inside the cloud and in the resounding flash of lightning, Marinette saw the figure moving towards her. From the depths of the inky blackness, a hand gloved in red extended out to her.
"Marinette…" the voice whispered again.
Marinette took a cautious step forward, drawn by the voice.
She knew no more.
A/N: Big thank you for all the support this story has been getting. I love reading your reviews and hope you have enjoyed this chapter. The next will be something of an aftermath and then on to the main part. Happy Reading!
