"Wake up. Time for school." Tikki whispered in my ear. I rolled out of bed, grabbing clothes from my closet.

"Duduududduuuddduuuuu!" Trixx made a trumpet noise and placed the laurel wreath on my head. "I crown thee the Queen of the Miraculous."

And she rolled over laughing.

"Thanks, Trixx." I smiled sleepily. "But no."

Blaise handed me a croissant as I started on my makeup.

"So, what are you going to say to Marinette?"

"Um, maybe nothing. Just avoid her, I think. She really needs to calm down, and I don't think I'm going to help that."

"Good plan. But, what about giving me back?" Tikki joined in.

"Do you want to go back? I mean, if you go back now, everything could get worse."

"Good point. Maybe we should try to find the akuma today."

"Maybe we should just write everything down and start checking it off. Everything is so messed up right now."

I grabbed my bag and started downstairs.

"Ren!" Adrien called. Oh no. I forgot about last night.

I stopped and waited as he ran to my side.

"You said you would explain."

"I didn't say anything of the sort." I speed walked to the car. I knew he wouldn't say anything in front of someone.

We were silent until I got out of the car.

"Do remember last night?" He followed me as I climbed the stairs.

"Yeah. Wrong room and everything. Jeez, I'm sorry." I shouldered the door. He pulled me behind the staircase.

"No, it was that I was right about something happening to you. Is it my fault?"

"No, it's not. It's not anyone's fault. It was a bad stroke of luck." I got tired of denying him. Adrien knows, but I need to keep it minor.

"Wow. That was easier than I thought." He mumbled loud enough for me to hear.

"Nothing lethal is wrong with me. If it was, I would tell you." I put my hand on his shoulder and then pulled him from under the stairs.

"Come on. We're going to be late for class." I laughed as though nothing was wrong. I don't need anyone else suspicious.

Just as I started climbing the stairs, I saw Marinette crouched in the corner.

"Go ahead." I urged Adrien when he stopped and looked at me.

"Tell the teacher I'm… using the restroom."

I waited until he walked into class and then went down to her.

"Everything is ruined. Everything has been taken away from me." She sobbed.

I hesitated on approaching her. I've made everything even worse than it had been. I am an awful person for turning her whole world upside down. So many things came crashing down on me. I wish I could change everything with a snap of my fingers, so all the wrong things that shouldn't be wrong would be right.

I turned into the bathroom instead and stared at the mirror and at the monster I've turned into.

Behind me, something black fluttered in the vent. It slipped into the bars and swerved to me.

An akuma.

I sat on the counter and watched as it fluttered around in front of me. With lightning quick reflexes, I grabbed its wing, watching as it fluttered around helplessly.

"Blaise, wings unfold."

I pulled out a syringe from my belt. Slowly, I injected it into the bug.

"Transmitter. Smart." Blaise approved in my head.

"Yeah. Let's hope it lasts long enough for it to get to Hawkmoth."

I let it go. It fluttered in front of me.

"Go back to your master. Tell him Dragonist's coming." I whispered. It circled, then went back through the vent.

"That was really lucky." Blaise approved as he disengaged.

"We'll see. Clearly, Hawkmoth must be getting stronger if he can sense my sadness." I walked out of the bathroom. Marinette was gone. Probably in class.