Heyyy!

Hope you are all well, I'm once again very sorry for the lack of updates, I think this is how it's gonna be from now on. Maybe a couple of updates a week?

In this chapter, there will be a second part, which is nearly done, so don't worry, it will definitely be released soon.

Thank you so much for all of your comments on my writing, it's great getting feedback!

"Marinette, did they hurt you?" Adrien repeats.

"What? No, they- I mean they... no. They didn't," I manage to confirm with a somewhat believable tone.

Some of the tension in Adrien's shoulders relax and I offer a smile, trying to make him feel better.

"Look! Whilst you were gone, I tried to test my abilities, and see what I could do. I've never done it before because I was always scared to. But now, I can try. Watch," I begin excitedly, standing and facing the mattress like I did before, but this time I'm sure I can do it without making contact with the object.

I focus, like I have many times. And this time, the light coming from my hands isn't in small feeble swirls, it gushes from my skin in glorious waves, cascading over the mattress and removing every ounce of decay and rubble from its surface. As it occurs, we both gawk at what I'm doing in disbelief. I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful in my life. It's amazing... it's miraculous.

When I'm satisfied I've done my job, I relax my hands and marvel at what I've done.

But my triumph is short lived.

I have no idea what happens, and I don't know how to explain it.

Everything is suddenly too much. The black of the wall is too dark, advancing on me, closing in ever faster, the white of the mattress is too bright, too pure, too startling, threatening to blind me. The silence is too loud, screaming, blaring, screeching, overpowering me as a high-pitched buzz sears my ears. My body feels limp with fatigue, the energy pooling out of my body like I've been shot in the chest. My limbs are weak, so weak I crumple to the floor. And I'm falling. Falling.

But he catches me.

His strong hands are on my back and I'm in his arms and my world has been dragged from an icy sea of unconsciousness. He's the only thing I can see and he's talking to me. He's trying to tell me something. I need to listen.

"Focus on me Marinette. You'll be ok. Please be ok," he's saying.

I can hear him. His voice has a blade and is slicing through the buzzing, trying to make its way to my ears.

So, I calm my breathing down as Adrien talks to me, trying to keep me conscious. All the time, I keep my eyes locked onto his, just in case I lose control again. I feel so unbelievably weak and exhausted I can hardly move, but I feel him rest me slowly on my back.

How long this lasts I don't know, but when I can think properly once more, I sit up slowly, but freeze as soon as I do, clutching my head. Everything is spinning. The world is a snow globe that has been shook up and everything is swirling around. Adrien sees my movements and he puts his arm around me, trying his best to steady me as I sway. I panic at first, wondering if he knows that he is touching my bare arm, but when I see his hand, I see that it is covered in material. Confused, I turn my head to see he is sitting on the mattress next to me, topless.

He has put it around his hands.

So he doesn't kill me.

Thoughtful.

"Hey, hey, it's ok, you're ok," he assures me comfortingly, smiling, "I've got you."

I close my eyes to trying and block out the aching of my head, and when it has subsided for a moment, I open them. And gasp.

My head had drooped and now that my eyes are open, I see what had him convulsing in such pain when he arrived.

The side of his torso is dominated by a huge gash that is red raw, and I can see the blood surrounding it. It looks excruciatingly painful, and now that I know about it I can see the agony that flashes in and out of Adrien's eyes.

"Wha- what happened to you? Let me help-" I whisper, my own voice hurting my head. I move my hands towards him to help.

But Adrien carefully moves out of my way, making sure he is still holding me all the time.

"No! No... I mean, I'm, ahh," he grunts in pain, the sudden movement making is side twinge, "I'm fine. Really."

"But I can help you," I protest.

"I used to deal with worse long before you got here. It's ok. I'm ok. Honestly," he says, eyes boring into my own.

I look sceptically at his wound. There is no way he can possibly be the slightest bit ok, but I also imagine the number of other cuts and wounds he will have to had to deal with alone in here. It immediately makes my stomach lurch with sorrow and guilt. I survey the rest of him, and find myself blushing. It's the first time I've properly realised that he is shirtless. He has broad shoulders and has feint muscles. His skin, besides his bloodied side, has a naturally tanned glow, like his face. I blush even deeper when I realise how perfect he is. Another fifty shades when I realise he knows I'm looking at him.

"So," he says. I can tell he's trying to make conversation.

"So," I echo, cursing myself for being so stupid.

"What do you think happened? Did you know you could do that?"

"I... no. I had no idea," I realise out loud. Wow. I really didn't know. What did happen. Every other time I've ever tried that, nothing so terrible has ever happened. Apart from being imprisoned for the next two years. But that's irrelevant.

Three more seconds of awkward silence.

"Do you think you can stand up?" Adrien asks me, giving me a worried glance.

I hesitate. Take one deep breath and let it out.

"Yeah, I'll try."

I'm independent. Or I like to think I am. All I know is that I do not want to be one of those female characters in books that are dependent on the hero to save them and do everything for them. That's not me. So Adrien lets go of me gently and I get to my feet, holding my head to stop it from jolting whilst I do so. But my legs are made of paper, my bones constructed from paperclips, and the paper crumples and the paperclips are scattered in a pile on the floor and I crumble to the floor once more. My head is whirling and it's on a rollercoaster but I'm suspended in a frozen reality.

Apologies for the sort-of cliffhanger! Leave a comment letting me know what you think or just what you think will happen next...