Scene 27 - *Adrien at the Cinema

Adrien woke up with a start. Where was he? He had been on the phone, talking with Marinette about their plans to go to the cinema. He looked around. He was already at the cinema. Where was Marinette? He rubbed his eyes, trying to make sure he was really awake. He had a terrible nightmare, but… what had happened in it? He couldn't quite remember.

A voice at the back of the dark theater drew his attention. It was his father. His back was turned to Adrien, and he was speaking quickly to two floating… wait, was that Plagg and Tikki?

Adrien's heart stopped as the memories rushed back. His father calling him to his study. The secret chamber below their house, his mother's body…

Adrien lost his balance as the wave of emotions hit him again. His mother's body. He had known she was most likely dead, that "missing" was a kindness people afforded him and his father, but he couldn't have imagined…

His father. He looked back at his father. He had been Papillombre this whole time. How could Adrien not have known? And now he had both the miraculous he was after, which meant…

"Marinette!" Adrien said the name of his love aloud. His eyes fell on a crumpled shape near the opposite wall.

No no no no no no no.

He didn't care if his father saw. They had already lost their miraculous. He couldn't lose her too. He ran across the aisle, closing the distance between them in only a few steps.

Marinette lay on the floor, her body unnaturally folded in a strange way, like she was a rag doll that had been discarded.

He cradled her face in his hands, and she opened her eyes.

Her eyes. She was alive.

"Ladybug…" he needed to apologize. How could she ever forgive him for what he had done? This was all his fault.

"Shhh—" she interrupted him. "It's okay, kitty. It's over now."

"No, no, it can't end like this. It can't end at all!"

Marinette smiled at him.

"I love you, Adrien"

She closed her eyes.

Tears were streaming down Adrien's face.

"I love you too."