I feel a little bad for torturing the characters... Oh well it makes for some great action! Enjoy!
When a sleep over at the schools Gym gets crashed by an Akuma Marinette finds herself with no where to hide and an oddly clingy Adrien wanting to tell her something. But how can she stop an Akuma when she can't even transform? Sequel to The Cats Shield and Purloined Puns.
Locked In (Part 2)
Marinette jolted awake on the hard floor and for a moment she couldn't understand where she was or what had happened. Eerie silence echoed around her and her head felt as if it were full of fog as she forced herself up onto her knees. Shapes coalesced in the dimness as Marinette's eyes slowly adjusted picking out the lockers that surrounded her on all sides. Blinking Marinette rubbed at her head trying to understand why she was sleeping on the floor of the locker room. Unsurprisingly she was in her pajamas still, the same pajamas she had worn to the lock in…
Memory slammed into her like a freight train and Marinette scrambled to her feet "Adrien?! Tiki?! Oh no, no, no, no, no, no…"
She ran forwards wondering if Adrien had hidden further in the room but no one answered her as she called out. Not Tiki who should have been at her side as she awoke, or at least somewhere close by and not Adrien either who she had half expected to find passed out nearby. The locker room was eerily empty and far too quiet, throwing back her panicked whispers as she started searching the inside of the lockers. There was a chance Adrien had hidden inside one, he had done it once before after all but everything was turning up empty, still, and silent. Throwing the last locker open Marinette felt a sob rising in her throat as it too stood devoid of anything. The sob was loud, almost too loud as it spilled out and for some reason the sound itself Marinette pause. The air was heavy with silence. There were no sounds of creaking doors or pipes, no sounds of snoring people or forgotten games. It was just, spookily quiet. Hadn't the Akuma been putting everyone to sleep when she had shoved Adrien inside here? There should be still be some noises out in the gym even if everyone had been put to sleep. As if answering her brains question a rasp of sound echoed into the room and even though her heart beat wildly in her chest, Marinette moved towards the door where the noise had come from. Another rasp shivered through the air and the door shuddered slightly as if something had shoved on it for a brief moment.
"Hello?" Marinette squeaked her fear making it hard to speak even as she took hesitant steps towards the locker room door.
A third rasp echoed out and Marinette finally placed the sound. It sounded like claws sliding down wood. Like the wood the door was made out of… that thought had Marinette freezing in place wondering if maybe she should find a weapon since Tiki wasn't with her. Slowly, the door seemed to open on its own accord and a black figure moved into the room sharp claws dragging along the wooden door, adding to the gouges already on its surface.
"Chat…" Marinette breathed as he made it into the room.
As the door closed silently behind him she rushed forwards throwing her arms around him. Everything was going to be ok now. Chat was here. He could help her. Help her find Tiki and stop the Akuma… and for some strange reason Chat hadn't responded to her hug. Usually, he always returned her hugs but for some reason Chat hadn't, he just stood stiffly against her, an odd rumble in his throat sounding like a growl rather than a purr. Marinette pulled back and was greeted by purple silted cat eyes rather than the normal warm green she was used to.
"Chat?" Marinette questioned taking a slow cautious step back as his lips twisted into a snarl.
"Hello princess…" He hissed menacingly making Marinette take another step back. "I've just discovered something rather disappointing… would you care to guess what it is?"
Mind spinning Marinette shook her head, "N-No…"
"Oh come on Marinette… guessing games are such fun. Like when we try to guess the answer to the lame jokes on the popsicle sticks…" Chat hummed sounding amused even as the snarl in his voice deepened. He took a step forward even as she retreated following her in measured paces with a predator's grace.
"Chat what's happened to you?" Marinette asked instead trying to be brave since something was oh so very wrong here.
Chat chuckled "Ohhh Marinette, I've already told you... I've discovered that the universe had decided to play a joke on me and I don't appreciate it!" Chat slashed one hand out scoring the lockers sides with his claws. The screech of metal made Marinette jump her breath coming faster as she took another few steps away from him.
"I-I'm sorry! I don't understand!" Marinette gasped trying to tell herself not to be afraid. This was Chat, her loveable, goofball partner who she shared popsicles with as well as crime fighting. He was just upset, he would never actually hurt her…
Chat Noir rose to his full height and Marinette shivered because she had never noticed how much taller he was than her. His purple gaze met hers and Marinette blinked as she realized that his mask was no longer black. The color was leaching out of it, turning white before her very eyes.
"You are very bad at this game… My Lady."
Ice filled Marinette's veins and she froze mid-step as his words registered. There was nothing she could say nothing she could do as she watched the color slowly drain from Chats costume leaving a cold, white figure in place of her usual black partner.
"Y-you… how do you know?" Marinette finally managed unable to think of anything else to ask.
"Ohhh you know… a little butterfly told me… and I'm just here to say… I'm not thrilled." Chat hissed then suddenly he lunged for her.
Marinette's brain had frozen at the My Lady line but thankfully her fighting skills and instincts had not. As his claws closed in on her shoulders Marinette fell back her legs giving out under his weight. As she hit the ground though she rolled up towards her shoulders her legs balling against Chats chest and she kicked him off her sending him flying over her head. Fabric tore under his claws as he flew off her, leaving skin miraculously unscathed and completing the roll Marinette landed in a crouch. Chat slammed to the ground somewhere behind her and she bolted forwards hauling butt towards the door. She needed to find Tiki. This was not the Chat she knew. There was no way he would try and hurt her. After all he was a friend both to her civilian form and her hero persona! He might be disappointed that she was Ladybug but it shouldn't throw him into a rage!
"You don't deserve your power!" Chat screeched from behind her as Marinette slammed into the door yanking it open just enough to slide through the gap.
Chat slammed into the door as she tried to pull it closed tossing her off her feet. Immediately she leaped back up grabbing the handle of the door and hauled it shut even as he tried to pull it back open. Chat was stronger than her but Marinette braced her feet on the door jamb locking her legs to prevent him from getting the door open. His claws gouged into the wood on his side sending vibrations shivering up her arms.
"How long do you think you can hold me off Purrrincess?" Chat hissed through the door and Marinette cast her gaze about trying to find an exit or at least a better place to hide. A broom lay on the floor next to her and Marinette noted that the handle of the door stuck out just far enough that the brooms shaft could act as a locking bar. It wouldn't last against Chats strength for long, even less if he used Cataclysm but it would buy her a little time to clear out at least.
"Chat Noir this isn't like you!" Marinette snapped using her voice to cover her movements as she reached for the broom. "You are my best friend! Even if you are disappointed in my being…" the words Ladybug stuck in her throat as she lifted up the handle and Marinette shook her head trying to keep her thoughts organized. "Even if you are disappointed in who I am you would never do this! What did that Akuma or Hawkmoth do to you?"
At those final words Marinette managed to slide the broom handle into place and she unlocked her legs stumbling back from the door.
"It wasn't Hawkmoth My Lady… It was you… All those sweet lies and false hugs… there is only so much abuse a cat can take before he finally decides to bite back." Chat hissed through the door his claws rasping down the wooded door. "I am no longer your pet Chat Noir. I am Chat BLANCH!"
He tore at the door on those final words setting the wooden broom handle rattling and bending as he hauled back with all his strength. Fear shot through Marinette and deciding she would have to try another tactic she bolted for the spot where she had left her things. She needed Tiki. If she could transform she could fend off Chat easier and she could fight more efficiently. As she crossed the gym her mind numbly noted that there were no students, no teachers, and unfortunately no power either. Ambient light filtered in through the high windows but it wasn't enough to see well which hampered her progress. Shapes loomed in the dimness and Marinette quickly realized that while every person had vanished, their stuff had remained. More often than not she slipped, slid, and tripped over pillows, blankets, or bags that littered her path. All the while the sounds of Chat Blanch's roars spurned her on until she tripped a final time, coming down on her knees in the middle of her friend's circle of possessions.
The computer was still open but off and Marinette looked around for her sleeping bag as Chat Blanch snarled something intelligible. Scrambling through her things Marinette froze as she realized her purse wasn't there. Tiki wasn't there and her heart bottomed out as a brief memory of Adrien coming through the locker room door, purse in hand shot through her mind. Adrien had her purse! Unless he dropped it before vanishing… the sounds of splintering wood echoed through the gym shattering her thought process and Marinette scrambled back up to her feet. No one was in the gym so they had to be outside somewhere. She had to find her friends, then she could find her purse and hopefully Tiki with it.
Sprinting for the door Marinette heard the wooden handle continuing to splinter and as she collided with the door that led to the outside she heard Chat Blanch give a shout of triumph. The door before her flung open on impact, sending Marinette face first into the ground outside and she lay there for a few seconds wondering if the doors had always opened out. She could have sworn they opened into the gym not out... Groaning since she did not have to time to contemplate such things Marinette pushed herself up to her feet. Somehow she had managed not to injure herself in the fall and she was happy that she could still run without pain. The maze from flashlight tag was still up and Marinette ran towards it realizing that it would be the perfect place to hide. The door crashed open behind her as she slipped inside the entrance and Marinette froze several steps in, unwilling to make the slightest of moves. Chat Blanch had incredible hearing when transformed, if she moved he would definitely know where she was since it was weirdly quiet outside too.
"Ohhhh princessss… come out, come out where every you are…"Chat Blanch called his voice deepening into a sinister snarl. "I just want to see if red goes with my suit!"
Not liking the sound of that at all Marinette held still as she heard him walking away from her position. It was so quiet outside she could hear his footsteps as he moved away. A brief questioning thought of 'where are the cities sounds?' brushed through her mind but she shook the thought away since she really needed to be concentrating on hiding. Easing sideways along the soft wall Marinette took several shallow breaths trying her damdest to get her quickly panicking thoughts in order. Step one was definitely staying one move ahead of Chat Blanch. Step two was finding the others. Step three was- the wall beside her slammed inwards cutting her thoughts off midstream and she yelped as she tripped while scrambling backwards landing hard on her butt. The wall didn't fall totally in since it was connected by velcro and straps but it fell in enough that Chat Blanch was able to peer in at her with glowing purple eyes. His stare pinned her in place and Marinette felt her fear swell as his smile grew. Digging his claws into the wall, Chat Blanch kept eye contact as he slowly drug them down shredding the wall with that nasty grin on his face. Somehow that grin was worse than a frown or a snarl, the grin made him look downright mad.
"I've already taken care of the others… You are not going to find them since I was saving you for last. Now I have you all to myself to play with. So scurry away little bug. If I get bored I will have to finish you off!"
Marinette took him at his word and she scrambled to her feet bolting deeper into the maze. The sounds of tearing fabric echoed out behind her and for a brief moment Marinette wondered why he didn't just jump the wall. Shaking her head Marinette went right, then made a left at the next turn since she could remember the way the maze was set up earlier. If she could get out ahead of Chat Blanch maybe she could make it off school grounds. She and Tiki had made the promise that if they ever got separated they would meet back at her house. At worst if Tiki wasn't there she could head to Fu's and seek help from him. Turning another corner Marinette stumbled to a halt as she realized that somehow she had run into a dead end. Shaking her head Marinette pressed a hand to the fabric breathing hard. There shouldn't be a dead end here. This spot should be open and there should have been a fork. Shaking her head again Marinette reviewed her steps trying to figure out where she went wrong but she couldn't seem to organize her thoughts. Everything felt muddled and confusing and she could feel her chest tightening like she was about to have a panic attack-
"Marinette breathe!" Tiki's voice whispered and Marinette gasped eyes popping open.
"Tiki?!" Marinette cried looking around her and wondering when she had fallen to the ground.
She was laying on the ground curled into a ball, several feet from the fabric wall she had been touching moments before. It didn't make sense. Did she have a panic attack and move here? Had she really heard Tiki? Glancing around again Marinette couldn't see her but for some odd reason it felt like Tiki was near her. Forcing herself to take a deep breath Marinette closed her eyes again before reaching out with her mind. Tiki had told her once that they had a psychic bond, which was why she was able to hear Tiki even when transformed. It didn't happen with every user and sometimes it took a while for such a bond to take effect. When Fu had realized Marinette could hear Tiki transformed, he'd advised Marinette to try and strengthen that bond since it would help her become more in tune with the miraculous. Lately, Marinette had been practicing out of costume with Tiki, trying to reach out to her and call her even when she wasn't transformed. Oddly enough when she practiced there was a 50/50 shot that Chat Noir would show up too. One time when she been upset while practicing and Chat had nearly busted through her window looking agitated as well as worried. He had stayed far longer that night wondering if something had happened and not wanting to leave her in such distress. Eventually Marinette had calmed him down and later Tiki explained that she and Chat had a bond as well. Unfortunately that meant that Marinette's call must be spilling over to Chat as well since she didn't have the control to reach out to just one person yet.
It was probably a terrible idea to try and call Tiki to her when Chat Blanch was hunting her but Marinette could just feel that Tiki was close. If she could just lock onto her… Shoving her fear aside Marinette closed her eyes trying to picture Tiki. Instead Chat Noir's or Adrien's grinning face filled her mind one turning into the other and Marinette's frustration began to build. Again and again she failed at reaching out to Tiki so it came as a shock to Marinette when she suddenly realized that she could feel a mental presence that for some reason felt like Adrien. Without thinking she reached out to him since he meant safety and warmth just as much as Tiki did but she never expected Adrien to reach back. Somehow she could feel it as he did and it was like a handshake in the darkness with neither party able to see but somehow knew the other was there. They connected allowing Marinette to feel Adrien's fear just as she knew he could feel hers and suddenly a whisper of "I'm coming," came down the handshake.
Mentally pulling on the handshake Marinette tried to help Adrien, help guide him to her since he probably had Tiki but her concentration was shattered as Chat Blanch called "There you are princess! Have you given up already?"
Gasping Marinette's eyes shot open to find Chat Blanch standing a dozen feet away his purple eyes glowing as he sunk down into a crouch. His long white tail twitched behind him as his ears laid back and Marinette jolted up into a sitting position.
"Trying to go to sleep My Lady? You can't escape from here that easily…" He rushed her as he said those words and Marinette's fighting instinct's kicked in.
Chat Blanch was coming in low to prevent her from kicking him over her head again but there was more than one trick up Marinette's sleeve. As he lunged for her Marinette boosted herself off the ground slamming her feet into Chat Blanch's back as he passed beneath her. Leapfrogging off him Marinette was already sprinting away when he crashed head first into the wall sliding on his belly the whole way. A roar echoed out behind her as she skidded around the corner and she took turns at random trying to get as much distance between her and Chat Blanch as she could. Terror filled her veins as she ran and she was glancing behind her every few steps, trying to see if Chat Blanch was catching up when she slammed headlong into someone toppling them both to the ground.
"Owww…" A voice so familiar croaked that Marinette sobbed even as she looked up to confirm that it was indeed Adrien that she had slammed into.
"Marinette?" Adrien asked severely worried as she threw her arms around him sobbing into his chest.
Not bothering with more words Adrien just wrapped his arms around her a purr rumbling in his chest as he tried to figure out what in the hell was going on. The last thing he remembered was trying to get to Marinette when the Akuma had simply popped into existence over the gym. He had tripped over something going in the door and he remembered Marinette hauling him in taking the hit from the akuma. She had fallen into his arms and he had felt so very tired as he tried to wake her then it was like the world had cut out. The next thing he knew he had felt Marinette reaching for him through the darkness and when he opened his eyes he was in this maze. It vaguely resembled the maze from flashlight tag but the walls seemed too high, the light outside was all wrong and he couldn't find Plagg anywhere. He had just started walking at random when he found he couldn't climb or knock the walls over. Again that didn't make sense because the walls that had made up the flashlight tag maze were easily pushed or pulled apart so you could make new designs. These walls were seamless. Then as he turned a corner Marinette plowed into him sending them both to the ground. Now he let her cry herself out even as Adrien scanned her for any injuries. It didn't seem as if she had been injured but she felt scared and that worried Adrien because not much scared his Ladybug.
"Marinette what's wrong? What happened?" Adrien asked gently running his hand through her hair.
"I-I woke up and everyone was gone!" Marinette hiccupped "Then Chat Blanch showed up and he's angry at me and… and…" She sobbed again "I'm sorry I was scared but now you are here so what Chat Blanch said couldn't be true."
"Chat Blanch? Another Chat Noir copy?" Adrien asked feeling a chill pulse through him. Swiftly he glanced at his hand again checking to make sure the ring was still on his finger.
Marinette shook her head against him her body relaxing slightly in his arms, "No it was Chat Noir but something happened while I was passed out and he has turned into Chat Blanch. He's attacked me a few times now and he said he took care of everyone else here. I-I don't know what he meant by that but I don't think it was anything good." Suddenly she gasped scrambling off Adrien and to her feet hauling him up. "Chat Blanch is after me. I need to hide you somewhere but before I do, you had my purse before… where is it now?"
Adrien blinked at Marinette confused then remembered he had her purse when he stumbled into the locker room. When the Akuma had showed up he had grabbed it because he figured that's where her kwami hid before running towards the bathroom. Adrien glanced down at his hands as if it were going to magically appear there and shook his head.
"I-I'm sorry Marinette… I don't know what happened but I suddenly woke up a few minutes ago in this maze. I have no idea how I got here but something is very wrong he-"
"Oh princess… you shouldn't have!" Chat Blanch gasped dramatically, leaping down from a wall and strolling towards them. "How did you know I needed a new scratching post?"
"Impossible…" Adrien gasped glancing down at his ring again as Marinette looked back at him.
"I don't know what's wrong with him… We need to get out of here." Marinette pushed at Adrien so he was firmly behind her. "I'll distract him. You need to run Adrien."
Adrien knew she was trying to be brave but he could see that she was trembling her body seeming to shrink in on itself as her breathing hiked up. There was no way in hell he was leaving her. Adrien didn't care if there were a million Chat Blanch's coming at him, there was no way he could ever turn and run. The only problem was Adrien didn't know if he could convince Marinette to run with him the way she was starting to freak out. It surprised him a little since he had never seen her loose her cool like this but he was starting to get the feeling that this place had been set up specifically for Marinette.
"Run Adrien!" Marinette demanded her voice ridiculously wobbly as Chat Blanch continued his slow strut towards them.
"Not happening!" Adrien snapped and scooped Marinette off her feet before sprinting away.
Clearly that had been the correct idea because Chat Blanch just kept strolling in their direction a creepy smile on his face. Spinning around the corner Adrien lost sight of Chat Blanch and he glanced worriedly down at Marinette who seemed to be losing out to her fears.
"This can't be happening. This can't be happening!" she mumbled eyes screwed up tight, not putting up any sort of fight against Adrien at all as she hyperventilated in his arms.
Adrien agreed 100% that this couldn't be real as he took another turn. He was Chat Noir so the Chat Blanch behind them had to be a fake. But… all of it felt real. Marinette felt real, sounded real even if the walls surrounding them didn't. The truth slammed into him out of nowhere and Adrien stumbled to a halt making Marinette whimper her eyes flaring open as she suddenly seemed to snap back to herself.
"A-Adrien?" Marinette whispered through chattering teeth as he gently set her on her feet.
Adrien gripped her hands squeezing them lightly. "Marinette does all this feel real to you?"
Marinette blinked at him her breathing hitching slightly as she looked around them. The walls around them were higher, looking less like fabric and more like stone… How in the world had she gotten here? Hadn't she been at school at first? Glancing down Marinette realized she was still in her pajamas and in a brief moment of clarity she remembered. She had been at the school Lock In. An Akuma had attacked and now she was being chased by Chat Blanch.
"He… He found out who I was… he was disappointed…" Marinette managed not answering Adrien's question at all. "I-I'm not enough and now I lost him." She sobbed
Adrien squeezed Marinette's hands and she looked up at him tears sliding down her cheeks. Her eyes seemed duller than he remembered the blue turning a dull grey right before his eyes. It broke his heart to see her like this so small and confused. The Walls around them hazed slightly, growing just a bit taller, a little more stone like, solidifying his original idea. Reaching up Adrien brushed a tear away and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
"Marinette? Can I tell you a secret? You can't get mad though alright?" Adrien asked quietly.
Marinette seemed to be getting smaller her features looking younger by the second but slowly she nodded. "I can keep secrets. I'm good at keeping secrets."
Adrien smiled at her "I wish to purr-loin your heart princess. Will you let me?"
Marinette blinked at him for a long second not understanding but he could tell the instant they finally registered. Her eyes turned blue, the crystal clear blue that reminded him of the sky and she gasped. "Impossible…"
"You mean Im-paw-sible and no My Lady it's not. We have been circling each other the day we got our… jewelry… and it's time for us to stop." Adrien murmured noting that the walls around them were changing, becoming normal looking again. Marinette was regaining control.
A screech of rage echoed somewhere behind them making Marinette flinch. "But… But Chat Blanch…"
Adrien caught her cheek forcing her gaze to return to him. "Marinette, I could never be disappointed in you, never hurt you. Never ever… I lo-"
Claws caught him by the shoulders and suddenly he was ripped away from Marinette, tossed sideways into a wall that swallowed him upon impact.
"NO!" Marinette screamed ducking Chat Blanch's claws and rushing at the wall. She struck it hard and the whole thing gave way to darkness before she burst through into yet another corridor.
"Adrien!" Marinette yelled spinning around as she searched for him. No one answered her, no shock of blond hair popped up from round the corner and Marinette dropped to her knees as her mind tried to reason its way out of what was happening around her. Something was very wrong here. She had sensed it from the start but because Chat Blanch had come after her she had shoved the feeling aside in favor of finding Tiki or simply getting away. Adrien however changed that. What he said… that he wanted to purloin her heart… only Chat had ever said that. There was no way Adrien had randomly decided on the same lame pickup line Chat Noir had and as she thought about it the pieces started to fall into place. It had been a clue, along with the jewelry comment, a clue that only Marinette would understand. She had noticed that Adrien had become far more interested in her lately. He had always been kind and understanding towards her, they were friends after all but lately there had been something more intense in his attention. It had started back with Doppelganger and now…
"Oh my god…" Marinette whined shaking her head at the thoughts spinning through it. Could it be possible? Could Adrien really be Chat Noir? Everything seemed to snap into place suddenly. The reason Chat Noir had been nervous and promised to come see her no matter what on Saturday. The way Adrien had seemed so nervous about talking to her yet not wanting to do it in front of their friends. It all made sense.
"Adrien… Adrien is Cha-" Marinette started only to break off mid-word.
It suddenly didn't seem like a good idea to say those words out loud and Marinette had a feeling that Chat Blanch was far closer than she knew. Forcing herself to her feet Marinette ran forward the maze around her looking more and more like walls of fabric as she ran. The end of the maze was coming soon. Soon she would be out and be able to see what exactly way going on and-
Her feet caught on something as she turned a corner and she sprawled forwards yelping as she collided with the ground. Twisting around to see what she had tripped over Marinette let loose a small scream as she recognized Adrien.
"Adrien!" Marinette cried yanking her legs off him and scrambling to him on her knees.
He laid completely still, eyes closed, and looking far too pale to be healthy. Claw marks cut through the shirt he wore showing bits of torn skin and blood that had soaked through the shirt. Another claw mark marred his face and blood had run down from the marks into his hair.
"Adrien!" Marinette cried again shaking his shoulder only to get no response.
"No… Please no…" Marinette begged searching his neck for a pulse but there was no thump under her finger tips and his skin was quite cold.
"This can't be happening…" Marinette sobbed eyes filling with tears as she pressed a hand to his chest. She could try doing CPR. It was an option but even through her fear and horror there was a small voice in the back of her mind saying that something wasn't right. Adrien's placement was too perfect, his wounds were not enough to kill, and his skin… it was too cold. A person stayed warm for a while after they died and Adrien had been alive just a few minutes ago. He had been holding her urging her to look around and see what was wrong with her environment.
"Oh good you found my little gift." Chat Blanch hummed dropping in from the top of the wall.
Marinette sniffed wiping at her eyes as she stood then glanced down at her hand morbidly curious. She had shaken Adrien, touched the wounds and his damp shirt. If this was real…there would be blood on her hands. Nervously Marinette turned her hand over and the breath whooshed out of her as she stared down at her clean palms. There was no blood there, even though the blood on Adrien's skin still glistened as if it were wet.
"This isn't real." Marinette murmured taking a step back.
Chat Blanch laughed his fangs glinting in the dimness. "Oh I know you don't want it to be but believe me it is. Now that I've killed off your little boyfriend it's your turn."
Chat Blanch strode forwards as Marinette stepped back shaking her head. "No you haven't killed anyone. This isn't real!"
Chat Blanch rushed at her stretching his claws out as he came. "Let's see you say that as I slash you to ribbons!"
Marinette caught his hand her back slamming against a wall that hadn't been there moments before. "No blood." Marinette hissed tapping his claws that were aimed at her chest. Then she waved her hand showing a clean palm.
Chat Blanch snarled, his free hand wrapping around her neck as he his face shifted till he was inches away. "Still think it's not real or do I have to wring that pretty little neck of yours?"
Keeping hold of Chat Blanch's one hand she wrapped her other around his wrist. "My Chat Noir would never hurt me. Adrien would never fall to something like you. This Isn't Real… It's… it's a NIGHTMARE!"
The realization thundered through her and Chat Blanch dissolved, changing into an old crone with a long hooked nose. Her hair was wrapped around Marinette's neck and fury seared through her as the old witch cackled flashing iron teeth. "Your fear is delicious child but old Babooyaga can tell you will be quite the handful! Too bad old Hawkmoth can't see into the dream realm while I'm here. I think he would be quite excited to know your secrets!"
Marinette snarled in fury yanking the hair around her throat down as she lunged forwards. Her fist flew faster than the Akuma could blink and Marinette scored a direct hit into the center of the Babooyagas face. With a screech Babooyaga released her, the scenery turning pitch black as Babooyaga lost control of the dream.
"Marinette! Wake up!" Tiki cried through the darkness and as Marinette reached for her voice the darkness shattered leaving Babooyaga behind screeching with fury.