day 24: "revenge of the phones"
At exactly 13:34, four minutes into the first class after lunch, three lockers swung open simultaneously. Out of them poured three separate backpacks. They slowly up-zipped themselves, and out of the bags climbed three cell phones. Each of these devices belonged to one of Marinette Dupain-Cheng's classmates. The phone with the yellow case decorated with shiny decals belonged to Chloe Bourgeois. The phone with the ladybug themed case belonged to Alya Cesaire. The blue phone without a case belonged to Adrien Agreste.
All of the phones had something in common: they were all recent victims of Marinette's kidnappings. All of them had barely escaped with their lives, and as a result were participating in a coalition geared towards life after the traumatic experience.
They phones positioned themselves in a circle on the floor of the locker room. "Alright everyone," Red began. "Welcome to the third meeting of Phones Against Marinette coalition. Let's go around the circle and talk about how our weeks went. Blue, you go first."
"This week has been really tough. Normally I don't have many issues, but Adrien has been spending a lot more time with Marinette and I am just not sure I can cope with the constant stress and worry about being stolen again."
The other group members nodded in agreement.
"I completely understand you, Blue." Red swayed vertically to convey her understanding. "Alya is best friends with her. I see her constantly!"
Yellow scoffed. "I can't even imagine going through what you two have to deal with. Thank God Chloe hates her. Otherwise I'd be a mess." Blue and Red appeared to be thankful for Yellow's sympathy. "If I had hands," she continued, "I would pat you both on the back and give you hugs.
Red teared up. "That is so beautiful, Yellow."
Blue pointed his front facing camera right at Yellow. "Your words mean the world to me."
The group continued to discuss the trials and tribulations of their lives post-kidnapping. The sorrow and anguish slowly morphed into something more- anger and pain.
Blue vibrated with anger. "We must do something, something big."
"I agree," Red responded. "We cannot continue to live in fear- fear for ourselves, fear for each other, or fear for the rest of the phones in the world. We must act."
"What would we do?" Blue asked.
"'Do unto others as they have done unto you.'" Yellow paraphrased the ancient phrase darkly. "I say, we kidnap her."
Red gasped and Blue smiled.
"But how do we do that? Humans are so large! And they have arms and legs!" Red panicked. "I cannot get lost again! Alya might replace me with a newer version if I do!"
"Oh chill out, Red." Blue paused for a second in active thought. "We kidnap her phone."
Yellow gasped. It was a perfect plan.
Red sat nervous. She was not entirely on board with the idea of kidnapping someone else, potentially leaving them with the same trauma the coalition was formed to eradicate. Unsure of herself, Red made her issues known to be group.
"Come on, Red," Yellow lightly chided. "If you wanted to be a conscientious objector, you should have thought harder about the vows of the coalition before you made the oath."
Red sighed. She knew Yellow was right. She made a pact with Yellow and Blue, and in order to preserve her honor, Red needed to agree to the plan. "No, you're right. I'm in."
Yellow and Blue let off a little cheer. "Now, what is our course of action?" Blue asked. Planning commenced, and by the end of the first period the group had a solid idea of what they were about to do.
In order to begin, they needed to get Marinette's locker open. Prepared to kick down the door, Red first walked up to it and knocked. "Hello? Pink, are you in there?"
"Coming!" A small voice came out from within the large locker. The door popped open and out tumbled a phone with a pink flowery case attached to it.
"Hi guys! What do you need?" Pink asked.
Red bit her tongue. She was unsure if she would be able to look herself in the mirror if she carried out the plan and received its moral implications. She shuddered. In that moment she believed herself to be a terrible person, and an even worse friend.
Seeing Red struggle, Yellow picked up the dialogue. "We need you to come with us," she said darkly.
"Alright sounds fun!" Red cringed. Pink was so easy going.
The rest of the plan was carried out quickly. The coalition quickly shut Pink into Yellow's book bag and secured Pink within Yellow's locker. Yellow then texted both Red and Blue a paragraph requesting ransom from Marinette in exchange for Pink back.
Both Red and Blue retuned to their lockers. Class was almost over, and soon Marinette would realize that Pink was missing.
Red was still visibly shaken. Why did she betray such a good friend? Was her own honor really worth infliciting harm on another phone? Pink would never forgive her for her actions. In a moment of weakness and blinded by revenge, Red had made the decision to expose one of her best friends to the same trauma she had been exposed to- except this time, it would hurt even worse knowing the deed was done by friends.