"Are you serious?" Victoria asked, incredulous. She passed a hand through her hair before folding her arms over her chest, her face a mix of frustration and disappointment. "You just got here!"
Dylan sighed. "I know, love, I'm sorry," he said, his hands finding her waist and pulling her gently to him. "I'm just really tired, and I don't feel like it anymore. Maybe we could go home, just the two of us. What do you think?"
She glanced back behind her, where she could see the lights coming from the club. They seemed to promise laughter, dancing and excitement; everything she craved. She didn't want to leave, not yet anyway. The night was just getting started!
Victoria had been so happy to finally be able to let loose and to have fun, especially with new people, ones who didn't know her better than herself. And Alya and Nino had both been a blessing in disguise, so warm and welcoming. It was nice to talk and dance with them. For a moment, she even thought that she could finally have a conversation with Adrien! But then, Dylan had texted her. At first, she figured that the night could only be better with him there, but instead, the moment she met him outside, she knew the party was over.
It was a shame, really, but she kind of wished he hadn't come. Not that she wasn't happy to see him, of course, but she didn't want to go home just to have sex and then sleep. This was not the night she had planned! She wanted to break the routine, do something else for once. But reality had a firm grip on her. Just like her nightmares, it was impossible to run away from the monotony of her life. There was no escape.
I should just play along, she thought. He does so much for me.
Really, how could she say no when Dylan had sacrificed so much for her? Agreeing to this was nothing compared to everything he did. Such a small price to pay. Maybe, if she tried to accept her life instead of praying for a change, it wouldn't be so hard. Lila always reminded her that she was the luckiest girl in the world; a loving boyfriend, good friends, money, a job she liked. What more could she ask for? She might not have a real family, or even memories older than a couple of years old, but instead of focusing on everything she didn't have, maybe she could be grateful for everything she did have.
"OK, yeah, let's go," she relented with a small smile. "It's a good idea."
"Thank you," Dylan whispered as he leaned in to kiss her.
Victoria closed her eyes, but just as their lips were about to meet, there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. She opened her eyes, confused, only to see that Dylan was frozen, his attention fixed on something over her shoulder.
"Babe?" she asked as she turned around, only to be greeted with Alya, Nino and Adrien standing a few feet behind her. She raised her hand to wave at them, but the expression on Adrien's face stopped her mid-motion.
The whole night, she had been blown away by him. Of course, when they first met, her mind had been preoccupied with something else; namely, their reaction to her own appearance. But tonight, now that she had had the chance to really look at him, she had fully realized how handsome he was. Oh, and what a sight he was. His blond hair was styled in a dishevelled way, a snug black shirt highlighted his well-defined muscles and his dark pants perfectly contoured some … interesting parts of his.
Needless to say, he had had quite the effect on her.
The moment they entered the club, walking side by side, Victoria felt like combusting. She could feel a spark of electricity whenever their skin accidentally brushed, and it was almost a relief when the crowd pushed them apart. Yet, the second he was away, she started yearning for his touch. She desperately wanted him near her, needed him to touch her. It was coming out of nowhere and truly frightening.
She spent the night trying to suppress her feelings, taking drink after drink to try and forget him, but no amount of alcohol helped. She kept stealing glances at him here and there, watching as he moved, his back muscles flexing in a way that made her burn inside. And when she wasn't looking at his back, it was his hands; or more precisely, his long finger, which awoke an inexplicable fire within her. They somehow reminded her of her phantom hands, and she couldn't help but wonder how they would feel caressing her most sensitive places. Sometimes, he would turn to look at her, and her cheeks would flush with both lust and shame.
That's it, I'm officially the worst friend and girlfriend in the entire fucking world. Congrats, Victoria, you are a terrible human being!
Victoria knew she shouldn't feel this way. Not when she had a loving boyfriend, one who would do anything for her and who supported her through her ups and lows. And with all the things Lila had told her about Adrien Agreste, she should've felt nothing but mistrust and disgust for him. And yet, she couldn't deny the attraction, even though she desperately wished she could.
I don't understand, he doesn't seem so bad.
So, the whole night, Adrien had rendered her breathless. Only a couple of minutes earlier, if she had caught him gawking at her like this, she might have jumped him right here and there. But instead, it took her breath away in a completely different way. His previously radiant appearance had disappeared as he now looked deadly pale, his eyes filled with torments. A chill ran down her spine.
Hug him, comfort him, the ever-intrusive voice in her mind whispered. What are you waiting for?
Shut up, she thought back. Why would I do that? We don't even know each other.
"Hey," Alya said as she approached them, shaking her out of her thoughts. "Uh, Adrien's not feeling well, so we're gonna call it at night."
Victoria's heart seemed to drop, although she couldn't figure out why, exactly. "Oh, right, sure. I hope he'll feel better soon."
"Me too. Let's talk again soon, OK?"
"Of course, give me or Lila a call whenever you want."
Alya simply nodded, her gaze lingering on Dylan for a moment, before she turned away.
"So, ready to go?" Dylan asked.
"What about Lila and Reid?" Victoria wondered, unease creeping in. Maybe they could just wait a bit more…
"Already texted them," he said, and her hope vanished. "They're gonna go back to Reid's place. We have the apartment all to ourselves."
"Oh, great."
It's fine, she thought, repeating her old mantra, her inner voice sounding distorted, as though it wasn't her own. You love him and he loves you. You want what he deserves.
She managed a smile and accepted Dylan's extended hand. But as they walked away, she couldn't help but glance back at the trio. They were going in the opposition direction, Alya and Nino rubbing circles on Adrien's back and seemingly speaking to him. She could almost picture herself in their place, whispering in his ears and telling him that everything was going to be alright; which didn't make any sense! Why did she feel this way towards him? Her sexual attraction to him was one thing, one that she could blame on her hormones or something, but this needs to stay by his side and offer her support? And as if it wasn't enough, the voice in her head begged her to be with him. It tugged at her like the first night they met, but she pushed it aside, keeping a firm hold on Dylan's hand instead.
I'm stronger than this.
She was going to turn back. Really, she was! She was going to erase Adrien from her thoughts, move on with her life, and enjoy the company of her boyfriend when he suddenly looked back. Their eyes met, and the whole world seemed to fade around them. They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, simply staring at each other. She couldn't blink, couldn't look away, as she envisioned his eyes turning an even more intense shade of green, masked by something dark.
Go! the voice screamed at her.
Victoria jumped, startled, and the vision dissipated. The world reappeared around them and Dylan stepped in front of her, frowning.
"Babe, you're OK?" he wondered, his voice filled with concern.
"Yeah, yeah," she said, trying to look past him, but Nino and Alya were tugging along with them a reluctant Adrien. "I don't know, I… I guess I'm just tired, too."
"You took your medication today, right?"
"Of… Wait, no, I forgot."
"Well, that explains it. Let's take care of this now."
She nodded and followed him as he passed an arm around her shoulders, holding her close. Her heart felt heavy, burdened by something she couldn't quite comprehend.
What is wrong with me?
Because there was definitely something wrong with her. She was so ashamed of the person she was, of how she treated those who loved her. They stood by her and listened to her when she cried about the nightmares or the voice. And yet, here she was, betraying their trust, feeling this pull towards not only Adrien but his friends, too. Not in the same way, of course, but there was something that she couldn't explain. Like she belonged right next to them. It didn't make any sense, she barely knew them! But her heart … her heart felt safe with them. She couldn't explain it, not really, but it was something unknown to her. Something she hadn't realized she had been missing.
I can't keep doing this. This isn't fair.
She abruptly stopped, startling Dylan as she gripped his shirt in a tight fist, pulling him close to her. Her wide eyes might have given away the panic she felt deep in her core, but she didn't care. She needed to mend whatever was broken within her, and she needed to do it now.
"Vee? What's going on?"
"I love you, you know that right?" she blurted out, her heart pleading for his understanding.
Please, forgive me. I'm so sorry, I love you.
God didn't she wished she could say more. She wanted to confess, beg for his forgiveness for whatever was pulling her away and always keeping him at bay. But as always, something prevented her from saying something. She was tongue-tied, stuck behind her racing thoughts and feelings. She couldn't make sense of anything, except this guilt that gnawed at her soul.
Dylan gently smiled, the worry lines on his face disappearing, and relief flooded through her. "Of course. I love you too, more than anything else."
He was everything she could have hoped for. He offered her comfort, stability, support and love. So why couldn't she be the girl he rightfully deserved?
I will be, she decided. Starting now.
Resolved, she stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Dylan didn't hesitate, his hands finding her hips as they embrace in what soon turned into a heated kiss. It deepened with every passing second as their hands became more demanding, tugging at each other's clothes with urgency. Thank God they were in Los Angeles; no one here, especially at this time of the night, was surprised by this kind of display. Of course, there were some catcalls and someone even whistled, but Victoria didn't mind. She was a woman on a mission.
She slightly pulled back, only to kiss his jaw, and then his neck, sucking right at the spot she knew drove him wild. His breath hitched, and he uttered a low moan of pleasure, his hands firmly gripping her ass. Her own hands wandered progressively lower and lower until they rested on his belt. With a deliberate move, she pressed their hips together, grinning as she felt the effect she had on him.
"Let's go home," she whispered in his ears, her voice laced with seduction. "Let's make our own private party."
Dylan chuckled breathlessly. "Damn. Now that's my girl."
Yes. I'm yours, she swore. Forever, I promise.
—
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Nino wondered the next morning, a little before noon, as they sat in the car in front of the girls' apartment.
Adrien, who had insisted on driving, gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity. His eyes were red and puffy from the sleepless night he had spent crying, yet his glare was strikingly determined, focused, and above all, furious, as he stared at the building. It mirrored the signature look he wore as Chat Noir, the one reserved for particularly difficult opponents—a look that seemed to say, "I'm done playing this game, you're all going to pay." Often, that expression made the villains flee, tails between their legs.
"Yes," he answered, his voice dangerously low, a barely contained storm of emotions.
In the air, Plagg and the other two kwamis exchanged helpless glances, unsure of how to calm Adrien's boiling rage.
"OK, buttercup, you might want to take a breath," Alya intervened, reaching from the backseat to place a soothing hand on his shoulder. His muscles tensed at the touch. "Remember, we're not here to kidnap her. We just need more information."
"She's right. We need to understand what's going on. This is bigger than us, dude. We don't know how many people are involved," Nino added, trying to reason with Adrien.
"I know," Adrien ground out between clenched teeth. "I'll play the part, but I don't have to like it."
"Of course not," Alya reassured. "None of us do. But we have to be smart about this. Pegasus left me a message last night; we should have the results tonight. We'll have the undeniable proof we need."
A tense silence settled over the car. Then, Adrien muttered, "I'll kill them all, I swear."
"Is this really the way to go?" Nino asked and his words caused the others to glance at him with wide eyes, as if he had sprouted a third eye in the middle of his forehead.
"They've been lying to her, manipulating her, abusing her for years, Nino. There's no other way for this to end. I don't care how many people are involved; they will all pay," Adrien declared, switching off the ignition, and stepping out of the car with a resounding slam of the door.
"This isn't going to end well," Alya whispered before following him out.
Nino sighed but joined them. Together, they walked towards the apartment entrance, their kwamis fading into their respective hiding places. They were about to ring to ask to be let in when a woman exited the building, her arms full with a bag and a screaming toddler. Always the gentleman, Adrien held open the door, using his model smile on her. She blushed and thanked him, and the three Parisians were able to walk into the place without alerting anyone. Even though the elevator ride was silent, Adrien could perfectly well hear his heart beating ridiculously fast in his chest.
You can do this, you can do this, you can do this.
They walked towards the right door, each step seeming heavier than the previous one. As they reached it, Adrien's hand shook slightly before he knocked, steeling himself with resolve. However, as soon as the door opened, his determination seemed to vanish like a puff of smoke.
"Oh, hi," Victoria greeted, frowning. "What are you doing here?"
There was a striking difference about her today. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, her skin and clothes adorned with smudges of paint, but it was the guarded look in her eyes that troubled them the most. Even her smile seemed forced, and they immediately knew that something had happened between the previous night and this morning. She had been bubbly and happy, genuinely enjoying their company. But now, an invisible barrier seemed to separate them.
She doesn't want us here, Alya realized. But why?
"We were wondering if Lila was here," she quickly lied, caught off guard by Victoria's changed attitude.
"No, she didn't come home last night, and she had an appointment this morning. I can tell her you stopped by, though," Victoria responded, already moving to close the door, her voice distant.
"Actually," Adrien began, and Victoria stopped, but refused to meet his eyes, "Can you call her? We think she might have accidentally taken my wallet last night, and I kind of need it."
Victoria lifted her head, her eyes fixed on the wall behind them. She hesitated for a second, and then nodded, gesturing for them to come inside. As they entered the apartment, the tension in the air was palpable.
"You can just wait here; I'll go call her."
"Thanks, I really appreciate it," Adrien replied politely.
For the first time that day, Victoria truly looked at him. The second their eyes met, she froze and blushed. And then, she abruptly turned on her heels and headed into another room with her phone in hand.
"Is it just me, or is she acting weird?" Nino whispered to the others.
"Something's definitely going on," Adrien agreed, just as Alya said, "Guys, come check this out."
They approached Alya, who stood frozen, her eyes fixed on a half-finished painting. She was staring at it with her mouth slightly open, and her eyes were slowly but surely filling with tears. Confused, Adrien was about to ask her what was wrong, when he truly took a look at the painting. Clearly, the artwork wasn't finished, but the scene painted in front of them made his blood run cold.
The scene, while unfinished, was still vivid enough, a masterpiece that seemed to flicker with life. Fire blazed on the canvas, so realistic that anyone would've questioned if they could feel its heat by getting too close. In the background, buildings crumbled while a mysterious dark figure loomed over everything. Four smaller silhouettes stood in the foreground, their backs turned, as they seemingly observed what they recognized as The Angel of Darkness.
"Lila said she doesn't have your wallet," Victoria stated as she returned to the room, but stopped dead in her tracks when she realized what they were looking at. "Oh! It's not finished yet."
"It's …," Adrien's voice trailed off, lost for words.
It's a beautiful recreation of the worst day of my life.
Nino cleared his throat. "Amazing. You're really talented."
"Thank you. My client is expecting it tomorrow, and as I said, it's not done, so I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
"Of course!" Alya quickly responded, shaking herself out of the painting's trance. "We're gonna go now. Right, Adrien?"
She pulled on Adrien's arm, rousing him from his thoughts.
"Right, yeah. Leaving now."
"Sorry about your wallet."
"My… Oh, yeah, no, don't worry about it," he said, blinking rapidly. He could feel Plagg starting to purr in his shirt.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
"Alright, then," Victoria said, opening the door for them, vaguely gesturing towards the hallway.
Why isn't she looking at us? Adrien wondered. What's going on? I can't leave her like this. What's wrong, m'lady?
"Hey, are you OK?" he asked, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.
Startled, she jumped back a step, as if his touch burned her. "Of course! Why wouldn't I be fine? Lots of work, though, so you absolutely gotta go now. Nice talking to you, see you around, bye!" she practically screamed, pushing them out of the apartment and closing the door abruptly.
"Uh," Nino said, staring at the now-closed door. "Well, there's really no doubt that this is Marinette."
"Hey, guys!"
Surprised, they all turned around, only to find Dylan standing before them. He had a couple of law books in his arms, and a backpack on his shoulders.
"Is everything good?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah," Alya said. "We came to check for, uh…"
"Adrien's wallet, "Nino chimed in.
"Adrien's wallet, yeah! We thought Lila might have it, so Vee called her, but hey, she doesn't have it, so we're just gonna go now. Victoria seems to have a lot of work, so we don't want to bother her more."
"Ah, sorry about that," Dylan chuckled. "She really gets in the zone when she's painting. Uh, you alright, man?"
Their gazes switched to Adrien, who was silently glaring at Dylan. "Peachy, "he answered curtly.
"OK, well, I'd better get inside and make my girlfriend some lunch. See you around, guys."
"Sure, dude. Let's go, guys."
Alya grabbed Adrien's shirt and tugged him along. He followed but couldn't stop staring at Dylan, who seemed to grow paler with every passing second.
"Stop that," Alya hissed once they were in the elevator. "Do you want us to get caught?"
"I'll kill him."
"Yeah, yeah, we know, kid," Plagg said from inside Adrien's shirt. "You might want to keep the murder tendencies on the low for right now, though."
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, right. Sorry."
"Reid just texted me," Nino suddenly announced, his eyes glued to his phone. "He's inviting Adrien and me to dinner."
"Is Dylan gonna be there?" Adrien asked, spitting the name out like the worst insult.
"I don't know. He just said 'dinner between the boys,' so maybe."
"This is perfect. Sunshine, we don't want Dylan to think we're onto them. You need to be extra friendly with him tonight."
Adrien scoffed. "Sure, that should be easy."
Oh yeah. I'm gonna be real friendly with him, right after I cataclysm his face off.
"No murder, dude."
"No murder yet."
"Fine," Nino sighed before repeating, "No murder yet. But seriously, something was going on with her."
"I know. But whatever she's going through, we'll face it together," Alya swore, her determination shining through her worried expression. "As soon as we can."
Adrien nodded, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He couldn't shake the image of the painting from his mind, nor the way Victoria looked when they left her apartment as though somehow angry to see them there.
"Wait," he said as they got into the car. "The painting. It proves that she remembers something deep down, right? If the memories are still there, we can bring them back."
Alya gasped. "Oh, my God, you're right."
"OK, but why doesn't she remember?" Nino asked.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out. And I think I have an idea," Alya said, her mind racing with possibilities.
The boys exchanged a glance, frowning. "Should we be scared?" Nino wondered aloud.
"Not you. Lila and Dylan? Definitely."
—
The moment the door closed behind them, Victoria's composure evaporated. Her body started trembling and she let herself collapse onto the floor, curling into a ball. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her forehead on her knees, as though trying to shield herself from whatever troubled her.
"It's gonna be fine," she whispered, her voice shaky and tears welling in her eyes as she rocked herself back and forth. "Everything's fine."
Run after them.
The haunting voice echoed in her mind, repeating the same thing over and over again. Panic surged through her, and she clamped her hands over her ears, trying to silence the relentless whispers.
"No! Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she yelled, hoping to drown out the voice.
"Vee, love, hey!" Dylan's gentle voice said right near her, and she jolted in surprise, her tear-filled eyes widening.
She hadn't heard him come in, and his sudden presence caught her off guard. He approached cautiously, lowering himself to the floor beside her, his hands lifted in surrender.
"Hey, hey, it's me, you're safe," he reassured her.
And then, just like that, the floodgates opened. She simply couldn't hold back the torrent of tears any longer. Violent sobs racked her body as she reached out for her boyfriend. He immediately encircled her in his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. A refuge amidst the storm.
"I don't know what's going on," she managed to say between ragged breaths, her voice choked with emotion.
Dylan stroked her hair gently, his touch soothing as he whispered words of comfort, "I know, it's OK. We're going to call Doctor Duchaine, yeah? She's going to help you, baby."
Victoria nodded weakly, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. "Please…"
"I'm right here, my love," Dylan promised, his voice unwavering. "You're safe. No one's gonna hurt you."
She clung to him for what seemed like an eternity, desperately trying to hold on to the love she knew was real.
"Thank you," she whispered once her body eventually ran out of tears.
"Don't thank me. It's the least I can do, trust me."