"I've been feeling extremely tired lately and the nightmares have been… I don't know, worse, lately. I know, somehow, that they're more vivid, more intense, but I still can't remember them and it's driving me crazy," Victoria confessed as her eyes remained fixed on her fidgeting hands, not daring to meet the eyes of her psychiatrist.

Dr. Duchaine leaned forward slightly, her expression gentle and encouraging. "Tell me what you remember about the nightmares, Victoria. Take your time."

"But that's the thing, I don't even know what to say," she said, finally looking at Dr. Duchaine. "I have these flashes of darkness, of voices, of … pain. It's terrifying, but there's nothing else. I just want to sleep, but I'm scared of it at the same time. It doesn't make sense, does it?"

"Are you taking to your medication correctly?"

Victoria nodded, her expression reflecting a hint of guilt. "I mean, yes, for the most part. Sometimes I forget, though. But I try, really, I do."

"I see," Dr. Duchaine said, taking a note. "And what about the voice?"

"Uh, it's been pretty insistent. It's like a constant presence. A whisper that I can't escape."

"What is it saying?"

"It wants me to be friends with the people I told you about yesterday. The one's from Paris. I take a pill whenever I hear it, but… It's giving me a lot of anxiety. It's just too much."

"It's completely understandable given the circumstances."

A heavy silence hung in the air, filled only by the distant sound of traffic outside the window. After a couple of minutes, Victoria whispered; "Something feels off."

Dr. Duchaine's brows lifted slightly in interest, inviting Victoria to elaborate. "What do you mean?"

"It's hard to put into words," Victoria admitted, her grip on her shirt tightening. "Something's bothering me, but I can't say what exactly."

"Is it possible that this unease is connected not only to the voice and the nightmares but also to your conflicting emotions about Lila's friends, as you told me yesterday?"

"Maybe. It's complicated. I don't know about Alya and Nino, but Adrien… I don't trust him. I know he hasn't been kind to Lila in the past. And yet…," she trailed off, lost in her thoughts.

"And yet what?" Dr. Duchaine prompted her.

"I can't help but be attracted to him," Victoria finally admitted, her voice trembling. "I haven't said it out loud. Gosh, I feel so guilty about it. It's not fair to Lila, even less to Dylan. I don't want to feel this way toward him, but my mind and my body are on two completely different pages. I just want to be a good friend to Lila, a good girlfriend to Dylan, and… I want to be true to myself. I'm a horrible person, aren't I?"

"We already went through this, Victoria. You are not a horrible person. To me, it sounds like you're grappling with loyalty, attraction, and a sense of moral conflict," Duchaine observed. "These are complex feelings to navigate, but your feelings are completely valid."

"I don't know about valid, but they're overwhelming."

"Feeling overwhelmed is a natural response," Dr. Duchaine affirmed. "It's crucial to acknowledge your emotions. Also, it's important to recognize that experiencing attraction to others is a human trait and it doesn't make you a bad person. Besides, you haven't acted on it, which actually says a lot about your character. The voice, the nightmares—they're all feeding into your anxiety, making it challenging to process your thoughts and feelings. We need to find a way to help you cope."

Victoria nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just want it all to stop. I want to feel normal again." She scoffed. "I don't think I even know what this feels like."

"Have you tried painting your thoughts and feelings?"

"Of course, just like you told me. I spent the whole day sketching at the park yesterday."

"What about your latest commissions?"

"Well, I gave my mystery client its painting, and I have a meeting with new clients later today."

"What did they ask for this time? Your mystery client, I mean."

"The same thing as always; I have complete creative freedom, as long as it follows one specific theme. This time, it was fire."

Dr. Duchaine hummed. "And were you happy with your work?"

"Meh," Victoria answered, making a so-so motion with her hand. "I think it was pretty, but it made me feel … weird, I guess. I was happy to get rid of it. It was a bit dark."

"Do you still enjoy making art?"

Victoria shrugged in a noncommittal way. "Sure, it's fun. I do sometimes feel like something's missing, though, but I don't know what."

The psychiatrist's thoughtful gaze met Victoria's. "I have an idea. There's a retreat, a peaceful place where you can take some time for yourself. It might help you find clarity, calm your mind. It could also have positive effects on your memory."

"A retreat? Where?"

"It's in Bali and it lasts a whole month, starting next week. It could give you the chance to disconnect from the outside world, to focus on yourself, on your art and most importantly, on your well-being. I'll have to make a couple of calls, but I think I could manage to find you a spot."

Victoria sighed, her fingers tapping nervously on her knees. "That does sound nice. I'll… I'll think about it. Can I call you tomorrow to give you my answer?"

"Of course, I'll be waiting for it. But Victoria, I truly think this could be beneficial for you."

Victoria hummed. "Yeah, I think you're right."

It took Alya and Adrien exactly five minutes to leave after Nino and Marinette left for the day. They couldn't bear being near Lila. Besides, Alya was pretty certain Adrien wouldn't hesitate to use Lila as a punching bag if the opportunity presented itself. Not that she didn't deserve it, or that Alya would've stopped him, but with Marinette's memories being gone once again… Well, they couldn't have that. Victoria couldn't come home only to find her best friend dead. She would soon enough realize that her boyfriend was missing, and that was big enough of a problem. So, Alya fabricated some half-ass lie about something they needed to do and managed to get herself and Adrien out of the apartment. They ended up at his place and, only a couple of minutes after, Adrien's second phone vibrated with a new message from Viperion. It simply said, "We need to talk," but it was enough to spur them into action and, after calling their transformation, they reached out to their friend.

The video call connected, revealing Viperion's face in a dimly lit room, the shadows dancing across his features. They couldn't figure out where he was, as the only thing visible behind their friend was the backdrop, which was a simple wall in dire need of a fresh coat of paint.

"Hey, guys," Viperion greeted, his voice laden with fatigue.

"What's going on?" Chat Noir immediately asked. "Is there an akuma attack?"

"No, nothing like that. The fucker woke up about two hours ago."

"Where is he?"

A shadow of a smirk played across Viperion's lips. "Somewhere no one will find him. Trust me, I made sure of that."

"Good enough for me," Chat Noir said, his voice tinged with a hint of grim satisfaction. "Did he reveal anything interesting?"

Viperion's expression turned sour. "Oh, he talked alright. Maybe too much, if you ask me. But honestly, it was just a bunch of bullshit for the most part. For the juicy bits, well, he needed some … persuasion."

"Persuasion?" Alya asked. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say we had to get creative to loosen his tongue."

"You're telling me you…?"

Viperion simply shrugged. "I didn't do anything worse than what Chat already did. And you know, you'd be surprised by what we can do with a bit of psychology. It works wonders. It's not like he doesn't deserve it anyway."

"Agreed," Chat Noir said. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Rena Rouge cleared her throat. "We're getting off track. What did he reveal?"

"He mentioned something that caught my attention. He was promised a miraculous in exchange for his services."

Chat Noir's eyes widened behind his mask. "Wait, hold on, a miraculous?"

"Yeah. You didn't tell me Hawkmoth was involved in all of this."

"We didn't know, not for sure at least," Rena Rouge explained. "We thought about it, but… So, at the moment, we're looking at Hawkmoth, Lila, Dylan, and that doctor… Did he mention anything else?"

"Uh, he mumbled something about a voice, I guess? Neither I nor Pegasus could understand what he was talking about, though. We'll keep pressing him for information. I-"

"Are you talking to Rena Rouge?" a new voice piped in.

"And Chat Noir."

Viperion's explanation was accompanied by the appearance of Pegasus's face on the screen. The latter wasted no time, diving right in. "I've got news."

"About the drugs?" Chat asked.

"Yes. So, none of these actually exist out there. They're a concoction of various other drugs. Give me a moment, I've got my notes here." He unfurled a piece of paper. "Alright, let's start with the Zomnolaxte. It's a sleep-inducing medication that interacts with specific receptors in the brain, slowing neural activity and promoting relaxation. It seems to have roots in Zolpidem, a sedative-hypnotic drug. Zolpidem not only helps you fall asleep but also stays asleep. It's also known for its potential to trigger sleepwalking and its side effects like visual and auditory hallucinations."

"But it's not identical to Zolpidem."

"Correct. It's based on it, but there are distinct differences. I haven't pinpointed the precise impact of these differences yet."

Chat Noir rubbed the back of his neck. "And the others?"

"Well, Auditamol seems to be a neurotransmitter-targeting medication used to manage auditory hallucinations and intrusive thoughts by adjusting specific brain chemicals. It appears to share lineage with drugs like Risperidone or Aripiprazole, which are often employed to manage schizophrenia symptoms. Next, we have the Oxlylextine. It's a strong analgesic designed to mitigate moderate to severe pain. It binds to particular receptors in the central nervous system, modulating pain signals and diminishing the perception of discomfort. While clearly rooted in oxycodone, they've somehow managed to reduce the risk of high dependence. Honestly, that's impressive. Now, the Memixonor. I found some faint resemblances to Midazolam, but they're tenuous. Based on your information, Rena, and my research, it seems to be a substance with the ability to rapidly induce a state of high confusion and fatigue."

"What's the uh…" Rena's voice trailed off. "What was it? Midaz … something?"

"Midazolam. It's usually injected before surgery or other procedures to produce sleepiness, drowsiness and to relieve anxiety. But, it is also known for inducing a brief period of retrograde amnesia."

Chat Noir muttered a curse under his breath.

"And finally," Pegasus resumed, "we have the Merendixil. It was the hardest to identify due to the absence of similar drugs out there. But I cracked it. It acts on the brain's memory consolidation process."

"Meaning?"

"Memory consolidation is a complex sequence through which recently acquired information transitions from short-term to long-term memory storage. This process is crucial for memory retention over time. The Merendixil has an influence on how memories are formed and fortified in the brain. It…" he paused before continuing, "it appears to interfere with the processes that stabilize memories, causing them to weaken and eventually fade."

"Weaken and fade," Chat Noir echoed in a hushed tone.

"However, it's not particularly strong," Pegasus added quickly. "Merendixil is rather … mild, for lack of a better term. It achieves its effect, but only within a limited timeframe. It necessitates repeated administration for prolonged efficacy."

"So, if she misses a dose …," Rena Rouge trailed off, simply raising one eyebrow.

"The memories will begin to resurface," Pegasus completed.

Rena's eyes sparkled with a hopeful glint as she turned toward Chat Noir, her voice brimming with excitement. "Alright, so that's good! Don't you see, Chat? Her memories could come back. We saw it last night. She probably forgot to take it and she woke up remembering!"

However, despite his friend's enthusiasm, Chat Noir's demeanour remained sombre, his furrowed brow and downcast eyes speaking volumes. "Yeah, sure, Rena. Her memories … but what about the rest of it? She's on a drug with supposedly low dependency risk, but there's still a risk, and then there's another one to combat fucking hallucinations. Seriously, what the hell?"

"It's probably the Zomnolaxte that is giving her hallucinations."

Chat Noir scoffed. "We don't know that for sure. For fuck's sake, we don't know anything for sure! We just have fucking theories!"

His frustration boiled over, and he abruptly pushed back from the table, storming towards the other room. He called off his transformation once he was out of sight, leaving behind an unsettling silence. Rena released a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping with the weight of the situation. "Guys, I'll get back to you later. Thank you for everything."

"It's nothing," Pegasus said.

Viperion's face reappeared on the screen. "Take care of him, Rena."

"I will," she promised before ending the call and calling off her own transformation. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, preparing herself to chase after her friend. Yet, before she could even move, Adrien reappeared in the room, his sudden return catching her off guard. His face was pale and his eyes wide with something akin to distress. Alya was immediately on guard.

"What happened?"

"Check your messages. It's Nino," he explained, his fingers typing rapidly on his phone as he spoke.

A surge of panic rushed through her veins, her heart hammering against her ribcage. Her hands trembled slightly as she retrieved her phone, hastily unlocking the screen and looking at her recent messages.

From: Nino🐢💚
To: just some furries
SOS WE NEED TO MEET ASAP IM NOT FUCKING KIDDING GUYS WE NEED TO TALK RIGHT NOW!

From: Sunshine ️
To: just some furries
What's going on? We're at my place.

From: Nino🐢💚
To: just some furries
omw

Alya lifted her eyes, meeting Adrien's gaze. There was a shared confusion in their expressions, a shadow of fear hinting at the edges. Together, they sat on the couch for what felt like an eternity before the front door suddenly opened. They both sprang to their feet, rushing to meet Nino. He was out of breath and his complexion was unnaturally pale.

"What happened?" Adrien asked and simultaneously, Alya blurted out, "Are you okay?"

"Just … need a minute…"

"Take your time," Alya said softly. "Do you want to sit down?"

Nino's breathing began to steady, though his eyes were still filled with distress. "I'm not the one who should be sitting."

"Nino, what's going on?"

"I followed Marinette when she got out of the car. I wanted to see who her doctor was and everything…" He paused, his gaze locking onto Adrien's. "I'm serious dude, you might want to sit down."

Adrien's brows furrowed and his heartbeat quickened. "Why?"

"Dude…"

"Just tell us!"

Nino took a deep breath. "Fine. Dr. Duchaine is Nathalie."

Time seemed to momentarily freeze, the air thickening with disbelief. The faint gasp that escaped Alya's lips barely registered to Adrien, his attention solely fixated on Nino's words. The revelation hung in the air, a shocking truth that he struggled to comprehend. He felt Alya's gaze on him, the weight of her concern, but he was lost in the chaos of his own thoughts. How could it be? It didn't make any sense. He'd trusted Nathalie for years. She had been, if not a friend, at least an ally. She couldn't be involved in something like this. She simply couldn't.

"No, Nino, you must've seen wrong. That's impossible."

He hated the look of pity his friends shared, but he couldn't really blame them now, could he? His denial must have looked pathetic for them who'd never loved nor trusted Nathalie.

"Adrien, think about it," Alya's voice was gentle yet firm. "Nathalie was deeply intertwined with your father's affairs. And she knew how much Marinette meant to you."

"Exactly!" Adrien's voice held an edge of frustration, his gaze locking onto Alya's. He needed her to understand. Needed her to understand that Nathalie would've never done something so vile, so horrible, so evil. She might have been distant, always professional, but she wasn't a monster. She wasn't like Lila and Dylan. "Nathalie knew what Marinette was to me. She wouldn't do something like this. There's no reason for her to."

"Dude…"

"It can't be. Nathalie left after … after Marinette's … after her death…"

Alya's voice was unwavering as she stared Adrien down. "Why did she leave, Adrien?"

A weighty silence hung in the air, Adrien's voice eventually breaking it. "I don't know."

"She left to come to Los Angeles to watch over Marinette. It adds up."

"But it doesn't! Why would she do that?"

"Dylan admitted to working with Hawkmoth," Alya reminded him.

Nino's gasp filled the room, his shock echoing in his words. "Wait, what? He did? Oh shit, oh shit, oh…"

"Babe."

"Right, sorry."

Adrien's fear was palpable as he spoke, "What are you suggesting?"

Alya's eyes bore into his, determined and compassionate. "Think, sunshine. Dylan, Lila, and Nathalie—they're working for Hawkmoth."

"So?"

"If Nathalie is involved—"

"No."

"We all know how close they were, Adrien," Nino chimed in.

The desperation in Adrien's eyes was raw. "It doesn't mean my father has any part in this!"

Alya gently cupped his chin, guiding his gaze to meet hers. His eyes reflected a storm of emotions—fear, confusion, and a growing realization. "Sunshine, it's the only logical conclusion."

"He wouldn't do this, Alya," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "My father can't be this cruel."

"Oh, dude," Nino interjected, pulling Adrien into a supportive embrace. "We'll figure this out. It's gonna be okay."

"How?" Adrien's voice quivered. "Why? Why would he do this? It doesn't make sense." He gently pulled away from Nino's embrace and walked toward the couch before slumping on it. "I don't understand. What's his part in all of this?"

Alya and Nino exchanged a concerned glance before joining Adrien on the couch.

"Sunshine," Alya began gently, "I'm sorry, but I don't think your dad is just involved."

Adrien looked at her, confusion etched on his features. "What do you mean?"

"Lila and Nathalie are both in this," Alya explained. "And they both used to work for your father."

"Nathalie was devoted to the men," Nino added.

"True. Curiously, they both stopped working for him seven years ago. And what else happened seven years ago?"

"Marinette died," Adrien uttered in a hushed tone.

"Yeah. I don't think it's a coincidence," Alya stated.

Adrien shook his head in disbelief. "No, Alya, please, don't say it."

"Then I will," Nino spoke firmly. "Adrien, I think your father might be Hawkmoth."

"No!" Adrien's shout filled the room as he rose to his feet. "No, no, no, no! I did not live with Hawkmoth for years! It can't be my father who did all of this to Marinette! No!"

"Kid," Plagg interjected, floating beside his distraught owner.

"It can't be true," Adrien continued, pulling at his hair, his voice trembling. "I won't ever forgive myself if that's the truth.

"You couldn't have known," Alya reassured him, blinking as to stop her tears from falling. "It's not your fault."

"Besides," Nino added, "you and Ladybug removed him from the suspect list after his own akumatization."

Adrien's voice dropped to a whisper, his gaze distant, unfocused, far, far away from there. He wasn't listening to his friends, lost in a world of his own as realization set in. "Oh, my God, it's for my mom. He's doing it to bring her back. How could I be so fucking blind?"

Plagg positioned himself in front of Adrien, forcing him to focus. He had to call his chosen's name a couple of times before Adrien's attention finally snap back to him. "Kid, you're being too hard on yourself. If anyone's at fault here, it's me. I shared a house with Nooroo for years and didn't sense it. I should've known."

"What, no, it's not your fault, Plagg!"

"Then how could it be yours?"

Adrien let out a shaky breath. "It was my job to protect her and I failed in every single way. But I just... I don't understand why he'd do this to Marinette."

"Well, Hawkmoth's primary targets have always been Ladybug and Chat Noir," Nino said. "I highly doubt he anticipated Marinette being Ladybug."

"But why keep her alive afterwards?" Alya asked.

"Maybe because he knew what she meant to me?" Adrien's voice trailed off as he said it, an inkling of doubt shadowing his words. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely convinced by his own theory. If his father had been aware for all these years that the love of his life was still alive and never said anything about it…

"Get over yourself, son," his father had told him a few weeks after Marinette's death. The bitter irony of it all made Adrien laugh, though it was devoid of any true humour. "It's insane, isn't it? If anyone should have understood the pain of losing someone they love, it should have been him. And yet…"

"I can't say I'm surprised," Nino affirmed, slowly shaking his head. "I mean, the dude has always been … cold."

"Alright, so, if Gabriel is Hawkmoth… What happened?" Alya asked, standing up and pacing around the room.

"Let's start at the beginning," Nino suggested, pulling Adrien by the elbow to force him to sit back down next to him before pulling him close by the shoulders. "The Angel of Darkness attacked."

"Right. And Marinette died. Well, kind of."

"And then, it's a whole fucking blur for seven years," Adrien mumbled, shaking his head, one hand gently scratching the top of Plagg's head who was purring against him.

"The paramedics took her," Nino reminded them.

Alya nodded. "That's true. Maybe they brought her to Hawkmoth. But why?"

"I mean, they could've been paid or something, I guess?"

"We went to their house when we searched for the earrings, right?"

Adrien shook his head. "We tried, but no one answered the first house, and the wife of the second one told us he was missing. And when we checked with the police, they confirmed the missing person report. They suspected he'd left with his mistress."

"Right, right… Well, I'm stuck. What happened after the fight … and during the seven following years? We just know that Marinette suddenly came back from the death, after suffering injuries she definitely shouldn't have recovered from, with apparently no memories and hallucinations. That doesn't make any sense."

"Wait," Plagg suddenly said, his purring abruptly stopping. "What did you say, foxy?"

Alya stopped pacing, watching the kwami with confusion, "Uh, that it doesn't make any sense?"

"Before that."

"That Marinette's injuries were too severe and that she shouldn't have been able to make a full recovery?"

"And after…"

"That she has no memories and apparently suffers from hallucinations? Oh," she turned to look at Adrien, "could this be the voice Dylan was referring to?"

Adrien shrugged. "Maybe. Plagg, what's going on? Are you alright?"

They all looked at the God whose tiny body was trembling. Adrien made a move to stand up, but Plagg stopped him with one shaking paw.

"He's not keeping Marinette alive for your sake, kid."

"Uh, okay. Cool."

Wayzz materialized behind Nino, his tone carrying a weight of realization. "Oh, Plagg, you don't think—"

"Yes, I think so. Oh, sugar cube, what did you do?"

"Plagg, what the hell is going on?"

Adrien hadn't meant to yell. His anxiety made his voice sharper and his patience thin. He was about to say sorry to his little friend, but Plagg didn't seem to care. Hell, he clearly hadn't even noticed. The kwami simply turned around to look at him and for the first time, Adrien could see how wide his eyes were and how distraught he looked.

"I know where Tikki is."