Adrien had never felt like this before. It wasn't anger that filled his entire being. No, it was something more intense, more primal. It was fury, coursing through his veins like a fire. His whole world seemed to have narrowed down to the unconscious girl on the bed and the man who held her down. Without a moment's hesitation, Adrien lunged forward, his voice erupting in a guttural roar, "Let her go!"

The scream seemed to startle Dylan, who apparently hadn't heard them come in, too focused on his own fight with Marinette. His grip on her tightened for a second before he released her, his hands raising in a gesture of surrender. But Adrien's control had disappeared. His hands connected with Dylan's chest, sending him flying across the room. The force of the impact against the wall was enough to knock the air out of Dylan, but Adrien wasn't done. Far from it.

He closed the gap in an instant, grabbing Dylan by the collar and slamming him against the wall, his fingers curling around the man's throat.

"What the hell did you do to her?" he growled, his eyes blazing with unrestrained rage. It was a scary sight. He had completely lost the small amount of control he previously had on himself and yet, neither Alya nor Nino stopped him.

Struggling for air, Dylan's face contorted in pain as he tried to speak. "She's … she's just sleeping," he gasped out, his voice strained and desperate. "Didn't hurt her…"

Behind them, Alya was working to untie Marinette's bound, her hands moving quickly as she whispered, "It's okay Mari, we're here now. Can you hear me?"

"She's just sleeping!"

The fire in Adrien's eyes didn't waver as he released Dylan, letting him slump to the ground. He gave him a second, letting the pathetic excuse of a man think he was finally out of the woods, before kicking him hard in the abdomen. Dylan whimpered on the ground, but that didn't stop Adrien as his fist connected with Dylan's face, filling the room with the satisfying sound of broken bones.

There was a cough beside him, making Adrien briefly glance at his friend. He'd expected Nino to tell him to stop punching Dylan, but instead, his best friend was glaring at the boy with hate, his hands closed in tight fists.

"What did you give her?"

Dylan spat out some blood. "It's Memixonor."

"The fuck is that?"

"It puts her back to sleep, that's all! It doesn't hurt her! I… I love her! I even brought her a ring, I want to marry her! I love Vee, really, I do, I—"

Dylan's words were cut off by another fierce kick from Adrien, silencing him. "Don't call her that," Adrien spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Her name is Marinette."

"We should call the cops," Nino said. "Maybe we could—"

Dylan laughed bitterly, interrupting him. "The cops? Fucking idiots …," he spat out some blood again, "the cops won't touch me. My dad's one of the biggest lawyers in the world. They're pussies, scares shitless of him. We can do whatever the fuck we want, they'll just look the other way. Really, who do you think they're gonna believe?"

"We have proof," Adrien told him.

"Proof of what? When she wakes up, she'll be on my side. I'll tell them that you attacked us and she'll back me up. You'll lose everything, and for what?" Dylan stayed silent, observing Adrien for a second before saying, "I knew you knew. But you know what's funny? You'll still lose and I'll still be the one she loves tomorrow morning, and she won't even think about you when I fu—"

Something snapped inside Adrien. His vision seemed to darken as everything disappeared around him. He couldn't see, hear or feel anything anymore except for the way Dylan's face broke under his assault. He vaguely heard Nino say, "Dude, you're gonna kill him," but he didn't care. In fact, that was precisely what he wanted. And yet… Wasn't it too easy? Wasn't this type of death too small of a punishment? Didn't this man deserve to suffer for a lot longer for everything he had done?

Adrien's punches slowed as his eyes focused on the unrecognizable figure that lay broken on the floor. Dylan's previously straight nose was squashed flat on his face and both of his eyes were already completely swollen shut, blackening, while his lips were cut and puffed up. He was nothing more than a bloody mess.

"You're already done?" Nino asked him, crushing beside Dylan to check for a pulse. "The asshole's still alive."

Adrien nodded, staring at his hands, which were covered in blood. "Beating him to death is too easy. He deserves worse than this."

"I have an idea," Alya suddenly said behind them. "We might not need to call the cops."

Adrien turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"Take my place," she said, gesturing towards Marinette, who was still unconscious in her arms.

Surprisingly, Adrien hesitated for a second. He'd been close to her, his skin grazing hers, his hand brushing her shoulder, but… But the movement had been brief. So brief, in fact, that his mind hadn't fully registered at the moment; he hadn't had the chance to realize that he was touching Marinette again after so many years. And now, he was about to hold her in his arms, just like he used to, just like he always should've done. It had been a dream he'd clung to for so many years now, so why was it so terrifying now?

"It's going to be alright, sunshine," Alya whispered as if she could read his thoughts. "You've got this."

He took a deep breath and, with a determined nod, Adrien stepped forward. One step led to another, and then another until he was at their side. Gingerly, he took Alya's place, letting his arms envelop Marinette in a gentle embrace. He looked down at her, her face pale and eyes closed, and a single tear escaped his eyes. She was here, in his arms, right where she always should've been, yet the circumstances made his heart ache.

"Is he unconscious?" Alya asked Nino.

"Yeah."

"Good. I need you both to transform, now."

Adrien and Nino exchanged a glance but merely shrugged before calling their transformation. As Alya silently exited the room, Adrien's focus remained solely on Marinette. She looked so peaceful, so calm, as though the previous minutes had been nothing more than a mere fragment of his imagination. And who knows, maybe they were. Maybe he was still in his bed in Paris, plagued by a new torturous nightmare as a nameless girl lay naked next to him. God knows he had had this kind of dream before. But this somehow felt more like a nightmare. How could he rejoice when the love of his life had been abused for years? He held her in his arms now, so close and yet somehow the farthest she had ever been.

Adrien didn't think he could ever forget himself for this.

He should've known, he thought. He should've known that something was going on. Should've made sure, should've looked, should've… Should've done something to prevent all of this. Maybe then they wouldn't have endured nearly a decade of suffering.

"Dude," Carapace suddenly whispered, shaking him out of his thoughts.

Startled, Adrien lifted his head. However, Nino's attention wasn't on him. Following his friend's line of sight, Adrien's eyes fell on Rena Rouge, standing in the doorway.

"Alya reached out," she lied. "She thought you could use some backup from your friends."

"Friends?" Chat Noir repeated, confused.

Rena stepped forward, revealing Pegasus and Viperion behind her. Viperion's eyes were immediately drawn to Marinette, a tumultuous storm of pain, shock, and a glimmer of happiness crossing his face. But in the blink of an eye, his mask was back on, his focus shifting to the man responsible for their ordeal.

"That's him?" Viperion's voice trembled with restrained anger as his gaze locked on Dylan.

Rena nodded in affirmation. "Yes. Take him back to Paris. Hold him until we figure out what's next."

Viperion sprang into action without hesitation, scooping up Dylan's limp form with ease. Meanwhile, Pegasus picked up the discarded syringe and the container from the ground, examining it closely. "What did you say this was, Rena?"

"Memo something."

"Memixonor," Carapace clarified. "But we're not sure of its effects."

Pegasus shook his head, his brow furrowed. "I'm in the same boat. Like the other substances you brought me, this is a bizarre cocktail of drugs, unlike anything I've encountered before. While I've yet to fully decipher its exact function, save for the Oxylextine component, which seems to be a potent painkiller, I'll further analyze this compound and keep you all informed."

Rena Rouge nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Pegasus."

Pegasus conjured a portal, ready to step in it, but Viperion hesitated, his gaze lingering on Marinette's still form. "Is she… Is she going to be alright?"

Chat Noir stared at his friend. Luka's mask was unable to hide the scars that now bore witness to their battle against the Angel of Darkness. Burns marred his neck and over half of his face, leaving only his right eye untouched. But despite his altered appearance, he had never changed. He was still the same kind, courageous and selfless soul he had always been. Now, his eyes glistened with unshed tears as he stared at Marinette, his old friend, his Melody. Chat Noir wished he could've lied to him. Wished he could've comforted him, assured him that everything was going to be fine. But Luka had never appreciated lies, and would rather hear the most painful truths. And so, Chat admitted; "No, she's not."

Viperion's expression crumpled, a maelstrom of emotions dancing across his features. "I don't understand… None of this makes any sense."

Pegasus placed a reassuring hand on Viperion's shoulder, offering a comforting squeeze. "We need to go. Find a place for him and everything."

Viperion nodded, his gaze lingering on Marinette a moment longer before he and Pegasus vanished through the portal. A second later, the three others released their transformation.

"She's still sleeping," Adrien murmured softly, tenderly stroking Marinette's hair. "What do we do now?"

"Now that Dylan's dealt with, we might be able to speak with her more openly tomorrow," Alya said. "I'm convinced she recognized us earlier."

Nino chimed in, his voice hopeful. "Right? I had this feeling, too. It could be because she missed one of her pills. Adrien, which one did you swap out already?"

"The Zomnolaxte."

Alya hummed thoughtfully. "We should let her sleep for now. She looks so peaceful. Let's just… Keep an eye on her, I guess, see how she feels when she wakes up."

They all nodded in agreement, and with great care, Adrien placed Marinette on the bed, tucking her in. A contented sigh escaped her lips as she slumbered on, seemingly unbothered by everything that had unfolded around her.

Well, I knew she could sleep through just about anything, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

"C'mon guys, let's make some coffee," Alya said, passing a hand through her hair. "It's gonna be another long night."

—

There wasn't a single inch of her body that didn't throb with pain. It was as though her soul had been set on fire, the inferno convincing her that she was now a prisoner of hell, stuck in an eternity of torment. She wanted to scream, plead for some sort of relief; on her body, her soul, her heart. But she couldn't do anything, imprisoned by the pain. She had no doubt in her mind. Her life was slipping away from her like grains of sand through her broken fingers.

She was vaguely aware of a high-pitched voice talking to her, but the words sounded far away, like a distant dream. How could she focus on them when she was suffocating? She gasped for air, trying in vain to fill her lungs. Her heartbeat echoed in her air, a rapid and erratic rhythm, as though her heart was struggling, too. It probably was.

Could this be all there was now? Was she condemned to know nothing but this unending suffering? Would the pain cling to her like a second skin forever?

The voice, somewhat comforting, said one last thing before suddenly disappearing. It was fading away like an echo, as though it had never existed. She wished she could've cried its loss, but maybe it had never been real. Maybe it had been created to torture her some more with the promise of a friend.

And then, suddenly, there was someone else. She could feel their hands on her and she recoiled. She wanted to yell and trash like a scared animal, needing to escape their clutches, but she couldn't move. The person spoke, their words lost in the fog of her mind. But they kept on repeating the same phrase, over and over again. Summoning all of her fading strength, she pried her eyes open, only to be met with darkness.

She was all alone in the abyss, but a chorus of voices chanted all around her. They were familiar, and she knew she should've recognized them, but their identity was just out of reach. They cried out to her in urgency, like a plea that echoed all around her:

WAKE UP!

Victoria's eyes fluttered open, her breaths coming in ragged gasps, and her heart thundering against her ribcage. Her night had been plagued by yet another nightmare, but now, as always, it was slipping away, leaving behind only a lingering feeling of pain and fear.

She groaned as she reached out for her nightstand, opening the drawer and fumbling for the small container of backup pills she kept for moments like this. It was on mornings like this, when she woke up with a throbbing headache and discomfort all over her body, that she was more than grateful for this idea. She'd probably forgotten her medication last night. When she did, it always left her feeling particularly sore and tired.
With a sigh of relief, she reached for the glass of water on her boyfriend's nightstand. Dylan's habit of leaving a glass for her there was a small but thoughtful gesture. She seized the glass, took a sip and then swallowed down the trio of experimental drugs—Oxylextine, Auditamol, and Merendixil. They worked well for her … when she remembered to take them. Which, honestly, wasn't often enough.

Victoria took a few deep breaths, allowing herself a moment of silence, all alone. After a couple of minutes, she picked up her cell phone. 10:30 a.m., no new messages. Now, that was surprising. Normally, when Dylan left before she woke, he sent her a text, letting her know his whereabouts and everything. Perhaps he was just in the living room? Yeah, that was probably it.

She rose from the bed, stretching as she reached for her favourite blue hoodie and its matching shorts. After slipping into them, she ventured into the bathroom, rapidly taking care of her business before heading towards the living room where she could hear hushed whispers—likely Dylan talking with their guests.

But when she walked into the room, she was met with an odd sight. Adrien, Nino and Alya, who had previously been talking, immediately turned to look at her, eyes wide like saucers. She passed a hand through her hair, self-conscious. Why were they looking at her like that?

"Hey there," she began hesitantly.

Somehow, their eyes grew wider as their skin lost its colour. There was no doubt, something was definitely off with them this morning.

"Uh, hi? I mean, good morning. Slept well?"

Her words were met with an awkward silence as though her greeting had left them speechless. Well, there was definitely some tension in the room, and Victoria knew that she was the cause of it, although she couldn't comprehend the reason why.

"Are you guys alright?" she inquired, growing increasingly perplexed by their odd behaviour.

"Are we… Are you alright?" Nino's gaze raked over her, his eyes seemingly searching for something hidden, while Adrien and Alya's hands found each other's, their expressions a blend of concern and sadness.

Seriously, this situation was growing stranger by the second.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

They exchanged glances, and she sensed there was more to their reactions than met the eye. She was about to probe further when Adrien muttered a curse. Alya quickly covered it up with a cough, but Victoria still heard it. And then, Adrien slumped into a seat, burying his face in his hands, while Alya rubbed his back.

What the fuck is going on?

Before she could ask more questions, Nino let out a laugh that sounded so fake it was almost embarrassing. This guy might have been some musical genius, but one thing was sure, he couldn't act. "No reason, no reason. We… We thought something happened to you or something, so we got scared, that's all."

"Oh, okay… Well, sorry for scaring you. Uh… Have you seen my boyfriend?"

Adrien abruptly looked up, a tense expression crossing his features. Before he could say anything, Alya kicked him in a not-so-subtle gesture. He glared at Alya but didn't try speaking again, retreating into silence.

"He went out with his dad," Alya explained with a tight smile.

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Again? That's weird, he usually texts… Oh well, I'd better get ready. I have an appointment later today and need to meet some clients in the afternoon."

"You have another appointment? Didn't you have one yesterday?"

"Uh, yeah, but my doctor thought I might need some extra time, so…"

"Yeah, I fucking bet," Adrien muttered, his eyes avoiding hers.

Victoria froze. Was he serious? The implication behind his words was clear, and it stung. There was nothing wrong with needing therapy and this asshole should've judged her for this.

"Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?"

Adrien lifted his head, his gaze finally meeting hers. She'd expected him to look at her with disdain and perhaps even some pity. But his red-rimmed eyes and strained expression surprised her. There was pain there, a raw vulnerability that she couldn't understand.

"I…"

The front door suddenly opened and Lila exclaimed, "Hey everyone! Miss me?"

But the room remained silent as everyone's attention was fixed on the unspoken confrontation between Victoria and Adrien.

"Is everything alright? Vee, you okay?"

"Sure," Victoria replied, finally looking away from Adrien. She cleared her throat, mustering a smile. "How was your night?"

Lila hesitated as if she sensed that something was wrong, before saying, "It was good! We have so much to catch up on. How about lunch at noon?"

"Sounds good. Same place as usual?"

"You know it!"

"Hey, Vee," Nino interjected, "I'm heading to the studio to meet Reid later. Need a ride?"

"Uh, yeah, sure. Thanks."

Lila's voice whispered in her ear, her concern evident. "You don't have to, Vee."

"It's fine," Victoria responded in a low tone before turning her attention back to Nino. "Well, I suppose I should go take a shower now."

She turned on her heels, heading back towards the bathroom, while typing a quick message.

To: My Man ❤️
Good morning baby ❤️ I know you're with your dad, but just letting you know that I love you and miss youuuu. Come back home soon 😘

—

This was, without a doubt, one of the most peculiar and uncomfortable car rides Victoria had ever found herself in. Nino kept glancing at her before awkwardly smiling. His fingers played with the radio controls as though never satisfied with the songs.

Deciding to break the tension, Victoria offered a small smile. After all, she didn't have any issues with Nino. "So… This is a nice car. Is it yours?"

"No, Adrien rented it for us. So, uh, anyway," he cleared his throat, "you don't have a car?"

Victoria shook her head. "No. I've been thinking about it, but everyone's been telling me that it's a bad idea. They think it might trigger some difficult memories of the accident or something like that, so."

"That's a shame."

"Yep."

There was a moment of silence, and then, "You know, Adrien is… He's not only ridiculously handsome. He's really kind, too. He's always there for his friends and he's incredibly generous. I'm really lucky to have him as a friend."

Victoria simply stared at him for a moment before saying, in a tone that failed to mask her skepticism, "Okay, nice."

"I'm just saying that because… Well, I can see that you're not necessarily his biggest fan and I don't know why, but he's a great guy, I swear." He paused, and then, "I'm sure you would like him a lot if you knew him. You two could be really close."

She snorted in a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Yeah, right, okay."

It seemed like Nino was about to say something else, probably some last-ditch effort to convince her of Adrien's virtues, but he stopped himself. A wise decision, Victoria mused, for she would've likely told him everything she truly thought about the man. Was he good-looking? Sure. Was he also one of the worst jerks she had ever had the displeasure of meeting? Also, yes. She still couldn't believe what he had done to her best friend. Perhaps Nino was blissfully unaware of Adrien's true nature. The man could've lied about the whole story, twisting the narrative in his favour. But now it definitely wasn't the right moment to tell Nino about his best friend's real personality.

"Well, here we are," she said as they finally arrived at their destination. "Thank you for the ride."

"It's my pleasure. See you later."

"Yeah."

Stepping out of the car, Victoria made her way to the entrance of the building, not bothering to look back as Nino drove away. Unbeknownst to her, if she had taken a glance, she might have spotted Nino discreetly parking the car down the street before surreptitiously following her.

Nino's years with Alya had made him learn some useful skills. He'd done his research and had learned that there were multiple other offices in the building like a dentist and even a beauty salon. Thankfully, Dr. Duchaine's office was located on the first floor, making it so much easier for him to spy. He walked toward the window, peaking inside the building. Marinette had taken a seat in the small waiting room, scrolling through her phone while she waited.

A couple of minutes later, she stood up as a woman walked into view. Dr. Duchaine has her back on him, but Nino could tell that she was tall, probably around the same height as him. She was wearing a red blouse with a dark pencil skirt and her short black hair was tied in a sleek ponytail. The two women did a friendly handshake and Marinette smiled genuinely. It was obvious that they were close. Dr. Duchaine beckoned Marinette towards an adjoining room and she complied, speaking to her psychiatrist at the same time. The doctor turned around, following her, and Nino's world shifted.

It was like his heart had skipped a beat—or a few—before doubling over, pounding violently in his chest. His gaze remained fixed on the woman as his breath quickened. He started to shake and his palms began to sweat as he stumbled backward, falling into a nearby cluster of bushes. But he barely registered the impact as adrenaline surged through him. He pushed himself to his feet, sprinting back to his car and cursing with every step.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit…"

Once safely inside his car, he hastily locked the doors and pulled up his last conversation with his friends on his phone, his hands trembling.

To: just some furries
SOS WE NEED TO MEET ASAP IM NOT FUCKING KIDDING GUYS WE NEED TO TALK RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT A FUCKING JOKE!

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, this is so bad," he muttered as he started the car, glancing one last time at the building. "Fuck!"