From Superhero to Cinderella

Chapter 7

Marinette snatched up the phone, excited to talk to her father. She pushed the answer button and put the phone up to her ear eagerly. "Hello?" she asked.

"Hello. Is this the Dupain-Cheng residence?" a male voice asked. It was not her father's voice like she had been expecting.

"Yes," she said. "How can I help you?"

"This is Officer Rodgers from the New York Police Department," the man said. "What is your relationship with Tom Dupain-Cheng?" Marinette felt dread start to fill her.

Did something happen to dad? she wondered. "I'm his daughter," she said. "Did something happen to him?" There was silence for a moment before Officer Rodgers spoke, his voice sounding heavy.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there was a shooting at one of the dining places where your father was eating. He was shot multiple times. We were able to catch and detain the shooter and your father was rushed to the hospital, but I'm afraid he suffered multiple fatal shots and...the hospital staff were unable to save him." Marinette felt shock and horror fill her and the phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor with a loud bang.

"What's going on out there?" Audrey yelled.

"S-Sorry," Marinette called out before picking up the phone and putting it back to her ear, her hand shaking.

"Are you alright, miss?" Officer Rodgers asked.

"I-I'll be okay," Marinette managed to choke out.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Officer Rodgers said, sounding sympathetic. "Is your mom there?"

"M-My stepmom is. I-I'll give h-her the phone," Marinette said before leaving the kitchen and heading to the master bedroom, where Audrey was watching a movie. Audrey picked up the T.V. remote and paused the movie, looking at Marinette with annoyance.

"What do you need?" she asked curtly.

"I-It's an o-officer from N-New York," Marinette said quietly, handing Audrey the phone. "I-I'm going to g-go get s-some air," she said before fleeing the room. She scrambled to her room and collapsed onto her bed, still shocked at what she had heard. "Tikki, d-did that r-really just h-happen?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Yes," Tikki said quietly. "Oh Marinette, I am so, so sorry." Marinette buried her face in her pillow and began to sob. She had mostly been in shock and denial, but with Tikki's words, she knew it was real. She felt a tiny hand stroke her cheek.

"I'm so sorry," Tikki repeated. "But Marinette, you're going to get akumatized again." Marinette knew Tikki was right, but her pain was too great. Far worse than when she had found out Adrien was dating Kagami. There was only one person she knew who would be able to protect her from an akuma. It wasn't her friend and somewhat crush, Luka. It wasn't even her best friend Alya or her good friend and huge crush Adrien. The only person who could completely understand and protect her was...

She sat up on her bed.

"T-Tikki, s-spots on," she said shakily.

"Marinette wha..." Tikki got cut off as she was sucked into Marinette's earrings. Marinette transformed into Ladybug, and then unhooked her yoyo from her hip. She pushed the call button on it and called Cat Noir.

***

It was a Friday night, and Adrien was on a date with Kagami. He had made reservations at a fancy restaurant and they were currently enjoying dinner. Kagami was wearing a fancy red dress, and Adrien thought she looked beautiful. He himself was wearing a dress suit. Kagami had ordered some sort of fancy pasta while Adrien had stuck with spaghetti. He had just put a forkful of spaghetti in his mouth when he felt Plagg rapidly hit him in the chest from inside his suit jacket pocket. Adrien tried to ignore it, as he was enjoying the date, but Plagg kept hitting him. Adrien stood up after a minute and pushed in his chair a little.