Progenies

Chapter 9

Y/N POV

My head rests in my hand, and I continuously blow a hair from my face for some sort of entertainment. The shop I'm working at is completely empty, and I'm just sitting behind the desk waiting for a customer.

I'm about to take out my phone, then I realise I don't have it anymore. I cover my eyes with my hands in frustration, taking care of my left arm that's covered in a bandage, and I check my watch, which I've had to wear on my right wrist instead of my left since my injury. After we got out of the building, unlike me, Cat Noir and Lia, my watch and hers were in perfect shape. No burns, in one piece. They also started working again, which is strange and creepy. It took me a while to process what happened, and I'm not over it yet. The time is quarter past three, my shift ends at four.

I am still so worried about Cat Noir. He risked everything just to save Lia and I. Also, if he dies it will be my fault.

I look around the shop for something, anything to do. It's way too hot in here, and it's sunny outside. I so badly wish I had my phone.

Just when I am about to let my head slip and fall onto the counter, someone walks in. I quickly sit up, and check who it is.

"Oh, it's just you", I say as I watch Lia walk in with an excited face. "Any updates on Cat Noir?" I ask hopefully.

"Jeez, don't get too excited", she rolls her eyes, but her smile tells me she's not serious.

I suddenly feel hopeful, and sit up straighter. "Is he... awake?"

Lia enthusiastically nods with a huge grin on her face. "He asked about you, by the way", she says in a sing-song voice. I roll my eyes.

"Can I go see him?"

"Y/N, your shift ends in..." she checks her watch. "Twenty minutes"

I sigh, and lean back into the chair. "Any updates on your phone or bag?" she asks.

I shake my head sadly, but I am too relieved to feel sad. Cat Noir is alive, and he will be okay.

"They'll turn up", she says. "Oh yeah, I need to meet with the owner of the warehouse in a few minutes" she says sadly.

"Aren't you scared of him, or something?"

"Absolutely terrified. He just gives off these bad vibes, ya know? He also has these weird friends, and I mean weird"

"How so?"

"You just gotta see them to know. Anyway, I'd better go, see ya!"

And now I'm back to being bored.

Something confuses me though. While Cat Noir was in a coma, for the two weeks he was in the coma I haven't see Adrien. I have tried knocking on his door, many times but he never answered. He didn't answer my calls either (from the landline in my apartment). Another thing, when Adrien moved, it was just the time that Cat Noir showed up too. Could they be...

No. They're so different, too different to be the same person. But then again... a person changes a lot, depending on who they're around. Every human does. It's not hard to play a fake persona if you've been doing so your whole life. I have a feeling Adrien is who he must be, who he is supposed to be and who society wants him to be. But Cat Noir... Cat Noir is the only time he is truly himself. Someone playful, outgoing and jokingly arrogant. Maybe I'm completely wrong, I hardly know the guy, but I just have a feeling. Of course, Adrien is still a part of him, and part of who he is, but maybe, maybe when he is Cat Noir he gets a little more freedom.

I am almost 100% convinced they are the same person. One more small bit of proof, and it will be confirmed. Thinking about it now, they also look very similar. I'm beginning to wonder how no one notices this. Maybe it's some sort miraculous power or something. No, because then I wouldn't have noticed. Strange.

Finally, it's 4 o' clock. Well, 3:59pm to be exact, but whatever. I have already packed up, so I turn off the lights and lock the doors and windows and I am finally free! The ecstasy of my shift being over rapidly decreases when I feel many huge drops of rain hit my face. I don't have a raincoat or umbrella. However, that won't stop me from feeling so relieved to be out of that place. I run home to my apartment, and quickly take a shower.

Once I'm out, I decide I need to see Cat Noir. I ring the hospital, and they say he's been discharged from hospital.  An idea occurs to me. I will call for Adrien. This will either confirm, or prove my theory wrong. I am almost nervous as I stand in front of his door.

I knock.

I hear the turning of a key, and a familiar face looks out at me from inside the apartment. It's Adrien. Adrien is Cat Noir.

"Oh, hey Y/N!" he cheerfully says. I decide not to tell him yet.

"Hey Adrien!" I say back. "Just came to check on you, I haven't seen you in a while"

"Oh yeah I uhh... went back to my home town!"

"Oh cool!" I know he is lying. "Well, I need to get back to my apartment, see you later"

"Yeah, bye!"

I flop down on my bed. I just need a moment to process that. Adrien is Cat Noir. I take a deep breath. Then the landline rings. I hurry over to where the phone stands, and I answer the call.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hello, Y/N, it's Julie. I think you left your credit card at the store"

Julie owns the shop I work in.

"I, uhh... are you sure?"

"Yes, honey. Come over and collect it quickly before I really close up for the night!"

This is strange, but I decide to go along with it to see if she really did have my credit card.

"Okay, coming!"

I call Lia, I don't want to go by myself. She doesn't answer. Dammit, she's probably still at that meeting with her boss. It's getting dark out, and I really don't want to go alone. So, I decide to call for my neighbour. I knock on his door before I change my mind.

"Hi!" he says.

Why did I do this? "Hi! I uhh... I was just wondering if you wanted to come to the store with me! Like, the one I work at because apparently I left something and... yeah that's it" I mentally hit myself.

He smiles. "Yeah, sure! Lemme just get my coat"

Things feel better once we're outside. I debate to myself whether I should confront him about him being Cat Noir, but I decide against it. Right now, walking beside him just makes me feel better, and I don't want to ruin that.

Once I get to the store, the lights are off, but the door's unlocked. Strange, Julie should be here...

"Weird, the owner should be here..." I mumble. Adrien gives me a puzzled face, and we walk in together. I leave the door open, but as soon as we step foot in, the door slams. I hear a light airy laugh. Julie's.

"Uhh... Julie? What's going on?" I ask, my palms begin to get sweaty. Adrien is looking around the room, confused.

"I'm afraid it's not" - the voice changes, it's now a male, deep and raspy voice- "Julie. And you both just fell right into my trap"

The man walks out from behind a shelf. The store is very small, and there's no where to run.

"The door!" Adrien cries. "Locked" I mumble frustratedly as I attempt to open it. We turn around to face him. He is wearing a skin tight suit, with a black and yellow colour theme. It has black stripes across a background of yellow, and his hair is a dark brown. He grins at us, with insanity in his eyes. Something feels very wrong, and it's not just that we're about to be attacked. The way he moves, his facial expression... it looks so... artificial? Almost like a robot, and someone is controlling it.

He begins walk towards us, in a calm manor and a stiff walk. The lights go off. I hear him say "Venom!". And the last thing I see is his weapon heading straight down at me, then it hits me.