A Watching Feeling

Page 4

 I heard a click and looked down at my phone, disbelieving. She hung up. I shook my head, not willing to believe it. Maybe her network connection failed. Maybe she accidentally hung up. Maybe-

"Maybe she thought you were a raving lunatic trying to get back at her for hurting you." I told myself aloud.

I sighed and leaned against the lamppost next to me, exhausted. The rain continued falling down in heavy sheets. I looked up at the dark clouds above me and had to squint to keep the water out of my eyes. I was about to go back home when I heard my phone ring.

Chloe. Surprised, I held the phone up to my ear.

"Marinette!" She sounded relieved, which made me shiver. Chloe was never relieved to hear or see me.

"Chloe? What's wrong?"

"You were right. Ugh, that was unpleasant. But the guy you talked about showed up. What am I supposed to do?"

"Where are you?" I asked, continuing on my way.

"Outside, on the terrace. He's throwing around lawn chairs looking for me. Ugh! Dupain-Cheng, help me!" I'm still too far, I thought, passing a familiar building. There was no way I'd make it in time.

"Alright, alright. Slide your phone out in front of him but don't hang up. As soon as you slide it out, run and hide somewhere else in case he doesn't pick it up."

"That's your plan, huh? Lure me out in the open so your psycho boyfriend can kill me?"

"Chloe, he won't listen to you! But it's possible he'll listen to me." I waited as Chloe deliberated what was more important, her life or her phone. I heard a scraping sound and decided she must have chosen her life.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are, Chloe Bourgeois! I-" I caught my breath as I heard his voice for the first time. Surprisingly, there was something in his voice that hinted he was hurt.

"Chat Blanc!" I called out in my loudest voice. I needed him to pick up the phone or this wouldn't work. I was about to call out again when I heard a rustling and then breathing. "Chat Blanc?"

"Hello, Princess." I felt a thrill travel down my spine. Not only because my plan was actually working but the way he said Princess. Oh! He also wasn't hurting Chloe. Not right away, at least.

"Why are you trying to hurt Chloe, Chat?" I ask him.

"You know why, Princess." He says and I could tell he went back to looking for Chloe due to the crash in the background as he throws aside another chair.