Marinette in Danger

15

Adrien POV:

I was hoping to talk to Marinette but every time I tried to call it always went straight to voicemail. This isn't like her at all. Something must be wrong. Then I saw a new video had been uploaded online. It was Chloe, Lila, and Kagami. And... in the background was... MARINETTE?! I wondered what on Earth had happened so I clicked on the video.

"Cat Noir. As you can see, we have Marinette Dupain-Cheng." Chloe started. Then Lila added to that.

"We know that you can't say no to a damsel in distress. So, if you listen and follow orders, Marinette stays safe." Then Kagami chimed in.

"Then you'll never see precious Marinette ever again."

Chloe started up again. "You have three days to follow through with orders. If you try to deceive us, don't follow through with orders, or completely disobey us, we'll know and Marinette will suffer the consequences of your actions."

Kagami continued. "We have eyes and ears all over Paris. We'll know if anything goes wrong."

Lila added, "Here are your first instructions kitty cat. You have to send $100 to the address we have listed. If you don't Marinette gets it."

Chloe finished, "Better hurry Cat Noir. Time's running out." Then the video ended.

Oh no. Marinette had been kidnapped! I have to send $100 to the address listed below. But how? If I transfer it from my account, they'll know something's up. I have to come up with a plan. I can't let Marinette get hurt.

"Plagg. Lila, Chloe, and Kagami kidnapped Marinette!"

"Oh no. What are you gonna do?"

"They want Cat Noir to send money to the address they have listed here. But I don't know how I'm gonna do that. So, I have to respond as Cat Noir to ask them how I do it because I don't have a bank account as a superhero."

"Kid, do you really think this is a good idea?"

"Plagg, I have no choice. They kidnapped the girl I love Plagg. I have to do what they say or else Marinette will suffer the consequences."

Plagg sighed. "Okay. I hope you know what you're doing."

"Plagg CLAWS OUT!" I quickly transformed into Cat Noir.

I picked up my phone and started recording.

"Lila, Chloe, and Kagami. I saw your video. I know what I need to do. I have one question. I need to know how to send you the money. As a superhero, I don't have a bank account. This isn't me trying to trick you, disobey you, or not to follow orders. I need to know how to do this and you three are the only ones with the answers."

I uploaded the video and took a deep breath. All I had to do now was wait. Luckily, I didn't have to wait very long. Lila commented on the video. She said to borrow money from someone. I knew I had money as Adrien. I can tell them that Adrien let me borrow it and that I'd pay him back for it. I can tell them that Adrien and I are friends. They can't know that we're one and the same.

I took a deep breath and detransformed. I walked into Natalie's office to ask her to pull $100 from my bank account.

"Why do you need $100, Adrien?"

"I just want to have some pocket money is all."

"I see. Well, I'll go to the bank and get it for you. But you have to wait here until I can get it."

"Thank you, Natalie."

She nodded and I left her office. This was the easy part. The hard part was getting out to a mailbox to mail it.

Once Natalie came back with the money I thanked her and went to my room. Luckily, I had envelopes in case I needed to answer fan mail. It can be hard being a famous model sometimes. I put the money in an envelope and sealed it. I wrote down the address and told Natalie that I was going to take a walk to clear my head. She insisted that she go with me, but I told her that I would be fine on my own. I told her that I needed to learn some independence. I explained to her that she wasn't always going to be there to protect me. I had to learn to do things on my own. She understood and let me go on my own. I thanked her walked out of the house. I kept the money in my bag so she wouldn't be suspicious.

Once I got to a mailbox I put the envelope in just as soon as the mail carrier came to empty it for the day. I thanked the mail carrier and walked back home. Of course, Natalie asked me if I was okay as soon as I got home. When I told her yes, she sent me up to my room. Typical. I just hoped that the money reached Chloe, Lila, and Kagami in time. I sent them a message as Cat Noir and told them that the money should be on its way anytime.

CKL: Good job kitty. Now for your next task.

CN: What is it this time?

CKL: Oh. Watch your tone Cat Noir. You don't want Marinette to get hurt because of you.

CN: Okay. What do you want me to do now?

CKL: We want you to confess undying love for Kagami and say that you are no longer in love with Ladybug.

I gulped. How could I do that to Ladybug? Yes, I'm seeing Marinette now, but I'm not in love with Kagami. But, I had no choice. I had to do it. I sent them a vocal recording professing undying love for Kagami and that I was no longer in love with Ladybug. It stung, but I had to keep Marinette safe.

CKL: Very good kitty. We'll leave you alone now. I can assure you that Marinette is safe and has not been harmed.

CN: She better not be.

CKL: One more thing.

CN: What?

CKL: You will not tell anyone about this little arrangement. Not Ladybug, not friends, not family, no one. Understood? Remember, we have eyes and ears all over Paris, so we'll know if you do.

I took a deep breath. I was doing this for Marinette. I have to protect her.

CN: Okay. I understand.

CKL: Good kitty.

This was going to be a long and hard three days. But at least Marinette is safe. That's all that matters. I love her. I'll do anything I can to keep her safe.