A Snap in Time

Chapter 27 (Marinette)

Marinette watched as Felix grabbed a hold of Lee Fu's ankle, an altercation had obviously just taken place and for some reason she wanted to intervene, the urge to step forward in defence was strong for some unknown reason. She felt like could stop this, she could finally put an end to Felix and his god forsaken attitude. All she had to do was walk over to him and tell him to stop. Simple really! Or at least it would have been if Marinette could just move her feet in that direction.

She stood staring, breathing in and out deeply, trying to gather some kind of courage to step forward. She closed her eyes and counted to ten slowly, she could do this, she was Ladybug for crying out loud. Taking a step forward, her nerves were steeled and she was going to do it, she was finally going to stand up for what was right. As her second step hit the concrete of the collège steps she was interrupted by the sound of an explosion coming from outside. One that was a little too close to home.

Phone after phone began to signal 'Akuma Alert' causing the mounds of students to scatter around to their safe zones. Marinette kept her gaze on Lee, watching as he turned his attention to face her.

"You need to run," she shouted out, a second explosion causing Marinette to turn her head to look outside, it sounded incredibly close, almost as if it was coming from the ...

No! It couldn't be.

She turned around and ran outside, hoping and praying that she was wrong. Her heart began to beat against her chest as her lungs and heart tightened, the feeling only beaten by the intense feeling of coldness running through her veins. She stopped short looking out and over to where the bakery originally was.

Her heart stopped as she took her home in, it had collapsed into complete ruins and in that moment she forgot everything. She forgot she was Ladybug, she forgot she needed to stay safe herself and she forgot that the Miraculous cure would repair all the damage. Instead, she took off at speed and ran back towards her home, shouting and screaming for her parents.

"Maman! Papa!" She ran across the road, narrowly avoiding cars which were coming towards the crosswalk, each taking their vehicles into an emergency stop.

"Maman!" she screamed again, her voice hysterical as she climbed over the broken bricks and tiles. She could see items from her room scattered amongst the brick and broken glass; her computer and her sewing machine smashed and twisted into a mangle of metal, but she didn't care. All she wanted at the moment was her parents. She wanted her maman and papa.

"Papa!"

"Marinette!"

"Maman!"

"Marinette, stop!" She felt hands on her shoulders, turning her around bringing her face to face with green eyes. "Marinette please, this isn't safe. You need to get out of here."

"No!" She shook her head violently. "I need to find them, I need to help them."

"Marinette, listen to me,"

"Papa!" She shouted again.

"Marinette!" She shook out of Lee's hold, digging through the mounts on the floor, her nails breaking as they pried against the brick time and time again.

He grabbed her arms and pulled her up straight. She fought against him with all her might knowing she needed to break away and find her parents.

"Ladybug,"

She froze. Ladybug? Why would he say that?

"What?" She replied. Her head became a daze as she waded through any possible excuse or lie to get her out of this mess.