Chasing Ladybug 📸 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

18 • Now | Blurred Times

NOW

One Day Passed

Marinette blinks her eyes as the ceiling opens above her, bright light suddenly blinding her. She closes her eyes and her body freezes as she senses Copycat's presence.

"What's Ladybug's name?"

"I don't know."

Copycat leaves and locks the secret hatch behind him.

Tikki appears from her hiding spot and flies over to her holder. "Now's your chance! Transform!"

"And go where?" Marinette mumbles, shaking her arms. "Even if I did, I'd still be stuck in these chains, and I can't risk Copycat finding out I'm Ladybug..."

Two Days Passed

"Tell me Ladybug's name."

"I don't know."

Copycat leaves, and Marinette rolls over, trying to sleep off a headache.

Four Days Passed

I don't remember what happened yesterday.

"Are you thirty?" Copycat asks, shaking a bottled water in his hand. "You look pretty dehydrated."

Marinette nods slowly.

"Tell me... Ladybug's name."

She looks away and lays down, staring up at the ceiling. I don't know how much longer I can take down here.

Five Days Passed

Adrien stands outside the Dupain-Cheng bakery, eyes glued to the new sign hanging on the door.

'Closed For Business. If you have any information regarding Marinette Dupain-Cheng's whereabouts, please contact Tom and Sabine Dupain-Cheng or Officer Roger.'

Tom and Sabine had closed the bakery since their daughter went missing and they spend every waking moment working with the police and search parties. They wouldn't give up on their daughter; never.

Alya and Nino notice their friend and walk across the street to meet him. "Don't worry, Adrien," They reassured him. "We're going to find her."

Adrien bites his lip tight as he fights back tears. "It's been days... where could she possibly be?"

Six Days Passed

How long have I been down here? Marinette tags on her jacket sleeve as she tries to rip off a loose thread. Her stomach growls against her will and she presses her palm into her gut. Stop it... please... I know I'm hungry, but I can't do anything about it.

Sunlight fills the room as the ceiling opens and Copycat steps down into the dirty pit she's been living in.

Marinette sits up fast and stares up at him. So, it's morning, or the afternoon at least.

He presses a switch and the lightbulb above her head turns on. "Do you have to use the bathroom?"

She does, but last time he watched her, and she didn't want that again. "Can I have privacy this time?"

"Will you tell me Ladybug's name?"

"Can I pee first?"

Copycat walks over. He unzips his suit pocket and pulls out a key, grabbing Marinette's arm tight as he pulls her closer. He unlocks the chains, the skin around her wrists red and irritated, starting to stain with tiny bruises. "Hurry up. Don't you dare try anything."