No Escape (Miraculous Ladybug)

Fighting Spirit

Alyssa woke up late in the morning, around eleven o'clock. She stumbled downstairs, her back was sore and achy. She saw Marinette, perky and wide awake, sitting next to Adrien, whose hair was going in almost every direction.

"Morning" Alyssa mumbled as she passed them, they were watching the morning news.

"Morning Alyssa" Marinette responded, smiling at her, trying to be as nice as she could to Adrien's sister. Right then, the television screen flashed red and the words, 'Breaking News' popped up. All three young adult's attention was solely on the screen. When the screen changed to Live feed the reporter started speaking,

"Not minutes ago, a mysterious man, calling himself Hawkmoth murdered an innocent young man right here in the streets of Germany." Alyssa's heart stopped for a moment.

"No!" She exclaimed, he already had another miraculous, he was one more closer to unlocking the ultimate Kwami. "We need to leave, today." Alyssa said authoritatively. Lauren helped them pack for their journey, giving them nonperishable foods, first aid, and other necessities. They set off on their journey at noon.

"So, where are we going to exactly?" Marinette asked as they hiked up a hill. Alyssa paused, she didn't actually know where they were going.

"Just. Somewhere, we can't stay in the same place too long or else Hawkmoth will find us." Alyssa snapped, quickening her pace. They traveled on foot for a whole week, sleeping in the woods or abandoned shelters as they made their way away from France and crossed the border into Spain. They walked for 15 hours and slept for 8, leaving only an hour a day for breaks. It was hard on them but Adrien noticed that each and everyday Alyssa was looking worse and worse. He could hear her labored breath and see the sweat pour down her face. Her cheeks were flushed and he noticed when she drank water she only took tiny sips and didn't eat much.

"Alyssa, we should stop here for the night." Marinette said, they were near a stream with plenty of shelter and some wild berries.

"No, we still have an hour of sunlight left." Alyssa gasped, Marinette saw that her legs were shaking terribly, her eyes were dull and her lips pale.

"Alyssa, you can't go on like this, you need to rest." Adrien said pulling the pack off of her back. When he did Alyssa's coat came off also, showing her purple tainted skin.

"What?" Adrien breathed, Marinette felt a wave of guilt, she had spotted that same anomaly on Alyssa when they escaped from Hawkmoth but she didn't want to say anything.

"It's nothing, I'm fine" Alyssa said, Adrien put his hand on her shoulder,

"It's not nothing, you look terrible, sit down." He said, his green eyes filled with concern. Alyssa brushed him off and stared at her feet. Adrien walked around and bent down so she could see his face,

"I know you want to find the other miraculous's and stop Hawkmoth, but killing yourself in the process is not going to help you. You need your strength for what's to come," he guided her over to a tree and sat her down along with his pack. He and Marinette sat up camp while Alyssa laid against the tree, her breathing becoming more hoarse by the second.

Night fell and Marinette tapped Adrien as they laid in their makeshift shelter,

"Is she going to make it through the night?" She whispered, Adrien glanced over to his older sister. She looked uncomfortable, even in sleep.

"I-I don't know. I hope so." He murmured sadly, with a long sigh he laid back down, burying his face into his sweatshirt that he used as a pillow. Marinette could almost hear her heart break, he had just learned about his sister and now he had to watch her slowly die. She scooted closer towards him and nuzzled up next to him. Alyssa silently rolled over to face them, they were sound asleep, snuggled up in a heap of warmth. Then in the soft moonlight Alyssa saw the sparkle of a tear sliding down her little brother's face.