No Escape (Miraculous Ladybug)

Life to the Dead

The plane shook violently as it hit the ground and slowed to a halt, the turbulence woke Marinette with a start. Her eyes were wide for one second before they closed, creasing in pain.

"Marinette, are you alright?" Adrien asked, his heart rate rising. She nodded, he could see the fear in her eyes, "It'll be okay" he said to her, but more to himself. He noticed that their miraculous were gone.

"Where's Alyssa?" Marinette asked glancing around, Adrien was about to reply when the cargo bay door opened. Masked men took Adrien and Marinette out of the plane and into a tall building. Adrien got the sense that they weren't in France. They got into an elevator and rode it all the way to the top where they were chained to the ceiling, the lock over ten feet in the air. It was not comfortable, their arms being stretched all the way up with no slack.

There was another chain hanging from the ceiling across from Adrien and Marinette that was empty. The door swung open and in walked Hawkmoth, but he didn't have is miraculous in effect, so he was just Gabriel Agreste.

"Didn't take long to find you brats, you practically came to me." He jeered, his normally cold eyes bright with amusement.

"Where's Alyssa?" Marinette asked boldly. Gabriel's expression hardened, he stalked up to Marinette and grabbed her face and held it firmly. Adrien could hear her squeak in pain,

"Don't you dare hurt her!" He screeched at his father. Gabriel glared at his son and slapped him with the back of his hand. Adrien gasped, feeling his cheek get all tingly.

"It would be in your best interest to watch your tongue or-" Adrien cut off his father,

"Or what? You'll kill us like all the other miraculous users?" He said baring his teeth in anger. Gabriel just smirked at him, not saying anything. He started to walk out and paused at the door,

"Don't worry too much, you'll see Alyssa again. I can't guarantee that she'll be alive though." He laughed maliciously as he slammed the door behind him. Marinette glanced at Adrien,

"You don't think.." Her voice trailed off, she couldn't bring herself to say it. Adrien hung his head and closed his eyes,

"I hope not, but in her physical state, she might." He said, every word like a knife to his heart. The next day Adrien and Marinette stood in erie silence, no one came in with food or water. No windows showed the passing of time. The two teenagers were just stuck staring at a concrete wall with a chain hanging from the ceiling. After what seemed like an eternity the door creaked open, Gabriel's smug face hit the light,

"Candy Gram" he snickered. Two masked men drug a body through the door, it was covered in blood and fresh cuts and bruises. Blood smeared onto the ground as the body was taken through. The men just dropped the body in the middle of the room, their hands and feet zip tied together. Familiar dark red hair sent Adrien's anxiety and panic through the roof.

"Alyssa!" He screamed at her, no response. Adrien couldn't tell if she was even breathing. "You bastard!" Adrien struggled feebly in his chains. The masked men then turned to Marinette and unchained her and took her away. Adrien constantly screamed for them to stop and take him but they ignored his pleas. "No!! Marinette! Come back!"

Adrien was breathing heavily when the door closed again. He turned back to the heap of torn and bloody flesh on the ground.

"Alyssa! Alyssa!! Wake up!" He shrieked, still nothing. His voice choked and he dropped his head, tears sliding down his cheeks, "Please, I can't lose you too. I can't be alone again" he choked out, tears softly falling to the ground. He wept for her to wake up and still her body lay still. He stared at his sister, she was so strong, even in weakness she never wavered, never felt fear. "I'm not strong like you, I need you." He sobbed and let out a wail of agony.

"I'm not strong" her soft and broken voice reached his ears. Adrien stared intently at Alyssa. His teared ceased and his vision cleared. He saw her shoulders shake violently in silent sobs. She slowly and painfully rolled onto her back, a large gash on her jawbone still leaking blood down into her mouth mixed with glittering tears. Joy made Adrien's heart flutter as he watched her chest rise and fall, tears returned to his eyes.

Alyssa looked up at him, blood clouding her vision,

"don't cry" she whispered, her own tears falling down her face. Adrien shook his head,

"I'm just so glad you're alive" he said taking in a shaky breath. She smiled weakly but it turned into a frown as another sob raked her battered body.

"Alyssa" he breathed, he could see her tears flood down her face.

"I couldn't protect you, or Marinette, or any of the others like she asked me to." Alyssa said in between sobs. "I had one job, and I failed. I failed her, I failed you." Her eyes were shut tight but still her tears fell, cleaning off her dirty and bloody face. Adrien hated seeing her like this, she was such a strong woman, now she looked broken and weak. He wanted to go and comfort her but he was chained to this wretched ceiling. All he could do was watch her while she writhed in her pain, her sorrow, her guilt.

Adrien clenched his jaw so tight that he could taste blood dripping into his mouth, he closed his hands into fists so much that his arms trembled. His bright green eyes grew dark and narrow, Alyssa looked up through her tears to see Adrien's body shaking violently with rage.

"No," he shuddered, trying to contain his fury. "No one's failing anybody. I'm not going to stand idly by while Hawkmoth rules over our world! I'm not giving up! Not now, not ever!" Adrien belted out, more to himself than to Alyssa. She watched him, warmth filling her heart. He really had grown up, he used to be so shy and awkward. Now he was determined to make a difference, no matter the consequences. Alyssa's breathing returned to normal as she blinked away her tears.

Their eyes locked, Adrien's face was contorted in his resolve, his veins popping. Alyssa met his gaze with a determined smile,

"Then let's find Marinette, and save the world." She said, he nodded.