Destroyer

Part Three: A Flower of Hope

"I lived in a wealthy family, my family having a very high reputation to keep. I was a brat. Spoiled rotten. I didn't appreciate anything my parents did for me. It wasn't until this happened to me that I understood how much they did. I was sitting alone in my room, working on my homework. I remember it so clearly. I was learning my three times tables. I had just gotten into a fight with my mother because I hit a girl in the face, and I wouldn't apologize. I was a stubborn little boy. That's the complete truth. Anyways, I was in the middle of my homework when my father called me to his room. I stood up and walked over happily. My father never needed me for anything. He usually asked my older brother Felix. When I got to his room I looked up at him with curious eyes. I remember exactly what he said, 'Adrien, do you think you could do a tiny favor for me?'"

"Of course, I was completely oblivious to what he was doing. I nodded my head happily and let him do whatever he wanted. That's when he pulled out a small syringe that was filled with a strange green and black liquid. That caught my attention a little bit, but I didn't say anything. He then proceeded to jab the needle deep into one of my veins. I remember screaming. It hurt so, so much. My mother rushed into the room and looked in horror at my father. She was appalled that he would do such a thing. Finally, my father pulled out the syringe. My mother started yelling at him but stopped abruptly. I looked at her with watery eyes. My mouth filled with blood, and ears started to grow out of my head. Cat ears to be exact. That's when everything crumbled to pieces."

"'This can't be real.' I muttered in utter horror as I stared at the ground. Everything around me was slowly wilting, dying, in agony. I looked at my mother and watched as she turned into nothing before my very eyes. I turned to my father next. I expected sadness from him. His wife had just died! But all he did was smile as he slowly disappeared. I ran away from my home. I didn't feel like hurting more people, though some people would come up to me and die. I continued running until I stumbled upon this cave. I've lived here ever since. Every week I turn back to my human self for a few hours. That was today when you saw me."

Marinette was staring at me with wide eyes. She reached out and touched me slowly. "Why don't I die?"

"I'm not sure." I muttered.

How could it be that she survived? That question pondered my mind for the next few months. Although I was a little reluctant about Marinette coming to see me, I was glad to have company. She visited everyday, and everyday she brought a new story. Over the next few months we got to know each other better. I learned about her love for fashion design. I learned that she had two other friends named Alya and Nino. I learned about her school, her life, her everything. And I will admit, I was falling for this girl. And I was falling hard. I kept trying to push myself back to the sad reality. I couldn't be with her. She's an innocent girl. I'm a terrible monster. But then I would remember that she didn't die. She could survive, and a little vine of hope would well up inside of me until it blossomed into a tiny flower. A flower of hope. This girl not only made the world around her blossom, she made my heart blossom.

Little did I know, the answer was much closer than I would think.