When Duty and Desire Meet

Chapter 3

Adrien's POV

It had been a few hours since I had started following the trail of blood from Marinette and I finally reached the end of the trail, that left me standing on a dirt road, concealed by the lush green forest that surrounded him. My shirt stuck to my back and drops of sweat ran down my back, but I was determined to find Marinette, so I shuffled on down the dirt road, my feet kicking up dust and my mind lost in thought as I followed the most recent car tire marks along the path. I kept thinking more and more about the situation I was in. The tire marks on the road could have been from another car that passed by, and I could be going the wrong direction, or Marinette may not have ever been in a car in the first place. I hated this! There were too many uncertainties and I had a bad feeling that something terrible would happen to Marinette if I didn't find her soon.

I question my every move as I wearily make my way along the path, now tired and hungry. What would my father think? Would he send someone to look for me? It had to have been at least two hours, the moon is at full peak, shining down on the barren land and casting monstrous, angry, black shadows ahead of me. Would he be worried? Probably not, I conclude angrily. My father is somehow simultaneously an overprotective and controlling, while also not caring about any of my personal interests. He was the last of my worries, I decide, focusing on the top of a building appearing on the horizon, just a silhouette in the night. The structure was fairly large and abandoned, with vandalized walls and a wharehouse door, metal, big, and locked I noticed upon approach.

I immediately think of possible ways to pick or break the lock, when the more sensible side of me realized what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm trying to discretely sneak into an abandoned wharehouse to where I assume that my friend has been kidnapped, and rescue Marinette, who is most likely being guarded. Not to mention the security cameras that could be lurking in the shadows, that probably aready spotted me and alerted those inside. This mission I created for myself seemed impossible to achieve without at least five things going wrong, but the impulsive side of me has already grabbed a rock from nearby and started banging it against the padlock sealing the door. I figured that if the hidden security cameras had already caught me, it would be worth a shot to try and get inside before I get caught. The lock gave away fairly easily, clattering to the ground, broken. I heard footsteps coming from the leftward direction, so I ran and hid behind a nearby tree, thanking the heavens for my skinny body that fit behind the tree without visibility from the other side. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears, adrenaline rushing through my veins as I heard  two men approach the front of the building.

Nararator's POV kind of:
The sound of the lock being lifted from the ground, then the crunch on the dirt path as the men turned to face the forest path from which I came sent chills down my spine hoping that when the guards surveyed the area for the culprit of breaking the lock, they wouldn't find him. Adrien heard footsteps, but with his hearing impaired by his racing heart he couldn't tell if the men were walking towards or away from his current residence. He stole a glance toward the building and to his relief, the men were walking back around the building in the direction the came.

Adrien's POV;
I trailed behind the men, careful not to make a sound as they leisurely walked back behind the building. I saw them open a door on the back wall, hidden behind a large white truck. I waited for a few minutes and recovered from the fear of getting caught, the adrenaline still coursing through my body, ready for a fight and keeping my senses on high alert. I slowly padded toward the door and opened it without a creak, slipping inside quickly and closing the door soundlessly. Inside the building was much different than the outside, with white walls and sterile laboratory lights dangling lifelessly from the ceiling, flickering on and off and adding to my fear. What was I thinking, I suddenly had the audacity to ask myself. I couldn't battle, and I was lanky, not much muscle to protect. But, I realized that I might not have to fight anyone, as Marinette was straight ahead, behind a window, tied to a metal table against the wall, and unconscious, a blindfold imparing her vision. Anger surged through my veins but I kept it under control as I observed her in the room from the shadows. I couldn't just barge in through the door, but I also couldn't wait too much longer or someone might show up and find me. My planning was cut short at the sound of expensive shoes clicking against the tile, stopping at the door to the room Marinette was imprisoned in. I couldn't make out the details of the man's body or face, and I didn't dare move fore fear of being discovered. I watched as he approached her, the back of his body illuminated by the sterile lights. Nathaniel?! I couldn't believe my eyes, and was frozen where I crouched down on the ground in the shadows. Marinette stirred, and I watched as he took off her blindfold and stuffed it in her mouth. I swore to myself that if I ever saw Nathaniel again, that he wouldn't forget the feeling of my fist against his face. Marinette opened her eyes and I moved to get her attention through the glass, only to find that it is one way and that she couldn't see me. With nobody else in sight, I slunk towards the glass window to observe the situation better. I had no clue how I was going to save Marinette, but I did know that nothing was going to stop me from getting her back.

Wear your seatbelt and stay hydrated...

-Tomato Out