October Nights

The Creatures Siren

Black emptiness. A void. No end and no beginning. Falling, weightless. Muffled like the crash of ocean waves underneath the surface.

His heartbeat loud enough it seemed to echo the vast dark. His only friend, and his only sign he was still alive.

The pounding bleak and unforgiving, as if there was nothing left to live for. Nothing left to beat for.

A bright light flicked on like the crack of lightning in the middle of a storm. A spotlight.

Suddenly, no longer weightless Adrien fell flat on his back in the middle of the circle of light. He couldn't figure out which direction was up or down, left or right. He just felt all alone, the burden of life on his shoulders.

A sound, sharp and clear rang out in the dark. The sweetest song he had ever heard caressed his skin, filled his lungs, dripping to his fingertips like honey.

His heartbeat pounded faster at the sound, words unrecognizable, but the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He closed his eyes at the song clutching his heart.

Spotlight illuminated down in a line finally stopping with woman in the center of the last one. The song shifted, picking up in pace, the woman walking towards him. He was rooted in place.

The woman wore a red dress, silk blowing as if wind rippled the fabric around her as she floated towards him. Adrien felt no wind, but felt a gravitational pull to the woman. The woman that sang the most beautiful song.

As she approached him her features shifted from undescript to defined. Blue hair, bluebelle eyes striking him deep in his gut. A mask on her face in one spot light, and off in the next.

His two great loves competing for his attention, both serenading him, the melody bright like a sunny afternoon, but something was missing. Adrien couldn't place it, but there was something that was amiss.

Adrien fell to his knees, unable to make a sound, and unable to look away as the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on approached. She knelt down in front of him eyes twinkling.

"Marinette" He whispered to her, his voice desperate for her. Like a starving man on an island, she was his salvation. His loneliness finally was over, if she would just accept him.

She lifted her hands to caress his face, soft and gentle. Adrien sighed leaning into her touch waiting for his loneliness to pass, to disappear at the connection. This would be the end of his suffering.

He waited, one heartbeat. Two. The pain intensified, becoming painful, the loneliness too much to bare.

Adrien's eye gaped open, and tried to scream, but no words came out, only a strangled gasp. He tried to tear at his throat looking to the love of his life for some guidance, and help but the woman in red's smile was menacing.

Warmth.

That's what was missing. When Adrien was around Ladybug or Marinette he always felt warmth rush through him like taking a nap on a summer's day, but all he did was feel cold, and more alone now than when he first saw her.

This wasn't his Marinette, this wasn't  his lady. He couldn't remember what came before, or what came after, only darkness and only her.

She continued to sing, touching his face and hair. He tried to pull away, tried to cover his ears but he was stuck in place. The more he fought the deeper the burn on his chest exploded, tears pricking his eyes. The more pain he felt, the more certain he was that this wasn't real.

As the realization crashed upon him the voice that was singing became sharp and clear,

"Kiss to remember, Kiss to forget
Drawn by the Siren sound, spiraling slowly down
Into the chilling depths, into the chilling depths"