My Imaginary Friend \|/ Adrienette/Marichat AU

Chapter Fourteen

"So," Alya murmured, "You called me over to... track someone?"

Nino nodded, perhaps too enthusiastically. His eyes wide, he glanced at Mari, seeking help in persuading his girlfriend. She shrugged. Alya couldn't see or hear her. How was she supposed to be of any help?

Alya was already on another topic. "And why did you say friends when there's only one other dude here? Is he okay? He seems scared."

"He— He's been through a lot," Nino stammered, glancing at Nathaniel, who was trying to appear nonchalant. In reality he was hiding behind the couch.

Alya frowned sadly. "Like what? I can help him if he needs anything. What's up?"

The last question was directed at Nathan, who merely shrugged and squeaked in response. Alya gave up trying to talk to him.

"Babe," Nino said, his tone a bit more nervous than Mari had been hoping for, "I really, really need your help. People could die if you don't track Ha— this bad dude."

For a moment Alya seemed to be trying to decide whether or not to believe him. But it only took a second for her to nod and plop hands on her hips. "Well? Tell me what you need, and what you have for me."

\|/ \|/

"So," Hawkmoth purred, his cane clasped in hands which Chat was sure had done horrible things, "You have someone, I presume?"

Chat felt like smacking the smug look off of the man's face. He was sadly unable to, since he was still holding the traumatized girl in his claws. She had long ago given up fighting, her eyes still wide with lingering horror.

"Obviously...," he felt like saying as he shoved her towards the man. Instead, he merely bowed and grit out something about how of course he had done everything he could to please his Master.

Hawkmoth inspected the girl, forcing her chin up with the tip of his cane. He grinned at her, his impossibly white teeth blinding in the dark tunnel. She collapsed to her knees when he turned back to Chat and covered her face with bloody hands.

Chat was disgusted. Not at her ugly sobs that echoed through around them, but at himself. He had done this to her. He was a monster.

He had killed someone. And it hadn't been a slow end to that poor boy.

"Well done," the praise was eerie as it overlapped with the girls sobs. Chat smiled, but only on the outside. On the inside he was screaming at himself.

Hawkmoth turned back to the girl, pulling a tiny dagger out of his pocket. It's beautiful purple hilt seemed out of place with the grim background and it's blade was covered in dried blood.

Chat was sure he would be sick. It seemed like he felt like that more often than not lately.

The girl looked up at him, her tears mixing with the blood that had been rubbed into her cheeks. Silent, she glared at the man before her, her hatred for him and his minion obvious.

"...Why...?"

Chats heart skittered, and he paled. The girl was looking straight at him, hatred and pain thick in the air. Her hands clenched into fists, she cried silently.

"Why did you put him through so much pain? Why didn't you just kill him quickly?"

Hawkmoth watched the one sided conversation, a smile slowly twisting onto his face. He seemed almost proud when he looked at Chat.

"I..." Chat whispered, his body trembling, "I just... I don't..."

"Luka did nothing wrong!" The girl screamed, her voice echoing down the tunnels to where akumas skittered, "If anyone deserved to suffer it was me! Not him! He had just..." Her voice hitched. "He had just told me about his plans for the future once his newest song got released. ...Why?"

She shook her head violently, her long hair wrapping around her fingers as she raked through it. Her wet cheeks glistened in the faint light as she mumbled nothingness in Chat's direction.

"Juleka," Hawkmoth said suddenly. She whipped her head up towards him.

"How... How do you know my name?"

As Chat stood petrified, Hawkmoth shook his head slowly. "I know a lot more than you think. Luka was a kind boy. Do you want to see him again?"

Eyes widening, Juleka scrambled away from the man. Her arms trembled as she scooted herself across the floor of the tunnel. "More than anything."

"I can make it happen. I can help you."

As Chat watched, dumbfounded, Juleka's resistance to having Hawkmoth come closer to her crumbled. Soon she stared blankly at the knife, her tears no longer flowing.

Hawkmoth crouched in front of her and grabbed her arm. Pushing the long sleeve of her shirt up, he readied the knife and dug a line into her skin. Chat shivered as he saw the already healed lines criss crossing across her skin.

Hawkmoth was only adding to the pain that she had already inflicted upon herself.

Chat had to look away. He couldn't think. He couldn't breath. He was scum. He was evil. He didn't deserve to live. But something deep within him made him want to live, want to continue.

A minute later, the eerie silence was shattered by a laugh. It was a soft giggle, and Chat turned to see who it was coming from. Juleka was laughing as she was enveloped in black, her face blotted out by the night.

Hawkmoth grinned as he stood back up, fresh blood dripping off of his knife. He walked over to Chat, his footfalls causing the cat to wish he was anywhere other than in front of the man.

Chat shivered as the man placed a hand on his shoulder in an almost fatherly gesture. Hawkmoth radiated a sense of accomplishment and proud happiness as he stared down into his newly made akuma's eyes.

"You did very well. Good job."

Chat couldn't feel anything but pain. Pain, and pride. He had fulfilled his first mission. He had made his Master happy.

With a grin the akuma bowed, his emotional turmoil pushed to the back of his mind.

He was Hawkmoth's.

OoF, I cried while I wrote some of this. Hope I didn't destroy you too much.

This chapter is very bad, and I'm really sorry. My life has been pretty hectic and upsetting lately and I haven't been too enthusiastic about writing.

What do you think Hawkmoth wants more akumas for?