The Cat Bell Curse

👣 Chapter 9 🐾

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   Later that night, Marinette was sprawled out on her bed and snoozing away. Adrien sat next to her with guilt coursing through his veins. It was time for him to escape.

   Marinette forgot to close the skylight all the way when Plagg left yesterday evening. It was one of her beautiful flaws that Adrien had come to like. Her forgetfulness.

   "Sorry, Princess. I'm afraid this is where we part," Adrien said, sadly. He knelt down and nuzzled his head against her cheek before pushing the window open more. He looked back one more time before disappearing into the night.

   Marinette woke up after herring her mother's warning about being late for school. Without a second thought, the girl raced around the room and filled Chat's bowls with food and water. She scurried out the door and ran to school in a hurry.

   Bluebell eyes spotted her best friend talking with her boyfriend, Nino. Not wanting to get involved, Marinette walked by them and headed to class. She started to unpack her things when a hand slammed down on her desk.

  "Look Sabrina, someone forgot to take out the trash this morning," Chloe teased the bluenette who narrowed her eyes at the blonde and at the agreeing redhead.

   "Yeah, it would be hard to take out the trash when it has a bunch of pounds of makeup on its face. I can see why," Marinette replied, setting out her sketchbook and getting tutted at by the rich girl.

   "Excuse me?" Chloe snapped.

   "Excuse yourself back to your seat. It's over there...," Marinette snarked, pointing at the chair in the front. "...since you obviously don't know where it is and bothering me."

   "I don't need to listen to a cheap, baker's girl. I bet you make your clothes, it's not hard to tell with how horrible it looks," Chloe laughed before finally leaving Marinette alone. The bluenette growled under her breath before a finger tapped her on the shoulder.

   "H-Hey, Mari," Nathanaël spoke shyly. Marinette calmed down and smile at Nathanaël, her only friend that stuck by her side.

   "Hey, Nath. How are you doing?" the designer asked, sweetly.

   "I'm good, and I was wondering if you wanted to work on the project after school?" He asked, nervously. Marinette's smiled widened and realizing she forgot about the project they were assigned to yesterday, "Sure! My place after school?"

   "I'll be there," Nathanaël said, then headed to his seat in the far back. Miss Bustier walked in and began to take attendance once the final bell rang.

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Adrien sat right outside of the depressing mansion where he's lived for his whole life until his curse situation. It never felt like a home and didn't seem as thrilled to change back into human as he so desperately did before.

Maybe this was his fate, to be a cat for the rest of his life. Sleep in boxes in alleyways, avoiding stray dogs, and eating food from dumpsters. It's not like anyone would miss him.

"Marinette would miss you."

Adrien jumped in fright, black hairs on his back sticking up and turned to the side to see Tikki. The witch was leaned against the wall that separated the Agreste mansion from all of Paris, filing her nails.

He realized that he must of been talking out loud again. The black cat sat back down and stared off distantly through the gates at his home.

"I'm not going back if that's what you came here to tell me," Adrien said, ears dropping and a heavy heart.

"No," the redhead said, shaking her head, "I'm here to tell you how dumb you are for leaving in the first place." Adrien growled, standing up and walking away from the short pest. His bell rang a little with every step but didn't care to deep in thought.

"So...whatcha going to do now?" Tikki said, walking up beside the teen with sighed gloomily.

"Don't you have other people to bother or curse that doesn't involve me?" Adrien snapped.

"Yes, I do," Tikki answered, briskly.

"Then why are you bothering me? Scram and go ruin other people's lives," Adrien snapped again, turning the corner into an alleyway with Tikki still following.

"It's not like life wasn't ruined in the first place. The reason I bother you more is because you interest me more than others I've cursed. You're actually learning how to love even if you don't realize it. Don't you see!" Tikki explained, making a giant mirror appear through pink smoke and stopping Adrien.

"You can have a better life if you are willing to hold onto it instead of letting it go," she added, showing his memories of Marinette and him from day one to last night.

"Don't you want a family and people who love you for you instead of hiding behind a facade and being used like tomorrows newspa-"

"SHUT UP!" Adrien yelled, silencing the surprised Tikki. She could see the cat shaking but didn't realize that he was crying until he faced her. Tears streamed down in fur and breath became shaky.

"Just...shut up," Adrien's voice broke, cracking and small body trembling. Tikki felt guilty and opened her mouth but nothing came out.

   "I already know I had a crappy life and you decided to rub it in my face? What's wrong with you?! How about you do me a solid by going away and leaving me alone!" The witch really felt bad but did as she was told, disappearing.

   Adrien wiped him face from the tears and continued walking down the alley with a low head. He didn't notice the sound of thunder or see dark, gray clouds rolling in. He did however hear growling coming from behind him.

   Adrien slowly turned his head around and saw the last animal he wanted to ever see. With wide green eyes and panic settling within his chest, the human-minded cat backed away.

   "Well...if it isn't my prey," Theo chuckled, smirking and growling. Adrien gulped before dashing off as the first drop of rain fell from the sky before it began to poor.

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