When a liar gets you left behind

Chapter Fifty-Five: Nightmare Encounters

I realized some parts of that last chapter didn't make sense and didn't fit the overall narrative, so I rewrote the chapter and took it out. To keep readers up to date, I'll start adding summaries to each chapter. What do you think?

M A R I N E T T E  P O V

Marinette's heart raced as she heard her name being called out loud. She tried to open her eyes, but they felt heavy and unresponsive, making her panic even more. The voice called out her name once again, and finally, she managed to open her eyes. To her surprise, she saw a pair of white irises and a blue sclera staring right back at her. The voice spoke up once more, "There you are, Milady." It was a voice she recognized, but she couldn't quite place it.

Marinette's heart raced as she strained to listen to the familiar voice. Her fear slowly ebbed away, leaving a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. Though she tried to stay calm, she couldn't help the sudden lump forming in her throat. An icy wave of adrenaline surged through her veins, making her feel like she was frozen in time. She struggled to take in the situation, her mind racing frantically to make sense of it all.

As she looked into his eyes, she couldn't help but wonder why he was there. Hadn't she defeated him once before? Her throat felt tight, and when she tried to speak, her voice failed her. All she could do was stare back at the only person who had ever haunted her to the ends of the earth.

Marinette stood frozen as she gazed at the figure that stood before her. Her eyes betrayed the fear that engulfed her, and she couldn't help but notice the figure's movements as they approached her. With every step they took, a soft bell rang, and it made her more nervous. Suddenly, the figure spoke, their voice both gentle and menacing. "Why are you afraid, Milady? Don't be scared of me," they whispered as they leaned in closer. Marinette felt a shiver run down her spine as they whispered, "I could never hurt you, my love. You mean too much to me." She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, as the figure continued to speak. "You should know by now that I'll always be here for you, Marinette. No matter what."

Marinette's heart raced as she struggled to grasp the reality of the situation. Was she really stuck in a horrific nightmare? The mysterious figure's words only added to her confusion and terror. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she realized that she was completely powerless to change her fate.

Marinette froze as the figure's face contorted into a sinister grin, sending shivers down her spine. Her throat went dry as she struggled to scream, but her voice betrayed her once again. The figure's grip tightened around her arm, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "I didn't think I would ever see you again, Milady," the figure said in a low, menacing voice. Marinette's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation, but before she could react, the figure leaned in closer and closer. She closed her eyes and silently prayed for her life. Suddenly, she felt his lips on her forehead, and a wave of relief washed over her.

Her heart was racing as she struggled to keep the words from escaping her lips. The weight of her emotions was almost too much to bear, and despite her best efforts, she could feel herself trembling. Finally, unable to resist any longer, she let out a whispered, "Cat Blanc..." The sound of her own voice filled her with a sense of dread, and she knew that she had just made a terrible mistake. Her heart sank as she braced herself for the consequences of her actions.

Marinette's heart pounded in her chest as the figure's grip tightened around her arm. She could feel the fear creeping up her spine as she braced herself for the worst. Then, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her chest, and everything went black. The last thing she heard was the figure's voice whispering, "Don't worry, Milady. You'll be with me forever." It was a chilling moment that would haunt her forever.

Marinette jolted awake, her heart racing as she gasped for air. It took her a moment to realize that it was just a nightmare. Trembling with fear, she looked down at her chest and felt an immense wave of relief wash over her as she realized that she was not actually stabbed. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, while her eyes scanned every corner of her room, taking in the familiar objects around her. A sense of relief washed over her as she realized it was all just a dream.

"Whoa, Marinette, slow down," a gentle voice interrupted her racing thoughts. She flinched at the touch on her shoulder, but when she looked up, she saw Jagged Stone looking at her with concern. The sight of his worried expression made her feel guilty for causing a fuss. "Are you okay? It seemed like you had a pretty bad nightmare."

Marinette's heart skipped a beat as she took a deep breath and noticed Penny standing right behind Jagged. She couldn't help but feel a bit startled when she saw Penny's worried expression as she looked at Marinette, who was on her phone at the moment.

Marinette struggled to sit up, but Jagged's worried expression made her think twice. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "Just a nightmare," Marinette replied with a weak smile, hoping to ease his concern. But despite her reassurance, Jagged couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Jagged's voice cut through the darkness, calm and reassuring. "That wasn't just any nightmare," he said. She could hear the concern in his tone. "You had me and Penny worried when we heard you scream." Suddenly, Marinette's eyes flew open, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up in bed, her mind racing with questions.

"Did I really scream?" she whispered, panic creeping into her voice. She couldn't fathom the idea of making such a loud noise in her sleep. It felt surreal, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

"We noticed that you murmured a few words while sleeping, but unfortunately we couldn't make out what you were saying," Penny says when she finished her call.

Marinette's heart raced as she turned her head towards Jagged for confirmation of what she had just heard. He simply nodded, leaving Marinette sitting there in shock. She couldn't believe what she had just heard! The silence was shattered by the sound of her clock going off, making Marinette jump in her seat and breaking her out of her daze. It was as if the sudden noise was a sign for her to snap back to reality.

As soon as Jagged saw the unease on her face, he sprang into action. With a steady voice and a comforting smile, he quickly put her at ease. He reached out to turn off the blaring alarm clock, and the sudden silence provided a sense of relief that washed over her.

Marinette was all set to get out of bed and start her day at school when Jagged suddenly put his hand up, signaling her to halt. She looked at him, surprised and confused, wondering what was going on.

"Listen up, rookie! You gotta know when to slow your roll and take a breather. Skipping a day of school ain't gonna hurt anybody. Give yourself a break, kid!"

Marinette was feeling completely drained and the idea of taking a day off from school was tempting. But then she remembered Damian, who she was working with on a project. She didn't want to let him down and leave him to do all the work alone. So, despite feeling exhausted, Marinette made a brave decision to push herself and attend school. She knew that helping Damian with the project would be worth it in the end.

"I'm fine guys" Marinette stood up with both of her feet and spun around. "See? Nothing is broken." Marinette says with a hint of humor in it to change the situation.

Jagged and Penny share a worried look, but they know that convincing the stubborn teenager won't be a walk in the park. They sigh deeply, their hearts heavy, and reluctantly agree to her demands. "We understand that you're determined to do this, but we're concerned. Promise us one thing: if things take a turn for the worse, call us immediately," Penny implores, holding out her phone as a symbol of hope.

With a deep sigh, Marinette acknowledged that the thought of that one person who could make her tremble with fear would linger in her mind all day long. She couldn't help but feel a little anxious about what the day had in store for her. "Promise"