"Please, Cat, stop this!" Ladybug pleaded, her voice trembling as Cat Blanc charged toward her, his hand crackling with destructive energy.
His twisted smile didn't falter, unmoved by her words.
Before she could react, the world dissolved around her.
Marinette jolted awake, her eyes snapping open as she gasped for breath. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding and sweat clinging to her skin. Pressing a hand to her chest, she tried to steady her breathing.
"It felt so real," she whispered, her voice shaky. She exhaled slowly, reminding herself it was just another nightmare.
Shaking off the lingering dread, she dragged herself out of bed and got ready for school.
---
When Marinette arrived at school, she noticed Mrs. Bustier was absent. Not wanting to aimlessly wander, she decided to spend some time in the art room before her next class.
About 25 minutes in, a dull ache bloomed behind her eyes, intensifying by the second. Unable to concentrate, she quietly excused herself and made her way to the library, hoping for some peace.
From across the hall, Alya spotted her leaving. "Where’s Mari going?" she asked Adrien, her brow furrowing.
"I’m not sure," Adrien replied with a shrug, though his gaze lingered on Marinette’s retreating figure.
Later, Alya found Marinette tucked away in a secluded corner of the library, a book open in front of her.
"Hey," Alya greeted softly as she approached. "Everything okay? You left so suddenly."
Marinette looked up, managing a faint smile. "Yeah, I just needed somewhere quiet. I’ve got a killer headache."
"Aw, that sucks," Alya sympathized, pulling up a chair.
A few moments later, Adrien and Nino wandered in.
"Hey, Alya. Hey, Mari," Adrien greeted, his presence as calm and warm as ever as he sat beside Marinette. Nino flopped into a chair next to Alya, offering a lazy wave.
"This is exactly what I was trying to avoid," Marinette whispered to Alya, sneaking a nervous glance at Adrien.
"Sorry, girl," Alya whispered back with a small, apologetic laugh.
---
After 45 minutes, the bell signaled the start of third period. Marinette waved goodbye to her friends and headed to her next class: a design course her father had signed her up for.
The class, while engaging, demanded all of her focus. Afterward came math — her least favorite subject. Despite her teacher’s patience, the concepts felt like an endless maze she couldn’t escape.
Science was no better. Marinette did her best, but her teacher’s monotonous voice made staying alert a challenge.
Finally, French brought a welcome relief. Marinette breezed through the assignments, relishing the rare surge of confidence.
By lunchtime, her stomach growled in protest. She had skipped breakfast in her morning rush, and the first few bites of her lunch were a small comfort — until sirens pierced the air.
Her heart sank.
"Not now," she muttered, shoving her lunch back into her bag as dread settled in her chest. She knew what the sirens meant: another villain attack.
Marinette stood, her mind already racing. From inside her bag, Tikki’s voice chimed with urgency.
"It’s time, Marinette."
Marinette nodded, her expression hardening with resolve. "Let’s go," she said, sprinting toward the nearest exit, ready to become Ladybug once more.
---
YOU ARE READING
The Recurring Nightmare
ActionEvery night, Marinette is haunted by the same unrelenting dream-an ominous warning of chaos and destruction. As Ladybug, she must face a mysterious new enemy who seems to know her every secret and exploit her deepest fears.
