The Final Secret of Agreste
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Thunder rumbled outside the mansion, rain pelting the roof. The halls of the building are completely silent and dark, the only source of light coming from the lightning outside for a mere second. Even when the mansion had been inhabited with people, it was still cold without the warmth of a whole family. All that remained is the haunting memories of a broken family left in shambles.
Yet, none of that mattered to Adrien. Not the storm outside, the mansion, the memories. None of it compared to this moment. He never knew a three-worded sentence could rattle him to his very core. His hands gripped the journal tightly, nearly ripping the frail paper.
Adrien doesn't want to believe his father is this despicable (an understatement). He doesn't want to believe his father would ever hurt mom. He doesn't want to believe any of this is real, hoping he's in some sort of nightmare and wakes up to find his mother alive.
Yet, Adrien knows better, no matter how much reality hurts. No matter how much the truth hurts, this is a cruel and unfair world. Adrien just has to accept it but can't help not accepting it all the same.
The blonde clenched his teeth, a growl emitting through them. Suddenly, something shiny caught the corner of his eye. He looks down, seeing something sticking out from the bottom of the journal. Adrien carefully pinched the paper-like object and pulled it out from its spot in the journal.
Green eyes scanned the rectangular picture. Adrien didn't know what to make of it. The center of the picture has some sort of shape made up of neutral colors and framed in a white border with writing.
Isabella "Izzy" Agreste
August 4, 2010
It finally hit Adrien that the thing he's holding is the ultrasound picture. A picture of a baby girl within his mother's stomach. He's never seen one before, explaining why he didn't recognize it and is still having a hard time making out the picture (considering he's standing in the middle of a dark room with only a flashlight).
Another realization crashed upon the blonde like an asteroid hitting the earth. This fetus was supposed to be his baby sister. He was supposed to have a sister eight years ago!
Izzy was supposed to be born around August 4, 2010.
Yet, she died.
Both his mom and unborn sister are gone forever.
It's all his father's fault.
He's to blame. He's the reason why Adrien lost so many things in life. He can never be forgiven for all the pain he put the teen through all those awful years inside this mansion.
Adrien hates how this lair—his mother and unborn sister's final resting place—was within this terrible place. This secret room has been right under Adrien's nose without his knowledge. It makes him sick just thinking about it.
The blonde placed the ultrasound into the journal and closed it shut. He set it aside for the time being until locking his gaze onto the cooler.
A menacing feeling radiated off of the cooler, sending another round of shivers throughout the teen's body. Adrien grimaced, wondering what he should do now that he's come this far. Sure, he wants to know the entire truth but some knowledge of things is to an extent.
Knowing too much is too much to take.
Ignorance is bliss.
Without any hesitation, Adrien placed the journal back into the safe. He paused for a moment, debating in his mind. Then, he reached back down to the journal and snatched the ultrasound picture. The blonde put the notebook back on top of the cooler before leaving the safe slightly open for the authorities.
Adrien scanned the picture, letting the feeling of remorse wash over. He would've loved a younger sibling. He's heard how annoying siblings can be but for Adrien, it would've been better than being alone.
Yet, maybe it is also better that Izzy didn't live under a psychotic father and have her life planned out for her.
Adrien gathered everything he brought before leaving the lair, ultrasound still in hand.
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Knock knock!
Nathalie curiously looked over at the door, hearing it over the sound of the news being playing on the TV. She placed aside some paperwork on the coffee and stood from the couch. She walked over to the door, wondering who is on the other side. She didn't recall anyone asking to visit.
"It's probably some person trying to scam me into buying something," the woman thought, annoyed. Nathalie opened the door only to be met with the detective and his assistant.
"May we come in?" The detective asked, sternly, "We need to have a little chat with you and Adrien."
Nathalie raised an eyebrow and tiptoed her head in confusion. Without a word, she moved to the side and welcomed the two authority officials inside. She gestured for the two males to sit down. The ex-assistant closed the door, getting an unsettling feeling from the detective and his assistant.
Something is wrong.
"Adrien, can you come here? We have some guests," Nathalie called for the young blonde.
"Reporting live from the Agreste Mansion..."
Nathalie heard the report's location and immediately faced the TV. A few police cars are parked in front of the mansion's door. A couple of officers walked out of the large house wearing gloves and carrying two objects.
A journal and a cooler.
"...investigators returned to the mansion this early morning to continue trying to open Hawkmoth's safe. Much to their surprise, they arrived and found the safe slightly ajar..."
"What did you do, Adrien?" Nathalie thought, nervously before Adrien's bedroom door opened. The blonde poked his head out, curiously scanning the room until his gaze landed on the men sitting on the couch.
"Adrien, we would like to have a word with you about...recent events," the detective said, emphasizing the last two words he spoke. Adrien didn't say anything, knowing he is caught for being careless and not hiding his tracks better. He wordlessly left his room and pulled up a chair without looking at Nathalie's reaction.
He just hopes Nathalie doesn't think the worst of him...like his father.
"What do you want to know?" Adrien asked, hoping he isn't going to get in trouble or they get the wrong idea. Invading a crime scene is one thing for punishment but it's an entirely different story when he's the son of a top criminal. It's completely suspicious. For all they know, Adrien could be working undercover for his father.
"This isn't going to end well for me," Adrien thought, thinning his lips out and his palms beginning to sweat.
"Can you tell us how you did it? Don't play dumb with us, kid. We found your fingerprints on that number pad," the detective questioned in a disturbingly nonchalant tone, "Explain to us how you got the stupid hunk of metal open."
Adrien can feel Nathalie's eyes practically burning through his soul, waiting for an answer from him too.
"Yeah, I can explain," the blonde said, giving a nod and staring down at his knees, "I came home from the dance and found a letter in my bedroom..."
Adrien explained in detail how he devised a plan to leaving with the ultrasound. The detective kept a stoic face while his partner wrote down notes. Although the detective is wearing a blank face, surprise and amazement are somewhat evident.
"So, you broke into your own father's crime for what reason exactly?" The detective suspiciously asked, eyeing the teen up and down like he is some juvenile delinquent.
"I just...wanted answers—the entire truth—without anyone sugarcoating it. I'm sorry I trespassed on the crime scene. I didn't mean to cause you officers any trouble. I just...want to know what's going on too," Adrien admitted, guiltily. The detective narrowed his eyes at the boy, trying to find any trace of a lie.
The assistant paused in taking notes for a moment, seeing the tense atmosphere filling the air. Nathalie even is stunned—bewildered—with everything Adrien confessed. How is she supposed to take all of this in?
Adrien snuck out of the house without Nathalie's knowledge. The city streets are a dangerous place at nighttime and something bad could've happened to him. She wouldn't have known he was missing or unscathed until morning if he hadn't returned to his bedroom.
The thought of losing Adrien didn't sit well with Nathalie. It nearly made her want to yell her head off at the teen for being so reckless and...and scaring her.
Yet, it isn't the only thing that nipped at Nathalie's skin.
Not only did Emilie die, but so did her unborn child. Gabriel killed both his wife and daughter. Nathalie felt her stomach uncomfortably twist just at the thought of it.
Nathalie let out a sigh, letting the information sink inside her brain.
"Can you tell us what the password is?" The detective asked.
Adrien froze, shifting a bit in his seat.
"Uh...yeah," he agreed, "It's 041110."
"How did you figure it out? Is there some sort of significance behind these numbers?" The detective asked.
Adrien licked his lips, trying to put moisture back in them before answering, "It's...it's the day my mom disappeared."
Nathalie practically winced, continuously getting more disgusted with the man she worked for. Their guests kept their professional looks, retaining from showing any emotion. Adrien quietly sat, patiently waiting for the next question or any information.
He can't help but be bothered by not looking inside that cooler. What was within it? Was it a mistake not looking? He just wants answers, even if it's a different source or way of receiving it.
"Thank you for your time."
Adrien perked up, watching the detective and his assistant stand from the couch.
"We'll be heading out now," the detective finished, he and his assistant heading towards the door. Nathalie stepped to the side, still thinking over everything. Adrien shot up from his seat, not done with the two law enforcers. His eyes narrowed, seriousness looming behind them.
"Wait."
The detective and assistant paused in their tracks. The two turned around, focusing their attention on the blonde. Now that Adrien gained their attention, he stood taller. He wants them to respect his question and take him seriously. If this is the last secret, might as well go the full mile and find out everything.
Right?
"What was in that cooler?" The teen asked, voice steely and steady.
The detective looked at the teen up and down. His blank face has a mixture of thoughts. On one hand, it's a pretty messed up case. On the other hand, this boy knows a majority of it and will find out at some point through the news. The detective hummed in acknowledgment.
"We found a preserved fetus in the cooler," the detective answered.
Adrien twitched. He knew it was probably going to be some like that. The horrible thought was ingrained into his mind. Yet, denial is a power. He denied his father would do something so terrible. Killing his mother is one thing but harming an innocent unborn baby is another level of terrible.
"W-Why would he do that?" Adrien asked, voice shaky, "Why would he...do that? It doesn't make sense."
"We're still researching all of that but I'll keep in touch with you on any further information we find out," the detective said, digging into his pocket. He pulled out something from his pocket and tossed it to Adrien. The blonde caught it before looking down at the object in his hands.
His emerald eyes widened, staring down at the beautiful blue jewelry.
His mother's pin.
Carefully, his digit gently brushed the surface before returning his gaze to the two leaving men.
"Thank you," Adrien said full of gratitude.
The detective nodded at Adrien, clutching the doorknob, "No problem, kid."
With that, the detective shut the door.
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