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Chat Noir's P.O.V

"-leave a message after the beep! Bug out!"

"Come on, Milady. Where are you?" I murmur, dodging a charging Syren. I swim into an alleyway and hide from her. It's been nearly ten minutes since the akuma attacked. Yet, Ladybug is nowhere in sight. I know it's not too big of a deal that she's a few minutes late (probably being held up by something) but it doesn't mean it's any less concerning.

For all I know, she could be in danger right now. I'm not sure what kind of danger since the akuma is here with me. Plus, Marinette knows how to handle herself. It's just this weird feeling pinching at the back of my skull like I need to find her. Yet, I can't just leave with an akuma still at threat.

   "What am I going to do?" I think, searching for an answer. I'm not as creative as my beautiful princess but maybe there's a way to contain Syren long enough to track down Marinette. I peek around the corner, spotting the akuma viscously scanning the area for me.

   "Where did you go, you obnoxious cat?" Syren questions, irritated. I duck back behind the wall and open my baton, a map being displayed on the screen. Ladybug's symbol blinks on a specific spot, much to my dismay.

   "So, she is transformed and it looks like she's at the mall. Why isn't she coming? Wait, could there be an amuk running loose too? I didn't even think about that! Maybe, she's in trouble!" I began to panic after that last thought, "Alright, I need to move fast. What can I do to lock up Syren?"

  I cast my gaze away from the mall and immediately land on another place. I stare at the location not too far from where I'm at. The museum. A sudden memory replays in my mind of an occurrence that happened to me because of the akuma, Copycat. A lightbulb flickers on above my head, an idea of how to keep the akuma contained.

   "If Milady were here to hear my im-paw-ccable plan, she might have rewarded me for my purr-illant brain," I said to myself, proudly.

   "There you are!"

   I am bulldozed in a dumpster, doing a number on my poor back. I groan in pain, barely having time to dodge another incoming attack. I manage to sloppily get out of the way in time. Syren continued her assault, shooting head-first right into the side of the metal dumpster. I wince at witnessing the collision, hearing a loud clunk sound in my ears.

   Syren pulls back, holding her head in pain.

   "Yikes, that headbutt was complete garbage," I say, "It's probably karma for making such a big mess of the city."

   Syren growls, quickly regaining her composure and temper rising. I rapidly start swimming toward the Musée d'Art Moderne. I look over my shoulder and see my plan is working...so far. Syren is chasing me, trying to grab my tail every time she gets close enough.

I try to obstacle my way through buildings and cars, around street lamps and food carts. It puts some space between us until Syren starts catching up again. I grab a trash can and move it to block Syren's path, doing an effective job. The akuma runs straight into it, too blinded by her rage to see it.

I stop for a moment with a grin.

"Chat Noir, two. Syren, zero. Your score looking a bit trashy there," I joke before continuing my way to the museum. Yet, I didn't get very far when a shark nearly took my head off. I manage to duck and turn around. My eyes widen, seeing an army of different sharks floating behind Syren.

"Get him!" Syren yells.

I gulp then madly stroke away from all the sharks chasing me.

"Here I thought, the cat was supposed to chase the fish. Not the other way around," I shout, frantically swimming. The museum is just up ahead but now I need to figure out how to get rid of these sharks. My limbs are burning. I'm short on breathe. I'm growing more and more tired the longer I swim. My adrenaline is keeping me going and my concern for Marinette.

"I hope she's okay," I think, looking back for a split moment. The sharks and Syren are all on my tail.

"Just wait a little longer, Princess. I'll be on my way once I take care of these guys."

Fortunately, my plan can still work if I can get there without being mauled by a shark first. I enter the museum. Dodging accident artifacts floating around, I head for the art exhibit where I was last held by the security bars.

"Wait! I need to remote for it!" I remind myself, going to Alix's dad's office. I shut the door behind me before a shark appears around the corner. I sigh in relief when it speedily passes by. I scramble around the room, keeping quiet as to not alert any sea dwellers that could be right outside the door.

"Come on. Where is it?" I grumble, removing some things from a drawer. Nothing. I move onto the next cabinet, skimming for any remotes.

Then, I found it!

My ears droop in dismay and my shoulders sag.

Well...I found them...

...and they're not labeled.

"Ah Camembert."

I frown, glaring at the remotes as if they are mocking my bad luck.

"You know, universe. I think you have something against me. I think you see me as a clownfish rather than a catfish," I murmur, moodily, "I hope these work in water."

I grab a nearby bag and place all of the remotes inside. I sling bag's strap onto my shoulder and head toward the door. Opening it a crack, I peek out and see the coast is clear. I dash up to the ceiling, hoping the darkness will help conceal myself. I make my way through the halls, nerve-wracked every time a shark menacingly swims by.

   I let out a shaky breath, nearing the room. Another shark captures my attention, losing sight of what's ahead. I run headfirst into a floating shield, sending a bit of pain through my skull. I rub the throbbing area on my head before seeing the shark shooting toward me like a torpedo.

"Karma just loves me," I sarcastically say, frantically swimming once again. I turn a corner, only to run straight into hammerhead. I let out a scream while evading its pointy teeth. I punch the aquatic creature in the nose before moving to the side. The shark that was previously chasing me runs straight into the hammerhead.

   I continue making my way down the hallway until finally reaching the art room. Many famous portraits are still hanging on the wall weirdly or floating amiss. Not much else is in the room...except for a very enraged Syren and a couple of sharks cruising around the room. I duck into the room and hide behind a rather large portrait.

I know for a fact those sharks that found me are heading this way. If I can just make it out of this room and find the right remote, I can find Marinette. Hopefully, without getting myself killed in the process.

   "How will I get all of the sharks into this one room?" I think. I hum in thought before hitting myself in the head at the obvious answer.

   "Blood. I can use blood to lure the sharks into this one room," I whisper to myself. Now, I just need to figure out which remote to use. I slip off the bag full of remotes and dig the first one out. There has to be something to help tell which remote is used for what. I examine the device further, finding number five carved on the bottom side.

I check another remote, seeing number seven carved out in the same spot. But what are the numbers supposed to be for? Is it corresponding to room numbers? I check the area before heading out the door again.

Much to my relief, I didn't see the sharks I encountered earlier. Those sea creatures probably think I would never come near this room and go somewhere else.

Scanning the walls, I find a number engraved at the top of the entryway.

Number 13.

I quickly rummage through the bag again and pull out the remote with the corresponding digits to the rooms. I hide the bag and latch the remote onto my belt.

"Alright, no going back," I think, continuing my plan to trap all the sharks and Syren.

   I lift my claw-gloved hand near my face and place one claw onto my cheek. I repeatedly scratch at one spot until breaking skin. I open my baton to camera mode so I'm able to see the cut.

   It's not enough.

   I grab my tail-like belt and fold some of it into layers. I place it in my mouth as to not hurt the inside and scream too loudly for what I'm about to do. I lift my clawed hand and close my eyes, preparing myself for the pain.

"This is going to hurt," I think, bringing my hand down in a scratching position. Hot-burning pain stings my skin. The side of my face is searing like someone threw a fireball and it hit the side of my face. A muffled grunt barely escapes through my makeshift gag. My eyes start watering from tremendous aching. I gingerly hover a hand over the throbbing spot, unsure if it will cause more distress than it already feels.

   I release my fake tail, wincing when the slightest movement sends a shot of pain through the side of my face. I watch as my blood starts forming a cloud of crimson and disperse throughout the water.

   Once I see my blood, I start swimming for dear life and away from the blood-strung horde of death about to chase me.

Marinette's P.O.V

My transformation wears off, my suit dismantling from my body.

My yoyo disappears.

The ladybug-themed crowbar vanishes.

Our only hope of escaping is gone.

   It's all gone.

I reach up trying to grab at the floating speckles of red as if trying to grab at a thread of salvation, only to fall into a chasm of hopelessness. A sinking feeling surrounds me, both literally and emotionally.

Tikki said something before disappearing out of the elevator. Yet, I didn't hear a single thing she said. I only know fear at the moment. My feet leave the ground, now swimming in place to keep above the water. I look over at Mallorie, who is panicking at the moment.

Guilt resonates within my soul, wondering how traumatic this situation must be for her right now. Though, I'll never understand why. Why is she so terrified of water before any of this happened? Why did she hate me so much? What happened to her all those years ago?

   Was there ever a chance to sort out whatever stands between us?

   Well...not anymore.

   "I'm sorry, Mallorie...I couldn't save you..." I wistfully think, trailing off. And everyone else! I won't see them again! My friends! My dad!

   "...Dad...I'm sorry for not being strong enough. You're going to be all alone because I was too weak..."

   And Chat Noir...

  "Kitty...I hope you're okay. I'm so sorry for leaving you alone...again..."

   Hot tears spill from my eyes. A turmoil of stress is swirling with my guilt and sorrow. I feel so weak and useless.

   So defeated...

   Our heads barely bobble above the water and scrape the top of the elevator's ceiling. I try to open the elevator's hatch again, a last desperate attempt to escape our seemingly inevitable fate.

   "Open...open...open...OPEN...OPEN!" I shout in my mind. It doesn't matter how much I try to open the hatch. No matter I much I push or pull. No matter I much I shake it. The lock does not budge.

   Now, my face is the last thing barely scratching the surface of the water—between life and death.

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