Marinette "Wells"

Marinette woke up the next morning stiff and tired. She couldn't sleep well on her uncomfortable restraint platform. She was not happy when someone entered the room. It was Tobey, her "Father's" assistant. He unclicked her restraints and glared at her. She slowly stood up and he threw a few things in front of her. It looked like it was stuff for her to go to school. She hoped she could see Adrien there and inform him of what happened. She picked up her things and followed Tobey out of the room to find Dr. Wells sitting in a wheelchair in a rather large sitting room. He was talking on his phone to someone and Marinette took a seat on one of the couches while still nervously glancing around her. Dr. Wells put down his phone and went straight up to Marinette. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "What you saw last night never happened." He said quietly with his grip tightening as he spoke. She stared back at him in disbelief and nervously nodded her head. "I'm glad we understand each other." He said motioning for her to get going. She was escorted out to a fancy car and the driver took her to school. She got out and walked toward the classroom. She saw Adrien looking like he hadn't slept well that night. She pushed her hair in front of her bruised cheek to conceal it from Alya as she walked by. She stopped next to Adrien and he seemed to snap out of a daydream. He jumped when he saw her. "This is still my seat isn't it?" Marinette asked with a smile. She knew that Principle Damocles had forbid them from sitting next to each other, but she needed to talk to Adrien. "Marinette?! Is that really you?!" A smile spread across his face as his worry dissipated in an instant. "Who else would I be?" She replied with a smile. "But I thought…" Adrien's voice trailed off. Marinette sat down and fidgeted with her hair. She gasped when Adrien moved to put her hair behind her ear. Usually she would love this kind of affection but if he did this her bruise would be exposed. It was too late though, before she could think he brushed her hair aside, seeing the giant bruise and gasped. "Marinette, who did this to you?" He asked with concern. Marinette's eyes welled up with tears and Adrien pulled her into a warm embrace. "Don't worry, my father will have the papers ready and you'll stay with us okay?" "It's too late for that." Marinette said in a shaky voice. "What do you mean it's too late? That's not true." Adrien said. "Adrien, I've already been adopted." She replied. Adrien gasped and looked into Marinette's face. She looked exhausted and he was worried about her new family. "Did they do this to you?" He asked. Marinette looked down and slowly nodded. "I'm surprised I was even allowed to go to school." She said. "They have Tikki." She said with worry. "I can't let you go back to wherever you were. They are obviously evil." Adrien said with concern. "I have to go back," She said. "I have no choice though I have to say it feels more like a prison than a home." Marinette sighed. "I won't let you be treated this way" Adrien said with determination. Marinette sadly walked to another seat and the class started. Afterwards Alya expressed her condolences to Marinette for losing her parents. "Did you get my messages?" Alya asked her. "I'm sorry, yesterday was a crazy day." Marinette said. "What happened to your face girl?" "Oh, I fell and hit a table." She said. Alya narrowed her eyes and examined the bruise. "If I hadn't known better, I'd say you were out stopping crime." She said smiling. "Oh, Alya stop it. Hawkmoth is defeated so I don't have to be Ladybug anymore." "If you say so girl. Where are your earrings anyway?" Marinette's face turned bright red at this question. "Um gotta go, see ya!" She ran to a corner and caught her breath.

After all her classes that day, she headed towards the exit and Adrien came up behind her. "Let me walk you out Marinette," he said. Marinette didn't want her driver seeing him, but she felt safer with Adrien, so they walked out together. Marinette didn't recognize her driver who was in a suit and looked official. Adrien kissed her cheek before she got into the car and drove off.

When she arrived at "home", she wasn't sure where to go since she was basically a prisoner here the night before. Dr. Wells came into the room on his wheelchair and approached Marinette. "Follow me, I need to show you something." He said. She hesitantly followed him to a back room, and he opened the door revealing a small bedroom with a desk and closet. "This is your room so make yourself comfortable." He said. Marinette turned to face him and gathered the courage to speak. "I was wondering if I would be able to hang out with my boyfriend later?" She asked. "He could come here if he likes. I am very curious to meet him." He said handing Marinette her phone. She dialed his number and called him. "Marinette are you okay?" Adrien answered. "Yeah, I'm fine. Would you by any chance come over later to my place?" She asked. "My father has me doing a photo shoot now but right after I'll stop by." Marinette texted him the address and sat down on her new bed. "See you down at dinner." Dr. Wells said. He closed the door and to her dismay, locked it from the outside. She had no windows in the room so she couldn't tell what time of day it was. Marinette laid down on her bed and rested.

Adrien approached the house and was surprised when he saw the nice place. He rang the doorbell and a butler answered. "Wells residence how can I help you?" He said. "Does Marinette live here? She invited me over." "Let him in." Said a voice from inside. Dr. Wells rolled up in his wheelchair and held out his hand to meet Adrien. "Come in and sit down." He said, "Where is Marinette?" Adrien asked. Dr. Wells smiled and then signaled to another boy who looked to be in his early twenties, and he went off to bring her down. He unlocked her door and peeked his head inside. "Get up, we're going." He said and Marinette rolled out of bed. She went down to the living room and a smile lit her face when she saw Adrien. He was chatting with Dr. Wells and Marinette went over and sat next to him. He stayed late but eventually had to leave. Marinette was sad to see him go and was of course locked in her room immediately after he left. She had new sympathy for Adrien who had to live like this for years. She laid face down on her bed and memories of her parents filled her mind. She couldn't forget them and cried at the thought of the family times they would have together every night. She didn't want to live trapped in a room her whole life. This was the last straw; she was escaping tonight.