Chapter 15: Shielded Thoughts

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

~Vale's pov~

I tried not to loose glance of him and continued struggling.

My legs felt heavier with each step, the initial determination fading into an uneasy hesitation. My arms swung stiffly at my sides, gripping phone so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

The rising unease in my chest made my breathing shallow, and i could feel my pulse thudding in my temples.

Every time Adrien's figure moved further ahead, my mind spiraled deeper into doubt.

My steps faltered for a moment, my instincts screaming at me to turn back. But the curiosity, the gnawing need to understand why Adrien was acting so strangely kept me moving forward.

'Why is he still lying to me?' I wondered,

My brows knitting together in frustration and confusion. heart hammered against my ribcage as i stared at his retreating back.

'Why is he dressed like that? Why does he keep avoiding my questions?, why was he going so far?, where was he even going'.

I thought hard because it was only few minutes of break that we had left, probably like only 2 minutes that is remaining and he was going so far away from school especially passing a route like this were people are just moving aggressively.

I tried to reason with myself, my thoughts a chaotic mess.

'I'm just being nosy, aren't I?' I thought bitterly. He has his reasons. I should just stop. But why would he lie if it's something innocent?

"maybe he doesn't want me to follow him?".

Much minutes had passed by, probably like 65 minutes and now the crowd began to lessen as I kept moving and shoving my way through I stopped yelling since it wasn't even getting to him,

Perhaps when I catch up to him, he'll explain what on earth is going on here.

I kept on walking and walking till it was only me and Adrien on the streets now I decided to text him now that I'm not far from him because since he wasn't answering me physically at least he texted me.

(❄️): Adrien?

(🧠): Why is Damian asking about you and where are you?

(❄️): Right behind you...

(🧠): I'm not making jokes Vale

(❄️): Do you also think I am joking...

(❄️): Stop moving so that we can talk

(❄️): I might be able to help you..

(🧠): help?, huh?.. what are you thinking about?

I rolled my eyes and glanced up at him still walking ahead of me, there's no way he's asking me that question, when he's also bunking class or wait....

Why am I been too nosy, I'm just been stupid, I literally don't know what he's about to do and all I knew is that he's going somewhere dressed like that?,why am I even following him?

My phone vibrated in my hands and I read the text and reply...

(🧠): Vale?!

(🧠): Why aren't you answering me?

(🧠): I don't understand you

(❄️): just drop the act now, I'm already close to you😑

(🧠): Do you realise why you're saying?!

(🧠): VALE! I'm in the DAMN SCHOOL!!

(❄️): Just stop lying ah!🙄

(❄️): Adrien I'm not so dumb

(❄️): Where are you even going?

(🧠): Vale?

(❄️): hm yes?, you can tell me...

(🧠): I'm... In .. school...

I looked again ahead of me as my eyes grew wider by the second.

'why is he still lying?'

My phone chimed again and I looked down at it with a hit on confusion well to be honest with a lot of confusion.

The texts on my phone replayed in my mind, each one adding to the unease. Adrien's words were evasive, his tone uncharacteristically cold. The contradiction between his messages and his actions felt like an iron grip around my chest.

It froze me in place.

My gaze shot up from my phone, locking onto the figure still walking ahead. My stomach churned, an icy dread washing over me.

Adrien had sent a photo of himself in class in his seat with Derrick frowning.

I didn't reply I can't even say that he's trying to play smart because this wasn't been smart at all.

He had probably taken that before and just sent it now.

How smart ..

I immediately stopped in my tracks as all the thoughts hit me at once like bricks of walls straight in my head through my ear holes.

His text message suddenly just clicked in my sense and I looked around and realised that I don't even know where I am and what part of the paris i am in, i looked around again now not absentmindedly but swallowing the environment around me.

'what if he's a criminal and he's luring me?'

'Does he kill?'

'Maybe he wants to kill me'

'Or worse!

'What if he kidnaps me?'

'And why was....?'

'What if he's a terrorist?'

'Oh no I'm dead!!'

Fingers trembled as I clutched my phone, my gaze darting around the unfamiliar street.

The buildings seemed to close in onto me, their shadowy facades looming like silent spectators to my growing fear. The figure ahead of me was still walking, unbothered, his strides steady and unhurried.

My phone buzzed again, and i hesitated, swallowing hard before looking down at the screen.

(🧠): Are you okay? Where are you?

My blood ran cold. Adrien wouldn't text like that if he were the one in front of me. My throat tightened as my brain scrambled to make sense of the situation. If Adrien is texting me… then who am I following?

I took a shaky step back, my heart pounding in my ears. The figure ahead slowed, almost as if sensing my hesitation. I froze, my instincts screaming at me to run again, but my legs felt rooted to the ground.

The scent of Adrien's perfume was gone now, replaced by the damp, metallic tang of the desolate street that looked ahead. My hands felt clammy, and my stomach churned with nausea.

+_+_+

The street was a forgotten piece of the city cloaked in an eerie silence that felt unnatural.

The wind whistled mournfully faintly hitting the weak aging unfinished buildings held little firmly by some machinerys used for some construction, there were so many abandoned constructions of buildings and houses, their faded signs barely readable, corners littered with half-decayed foods.

The streetlights flickered every time the wind blew, the road were messy with puddles and empty plastic bags, narrow streets with leaves from God knows where was flying around making rustling sounds, everywhere was foggy,...the shadows of a very tall building obstructing the rays of the sun was casted upon the little street I was in.

And ahead of me was a dead end?? Which means anyone at this point was meant to go back.

My phone buzzed again. I glanced down, my trembling fingers barely able to unlock the screen.

(🧠): Vale, stop whatever you're doing and come back to school NOW!.

My steps faltered as I followed Adrien further into the labyrinth of this desolate street. Each step splashed faintly against the puddles scattered across the uneven road. My heart pounded harder with every step he took toward the looming dead end ahead.

I saw Adrien come to an halt facing the dead end as there was no more path to walk on he pocketed his hands and looked up at the sun sighing out loud.

The moment he stopped, my breath hitched. He stood still for a second, his back to me, shoulders rising and falling as though he were catching his breath. The scene felt wrong, unnaturally choreographed.....as though this was the final act of a twisted performance.

And then it began.

Time seemed to slow as he moved, fluid and deliberate, the hood casting his features in shadow, with his head still hung down he removed his coat and tossed it aside and his mask and cap.

The sound of the wet fabric hitting the puddle was a small, insignificant noise, yet it felt deafening in the heavy silence. I took a step back, my foot sliding slightly on the wet pavement.

Then he turned around swiftly almost like he used one of his legs and then slowly looked at me-.

~End of Vale's pov~

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+