The car ride back to Chloe’s mansion was silent, save for Sabrina’s occasional sniffles in the driver’s seat. Marinette stared out of the window, her mind racing. She wasn’t thinking about Lila anymore at least, not in the way she thought she should be. There was no guilt, no remorse. Instead, she felt uneasy about the fact she didn't.
Once they arrived, the three girls headed upstairs to Chloe’s bedroom. Sabrina trailed behind like a ghost, her face pale and eyes wide with shock. Marinette and Chloe plopped onto the bed, while Sabrina sat stiffly in the corner, wringing her hands.
“You know,” Chloe said after a moment, her voice cutting through the silence. “It’s funny how they say you shouldn’t bury your issues. But honestly?” She leaned back with a smirk. “I feel really great right now.”
Marinette whipped her head toward Chloe, her expression a mix of disbelief and incredulity. “Really, Chloe? You think this is funny or something?”
Chloe shrugged, unbothered. “What? You don’t feel at least a little relieved? Lila’s out of our lives. Permanently.”
Marinette didn’t respond right away. She couldn’t. She hated to admit it, but Chloe wasn’t entirely wrong. Lila’s constant manipulation, her lies, her schemes they were finally over. And yet, that sense of relief only added to the gnawing unease she felt inside. What kind of person didn’t feel bad after… after something like this?
“Chloe…” Marinette began, but her thoughts were interrupted by a soft whimper from the corner of the room.
They both turned to look at Sabrina, who was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, shaking like a leaf.
“What’s up with her?” Chloe asked, frowning.
“What’s up with her?" Marinette snapped, her voice hushed but sharp. “She just witnessed her best friend and her classmate bury someone alive. What do you think her deal is?”
Sabrina looked up at them, her lip trembling. “I-I won’t tell anyone. I swear. Just… please don’t hurt me.”
Marinette’s heart sank at the desperation in Sabrina’s voice. She glanced at Chloe, who rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Oh, please. Like we’d waste our time doing anything to you.”
“Chloe!” Marinette hissed, appalled. “You're not helping!”
“Well, what do you want me to say?” Chloe snapped back. “If she keeps acting like this, she’s gonna draw suspicion. And then we’re all cooked.”
Sabrina let out a choked sob, burying her face in her hands. Marinette walked over and knelt down in front of her. “Sabrina,” she said gently, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. “We’re not going to hurt you. We just… need you to stay calm. Okay? No one can know about this.”
“I-I won’t say anything,” Sabrina stammered. “I promise.”
Chloe stood up and paced the room, her mind already working overtime. “We can’t just take her word for it. What if she cracks under pressure?”
“She won’t,” Marinette said firmly, though she wasn’t entirely sure if she believed it. “Right, Sabrina?”
Sabrina nodded frantically, her tear streaked face full of fear. “I won’t. I swear.”
Chloe stopped pacing and looked at Marinette with a raised eyebrow. “You're really going to trust her?”
Marinette hesitated but ultimately nodded. “Yes. We don’t really have a choice.”
Chloe sighed, rubbing her temples. “Fine. But if she slips up, it’s on you, Dupain-Cheng.”
Marinette ignored the jab, focusing instead on calming Sabrina. “It’s over now,” she said softly, though the words felt hollow. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
But deep down, Marinette wasn’t so sure.
The morning sunlight streamed through Marinette’s bedroom window as her alarm buzzed, signaling another school day. She groggily rolled out of bed, her mind still clouded by the events of the previous day. She moved through her morning routine like a machine get dressed, grab her bag, head out the door but the memory of what she and Chloe had done lingered in the back of her mind. A part of her wondered if it would ever leave her.
When she arrived at school, the halls buzzed with the usual chatter, nothing out of the ordinary. Marinette kept her head down, her steps purposeful, but inside, her heart pounded. Was anyone suspicious? Did anyone know?
She reached her classroom just as the bell rang and slid into her seat. The room was filled with the usual energy of teenagers ready to start their day or not. Alya waved at her, but Marinette only managed a weak smile in return. She couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was watching her, even if they weren’t. She glanced at Chloe, who was seated across the room, her expression as carefree as ever.
Miss Bustier entered the classroom, her usually warm demeanor replaced by something more somber. She stood at the front of the class, her hands clasped in front of her, and waited for everyone to settle down.
“Class,” she began, her voice unusually quiet, “I have some bad news to share with you all.”
Marinette’s stomach twisted. She tried to focus on the mundane items on her desk, doodling aimlessly in her notebook to seem uninterested. It couldn’t be about Lila… could it?
Miss Bustier continued, her expression heavy with concern. “It’s about Lila Rossi. Her mother has reported her missing. She hasn’t been seen since yesterday, and no one knows where she is.”
A collective gasp filled the room. Alya’s hand flew to her mouth, and Nino looked genuinely worried. Adrien’s brow furrowed as he leaned forward in his seat, his lips pressed into a thin line. The whispers began almost immediately, speculation spreading like wildfire among the students.
Marinette forced herself to keep her breathing steady, but her heart hammered in her chest. She dared a glance across the room at Chloe, who met her gaze with a sly, almost smug smirk. Marinette felt her lips twitch, and before she could stop herself, she was smirking back.
It felt strange, wrong, even but there was something in Chloe’s expression that mirrored her own feelings, a mix of satisfaction and relief. The room around them seemed to fade as they shared the moment, a silent acknowledgment of their dark secret.
Marinette quickly looked away, forcing her expression to neutralize. She had to act normal, no matter what. She could feel Alya’s curious gaze on her, and she pasted on her best worried face, whispering to her friend, “That’s… awful. I hope they find her soon.”
But deep down, Marinette wasn’t so sure she meant it.
