"You're lucky I don't burn you to a crisp."

Marinette was being dragged across the rugged forest floor by Inferno as he muttered that sentence. She had no energy left to fight; she just accepted her inevitable fate.

"At least beg for your life a little," the man frowned.

Marinette looked around, the pain pounding in her body. She couldn't even talk.

"You're boring," Inferno said. He dropped the arm he was dragging her around by, threw her up against a tree, and walked away until he was a considerable distance from her. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

Marinette closed her eyes momentarily, trying to think of anything but the burning pain in her abdomen that made her want to puke. But it seemed as though the more Marinette tried to ignore the pain, the more it intensified.

She stared at Inferno, who seemed to be taking a very important phone call. He glanced back at Marinette here and then, whispering into the phone. She didn't know if he was trying to keep watch of her to make sure she wouldn't escape, or if he was discussing her to the person on the phone. Probably both.

For a split second, Inferno turned his back to Marinette, and she got a little hopeful. Well, until she remembered that her limbs were completely useless at the moment.

"Don't say anything."

A quiet whisper broke through the trees, and Marinette immediately turned her head around. It sounded like it came from right behind her, but she didn't spot anything except for the tree she was leaning up against. Maybe she was going crazy?

"I'm here to help you."

There it was again, that same whisper. It was husky and full of urgency, but at the same time, it was soothing and full of care. Marinette was so confused, but soon ruled out the possibility that she was crazy because the sound was so close and clear to her that it couldn't have been a figment of her imagination.

Then, as she cautiously watched Inferno, a gloved hand came out of nowhere and wrapped around her forearm. She yelped in surprise, causing the arm to retract and Inferno to turn around.

"Shut up!" Inferno yelled annoyingly, bringing the phone down from his ear. After glaring at Marinette for a few seconds, he returned to his phone call, back turned to her once again.

The hand reappeared, and soon a face came from around the tree. A teenaged boy with bright green eyes and shaggy blonde hair was in full view. He looked at her, the bags under his eyes indicating that he very tired. Nonetheless, he still showed a great amount of determination in helping Marinette escape.

"I'm gonna get you out of here," the boy said quietly, eyes focused on hers. His gloved hand was outstretched. "But hurry."

Inferno was absorbed into the conversation on the phone; he was yelling violently and waving his free hand in the air.

Marinette bit her lip. Inferno was busy, but could she trust the boy? Considering she had nothing else to lose, she took his hand.

The blonde boy nodded at her consent and tried walking away with her. Marinette attempted to walk along, but her weak legs trembled on the soil until her entire body fell to the ground. Her vision faded in and out, threatening to render her unconscious. But she held on, wanting to make it easier for the boy who is helping her.

She winced in pain and the boy watched sympathetically. He creased his eyebrows as he realized what he needed to do. Without hesitation, he hoisted the nearly unconscious girl on his back and began trekking through the woods as swiftly and quietly as possible.

"W-who are you?" Marinette whispered, her head resting on the boys' shoulder as her legs dangled helplessly off his back.

"Adrien," the blonde boy said. His eyes were focused up ahead on the same cabin Marinette spotted earlier. That must be where he lived.

As he approached the cabin, Adrien kept looking around, to make sure Inferno hadn't caught up to them. "You'll be safe here," he whispered, opening the creaky door. He carried Marinette over to a cot where he gently set her down.

"If he comes back, I'll scare him off," Adrien said with a nod.

"Okay," Marinette replied simply, even though she wondered how he could make a guy that has the ability engulf anything into flames, scared.

The boy crouched beside Marinette so that he was eye level with her, and gestured to her stomach. "Can I take a look?"

"Sure," Marinette breathed, wincing as she lifted up the bottom of her shirt. The burnt fabric stuck to her searing flesh and peeling it off was like plunging a bunch of tiny knives into her stomach.

Adrien took a closer look. "He got you pretty bad," he said with a frown. Then, the boy stood up and walked over to a table sitting in the corner of the room. He picked up a cloth sitting on it, then jogged over to a cabinet where he picked up a bottle of rubbing alcohol.

He doused the fabric in the solution and carefully brought it over to Marinette. He bent back down and looked at her gingerly. "This is gonna hurt."

Marinette pinched her eyes shut and bit her lip. The chemical mixing with her already burning wound was not going to be pretty, but it had to be cleaned. "Go ahead," she muttered.

She watched as his gloved hand pressed the wet fabric against her skin, causing a sizzling noise. Marinette clenched her eyes shut from the pain even more, internally screaming. A loud yelp of pain wanted to escape her mouth desperately, but somehow she managed to keep it in.

The pain was so tremendous, Marinette started to feel herself lose consciousness. Her eyes wavered around the run down cabin before her vision finally faded to black.

*

When Marinette woke up again, the pain in her stomach had lessened considerably and was now replaced with something else; hunger.

She struggled to open her eyes, for it seemed as though they were glued shut. The tears of pain had dried and now crusted over her eyelids. Finally, after a few minutes and hearing Adrien's voice, she opened her eyes.

The boy was sitting in a chair by the table in the far corner of the room, looking at Marinette intently. He smiled when he saw her lift up. He couldn't live with being responsible for yet another persons' death.

"How long was I out?" Marinette asked hoarsely. She was so hungry and in desperate need for water.

"Just a day," Adrien replied. When he saw the raise of her eyebrow, he stood up. "Could've been worse."

"Yeah, I guess," Marinette mumbled. "Do... you know who Inferno is?"

"I do, actually," Adrien responded simply, walking over to a pantry full of different food items. There was no order; cans and boxes of food looked like they were just thrown in there. "I used to know him. He was my best friend's brother."

"Oh," Marinette replied. "Do you know how he got his powers?"

"No," Adrien said, glancing down at his hands. "He was always the quiet type."

Marinette sighed, so many questions flooding her mind.

"I'm assuming you're hungry," Adrien commented, rummaging through his food.

"Definitely," she replied, sitting up. "But I can't ask for your food. You've already done so much."

Adrien turned around, holding a bottle of water. "I don't mind." He walked over to Marinette and handed her the bottle. She graciously accepted it, unable to ignore her dehydrated body. She twisted off the cap and started guzzling down the water.

"Woah, slow down," Adrien chuckled. "You're gonna throw it all back up if you drink too fast."

Marinette brought down the bottle from her mouth and wiped the water off her lips. "Right."

"So," Adrien said quietly, sitting back down. "What's your name?"

"Marinette," she replied.

"Marinette," Adrien repeated, smiling. "I like that name."

She could've swore she felt her cheeks heat up, but she denied the fact. "Oh," she said shyly. Her eyes traveled to Adrien's gloved hands, which were tapping a rhythm on his knee.

Which made her wonder- why was he wearing gloves in the first place? I mean sure, it was a bit chilly outside, but wouldn't he have taken them off by now?

"Sorry." Marinette shook her head, tearing her eyes off his hands. "I'm just curious, why are you wearing those gloves?"

Adrien opened his mouth to reply, but stopped when a twig snapping outside of the cabin caught his attention.

"Shh," he said, inching towards the window. He looked outside, his eyebrows furrowed. "It's him."

"Inferno?" Marinette blinked.

"Yes, and he's mad," Adrien said quickly, backing away.

"But it's been an entire day, why would he come back?"

"Let's just say he's a hot head," he said, slipping off his gloves. He twisted open the front door and was about to step out when Marinette reluctantly found the strength to stand up. She limped over to him, a numb pain still radiated from her stomach. Not as bad as before, but still enough to hurt whenever she walked upright.

Adrien's head snapped towards her and his eyes got wide. He jumped away from her, hiding his hands behind his back. "Stay away!" he yelled urgently.

Marinette stopped in her tracks, blinking with confusion. What was his outburst all about?

"Sorry," Adrien said quietly. "I didn't mean to yell at you." His hands were still crossed behind his back. "I'm just gonna go check outside. Stay here."

Adrien quickly darted out the front door, leaving Marinette standing in shock. However, she couldn't stand for too long since the pain in her stomach grew with each second she stood upright, so she staggered back over to the bed and lay down.

What was his problem? Marinette thought. All I wanted to do was help. Maybe he didn't want me getting hurt?

Marinette slowly turned on her side and stared out the window where she saw Adrien surveying the forest, his hands raised in defense.

But that doesn't explain why his hands were behind his back, Marinette pondered. Like he was hiding something.

The front door suddenly creaked open and Adrien walked through, a disappointed look on his face. "He's gone. I swear I thought I saw him."

"I should get going soon," Marinette murmured, staring up at the ceiling. "My parents are probably wondering where I am. I really appreciate your hospitality though."

"You can barely walk," Adrien replied. "Plus, Inferno is still out there and I bet he's looking for you."

Marinette was too tired to argue. She still didn't know why he was so cautious around her all of a sudden.

She definitely couldn't stay, though. She barely knew the guy! Plus her parents would be worried sick.

"I'll sleep on the floor," Adrien said, interrupting her thoughts. He sat down cross legged and rested his head against the wall. His tired eyes stared forward.

I'll leave in the middle of the night while he is asleep, Marinette decided in her head. That way, he won't be able to stop me.

She saw Adrien's eyes flutter close, his hands folded on his lap. Surely he was exhausted. Deep down, Marinette felt a sense of sympathy for the boy. Where were his parents? Why was he alone?

And then Marinette realized, after everything this mysterious boy had done for her--a mere stranger--she hadn't even thanked him.

"Adrien?" she called out quietly.

His right eye slowly cracked open. "Yes?"

"Thank you."

Adrien's eye slowly fluttered close again. It was dead silent in the room, the only sound being that of the wind blowing through the cratered roof. Until finally, the silence soon ended as Marinette caught a small smile tug at the corner of Adrien's lips. But the friendly gesture had disappeared as soon as it had come.

"You're welcome."