A/N: ❗️WARNING❗️ Mention of torture will be mentioned in this chapter. Read at your own risk.

"Gwen! Wake up! Gwen, Please! Wake up!"

What is that noise? Who's Gwen? Are they calling me? Where am I? Why can't I move?

"Gwen! Please! Don't leave me! Wake up!"

Drip.

Huh? It's raining? Is she outside? What's going on?

Gwen groggily opened her eyes, seeing a blurred figure. She squinted at the light for a moment before everything came to a focus. A blond boy was holding her to his chest in front of her. Her head leaning on his shoulder.

"Gwen!" he screamed, holding her tighter.

She frowned as he cried, desperately calling for her. She winced as she felt her body was burning itself alive. The boy gasped and hugged her tightly in relief.

"You're awake, thank goodness."

"A-Adrien?"

He smiles, helping her sit up and leaning her on his chest this time. She suddenly felt as if she was out of breath all of a sudden. She clung to his shirt.

They were back in the room. But what happened? As she clung to his shirt, her eyes widened in horror.

G011S

Adrien glanced down and teared up, seeing the carved-up numerals on her left wrist. He tightened his hug to her and kept apologizing. But she wasn't able to hear it. She was only able to hear white noises. The carving was fresh, bloodied marks over her arm.

She gritted her teeth and glared at the wall in pure rage. She made her decision. If she's going to bring the children to safety, she's going to beat that smirk off that doctor's face and break him...slowly.

"Gwen, your pen," Adrien handed her pen, but stopped, seeing the murderous expression she had in her eyes and gasped.

He's never seen her eyes like that...Gwen...

He lightly grabbed her wrist, making her flinch and snarl at him. He gasped, letting her wrist go. Her eyes were dim.

Gwen immediately stood up and marched over to their door. She wasn't able to make it far as she suddenly slip and fall to her knees. She huffed and whimpered in pain as her body started to burn all of a sudden.

"Gwen!"

She gasps as her vision was becoming disoriented. Patting the ground, she felt it wet. Wet? Now that she thinks about it, her clothes were clinging to her tightly.

She stopped. What was that flash just now? Water? Where did that come from? She looked down at her wrist seeing the carving. Her eyes wandered to her arms and spotted new scars. Fresh ones.

Her pupils shrunk as she looked at the ground. There were drops of water and blood everywhere. She shook her head in disbelief as she stood up and took a better look around. There were scratches on the wall.

What's going on? Why is her heart pulsing so loudly? Why is her body burning? She glanced down at her fingers and saw that each tip had dried blood on them. Her nails were chipped to the skin.

"No...What happened to me?"

Seeing her go into a panic attack, Adrien rushed over to her and grabbed her hands, pulling her in a hug again. His lips trembled as he didn't know what to say as he saw everything when the guards dropped her in the room.

"Gwen, take the pen. Call them," he tried but he saw as everything flashed in her eyes in remembrance. She started gasping in desperation and silently cry, clinging to his shirt. As if it was telling her that everything she sees was real.

Gwen dropped to her knees, dragging Adrien with her. "Gwen! Wake up!"

But no...everything was coming back to her. She was back in that room. She was awake for some moments. The most painful moments. She was on the water but she kept banging on the glass, not being able to breathe.

She remembered very clearly. The doctor's malicious grin as he pressed something in front of her. The next thing happened, her body pulsed as her body was being burned by electricity. She couldn't hold back and scream in pain but it was muffled as the water was being swallowed into her lungs.

She felt it being repeated for who knows how long. They would make her choke out the water before being put in that container and electrifying her in the water.

She remembered screaming out in a plea for someone. But it was always muffled. She felt small and heavy with every strike.

After it was done, she can feel hands on her arms pinning them on a cold, metal table before feeling more agonizing pain in her wrist. She shrieked but a hand would cover it, almost breaking her teeth. Her tears burned her eyes as she cried in pain.

She was dropped in the room but her senses were alerting her more, taking the assumption that she was in more danger and attacked everything around her. She ignored the screams as she punched a body to the ground before being sedated.

"Adrien!" Gwen sobbed in his arms, now realizing what happened. She almost hurt him on her rampage earlier. "I'm so sorry! Adrien!" she screamed, holding him tightly.

Adrien couldn't take her suffering anymore and cried too. He couldn't protect his best friend. The one person who was always there for him. Who is always himself with. He's never seen her cry in pain. He never wants to see that again.

"Never apologize. Don't ever say sorry for being in pain. Ever again."

He grabbed her and carried her to the mattress. He didn't care that her bloodied clothes would stain his clothes. He lied down and hugged her to him and continued to listen to her pained sobs. He didn't once let go and didn't flinch once as she clung to his chest where Gwen punched him earlier.

Adrien can see Plagg in tears and shaking his head, seeing the girl in pain. Plagg flew to his pocket and took out Gwen's pen, handing it to him.

He won't let her suffer anymore. He grabbed it and placed it in Gwen's hand.

Feeling the recognition in her hands, Gwen didn't wait and clicked her code on the pen. Adrien sighs as Gwen's eyes drooped to a close and the pen started flashing slowly red.

Now they just wait.

🕸🕷🕸

"All right, Rogers. It has been confirmed. The children are nearby. Let's go!" Officer Barton grabbed her jacket as the officers started wearing armor and heading to the vans.

Lieutenant Rogers nodded, heading to his car. He called his daughter that he will be late and to stay indoors.

As the police cars passed by the city, Luka and Juleka stopped staring at the fliers and saw as about ten police cars raced to a destination.

Luka frowned and hugged his sister to her. He glanced up at the flier he was looking at earlier and closed his eyes.

'Come back safely, Gwen.'

🕸🕷🕸

Gabriel Agreste was in his office, furious. He wasn't able to keep up with the akumas for the past three days of worry for his son.

He's not an idiot. He received the ransom the day his son disappeared and didn't take it well. The only family he has was gone. He refused to take it to the police. What can the they do? They're worthless.

God forbid he'll go to the heroes of Paris.

Not only that, to see that Adrien was taken with a classmate of his. He knows their bond and could swear that girl snuck his son that night resulting in them being taken.

Gabriel slammed his fist on his table and gritted his teeth. He'll just have to find his son himself. He stood up and walked to his desk, to see it flashing.

Someone called?

He pressed the message. "Gabriel Agreste, this is Officer Barton. We have located your son."

His eyes widened and released a breath he has been holding. With no time to waste he called for Nathalie and left the mansion.

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen wasn't sure how long she slept. She felt guilty and heavy all over her and wanted to disappear.

She hurt Adrien.

She hurt her best friend.

She almost killed him.

She really is a monster. She doesn't deserve him or his friendship or anyone! She is better off alone. She works better alone.

Gwen hummed as Adrien ran his fingers through her wet tresses in rhythm. She didn't know what to say. It has been a long time since she relaxed in someone's arms.

"You're awake?"

She nodded, moving slightly away but he held her a little longer. She stopped, not knowing what to do in situations like this.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, playing with his stained shirt. Spotting the bruise on his chest to his stomach.

He shrugged, feeling numb. "I don't feel it."

She grimaced, feeling guiltier. He noticed and smiled at her, kissing her head. "It's fine. Once we get out of here, we can go to a doctor."

Gwen frowned in worry as he lightly grabbed her wrist. She didn't flinch back this time. Her eyes dimmed as he ran his fingers over her scabbed scar. She closed her eyes to refrain from tearing up again.

She stopped as her wrist was brought up to Adrien's lips as he lightly kissed it, ignoring the fresh blood on her skin. Her face flushed drastically as she felt her heart drumming against her chest.

What was this feeling? She doesn't like it.

"I'm not leaving your side. I won't leave you alone ever again," Adrien whispered in her wrist, making her shiver.

Gwen looked away, feeling flustered. She really didn't like it.

"P-Promise?"

Adrien softly smiled at her, kissing her head and tucking her into his chest once again. "I promise."

Gwen bit her lip, smiling up at him. Her eyes wandered to his hands and sighed in relief to see no carvings on his skin. She would have gone ballistic if she sees that.

Standing up, Gwen started stretching. She would sometimes flinch as she still feels sore after what happened. But it's about to start. Once Barton arrives, she'll take everyone out of the building.

She glanced at Adrien who was staring up at the ceiling. She frowned. She'll have to find a way to change into Ghost-Spider without him worrying for her.

Gwen stopped. Her eyes widened as her eyes snapped to her wrists one more time.

Her bracers are gone.

Her eyes widened and gasped, alerting Adrien. "What?! Are you okay?"

Shit. She's screwed.

Adrien stood next to her as the lights in the room turned off. Gwen frowned, grabbing his hand as the lights lit up red.

Now she's really screwed.

Adrien stood in front of Gwen protectively as the cell door slid open but no one was there to open. Reassuring her to stay, Adrien walked forward to check.

There was no one there. All the teenagers confusedly got out of their rooms and looked around. They only heard sirens outside the building.

"They're here," Gwen murmured, walking forward.

Seeing as everyone got out of their rooms, Gwen spoke up. "Everybody! Listen up!"

Everyone turned to her in question, afraid of what's going on. Is this a test from that doctor?

"I called the police to come here. They are here. I need everyone to follow us to the front of the building. I'll protect you, do not separate."

"Why should we believe you?" the eldest asked, frowning at the girl.

"She's strong. Stronger than anyone I know. She brought help and she intends to keep you guys safe," Adrien stepped forward.

Gwen smiles and nods. The teenagers were still unsure. They hardly know her. They have been in the building for who knows how long and they miss their families.

"I believe her."

They all glanced to the back of the group. Carlos raised his chin proudly. "She helped me go back to my family. I know she can do it again. But this time, I will help too."

Adrien and Gwen's eyes widened at him and grinned. Gwen's eyes filled with determination before speaking up again.

"We need to keep going. I'll take you guys home. Stay close."

She nodded to Adrien and they all started running. With all the circles the doctor made her walk through, Gwen caught up with the pattern.

The red lights flashed in every corridor but everyone kept following the girl. They made sure to check every corner of any guards but the place was deserted.

And that was concerning Gwen. Where is everyone? Where is that ugly guard or the other one?

She stopped, making everyone follow. She frowned, looking around. This is way too easy. She walked toward the nearest window and there they were.

Gwen can hear the gunshots from outside and nods. She looked around but couldn't see that stupid doctor there. Where is he?

She backed away from it and believed that going through the front is not going to be safe. Her eyes wandered around and found another door. Her senses didn't went off, so it was safe to go through.

She nods to Adrien and he understood, ushering everyone to go in. Gwen looked around before entering. It was a long hallway.

She didn't like it but asked everyone to go.

That's when a door slammed close behind her.

Gwen turned around to see Adrien on the other side in the doctor's hold. She seeths punched it, scaring the teenagers.

The doctor smirked and dragged the boy away. Her eyes met the doctor's and heard the message. She grunts and tries to pull the handle open but her hands burned as she tried.

"No! No! Adrien! Adrien! You bastard!"

She stopped as she heard whimpering behind her and gritted her teeth. She glanced back to the door but they were gone. She'll have to take the others to safety. Like hell she's leaving him behind.

"Keep going!" She shouts as the others kept running.

🕸🕷🕸

"Let me go!" Adrien shouts, squirming in the doctor's hold.

The doctor heaved, dragging the boy to his lab. That bitch! His mind drifted back to Gwen.

He snatched her bracer earlier and didn't anticipate it to be a tracker. No wonder she came with Adrien.

It was a set up! If he doesn't get the money, he'll just kill the kid. He'll find Gwen later. And he's going to make sure he'll use every possible tool he has. He swears on it!

"Shut up!" he threw Adrien in the room, closing the door and locking it.

All his hard work. All his experiments will go to waste! He's not going to let that happen! Now that he finally found someone to take in the pain, she betrays him?!

He thought that he'll keep playing with his toy, but no!

He clenched his fists and angrily threw his table across the room. He screams in anger, grabbing his chair and throwing it across the room.

Adrien avoided his disaster, sitting against the wall. He shuts his eyes as some beakers would crash on the ground.

His eyes snapped open as the doctor started laughing. He saw as the man grabbed the broken shards on the ground and clenched tightly on it, slowly dripping blood on the ground, but he didn't show anything but a malicious grin.

"Oh, Gwendy...You'll come to me. I'll make sure of it," he cackles.

Adrien furiously glares at him. Gwen is not that stupid to go for him. He stares as Plagg tucks himself more in his pocket.

🕸🕷🕸

The teenagers pant in exhaustion as they finally stumbled into a door. Gwen squeezed through and cautiously opened the door. She sighs in relief as it was outside and far from the gunshots.

They were in the forest and it was nighttime, feeling the soft cold breeze.

She turned around and faced the teenagers. She took her pen out and handed it to Carlos.

"You guys go on ahead. Don't leave the forest until I come and get you."

She started walking back inside the building when Carlos grabbed her wrist. She ignored the painful sting and turned to him. His eyes teared up and pulled her.

"You're not coming?"

Her eyes softened and grabbed his hand, removing it from hers. "Protect them for me. I have to go back. I still have business with Doc."

Hearing this, the teenagers trembled, shaking their heads. "You can't leave us! What are we going to do?! You made it this far, I'm sure the police will get him back!"

Gwen smiles, closing the door and breaking the handle. The teenagers cried, trying to open it but Gwen placed her bloodied hand on the window in assurance.

"Doc let you guys escape. In exchange for me. I'm not going to put you guys through that. And Adrien is special to me. I'm not leaving him behind. Go! I'll meet you guys later. Stay safe!"

She didn't give them a chance as she ran back in that corridor. Glancing down at her carved wrist, she clenched her fists and dangerously looked forward.

"I'm coming for you, Doc."

Seeing as she was alone in the whole building, she started thinking up a plan. She can't just barge in the room throwing fists.

As much as she wants to torture Doc, she'll save Adrien first. He's her first priority.

So, she walked toward Doc's office. He wants her? He'll have to fight for it.

🕸🕷🕸

Doc frustratedly scratched his face, gripping onto his shard. He heaves and waits for Gwen to arrive. He tied Adrien to a chair. If the boy pulls any tricks, he won't hesitate to slit the boy's throat.

The once white lit-up room was red. Leaving the room in ruins. Including the container, he used on his new favorite toy. She'll come eventually for the boy.

He knew when he saw those blue eyes. They were glaring at him but he knew better. They held so many stories in them. So many sad stories that made her dangerous. He knew from that moment that she was no ordinary girl.

After experimenting on the others for an hour each, he wasn't satisfied. They screamed in fear. But finally hearing her. He couldn't hold back and spent the whole 24 hours with her. She screamed in anger.

He loved it.

He wants to hear more but the girl kept losing blood and decided to leave her for the next day but he wasn't successful as the girl betrayed him.

He gave her all of his devotion and yet she threw it away for the others?! He'll never forgive her for that. She cares more for this boy and he's tempted to end it so he can keep her for himself.

But in order to do that...she has to come to him. And he'll be ready.

He sighs, he can't wait to use new experiments!

"What's taking her so long?!" he growls, slamming his fist on Adrien's chair.

Adrien chuckles, "She won't come. She's not stupid."

Doc chuckles, walking in front of the boy and crouching near his face. Adrien only glared at him as Doc smirked.

"You haven't seen those eyes, boy. I know the eyes of a murderer when I see one."

Adrien scowled at him. "She's not a murderer."

Doc blinked owlishly and laughed loudly, slapping the boy in the head finding it amusing. "You sure know nothing about that girl like I do."

"You don't know anything about her!"

"Do you?" Doc smirked.

"I know more than you! The Gwen I know is not a murderer!"

"Tsk Tsk. Oh, little Agreste. I can tell you haven't done your research. I looked through her files and they all seemed too real. She has no past history and parents' history."

"What does it have to do with her being a murderer?"

"Why forge a birth certificate if you have nothing to hide?" he smirks as Adrien's eyes widened. "Sad, really. I can tell you're close by the looks of it but you don't seem to know her at all."

Doc and Adrien's eyes widened as they heard slow steps echoing in the hallway. Adrien paled in horror. Gwen wouldn't come here. It's the police for sure, right?

But Doc stood up straight and smirked, hiding the glass shard behind him.

The steps have become louder, getting closer and closer. Doc narrowed his eyes as a shadow stood in front of the door. He walked behind Adrien and waited patiently.

They flinched as they heard a loud bang. It quietened before it got haste and banged on the door constantly. The dent was getting through the door.

Doc sweated nervously, not liking it a bit.

"Gwendy! It's locked. Stop the noise and I'll open it for you..."

After the last bang, it got quiet. They waited to listen to anything else but nothing. Instead, they heard scratching on the door making them grimace at the high-pitched scratch.

Doc scowled and cautiously unlocked the door but didn't open. Instead, he stood for her. Doc screamed as the door bursts open, flying off the hinges. He managed to dodge for a little before turning to the door.

It was too dark to see anyone in the doorway. It was clearer to hear.

Gwen walked inside the room with a pipe in her hand and glowered, as Doc grinned seeing her. Adrien's eyes were wide in disbelief. What the hell happened to the door?!

"You want me? Let him go," She snarls.

"Gwen! You're here!" He stands in front of her but Gwen pointed her sharpened pipe at him. Her blue eyes dangerously glared at him.

"To think that you would go to an extreme to bring me here, I'm touched," she sassed.

Doc chuckled, "You should be. I only want you."

"Really? You didn't have to take Adrien while you're at it. After all, you owe me a beating."

"I see. Well, as you know. I am a man of schedule and I was going to set up my tools earlier for us but something caught my very eye."

He went through his pockets. Gwen was seeing through his every move and didn't feel affected when he pulled out her bracers.

"You betrayed me by calling the cops on me? And I thought what he had was special. I didn't harm anyone else and was loyal to you and this is how you repay me?" he glares.

Gwen continued to blankly stare at him before pointing her pipe at him. "Let. Him. Go."

Doc sighs, shaking his head in disappointment. "Ignoring me...YOU'RE MINE!"

He sliced his shard at Adrien but he was stopped and flung to the other side of the room. Adrien's eyes widened more at what he just witnessed.

Gwen swung her pipe at the doctor. Hard. But that's not the only thing he noticed. No.

Her eyes glowed murderous blue. She didn't seem unaffected by hurting someone. He can tell from her eyes that she has done this before. He had no words.

Gwen closed her eyes, and walked toward Adrien, using the pipe to cut his ropes.

"Go. I'll catch up with you later."

"What did you–?"

Gwen blankly stared at him with dimmed eyes before facing Doc who started cackling on the ground at the discovery.

"I knew it! You wouldn't hesitate to hurt others! We're so alike it's amazing! You're irresistible! I want you even more now! HAHAHA!"

"G-Gwen?"

She didn't reply. She crouched on the ground and grabbed her bracers. She glanced at her scar and thought back to Adrien's affection towards her.

"Get out," she whispered.

"What?" Adrien gasped.

"GET OUT!" Gwen grabbed his collar and threw him out of the room. He grunts as he landed hard on the ground. He snapped his head up to stare at her.

It can't be true...She can't be...

"You're in my way! After everything, he put us through. I am not going to let him walk away. Ghost-Spider is close by. Once I scream, she'll come. So go away!" she shouts.

Adrien shook his head in disbelief, "I'm not leaving you alone! That's just insane Gwe–"

"JUST LEAVE!"

He gasps in shock. He's never seen her so furious before. Her eyes were different from before. He doesn't know what to feel as she ran after Doc who ran away from the room.

Adrien lay on the floor paralyzed at what he just witnessed. She's insane!

He clenched his fists and groggily stood up. Plagg flew out of his pocket in worry.

"Adrien?"

He didn't respond. His mind only went back to the times when Gwen was joyous and quirky with him and his friends. She is kind and smart...she wouldn't hurt anybody so cruelly, including killing someone.

I looked through her files and they all seemed too real. She has no past history or parents' history.

Sad, really. I can tell you're close by the looks of it but you don't seem to know her at all.

"No. I don't know her," he frowns before grabbing the pipe Gwen dropped earlier and running towards the fight.

Plagg panicked, "Adrien! Adrien! Where are you going?!"

"I'm going to save Gwen!"

"What are you thinking?! Without your powers?! Just wait until Ghost-Spider captures Doc. Go back!"

"No, Plagg! I promised I'm not leaving her. And I intend to keep my promise!"

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Next Episode: I Am Ghost-Spider ♥

Published: June 8, 2022

Word Count: 4250