The Algorithm

Chapter five - Trust Fall

Adrien's ribs ached with each stride but he forced himself to keep moving. One more step, he thought to himself repeatedly with every gasping breath. As Adrien struggled his way to the top, Marinette was urging him forward, eventually grabbing his arms and pulling him up the never ending staircase. Finally, the two of them stop at a landing in between two flights of stairs.

"Catch your breath." Marinette instructed, her words muffled by the sleeve she held over her lower face. Adrien took the opportunity to suck in a few deep breaths which only intensified the aching in his ribcage. He decided to breathe through the pain but then the air started to taste sour. He glanced over at the lemon fog, crawling its way up the stairs. Slivers of mist climbed up like boney fingers reaching out to suffocate them. The golden smog flooded the landing where they stood and was rising just above their ankles, making it impossible to see their shoes through the thick layer of fog.

"We need to move." Marinette said before grabbing his wrist and jerking him back up the staircase. Adrien placed his hand over his face, making breathing that much harder. A few more flights of stairs and they were finally at the top. A large metal door stood in front of them. Marinette pulled at the door knob but it wouldn't budge. It was locked from the outside. The lemon cloud was rising quickly and was making Adrien feel a little groggy despite the adrenaline he felt pumping through his veins.

He observed as Marinette got down on her knees and peered into the keyhole. She placed one hand a few centimeters in front of the door knob. The same humming sound he heard before the car window shattered filled the air. It was a hypnotic noise that rang though his eardrums like a pulsing purr. The gas cloud was now at Marinette's waist and slowly creeping up Adrien's legs, the heavy scent of lemon was suffocating and made his eyes sting from the potency. Suddenly the lock clicked open. How did she unlock it? Adrien thought to himself, but before he could ask her, she swung the door open.

They both ran onto the rooftop, slamming the door behind them, trapping the drug cloud inside. Marinette locked the door once again. They took a few steps back and watched as the honey colored smog leaked its way through the cracks in the door frame. Luckily the wind carried the fog into the east and away from them. Adrien took a deep breath, filling his lungs with fresh air that cleared out the overbearing scent of lemon. The aching in his abdomen had faded into a light soreness but his legs still felt weak and wobbly. Not to mention the stinging in his mouth that erupted whenever he spoke.

"Are you alright?" Marinette asked through her shaky panting. Adrien nodded.

"How is your head?" He questioned, his cheek throbbing with every word. She reached up to her bleeding temple and wiped the blood from her cheekbone, which left a red, jagged cut in the shape of the letter V on her forehead. Dark, sticky blood still slowly seeped its way out of the wound.

"I'll be fine." She stated indifferent towards her own well being. Adrien got the sense that she was lying to make him feel better, so he pressed her.

"Are you sure?" He asked again. "You hit your head pretty hard." Marinette shook her head.

"I've had head injuries before, it's just a cut, I'm okay." She said a little more convincing this time, putting Adrien's worries to rest.

Suddenly a loud bang came crashing against the metal door causing both of them to stumble backwards out of fear.

"Akuma?" Adrien asked, the work still felt strange coming out of his mouth.

"Yeah." Marinette responded, her voice sour at the mention of the murderous group. Another loud bang rattled against the door.

"What do we do?" He asked, panic filling his voice.