Hunted

Chapter 21 - The Rescue pt 1/Emilie Agreste

Adrien sat in the forest waiting for his father. He was nervous to see him again after his betrayal. His father wasn't known as the forgiving type and obviously was helping him for his own motives. He glanced over at his friends who were resting and smiled. He felt a lot better knowing he had true friends. His mind drifted to Luka. What could have become of him? Did he go back to the city or further into the forest. Adrien didn't care as he disliked him, but he couldn't help but wonder his fate. 

His mind would constantly go back to Marinette though. He didn't know what the Bourgeois place was like, but he had heard terrible things and was worried. He was interrupted in his thoughts when he heard footsteps approaching. Felix then came out of the trees with a smug grin on his face. 

"We meet again brother. You must be really desperate to ask for my help." 

"I didn't ask for your help Felix. I was expecting father." 

"Then your wish is granted." Gabriel's voice sounded. Adrien turned to find his father behind him. "So Adrien, we should get moving if we want to make it in time." Gabriel said. Adrien nodded and walked over to his friends. 

"Guys get up. It's time to go." Alya looked up at Adrien and saw Felix and Gabriel next to him. She almost jumped back and then stood up. 

"I can't believe they are coming with us." Alya said under her breath. Nino and Max were a little nervous too, but got up and they began to walk. 

"Hey" Felix said with a smirk and Alya frowned in return moving closer to Nino. "Come on if we're gonna work together you are going to need to get along with me." Felix said to the three. 

"He's right." Adrien said, to everyone's surprise. "If we all get along, we will be a better team so let's get to know each other a bit more. Felix is my twin brother, so he knows me pretty well but Nino, Alya, Max he's never met you guys before." 

"Correction. He's met Nino and I before." Alya said with a scowl. 

"Right." Adrien said clearing his throat to ease the tension. 

"Umm I like to invent." Max interjected. Everyone looked at him. 

"What? I thought we were saying things about each other." Max said. 

"Yeah that's cool Max." Adrien said with a grin. "Father, Felix, this is Max, he is a technician and inventor and this is Alya and Nino. Alya is a cook and journalist and Nino is a DJ and video game wiz." 

"Wow Adrien it seems you have gotten to know a lot about your new friends. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Gabriel said coldly. 

"Yeah well it's not so much a pleasure to see you again Agreste." Alya said. 

"You probably are mad at me for the way I treated you back at the base." Gabriel said. 

"Yeah and the way you treated Marinette. She was in tears when she came back after your little visit." 

"Oh please, that wasn't me, I may have said a few things to her after she kissed my son, but it was Plagg's doing entirely." Alya tipped her head. 

"Who's Plagg?" 

"Oh, one of my skilled yet mysterious clients. He knows a lot of things about many people. He is a valuable asset to my team." 

"Then why didn't you bring him along?" Adrien asked. 

"Oh, I did. He just took a little detour. It's almost as if he knew a faster way to the Bourgeois valley but didn't care to share it with us."

Plagg rushed through the forest with ease and made his way to the Bourgeois valley. Gabriel was right in his theory that Plagg knew a faster way. In fact, Plagg was already there. He spotted the tall tower in the distance and glanced over the forest that lied ahead. Once you entered this forest there was no way out except through a specific entrance and exit. It was always heavily guarded but Plagg was sure he could make it in and out without a problem. He slipped into the dark forest and began the search for Marinette. She had to be here if what Adrien had told Gabriel was true.