Alone

Chapter 17

"What did you do?!" Solitude screamed running at Twister who was already on the ground, his nose bleeding and skin still blistering.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Smirked Twister despite the pain he was in.

Solitude kicked Twister while the villain rolled on the ground and struggled to his feet.

"Attacking me when I'm too weak to fight? Pathetic!" Twister sneered wiping the blood with the back of his hand.

Solitude rushed at Twister his fist ready to deliver another punch. But Twister raised his hand and blocked Solitude's attack. Twister's fingers closed over Solitude's fist and twisted his arm sending Solitude spiralling in the air. The villain landed on the ground with a thud hitting his chin on the hard ground.

"I always knew that you'd betray me." Said Twister stepping on Solitude's back.

Solitude grunted as he was pushed back to the ground when he had tried to stand up.

"I didn't need much encouragement." Said Solitude trying to push Twister's foot off of him.

"Is that so? You've been enjoying your stay here. It's time I make you suffer." Said Twister pushing his foot further in between Solitude's shoulder blades.

Twister pushed out his hand summoning his staff that had been lying discarded on the ground. The staff flew into its master's hand. Twister spun the staff in the air and brought it down inches from Solitude's face.

"Solitude! I release you from my spell! Begone!" Twister chanted brandishing the bracelet with the Akuma inside.

The Lucky Charm glowed and rose to the air, hovering a few centimetres above Twister's hand. It soon stopped glowing at fell back onto the villain's hand. There wasn't any visible change but it felt lighter on Twister's hand as if some of its power had been lost.

Twister removed his foot from Solitude's back and aimed the serpent's head on his staff at him. With a powerful red blast, Solitude's magic was transferred to Twister. The robed villain spread his hands accepting the power while Solitude detransformed into Adrien.

"W-What... Happe- Whoa!" Adrien exclaimed upon seeing Twister absorbing the new power.

That's when Adrien remembered everything.

Marinette rejecting his feelings at the ice rink, Luka's interference, the fight, the Akuma flying towards them and dissolving into Marinette's Lucky Charm, the pain he had put Marinette through... Everything.

He knew that it was unnatural for him to remember what he had done when he had been Akumatised but one look at Twister and he knew that the villain was doing it on purpose. Adrien observed as Twister pocketed the bracelet. Twister lowered his arms after absorbing the power, completely healed and restored to his former glory.  

Twister didn't want to look at Adrien-his rival's face. His mouth twisted into a scowl as he saw Adrien get back to his feet. Without another word, Twister spun around and pointed his staff at Adrien. The blonde boy didn't notice what was happening until a blast of energy hit him square in the chest.

Adrien grunted as he was thrown back. He braced himself knowing that he'd hit the wall anytime soon but when the impact never came, Adrien opened his eyes to look around. He was suspended in a glowing white and blue atmosphere. He looked around him but all he saw was an endless pathway within the tunnel. A few more minutes passed with Adrien floating inside the tunnel when a cool breezed alerted him of the end of the passage.

Adrien looked back and saw a dimly lit tunnel at the end of the passage. Anxious to get out of this swirling vortex, Adrien tried his best to move through the portal. But he found out that his arms and legs had no intention of helping him. They seemed to be protesting against his brain's instructions which, Adrien guessed, was once again one of Twister's mind games.