Marinette Dupain-Cheng strolls home, her blue eyes bright beneath the streetlamps as she hums a soft, cheerful tune to herself. Her schoolbag bounces gently at her side, oblivious to the slithering danger lurking in the darkness behind her. The city feels peaceful, a blanket of calm draped over the rooftops and winding lanes.

The snake glides silently along the cobblestones, its tongue flicking the air, tasting the residual warmth of Marinette's footsteps. Each movement is calculated, patient, and predatory—a chilling contrast to the innocence of the girl it follows. The only sound is the near-imperceptible rasp of scales brushing stone, and the distant, echoing sound of a late-night car.

Marinette[/@ch_1], pinning her arms to her sides.] "What—let me go!" Marinette's voice trembles with fear and disbelief as her bag tumbles to the ground with a muffled thud. The pressure tightens around her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs, and her blue eyes widen in terror. Struggling desperately, she twists and kicks, but the snake's strength is overwhelming.

Marinette[/@ch_1]'s pale, trembling fingers as she claws at the snake’s scales. The world blurs at the edges as her vision dims.] "Somebody—help!" Her voice is barely a whisper, choked and fading beneath the crushing silence. The only witness to her plight is the cold, indifferent moon and her discarded bag lying forgotten in the shadows. Panic surges within her as her strength begins to wane.

Marinette pushes against the muscular walls, her hands slipping on the slick flesh as panic rises. "No—there’s got to be a way out," she whispers, forcing herself to stay calm even as exhaustion seeps in. Outside, the snake’s body bulges and writhes, slithering away into the city’s night, leaving only silence and shadows behind.

Marinette[/@ch_1]'s bag remains as a silent testament to the struggle.] Inside, Marinette's struggles grow weaker, the dim light fading as the snake’s digestive power takes hold. The moonlight glimmers on the cobblestones, untouched by the horror that has just unfolded. The city sleeps on, unaware of the fate that befell one of its own, as the serpent vanishes into the night.