The ceiling is fading in and out of focus.

My head hurts. I groan as I sit up.

I feel two hands on my shoulders.

"How are you feeling." Agreste says as he towers over me.

I see Jenkin's face and death in my conscience. I start swinging my fists and screaming for Agreste to get away from me.

But he just smiles. Laughs a little. Then slowly brings my hands to my side.

"Well at least you're awake." He sighs. "You had me worried for a moment."

I try to control my trembling hands. "Get away from me."

"Don't worry." He waves his gloved hand in front of my face. "I'm all covered up, princess." He smirks.

"I hate you."

He scoffs and places his hand over his heart. "Me? How could one hate me. So much passion!" He laughs again. He looks so calm, so genuinely amused.

He stares at me with eyes softer than I expected them to be...

I turn the other direction.

He stands up. "Here." He reaches for the tray on a small table. "I brought you something to snack on."

I take this opportunity to look around the room.  It looks... gold. Like actual gold. The bed has over 20 pillows on it, the sheets are luxury. The whole room is lavish.

I prop myself up on the pillows and try my hardest to pretend I'm not comfortable. "Where am I?"

Agreste turns around holding a plate of grapes and strawberries in one hand. A glass of water in another. He looks around the room as if seeing it for the first time.

"This is my bedroom. But what's mine is yours so I guess you could say this is our room." He says smugly.

If my head wasn't hurting so bad I'd be tempted to run. "Take me to my own room. I don't want to be here."

"And yet, here you are." He sits at the foot of the bed and pushes the plate of food towards me. "Are you thirsty?"

I don't know if it's because I can't think straight or because I'm genuinely confused. But why is Agreste being so nice?

He's offering me a glass of water after forcing me to torture someone?

"I don't understand."

He tilts his head, inspecting me as if I'm seriously injured.

"I only asked if you were thirsty. That shouldn't be difficult to understand." He pauses. "Drink this."

I take the glass from his hands. I stare at it. Stare at him. Stare at the walls.

I must be insane.

Agreste sighs. "I'm not sure, but I think you fainted. And I think you should probably eat something, though I'm not entirely sure about that either." He pauses again. "You've probably had too much exertion on your first day here. My mistake."

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

The surprise on his face surprises me even more.

"Because I care about you." He says in a blunt manner.

"You care about me?" My blood boils at his remark. "I killed Jenkins because of you!"

"You didn't kill-"

"Your soldiers beat me! You keep me here like I'm... some sort of prisoner! You threaten me! You threaten to kill me! You give me absolutely no freedom! And here you are saying you care about me!?" I yell as I refrain myself from throwing the glass of water at him.

"You are a monster!"

Agreste turns away, leaving me to stare at his side profile.

He chuckles a bit then raises his eyebrow. "I'm only trying to help you."

"Liar."

He thinks about what I just said then nods and licks his lips. "Yes. Most of the time, yes."

"I don't want to be here. I don't want to be your experiment. Let me go."

"No." He stands up. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't. I just..." He tugs at his fingers. Clears his throat. He looks at the ceiling for a moment. "Because I need you."

"You need me to kill people!"

He doesn't reply right away. He walks towards a candle. Pulls off a glove. Tickles the flame with his fingers.

"You know I'm very capable of killing people on my own, Marinette. I'm actually very good at it."

"That's disgusting."

He shrugs. "How else do you think someone my age is able to control so many soldiers? Why else would father allow me to take charge of an entire sector?"

"Your father?" I sit up straighter than before. Suddenly very curious.

He ignores my question. "The mechanics of fear are simple enough. People are intimidated by me, so they listen when I speak." He waves a hand. "Empty threats are worth very little these days."

I blink sarcastically. "So you kill people for power?"

"As do you."

My jaw drops at his remark. "How dare you-"

He laughs a loud, obnoxious laugh. "You're free to lie to yourself, if that's what helps you sleep at night."

"I'm not lying-"

"Then why did it take you so long to break your connection with Jenkins?"

I freeze.

"Why didn't you fight back right away? Why did you allow him to touch you for as long as he did?"

I think about his questions. About how he's right-

"You don't know anything about me!" I yell.

"And yet you claim to know me so well?"

I don't say anything. He chuckles at my silence.

"At least I'm honest." He adds.

"You just agreed you're a liar."

He raises his eyebrow. "At least I'm honest about being a liar."

I slam the glass of water on the table. I drop my head in my hands.

Inhale. "Well,"

Exhale. "Why do you need me then? If you're such an excellent murderer?"

He smiles a bit. "One day I'll give you an answer to that question."

I open my mouth to protest but he stops me with his hand. Picks up a strawberry and holds it to my mouth.

"You hardly ate anything at dinner. That can't possibly be healthy."

I don't move.

He places the strawberry back down and just stares at me. He studies my eyes with such intensity. I'm temporarily paralyzed.

There's so many things I want to say and scream but somehow I've forgotten how to pronounce all the words waiting patiently in my mouth. I can't make myself look away.

"Eat something." His eyes abandoned mine. "Then go to sleep. I'll be back for you in the morning."

"Why can't I sleep in my own room?"

He stands up and dusts his pants off for no reason at all. "Because I want you to stay here."

"Why?"

He chuckles. "So many questions."

"Well if you'd give me a real answer-"

"Good night, Marinette."

"Are you going to let me go?" I ask, this time quietly.

"No." He walks over to the same candle from earlier. "And I promise I won't make things easier for you either."

There is no regret, remorse, or sympathy in his voice.

"You could be lying."

"Yes, I could be. Couldn't I?" He nods to himself and blows out the candle.

He turns the lights off and disappears.

I immediately fall asleep...