A Future In Distress
The days of peace in Paris were a distant memory. While buildings and its people stay standing, they stand damaged beyond repair with its people broken and their spirit sapped. Few places can remain in the light without its shadows overshadowing whatever kind feelings it could give.
And as it the daylight once away gives itself to the nightly cycle, people border their walls and doors as to prepare for an impending event. And while many try to secure their homes, some watch with anticipation.
"Step away."
"Tonight. They'll stop them tonight."
The voices were hushed as a third voice sighed sadly. "Why now? It's been fifteen years. And don't forget they killed one of the heroes. Chat Noir is dead." A moment of silence to remember the fallen hero, who died protecting the what little hope the people of Paris felt.
Their enemy, Hawkmoth, declared all of France his territory and would gladly attack all of Europe should any country try to intervene in his conquest. And it worked. The people of France were left in terror, abandoned by their foreign allies, and Paris remaining the heart of the battle.
The voices stopped after hearing a thump on the roof. A few grunts and a loud crack. A figure fell to the ground, but they dare not look out lest they wanted to die. A second figure landed on the window sill with their purple eyes glowing ever more brightly in the dark. The moonlight soon washed over him and the people saw the second figure. With his spear dripping with blood and a slasher's smile plastered on his face, nothing was as terrifying as he.
"Volpina, it's over." He muttered. As the moonlight shines over him, it shines over the first figure. Her costume with red blotches that darkened the orange and white. Her mask had a small rip as one eye clenched in her response to the pain. Volpina held her flute tightly. She struggled to get up with her body wanting to give in to the pain.
She smirked, "Come on. I'm not that tired." Her attacked smiled at her bravery before becoming maniacal. He jumped off the window sill and dived toward Volpina. Pulling her flute to her lips, a haunting tune filled the air as she vanished out of existence. His spear hit the ground and cracked the pavement. The man growled with annoyance. Pulling his spear out, he sniffed the air and tried to pinpoint where she was.
"Give up. You can't see through my illusions." Her voice echoed. He didn't respond. The purple pupils darted back and forth between the streets as to find something missing or out of place. "It didn't have to end this way."
"It doesn't have to. Besides I don't need to kill you. You're far too valuable for me to just...kill. I need information from you."
"Get in line." He chuckled at the retort. "It's very simple." He extended his hand and lunged forward. Volpina choked out a gasp as he pinned her against a wall. She gave out choking gasps as her adversary closed his fist tighter around her throat. Volpina tried to say something, but he continued to squeeze her windpipe.
"I'm sorry." He punched her chest and felt delight when the sound of a rib cracking reached his ears. Volpina coughed out blood and it landed on his face. "You may have a collapsed lung. Try talking again." He loosened his grip. One of his fingers reached his cheek and swiped the blood off.
"Now that's rude. Has anyone taught any manners for a psychopath?" He rubbed his index and thumb together, but his sense of smell caught something off. He looked at his glove and found the liquid to be pure black. "Boom."
A loud gunshot was heard and whizzed past his ear and into Volpina. The light of an explosion overwhelmed his perfect vision and the sound deafened his ears. The real Volpina laughed at her enemy that held an oil can with a nice imaginary explosion. Rubbing her side, Volpina caught another bright light from an old bakery. The hum could be heard from there and she smiled. The light intensified before it disappeared in one second. Volpina held her breath before hearing the agonizing scream of a woman in anger. She allowed herself to chuckle before trying to gain some distance.
The illusion lasted only a few minutes, Volpina added a second layer to be sure that it'll buy time.
"Where the hell did you go?! Show yourself!" Her enemy demanded. She lifted up her flute to play another song, but she didn't notice a thin wire descending over her. Before her lips could play the tune, Volpina actually choked up when she was suddenly lifted into the air. Her hands reached the wire and she scratched and clawed away the wire to free herself.
When her back no longer scrapped against the side of the building, her eyes widened at who was looking at her. A woman with a silver mask and her icy blue eyes staring right at her.
"Oh my love, look what I've caught." Her companion finally freed himself from his illusion and saw Volpina hanging by the neck. He grinned and jumped up. "Where are they?"
"The million dollar question of the day, but sorry I'm under contract." Her hanger smiled before flipping her on to the roof. She sank into the wood, brick, and mortar. Almost breaking through the roof, Volpina groaned in agony. A foot was placed on the back of her head and put pressure against her skull.
"Where is Ladybug?" They asked. Volpina refused answer and instead grumbled against the roof. Ladybug was gone that much was obvious, but they were determined to follow her. "Check bushes near the park. Ladybugs love blooming bushes."
"Alya. Don't force us." The statement stopped Volpina as she looked at her enemies. She glared at them and turned her nose up. A brief sign of sadness flashed through her eyes before her lover took the position. "You'll talk."
Alya looked up to see the spear lifted over her body and plunged into calf. She screamed as her vision went white with the pale moonlight highlighting the red flowing down the roof and dripping to the stones below.
And as Volpina lays withering in agony, a woman and an unconscious teenager face the space time continuum with dirt, blood, and grime caking their bodies. Before the woman follows her companion, she whispers something and her body is enveloped in a small white glow.
0-0-0-0-0
Marinette Dupain-Cheng sat up suddenly. The high school student of 15 years of age could've sworn she felt something. And it seemed to gained the attention of her kwarmi. "Marinette?"
The early morning sun was just peeking through her windows. And the baker's daughter looked at her kwarmi. "Sorry Tikki, I just...it's nothing." The red fairy pondered on that thought before shaking her head.
"Well since you're up. You can actually make it to class on time." Tikki said and Marinette laughed at the truth behind it. The day was bright and filled with the bustling sounds of the people. Nothing quiet, yet nothing annoyingly loud. It was days like this, Marinette takes a moment for everything to sink in.
"Yo girl! I'm here to make sure you're not out!" Alya's voice called out. Marinette smirked as she grabbed the essentials for everyday life: homework, school supplies, snacks, and a tiny god that can grants skin-tight spandex with abilities of creation.
The teenager opened up her trapdoor and leapt down to meet her best friend. The Ladyblog creator stood near the door with her parents with a playful smile. "Monsieur Dupain, where's your daughter? I only see a stranger."
"It is rare to see someone that looks like my daughter be down here early." Marinette rolled her eyes and quickly kissed her mother and father goodbye. Alya went before her and the two briskly walked to their high school.
Marinette tugged gently on her purse and bag as Alya went ahead of her. "Come on Marinette! Times a wasting!"