Author's words: Oh my sweet goodness! You guys are so very kind. I really mean it, I was not expecting that, you guys ROCK. I was a little insecure about the last chapter, so I'm so glad you guys liked it so much. I hope this chapter reaches a good expectation, and I would love to hear what you guys think.

Disclaimer: Don't own Miraculous Ladybug.

Chapter two: When the Girl knew too Little

The moment I walked into the classroom-everyone went into hushed whispers and pointed at me like I was an intriguing animal at the zoo. I hurried over to my seat, putting my head down, and praying for the class to start soon.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" Alya asked me with concern.

I turned and faced her calculating, hazel eyes.

"Yeah, I guess I'm still a bit jumpy about what happened at the Mayor's party last Friday," I replied while biting my lower lip nervously.

"I was kinda hoping everyone would forget about the whole incident over the weekend, but I guess not…" I finished lamely as I avoided the inquisitive eyes burning on my back.

"Well, you were at the party, so they are going to stare because you were at the scene of the crime," Alya explained sympathetically

"I know, but Alya, I was knocked unconscious, so I don't remember a thing!" I answered frustrated.

"That's the thing, though, you're the hot new gossip for now, so just give it time," She reassured me as Chloe walked in with all her glory.

"Oh my god, I couldn't even get my beauty sleep throughout the entire weekend, without thinking someone was going to murder me!" Chloe exclaimed dramatically.

I noticed her little friend, Sabrina, following right behind her like a shadow.

I pitied the Sabrina girl because Chloe was such a bitch towards her. Supposedly, Sabrina claimed to me that they're the bestest friends ever when we did a science project together. However, I saw Sabrina as Chloe's indentured servant more than anything.

"You poor thing," Alya muttered sarcastically next to me.

I giggled at this.

"Adrikenes, you'll protect me, right?" Chloe asked as the said boy walked in not too long after.

"Huh?" Adrien asked bluntly.

Chloe attached her arms around him like an attacking koala bear and puckered her glossy lips up at him.

"You would save me from someone evil, right, my knight in shining armor?" She asked, but it sounded more like a confirmation.

"Sure, Chole," He said tightly as he unwrapped her arms around him.

I snorted out loud before I accidently snapped my pencil in half.

Well, at least I could still sort of write with it.

"Girl, you need to chill. Adrien is not even enjoying Chloe's undying attention," Alya stated, which made me feel a little better.

The moment Adrien came out of Alya's mouth, Adrien stared at me before he slowly made his way over to me.

I gave Alya a pleading look, which implied on what should I do or what should I say to him? But all she gave me was a thumbs up and a knowing smile.

Thanks a lot, Alya. I thought to myself bitterly.

"Hey, Marinette," Adrien greeted brightly, and I could have sworn I heard angels singing in the background.

"Hey Adrien," I greeted back quietly.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me with heavy concern.

Oh my gosh, Adrien Agreste is worried about my well-being, and I think I'm going to die on the spot.

"Oh, I'm doing awesome! No, I mean, I'm just peachy. No wait, that's not what I mean, I'm hanging in there," I finally finished with a confirmed nod.

In the corner of my eye, I could see Alya shaking her head hopelessly.

Adrien looked at me very intensely, like he was trying to get every word from my gibberish. Finally, he smiled like in relief and nodded in understanding.

"Well, I'm glad that you're okay. So you don't remember a thing, right?" He asked, but it strangely sounded more like a fact.

I nodded my head in response.

"Yeah, the police thinks someone knocked me out before I could witness the murderer in the act," It still riled me up that I couldn't remember.

"Maybe it's for the best to not remember," Adrien said lost in thought.

The funny thing was that I thought I heard someone say around those lines before, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Yeah, but I would rather be out of the dark, instead of in the dark," I retorted back strongly.

I couldn't believe I was disagreeing with Adrien, and I couldn't believe how strong I held my voice.

Before Adrien could retaliate, Miss Bustier came strolling in and told everyone to take their seats.

Throughout my classes, I felt like a pair of new eyes staring behind my back, but every time I glanced back-I couldn't find the owner of those superfluous eyes.

Time Skip

"Some pretty girls have been found all over Paris-deathly pale, their lips the color of lilacs, and their bodies are cold to touch," Alya read out loud from an article she found online while I sketched out a new outfit in my comfy pajamas.

Alya was obsessed about this case. The girl who passed away, Claire Meilleure, was classified under as one of the falling victims to the Blood Rose Ripper Man. This murderer has been prowling the streets of Paris for about a month now, and his victims were always young and beautiful women.

"Don't you think the Rose Ripper Man chooses a lot of significant places to kill his victims at?" Alya piqued morbidly.

"Huh?" I replied dumbly.

"I mean, the first one died at the Eiffel Tower, also the other one was found dead in the cold depths of Seine, and so forth…" She had a far away look in the depths of her hazel eyes.

"Where are you getting at?" I asked as I closed my sketchbook.

I was quite intrigued to see what she had figured out.

"I don't think Claire was killed by the Blood Rose Ripper Man," Alya stated matter-factly.

My eye widened like tea cups at her irrational proclamation.

"But the police had justified she was his falling victim," I spluttered.

She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.

"On the contrary, my dear friend. Claire was dead as day on the sidewalk, but with no bloody white rose clutched in her pale hands,"

"Okay…" I elaborated, looking at her to explain further.

"I just think the Blood Rose Ripper Man has more class, and the girl who got pushed out the window was quite a messy scene," She explained strongly.

"And besides, he always, and I mean always leaves a rose as his mark of his handiwork," Alya finished with a shudder.

"Alya, my dear, journalist friend. I'm not sure if I should compliment you for thinking outside the box, or tell you to go see a therapist straight away?" I questioned her as I gently put my hands on her shoulder.

I am quite proud of how passionate she is in this case, I really am, but I don't want it to consume her too much. When I looked into her eyes now-they look hazy and foggy.

"And I think I have an idea where his next kill would be?" She said while rubbing her hands together like an evil villain from an old cartoon.

"And where is that?" I inquired with a hint of worried in my tone.

"Notre Dame and that is where we're going to investigate,"

Time Skip

The one thing I really hate about one of my character traits is that I'm such a sucker for puppy eyes. You know, the look where a kicked puppy somehow bestows on a human face.

My friend gave me that look, and I just couldn't say no to that face. I really need to look into getting tougher, or I'm going to be a pushover for the rest of my life.

So we sneaked out when my parents were fast asleep, but I did linger at their door with heavy guilt on my sleeve.

There was a bit of a cold chill when we walked down the quiet streets of Paris, and the only speck of light were the twinkling stars that glowed like fireflies. Finally, we approached the church that stood high and mighty like a king on its throne.

"So what do we do now," I asked confused.

"Now, we wait until midnight," Alya answered as she sat on the ground before she patted a spot next to her.

I grimaced as I sat down next to her. My butt was going to hurt later, which I knew for damn sure.

I looked at Alya flabbergasted when she had her phone out; ready to take pictures of the demented murderer, but she looked like she was taking pictures of a celebrity. As for me, I had my phone on speed dial for 911, with sharp scissors in my coat pocket.

I knew without my consent, Alya would still do this even though I told her it was a bad idea and absolutely crazy. So I felt better that I was there with her with a clear head, and I would take her out here the moment things scream dangerous to a normal person.

Ever since Alya had dug her nose into this case; she has become a totally different person. She's fine when we're at school and stuff, but I could still tell there was something off about her. I would even admit that I asked her if she was on drugs, but she genuinely laughed it off like I was the one on drugs.

I'm hoping that once this is all over, Alya would turn back to the friend I know back when we met in our sophomore year. To be honest, I miss her, I feel like she's only the body of my best friend.

"Do you hear that melody, Marinette? it sounds like some sort chanting, listen," Alya said to me.

Alya always had ears like sonars, like some bat in the night. I listened intently and hear voices that sounded like a chorus from a Catholic church.

We both glanced up at the circular window with the giant cross in stained glass, glistening in the pale moonlight. That's when I saw her. A teenaged girl, with long blonde hair and ghastly white skin, was standing near the window. And she was holding something.

I inched a little closer and squint my eyes, so I could try to make out what's in her hands. It is bright red and tiny and made her hands appear even more ghost-like. It's a bloody rose. She's holding a rose closely to her heart and singing, but she's not the only one singing. There was a devilish beast next to her, singing louder than her, with more pride, making the songs sound like something from a satanic ritual.

He inched closer to her ear, whispering something, and her eyes looked like she was in a trance. She climbs out of the window, and it looked like she was going to jump.

"No wait, don't jump!" Alya and I exclaimed at the same time.

We hurried closer, but instead of the girl jumping, we saw a long stemmed off the bloody rose fall like a feather from the window. And then she completely vanished into thin air.

Where did she go?

Suddenly, I felt an unnerving presence behind me. I turned quickly and faced the devilish beast grinning so widely that I could see his blackened gums.

"It's rude for someone to interrupt my dinner," He taunted as he put his sharp claws out.

"Marinette, run!" Alya screamed.

She didn't have to tell me twice.

We both dashed like the actual devil was chasing us. It was like a mocking game of Tag, and the chaser was the grim reaper himself. Who would have known such a childish game could be the purpose of running away from death.

Sadly, my clumsiness had to kick in before I found myself flat face on the ground. I hissed in pain when I saw a rapid of blood appearing through my light pink leggings. Someone tugged on my pigtail vigorously, and I heard a sharp intake of breath.

"My, my, your blood smells such exquisite," The beast said roughly, which sent a shocking sense of deja vu in my memory.

I felt like I was at the edge of a cliff, with repressed memories coming at me all at once like bullets, and these repressed memories were the things I had forgotten at the party.

I remembered that night. I remembered what I witness with that vampire and that poor girl. And Chat Noir. If that stupid cat didn't take away my memories, I probably would have avoided this situation at all cost, no matter how much Alya would use those damn puppy dog eyes.

I gasped like I was being pulled out of the water as I snapped out of my reverie. I felt the beast coming towards my neck, but before he could make me his midnight snack, I quickly stabbed him in the eye with my scissors.

The brief moment he was distracted, I didn't hesitate to get out of his grasp. Alya was not far, she came back to help me, but I frantically moved my hands like a mad woman. She understood my interpretation as she turned and ran again.

I really thought we were going to make it, but I should have known better that my bad luck was quite contagious. We stopped dead in our tracks when the beast was in front of our line of vision. Faster than a blink of lighting, he grabbed Alya and put his filthy claws around her neck.

She choked at this and looked at me in fright. She slowly became paler, also her lips became red as blood, and her passionate eyes became soulless.

"Stop it!" I cried hysterically, trying to get near her, but there was an invisible barrier that prevented me from coming closer.

He dared to laugh like the villain he was in my distress.

"If you ever want to see your friend alive again, Marinette," my body became cold when he said my name at the tip of his tongue.

"You and Chat Noir have to give me your Miraculous," Miraculous? What in the hell is a Miraculous.

"I don't even know who you are and what a Miraculous is? Just please, let her go!"

"My name is Hawk Moth, and it's important that be careful to not say my name so casually," With that, Hawk Moth and Ayla disappeared into a wisp of smoke.

I frantically looked around, but there was no sign of them.

"Alya! Alya! Alya!" I exclaimed like a broken record.

I buried my face in my hands as I slumped myself onto the ground. I didn't know how long I was consumed with my grief, but it felt like forever. I gently felt someone put their hand on my shoulder, I glanced up and saw that the comforting hand belonged to Chat Noir.

"Do you know what a Miraculous is, Chat Noir?" I asked bitterly.

He seemed surprised that I knew who he was, but he quickly schooled his expression.

"Yes, I know what it is. I can help you get your friend back, but you must be willing to trust me," He said with a hint of doubt.

"I don't trust you, Chat Noir, especially since you are somehow involved in the supernatural," He frowned heavily at this.

"But, I'm willing to keep an open mind as long as you don't put that creepy hypnosis thing on me again." I finished sternly.

He nodded his head so fast, it almost gave him whiplash.

"Would you like me to take you home?" He piqued while doing a familiar gesture by putting his hand behind his neck nervously.

"I can't," I bit my lip conflicted.

"Why not?" He asked with concern.

"I won't go home until I find Alya," I said determinedly.

"Then, what are are you going to do?" He piqued worriedly.

"Do you by any chance know where Hawk Moth's castle is, or does he actually live with Dracula?" I asked him seriously. I truly wasn't trying to be sarcastic. Anything Supernatural exists apparently, so I had to keep an open mind.

"You can stay with me," He said while avoiding my bugged out eyes.

"I promise, you will be treated like a princess with me," He said with an afterthought.

What did I got to lose? He was part of the puzzle piece that would help me get Alya back. Also, he saved me from being attacked by a vampire, so he won't eat me… I think.

"All right, I'll come with you," I didn't bother to ask him to let me go get my things because I don't want him to know where I live. You could never be too cautious.

He helped me up, told me to get on his back, which I complied very slowly. Then, I found myself flying.