**This chapter is...well I felt like I wanted a dark chapter, okay? Anyways, I don't own them, here you go.**
Marinette woke up and her head ached abusively, her brain throbbing in her skull. It took effort to look around, taking in her current location.
"Wake up, bug" she heard a voice address her.
She would be more alert if it weren't for the pain. But there was enough to give her awareness. It looked like she was under a structure. A large metal frame. She felt attached to it somehow, her limbs felt trapped, like she was caught in a web, like...like a…
"You can stop pulling at your bindings, bug. You aren't going anywhere. Especially not in civilian form. Oh don't look around, no need. Yeah, you're on live TV, with yours truly. Get comfortable. Those reporters are distancing themselves for a reason, they don't want to get in my way. Live under the Eiffel Tower, I'm sure all eyes are on us."
Marinette pieced it all together. Last night had been probably…no it was the worst night of her life. She watched Lila touch Adrien's arm and take his hand, then pulled him in for a kiss, and Marinette could feel her tears and the shattering of her heart into millions of shards before Lila pulled him in for an embrace. Lila looked at Marinette over his shoulder. Marinette could feel her body giving in to whatever was pulling her under, her vision fading to shadow and blackness.
The last thing she heard was like a shot she wished was potent enough to kill her.
"He's mine."
Marinette forced herself back to the present, a tear escaping down her cheek.
"Calling you a monster, would be an insult to monsters. You're a demon, you demented liar."
"You better tame that temper, spots. I came with a friend, and no, I don't mean Adrien."
Marinette heard something shift quickly, and as soon as she heard it, she felt it. Like a vicious whip across her back, she loosed a scream so loud, the on looking reporters tried to come to her aid, but were stopped in their tracks as a creature came into view. Its movements fast and languid as it squared to face the crowd. It looked like a large, black lizard, threatening, like a dragon with no wings. Its yellow eyes darted around, taking in every face, every potential victim. Lila let out a nasty cackle. She turned to face the cameras.
"I told you people, move any closer, you won't back up fast enough to escape my whip. This is between me, and your red insect you call a hero. That girl? Marinette is her alias. That small, insignificant girl… is your Ladybug."
The crowd began its frenzy of snapshots and clicks, flutters of shutters, and Marinette hung her head in shame. She felt through her pain all the guilt as the identity she tried so hard to keep, was ripped away from her, like a curtain, leaving her naked and exposed. She felt everything and nothing. So much emotion was surging through her, it was a wonder it didn't manifest an entity all its own. Her limbs hurt, being tugged every which way away from her. Her pain from her head to her back was enough to make her beg for sleep. How long must she be this suspended spectacle? The span of near minutes had her yearning for escape, release. What were her parents thinking? What was Adrien doing? Possibly planning her rescue? She knew he would never cheat on her, that he was just a cunning fox's illusion. It was Lila she would trust as far as she could throw, but she sure wanted to throw her, far and hard. She was too far removed to hope he had a plan right now.
Where was her help, when she was in such desperate need?
LBCN
Her scream of anguish alone broke Adrien's heart. What he witnessed enraged him further, the call to action clearer than ever. Adrien could only view in horror as his love was whipped in front of all to see. And to hear her identity being revealed had him ready to run over, punch Lila square in the face, and protect his Lady where she was currently indisposed. Adrien was seething, but in order to time this right, he had to make sure Tikki was ready to get to her wielder. And time was of the essence. He knew Marinette could only humanly take so much abuse. He watched in the shadows by the tower as Tikki flew stealthily into position. They needed to act fast or she would die in front of all of Paris tonight.
LBCN
Marinette moved against the bindings, trying anything to break free, as the pain was fading.
"I think it's time for your main event, bug. Your public execution! Did you think I'd leave you there to dangle, so helpless, caught in my web? Well guess what, before I really hurt you, I'll part with you some mercy."
Lila pulled out her flute and played three long notes, and before her, stood Adrien.
"Your boyfriend, love-bug, was never the real deal. The date? Fake. And yes, everything that happened after. But the pain, that was real, wasn't it? Oreilisk? He isn't fake. At least for as long as I want him to be real."
As Lila finished her words, the black creature lengthened until it was rope-like. It flashed to Lila's hand, posing as her whip. Her instrument of torture. Lila struck her whip creature against Marinette, this time ripping into her chest. Instant, like lightning, Marinette choked a scream, stealing the air from her lungs. She wept with no sound, watching Lila with eyes that promised death.
"You will break, bug. In front of all of France. I'm sure your beloved friends and family will mourn their fallen hero. All the times you called me a liar, what you said around Adrien, ruining my chances, sending me back to Italy in disgrace. It made national coverage, by the way. My career completely tarnished. Getting ridiculed by Paris' sweetheart will do you in. I hate you, for everything. And now I get to end your heroic streak. I'll give your Miraculous to Hawkmoth, and that will be the end of Ladybug. "
"I will not break. But you will regret these actions from your cell when you screw up, bitch. That I can promise"
Everyone, including Lila was quiet.
"Volpina, you were never meant to kill her, I only want her Miraculous you cruel girl!" Lila ignored Hawkmoth's words.
Her whip came across Marinette's stomach this time, and she screamed in frustration and torment. She twisted at her bonds, desperate to free her hands to obliterate her assailant.
"You won't be conscious soon. That will shut you up."
She whipped Marinette with Oreilisk a total of twelve times before her saviors finally came to her aid.
Tikki was perched, looking onward in secret, watching with fury and anguish. Her holder, her best friend, was close to unconsciousness, and she knew she had to be quiet and careful before reaching Marinette.
"Alright, she's not really responding anymore. Oreilisk? Finish her off, I've had my fun."
Oreilisk materialized into his larger form, launching himself towards the girl.
"Marinette!" Tikki yelled, causing Marinette to look up suddenly.
"Spots on!" She cried out quickly, materializing into her suit.
Marinette could feel Tikki's rage coupling with her own. The sensation of righteous fury was taking over her, and she let out a loud yell as she began pulling at her bindings. The Tower metallically groaned with her efforts. Loud snaps from her release of both arms and legs had Lila backing up several feet. Marinette was shrouded as a cloud of deep red mist began to envelope the scene, and her form, pulsating with energy, the blood-red smoke flashed threateningly with light. She was quiet as she walked slowly towards her captor, and the sensations she was feeling beginning to manifest, tumbling down to the ground and over to the crowd of now very anxious onlookers.
"This is over now, Lila. For you and that black creature." Her voice had grown deep and hollow, and everyone in proximity could feel the powerful energy her body was emitting.
As if electrocuted, Volpina brought her flute to her lips, furiously playing a trill melody, and after she finished, several large, menacing forms could be seen around where her and Ladybug stood.
"Trying to even the playing field? Pathetic. You should have stayed in Italy." Marinette's voice thundered through the air.
Volpina was continuing to back up, she knew she had about ten seconds to decide her next move before Ladybug unleashed herself on her.
"Ladybug! Stop! She's still a human being! I'm here now, and I'm ready to pounce." Chat Noir bounded over across from her and Volpina, ready to join the fight.
"You will have to scrape her remains from the ground when I am through with this creature. I recognize no likeness in her, she is no true wielder. Something acts in her place."
"Oh no," Chat gasped.