Getting to Le Grand Paris took much longer than Felix and Lyra had anticipated, but they were having far too many close calls with akuma despite keeping to alleys and backways. The group stuck together but kept in pairs the whole way, the Kwami and Quantic floating around as their second eyes.

Their first incident was not a moment after they passed the park. Neo spotted it first, a large car coming down the road. Quickly he led the group in between a pair of apartments and kept watch as it drove by.

Dawn sucked in a sharp breath. "Was that supposed to be a police officer?"

They gave it little thought, not surprised that even law enforcements had fallen victim to akuma. The group carried on for another few minutes before coming across a duo of villains that forced them to separate and hide inside unlocked stores beneath the windowsills. Felix peeked out with Neo.

"…I cannot believe I am about to say this," Neo whispered, "but we just narrowly avoided being seen by a villainous mime and his birdbrained partner."

No sooner had the group come out of hiding and set off in the opposite direction of the men that a rumbling thump, thump, thump echoed off the streets towards them.

"Oh, come on," Tani hissed as they all took to hiding behind multiple tossed vending machines along a stone bridge, "the hotel is only a few minutes away!"

It was true. Felix could see the roof of Le Grand Paris just over the ridge of apartments across the bridge. He would have stood to get a better look had a large pile of moving stone not appeared at the end of the bridge and begun towards the machines they were behind.

That had to be the first akuma, Ben signed as the giant made of concrete and pebbles passed, the first ever victim HawkMoth made.

The giant stopped. It turned in their direction. Though he was not looking, Felix could feel a cold gaze on his back. Everybody held their breath.

"…My," it groaned, moving on and off the bridge, "My…My…"

Bridgette held tight to Ben as the giant walked into the distance. "What did you think that thing was looking for?"

Snowyy sighed. "It sounded so lost and alone…"

As soon as the streets were silent Lyra led them the rest of the way to the hotel. Isra pointed out a bunch of akuma clusters hovering around the rooftops. "HawkMoth is watching. Any way we can sneak into the hotel without him or his accomplice noticing? Or," she shivered, "could he be watching us this very instance?"

Victor got the group to wait in a clump behind the closest building to the hotel. Their eyes went to the fire escape that led up to the fifth floor. "One at a time we climb that. Who wants to be our distraction?"

Stephan was about to raise his hand when Tani smacked it to his side. "You are not doing your crazy rodeo clown routine with HawkMoth watching."

Dawn turned to Isra. "Could Grypas use her psychic powers to distract them? Maybe even lead them away?"

Beaak gave her partner a smile. "We could move a couple things around to get their attention. I have a feeling the akuma are far from prepared for your unique skills."

Isra gave the Kwami a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of her head. "I suppose if it helps the team…Beaak, TALONS OUT!"

In a flash Grypas was at the front of the group, peeking around the wall and eyeing each of the clusters. Aiming her palms at the crowd of overturned cars beneath them and closed her eyes. "I can give us a couple minutes at the most, so get going as soon as the akuma are flustered, okay?" Satisfied they had heard her, she dug her fingers into her hands.

"TAKE FLIGHT!"

Victor was running before the cars had touched the akuma. Stephan was at the ladder before the car horns turned on. Close behind went Tani, Dawn, Ben, Bridgette, until only Grypas, Felix and Erasmus remained. Even Cheep and Gorry had gone ahead with the rest of the magical beings to keep and eye out on the akuma from inside the hotel.

Felix felt his gaze being tugged in the direction of where Erasmus' arm should have been. "…I assume you have practiced getting up ladders without…?"

Erasmus tore his eyes away from the cars as they shot the akuma high into the sky and over the rooftops. "No need to worry. I climb ladders back home all the time."

Grypas lowered her arms and rubbed her wrists. "We have only seconds before they come back and see us. Come on!" She led the boys to the ladder and flew up as her miraculous beeped. She would de-transform in the hall with the others but at least HawkMoth would be clueless. Felix went up next and was helped into the nearest window by Larisse.

Victor leaned out the window. "Hurry it up down there, Erasmus, before the sun rises and those akuma return!"

Erasmus thrust himself up ring after ring with his arm and ascended at a decent pace. "You want to try climbing with five fingers?!"

Lyra looked to the skies. "Akuma on their way back."

Erasmus followed her gaze and muttered some Greek word under his breath, one Felix was sure he could never muster the courage to repeat. Before they could swoop back in, Ben and Victor leaned over and hauled him into the hotel, Dawn slamming the window shut a split second after. They dusted themselves off and stretched.

Ding.

All eyes in the hallway turned to the elevator doors at the far end. "Grypas," Tani began, "if we distract whatever is coming up, can you-"

Beep-beep-beep!

Isra was back to her regular self in another flash. She gave Tani a weak shrug. "Whatever you were about to ask…not likely."

The group readied each of the miraculous as the doors slid open – only for Pollen to float down between them with a smile. "There you are!"

Felix could hear the quiet intake of breath from Lyra as the young blonde girl stepped out of the elevator.

"…Rose?"