Rose jolts awake, tears streaming down her face, and hugs her pillow tightly. She tries to quiet her sobs, but apparently she fails, as Juleka stirs, eyes opening. "Rose..." she murmurs, sitting up and putting her arms around the girl. "It's not your fault. You were akumatized, it's not your fault."

"Th-they're still comatose..." the tiny blonde flings her arms around her girlfriend, soaking her nightshirt with tears.

"Shh... shh... it's okay. It's okay. You're a victim too. You and I aren't to blame for what happened, he is."

Rose shivers, and nods slowly. "O-okay."

"Okay. Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah."

"Can we get some sleep, or do you want me to stay up with you?"

"...Would you? Please?"

Juleka sighs, and holds Rose tighter. "Wouldn't have offered otherwise."

...

Adrien stands at the top of the tower, waiting, preparing for school. This has to end. Soon. He can't stay transformed forever, and he can't live with being hated by her. He's certain that once he wins she'll forgive him, at the sight of the beautiful new utopia they'll reign over. She loves him. She said so. She said just yesterday she loves him. So yeah, of course she'll forgive him. And it'll be fine. And they'll be in love. And then, at last, he won't be the villain anymore, they'll be happy, and he can fix all the pain he caused...

So right now, he needs a very, very powerful akuma. As strong as Nathanael was, built off something more potent than fear, anger, or despair, with the addition of his new policy of no-holds-barred control. Someone who could take the Miraculous for real.

Where is he supposed to find that akuma though?

...

Lila takes a slow breath, and walks into the classroom, eyes bright with excitement. First day in school in Paris. She's got this.

She steps into the classroom, and nearly runs back out at the sight of all eyes on her. She does not got this!

She takes a slow breath, and remembers her acting. Just play the role of strong and confident. Become the character. After closing her eyes for a moment, she allows a brilliant smile to take over her face, eyes bright, as she juts her hip. "Well, hello Paris! I'm Lila Rossi, and I'm here because I intend to save the world!"

The students blink. A few let out half-shocked laughs.

"Are... are you serious?" one girl, with black ponytails, asks softly.

"Of course! I'm going to be the next hero, and I'm not going to waste time kissing the psychopath," she flips her hair, leaning back against the desk. This earns a chuckle from a blond boy, sitting behind the ponytail girl, who is now watching her with a kind of... hunger in his eyes. Okay, sorta creepy, but whatever.

"You can take your seat in the back, Lila," the teacher smiles, and Lila nearly skips to the back of the room, oblivious to the horrors that await her in the near future.

...

Marinette grabs Adrien's arm after class. "I know you think I didn't see the way you were looking at her."

"What?" he laughs. "Jealous? Don't worry Princess, unlike you, I wouldn't cheat."

She tenses at the reminder. "I never really cheated. It was all you. My subconscious must have recognized that, because I would not cheat on anyone!"

He gives her a blank look. "Really. Your subconscious recognized me. That's what you're going with here."

"You killed nineteen people two days ago, and put dozens into comas yesterday. How is me kissing you when you had a mask on even an issue at this point?" she snaps. "Anyway, we're not even together anymore. The point is moot."

He groans. "So why were you jealous of Lila then?"

"I'm not, I know you're too obsessed with me to want her like that, I just don't want you to hurt the poor girl!"

"Sure you don't," he smirks, resting his hands on her shoulders, a move she jerks away from. He leans down, before she can escape, and presses his lips to hers, feeling her instinctively melt into him before yanking away.

"No! Stop it, Adrien!" she pushes him away. "What the hell do I even see in you?"

"A pretty face," he growls softly. "Just like everybody else." He spins around, and in a flurry of colored wings, he's gone. Marinette groans, wondering how the hell she's going to save Lila Rossi before she's turned into a soulless monster.

And how she's going to manage to control Adrien when he keeps stealing kisses that she's been conditioned into reciprocating.

...

Lila is wandering down the street, thinking on her day. Everyone seemed pretty cool, aside from those two weirdos, Ponytails and Blondie, who kept staring at each other and her the whole time, in a really unnerving way. SHe's pretty sure that neither one is quite right in the head. Still, everyone else... although a little nervous, seemed welcoming, and generally kind. And she's sure she's thisclose to being a superhero, just watch!

"You're right. You have been chosen, Lila Rossi," a voice comes from behind her, and she spins around, gasping at the sight. Behind her stands a beautiful, beautiful boy, with wings... "You're going to be the next champion," he whispers, coming close to her, and stroking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I am?" she murmurs, meeting those eyes that keep shifting, the green and violet swirling like paints in the iris.

"Do you accept it? Will you fight for me, for a world of peace and justice? Will you become mine, Volpina?" he holds out a necklace.

"Volpina," she whispers. "That's the hero name?"

"It is."

She slowly nods, taking the necklace. "What do I do?"

"Place it around your neck, close your eyes, and swear to bind your soul to mine until our goals are reached," he smiles. "Just focus on all the good you'll do, and you can control worlds."

She takes a deep breath, and clasps the chain around her neck, eyes closing as she realizes- everything she dreamed of as a child is coming true. She's going to be a hero! "I hereby bind my soul to yours. I will become your champion, and serve our goals until all are reached." She feels the necklace pulse, and her heartbeat quickens. It's happening... It's...

What's happening?

Her eyes fly open as the claws shoot out her hands, and she feels the fangs crowd her mouth as she begins to scream.