Mark my words this will be finished by new years (I know I said Christmas but I have had loads of mock exams recently).
Anyway, the question of the chapter is: What are you doing this Christmas?
There are 12 people coming round my house as my mum is cooking Christmas dinner for them. I plan to watch a film or The Apprentice with the bird on my shoulders early in the morning. Also, I cannot wait to sing songs all day and watch the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special! Not just that Christmas special, but the Call The Midwife Christmas Special too.
There will be another chapter between now and Christmas if I want to finish by my deadline, but I will say: MERRY CHRISTMAS anyway.
Enjoy the chapter...
Purple. Violet.
The worst colours in the superheros' minds. These little purplish creatures bought more hate, jealousy and greed than anything else on Earth. Moths only came out at night, yet these dark creatures dared to brace the breaking day with their presence.
Akumas. The most evil entities in the universe.
One such akuma was dancing through the winds of dusk- chasing the hateful feelings of its victim. With every flutter of its gloomy wings, the creature knew that it was edging closer and closer to its target.
Settling on a chipped broken windowsill, it waited for the victim to acknowledge its power.
"Finally," A deep voice broke into the silence," The time has come to evillise myself!"
Out of the darkness, a figure stood. His dominating frame radiated power, just one look and you would know not to cross him in his anger. However, he was no ordinary man. Coated in a purple suit with silver encrusted metal on the legs and arms, was the one and only true villain.
Hawkmoth.
"Noroo ," Hawkmoth hissed, banging his long cane on the ground," Wings in,"
The mask that obscured the view of the villain's face evaporated. As did the suit that held his domineering frame. Now there was a tattered and broken man, who's clothes were tearing at the seams- stained with horrible scents showing the lack of care for the individual.
Tom Dupain.
Holding out his hand, he beckoned for the Akuma to come to him," Let's create Punisher,"
The moth flew towards his palm, where a charred torn photo of a mystery silhouette.
As soon as the little moth touched his scratched palm, the transformation began. Purple, the worst colour, bubbled from his feet to his head- creating a new and more dangerous suit. Black and white stripes wrapped around Tom's frame, and settled as a one piece on the shoulders. His face was covered once again in a jagged mask- though this mask was again a charcoal colour. Finally, his hair became a pastel purple colour. In his hands was the cane, ending in a much sharper and dagger-like point.
With a cackling laugh, he vanished in a release of deadly smoke that seemed to poison the air with a sense of danger and evil.
Barely ten metres away, ten metres too late, Chat Noir sprinted. His breath hitched in his throat, though deep down he already knew that he had lost this race. All hope within him faded like the smoke that was rushing out of the window of the building only ten metres in front of him.
"God dammit!" He shouted at no one in particular, slowing his pace down. It was already too late.
Pulling out his baton, he extended the end until it resembled a screen. He pressed the paw print button with shaking hands and waited as patiently as he could for the makeshift phone to call his partner Ladybug. In midst of the silence of the dusk, the dialling tone was all that was heard. Long, dragged out.
Voicemail.
"Ladybug as soon as you get this you need to find me," Chat urged desperately, holding the phone a bit to close to himself- he would deafen the hero from his loudness," A really bad man has been akumatised- the kind of man who could do unspeakable damage to Paris. We need to stop him as soon as possible. I am going to investigate the scene in of the akumatisation before going to protect someone who is likely going to be in the middle of all this,"
Chat took a quick deep breath," Please Ladybug come and help. I don't know how much time we have before the whole of Paris is in rubble. Reply as soon as you get this and I will alert you to my location,"
The black-leather-cladded hero bounded the last ten metres forward until he reached the broken finished line. Even the akuma itself couldn't have done the damage inside Tom's apartment.
Broken bottles of alcohol littered the floor, their glass scatterings had blood stains, likely showing that Tom would step on them in his drunken dazes. The chairs were barely children's stools- with paint peeling off of them like the wallpaper on the wall. There were questionable stains everywhere, some Chat turned away from for his own innocence and state of mind.
It looked like someone had set a bomb off in the room, however a strong and sickening feeling told Chat the bomb was created in it too. His eyes landed on a silver gleaming object on the floor.
Anger flooded his veins. Not just for his Princess but for every akumatised victim and akuma alike. The real culprit was the villain, or man, behind the Hawkmoth mask.
Pushing aside the shards of glass, Chat Noir pulled out a silver moth miraculous. His eyes bulged out of their sockets.
Not only had Tom Dupain bought fear and terror to his own daughter but to the whole of Paris as well.
"Okay Hawkmoth," Chat hissed," We will play this game,"
Jumping out of the window, he sped across Paris towards his own home. The feeling of fear kept rising in his chest.
~8~
"Marinette," Anna said, her tone more playful than usual," You seem happier today,"
With a big grin, the ravenette returned the older woman's smile," I started designing again. I haven't for a long while,"
Despite being in the massive Agreste mansion, Marinette had struggled to find things to entertain herself with. Adrien had allowed her into his room but single chess isn't fun and neither is solo basketball. She was too clumsy for basketball; she fell over dribbling the ball – she could have sworn she heard a snigger come from a cupboard but she persuaded herself it was all in her head.
Then it hit her, whenever she felt stressed or out of place at home or school she would design clothes. Small outfits, collections and even accessories- any kind of designing calmed her nerves a lot.
After scouring the mansion, it took longer than expected, she managed to collect some paper and pencils. Within twenty minutes, she was huddled over the coffee table in the living area with the fire warming her up- or more providing her with inspiration.
"Adrien didn't mention that you designed sweetie," Anna replied, her voice piqued with interest.
Kneeling down next to the girl, the blonde watched her work with an intrigued look. Each press of the pencil, each line and curve was drawn with precision and bounts of creativity. These fresh ideas were exactly was the Agreste brand needed to brighten up the grey and dull monotones it had become.
Of course she would have to speak to Gabriel about this, but Anna couldn't let an opportunity pass up like this. Especially when it came to her future daughter-in-law (or so she hoped Marinette would be).
Clearing her throat, Anna shook her head to make her fantasies disappear," How would you like to get a small internship or to shadow Gabriel? It would help you to grow and to see a bit of the design industry,"
"Really?" Mari chimed, her eyes glittering with a new kind of hope, it faded quickly," Are you sure that is okay? Many people in my position go through years of schooling and don't even cut close to getting that,"
Sighing, Anna knew the girl would try and push away the chance to do something for herself," Don't worry about that. Those people are snobs most of the time who think they are owed the world because they could afford to go to design schools. The ones that do work hard, who have new styles like you do get their chance to shine equally at Agreste. Trust me, I am the lead person in new admissions for our internships. Each year I pick the people who look like they have risked it all to be there, not the ones who show up thinking they have it in the bag. You, Marinette, however- and rather frustratingly- are the kind who doesn't realise that they have it in the bag because they are naturally gifted,"
"So Mari, I ask you again," Anna reiterated, trying to close her ongoing speech," Would you like the internship?"
Without thinking, Mari replied, "Yes please!"
"Good." Anna mumbled triumphantly, getting herself up from her kneeling position," I will tell Gabriel and you will start as soon as we can get you in,"
Boom!
The Agreste mansion shook violently, causing Anna to fall back to the floor. Marinette jumped forward, with great difficulty, and caught her- the shaking making it harder for Mari to keep her own balance. All of the furniture fell from the impact, the fire spurted in all directions.
As soon as it started, the vibrations stopped. Stamping out the embers that had landed on the carpet, Anna stood up. Her eyes scanned the room for any immediate danger.
"Must have been an unexpected earthquake," She said to Marinette, still keeping her senses heightened," Let's just leave the mansion and head to the main office. Gabriel is there and he will know what is going on,"
Nodding, Mari jumped up. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end. A every deep part of her knew that the boom was no earthquake, though she was fearful to admit it.
The two women slowly broke out into a run, the deep rooted fear within them starting their flight response to the danger. Even if it was an earthquake, it would be safer outside because of the risk of the roof caving in.
"I have the book Marinette," Anna whispered into the teen's ear," Just in case we need it,"
But, of course, fate had other ideas for the two.
As they neared the gates of the Agreste mansion, they came flying off of their hinges. The large black metal flames clattered into the pair, sending them flying into different directions.
"Anna!" Marinette screamed as her body was flung across the pebbled drive, she coughed out the dust she inhaled from the hurtling action.
A light fog had set across the large driveway. No matter how hard she squinted, Marinette couldn't make out any figures or Anna. Something was wrong, she knew it wasn't just an earthquake.
With all of her strength, the girl forced the metal gates off of her petite frame. She stood on her legs, shaking.
"Anna!" Mari called again, her voice less hoarse and more forceful.
Vaguely, a distant figure rose. Relief flooded Marinette's veins but it was very short lived. The figure grew and grew in size, towering over the girl even at the extended distance.. Gulping, a strangely familiar chill ran down her spine.
"Marinette," The figure teased, slowly becoming more visible," It is time to be punished,"
Trembling, Mari fell back down onto the ground. The figure came out of the fog to reveal himself, it was an akumatised Tom.
"Fath- no Tom," Mari corrected, the man didn't deserve to be called a father," What are you doing?"
Laughing the colossal villain picked her up as if she were a feather on the ground. He held her so they were staring each other in the eyes," I am not Tom. I am Punisher,"
"Let me guess, you are after Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculous?" Marinette spat with newfound confidence, the kind that even scared herself.
Growling, Punisher tossed the 'disobedient' girl to the ground. Marinette groaned as she tried to lift herself but a large foot kept her firm on the ground. She knew that she needed to transform into Ladybug but there was no way she could give Tom that kind of advantage against her.
"Let's see," Punisher thought out loud," What is the perfect punishment for a disappointment?"
An odd silence lingered for a few moments, making Marinette's stomach churn.
"Oh I know!" Punisher laughed, clapping his hands together manically," A time-out in the Seine!"
Screaming, Marinette's eyes became clouded in a deep rich purple. Holding her breath, she felt her surroundings change slowly. Darkness began to replace the deep rusted purple.
Her eyes barely adjusted to the change when she realised where she was. Marinette was trapped inside a box, with a long rectangular cut out that was slowly drawing water in. In a matter of minutes, she would be engulfed in water.
Out of the rectangle cut-out, Mari could see the riverbed of the Seine.
Wow a two thousand word chapter? I know I am proud too ! (Joking btw though I have shocked myself)
How could this story end without Tom getting akumatised?
Anyway, tell me your thoughts on the chapter and as always stay safe!