Chapter 14: Pants on Fire

"What were you doing downstairs?" questioned Nathaniel.

"Is it your business?" spat Lila. "Why is an idiot like you playing detective?"

"Just shut up and tell us what you were up to," spat back Adrien.

"Oh, for God's sake!" screamed Lila. "You're all simply insufferable! You think you're so high and mighty that you can just bully information out of anyone! Well I am not telling you what I was doing that night!"

"So you admit it?" demanded Zoe.

"What does it matter to you if I killed the guard or not?" demanded Lila. "You're all going to keep badgering me like imbeciles!"

"Aha," said Marinette. "That says it all. You did kill Fabio, didn't you? I know because you said it yourself. You wouldn't give a damn if he lived or died!"

"Shut up, Dupain-Cheng!" snapped Lila. "We are at war! You will eventually lose your little army of friends to me, and you'll be left all alone!"

"Rest assured, that won't happen," said Adrien stoutly, grabbing Marinette's shoulder. "We know Marinette better than one would think."

"We will not leave Marinette's side," said Zoe resolutely. "We will fight with her to the end. And if anyone comes her way, we will see to it that they get their just desserts."

"You make me sick, the whole lot of you!" said Lila furiously. "I will turn all of you against Marinette no matter what it takes!"

"I knew it all along," said Marinette. "Everything you say is a big, fat lie, right? And you've been using that to your advantage!"

Lila screeched in fury. Here she was, thinking everyone believed everything that came out of her mouth... only for a goody-goody two-shoes whom she thought was now an outcast to expose her!

At that moment, an akuma floated in. Now, most people would step away from the dreaded butterfly. Marinette, Adrien, Zoe, Nathaniel and Max did.

But Lila took a look at the butterfly, and stretched out her arm.

"Come to me, little akuma! Yes! Hello again, Hawk Moth!"

"I don't believe it," gasped Marinette.

"Volpina, good to see you again," said Hawk Moth. "I hope you're ready for a second chance at getting the Miraculouses of Ladybug and Cat Noir for me!"

"We have a deal," said Lila sweetly. The purple fog enveloped her, and she was turned back into Volpina, the akumatised villain who could create any kind of illusion.

"RUN!" shouted Adrien. He, Marinette, Zoe, Nathaniel and Max all bolted in different directions. Adrien leapt into a nearby toilet, and got Plagg out.

"So Lyin' Lila works for Hawk Moth, huh?" drawled Plagg. "Well, that's news to me!"

"And it's time to take that bitch down," said Adrien. "Plagg, Claws Out!"

With that, Adrien turned into Cat Noir. Meanwhile, Marinette was hiding in another toilet.

"Lila and Hawk Moth are in cahoots?" said Tikki. "I knew she was bad, but I didn't know she was this bad!"

"Well, she's not gonna be free for much longer, because as soon as we're done with her, we're gonna hand her in," said Marinette. "Tikki, Spots On!"

And Marinette turned into Ladybug. She rushed out to face Volpina.

Cat Noir was trying to fight her.

"Oy, Lie-la! Stop fooling around! You're going down!"

"Not if I can help it," said Volpina. She created an illusion of a security guard running towards him, but Cat Noir blocked it off.

"I ain't falling for you!" he said. "M'lady! I purr am glad to see you here, and your looking as purr-ty as ever!"

"And your puns are as meow-rible as ever, Kitty," said Ladybug. "But we can't fight Volpina alone. I'm going to get some help!"

And away she swung.

"Hurry, won't you?" called Cat Noir.

The final battle has officially begun! But when - and how - will it end? Stay tuned for Chapter 15!
Also, reviews and constructive criticism are welcome. And sorry for the short chapter!