Chapter Two - The Other Pawns

Hey guys! It's summer break for me now, and that means that I can start updating more often. So yay! I was actually going to update Balancing Act, but those updates are long and hard to do in one sitting. So, I decided I'd take a mental break and update this while my mind has time to get excited over that plot again.

After last chapter, this chapter will be somewhat boring for me to write. However, I suppose it is necessary in order to get to the dramatic and darker stuff. I'm super excited to delve into the really creepy parts of this story, just because this is the darkest story I have ever written, at least on here. However, enough of my rambling. Let's move on with the actual story!

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late."

- Shakespeare

Marinette's Point of View

I let out a load groan, snatching my sketchbook off the desk just in time as the coffee begins to spill over it. Once I've set it on the bookshelf beside my desk - a spot that I deem safe from being ruined - I rush to grab paper towels and mop up the mess. Of course my good luck couldn't keep me from spilling. Shaking my head, I focus on mopping up the rest of the mess, smiling when I see Tikki grabbing a few of the soaked paper towels and flying them to the garbage. Once that's handled, I flop back down into the chair, only to leap up with a screech. One look at the seat of the chair tells me all I need to know: my pants must now have a wet splotch of coffee on the back. To make matters worse, I can feel it.

Groaning again, I glance at Tikki, who giggles. "You go change your pants, Marinette. I'll wipe up the coffee on the chair."

I nod gratefully to her before scurrying off to my room. Changing only takes a few moments, and once I've successfully dumped the coffee-stained pants in my laundry, I make my way back out to see Tikki finishing up. I love that kwami.

"You're the best." I comment, as I walk over to the kitchen counter and grab two cookies. "Do you know that?"

She takes the one that I offer her, biting a bit off and giving me a satisfied smile. "Thanks, Marinette!" Whether it's for the compliment or cookie, I'm not sure, but it works for both.

I open my mouth to respond, shaking my cookie in my hand, only to be stopped by a knock on the door. "Tikki, hide." I whisper as I make my way over.

I take a deep breath, not sure who would be knocking, but ready to find out either way. However, as I twist the knob and open it, I find that I'm not going to find out. There's no one there. Was it a prank? I glance in both directions, but there's no one in sight. Huffing in exasperation, I move to shut the door, but then something catches my eye.

"A package?" I ask, picking it up to examine it. It has nothing on it besides a label that says 'To Marinette.' There isn't even a return address. Glancing behind me as I shut the door in case the sender somehow appears as it closes, I say in a more confused tone than I intend, "Hey Tikki, you can come out now."

My tiny kwami comes soaring out from the kitchen faster than I expected, landing on my shoulder and carefully staring down at the box with me. "Who sent it?"

I shrug, careful not to knock her off as I do. "I have no idea. There was no one there, and as you can se," I pause to turn the box around in all directions for her sake, "there isn't any return address, or real anything that would identify a sender."

"Freaky." She says as I make my way over to the counter and set it down. "Are you going to open it?"

"I don't see why not. It could be important." I hesitate as I look at it. It looks harmless enough, but a part of me can't help but think that there is quite a sinister vibe coming off of it. "Maybe it's some fabric that I ordered. Or a care package." They almost sound plausible, but that wouldn't explain why there's no address. "Or perhaps a secret admirer?" I offer the last one right as I think of it, deciding that it sounds the most plausible and praying that it or something else equally as harmless is the case.

"Just open it, silly. We won't know till you do." Despite the joking tone, I get the sense that Tikki is also slightly apprehensive or at least unnerved by the box. What could be so weird about it to make my kwami so uncomfortable?

Listening to my red bug, I grab the scissors laying on the counter and cut the tape holding the flaps down. Then I dump them back on the counter, not even bothering to put them away properly as I grab the cardboard box flaps and pull them apart. I stare down in confusion, looking at the contents of the box as I try to figure out what the heck they are and completely forget to pick them up to examine them. On the left side, there is a cassette player that seems like it was just bought. On the right side, there is a folded up piece of paper.

Tikki hovers beside me, also staring down in concern. "Well?" She says, breaking us both out of our stunned silence. "Are you going to look at it?"

I blink, nodding my head. "Right, right."

I reach in, and scoop the paper up. With cautious hands I unfold it, and gesture with my head for Tikki to check it out as I begin to read it.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Actually, I know it does. However, that is besides the point. This letter is a formal invitation for you to join a few of your friends in a high stakes game. Should you choose to go into the game willingly, you should meet with the other willing players in the park across the street from your home at 4:00 pm. If you do not choose to participate, you will still be included in the game, and if you ignore the challenge issued to you, a friend of yours will die. If you tell anyone about this situation, everyone will die, whether or not their lives have been saved. There is more information about this particular predicament of yours in the cassette recorder also included in this box. You are not to play the cassette until 4:05 pm, as everyone should have gathered who will play by choice by then. If you play the cassette before its intended time, one of your friends will be punished.

Don't be idiotic. Do you want the blood of a friend on your hands?

The Gamemaker

I stare down at the letter in shocked silence, not even realizing that my hand is shaking as I try to comprehend what I have just read. Fear pulses through me, and even though I try to tell myself that it must be a joke, I can't the feeling of paranoia as I think about what this means if it's not.

"Marinette?" Tikki's voice finally breaks me out of my terrified state, and I look at her to see a concerned look returning mine. While I was hoping for reassurance, I also see worry creasing her face. That does not give me a good feeling about any of this. If Tikki is worried and thinks this might even have a chance at being believable, then we're doomed. "I-It can't hurt to go to the park and check it out..."

"Just in case, right?" I ask, hoping for some sort of reassurance that this is all an elaborate trick meant to get a laugh.

"Right." Yet Tikki still sounds unsure, and I'm starting to get the sinking feeling that this could all end horribly.

Which begs one question. If this really is real, what the heck am I going to do? The thought almost makes me want to cry, but I force myself to calm down. Nothing is for sure yet. I have nothing to worry about currently. Right now I just need to hope and pray that this is all fake. We can probably laugh it off - once I know who it is - and joke about it later. It'll quickly be forgotten, right? It will be fine.

"Well, I guess we should be going? We don't have much longer, and besides, it's right across the street..." I try to sound more confident than I am, but it fails miserably, so I just let Tikki silently climb into my purse before grabbing the cassette player and heading out.

As predicted, it doesn't take long for me to reach the park. I walk in, nervously tugging on a loose strand of hair that managed to avoid my pigtails. I've honestly been meaning to change my style, but I'm too concerned for what would happen if I changed mine right when Ladybug did. It stinks, but I deal with it. After all, my job as a savoir of Paris is more important than my looks, and I don't care about my hair that much.

I don't see anyone specific, and so I decide to sit down at a picnic table and wait. If it gets to 4:05, I'll play this cassette and then be done with this. Hopefully the thing will just be revealed to be a silly joke and I can go home. Yet I'm still getting that scary feeling that it won't.

"Mari?" I look up and away from the cassette player at the sound of the name, and turn to see none other than Nino walking towards me. He's certainly gotten taller, and even if I hadn't seen him recently while third-wheeling on a date between him and Alya, I would be able to identify him by his orange baseball cap, glasses, and headphones around his neck. Some things never change, no matter how much Alya might say they need to. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for some people. You?" I say, unsure of whether to be blunt with him or stay cryptic when trying to find out if he's here for the same reason as me.

"Same here." He says with a frown, and then he hesitates before asking, "D-did you happen to get a weird letter along with that, uh, that casette pl-player?"

If the circumstances were different, I would find this conversation amusing. Oh how the tables have turned. Now Nino is stuttering and I am the confident one. "Yes, I did...Did you?"

He scratches the back of his head nervously as he nods. "I was kind of hoping it was all a dumb joke. I mean, it was awfully cryptic. All it really told me was to come here at 4:00 and that you would have a cassette player with important information." He hesitates once again before adding, "And that if I don't play along, someone could die."

"Hey, well, maybe it will end up being a joke?" I suggest, but I don't sound confident enough to actually do any good in quelling his nerves.

He nods, obviously not buying it. "Well, should we play it?"

I shake my head violently. "No!" He looks taken aback, so I swiftly apologize. "I'm sorry. It's just that I was told that if I played it before 4:05, someone would get hurt. Maybe we can just wait to see if anyone else shows up?"

Almost as if on cue, another person walks up to us, eyes on the cassette player. He's got reddish brown hair, and his blue eyes are surrounded by glasses. He stops a little bit in front of us, and awkwardly tugs on his orange scarf.

"Are you Marinette Dupain-Cheng?" He asks, realizing how he is fidgeting with his scarf and proceeding to drop it.

"Yes," I say with a bob of my head. "This guy right beside me is Nino Lahiffe." I'm assuming this guy was so focused on the cassette player because he's here for the same reason as us, so I might as well introduce my buddy now. "You are...?"

"Jalil!" He says quickly, adjusting his glasses. Taking a deep breath, he drops his hands again and says, "Jalil Kubdel."

That last name rings a bell. "Kubdel? As in Alix Kubdel?"

He nods, offering a small smile. "Yes, that's my younger sister." He frowns. "She hasn't been returning any of my calls though, so she must be really busy."

His voice sounds super familiar in my head, but I can't think of where I would know him from? I try to rack my brain, but I don't think I know him as Marinette except for being Alix's older brother. But the real question is whether or not I know him as Ladybug. I try to run through different akumas in my head, and then it hits me: the Pharaoh. One of the earlier akumas that I fought, so it makes sense that he'd be harder to recognize. However, the voices totally match up.

"Are you here because of a letter?" Nino asks casually, obviously tired of not just flat out asking. When Jalil nods, he says, "Cool, cause we are too, and we're just hoping that it's all a joke."

Jalil opens his mouth to answer, but doesn't get the chance as a very disgruntled blackette comes rushing towards us, glasses halfway off her nose. I recognize her right off the bat. Nathalie Sancoeur, assistant to Gabriel Agreste and practically the single parent of Adrien. I got to see more of her once I started to be able to make coherent sentences with Adrien, and she always came across as nice. However, she always looked a little guilty around me. Not only that, but I'm pretty she saw straight through me and realized my giant crush on Adrien.

She comes to a halt, taking deep breathes as she stares at us. "The cassette player. You're here and you actually have one."

And so the pattern continues as person after person arrives. Le Chien Kim makes his arrival next, decked out in merchandise for the sports team he plays for and looking as buff as ever. I barely even recognized him, because we haven't seen each other in years, but he looks pretty similar. Then arrived a girl that, surprisingly, I've seen quite a few times. Lila Rossi, who I actually grew quite close and fond of during school, despite her intense hatred that has failed to dwindle for my alter ego. She still looks the same, having barely changed at all, but after befriending hr when she was an outcast, we've stayed in touch. Finally, Ivan Bruel and Rose Lavillant walk in together, both looking slightly distraught as they talk. Ivan, if it's even possible, seems to have grown, while Rose almost appears to have shrunk. She probably has grown a little bit, but she is still tiny and decked in pink. Her blonde hair seems to be grown out a bit longer though.

Everyone talks awkwardly with someone they know around them, nobody seeming really sure how to socialize or what to do. After all, some of these people barely know each other, if they know anyone at all. I check my phone, and see that it's 4:06. Hopefully I didn't miss anything on the letter saying something bad would happen if we play it later than 4:05.

"Everyone! Please, settle down." I say loudly, making sure I have everyone's attention. "I think everyone is here now. So, if you all would be quiet and give me your attention, we can play this cassette player and find out that this is a joke, and that we have nothing to fear...I hope."

"And what do we do if it's not a joke?" Kim asks, folding his arms and staring back at me with an expression that almost suggests that he's trying to challenge me.

"Then we play whatever sick game this is, and we play it right." I response firmly. "Nobody wants someone else to die because of them. However, I doubt we have anything to be concerned about. So don't worry."

Now positive that everyone is ready, I push play as we all begin to listen to the voice that comes out. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the game of a lifetime, where you all get to play." Okay, so maybe this doesn't bode well for this being a prank. But it could still be a prank, right? "As your letters told you, refusal to play the game or failure to accomplish your task correctly results in the death of someone. Before we delve any deeper, let's make sure everyone is here, shall we? Wave your hand around so in case anyone isn't acquainted with you can see who you are." He pauses, as if taking time to make sure the instructions sunk in. "Nino." Nino waves his hand in the air upon hearing his name, setting the precedent that we are going to listen, at least right now. "Jalil. Rose. Kim. Marinette. Ivan. Lila. Nathalie. Chloe." We all freeze at the last one, and since there is a pause, I slam down on the pause button.

"Has anyone seen Chloe?" Nathalie asks, and I realize that of course she knows the mayor's daughter, probably more so that anyone else here, except for maybe Kim. Although anyone from our class could technically compete with that.

"What do we do if she's not here?" Rose cries out, looking panicked.

"We don't need her to save people." Jalil says, adjusting his scarf again. "Everyone gets their own challenge, so she isn't necessary to everyone else. Just for whatever her challenge is. And she won't ignore her own challenge if someone else's life is at stake...Right?"

Lila shrugs, looking annoyed. "Who knows with that girl?"

I just sigh. "Lila has a point. But if anything, we'll go to her and convince her. For now, let's just continue with this tape."

I get a few verbal affirmations to do so, and then push play. "Good. Now that you all know each other, I suppose I should explain more. Here is how this game will work. My apologies for anything that you feel is repetition, but please, bare with me." He chuckles, and then continues. "At some point or another, each of you will receive a package or letter giving you instructions to a task you must complete. If you complete the task correctly, then whoever I have chosen to link you with will survive. If, however, you fail...Well, then I will murder them." He laughs again, and I start to formulate ways to get this guy caught. There has to be something, right? "Now, before you guys get any ideas, there are a few other rules. For one thing, no one else is allowed to know about our little game. I have set careful things in place for anyone not within this group who could be concerned for any of the people I am holding captive. If I find that any of my captives have been reported as missing, I will murder everyone I am holding prisoner, whether they have been saved or not. And just in case you think you can use this to have anyone track me," His voice suddenly shifts to a very feminine one, but it does not sound faked, "think again. Who knows if you are hearing my real voice?" His voice shifts back to the one he was originally using, although I wonder now if this guy is actually a guy or not. "As a second rule, you are not allowed to have any help with your challenge. You must accomplish it on your own. Someone may stand by to help you in case you are somehow...Harmed, but the actual tasks must be accomplished yourself. Finally, Ladybug must not make an appearance during this time." I tense up at the words. What? "If I see so much as a hint of the spotted heroine while this game is occurring, especially near me, I will kill everyone as well."

So there goes that idea. I push pause as everyone begins to freak out in concern of how we will get Ladybug not to show herself while this is happening without telling her what is going on, and I realize that I cannot say anything. They can't know that I am Ladybug. I will just have to pretend to be worried and hoping that Ladybug will just not be needed. Although the second part won't be acting. I really do need to hope that Ladybug won't be needed. What will I do if she is?

Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Besides, for some odd reason, he doesn't care if Chat Noir makes an appearance. Chat can hold his own I hope. If worst comes to worst, we'll just have to hope he can handle it. I trust him to do a good job.

Waving my arm to get everyone's attention back, I then push play to let this freak continue. "Now that we have that simple groundwork laid, let me tell you who I have captured here with me. I'd let them introduce themselves, but I doubt they'd comply, nor do I think that you would believe it was actually them. So, I suppose you will have to trust me. You can always subtly check if they are around too, but if they get reported as missing, well...It will be pretty nasty." The mere thought sends chills up my spine, and I don't even know who is on the other side of this. "Most of you should know everyone I'm about to list, so I won't bother to give last names. Besides, if you don't, you can always ask Marinette Dupain-Cheng...She knows all of them, or at least knows of them." I feel everyone's gaze boring into mine as I duck down, not sure how to react to that information. Is that good? Probably not. They're all in danger, after all. What if one of them dies. "Max. Alix. Adrien." My heart shudders violently in my chest. He has Adrien Agreste? The love of my life, despite the fact that we're adults because I for some reason can't get myself to move on? "Sabrine. Juleka. Nathaniel. Mylene. Manon." Sweet Manon, who I babysit? Why would he pick her, out of everyone? She's just a kid! "Alya." And my best friend?

There is a large pause, so long that we wonder if it might be over, before the person announces, "You can simply call me the Gamemaker as you talk in hushed voices and speculate about when your challenges will arrive at your houses, because they will not arrive all at once." He laughs one more time before saying loudly, "Let the games begin!"

Then it's over and the clamor and uproar begins. Rose starts it, practically crying to I think Jalil as she says, "What will we do?"

"Will he actually kill them?" Kim asks Ivan, seeming skeptical.

"I'm going to kill this man!" Lila snarps to no one in particular.

"What do you think he'll even want us to do?" Nino directs the question at me, but I don't bother to try and answer.

Before I can try to call everyone to attention, Nathalie does for me. "Everyone, please!" Everyone trains their eyes on the assistant, including myself. She takes a deep breath, not seeming the least bit bothered. "Before we descend into chaos, let's be a bit orderly. I think it would be valuable if we tried to figure out who might be paired with each person. Everyone has to have some sort of connection to someone, right? I think we should put those pieces together first."

Jalil throws his out first. "Well, mine is obvious. Alix is my sister."

Nathalie nods. "And I have had to look after Adrien for a long time, so it makes sense if he would be assigned to me."

"I bet Sabrina was assigned to Chloe, since they were best friends in high school and probably still are." Nino offers. "And since Alya is my girlfriend, it makes sense that she would be assigned to me."

"Speaking of dating relationships, that would mean Nathaniel is totally assigned to me, since he's my boyfriend." Lila says it so nonchalantly, but I have no idea that that was a thing.

To demonstrate my approval, I offer her a thumbs up despite the fact that now might not be the appropriate time while Kim says, "I bet Max was assigned to me, since he's my best friend."

"And I probably have Juleka, since she's my best friend." Rose says, attempting to dab the tears from her eyes. "She's the best best friend I could ever ask for."

"Mylene is my fiancee," Ivan says quietly, "So she should be assigned to me."

"You guys are engaged and didn't tell anyone?" Rose gasps as we all focus in on him, shocked.

He just gives a shrug. "It was a recent thing. We never saw an appropriate time for a big announcement, and we weren't sure if it'd be met with disapproval since we're still in college. Now I'm worried that we'll never get that right time."

I say confidently. "You will, Ivan. I'll make sure of it." Realizing I'm the only one not to have claimed anyone, I say, "And Manon has to have been assigned to me. I've been her babysitter for a long time, and besides, she's the only one not assigned to anyone else."

Now to make sure that darling girl with her baby doll eyes stays alive.

Sorry that that chapter was a little bit shorter! The lengths will probably vary depending on the challenge, but I will do my best to make them detailed and well-done as well as aim to have over 3,000 words at least. I didn't want to drag this one on for too long though, since I at least did not find it super interesting. Hopefully you guys still liked it though! Was it good? Bad? What are your thoughts on the pairings the kiddos are speculating that they have? Were you expecting these people to be the ones in the other "group?" Any thoughts on whether or not anyone will fail? Are there any people in particular you want to see die/fail/live/succeed? Let me know in your reviews!

Speaking of my reviews, let me respond to yours as a thank you now!

gleamqueen : As awesome of a twist as that would be, no, Marinette is not the Gamemaker, as this chapter showed. However, I'd love to do something with that sort of twist in the future! It would all depend on the reception this story gets and how I feel about writing it though, since that story would also probably be dark.

Marichat77 : Thank you! Sorry this update took so long to get out to you guys. Hopefully it was okay! We'll get into the more scary stuff next chapter, something that I am super hyped to delve into.

pinksakura271 : I'm glad that it's so good! :D I'm also glad the concept is interesting, and that the Gamemaker has come across like that. I honestly loved writing from their perspective, so I will have to do so again within the story. And ah yes, we will definitely be exploring whether or not characters (Adrien included) will break - and if so, how easily - for our lovely villain. I'm super glad the characters' portrayals are going well! And as for Plagg, that will get addressed in the story, although probably not until closer to the end. We will have to see. c: And sorry, I am not accepting OCs! As interesting as that would be to throw some in to do the challenges, I would be too concerned with portraying them wrong and accidentally offending their owner. Also, I have the entire story planned out already, so it would be hard to fit one in. However, I may considering doing a story that could have OCs submitted in the future. We'll see. c;

Thanks so much for the support! I will see you next time, when we get to see some of the real fun begin.

~ Dagger