A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to the third chapter of this story. I'm glad this story has been doing okay, or at least better than Dark Heroism did, in terms of quality. I think I'm doing okay keeping up the posting schedule, but if I ever fall behind, I apologize. Now, I'm running out of things to say, so just enjoy the chapter.
The tablet screen glowed contrastingly against the thick darkness of the bedroom, the only other source of light being the dim shine of the moon that was visible from the window nearby. Clothes were filthy, and scattered carelessly along the floor. The bookshelf in the corner was relatively unused, with books sitting both closed and open-faced peppered along a red rug, beginning to gather dust in the spaces they sat in.
A bed sat in the far left side of the room, with the black and white sheets thrown out of order and beginning to peel off of the mattress. Above it was a poster displaying a gorgeous view of the Kingdom of Achu, which was the one thing in the room kept in mint condition. On the tablet, a news broadcast was brought up on the screen, showing Nadja Chamack standing outside Hôtel de Ville, as the police force stood in the background, strapping bright yellow lines of police tape over the entrance. "That's right folks, Ladybug and Cat Noir managed to save Paris once more, from this terrifying new group simply known as 'The Lurkers'. Although no news has surfaced on what the group wants, Major Bourgeois witnessed them firsthand, and is setting up a campaign as we speak to bring them to justice. But Ladybug and Cat Noir were the true heroes of the night, and we thank them greatly for their work"
Moving to the side as a police cruiser drove by, Nadjas smile returned as she placed the microphone back to her mouth and decided to continue...before the screen of the device was immediately shut off, the black screen reflecting a girls scowling face. Using her fingers to comb her tangled brown hair from her face, Lila Rossi let out a groan of frustration and shoved the tablet to the other end of her bed, folding her arms tightly once it was far enough from her. "If I hear one more thing about Ladybug and her damn partner…", she muttered, not bothering to finish the brief thought.
It went without saying, they had...history. Perhaps it was the repeated occasions of Ladybug ruining every chance at her making friends, impressing people, and having a happy life overall; calling her little anecdotes 'lies', as if she magically knew everything that made her think this. Well...they were lies, but that didn't mean she had to say anything about them.
She turned over in her bed, her eyes landing on the poster on her wall. That was her last miraculous 'trip' to the Kingdom of Achu, or so her classmates were led to believe. A light grin curled up on her lips as she remembered the call, every one of them was so delightfully sympathetic...except for that Marinette Dupain-Cheng. That wiped the smile from Lilas face, as a girl more irritating than Ladybug managed to invade her mind yet again.
Deciding that watching a live news feed on people she hated was a far better alternative than actually thinking about them, she forced herself to crawl to the other side of the bed, reaching out for the tablet before an abrupt knock on the door halted her from doing so. "Sweetie, are you still awake?", a woman asked, her voice muffled through the door. Sighing, Lila grabbed the tablet anyways and leaned back, finally shouting a reply. "Yeah, Mom. I am.", she responded flatly.
Her darling mother had finally come to visit. That was...something. "So...are you free tonight? I was thinking we could order a pizza, maybe watch a movie together?", Lila suggested, her tone more cautious than usual. A small pause from her mother followed, before she finally replied, the same way Lila had begun to expect. "I'm sorry, I have another shift tonight. Next time, okay?", her mom replied, shattering whatever sliver of an expectation that Lila had of a 'yes'. "Sure, mom. It's fine, I'm...on a call with my friends at school right now anyways.", she said, a rush of comfort coursing through her once the lie was told.
Staring down at the empty screen of her tablet and running a hand through her hair once more, she was able to hear her mothers not-so-subtle sigh of relief. "That's good to hear. Anyways, love you, order a pizza if you get hungry.", her mom replied, before her footsteps echoed through the apartment, until she could hear the front door finally shut. Sighing once more, Lila turned the screen back on and returned to the news feed, grateful she had some kind of distraction as she pressed play.
Nadja Chamack was in the same spot as before, but this time, a group of frightened-looking citizens stood nearby, each with a microphone of their own. "...but we don't know the real story, until we talk to the people who saw it first hand. First, we have Clara Nightingale, a famous singer and musician that we all have come to adore. Clara, what did you see during the incident?", Nadja inquired, glancing over at the gorgeous brunette, who's sparkly blue dress was left wrinkled and uneven. "Yes, I was there. But some high-tech masked men broke in, without a care! They had guns, and whips, and even stun sticks, luckily Ladybug and Cat Noir could outmatch their wits."
Perhaps she was just hysterical, but everyone in Paris knew the singer rhymed with everything she said. Literally everything, it makes you wonder if it could get awkward at...certain times. "Thank you, Clara.", Nadja said, before moving onto the next former-hostage, another brunette with large glasses who wore a light green dress. "This is one of our brilliant botanists in Paris, Doctor Olivia Woods, who was also there to witness the attack. Tell us Olivia, can you give us a description on the terrorists and their appearances?", she asked, as Olivia brought her microphone closer to reply. "Yes, of course. As Clara said, these...Lurkers seemed to break in out of nowhere, and their weapons...they were unlike anything I have ever seen. The technology was incredibly advanced, so that convinced us to stay put as they gathered us into groups. Chad McClay attempted to stop them, but he was struck."
Gasping lightly, Nadja recovered a moment later and nodded lightly once the information was given. "Thanks, Olivia." she said, before turning towards the camera. "You heard it, viewers, the genius inventor Chad McClay is another hero of this night, and he's been receiving heavy praise for his heroic duties. If anyone knows about where the technology these Lurkers have acquired is coming from, it's him, so he'll be helping us defeat these Lurkers alongside Mayor Bourgeois." Lila raised an eyebrow, this...McClay was an interesting man, it seemed. "On a side note, officers managed to make their way inside after Ladybug and Cat Noir left. It seems that the Lurkers who had been earlier defeated mysteriously disappeared from the room, but where could they have-"
She shut off the news feed, having got all the information she needed. Lila was glad that someone was finally going to try and ruin the life of those heroes, but something about it just seemed...off. Mostly about Chad McClay, who had convinced everyone that he was a hero. But what really piqued her curiosity were the coincidental circumstances. A genius inventor of technology who created things unlike what anyone had ever seen before...in the same place as a group of Lurkers who had the same high-tech equipment that someone like Chad could create.
Huh, interesting.
…
There were...a lot of emotions going through Ladybug right now. For one thing, she was tired, and her body was sore and aching from the punishment she had taken. Blow after blow was dealt, it almost became a pileup once the Lurkers decided to surround her...it was honestly a miracle that Cat Noir came when he did. Even if it was later than she would've wanted, though she held her tongue on the matter.
Next was...well, she wasn't quite sure how to describe this one. Her heart was racing, beating harder and faster than it ever had before. She'd been afraid before, whenever an Akumatized Villain managed to gain the upper hand after a tiresome battle, putting her in a situation where even a slight mistake would result in failure, and the victory of Shadowmoth over Paris. That was nothing compared to what she felt then, where her limbs locked up, and she was forced to suck air desperately into her lungs, feeling as if she would pass out if she didn't. It was horrible, and she couldn't help but realize how familiar the sensation felt.
Finally, she was confused, more than she ever had been before. A moment ago, her and Cat Noir were taking a breather, basking in their victory and ready to take the next step in bringing the Lurkers to justice. Then, their boss showed up, who she was 99% sure had to have been the exact person she was meant to be avoiding like the plague. Now, they were standing in a burrow, and Bunnyx showed up out of nowhere to suddenly decide that they had information to learn.
Again though, she kept silent, currently focusing on trying not to bump into her equally-blind partner with the large bowl over her head. "Okay, so first off...good to see you two again.", she began, obviously forcing a smile to shield her crippling nervousness. Ladybug couldn't exactly see it though, but the air was tense for both of them despite her lack of sight. This problem was fixed a moment later once the Burrow opened up, and Bunnyx let the two out onto a rooftop where the burrow had taken them. Taking the bowls off and tossing them back into the burrow, Ladybug and Cat Noir glanced towards the woman as the burrow was promptly shut. "Second, you've probably got questions about all that you just saw."
The heroine almost rolled her eyes at the understatement, but she managed to resist doing so, instead waiting to hear what Bunnyx had to say. Unfortunately, Cat Noir was not as patient. "WHAT. ?" he exclaimed, his emerald eyes widened comically beneath his mask. "That...was Enigma.", she said slowly, in case the boy freaked out even more. For some reason, he wasn't expecting that answer, and let out a breathless exhale before turning away, needing to comprehend the information.
Ladybug, on the contrary, already knew this, and leaned forward eagerly to receive more intel. "I figured. But why did you take us out here? We could've tried to bring them in, at least.", she said, but Bunnyx shifted uneasily, expecting she would've needed to explain this. "If I hadn't saved you two, Enigma would've...well, you can guess how it would've gone. Truth be told, neither of you are ready to take Enigma on, so it's kind of inconvenient that they're even here in the first place.", she responded, leaning up against a chimney that was positioned nearby.
That didn't help Cat Noirs nerves, who let out this weird loud exhale before making his way back to the two. "Who the hell is the Enigma anyways? I only heard about this person like, a day ago, and next thing we're both staring into their eyes like we're two deers in the headlights.", he questioned, while Ladybug fell silent, placing a hand lightly on her heart as she tried to dull the rapturous thumping. After a long pause, Bunnyx hesitantly spoke up. "I...I don't know. All I can tell you is that they completely destroyed Paris in the future due to certain events that have transpired, and now they're going back in time again after several other tries. And...they want you dead, Ladybug."
Cat Noir looked like he was about to hyperventilate, so he made his way to the other end of the roof again, trying not to pass the hell out. "Three people told me this earlier, they use the Cursed Miraculouses that Abel managed to sell, back when he was still alive. They said their name was written in the Grimoire, but what I don't get is how that can even be possible if Enigma shows up in the future.", she explained, as her partner managed to muster the courage to rejoin the conversation. "Yeah, she makes a wonderful point.", he agreed breathlessly.
Sighing lightly, Bunnyx stood up a little straighter and positioned herself in front of the two, raising her hands slightly like she was about to present something. "Enigma has gone back in time more than once to attempt completing their goal, and most likely interfered with certain events in order to do so.", she began, her hands moving and waving expressively as she spoke. "According to the time travel theory, you can't change what has happened in the past, since it already happened. But if it's tampered with, it can create a separate sub-timeline off of that timeline where things continue along with the change. Are you two following so far?"
Blinking dumbly, the two exchanged glances for a moment before returning their attention to Bunnyx, nodding even though they were completely lost. Noticing this, she once again attempted to explain the crisis, opening up a burrow and climbing inside. "Okay, let me put it to you like this.", she said, before emerging with a whiteboard, attached to a large metallic stand with several multi-colored markers held in the grooves below the board.
Talking the cap off of one of them, Bunnyx traced a line down the surface, a dark purple streak following until it reached the end of the board. "This is the timeline; perfect, unbroken, as it should be.", she stated, before grabbing a green marker and drawing a smaller line sprouting parallel from the middle of the current one. "That is what happens when you interfere too much. Talking to you right now won't necessarily change anything, but the Enigma most likely made drastic actions whenever they went back in time. I can make several little timelines off of this long one, because interferences can create other timelines. However, I made a new discovery recently that could explain why things are going the way they are for us, regarding the timeline."
Scrubbing the board clean using the edge of her arm, Bunnyx started fresh and drew the line once more, but this time, only making it a third as long as the last one. "This is the regular timeline, where things are going as expected. Usually, an interference would cause this to split up and the current timeline would go along normally. But on a very rare occasion, certain changes can create events that match up, creating one single timeline that doesn't split up into other ones. It's as if certain events are supposed to match up, creating a legitimate timeline. So when Enigma somehow made themself known enough to get their name in the Grimoire, that created a separate timeline, and all the other interferences, and all that has happened lately, are also a part of that timeline.", she said, before taking a deep breath after the long-winded explanation. "Okay, do you two understand now?"
Cat Noir sure did, gasping for air once the realization struck, nearly stumbling over to the other side of the roof to catch his breath. "So what you're saying is that all of Enigmas interference created a whole other timeline off of the timeline we're supposed to be in?", she asked, clearly confused. Bunnyx did the little 'fifty-fifty' gesture, before opening a burrow up once more and shoving the board inside. "Like I said, it's a theory. Even with my knowledge on time, there's still a whole lot I'm learning.", she responded, wishing she could give her a better answer.
Ladybug needed a moment to let this sink in, the wave of information struck her like a ton of bricks. Time was something she feared to get in the way of, after her encounter with the Akumatized Villain known as Timetagger several months ago, she knew that it wasn't something to be messed with. But Enigma was playing with it like it was putty in their hands, and although she still didn't understand the whole time travel theory, she knew that they needed to be stopped. "You mentioned that they destroyed Paris in the future...so what are you going to do about that?", she inquired, stroking her chin lightly.
Bunnyx hesitated, not exactly excited to spill the beans on her reckless decision to the person she was supposed to be reassuring towards. "Everything that is happening right now is as far as I can see. So as far as any of us know, there is no future.", she said, before glancing towards the flashing entrance to the burrow as Cat Noir returned to the group, having overheard the whole thing, to his own dismay. "Mini-Bug, Kitty Noir...I trust you two.", she said sincerely, using the little nicknames she gave for them despite the dire situation. "I'm going to try and make sure the other timelines aren't out of order as well, and I hate to say it, but I don't want to risk interfering here too much. That doesn't mean you won't still see me, but you're probably gonna be on your own for now. Can you two handle that?"
Exchanging glances, the two heroes plastered on determined expressions, replying only with a single nod of affirmation. Smiling lightly, Bunnyx saluted the two before climbing into the burrow, disappearing into thin air a moment later. "...Well, we certainly learned a lot tonight.", Cat Noir said bluntly, still in disbelief from what he'd heard. "We should head to our homes now, I think the police can handle the business back at Hôtel de Ville.", she replied abruptly, throwing her Yoyo out towards another building and breaking into a swing across town before Cat Noir could comment on her sudden need to leave without discussion.
She had a lot to think about that night, but one thing was for certain. Whoever this Enigma was, taking them down was a feat that she had little hope of achieving.
…
The Akuma blended in perfectly with the shadows that the night provided, fluttering gracefully across the city before reaching the wide window of the Agreste Mansion Observatory, slipping through a small gap in the glass before descending towards Shadowmoth. Grinning from ear to ear, the man could feel the cold sweat running down the back of his neck, delightful chills shooting through his body as the Akuma landed delicately in his palm. In merely a second, the dark energy he'd set into the butterfly was retracted, leaving the insect unharmed as it fluttered back to join the others.
Closing the observatory window, Shadowmoth made his way towards the end of the room and was lifted upstairs, headed towards the atelier via the elevator platform that was several feet away. "Reverse morphosis…", he muttered, his attire vanishing from his body in a swift flash of light, returning Gabriel into his normal clothing as the trip back to the surface concluded. But that grin didn't disappear, despite the change in scenery.
He had witnessed the whole ordeal, every second of it. Although the thick pulsing in his chest that the presence of the emotions had granted him was long gone, Gabriel doubted he would ever forget the feeling. It was amazing, like every sense he had was heightened a hundred times over; the mere memory was so intoxicating that he didn't even notice Nathalie appear from the corner of his eye. "Mr. Agreste?", she spoke, tilting her head slightly as the man stared off into space.
Like a switch had been flipped in his brain, the fashion designer broke out of his reverie and glanced towards Nathalie, his hand resting gently on his temple. "Hi, Nathalie…", he said softly, hoping she hadn't seen him like that. Breathing a sigh of relief once she saw he was alright, Nathalie pushed her glasses up the rim of her nose delicately as she glanced down at the elevator platform nearby. He really had been busy. "Did you find what you were looking for?", she inquired, and for a minute, that feeling Gabriel had experienced earlier threatened to return.
He wasn't entirely sure how to explain it, the situation wasn't one that could be described with ease. "I...I saw someone, someone dressed in black. They were the source of what I had felt, the negative emotions were theirs. I could sense their immense power, it was...interesting.", he revealed; Nathalies eyes widening ever so slightly in reaction. But he wasn't finished yet. "Ladybug and Cat Noir disappeared in a flash of blue light, and this...person, managed to leave the area as well. I don't know who they are, but I believe that they can be of use to me."
Admittedly, it sounded a bit too risky to Nathalie. A mysterious individual appearing out of nowhere, coursing with negative emotion, didn't exactly sound like the most safe person to be around. But the woman didn't want to question him yet, and knew she needed more information. "Okay...and how do you intend to use this person?", she asked, as Gabriel pulled up a window on the tablet across from the painting.
Instantly, the official website for McClay Enterprises was brought up, and he pointed his index finger towards the screen in response. "The person I saw wasn't alone, there were a crowd of people dressed similarly, using technology that I never would've thought to be fathomable.", he explained. "Only someone like Chad McClay could supply these types of weaponry, and I intend to speak with him to get to the person I actually need." Nathalie winced, she knew the two men had history, though Chad had only arrived in Paris three months ago.
She remembered it distinctly, it was a glorious fashion gala in Dubai that Gabriel had taken the liberty of making an appearance at. For some reason, Chad managed to show up as well; his bodyguard and assistant were hanging by his side like hungry vultures. Under the crystalized chandeliers, the two men met, and a spark was struck the second the two started talking. It started off innocent enough, with just a bit of casual small talk that would have dealt no harm to anyone.
But from what she could remember, a sore subject was brought up, and things turned sour between the two. It wasn't entirely clear what had happened, and to be frank, Nathalie didn't take interest in conversations with McClay. She guessed it was also partly a result of Gabriels comment on Chads suit, stating that it looked 'kind of okay', but she didn't like to think of it that much. However, it would certainly make it more difficult to make contact with Chads supposed ally, and the woman knew that Gabriel needed to consider this. "Mr. Agreste, from what I can recall, you and Chad are not on the best terms. How exactly will you convince him?"
That definitely took some pondering, Gabriel hadn't considered that part quite yet. He supposed there was a polite way of doing things, to start things off, leaving room for more direct methods if need be. "I'll email him and request a meeting here the next day, perhaps that will be a nice place to start.", he replied, walking into the main hall of the mansion alongside her. "You should most likely not attend, Chad McClay can get very...irritating.", he suggested, before a light smile curled up on her lips. "I think I'll stay close by, to stop punches from being thrown."
A short chuckle escaped past Gabriels lips, and a moment later, Nathalie laughed lightly along with him. However, the nice moment ended swiftly the second that Adrien entered his head, and he immediately remembered the promise he'd made to him several hours ago. "Where's Adrien? I was completely caught up in my discovery, I completely forgot about our dinner!", he realized, getting ready to sprint into the kitchen and salvage their time together. "He's not in there, Mr. Agreste. He may have retired to his room.", she advised, changing the course of the fashion designer instantly, who set off towards his sons bedroom instead, intent on doing right by him.
…
Pushing the window open with the edge of his extended baton, Cat Noir slinked past the gap it provided and landed gracefully onto his bedroom floor, before tugging his window shut with a cord that hung nearby. "Claws in.", he uttered, before being de-transformed from his alter ego into his normal self, as Plagg immediately made a beeline for his bed and flopped onto the mattress. "Geez, that was exhausting. I think I'm gonna pass out...", the Kwami whined, completely burnt out after the battle they'd endured.
Adrien, on the other hand, was anything but tired. He'd just witnessed the most intimidating thing he'd ever seen in his life, and now, he'd learned that the mystery-villain was a time travelling assassin who'd already reduced Paris to a wasteland in their time. It definitely didn't leave him eager to sleep, but he sorted himself into a fresh change of clothes nonetheless before making his way to the bathroom across the room. "I don't know how you can sleep after what we just saw, Plagg.", the boy commented, wetting his toothbrush under the bathroom faucet before squirting a line of blue paste onto the bristles. "We've got a whole new threat on our hands, and we just got a good look at them tonight. I figured you'd be more on-edge."
Deciding that defending his behavior was better than getting some rest, Plagg forced himself to move once more, zipping across the room to join his Miraculous holder by the sink. "Well, considering we've dealt with the whole 'new spooky villain showing up' shtick for so long, pretty much nothing surprises me anymore. I can practically predict how this situation is gonna go at this point.", he responded matter-of-factly, as Adrien scrubbed the toothbrush around his mouth frantically, with white foam beginning to drip past his lips. "Seriously, I can. Next you're gonna say, 'This is completely different, Plagg!'"
Spitting into the drain and rinsing off the toothbrush, the boy's head snapped towards his Kwami once the statement was made. "This is completely different, Plagg!", he snapped, setting his toothbrush aside to dry as he made his way back into the bedroom. "As far as Ladybug and I know, this isn't an Akuma, or some weird magic collector like Abel was. Enigma is actually coming to kill us, and based on what Bunnyx said, I don't even know if we're powerful enough to stop them." Groaning lightly, Adrien leapt back-first onto his bed, beyond exhausted after the day he'd had. "Okaaay...well, that doesn't mean you can't make some sort of progress in catching baddies.", Plagg replied, folding his arms lightly.
The Kwami didn't exactly appreciate the boys lack of optimism, it was killing his appetite. And he was really looking forward to having a platter of Camembert before bed. "Do you even have a plan on how you're going to investigate Chad McClay?", Plagg inquired, remembering the mention of the billionaire the other night. "Well...kinda.", Adrien responded, climbing under his tightly-tucked bed sheets. "McClay Industries is bound to be hiring interns, and I'd say I'm the right age to take that opportunity. Maybe by spending so much time in the building, I can figure out the connection between him and Abels cult."
It didn't sound like a bad plan, or at least, not so horrible that even the thought of it made him cringe. But that was a low bar to pass, so he remained cautious. "Alright, Adrien. You can give it a chance, just...watch out for Chad, that guy gives me a really bad feeling. Like he's gonna rip off his skin and turn out to be one of those lizard-people." Narrowing his eyes slightly at Plagg, the boy folded his arms and cocked his head to the right. "We've discussed this before, Plagg. Lizard-people don't exist.", he scolded, but his Kwami clearly didn't believe him. "There is not a single solitary piece of evidence that proves I'm wrong.", the Kwami rebuked.
Before an argument could be started, the click of a turning doorknob echoed through the room, and Plagg instinctively swooped below the bed. For some reason Adrien had a quick reaction as well, yanking the covers over his head and staying as still as humanly possible. Delicate footsteps drew closest to him, and immediately, the boy knew just who the intruder was. "Adrien…?", Gabriel said softly, cautiously taking another step closer to his son, who was still cloaked underneath the blankets.
Adrien knew what he should do; climb out of bed and greet his father, and politely soak up whatever deadpanned apology he had to offer him for missing the dinner. That was how things usually went, and for a moment, the muscles in his arms began to move; their actions preset and robotic. But a moment later, Adrien froze, and instead stayed deathly silent in the presence of his father.
A few seconds passed, though they felt like an eternity to Adrien,. before Gabriel let out a deep sigh, leaving the room briskly a moment later. The boy was left by himself, for the most part, since he could currently hear Plagg stuffing his face with the Camembert stored in the cabinet nearby. He'd have to start the investigation early the next day. The real issue was finding Chad, who probably had a complicated morning schedule on a normal weekday, let alone the Saturday that would come tomorrow. The boy had a plan, for the most part, and would be patiently awaiting his chance to put it into motion.
With all that was going on, both with the Enigma...and his father, Adrien expected himself to be laying awake all night, tossing and turning as the troubles in his life plagued him for hours. Instead, he fell asleep within a matter of seconds.
…
Hours after managing to force herself into a light slumber, Marinettes worst nightmares always managed to follow.
First, she was set in a wide room that was shrouded in darkness, with no sources of light anywhere to be seen. As far as she could tell, she was wearing her pajamas, but that was the only normal thing she could feel at that moment. Her feet struggled to shift around, feeling as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and the scrape of the ground beneath her echo through the area. Grunting lightly, she could feel a tight chain bound uncomfortably around her wrists, wincing once an icy chill ran up her spine. Though they were tied together, she could feel a warm slickness present on her palms and fingertips, leaving the girl even more confused at that moment. Her eyes darted in every direction, desperate to see something, anything, that could lead her into the light.
She received her wish, a bright flash prompted Marinettes eyelids to snap shut, before fluttering open with caution as the site ahead was made known to her. Several feet away was a rickety wooden bridge, stretching several miles onward, although the end of the path was not visible. Placed next to the front of the bridge were two large streetlights, with the bulbs flashing in black and white as the wind around her whistled eerily.
Taking a deep breath, Marinette managed a small step forward, wondering if approaching the bridge was a decision she wanted to make. Gritting her teeth as she worked her wrists against the binds, she soon realized that there were no other options, and moved her left foot ahead to take another step. Before she could move any further, a low creak from the bridge froze the girl in her tracks before she could even think to proceed.
A step on the thin, wooden planks caused the girl to jump back, her heartbeat beginning to quicken. Another step followed; someone was drawing closer to her, and she rushed to move backwards as a third step echoed through the area. Marinette swallowed, though her throat was as dry as sandpaper, glancing down towards her bound hands before gasping breathlessly at what she saw. The streetlights ahead had illuminated them perfectly, and she witnessed what they'd been covered in all this time.
Blood...it was laid on thick, coating her hands so much that it almost looked like she was wearing dark crimson gloves. Her heart began to thump louder, faster in her chest, as the footsteps on the bridge ahead grew more rapid as the threat drew closer and closer. Shutting her eyes, Marinette hoped that whatever luck she had was on her side, and she'd be awake the second she opened her eyes. Her breathing began to quicken, and she placed a hand over her chest to soothe her beating heart, before finally opening her eyes…
...and she could see someone standing at the edge of the bridge, shrouded in darkness. The two streetlights began to buzz and flicker weakly, before the bulbs exploded, sending sparks to the ground that dissipated the second they hit the ground. Now, Marinette was beginning to panic, and she knew who the figure was with one hundred percent certainty. Her assumption was right, as a loud crack went through the air as two round lights lit up in the dark, leaving the girl staring helplessly at the Enigma as the green glow emitted from their goggles
Other than the ragged inhales and exhales Marinette was taking, and the painfully unrhythmic beating in her chest, she was left in petrified silence as the Enigma stared her down. Her lips separated, and every fiber of her being was begging her to scream, but the sudden horrible blaring of Police sirens prevented her from doing so. Crying out and trying to break free of her bonds, Marinette fell to her knees as the sirens went on, as the Enigma continued to stare her down all the while…
...and then she woke up. Eyes snapping open, the girl paused for a moment and glanced back and forth, taking a moment to realize that the dream was done. Panting lightly, Marinette brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her forehead, which was left in a cold sweat. Her stomach felt weak, and sickly, and the desire to start running was strong. But she couldn't, not this time. Instinctively, she reached for the curvy red charm with black spots that hung on her neck. Well, the actual name of it was the Kwagatama, which her Kwami had created for her a few months back. It symbolized their friendship, and the bond between human and Kwami and providing her with the comfort she so desperately needed at that moment.
Running her thing over the smooth surface, she realized how much she needed company right then and there, and her eyes darted around to search for her Kwami. "Tikki…?', she mumbled tiredly; her friend showing up at the front of her bed a second later. She looked far better rested than Marinette did, with a small smile on her face as she flew towards her Miraculous Holder. "Good morning, Marinette.", she chirped, before noticing the distressed look on the girls face. "Oh...did you have another nightmare…?"
Tikki was really the only one who Marinette had talked to about...the incident, though it didn't make much of a difference in the long run, when the dreams got worse every night. "It's fine, Tikki. I've just got something on my mind.", she replied, climbing down from the ladder nearby and landing silently on the floor below her bed. "Remember last night, when we saw the McClay Enterprises logo, and Cat Noir connected it to Abels cult?", she asked, receiving a nod of affirmation from the Kwami. "Of course. Unfortunately, the remnants of the group disappeared shortly after Abels demise, maybe then we could've questioned them."
Plopping onto the chair in front of her computer, Marinette booted up the screen and rapidly typed into the search bar once it was loaded up, before bringing up an article displayed with large black letters. "This article was written 3 months ago, about the fight in the club that took place one night. Abels cult was there, along with his right hand man, Jak.", she began, before scrolling down to the bottom of the page, before finding Jaks photo displayed in color.
His appearance was just how Marinette remembered it. Jak was a bald man, with a stoic expression and a round trail of stitches tracing the circumference of his head. As far as she knew, he used to be Abels right hand man, but she could guess how that went now that he was behind bars. "Huh, it feels weird seeing his face again.", Tikki commented, as her Miraculous Holder highlighted a sentence in the blurb below the image. "This here says that he's currently being held in La Boîte, the high-security prison they built across Paris. I'm willing to bet he's still in there, ready to be questioned.", Marinette said, a small grin on her face as she came up with the lead.
Tikki seemed to have caught on as well, and her expression changed to one of both interest and concern. "You want to question Jak? How are you even going to be allowed into the prison?", she inquired, as Marinette pocketed her phone, which was laying on the floor nearby. "I think they'd make an exception, Paris holds Cat Noir and I on a pedestal of some sorts. Maybe now is the time to put our reputation to good use.", she replied, climbing back onto her bed and reaching up for the trapdoor.
The woman and her two cursed miraculous-wielding allies hadn't shown up, but she didn't give it much thought, since they probably had other things to do. "Alright, let's go do some investigating.", she declared, climbing onto the roof and standing upright triumphantly. "Tikki, Spots On!"
…
The Boulangerie Patisserie was always active first thing in the morning, whether or not Marinette made an appearance to help out with the morning rush. The operation was mostly run by her parents, Tom and Sabine, and the couple spent hours on end baking relentlessly, tirelessly expecting customer after customer as the day went on. The air was warm, and smelled of freshly baked bread, and the room was filled with the frantic shuffling of the two along with scattered dings as each item was finished baking.
Tossing his wife a pair of Oven Mitts, Tom towered over a tray of multicolored macarons and held the edges gingerly, as a few guests entered through the front and awaited their pastries. "Oop, here you all go. Sorry it took so long, I overslept...again.", Tom apologized, smiling brightly from under his thick brown mustache as he handed the happy visitors what they needed. From behind the counter, Sabine brushed a lock of raven hair from her face as she lifted a pan of crisp bread from the oven, shutting the door swiftly as her husband approached the woman once the bread was out into the open.
They'd need to do this several more times, and not even an hour had passed since they opened their doors for the day, but neither of them were on the path to complaining. "Phew, we're doing pretty good, Tom. Though I probably should've had the bread in there for a little longer…", Sabine commented, stroking her chin as she eyed the bread judgingly, before Tom laid a large, yet gentle hand onto her shoulder. "I think it looks perfect! I'd say we've started the day off pretty well.", he reassured her, as the door ahead of them was pushed open once more, and in walked Chad McClay, along with his assistant, Rosa.
His attire was slightly different than usual, he was wearing a white linen suit, different from his usual light blue one. But that wasn't what surprised Tom and Sabine, not even close. "You're Chad McClay! Oh, I'm such a big fan.", Tom exclaimed, nearly leaping over the counter to shake his hand, though he didn't get much of a chance to. Sabine was equally as ecstatic, nearly falling over in the middle of her excitement. "Yeah, it's me. It's so nice to meet you two, I don't usually come down here on my own. Usually Rosa here just comes down and gets me what I need.", he replied, plastering on a charming smile. Rosa didn't look as amused, but tried her best to seem polite no matter what. "Anyways, I'm just gonna have my usual croissant and coffee."
Frantically, Tom and Sabine rushed to grab what Chad needed, before the items he'd ordered were clumsily handed over towards him a second later. "Here you go, Mister McClay!", Tom said, his voice cracking as he spoke. "Thanks, and keep the change.", he said smoothly, plopping down cash onto the counter before turning around with his assistants and leaving, right before the starstruck Tom and Sabine promptly fainted. Squinting under the blazing sun, Chad and Rosa made their way down the block, receiving shocked glances from the citizens that were passing by.
Over the horizon was the McClay Enterprises skyscraper, which continued to steal the attention away from every other building in that area. Still, it was far beyond walking distance, though Chad hadn't spoken in the manner. "Oh, here's your Coffee and Croissant, Chad.", Rosa said, handing her boss the bagged pastry and paper cup once she'd remembered why they went to the bakery. Taking the two items gingerly, the billionaire slung the bag under his arm before giving Rosa a small smile. "Thanks, Rosa. I knew I could count on you.", he said, giving her a suave wink.
Admittedly, his assistant blushed every so slightly, fighting a small smile once the remark was made. Perhaps she was beginning to see Chad differently, and maybe something...else, could come from it. "Now quit staring at me, you look like a dog staring at the sun.", Chad said, instantly stamping out whatever idea Rosa had in her head, placing a grimace onto the womans face. Nevermind.
About ten feet away from the two, Adrien peeked out from the corner of the bakery, with Plagg sitting safely inside of his pants pocket. Both had their eyes on Chad and Rosa, eyeing them with great intent as they chatted. "Okay, it took three hours, but I think we finally have them in a place where I can talk to him.", he whispered, as his Kwami watched the interaction alongside him. "You need to be careful Adrien. Remember, lizard person.", he whispered back, ignoring the eye roll from Adrien before the model moved forward, doing this awkward little speed-walk so he could catch up to Chad.
Eventually, he was only two feet from the billionaire, so close that it was a miracle that the two didn't hear him. That was the opening he needed, and the boy learned forward to tap Chad on the shoulder. Yelping and leaping into the air, Rosa instead turned around casually to eye Adrien once he'd made his presence known. "Did you need something?", she questioned, as her boss took a moment to regain his composure.
Gulping nervously under Rosas ice-cold stare, he instead turned his attention to Chad, who had recovered from his little moment with relative ease. "Rosa, why don't you go ahead and call yourself a cab? I want to have a talk with the boy.", he said, his expression turning to a more serious one. Opening her mouth to protest, Rosa glanced in between the two before shrugging lighting and walking off, putting her phone to her ear as she disappeared from Adriens line of sight.
He figured he would've been relieved to be spared from an annoyed Rosa, but upon seeing the stern look in Chads eyes, he wondered if the current situation wasn't much better. Chuckling awkwardly as the billionaire stared him down, he forced a polite smile and gave the man a small, albeit awkward wave. "Hi, my name is Adrien Agreste-", he began, not getting a chance to finish his sentence before Chad cut him off. "I know who you are. I can't even do my morning Pilates in my penthouse without seeing one of your billboards.", he replied flatly, straightening his suit as he spoke. "And I've met your dad too."
Judging on his tone, Adrien guessed that the two weren't exactly the best of friends, and ignored Plaggs nervous shuffling in his pocket before attempting his plan once more. "Well, he's a little bit standoffish.", he admitted. "But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I wanted to know if your company had an internship program, and if I could join.", he inquired, prompting the billionaire to squint at him intently. "Why would Adrien Agreste want an unpaid internship in a company whos CEO is an enemy of your father?", he questioned, folding his arms lightly.
The model raised his eyebrows, he hadn't expected the man to be so direct. Chad lowered his eyebrows, taking note of the body language of the boy and turning himself around. "Look, I have to get back to the tower. I got those pilates classes up in my penthouse that I mentioned and I really need more time to warm up. Last time I rushed them I got stuck in this awkward position and Billy Bob had to carry me to the hospital because I almost broke my neck …", he commented, walking away from Adrien before the boy immediately began to follow him. "Mr. McClay, please don't walk away. I just want work experience, in something other than fashion. You know, I have to broaden my horizons. I'm sure you understand."
Ignoring the boy, Chad continued to walk forward, not listening to what Adrien had to say. Sighing as he continued to follow him, the model pondered for a moment, trying to think of what his next words should be. He certainly needed to choose wisely, he didn't know how much longer the billionaire would be able to tolerate him. "You know, I've always wanted to be an inventor-", he began, before Chad let out a short whistle to cut him off. "Don't give me that bs, your father probably sent you to cause trouble. I'm not giving you the internship."
Now he sounded annoyed, and Adrien realized that the investigation was probably a bust. Sighing lightly, he stopped in his tracks, before the billionaires comment placed a...different approach into his head, but it was definitely a bit of a risk. "...He hasn't been speaking to me much lately.", he said softly, the curtain of lies he strung up crumbling down helplessly. "I know he's busy, he's…always busy, but it still hurts like hell knowing that he doesn't have time for me. Maybe the internship will get me out of the house, at least for a little while." The explanation seemed to come out naturally, though Adrien was surprised at how easily the words came out.
A second later, Chad stopped, and glanced towards the boy to read him once again. Lowering his eyebrows as his stare remained unbroken, his eyes softened for a split second before returning to normal, before straightening his suit once more. "...Well, I guess I could use a new intern ever since the last one...er...quit.", he mumbled. "Okay, Adrien, you've convinced me. I can take you to the tower right now and show you around properly, and then you can sign off on the internship later on depending on how you feel."
Adrien beamed, his plan had actually worked. Now the investigation had some sort of launchpad, and he had the opening that he needed. "That'd be great, sir.", he replied, as Chad motioned for the boy to follow him down the street, and the two began to make their way towards the McClay Enterprises Building. "So you actually do pilates?", Adrien asked, receiving a small shrug in return from Chad. "I dabble. Though I owe most of the assistance to Billy Bob, I'd...probably be dead by now without him.", he responded, as they began to disappear over the horizon.
…
The hum of a dim fluorescent light was the only noise echoing through the corridor. A pale glow was reflected from the beige walls, though it didn't do much when it came to illuminating the area. Ignoring the drip of water oozing through the cracks on the ceiling, Ladybug made her way down the hallway and to the door ahead, heading the audible chatter in the room nearby.
Upon leaving the hallway, she ended up in a stark white office room, looking completely different from the worn-down corridor she'd just strolled down. There were several chairs lined up in the left side of the room, and to the right, was a water cooler that was nearly empty. A secure door ahead of her peaked her interest, though it was mostly definitely locked beyond any methods she had of opening it that were actually legal. Quirking her eyebrow in confusion, she jumped upon hearing the tapping of footsteps, before a man dressed in a police uniform ended up behind her. "Hello, Ladybug.", the man greeted, placing his hands on his hips and tilting his head to the side.
Breathing a sigh of relief, placed a hand on her chest before meeting the officers eyes, knowing that this reunion would come. "Hello, Lieutenant Roger.", she said formally, a small smile on her face. "I guess you got my memo about the favor I asked for. You know, if it's no trouble at all.", she said. "Hey, you've been helping the city out for longer than I can remember, don't worry about it.", he said reassuringly, flashing her a warm smile. "So, you wanted to speak to one of our inmates?"
That question wasn't one she was used to, usually the interrogations for actual criminals were left for the police department, while Ladybug and Cat Noir handled the more flashy, and cartoonish Akumatized foes. The change of pace wasn't something she liked, but it had to be done. "Yeah, I do. His name is Jak, he was arrested for numerous cult matters, along with several of the members in the group.", she replied formally, as Roger attempted to think back and remember the man she was speaking of.
Finally, he had it, and snapped his finger lightly before pointing it towards the heroine. "Gotcha, but we have him in an extra-secure cell, though he's still a dangerous inmate. If you really want to question him, I can send a few of my units along with you, for security purposes.", he offered, as several armored officers entered the room on cue. Backup was tempting, but Ladybug decided against it, knowing that getting info out of Jak would be difficult with cops breathing down his neck. "I appreciate the offer, but I can handle it.", she said.
Twirling her Yoyo to warm up her wrist, in case things turned confrontational, she glanced over to Roger as he dug out a set of keys from his pocket. "What cell can I find him in?", she asked, as Roger unlocked the door ahead, before detaching a key and tossing it towards her. "Sector 5, Cell J. Oh, and...be careful when treading past the inmates, they get very rowdy at times.", he warned, before stepping aside to allow the heroine to pass him.
Cautiously, she pushed the door all the way open, immediately being hit with a barrage of echoing shouts and screams. Cells were lined up across the wide room, filled with prisoners that only grew more insane the further the room went. Some were snarling, and slamming their fists against the bars madly as they emitted shrieks from their drooling, gaping maws. Others were more quiet, simply observing the heroine from afar, with sinister intent behind their stares. Despite the terrifying atmosphere, her eyes softened as she took note of each inmates quirks and features, leading her to wonder if keeping them in their current place was the most humane thing to do
They took note of Ladybugs presence rather quickly, and their reactions were only multiplied in intensity, with shouts and comments being thrown to the heroine that disgusted her greatly. She didn't want to dwell on whatever sick schemes the inmates had in their clouded minds; instead the girl opted to continue moving forward, eyes darting around to find the sector she was looking for. It wasn't too difficult to navigate, luckily, thanks to the wide corridors sprouting off of the main room and leading to other paths entirely.
Keeping a brave face on was incredibly difficult in her current environment: a dark room with horrifying prisoners in rickety cells that looked like they would break open at any second. Keeping her eyes stern and squeezing her fingers into a tight fist, Ladybug finally spotted a message painted into the wall nearby in yellow that read Sector 5. Breaking into a jog as she made her way down the holding cells, she watched the markings above each cell leading further into the alphabet, with her eyes picking up on Cell D, H, I…
Cell J was ahead of her, separated from all the other cells conveniently. No corridors were nearby, unlike the other sectors, completely isolating whoever was inside. And someone was inside, and upon squinting her eyes and daring to take a step closer, she could spot a lone figure sitting on the bench inside, with crimson eyes gleaming menacingly in the darkness. She almost expected Abel to be waiting for her, though he had long passed on.
Making her way towards the edge of the cell until she was three feet from the bars, the man inside didn't move a muscle, slouched over and facing the woman without a trace of emotion. His face was visible, barely, in whatever light the room provided. Jaks appearance hadn't changed a bit; his head was still round and hairless, with the stitches around his head remaining deep and untouched. Only difference was a deep purple surrounding his left eye, though the man didn't seem to be bothered by it in the slightest. "I know you.", Jak said, his deep voice booming through the cell. She definitely remembered him, or at least his accent, which was a thick Russian one that didn't seem to make his words any less clear.
To anyone else, Jak would've been quite intimidating, given his appearance and history with Abel. But she'd beaten him once already in the Nightclub three months ago, and even then, she was on the other side of the bars. No confrontation would ensue. "It's me, Jak. Ladybug. I came to ask you some questions.", she said, remaining professional as the man stood up slowly from his bench. "Как и ожидалось…", the man grumbled, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips before he stepped closer to the cell bars. Instinctively, she took two steps back, prompting Jak to let out a rumbling laugh at the womans cautiousness.
She had to get a grip, Ladybug knew what she had to do, and wasn't going to let Jak prevent her from doing so. "I assume you heard about Abel?", she asked, figuring she needed a place to start. The mans face soon turned grim, vengeance flickering in his eyes. "He always made sure his group was informed. I am now left without my friend.", he replied, before forcing his cold stare back onto his face. "It appears you lost someone too, haven't you, принцесса?", he smirked.
She didn't understand Russian, the girl really only knew a few words from when she tried to achieve trilingualism, but Ladybug definitely knew what he called her. He said 'Printessa', and after putting two and two together, an unfathomable rage shot through her with the mention of Tigre. "Don't talk about him, you piece of shit.", she hissed, once again causing Jak to chuckle at the sudden burst of emotion. "No need to be angry, little girl. The boy was unstable, he had it coming, long before you ever showed up.", he crooned.
Squeezing her fists so tight that it almost hurt, the girl began to breathe quicker as Jak taunted her, her muscles tensing up instinctively. But as her heart began to beat harder in her chest, and the page began to grow more rapid, images began to flash in her mind of that fateful night. Abel had been reduced to bones by an unknown force, and though the battle had been won, Tigre turned on her and Cat Noir. He was filled with rage that night, but she knew he was scared, and confused deep down. They had betrayed him, and he plummeted down a pit in the temple as a result. He didn't even get a chance to speak, to utter his last words before his life was taken...in an instant.
She swallowed hard, ignoring Jaks amused expression as he watched her squirm in distress, instead focusing on what she came for. "I wanted to ask you about Chad McClay. His company logo matches the symbols used by Abels cult, and you're going to tell me how you two are connected.", she demanded, taking a daring step closer. "Chad McClay is a buffoon, a joker.", Jak said defensively. "He acts like a thirty-year old eighth grader. What makes you think we would work with him?"
He seemed awfully intent on denying the connection, so Ladybug pressed forward, filled with determination. "Well for one thing, he has resources. Resources that would most likely help a cult that lost several of its members.", she began. "But I know that a super-secret cult wouldn't want a famous billionaire inventor using their symbol, but he seems relatively comfortable in his position." Lowering his eyebrows, Jak pondered for a minute, clearly struggling to come up with a reply. "I've seen how quickly your cult can get rid of someone, so I'm asking you...nicely, to tell me what I need to know."
For a moment, it seemed as if she had Jak on the ropes, before a rough belly laugh ripped through his body that broke through her threat instantly. "Or what?", he inquired, clearly not as intimidated as she thought he would be. Last time they encountered each other, she used Master Fu to scare the man, but she knew that wouldn't work this time. His memory was wiped completely, and judging on the influence of the cult, Jak almost certainly knew of the news.
An idea entered her head, but instead of grinning smugly, she plastered a convincing look of concern on as she took one more step closer. Something else seemed to possess her at that moment, but she didn't even take a second to question it. "Jak...have you ever heard of The Enigma?", she asked softly, tilting her head to the side. Immediately, the man widened his eyes and scrambled back to his bench, his tough exterior being broken down immediately. "Don't try and threaten me, cука! Your words are empty, and meaningless.", he snarled, but she knew that she'd gotten to him. "I'm not here to ask about the connections between them and Chad, because clearly, there's something there. But I know that the cult you're in knows The Enigma, and frankly, I don't think they'd like seeing you talking to me right now."
His eyes widened even more, to the point where she almost expected them to pop out of his skull. "They're clearly dangerous, and they're going to tie up loose ends sooner or later, starting with you. And I can make sure you're protected, but only if you tell me what I need to know.", she said. Jak fell silent, his head hanging lightly as he contemplated what his next move would be. He let out a deep sigh once his decision was made, before leaning back in his bench, tenting his fingers lightly as his eyes met the heroines once more. "I do not know of Chad McClay, and how our group is linked to him. But I can tell you of our ties to the Enigma."
Widening her eyes, Ladybug leaned forward intently, interested in what the man had to say. It was definitely something she'd been pondering for a while now, why would anyone follow someone like Enigma? To her, a proper leader was someone responsible, and noble; with a pure heart that made them the perfect candidate for heroics. And it sucked a lot more to go over once she realized she didn't fit the checklist. "Abel told me the story, he said he was approached by them in the Temple of the Guardians, about one hundred and seventy one years ago.", he said. "I don't know what was said, or if words were even exchanged, but he was obsessed with them beyond belief. Most of the ideas of his cult were built on The Enigma; and giving them the honor and respect he felt they deserved, and assisting them in whatever plan they had."
She hung on every word that the man spoke, her brain flooding with information that nearly overwhelmed her too much to continue listening. "You're saying they worship Enigma? So all that Abel had done was for the Enigma?", she asked, her voice straining. That definitely pissed her off, all the suffering that Tigre had gone through couldn't have been to appease some person in a suit. It didn't make any sense. "Like I said, I do not know what was said, or why Abel followed them. But he did follow them, so they are connected."
She had to take a step back to let the reveal sink in. Ladybug would definitely have a lot to tell Cat Noir next time they met, though the information didn't come full circle. If Abel and Enigma were somehow connected, where did that leave Chad? It seemed rather obvious to her, high-tech weapons were something the inventor could definitely create, and all they had to do theoretically was tell this to the police, or even give them ownership of the weapons. But she knew there was an issue there: chances are that Enigma was smart enough to cover their tracks in the evidence department, and even if her hunch was correct, they didn't have any solid proof to convict him of anything.
Still, the visit did help, and a light smile curled up on Ladybugs lips. "Thanks for your help, you're really doing good for the city.", she said sincerely, before Jak stood up from the bench and eyed her coldy. "Good...now let me out of the cell.", he demanded, squeezing his hands into fists. She narrowed her eyebrows at him, how dumb did Jak think she was? "That wasn't the deal, I only promised protection. I'll be leaving now.", she said, before the man lunged forward and slammed his fists into the cell door. There was at least a foot of distance between him and Ladybug, but the bars remained sturdy, keeping the irate man inside. "Let me out, or I won't tell you anything else."
Now she was beginning to get annoyed, but instead, Ladybug grinned smugly at the trapped man from the outside of his cell. "You've given me all that I need.", she replied, beginning to walk away from the cell. Clearly frustrated, Jak roared with fury and smashed his fists into the bars several times, still not managing to destroy the rusted steel. "Enigma will kill both you, and your partner. You will regret not fleeing the city while you had the chance!", he screamed, but the heroine wasn't fazed. "Enjoy the prison food, принцесса.", she quipped, before turning the corner at the end of the hall and strolling away, as the rabid screams of the inmates continued to echo through the halls around her.
…
Hours had passed, and her mom hadn't returned. That was okay for Lila, she had only just gotten back from a full day of school, which was fortunately Marinette-free. Though it didn't change much, even if the girl was there to ruin her day, swaying her classmates to adore her with untrue stories and vague fibs. It really was shocking how easy it was, to be honest, it made her think of how screwed they were regarding adulthood. Eh, that wasn't her concern.
Carelessly tossing her school bag into a pile of clothes on her bedroom floor, the girl ran a hand through her hair and flopped back-first onto her mattress. Coming back home was her least favorite part of the day; leaving Lila with little to do other than lay around and wait for her mom to arrive. So...she was left staring at the ceiling, her eyes tired, yet with a small spark of hope in her gaze that lingered ever so slightly.
Minutes passed, though they felt like hours upon end, as the girl rested still in the all-too-familiar position before reaching to the left to check her phone. No messages, and her time alone was far from over, as usual. "Feels like I'm in a damn time loop.", she muttered, knowing she needed some sort of method to pass the time.
An idea did come to her, though the thought of it made the girls breath catch in her throat. You see, there was a reason she came to Françoise Dupont High School, and it certainly wasn't for the sake of education. Grunting lightly as she propped herself up against the wall, she instinctively straightened her hair and pushed it away from her face, before dialing a number on her phone and selecting facetime.
Each ring went off, only making Lila more and more anxious as each second went by, before the call was moved to voicemail soon after. "This is Adrien Agreste, I can't come to the phone right now. Leave them safe after the beep…okay, finally recorded the message, now it's time to clear the emails on the ol' computer….wow, there's a lot of spam. A lot of requests from Kars 4 Kids too, I thought they would've wanted someone younger. Oh, I got fan mail! 'Dear Adrien Agreste, I've always had a crush on you, I wanted to...show my appreciation? And there's a image attachment, let's see what she has to- OH MY GOD, NO! NO! CLICK AWAY, CLICK AWAY! OH...NO! WHY, WHY WOULD SHE EVEN HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT?! OH MY- oh, is it still recording?"
The beep signaling the end of the message was emitted, and Lila sighed, defeated. She figured she might as well leave a message, to cover her ass just in case he saw there was a missed call. "Hey Adrieeeen.", she greeted, stretching her voice out to sound endearing or something. "Just wanted to check up on you, you know how it is. And...I'm currently planning a flight back to the exotic Kingdom of Achu, and you should totally come with me. Anyways, talk to you later.", she said, before ending the message and setting her phone aside. Once again, a flood of comfort ran through her, before a vibration on her phone caught the girls attention. It was a text from her mom, and Lila eagerly leaned over to read the message.
Hi, Honey. Gonna be going on a business trip tonight, I left some money for you so you'll have food while I'm gone. Love you.
Her eyes widened, she couldn't believe what she was reading. Here she was, alone, while her mother was probably off sipping drinks in a casino with her little coworker friends. Maybe THEY were off at the Kingdom of Achu, and she was left by herself. As always. Gritting her teeth, she furiously began to type a response, releasing every bit of emotion into her message.
You only thought to tell me this now? Why the hell should I be suffering alone because of your schedule?
But she didn't send it, for some weird reason, and instead turned off her device and tossed it across the room, letting out a ragged roar before throwing her pillows across the room. Ready to yeet the whole damn mattress into the shadow realm, Lila paused, noticing a bright blue glow protruding through the glass of her own window. It was the McClay Enterprises logo, brighter than the sun above her. Normally, she would've been annoyed by the visual distraction, but her thoughts from the other day regarding the billionaire made the sight...intriguing.
McClay and the Lurkers were obviously hand in hand, she didn't believe a single word of the news channel on the topic. She was a master of lies, and she saw right through whatever facade Chad had put up, though she wasn't completely unimpressed. Although she hadn't seen them, the Lurkers proved to be quite dangerous, and funded by the richest man in all of France. Very promising, and no doubt, they were an enemy of Ladybug and Cat Noir. It was all too interesting, and one thought was made as clear as day to the girl at that moment.
She'd need to pay a visit to Chad McClay.
A/N: Okay, I KNOW I said this would be on the proper release deadline time, but I couldn't resist releasing this early. Anyways, things are getting a bit more complicated, but I think I'm doing an okay job of keeping track of everything, unlike the last story where I literally just made it up as I went along. Doesn't matter, I just hope that whoever is reading enjoys what comes next, because things will get crazy soon enough.
Until the next chapter...