Things are ramping up! We finally get to meet the akuma who is rising up to be one of the most pain in the butt creatures I've had to write so far! Totally worth it but still a pain. Also I hate to do this but I may be taking a break through November and December. I've seen my schedule ahead and because of the holidays it looks fairly awful. I will decide fully by the end of this story which at the rate i'm going may have another three chapters... or more. Stupid brain... Enjoy!
(Sequel to Meaning of Marigolds!) When skeletons begin to rise up from the shadows it's up to Ladybug and Chat Noir to put a stop to it. Will they be able to end this new threat or be buried six feet under?
The Skeletons Dance (Part 2)
Fifteen minutes later they were out on the rooftops scouring the city for any signs of skeletons. They had been at it for only five minutes when a scream alerted them to danger. Sprinting towards the noise they found a couple being attacked by skeletons. The air smelled spicy and both heroes recognized the smell of pepper spray. They swung in on top of the skeletons without a sound, smashing skulls and snatching the people up before the next wave of skeletons could crawl out of the darkness. The couple was grateful as they dropped them off at their residence before taking to the rooftops again. They traveled across the city in their patrol loop warning people off the streets when they came across them and searching every dark corner for the main akuma. Finally they stopped for a rest sitting on a rooftop to catch their breath. They had run into two other skeleton parties in the darkness and Ladybug for one was staring to get a very bad feeling. The night was silent almost oppressive around them and seeing how Chat was lost in thought Ladybug decided to break it.
"You don't think the skeletons are people this akuma has taken and changed do you?" Ladybug asked her voice hesitant as she mentally started counting the number of skeletons she had destroyed so far.
Chat shook his head almost immediately. "They can't be. I don't know much about human anatomy or skulls but all these skeletons look and smell the same. If they were all different people there should be variances in height and stuff. Plus so far everyone has retained their unique scent even if they were made into minions. All the minions that I have fought still smelled like different people. Every one of these skeletons smell exactly the same, like musty damp earth"
Ladybug sighed instantly relieved when another scream broke the silence apart again. They were on their feet in seconds rushing towards the sound of a scuffle over the rooftops. They came up on a rarely used street and charged over the side right into a cluster of at least a half dozen skeletons. Ladybug didn't see any humans being attacked initially but with Chat at her back they smashed their way through the skeleton wall.
"Help!" A voice screamed again and Ladybug glanced up in time to see Alya getting pulled into the darkness through a hole in the skeleton wall.
"NO!" Ladybug roared smashing her yoyo through a skeleton as she desperately tried to go after Alya.
She was a touch too far though and she couldn't get a good angle to throw yoyo either. Not that she could throw it since she was using it like a bludgeoning weapon at the moment. Chat on the other hand saw what had Ladybug in a fit instantly and smashing one last skeleton into dust, he made his move. Chat was closer and twisting around he used his staff to vault over the skeletons as he launched himself after Alya. Managing to grab Alya's foot before it vanished into the shadows Chat dug in his heels glancing back to see Ladybug smashing two skeletons into dust. The moment of distraction cost him for instead of pulling Alya back like he planned, Chat was yanked forwards as if the darkness itself was pulling him in. Chat managed a short yelp as he was pulled through and Ladybug threw her yoyo at the last second so the string wrapped around his waist to keep them connected. The string was the only thing on her side sticking out of the darkness and as a skeleton came at her Ladybug lashed out with her foot smashing the creepy creation to dust. More skeletons moved at her and Ladybug hauled on the string hoping that Chat could come back through. The string jerked almost in reply but Ladybug wasn't able to give it her full attention as she kicked in a skeletons legs so she could crush the skull beneath her booted foot. Jumping towards the darkness trying to give herself some space she didn't see the skeleton behind her till it grabbed her. With a grunt Ladybug twisted away, spinning around while twining the string about her waist as she moved. Doing so freed up her hands as the string was tugged on again this time with a bit more force. It dragged her back a step and Ladybug wondered what in the hell Chat was doing. The yoyo was keeping them from being separated from each other further but he shouldn't be taking this long to snatch Alya back. There were more skeletons popping up through the darkness by the second and she smashed a fist through the skull of one skeleton that had grabbed her. It hurt her hand but Ladybug ignored the pain as she stepped forward feeling as if she were dragging on a great weight. Another skeleton came at her and Ladybug hauled back on the yoyo string once more knowing if she couldn't pull Chat through this time she would have to follow him before the skeletons overwhelmed her here. With that last great effort though, she finally managed to drag Chat back through the inky darkness to her side. A skeletons ribs were partially wrapped around him and his boots drug across the ground as the string wrapped around his waist pulled the skeleton forward from the darkness. He was unconscious, though he still looked like Chat and it took a moment for Ladybug to see his ring hand was fisted into his stomach. With a shout of fury Ladybug darted to his side ducking the skeletons hands that reached for her. Her fist smashed through the things skull and it turned to dust dropping Chat roughly to the ground.
"Chat!" She snapped shaking his shoulder while eyeing his body for blood. He didn't respond and with the skeletons around them giving an odd hissing rattle Ladybug knew she didn't have time to look him over properly. They were going to have to retreat and leave Alya behind. Scooping him up across her shoulders Ladybug leaped to the rooftops but she only made it two houses over before she needed to stop. They were being followed and she couldn't run the risk of showing the akuma where her home was. Putting Chat down in a patch of light her back to the roofs edge Ladybug turned to two skeletons as they made their way towards her across the rooftops. Standing protectively over him Ladybug smashed the skeletons heads in from a distance and as she stooped to pick Chat up again she noticed the red eyes staring at her from the darkness. Instantly the hairs went up across her neck and she pulled Chat a little closer before taking up her fighting stance once more. A light clapping echoed around her and Ladybug spun her yoyo ready for an attack at any moment.
"Well, well, for children you are not half bad. You actually spotted me this time." A rattling voice echoed creepily, not seeming to come from the direction the eyes were in.
Ladybugs eyes narrowed. "Come on out Akuma. Whatever game you are playing won't work. We will defeat you."
Another laugh echoed through the darkness "Oh how rude of me. I am Morte. I've already introduced myself to your partner there although he seemed hell bent on calling me Bonehead."
Ladybugs yoyo picked up speed. "What did you do to Chat?" She hissed menacingly
"My skeletons made him sleep along with the others I've taken, although it took far more effort to subdue him then anyone so far. If I'd had a moment more I would have claimed his miraculous along with his consciousness." Morte answered stepping out of the inky darkness enough for Ladybug to fully see him.
He was a tall painfully thin man in a pure black skin tight suit. Raised white designs covered him following the natural bone patterns of the human body and he held a white ragged looking blade in his hand. A white half skull mask covered his face and an odd looking purple knife sat beneath his ribcage where his heart would be, protected by the fake bones there. Overall it created an extraordinarily creepy effect that made him look like a walking living skeleton. His overall motif was white on black except for his eyes which glowed a blood red color in the skulls sockets.
It took all of Ladybugs will power to not take a step back. In fact if Chat hadn't been unconscious underneath her she might have. They had faced down numerous akuma since becoming heroes and while a good deal of them were angry, dangerous beings, none of them had the feel of malevolence this one did.
Morte grinned "I can smell your fear little hero. Its ok though, scary monsters stalk this night."
"What are you doing with the citizens you have taken?" Ladybug demanded crouching slightly as she waited for an attack.
Morte tapped a bone covered finger to the side of his mask creating a hollow sound that made Ladybugs heart speed up. "Well the lesser people I was thinking of a couple of experiments I would like to do since I haven't quite mastered these powers. The more important ones I was thinking of ransoming. I would have had the mayors daughter earlier today but some school brat interfered. But c'est la vie as they say. I'm sure I can always find her at a different time. After all the darkness is very prevalent this time of night."
Ladybug froze at his words her yoyo dropping out of rhythm in her shock. This akuma didn't have a specific target in fact he seemed to just be enjoying his powers which were creepy and fairly unnatural even for an akuma. Ladybug had to know for a fact though. "You're not like a regular akuma. What are you after?"
Morte laughed as an appearing butterfly mask deepened the contrast of shadows on his face, making it seem almost demented as he threw his head back. "Hawkmoth you didn't tell me she was intelligent! No wonder you have such a time with these two!"
He raised his hands still laughing as a hissing rattle came from everywhere around them. Ladybug tore her gaze away from Morte for a second to see skulls popping up from shadowy pools. Chills ran through her as she nudged her foot into Chat hoping he would wake. She had a very nasty feeling that they were going to have to fight their way out this evening and Ladybug wasn't sure she could do it alone. At a second sharp nudge Chat gave a slight groan and Ladybugs heart squeezed. He wasn't totally conscious yet but at least he was waking up.
"Marinette this is really bad. You have to get you both out of here." Tiki said breaking the kwamis oddly silent stretch in her mind. "You will probably have to use Lucky Charm."
Ladybug twitched at the kwamis voice not having expected her to say anything since she had been strangely silent so far tonight. The skeletons around them were continuing to rise from the pools of darkness and Ladybug knew she would have to move soon or face unsurmountable odds.
"Ladybug?" Chat groaned stirring slightly his green eyes gazing upwards.
At his movement the hissing laugh came to a stop sounding like a tire running out of air and Mortes red eyes brightened as the butterfly on his face faded. "To answer your question I am after life and soon all of Paris shall be my playground." He raised his hand a second time and Ladybug made her move as the skeletons started forward.
"Lucky Charm!" she shouted tossing her yoyo into the air. Bright light flared and the skeletons flinched as the light coalesced into something solid, dropping to her hands a second later. Chat shifted to a sitting position trying to get to his feet as Ladybug recognized the object in her hands. Dropping to Chats side Ladybug snatched him up by the arm and even though his gaze was still a little dazed he flexed his free hand ready to fight.
"Close your eyes!" Ladybug hissed as Morte screamed "Get them!"
Ladybug chucked the flash bomb at the roof twisting away from its powerful light as it burst wide open. A screaming hiss echoed behind them as she took off dragging Chat with her. After a few missed steps Chat managed to get his feet under him and together they fled across Paris as fast as they were able. Four minutes later Ladybug collapsed to the roof of her balcony and Chat scooped her up dropping them both through her trapdoor. It banged shut behind them as her transformation came undone and they both fell to her bed exhausted and somewhat terrified by this newest akuma.
They each took several breaths, the quiet of the night getting to them before Chat muttered "Claws in."
Chats transformation came undone and Marinette demanded "What in the heck are we dealing with?" Leaving a slightly stunned Adrien to shake his head.
"I… don't know." Adrien answered flopping back feeling worn out. "Should we recharge and try to go back out there?"
To his surprise it was the kwami that both said "NO!" at the same time.
The two kids eyed the kwamis in surprise. Tiki looked away seeming a bit flustered while Plagg put on the most bored face he had. "I'm hungry."
Adrien and Marinette glanced at each other realizing their kwamis were withholding information. "Ok guys what aren't you telling us?" Adrien sighed
The kwamis blinked up at them before sharing a worried glance. "Food first then we will spill." Plagg said.
Adrien growled wanting to strangle his kwami but Marinette scooped them both up before he could try. "I could use some nice calming tea after that mess." Marinette admitted crawling one armed to her beds ladder.
"I could use some information." Adrien grumbled and Plagg flew up to land on Marinette shoulder.
"Impatient kitten." He snarked knowing Adrien wouldn't lunge after him since he was sitting on Marinette.
"Plagg don't antagonize Adrien. We are both in need of information especially since something about this akuma just isn't right." Marinette snapped tapping the kwami on the head. Plagg sniffed but didn't argue and Tiki remained oddly silent floating up to sit on Marinettes other shoulder as she climbed down her ladder. Adrien followed Marinette down into her kitchen where she got out some cookies and cheese bread for the kwamis. Since it was obvious the kwamis weren't going to answer questions until they were full Marinette busied herself by making a cup of tea.
"You sure you don't want some tea?" Marinette asked and after a moment's hesitation Adrien decided a cup of tea would actually be nice. His heart was still pounding and every little noise in the house was setting him slightly on edge.
"Yeah I'll have some please." Adrien managed sitting on a stool next to the bar.
Silence stretched between them and after a long moment Adrien broke it. "Marinette… I- I'm sorry."
His voice was meek and filled with pain making Marinette twist around to face him looking a touch worried. "What are you sorry for?" she asked feeling confused when Adrien winced as she set down empty mugs before him.
"I couldn't save her… I didn't save Alya. Instead I almost got myself caught." Adrien answered his eyes flicking up to meet her gaze for a brief second.
Marinette's face flicked between worry and pain before he looked away so he was surprised when she came around the bar to wrap her arms around him.
"Kitty it's not your fault. She never should have been out there in the first place, Alya had to have snuck out since it's so late. As a matter of fact when we get her back I'm going to ream her both as Ladybug and as Marinette. She takes so many risks and because of her actions you almost got captured! You did everything you could and even if you didn't I still wouldn't blame you. Although since you brought it up, what happened when you went through the darkness after Alya?" Marinette asked pulling back so she could sit on a stool next to him.
She didn't let go of his hand though and Adrien felt grateful for the contact. He was relieved that Marinette didn't blame him and wasn't angry at him for not saving Alya. For a moment he remained silent as he recalled what had happened when he was pulled into the shadows.
"It was really weird when I got pulled through. I don't know how those shadow things work but when I got pulled through it was practically pitch black even with my night vision. I could hardly see and Alyas foot was yanked from my grasp before I could even try to rescue her. In the next instant I was ambushed from all sides."
"You should have seen him fight! Those sparring matches you two have been doing has really honed your skills." Plagg said puffing up a bit with pride. Everyone gaped at Plagg, surprised at his praise.
Seeing their shocked looks Plagg grumbled "Well don't let it go to your head or anything." Before shoving more bread loaded with cheese into his mouth. Tiki giggled patting his head and the tea pot started going off making all four of them jump at the loud sound.
"Hold that thought." Marinette piped as she hopped down off her chair scratching between Plaggs ears when she passed the kwamis. Swiftly she flicked the stove off then pulled the tea pot off the hot stove before making her way back to Adrien. Placing tea bags in each of the mugs she filled them up to the top and placed some sugar out. The hot tea pot went back on the stove and Marinette moved to sit once more, slowly stirring in sugar as she waited for Adrien to start his story again. Adrien stirred in some sugar as well and sipped at his tea only to wince at the extreme heat of the drink. Setting the cup down he took a deep breath tracking back to where he had left off in his mind.
"Like I said I was ambushed. I managed to keep the worst of them off me and I realized that there was no way for me to save Alya alone. I tried to fall back especially since I could feel your yoyo around my waist but I couldn't go back through. It was like the yoyo string disappeared through a wall and I could feel you tugging on the other side, but I couldn't go through myself. I thought about maybe trying to pull you through but the skeletons came at me again and I didn't get a chance. The next thing I knew the akuma was right there in the midst of the skeletons. He introduced himself as Morte and his skeletons grabbed me. I tried to fight them off again but I got a touch overwhelmed. I didn't think I was going to make it back but then I woke up to you nudging my side with your boot."
Marinettes lips twitched "I pulled you through but you were covered by a skeleton. I think that maybe only the skeletons or those holding onto the skeletons can pass through. Morte told me you were hell bent on calling him Bonehead."
Adrien shrugged looking completely unapologetic "It seemed appropriate and besides he weirded me out."
They took sips of their tea sighing as the drink soothed their somewhat frazzled nerves. Adrien was still feeling guilty over not saving Alya while Marinette was nervously considering their options.
"I don't think it is safe for you to go home tonight Adrien. This akuma is different and I'm pretty sure that instead of attacking he will follow you if he sees you darting about the night." Marinette said her voice soft. They were running a risk of being discovered though. As unlikely as it was, if Natalie walked in to discover Adrien gone there would be hell to pay. Adrien could say that he left the house early in the morning but if she walked in at night they were screwed. Still though there was no way he was going to make it back to his house tonight, especially not with the threat of these skeletons roaming the streets.
Adrien nodded agreeing with her whole heartedly. This akuma was different and seeing that the kwamis were done eating he asked "So are you two going to explain why we shouldn't go back out tonight?"
Plagg rolled his little green eyes but before he could say anything Tiki yanked on his tail to keep him silent. He gave a sharp hiss but ignored her as he said "Morte is not a proper akuma."
The two teens gaped at him and Tiki sighed. "There is a better way to explain Plagg."
Plagg shrugged "Then you do it. I like the blunt explanation better and I'm tired. That skeleton magic wore me out."
Tiki shook her head before flying up before the two teens. "Go get changed and comfortable, I will explain once you are settled since it might take a while."
Marinette and Adrien frowned at the kwamis words. They had been promised an explanation after they ate and now she was putting it off again. Seeing the looks on their faces Plagg chucked a small piece of bread at Adrien's face startling him.
"We will explain so get moving. You two have school tomorrow anyways. If it's open that is…" Plagg said sounding rather ominous.
"Come on Adrien I'll get you some clothes." Marinette said and the two headed to her room carrying their tea with them.
Five minutes later they were both in nightclothes wrapped up in separate blankets on Marinettes bed waiting for Tiki to speak.
Tiki gazed up at the children seeing there confused hopeful faces and sighed wishing that there job was easier. The two of them rarely complained about the injuries they received, much less there scars, and always put their hero duties first. She hated telling them bad news but especially now they needed to hear what she had to say.
"As Plagg said Morte isn't a proper akuma." Tiki began happy to note she had their full attention. Before there questioning could begin however she continued. "Usually when Hawkmoth creates an akuma he is offering something to the person whether it's simply potential or the promise of revenge. The power for them to be something is already prepackaged so to speak. However this isn't the only way for the butterfly miraculous to work. Sometimes people have such a longing that they draw an unguided butterfly to them."
"Or they capture one." Plagg interjected.
Tiki shot a glare at him for interrupting and Plagg gave her a sheepish grin "Yes Plagg, or they capture one. But one would have to know what they are after and in either case the person has to offer something to the butterfly to gain the power they want. The butterfly is more of a spark in these cases and since power is no longer prepackaged the person must provide the power themselves. The thing they offer up for the power can be physical or otherwise but the more connected the thing offered is to the person the stronger that hero, or in this case akuma becomes."
"Does Hawkmoth get whatever they offer?" Adrien asked curiously.
Tiki shrugged "Physical items yes, but non physical things like memories or life force are different. Those go straight to Nooroo since your human bodies can't process such power. Nooroo is the only one that can access those powers or see them."
"You can offer memories?" Marinette interjected curiously because it seemed like that was what happened to akumafied victims.
Plagg held up a paw. "Easy there bug this is different from what you are thinking. Using a captured butterfly requires something special for the person to spark its power and memories to any human are usually precious. Matter of fact the last time a human gave their memories in exchange for power was because the Cho at the moment was dying and it was all the human could do to save the home they loved. They gave all their memories of the time the Cho and them had spent together since it was already too late to save the Cho."
"What happened?" Marinette breathed
Plagg blinked at her. "They summoned a wave that wiped out everyone opposing them. I think it was an armada or something, it's been painted numerous times although the story is different now due to history. Point is the Cho or Hawkmoth wouldn't get a non-physical item, Nooroo would be the one to take care of that. Hawkmoth would only get an item like a piece of jewelry or some such although physical items don't have the same oomph that mental ones do."
"Hawkmoth demands for the akuma to get our miraculous in payment for the power he gives them. Isn't that the same thing?" Marinette asked
"Yes he asks for the miraculous in return but the people turned into akuma don't actually have them. The miraculous are not theirs in the first place. Plus for Hawkmoth to use his power he doesn't require anything from the akuma in the first place. They also don't have to give anything up for them to use his power. That's the difference." Tiki answered "This akuma though, he must have drawn a corrupted butterfly to himself and offered Hawkmoth something in return for the power. I don't think Hawkmoth understands what he has done though and this particular akuma seems to be a rather nasty variety."
"What do you mean?" Adrien asked and Tiki pursed her lips in thought. Before she could answer though Plagg broke in.
"Most humans are possessed by the akuma. Yes they accept the power Hawkmoth is offering but most of them have no idea what they are doing from the moment the butterfly touches them. Its why the possessed are always so confused when they wake. This one though is fully conscious and very aware of what he is doing." Plagg answered his tail twitching in agitation. "I can see it in his aura, he has given something very valuable to Hawkmoth to gain this power he has and to be honest he doesn't smell right."
Everyone eyed Plagg warily as he went silent and Marinette was the one to hesitantly ask "What does he smell like?"
"He smells like blood and death." Plagg hissed causing the hair to go up on the back of the teens necks.
"Plagg you are scaring them!" Tiki buzzed
Plagg blinked up at them looking a touch sheepish. "They wanted to know. Next time they shouldn't ask a question if they don't really want the answer. In any case you should be wary of this one."
Marinette and Adrien glanced at each other then back down at their kwamis.
"Do we have to do something different to get rid of this akuma?" Adrien asked knowing it was a question that was on Marinettes mind as well.
Tiki shook her head. "No he just might be a bit tougher to defeat. Also when you do defeat him there may be other consequences on him depending on what he gave up for this power. You two shouldn't worry about it though. Whatever has been offered can't be changed and once you stop him the effects will take hold. This can't be changed and you can't afford to let this one run rampant so for now get some sleep."
Marinette nodded feeling uncomfortable. This new information they had received was unsettling to say the least and she had to wonder if Hawkmoth understood what he had done. With a yawn Marinette sighed then laid down properly figuring that the conversation was over. A few moments later Adrien joined her wrapping an arm around her.
"We will be alright Marinette." Adrien murmured in her ear and Marinette patted his hand snuggling against his chest.
"I know. I just don't like how this akuma has been behaving. We now know that Hawkmoth isn't controlling his actions and yet Morte is kidnapping people for ransoms and according to him experiments! He has Alya and who knows how many others. I just don't think this fight is going to have a happy ending." Marinette whispered as one of the kwami flicked off the light.
Adrien pulled Marinette close not having the words to make her feel better. All he could do was hold her and protect her back when the time for battle came again.
The two awoke to tangled limbs and a buzzing sound that had them both scrambling after their phones. It took a few seconds but once they managed to untangle themselves from the blankets and each other they collected their buzzing devices wondering what was going on. Adrien clicked his off first happy to see that it was just his school alarm. Just as he turned to ask Marinette about her phone she let out a shriek that had him almost falling off the bed in surprise.
"What?! What's wrong?!" he demanded looking over her shoulder to see the blog Alya ran pulled up on Marinettes phone.
"Alya updated her blog with a warning for people to stay out of the darkness and her location via GPS!" Marinette practically screeched. "We can track her! We need to go like right now!"
Adrien stopped her before Marinette threw herself off the bed. "We need to eat and get changed before we do anything. I don't know about you but I don't want to have to run around downtown in Chat Noir pants if we de-transform."
Marinette pursed her lips but she did agree and the two hurriedly changed before grabbing a quick bite to eat. As soon as they were done Marinette wanted to leap to the rooftops but Adrien was once again the voice of reason talking her out of it until they could figure out where the GPS location took them. They didn't know how long they would have to be transformed and there was no sense in wearing the kwamis out if they weren't yet needed. The only problem was that they had to skip school in order to pull this rescue off. Making sure to move fast since the police would stop them in the next hour or so once school was properly started, they moved as civilians till they got close. Once Adrien's alarm went off signifying the start of class they slipped into a quiet hidden alley then transformed into their hero counterparts. The cops wouldn't stop them as heroes even though they were quite obviously still in school. One cop months back had made a threat about taking them down to the precinct for skipping classes and the two heroes had straight up laughed at him. Chat had encouraged the man to try to catch them and Ladybug had stepped in before the cat could infuriate the cop too badly. Shushing Chat she inquired as to whether the cop would rather deal with a rampaging akuma or a couple of school skipping kids all for the sake of their classwork. At her question the man had balked and other than the fairly common 'shouldn't you be in school?' adult scowl no other cop had bothered them. Thankfully that held true for today as the GPS location led them to the south side of Paris which was an area they both regretted recognizing. They hadn't come to Alyas position yet but Ladybug groaned as she recognized a sign that proclaimed entrance to Paris infamous catacombs.
"They're going to be underground aren't they?" Ladybug whined as they finally came to the place and there was nothing but a garden and a museum before them.
Chat grimaced as well understanding Ladybugs dislike for the underground. They would be hemmed from all sides, unable to run if needed and there was the little problem of light in the underground. Tapping there weapons to bring up a map, both heroes noted the sheer amount of tunnels that ran beneath their feet. There was the subway, catacombs, sewer, old quarry tunnels and not to mention the odd set of tunnels that didn't seem to fall into any of the other categories. Both of them realized that the odd set of tunnels was where Alya was located and the two of them sighed. There was no way to get to Alya directly from the surface where they stood although Chat wondered aloud if he could use cataclysm and open a hole right to her. He instantly discarded the idea at Ladybugs alarmed look since he knew as well as her that there was the danger of caving in a network of tunnels if he upset the wrong area and destabilized the ground.
"We are going to need flashlights or something." Chat muttered as they began retracing their steps to find an entrance into the underground. In the end once they found a set of three red flashlights, they chose a lesser known entrance into the catacombs one that Ladybug was surprised Chat knew of. It wasn't an entrance normal civilians could access and it was only due to her yoyo that they were able to get the locks off at all. Both of them felt a little sheepish breaking in but Tiki was happy to point out that the chains and locks would be repaired when Miraculous cleanse went through.
They slipped through the tunnels fairly easily only having to backtrack a few times when tunnels either stopped or were blocked off by something larger than an iron gate. At one point they passed a part of the true catacombs and the walls of bones sent shivers up both heroes spines. Ladybug was in the lead position keeping an eye on her yoyo as it steadily led them closer to Alya. Chat followed behind keeping an eye out for any movement and was grateful that Ladybug had chosen red lights so it wouldn't mess up his night vision. With the red light helping him he could see for several meters both ahead and behind them but Chat was still uneasy in the near pitch dark.
"Almost there Chat." Ladybug whispered her voice barely cutting through the heavy silence. They had decided not to speak too much since they were deep in the enemy's territory, but Ladybug could practically feel Chats nervous tension behind her. Plus it made her feel slightly better having a noise in the darkness even if it only lasted a moment. Two minutes later they stood at a dead end and Ladybug let out a growl of frustration.
"The tunnel should continue!" Ladybug hissed keeping her voice down as she glared at the yoyo before her.
Chat eyed the darkness before them cocking his head in confusion as Plagg said "The tunnel does continue to the right but the akuma had done something here."
"My Lady shine your light over here for a second." Chat asked moving to the wall.
As she did the light illuminated a wall of pure black and Chat reached out pressing a hand to it. The darkness was solid and Ladybug moved up next to him eyeing the wall curiously. As she was about to speak a skeletal hand reached through grabbing Chat around the wrist. Chat yelped pulling back and Ladybug grabbed his free arm, but before either of them could try to pull away they were both yanked through. Dim light shone from an un-locatable source and Ladybug put her yoyo through the skeletons head before it could let out the hissing rattle that seemed to attract more of its kind. Its bones turned to dust and Chat yanked his hand back to his chest shaking a bit of dust off his glove as he did so.
"I really, really don't like this Bonehead guy." Chat practically spat
"Its Morte Chat and I really, really don't like him either. I'm going to be claustrophobic by the time this guy is dealt with." Ladybug replied and took a deep shuddering breath. "Come on we are almost there and now that we know there are skeletons down here we need to move fast. At least in here we can see though."
Chat nodded his agreement and since they couldn't go back through the wall of black the two of them took off following the yoyo through several twists and turns. Eerie sounds traveled down some of the tunnels and more than once they had to duck into the shadows as something else moved in the dimness never quite looking human or skeletal. Thankfully there were no screams or other human noises to be heard in the tunnels. Just odd snuffles as well as other eerie sounds that were dampened and contorted by the dirt covered walls. Eventually they came to several large cages dusting any skeleton that appeared in the before them. Really they were simple ragged holes cut into the wall with the opening blocked off by long bones set into the ground and ceiling. Chat hissed at the sight of the cages making the shadows within them shift rapidly, then as the shadows moved forward they revealed themselves to be people.
"Ladybug! Chat Noir!" Voices chorused as people moved to the bones that were blocking their way out. Ladybug moved from one cage to the next giving small reassurances and asking for silence as she moved. Chat moved at her side as silent as a shadow, touching hands when they reached for him and nodding to people as he counted.
"I count twenty." Chat murmured as Ladybug clasped hands with Alya who was grinning from ear to ear in the last of the cages. Another hole in the wall was half way done although there was nothing around to show that the work was ongoing.
"I knew you guys would see my post!" Alya gushed "I knew having the blog updateable from my phone was a good idea even though Nino told me it was silly."
"I really hope that getting caught wasn't part of your plan." Ladybug growled making Alya freeze at her tone, even Chat edged away a little bit looking a touch nervous. He had never heard that tone come from Ladybug, not even when he had messed up royally had she taken that tone with him. Realizing that Ladybug was probably more terrified in these tunnels than him Chat decided to break them apart before Ladybug started reaming Alya.
"Uh well… no I mean…" Alya stuttered and Chat tapped Ladybug on the shoulder gently making her head snap up to eye him in annoyance.
"The other nineteen people?" Chat murmured so only she could hear and Ladybug huffed dropping Alyas hand. He was breaking her concentration purposefully but he was also reminding her of the other people locked in this underground. They needed to get everyone out and wasting time berating Alya wasn't something they could afford right now.
"There are twenty one not including Alya. You missed the two kids." Ladybug muttered back then took a step away from the cage. "Everyone get back from the bars and we will bust them down."
There were no doors or locks on the bone bars before them and so the only way to get the people out was to break them free. People backed away quickly and Ladybug swung her yoyo rapidly so she could slice through the bars. Chat took that as a signal to move to the first of the cages and used his sharpened claws to slash through the bones. It took a couple of passes for him but he managed to get one of the cages to Ladybugs four open before all the people were freed. They gathered in a clump between the two heroes and Ladybug moved to Alyas side.
"Do you know if people are being kept elsewhere?" Ladybug asked thinking of the unexplored tunnels while keeping her voice low. She also didn't see the robbers that had been taken the very first night they came into contact with the skeletons. The people before her were mostly young adults besides the two children and three teens including Alya. That meant that there were other people trapped in these tunnels and the few folks they had before them had simply been lucky enough to be held in the same area as Alya.
Alya shook her head. "I don't know. I mean there probably are but I don't know where they would be kept if not in here where we are."
Ladybug nodded glancing up at Chat who shook his head. They didn't have time to go searching right now. They could be ambushed at any time and getting twenty some odd people out of the catacombs was going to be hard enough. It was early morning and since the skeletons didn't seem to move around much in the daylight they had a better chance to get out if they moved now rather than search for people who may or may not be in nearby cages. If they ran across more people in cages as they would free them, but they couldn't run around down here searching when they had these civilians safety to see to. Chat jerked his head at his baton then slipped away into the shadows scouting ahead as Ladybug turned her attention to the frightened group of people before her.
"Ok everyone listen up!" Ladybug called trying her best to keep her voice low but loud enough to be heard by all. "We are deep in an akumas territory and we need to get out as fast as we can. Chat is scouting ahead but I need everyone here to follow quickly, quietly, and not give us any trouble. We will do our best to protect you and if we tell you to run, please do so without screaming. If you scream you will draw attention to us and yourselves which is a big no, no especially down here. We will probably run into some skeletons. If we run into multiples and Chat or I are busy, strike at the skeletons legs to immobilize them then crush the skulls to turn them to dust. Understand?" Ladybug asked noting that Chat had chosen that moment to show back up. Nodding heads acknowledged her statement and she moved to Chats side.
"I've got us a path. Hopefully Bonehead can't sense when his skeletal minions are taken out. Otherwise he already knows that we are here." Chat murmured flashing a grin at several nervous citizens as they followed the duo in there forward movement.
"Lets hope." Ladybug answered and the two of them lapsed into silence for several turns before Chat consorted his baton again. "Chat I'm going to the rear to guard against any attacks. We don't want skeletons picking us off from behind."
"Good idea but we are going to need the flashlights again soon since that weird glow is getting dimmer." Chat murmured.
From the moment they entered into Mortes hidden space a weird glow that seemed to come from nothing had given them enough illumination to see by. Now however that weird glow was rapidly fading and already Ladybug heard someone trip and almost fall in the near dark. The tunnels were changing as well. The man made ones they had come from before being pulled through the darkness were hewn from rock, supported by concrete and in some places beams of wood or steel. Mortes tunnels were made of packed dirt but now the dirt was becoming irregular and every so often a root hung down casting eerie spider web like feelers into the open space. They were also becoming narrower which was a blessing and a curse. It spread their numbers out a bit which wasn't very good since it made keeping track of twenty odd people more difficult, but it made it easier for Ladybug to keep an eye on their surroundings. However whenever they passed openings the civilians tended to slow as they stared into the darkness waiting for something to strike out at them. Knowing Chat could see in the dark she dropped back to Alya and passed a flashlight to her while ordering her to stay near the center of the group so the others could see. She kept one both for her own use and to help the civilians in front of her.
Moving back to Chats side she squeezed his hand before murmuring "Alya's got the other flashlight and I will have mine in the back so you turn yours on too. I haven't seen any skeletons so hopefully they are busy or sleeping."
Chat returned the squeeze leaning in close. "You are my priority. If we get overwhelmed I am getting you out first no matter what."
Ladybug bit her lip wanting to smack him or yell at him but instead she sighed knowing it wouldn't do any good. "Lets hope it doesn't come to that." She whispered instead and released his hand to fall to the rear of the group. A moment later a third red light shone in the tunnel giving everyone something to follow in the darkness.