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"Anyone in here?"
Marinette's voice rang loudly in almost an echo against the steel walls of the bathroom. Silence followed, so she hurried into a stall while opening her purse. Tikki flew out and paused in front of Marinette's face, her eyes full of concern and her eyebrows furrowed. "Something very bad is going on," Tikki whined.
"Could it be an akuma? Is it possible for there to be a new Hawk Moth?" Marinette asked, holding Tikki tenderly in her hands. The tiny kwami shook her head, "No, I don't sense anything at all." She sighed, "But I do sense something. Ever since we found Ms. Bustier I've felt a chill in my antenna. Ladybug needs to do something, before someone gets hurt." Marinette sighed and sat down on the toilet seat, her head falling down to her chest.
"How am I supposed to be Ladybug without anyone knowing Ladybug is me?" she groaned, "And how will I explain as Ladybug why I'm even there in the first place? And I don't even know what I'll be up against! I don't have Chat here with me, what if I can't do this without him?"
Her face was miserable, but Tikki placed a gentle hand on Marinette's cheek and kissed her softly, "You're strong Marinette, you can take on anything. And even if he's not here with you, Chat's strength is in your heart."
Marinette brushed her midnight blue bangs to the side, then smiled warmly back at Tikki, "Thank you, I love you Tikki."
"And I, you!" the kwami sang as she nuzzled against Marinette's cheek, "Now hurry back out there, we need to be alert!"
….
Alya was talking to Nino in front of the girls' cabin. They looked serious, Nino's arms folded while Alya had her hands on her hips. Her eyes lit up when she saw Marinette approach. Nino's frown deepened.
"Adrien's not with you?" he questioned Marinette. She couldn't stop the stupid flush growing on her face, but she shook her head, "No, I was just at the bathroom."
Nino tilted his head to the side in irritation, "the dude's always running off places, even here. I was just telling Alya that I don't think swimming is such a good idea right now." He lifted his arm and pointed in the distance, where far off there were dark, grey clouds. "Looks like a storm's coming."
"Juleka and I just told everyone else the same thing!" Rose called as she skipped over to the trio, "So everyone's just going to hang out and play games in their cabins. Juleka is getting some card games ready in ours if you wanted to join! For sure we have Ivan and Mylene joining us too. I think Chloe and Sabrina are going to do their nails but I don't know if they want others joining them or not.."
"We'll decide once we find Adrien! Thanks for the offer though," Alya replied, and Nino piped in, "Have you happened to see him anywhere? Adrien?"
Rose shook her head, and then waved goodbye to them. Nino said he was going to go and look for Adrien in the bathrooms, then they'd join the girls in their cabin once Adrien was found.
"Let us know if you need help finding him," Marinette called to Nino as he walked away.
5 minutes later, the girls heard a knock on their door. Alya answered and let in an embarrassed Adrien and a snickering Nino. Nino said something about Adrien needing to eat more fiber and the blonde boy just punched him with a pout. Both the girls giggled and Adrien just groaned and plopped himself down on Marinette's bed next to her. The way he sprawled out reminded her of Chat Noir, and for a second she felt dread realizing her kitty wouldn't be here to help her if something happened. When he looked into Marinette's wide eyes and red face, he sat up, looking a little shocked at himself, losing the burst of confidence that he had as he had laid beside Marinette like he'd done so many times in his cat form.
"Sorry" he mumbled with an awkward grin, scratching the back of his head nervously. He cursed himself for going out of character, but Marinette didn't seem to notice too much.
The boys looked around the room admiring the decorations the girls had come up with earlier. A funny looking Ladybug was taped over Alya's bed, her pose in superman style with sparkles around her face. Adrien looked at the Chat Noir above Marinette's head. It was drawn much better than Alya's, a lot more detailed too as it was even shaded. Paper Chat was sitting cross legged, winking and with little hearts around his head. Adrien's heart melted a little, at the thought that maybe Marinette like Chat a little.
"Dude, you have the hots for Chat Noir or something?" Nino teased Adrien.
"W-what?" He stammered, realizing her warm his face had gotten. Marinette hid behind her knees, starting to regret her paper kitty. "If anything, Marinette does!" Alya laughed.
"I do not!" Marinette protested, her face also getting hot. The couple laughed at their flustered friends.
When the laughter calmed down, the kids talked about what they should do and decided to go and check out Rose and Juleka's gathering. It was 2 cabins down from theirs, loud laughter and music coming from it. They knocked on the door, and then were eagerly invited in by Max. Everyone but Chloe and Sabrina were inside, yet somehow fitting. It was extremely stuffed of teenagers, they had to squish their way in and the four awkwardly sat on an edge of the bed that was semi-vacant. The bed already had Nathaniel, Kim and Alix fit on it. Nathaniel was drawing, his sketchbook propped on the wall since he had no room in his lap. He was drawing what looked like all the students in the room, except everyone had masks and fancy, masquerade attire on. Marinette complimented him on it and he blushed sheepishly, thanking her. The window was open to let in fresh, cool air. Snacks were passed around; and some kids were trying to play a game of Uno but without any room it didn't really work out. Adrien's side was pressed against Marinette's in the tight space, she could feel his heat radiating off of him and smell his gentle cologne. She fought the urge to turn and inhale him.
Suddenly, she felt something poking her opposite hip. Marinette peaked into her bag, checking on Tikki. Her big, violet eyes were even larger in fear, her body was shaking and she tried to mouth something to Marinette. "What?" Marinette mouthed back, and she barely heard the harsh whisper of "danger!"
Just as she understood Tikki's silent words, the door to the cabin swung open. At the entrance stood Ms. Bustier, her body slouched and breathing heavy. Her red hair was wild, tangled and matted around her ghostly pale face. Sweat dripped off her forehead, her eyes shut tight. Somebody stopped the music, everyone in too much shock to speak.
"Ms. Bustier?" Mylene called out, cowering behind Ivan.
Their teacher opened her eyes, and throughout the tiny cabin students began screaming. Instead of her usually bright, aqua eyes; there was a brown, shiny goo protruding from her eye sockets. Out came two long antennae like shapes, little black eyes on the ends of them. Her mouth opened but before she could speak, thick transparent slime burst out of her as she gagged and sprayed the closest students to her; Alix and Kim.
Adrien gasped in horrible disgust, "She's like a-a slug?"
Incase anyone was wondering, I HATE slugs. They terrify me, more than anything really. *Cringe*