Ch23

Marinette frowned as she looked at the photos of the crime scene on the computer. "Tikki something is off about these killings, I don't think a criminal could be this vicious."

Most of the images were edited for public viewing but Alya had gotten her hands on a few unedited photos and they definitely were nightmare inducing.

Tikki frowned as she looked at the photos. "I doubt a man killed them."

She stopped on the video that was caught on a nearby surveillance camera. The video was only a few seconds long but she could still make out the flick of a tendril. Her stomach turned. "Tikki could it be another symbiote?"

The kwami grimaced. "It could be. We should talk to Cat Noir he and Venom might know what's going on."

"Yeah but he hasn't been around lately." Neither Cat Noir nor Adrien have shown themselves. Her partner was dealing with whatever personal issues while Adrien had disappeared with the only news from him being he was getting ready for his fashion show.

She shook her head and closed the computer window and pulled up another one, this time of the Agreste Gala. Her heart sank as she saw Adren on the cover. "You if I get the chance I want to tell him I'm sorry and that I didn't mean to offend him or make him feel uncomfortable."

Tikki patted her shoulder. "I'm sure he'll listen you. Adrien doesn't seem like the type of guy to hold a grudge. Though remember if he does forgive it doesn't mean you can go back to the way things were and violate his personal space."

"Yeah I know." Personally she didn't get what the big deal was, it wasn't her intention to harm Adrien but if it would get him to talk to her then she would apologize.

Sitting back in her chair she looked at the computer screen when an idea came to her. "Perhaps Ladybug could deliver a message for Marinette Dupain-Chang?"

Tikki raised an eyebrow. "Marinette-"

"No seriously it'll just be an apology!" She quickly grabbed a pen and her notebook. "I'm serious, I'll apologize and not say anything weird."

She couldn't continue on like this. Adrien constantly ignoring her and invalidating their relationship was killing her. She had to do something to make it right, to let him know how much she cared about him and needed him.

Taking a deep breath she thought of what she could say and began to write. It was a simple letter where she described her feelings and intentions. It took her half the night and dozens of pages of paper before she was satisfied with the results.

"There all done!" She yawned as she put the letter into an envelope. "Good night Tikki we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow." Her kwami gave her a quizzical look but said nothing as she flew into the earrings.

The morning her heart raced as she got ready for the day. "Alright it's now or never," she said as she looked at the time on her phone. "Tikki spots on!" As soon as she transformed into Ladybug she grabbed the letter and exited her room.

She swung herself through the city of Paris until she found the location of the Agreste Gala. It was a large building with a bunch of important people in Parisian society and the world of fashion were entering.

Landing on a nearby roof she tried to spot Adrien. Where is he? She gazed through crowds but saw no sign of him. Instead her heart froze as she saw a familiar person. Lila Rossi was walking towards the entrance with a confident look in her eyes.

What is she doing here? Something about Lila unnerved her more than ever these days, and whatever she was doing here it wasn't for anyone's good.

Adrien was combing his hair when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

To his surprise his mother came into the dressing room. Her very presence softened his heart as she smiled at him. "Adrien are you ready?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I hope you enjoy the show."

"I will." His mother went over and picked up the comb and to his surprise began to come his hair. "We are both of you, your father and I even if he doesn't show it as much."

He looked down at his hands as anxiety swelled up inside of him. "He could have said it more."

His mother set down the comb. "I'll talk to him, we'll work something ok? The three of us can be a real family. Wouldn't you like that?"

"It would," he muttered. "But I still want to go school and see my friends. I don't want to be in a cage anymore."

His mother squeezed his shoulders. "I understand. Come on you have a show to put on."

As he stood up she hugged him and he hugged her back. "I'm so glad you're back," he whispered as he swallowed all the emotions inside of him.

"Me too," his mother whispered. She pulled away and smiled. "You mentioned you have a friend here?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Luka is a friend of mine. He doesn't know much about fashion but he's here to support me."

His mother smiled. "I am glad you have such strong friends. Good luck tonight Adrien."

He nodded as she exited the room. "Your mother cares for you deeply," Venom said as a symbiotic tendril handed him a tissue.

He cleaned his eyes. "I know." Taking a deep breath he looked at the clothes he was to wear. "Come on lets do this show."

With that he quickly got changed into his first outfit. A real family. He wished his family were normal but he knew it was easier said that done. As he was led to the runway he thought of his life up to that point. We aren't a normal family. The door opened and the familiar bright lights hit his vision as he began to walk down the runway.

He faced the crowds of photographers and fans with a smile as he waved at all of them. Above him he could see his parents sitting, his mother smiled while his father showed no emotion as usual.

Turning back to the crowds he saw a familiar person with a grin that sent a shiver down his spine. Lila? What is she doing here? He frowned as their gazes met, it was only for a second but deep down told him to run and not look.

She better not try anything. He was not in the mood to deal her hijinks. Yet despite that as he turned around to give more space for the other models his very instincts were telling him something was off with Lila.

His gaze drifted through the crowd and he saw Luka in the stands. The two locked eyes, Luka's gaze was calm and reassuring and for a moment all of the worries were gone. Thanks for coming here. A part of him wanted to invite Nino but he was busy with other commitments.

As soon as he exited the runaway he breathed a sigh relief as he headed back towards his dressing room. The other models would be showing off some clothing while he got ready for the next outfit.

Turning on the light he was surprised to see a familiar person in his room. "Ladybug!"

Ladybug turned to him and nearly stumbled. "A-Adrien! Hello um I just wanted to bring this letter to you," she said with a sheepish smile.

He took the letter from her hand. "Who's it from?"

Ladybug avoided his gaze. "Please don't be mad but Marinette Dupain Change wanted to apologize and she wrote that letter for you."

"I see." He looked over the letter and shrugged. "Well let her know I'll read it when-"

A series of loud blood curdling screams made them freeze. "What was that?" Ladybug asked.

Why do I feel that Lila is involved? He quickly grabbed Ladybug's arm. "Please my parents are in the VIP room make sure they are safe."

Ladybug looked at him and nodded. "I got it."

"Please I don't want to lose them again," he said softly as his heart began to race in his chest.

Ladybug met his gaze nodded. "I'll check on them. Be safe here ok?"

He smiled. "I will."

A soon as she left he locked the door as the sounds of screaming became so loud and agonizing his stomach turned. Oh god don't tell me it's another symbiote. "

Reaching into his pocket he took out the butterfly and peacock miraculous and gripped them tightly. "Whatever it is we'll face it with all of our strength. Plagg claws out!"

As he ran out of his dressing room he was surprised to see the other models running in fear. "What the hell is that monster!" one of them screamed as they ran past him with panic stricken expressions on their faces.

"Kid I have a bad feeling about this," Venom said as the symbiote enveloped him.

He kicked down the door to the runway and was greeted by the smell of blood. Oh god. He gripped his staff at the carnage in front of him. Blood was spewed all over the ground while dead bodies were skewered all over the flood while in the middle of the room stood a large red symbiote with various red tendrils coming from its body.

The red tendrils danced around the air trying to hit a familiar snake hero. "Viperion!"

The snake hero turned to him his gaze tense. "Cat Noir be careful! This thing is dangerous!"

Looking up at the tall red symbiote a shiver went down his spine. It was a large red monstrosity with various tendrils covered in blood while dead bodies lay on the ground. What the hell is that thing?

The symbiote turned to him and hissed, pointing a sharp tendril at him. "Death to you father!"

"Oh shit!" Venom hissed as the symbiote retreated into his body.

He did a double take. "Uh Venom you ok?" He asked as he gripped his baton and looking up at the large symbiote. "I could really use your help right now."

"That is a red one and they are dangerously violent. We should leave immediately!" Venom declared.

The symbiote hissed as various tendrils formed from its body. "I shall destroy you father and this city."

"Uh Cat Noir are you ok?" Viperion asked with concern as he dodged a red tentacle.

"Ok Venom I need your help you. I promise you can eat people but we need to stop this thing," he said as he eyed the red tendrils with caution. "But we can't do this alone. Come on we have the other two miraculous."

Viperion landed next to him and gripped him by the shoulders staring into his eyes. "Venom you're a strong guy and we need you so please come out!"

Venom sighed. "Fine but there is a big possibility that we may die."

"It's a risk we'll have to take," he said as the red symbiote flew at him.

The next thing he knew he was sent flying as the enemy symbiote flew at him and repeatedly tried to strike him. Venom's symbiote reacted around him as they tried to mount a counterattack. Black symbiotic tendrils met the red ones with intense fury as both symbiotes tried to gain superiority over the other.

Viperion came in to help him but he was easily thrown back repeatedly. Damn it why is this one so strong! He tried to strike the red symbiote in the head but the creature merely ignored the hit and struck him in the chest so hard he nearly dropped his baton.

Viperion tried to help by landing a few kicks but in the Red Symbiote merely struck him with a tendril and sent him flying. "Enough Lila!" Viperion said as he spat out blood.

Lila? He stared at the red symbiote as Viperion stood up.

"Why are you massacring everyone here? The snake hero said.

The symbiote laughed. "It's Carnage now. We have no reason to kill for we delight in massacre."

Red symbiotic tendrils erupted from Carnage and flew at them. Venom reacted from his body as black symbiote tendrils flew at the red symbiote. The red symbiote fought with monstrous strenght as it tried to overpower them with pure destruction while Venom fought back with all he had.

The red symbiote laughed as he kicked them back. "You're so weak father. I will finish you off here and this world will be mine to destroy and enslave."

"Alright kid this will be tricky so prepare to die," Venom said the fear in his body reverberating throughout their shared body.

"We'll defeat this thing," he said as he twirled the baton in his hand. His heart raced in his chest as he looked at the red symbiote. Frankly he was at a lost on how to kill it as well. If only I can land a cataclysm.

He quickly jumped back as a red symbiotic tendril flew at him. Another tried to grab him but he managed to swat it away with his baton.

Suddenly, the glass from overhead broke and Ladybug flew through the sky and kicked the enemy symbiote on its side. "Standback!" Ladybug yelled her yoyo swinging in her hand. Her voice was firm but he could see the unease in her eyes.

"You'll have to do more than that to defeat us," The symbiote hissed as its tendrils flew at Ladybug and him.

His gaze furtively glanced up at the VIP box, his father and mother looked down at him. His froze as he made eye contact with his father, for once there was fear in his eyes.

The two of them jumped back and dodged the many red tendrils that flew through the air. "My lady try and give me an opening!" He countered with his tentacles but as he tried to run at the enemy he was thrown back by a large red tentacle.

"Enough tricks!" The red symbiote hissed.

He swore as the red symbiote pushed down on him while Venom pushed back with all of his strength.

"Hey buddy get off my partner!" Ladybug yelled. The next thing he knew a loud high pitched frequency reverberated throughout the area as a stream of flame hit the red symbiote.

He recoiled at the sound as Ladybug landed a kick on the red symbiote. "It's over Lila!"

Lila grinned. "Just a bunch of plain things. I will bring Carnage to the world."

"You're nuts!" he yelled as he gripped his baton.

Lila only laughed her gazed tinted red. "This will be one stop for me, one stepping stone for my greatness." Her face then retreated into the red symbiote. "We shall carnage to his world."

Carnage charged at them. He braced for an attack but to his surprise the red symbiote grabbed a hold of Ladybug. "My lady!" He yelled.

But before he could react the red symbiote began to envelope Ladybug. His partner let out a scream as the symbiote began to envelope her.

"Ladybug!" He and Viperion yelled.

It happened quickly. Lila's body fell to the ground as the red symbiote wrapped itself around Ladybug. "Ahh that's more like it," Carnage hissed as he began to envelope Ladybug.