Warped Reality

Chapter Nineteen

Marinette

She smiled politely at the woman at the desk, before leaning over the counter top.

"Would you mind turning on the intercom?"

"I... I can't do that."

Marinette huffed, leaning back away from the woman. She wasn't about to threaten her. She turned, glancing at Chat. The security guard was watching them closely, probably curious as to who this new Ladybug was. She smiled as a plan formed, and she leisurely strolled over to the wall, yanking down the switch for the fire alarm. The security guard immediately headed for her, and Adrien blocked his path. Luckily he looked exactly like their Chat Noir.

"There's an acuma in this building. We need all of the citizens evacuated."

She sighed, walking back over to the reception desk, moving to sit on top of it. They were so close. They had to beat him this time. She couldn't face another reality. Sleepy occupants of the hotel began shuffling out of the stairwell, some of them still wearing their pajamas. She watched them, her gaze darting from one face to another as she searched for the man that had caused all this. People gave her weird looks as they passed, and she did her best to ignore it, locking eyes with Adrien across the room. He gave her a small nod, pointing towards the stairwell. The acuma stepped out with Chloe close behind. They both froze once they spotted her, both for different reasons. His shock quickly passed, and he didn't bother running. He walked through the crowd to her, a soft smile on his face.

"Good morning Ladybug."

"You could end all of this now and just give me the acumatized object."

"You're giving me a choice? How courteous."

"From what I remember you are quite fond of choices. And chance. What's the chance that you'll give it to me without a fight?"

He grinned, and hate simmered beneath her skin. But she couldn't hate this man. It wasn't his fault. It was Hawkmoth's. She had to remember that.

"Daddy? What's going on?" Chloe asked softly, but she was glaring at Marinette.

"Speaking of chance. How do you like this realm? Did it turn out well for you?"

She didn't answer, and he frowned at her.

"Oh, my apologies. If I had known your identity, I could have possibly made it better than your old life."

"You like this world better than the old one?"

He sighed, tapping his cane against the carpeted floor.

"No, I don't. It seems I don't have as much control over fate as I was led to believe."

"Is there something you miss then?"

"My daughter."

A flash of black caught her attention, and she flinched as Chat cataclysmed the cane the man held. He would have just given them the acuma. He missed his daughter. That was a weak point. The cane crumbled to dust, and she quickly slid backwards, landing on the other side of the desk.

"Distracting me with polite conversation to ambush me? Wrong choice Ladybug."

He stepped back, drawing the second cane from thin air. How could he hide his acuma like that? Was that even possible?

"Wrong choice indeed." He spoke as he fired a shot towards her, and the lobby erupted into chaos, people screaming and fleeing the hotel.

Chat had disappeared, probably to recharge. She was left alone. She ducked down behind the desk, her heart pounding. Why had he cataclysmed it? He knew there were two canes. Had he done it on purpose? Had he changed his mind about helping her?