Dreamer (Book Two)

Chapter Six: Please Don't Go

I didn't wait for an invitation. I launched myself at Gabriel, yo-yo at the ready as I attempted to wrap his ankles together. Chat simultaneously attacked. We just had to hold out until the other three arrived.

"Tsk, tsk. Let's not be hasty." Hawkmoth easily dodged Chat and I's attack by disappearing in a cloud of moths. I couldn't get through them without receiving several cuts. What were the moths doing, carrying knives? Sheesh.

Chat clearly had the same luck as he came to stand next to me. Eventually the moth's dispersed and Hawkmoth stood unscathed. Typical.

"Now, can we have a civilized conversation? I expected more from you two, honestly. Didn't even stop to chat." Gabriel stood tall and proud and my heart clenched.

"Maybe once upon a time, I would have. But you've gone too far this time, Gabriel. An entire building? Children? How sick can you get? You disgust me. You started by stripping people's free will and using them as slaves, then you kidnap people, and now you're killing them? Jail seems too good for you." I heatedly told him. My left hand clenched and unclenched in anticipation. "Stop hiding behind your moth's like the coward you are and fight us."

I whipped my yo-yo back and flung it forward watching it sail through the air, aimed to tie around his chest.

Both Chat and I stood in amazement as Gabriel caught my yo-yo in his hand, looking at it as though it was merely a children's toy.

"My turn." He growled.

He yanked the cord and I suppressed the small shriek as my feet left the ground and I went flying forward.

"Ladybug!" Chat lunges forward in what I assume was the hope to catch me but I was going too fast.

I landed harshly on the rubble, my body hitting painful edges as I finally rolled to a stop in front of him. The next thing I knew his foot was on my neck and I was struggling to breathe as he pressed down and cut off my air.

"No! Please, stop!" Chat shouted desperately.

My face felt funny, as though it was heating up and going numb at the same time. I couldn't go without air for that much longer.

"Hand me your Miraculous and she lives. Simple as that, Chat Noir." Gabriel said.

My eyes teared up and my hands uselessly clawed at Hawkmoth's foot in an attempt to relieve the pressure. Black dots danced around my vision. At this moment, I felt like a complete and utter failure. All that training, all of these years spent being a heroine, all of the hype only to be defeated so quickly? Paris deserves so much better.

I really need air.

"Hey mister!" A feminine voice shouted. A surge of hope flooded through me.

The pressure was released from my throat as Hawkmoth went sailing through the air after a powerful kick from Rena was dealt.

I instantly started coughing and trying to fill my lungs with as much oxygen as I could muster. Chat was by my side in a flash, his face full of concern. I waved him off and pointed towards where Hawkmoth went.

"Get him." I ordered.

Chat nodded to me and stood, motioning for Rena and Queenie to follow him. Carapace stayed back with me and awkwardly patted my back in a soothing manner as I tried to control my ragged breath.

I cringed as a loud siren pierced the air, slicing through the night with it's annoying sound. The evacuation siren. At least I don't have to worry about civilians.

I stood, although a bit uneasily, and focused on the fight. I'd had worse hits before.

"Come on, Carapace. Let's join them."