Shadowteer

Chapter 7

"MANON!" She grabbed his hoodie and pulled it off his head. There were surprised gasps as everyone looked at his face. She got up, brushed herself off and looked at him. Her eyes widened. He had dark brown hair, green eyes and a really angry scowl on his face. He blushed in his... embarrassed anger? Yeah. Embarrassed anger. All Manon was thinking of was

Daaaaaaaaaang.

"S-stop looking at me! You remember me now Manon? Remember what you did to me?"

"C-Chris... As in, Christopher Lahiffe. Nino is your..."

"Yeah." Nino Lahiffe, one of the most famous DJs in the world was his brother. It all came back to her now. Everything but what exactly she did to akumatised him.

"I... I remember you. I mean, how could I not? You were one of my closest friends if not the closest. Ella and Etta were besties and we were the third wheel so we just joined forces and... you were my bestfriend. Wh... what... what happened to you Chris?" She touched his cheek, hesitating before she wiped a tear from it. He scowled and took a step back.

"Don't... don't you ever touch me again Manon."

"I... please tell me what I did. Please Chris."

"You don't remember? I didn't expect you to. Figures, one of my core memories was nothing to you. I should have expected this. It shouldn't hurt this much. I've been expecting this since I returned. I hoped you wouldn't find out but I figured, if you did, I would be prepared. It isn't supposed to hurt this much." He shut his eyes and winced. "I... I need to go. I need to go right now. I can't deal with you- with this right now." He ignored the crowd the best he could and locked himself up in the janitors closet. No one would find him there in the shadows.

He balled up his fists and let out an aggravated sigh. He picked up his phone and called his only family.

"Nino?"

"This number is currently unavailable, please leave a message after the beep. Beep."

"Uh... Nino? She... They know. The truth is out. Um... please call me when you get this. Bye Ma- Nino." He hung up and curled himself up in a ball, finally letting the tears flow.

Manon had run off as well. The girl's bathroom was her comfort place. She stuck an out of order sign on the door and threw herself on the floor. It was one thing to have Chris L, the new guy hate her because she had done some horrible thing to him that broke him so badly he didn't trust anyone and had a therapist. But Christopher Lahiffe? Her childhood bestie?

Congratulations Manon, you idiot. You just had to break him of all people. He was your friend. A true friend. He wasn't like all the others. He had his own unique laugh, his own smile, his own style. And he made you happy. Happier than anyone else in the world. But somehow, you took his happiness away. You turned him into this. Now he's just a shadow of his formal self. And it's all your fault.

"Has anyone noticed how many times I typed shadow? Seriously though, how many times does a girl have to hint at something? Anyway, Nooroo, are you ready for the ship?"

"Hold on Zee. I need to finish this soup." He slurped on it long and hard before sighing dreamily. "What kind of soup is this?"

"Oha soup. Nigerian oriented."

"Any other types of Nigerian oriented soup?"

"Well... yeah. We've got egusi or melon in English soup, into soup, vegetable soup, ofe nsala in English pepper soup-"

"Can I try egusi next?"

"Once you pronounce it well, sure."

"But I don't know how!"

"Too bad." He sulked. I rolled my eyes. "Ugh. You are way too cute. I'll teach you, I promise. I mean, I shouldn't be so cruel. It's not like I can speak French- Oh wait. Je peux parle Francais tres bien." He slumped in defeat.

I can speak French very well.

"But I'm too lazy to learn how to speak Igbo."

"You didn't- it's Gb. You have to say it properly dude! How are we supposed to get along if you don't at least try?"

"I don't know, how mistress?"

"Haha. You're learning you lazy kwami. Tu es tres parasseux mon petit ami." He scowled.

You are very lazy my little friend.

"Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're a French-"

"Nooroo, wings up!" I got transformed into Hawkmoth- you know what, I'll honour the French miraculous.

"Papillon is back Paris. And he's a she! Hello there butterflies. I'm sure you two have been dying to be akumas again. I'm not crazy like Hawkmoth, though, I have been called crazier. I'm much nicer though. Unless the ship dwindles. Then I'm worse. But nothing like that's gonna happen because I want us all to be friends for the short time I have this miraculous so play nice."

Light purple masks appeared over Chris and Manon's face. Manon gasped. Chris rolled his eyes and muttered great.

"Hey guys!" Manon was seriously confused.

"Whaaaat?" Chris raised an eyebrow.

"You're not Hawkmoth."

"Nope I'm Papillon- I mean, introductions are later."

"Puppeteer, you want answers and I promise you will have all the answers soon as long as you manipulate one or two... old friends for me."

"Shadow Man, it's been a while. You left me in Paris but you returned to your home only to have it ruined by the girl you thought you had left behind for good. Do as I say and I will give you the revenge you truly deserve."

Manon tried to resist but her lips answered in the affirmative for her. Chris shrugged and nodded without concern. "I never liked humans anyway."

"We think so alike, you and I." A purple black substance covered their hands and legs. "Finally, a little fun."