Return of a Killer

Gone

Chat Blanc woke up from his unconscious state, dazed and wondering where he was. The faded wallpaper, the crooked bookshelf across the hall, a hole in the ceiling not far from him.

Something poked him as he sat up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two little black earrings. How cute. Weren't they supposed to be red, though?

Chat snapped to his senses as he remembered what exactly he was holding. This was Ladybug's miraculous. These two little earrings were responsible for bringing him to this hunt for the only bit of joy in his lovesick world.

Every akuma before him had tried and failed day in and day out to hold these earrings in their hands. His own father had failed to do what he had done so quickly. Chat had been responsible for protecting these earrings and the girl wearing them. And he was now the one to take them.

Chat Blanc stood up. He was going to find Marinette. He was going to make sure that he kept the love of his life in his arms, and his arms alone.

He perked up at the sound of someone approaching. Chat Blanc darted down the open hall, knowing full well who it was. And if he was here, Marinette was unguarded somewhere. He burst through the door to the stairs, descending as fast as he could, using momentum and catlike acrobatics to keep his movements silent.

Chat Noir landed on the floor from the hole he had made. He hoped Ladybug would be here to fix it soon. But, that all depended on him getting these earrings back.

He walked into the open corridor, only to find that Chat Blanc was gone, and had clearly not forgotten to take the earrings.

As soon as the feeling of dread made itself swollen in his stomach, Chat Noir's ring gave a final and high beep as the final paw pad disappeared, taking away his costume and powers. He had forgotten all about his time limit.

Plagg materialized in front of him, his face worried and grave as he said, " We need to go back and keep that Marinette girl from getting into any more trouble!”

Adrien nodded as he took out a piece of camembert for the black kwami, who gladly accepted it. Adrien was glad he and Plagg shared the same views, but something nagged at him, " You've never been so concerned about an akuma's target before, Plagg. Why the sudden worry for Marinette?" he asked.

Plagg hesitated, then shook his head, " No time, Adrien. We need to go NOW. Who knows what Hawk Moth will do to that poor girl?"

That sparked a fresh wave of inner fear in Adrien, " You're right. Plagg, Claws out!"

A flash of green light surrounded him as he transformed, quickly escaping back out into the city, hoping that Marinette was still safe.