Menteuses Downfall.

Lila Rossi was on top of the world, her mother, teacher and, 90 percent of her classmates were under her thumb. She could do as she pleased and get what she wanted when she wanted it. The only obstacle in her path was goody-goody Marinette and even she wouldn't last long. Contented with these thoughts the pretty Italian almost skipped to school.

"Freeze!"

She couldn't move an inch, locked mid-step.

Was this another Akuma? Why couldn't Hawkmoth keep better control of them and where was the holier than thou Ladybug when one needed her?

She coughed on the thick ombre smoke that exploded before her.

"I've been watching you," announced the akuma as the smoke cleared revealing a girl in a matching ombre cloak the same black and midnight blue as the smoke that circled her heels and twisted through her hair. In her right hand she held a crystallized staff which she easily twirled between her fingers, "And I don't like you,"

Lila tried to call out, "Help, help Akuma,"

Her attacker laughed, the sound like grinding glass, "I'm no Akuma you spoiled child, I'm here to make you pay!"

Why wasn't anyone alarmed by the deranged lady?

The girl advanced grabbing Lila's head and forcing her to meet the swirling magenta orbs, "They can't see us, now what to do with you?" she stepped away, twirling her staff in thought. "Sickness, Heartbreak? Wait, you don't have a heart!"

She laughed at her mistake.

"I know," she snapped her fingers, smoky tendrils flaring to fire, "Truth, you shall tell the truth, and if you don't EVERYONE how to see how UGLY you truly are!"

It felt like her insides were turning to slime.

"Oh, and stay away from Marinette, things will get worse if you don't,"

Lila hid her smile. She hadn't said anything about-

"That goes double for Adrien,"

DANG IT!

"Now if you'll excuse me I have to help a hybrid sort her feelings,"

And she was gone.

…...

There was no truth in the crazy strangers' words. It made no sense, none whatsoever, and yet, the cold slime feeling remained lodged deeply in her gut as she walked the final stretch to school briskly they were nothing. Just the rantings of an escaped mental patient.

A mental patient with swirling eyes and smoky hair.

Those weren't so easily explained away.

Still, she tried to push it to the back of her mind.

As soon as she got to school it was business as usual. Gathering a crowd of easily duped classmates she began to craft a tale of her globe-trotting adventures.

Everyone was so wrapped up in the tale they didn't notice how Lila's skin began to wrinkle.

…...

Lila checked the mirror as soon as she got home. She had lied through her teeth all day and didn't feel any different.

Turning this way and that she smiled at her still youthful appearance.

Why was she so worried?

"Check your hands, girl,"

The crazy lady was behind her in the mirror.

Only the mirror.

She looked different now.

Like a vomit-inducing checkerboard with bleached skin but the smoke and eyes remained the same.

"Check your hands," Crazy repeated, forcefully.

Defiantly, Lila lifted her hands.

And screamed.

"Warned you didn't I?"

Her malevolent laugh shook Lila even after she was long gone.

Why are my Miraculous fics so short compared to my other stories? I don't know, I'm still finding my footing here I guess. I mean, I can write BTAS and Scooby stories for days but the word count for MLB stories sucks. Ah well, nowhere to go but up!