Chapter Text
It was Halloween time at Françoise Dupont High School, one of the most eagerly awaited months for young students in Paris. The classrooms were decorated with small paper pumpkins, fake spider webs, and bats hanging from the ceiling. In the hallways, students were already discussing costumes, parties, and who would have the best decorations for that year’s celebration.
In the classroom, the students were seated at their desks, though few were actually paying attention to the lesson.
Teacher Caline Bustier walked in carrying a stack of papers and clapped her hands to get the class’s attention. “Good morning, class! I hope you’re all excited, because we have some news about this year’s Halloween party!”
An excited murmur rippled through the room.
Marinette rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she listened to the teacher explain the details of the celebration. Next to her, Alya was already whispering about which costume she should wear. “I’m thinking of something scary,” Alya said. “Maybe a vampire.”
“You already have the personality of one,” Nino teased from across the room.
Alya threw an eraser at him.
Marinette laughed.
For a few seconds, everything seemed normal.
Until the classroom door opened.
Lila Rossi walked in.
Marinette’s smile faded almost immediately.
Lila walked calmly to her seat, as if she hadn’t noticed Marinette’s suspicious gaze following her every move.
But she did notice.
Of course she did.
Ever since Marinette had discovered Lila’s true identity — Chrysalis — the two had been waging a silent war. Neither could publicly reveal what she knew about the other. Marinette couldn’t simply accuse her without proof, and Lila would never miss an opportunity to turn any accusation into yet another convincing lie.
So, in front of everyone, they continued to play their parts.
Marinette, the suspicious classmate.
Lila, the seemingly innocent girl.
But when their eyes met, Lila’s smile changed.
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
A smile that said:
I know you know.
Marinette looked away.
“So,” Caline continued, “this year we’ll have a special Halloween party at school. And each class will be responsible for a part of the decorations!”
The classroom immediately became noisy again.
The room immediately became noisy again.
“And we’ll also have a costume contest,” the teacher added.
Alya turned to Marinette.
“Now you have no excuse. You’re going to participate.”
“I don’t even know what I’m going to dress up as!”
“You have a month to figure it out.”
Marinette smiled.
A month.
Enough time to plan a costume.
Enough time to organize the party.
And, apparently, enough time for Chrysalis to come up with something.
Marinette looked at Lila again.
The girl was fiddling with her phone, seemingly distracted.
Then Marinette’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
I can’t wait for Halloween.
Marinette furrowed her brow.
Another message arrived.
You should be excited too, Marinette.
Her blood ran cold.
She slowly looked up.
Lila was still staring at her cell phone.
But she was smiling.
And at that moment, Marinette was certain of one thing: the Halloween party wouldn’t be just any party.
Over the next few weeks, Françoise Dupont High School seemed to have been completely transformed.
Halloween had taken over every corner of the school.
Paper pumpkins filled the windows, cardboard bats hung in the hallways, and small orange lights decorated the courtyard. The students had been divided into groups to organize the party, and, as expected, no one could agree on absolutely anything.
“No, Alya!” Marinette complained, holding a box full of decorations. “The spiderwebs go on the windows, not on the ceiling!”
“But they’re scarier on the ceiling!”
“It makes the school look abandoned!”
“It’s Halloween!”
“It’s a school!”
The two continued arguing while Nino tried to keep a plastic spider from falling on his head.
Marinette took a deep breath.
It was exhausting.
But in a way, she liked that time of year. She liked the decorations, the costumes, the special energy that took over the school. There was just one thing completely ruining her fun...
Lila.
Or rather…
Chrysalis.
Ever since that mysterious message, Marinette couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being planned. And, even worse, Lila seemed to be enjoying it.
"Marinette?"
She heard her name and turned around.
Lila was standing behind her, holding a box full of small decorative pumpkins. "The teacher asked us to put these in the music room."
Marinette looked at the box.
Then at Lila.
“And why are you telling me?”
“Because she asked both of us to do this.”
Marinette closed her eyes for a moment. “Of course she did.”
Lila smiled.
“Is there a problem?”
“None at all.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“You seem bothered.”
“Maybe because I am.”
Lila tilted her head slightly.
“Because of me?”
Marinette held her gaze.
“You know I am.”
For a moment, Lila’s smile faded.
Not completely.
Just enough for Marinette to notice.
She still didn’t know if she liked that expression more or if she should be afraid of it.
“Then let’s go,” Lila said.
The music room was practically empty.
The two of them set the box down on one of the tables.
Marinette began arranging the little pumpkins while Lila hung some decorations on the walls.
The silence between them was strange.
It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable.
It was worse than that.
It was heavy.
Marinette felt like she was constantly waiting for something to happen.
“You’re staring at me.”
Marinette looked up. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I’m just watching.”
“What’s the difference?”
“I watch people I don’t trust.”
Lila let out a low laugh.
“Then you must be watching me a lot.”
Marinette didn’t answer.
Lila finished hanging a paper bat and came down the small ladder.
“Are you still thinking about that message?”
Marinette froze. “What message?”
“The one I sent.”
“You know exactly which one.”
“Maybe.”
Marinette stepped closer. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing.”
“Lila.”
“Marinette.”
“Stop messing with me.”
Lila fell silent.
Then she stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
Until she was too close.
“Do you know what your problem is?”
“I guess you’re going to tell me.”
“You try to find a lie in everything I say.”
Marinette let out a short laugh. “Because there usually is one.”
Lila smiled.
“What if there isn’t one this time?”
Marinette didn’t answer.
Lila kept looking at her.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Then Marinette realized she was holding her breath.
She took a step back.
“We need to finish decorating.”
Lila smiled again. “Of course.”
Things continued like this over the next few days.
Whenever there was a Halloween-related task, somehow, Marinette and Lila ended up together.
Painting posters.
Sorting candy.
Organizing the invitations.
Testing the lights.
Picking out the party music.
And that was starting to bother Marinette for a reason she’d rather not admit.
Lila was annoying.
Manipulative.
Dangerous.
She was Chrysalis.
Marinette knew that.
But when no one was around, Lila seemed different.
Not better.
Not exactly.
Just… less theatrical.
Sometimes Marinette would catch Lila staring out the window, completely silent.
Sometimes she’d notice that Lila was tired.
And on other occasions, Lila seemed to watch Marinette as if trying to understand something.
That was what scared her the most.
Because Marinette was starting to do the same thing.