Unable to remember the last time I'd felt so scared on a silly Halloween night, I slowly backed away from my partner. "I don't know," I whispered, raising my palms defensively. "Just . . . don't come near me again." Without another word I spun around and ran. I honestly didn't even know where I was headed; I just knew I had to get out of there before something worse happened. I heard Ladybug yell, "Chat, wait!" from behind me, but for once I didn't stop and listen to her. I just ran. From the trembling that racked my entire being as I fled, it felt like I was running from something. The creepy thing? I was. I was running from myself.

Finally I skidded clumsily to a halt and ducked underneath a dark bridge near the river. My panting was voicing the fear that spun through my head as I crouched by the cement wall. No wonder Plagg had warned me so fiercely! Maybe this had happened before, and he hadn't wanted the Parisians to become afraid of me because of an accident with my powers in the darkest day of the year.

I'll just wait here till it's over, I concluded silently. When it's past midnight. That way, no one will get hurt.

Then another, simpler plan popped into my mind, and I slapped my forehead as I mentally scolded myself for not having thought of it sooner. Of course! I could just transform back!

"Claws in," I said at once, but for the first time since I'd gotten my ring, nothing happened. Panicked, I repeated the words over and over again, but nothing ever happened.

At last I flung my right hand into the air and yelled, "Cataclysm!" Once my hand was infused with destructive energy, I picked up a stick and purposefully destroyed it. But as I sat and waited for the familiar beeping to signal my miraculous' power losing magic, I was left in silence. The five symbols on my ring's face continued to glow green.

So not only am I a danger to my own city, I also can't transform back. I gulped nervously. I hope it's not permanent.

Moaning sadly, I leaned back against the cold, rough cement of the bridge's legs. This was going to be a long night. And not only was I stuck in superhero form and being controlled by my own power whenever my loved ones were around, Ladybug was still out there, fighting against that witch of a villain all by herself. I felt guilty for not being able to help her, but I was powerless to do anything to fix the mess I'd gotten myself into. All I'd done was destroy.

Like I always do.

After a while, I got used to the noisy crickets and cicadas singing in the trees and grass around me. So I nearly jumped a mile high when a very familiar female voice exclaimed, "Chat Noir! I need you!"