Ch 8
This chapter contains violence, you have been warned.
The caves weren't as dark as Carmen suspected. There was no need for night vision goggles. "Heads up Red, bad guys." Carmen concealed herself in a crevice as 2 men walked by. "Player and info on who the VILE operative is?" "Nothing yet." She turned the corner and crouched down. " no need it's Le Cheve."
"Look pal I don't give a rats ass who you work for, the deal was you get your weird stuff into the country, we get to smuggle drugs." "But that was not the agreement, we were supposed to get equal-" Chevre was cut off with a pistol aimed at his head. "Look you French pastry, either you go tell your bosses about the new deal or I can paint the walls with your brains and I'll tell them myself!"
Sam and the rest of the local police were making their way through the tunnels, making sure to stay out of sight. "We're almost in position, get ready." 3…. The men positioned themselves accordingly. 2...Carmen had LeCheve in her sights. 1… time slowed to what seemed like a crawl.
"Freeze! Hands up! All of you are under arrest!" Police swarmed the area, semi blu cutting off any means of escape. Then the lights in the cave flickered, went out then back on. In that split second , chaos ensued. Bullets whizzed by and hand to hand combat was everywhere. Ducking behind a stalagmite, Sam tried to locate Marcus. There you are!
Carmen was busy keeping Le Chèvre in her sights as he tried to get away. Jumping into some crates she finally managed to get on even ground and pursued him. "Le Chevre, wait I just wanna talk!" The nimble acrobat jumped on a slide pole structure and spun around, nearly kicking Carmen off the catwalk. Luckily she slid under the attack. Now face to face, Carmen could see he looked determined,but also..frightened?
"Le Chevre, what's really going on here? What's VILE after?" He advanced, launching a few kicks and punches wich Carmen avoided or blocked. "Nothing that concerns you ...Black Sheep." "It does concern me if it includes VILE."
Carmen counted a punch with a forearm, hitting the agile climber in the face. Le Chevre responded with a spin kick, catching Carmen in the abdomen. Pressing the attacks, Le Chevre followed up with rights and lefts, throwing in kicks for good measure. Carmen tried to block them but a few got through. Stumbling back she almost lost her balance. Le Chevre usher the attack but Carmen monkey flipped him off the catwalk. Unfortunately the goat was quite nimble and landed on his feet, sprinting off down one of the cave passages. Figures. Carmen sighed.
Sam was busy trying to round up as many people as possible. Uggh ! This is a mess! There's no way we can get everyone. Marcus was long gone, Sam lost him in the chaos of the arrest. "Stop! Hands up, freeze!" he twisted a man's hands behind his back and kicked his leg out, dropping him to a knee. Cuffing the man he handed him off to a local authority. Scanning the area he saw a man land gracefully on his feet and run off in another direction, a flash of red told him Carmen was in pursuit. Taking off ather them he had an uneasy feeling.
Carmen was gaining on Le Chevre. Hurdling a crate she was fingertips away when she was blindsided by an unknowing force. "Your under arrest girly.' Carmen was able to avid getting put on her back. "Get off!" she kicked at the agent, hitting him in the shoulder and then the face, once, twice for good measure. He reeled back, clutching his face. "Arrgh! You little bitch my face!" Carmen quickly slid out from under him and began to run after Le Chevre again. Unbeknownst to her the agent wasnt giving up so easily. Pulling out his side arm he aimed it at her back.
Sam had just rounded the corner when he saw Carmen get up and take off. He noticed the agent rech for his gun. Taking his own out he aimed it at the agent. Aim small, miss small. BANG! The agent's head lurched forward and the body crumpled to the ground. Sam continued after Carmen.
Crap! I lost him! Carmen berated herself. Coming to a stop she turned and began her trek out of the caves. She was almost at the exit when she heard a voice. "Freeze! Hands up!" she stopped and compiled, begging to turn around. "I said freeze!" came the order. "You're really gonna do this? Can't you see there are bigger things at-" "shut up, your coming with me. He roughly spun her back around and took out handcuffs.
"Drop'em Daniels." Stepping back, Daniels turned around, aiming his sidearm in Sam's direction. "Or what Peirce? You gonna shoot me? You can't shoot a fellow agent, it's murder." "No shit dummy, doesn't mean i can't stop you though." " your interfering with an operation here we were -" "Oh bullshit! You were smuggling drugs Daniels! You really think i'm that stupid?" "Guess not, but that means you arn't leaving here alive." in the next second, Carmen lunged foreword, hitting Daniel's arm and causing the shot to go wide. Both parties wrestled for control, but Daniels was stronger. Sam got involved, knocking Daniels down and kicking his gun away. "That's enough! Now lets get this over with, you're coming with me." walking around Daniels, Sam was about to cuff him when the man spun around, reaching for Sam's gun. Both parties wrestled for control, ending up on the ground. Daniels hit Sam with a few punches, Sam retaliated with several of his own. Daniels was grabbed from behind by Carmenbut easily shrugged it off, backhanding her in the proces. Tackling the girl to the ground he wrapped both hands around her throat and squeezed. Carmen could feel her airway tighten. "This is where you die, you hear me!" he screamed in her face. Darkness was creeping into her vision. I ..can't.. Not yet...VILE.. Then the side of Daniel's head exploded, Carmen felt something wet hit her face. Her eyes widened as, the body slumped sideways, falling off of her. Sam ran towards her, taking her hand he led her out of the caves. "No no, don't look."
"Hey Carm, did you find out what VILE was planning?" Carmen gave no response, as if she didn't even hear Ivy. "Hey boss you got something on your face." Zack pointed out. The red clad thief touched her hand to her face. Pulling it back she saw blood. "Oh.. " Shadowsan was there as well. "What happened?" "A lot, i'll explain later but right now we need to get her home."
After arriving back at the HQ( and with convincing from Shadowsan that Sam wouldn't tell anyone about it.) all parties went their separate ways inside. Carmen started to head to her room. "Carmen hold on a sec, here drink this." he held out a soda. "It will take the edge off." she did as was instructed as she headed upstairs. They heard the shower turn on as well. "Mr Pierce, a word please." Sam began explaining the story as much as he could without Carmen filing in the gaps. "I see, you think she's in shock." "I do, and i'm so sorry i made her feel that way, but Dainiels was choking her. She would have died Shadowsan." "You do not need to explain yourself Sam, had i been in that same position, i'd have done the same."
Sam was about to leave when he noted something. "Hey is the shower still on?" "It would appear so, why?" Sam checked his watch, "It's been almost 45 mins, that's pretty long." he started up the stairs. "Wich room is hers?" Reaching the aforementioned room he knocked, "Carmen, you in there?" trying the door it swung open. Noting her hat and coat were hung up he approached the bathroom. "Carmen, you ok?" he waited, no answer. "I'm coming in." stepping through he noticed her boots next to the toilet. Turning he saw a blob inside the shower. Here goes nothing. Cracking the shower door he saw the girl was clothed. She was hunched over, knees pulled up against her chest. He sighed, mentally kicking himself for causing her trauma. He walked inside, not caring about his clothes getting wet. He put his back against the wall and mimicked her position. Putting an arm around her he whispered, "Hey, I'm so sorry Carmen, it's gonna be ok." she looked up at him, her blue-grey eyes filled with tears. Not saying a word she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. "Shhh, it's ok, you're safe now, it's over." Sam was unsure how long they were in the shower.