It was late, like, really late considering how tired Carmen was. She was pulverizing a punching bag in the gym, her mind buzzing without really thinking of anything.
"Carm."
Carmen flinched a bit at the voice behind her and scolded herself a little bit. Being unaware of her surroundings is what caused her to get captured in the first place. She grabbed the punching bag, steadying it, before turning around to see Ivy standing there.
"Ivy."
"It's late."
Carmen glanced at her watch before answering, "Guess so."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I told you; I need a break. I need time and space to think."
"Okay, but why aren't you taking us with you? Why are you taking him and not us?" Ivy threw out a hand to the doorway, gesturing to the direction of the guest room where Gray was staying.
Carmen didn't want to answer, mostly because she didn't know what answer to give. She knew she needed Gray because he understood what it means to leave VILE. He knew how to rebuild a life after VILE destroys it. She needed him because he knew her as well as anyone could and she needed his help. Because he knew her past and could help piece together the fragmented parts of it she remembered. Because she needed his comfort and forgiveness. Because she loved him. Carmen groped for an answer quickly, feeling a headache start to form, "Because he can help-"
"And we can't?" Ivy interrupted, her voice starting to rise as she took a step forward.
"No," Carmen said shortly, the headache in her temples growing.
"Why?" Ivy demanded.
"Because you don't understand!" Carmen shouted back, swinging a fist to pound against the punching bag; her headache raged, smothering every thought that came to mind.
Ivy didn't say anything for a moment. She just stared at her, an emotion Carmen didn't have the faculty to understand in her eyes. "Okay," came Ivy's cool voice. "If you want to spend your time with VILE and not your real friends, that's up to you. It's your choice."
Then she left. And Carmen was left alone in the gym.
In the silence of the room, Carmen's headache seemed to crescendo like a swarm of bees in her mind.
With a shattered shout, she whirled around and slammed her knuckles into the punching bag.
Friend, Leader comes from the PhemieC song by the same name. This is my favorite chapter so far.
Yes, I know this is late. It's just that school has been kicking my ass lately and I've been having trouble keeping up with both that and this. I guess you can say I'm burnt out. I'm probably gonna start updating once a week now. Just so I can catch up. I'm sorry :(