I hate everything. (I know I write that all the time) stupid school, stupid bullies, stupid uniforms! I loathe the uniforms! They're manga school girl caricatures! Anyway, I had to stay and clean the entire classroom after World History today. Lillian was the one doing the talking not me, I mean, you can hear her from a mile away thanks to that nasally voice of hers but everyone always blames me. I missed my free period because of her!
Now, I'm alone in my room, door locked as always while everyone else gathers in the common room for a movie night. At least I don't have a roommate. No one wanted to room with the 'heathen' so I've got the room to myself-
Again, she slammed the journal shut, tossed it in the box and put it away. Wandering around her apartment restlessly, Melissa searched for something to do, Oreo trailing behind her as always. Plopping down on her couch she sighed heavily.
"I have no life, boy," she said when Oreo jumped onto her lap, "You got any ideas?"
He flipped over, begging for belly rubs.
"I can't sit here all day," she laughed.
Jumping off her lap, Oreo quickly returned with his leash, looking up at her expectantly.
"Okay, we can go for a walk,"
…...
Chance trudged from one room to another bored out of his mind.
"Chance, stop pacing you'll wear a hole in the floor," Carmen chided from her office.
He poked his head inside, his mother sat at her desk, words rolling across her computer screen. Squinting, he realized they were birth certificates.
"She's dead, mom, why don't you give up already?" he groaned.
"She's not dead, Chance,"
He turned in a huff, storming away.
I need air that isn't full of pine trees! I hate the smell of pine!
…...
Carmen stood from her desk to shut the door right as the computer beeped with a potential match. Turning back to the screen she studied the certificate that'd come up.
"Ignorant man, using his own name," Carmen smirked.
From there, a simple internet search did most of the work and Carmen couldn't help but laugh when she saw where her long-lost daughter worked. Too perfect
now, to set up a meeting.
…...
One week later:
"Come on, Zack!", Ivy chided her brother as they made their way to the C-5. "Think! Why would Carmen steal a bunch of gold and platinum records?"
"I don't know Ivy", Zack replied. "It's not like they're made of gold or platinum. And even if they were, there are a lot of bands and singers who have way more of both than the Hex Girls."
"Did you say the Hex Girls?", Melissa chirped, having heard them as she passed them.
"Yeah," Zack nodded, "Know anything about them?"
"You have no idea," Melissa chuckled.
"Can you help us then?" Ivy questioned, "It doesn't fit with her previous theft,"
"We're stumped," Zack added.
"Well, what did she steal?"
"Stars from the walk of fame,"
"I'm in between cases right now," Melissa shrugged, "I could come along id you wanted?"
"Go ahead," Chief nodded, "Get out of that office,"
"Yes, Sir,"
…...
Standing in the hall where the records were displayed Ivy brought Melissa up to speed while Zack and Chief looked for clues Carmen might have left.
"Which stars did she take?"
"Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel"
Melissa stared up at the empty wall, thinking out loud, "Well, they are part of the original Wicked cast and the show centers on the witches of OZ"
"But, how does that connect to this?"
"The Hex Girls claim to be witches, it's their thing,"
"So famous witches then?" Zack asked.
Ivy shook her head, "That seems more like a Halloween thing, Carmen doesn't do things out of season,"
"Hate to but in here," Chief apologized, "But Carmen's struck again!"
"At the Salem witch museum?"
"No, the museum of natural history. She got away with the dinosaur egg display and a model of prehistoric plants,"
The brother and sister looked at Melissa for a connection but she shrugged indifferently, "I have nothing,"
"Maybe Carmen's trying to confuse us," Zack suggested.
"It is possible," Ivy nodded, "But the lack of clues is-"
"Odd," Melissa finished.
"Let's go,"
…...
There was astounding lack of clues at the museum but they searched anyway, circling the room the displays were taken from, looking above and under the remaining ones, opening any door they came across but came up empty-handed. While Zack and Ivy searched again, Melissa stared at the space where the taken displays had once stood. Turning away from it she eyed the bench and bent down to inspect it, running her hand along the underside. She laughed.
"It's still here,"
"Find something?"
"No, just having a flashback," Melissa smiled, pulling a small pencil from the bench before standing, "You guys find anything?"
"Nope,"
"I say we grab lunch and review," Melissa declared, moving toward the door, "Come on, I know a place,"
The two shrugged following behind Melissa. Half an hour later the three were seated just outside Melissa's favorite cafe.
"So, she stole stars from the walk of fame, Platinum and gold records, dinosaur egg and plant models. There's no theme here," Ivy sighed.
"Nope," Zack agreed.
"I didn't think we depended on her clues this much,"
"I don't think you do," Melissa replied between bites of her sandwich, "This is just a confusing case. I get the feeling this wasn't meant for you to solve,"
"We were going to anyway, we're the ones assigned to catch her,"
"Meh,"
"What was with the pencil, Melissa?"
"Well, if you want to know..."
…...
A few years ago:
"Look Carly it's your parents!" Lillian laughed, cruelly, elbowing the girl standing beside her.
"I preferred to be called Melissa." the fifteen-year-old snapped, picking up her dropped sketchbook.
"That's not your name,"
"I HATE my name!"
"Girls, this is a privilege if you can't behave I will send you back to the bus!"
Melissa waited until the others were preoccupied before slipping away from the group. Entering the next room which was entirely dedicated to a dinosaurs life cycle. Head in her hands, Melissa sank onto the nearest bench and stared blankly at the display before her. Hastily brushing the tears from the corners of her eyes she tried to focus on the display before her, noticing the dinosaur eggs before her, shining under the overhead lights. Fishing a pencil from her pocket she flipped open her sketchbook and began to draw until the teacher grabbed her by the arm and sent her to the bus as punishment for leaving the group.
But, Melissa liked the museum especially when she was by herself so she returned again and again. Contentiously drawn to the eggs as she struggled to get them just right.
…...
Now:
"I came by so often I just left a pencil there,"
"Why the eggs?"
"I found them interesting,"
"I hope you're finished with lunch because Carmen just finished her latest theft in this bizarre case,"
Melissa growled at the image of the building Chief pulled up.
"Melissa?"
"Let's get going," she declared, standing from the table.
"What would Carmen want from an all-girls boarding school?"
"There's enough fine art to make someone drool in that gilded cage," Melissa elaborated, "I went there and I didn't want to go back,"
"Why?"
"Long, long story,"
…...
Then:
"You copied Lillian," The history teacher insisted.
Melissa stood tall before the desk eyes burning, "Why would I do that when she can't tell the difference between french fries and mashed potatoes? If anything, she copied me,"
"You know what the penalty is for cheaters,"
"Detention again?"
"No, a five thousand word essay on chapter ten!"
"We haven't even covered chapter ten!"
"I don't care!"
Melissa stormed from the room pausing at the bulletin board in front of the dorms. A bright yellow poster announced a state-wide art competition.
The only subject, the only room in the school she enjoyed was art. Rumors were swirling they were going to cut the art program.
Maybe I can help
…...
Now:
Walking the halls of her old school made Melissa's blood boil but she kept calm. They were there to stop Carmen not to make a social call. Trekking up the winding staircases Melissa looked from wall to wall trying to find what Carmen had taken.
"Hey, there's a trophy missing," Ivy pointed out.
"No way," Melissa gasped, dashing past them.
"Melissa?" Zack asked, "What's so important about the trophy,"
"It was mine, I saved the only worthwhile thing about this place with that trophy,"
"Why would Carmen want the trophy?"
"Beats me," Melissa shrugged, "It wasn't gold-" she fell quiet.
"It's CARMEN SANDIEGO!"
"Lilian," Melissa growled, recognizing the woman.
"Carly," Lilian narrowed her eyes.
"Where's Carmen?" Ivy demanded, pushing between the two.,
"The dorms, room 20"
"My old room," Melissa pushed past the others, racing up the stairs.
"Melissa, wait for us!" Zack called as the two raced after her.
The brother-sister team bounded after Melissa catching her just short of the door which had been left ajar. Silently, hesitantly, they neared the door gasping upon looking inside. There Carmen stood surrounded by everything she had stolen.
"Hello, Detectives," Carmen greeted with her signature smirk, "What took you?"
"What's your game this time, Carmen?" Zack questioned.
"Seems your losing touch," Ivy jeered.
"This game wasn't meant for you two," Carmen told them, "It was more of a personal matter,"
"That's supposed to explain the randomness of your thefts?
"Ah, but they weren't random," Carmen turned to Melissa, "Were they?"
"My favorite musical, my favorite band, my favorite display from the museum and my trophy," Melissa counted the things off on her fingers, "This is all about ME, isn't it?! But why?"
"What she said!", Zack quipped with Ivy nodding in agreement.
"Just a test of your abilities", Carmen smirked. "Which you passed with flying colors. And it never hurts to reconnect with your past. Even when it's in a cage. See you next crime, Avalon."
She was out the window, flying away before they could reach her.
"Why did she call you 'Avalon'?", Zack asked, confused.
"And how can someone's past be in a cage?", Ivy wondered out loud.
"My dad", Melissa growled. "We gotta go see my birth-father. He's doing time in Riker's."
"What's he in prison for?", Zack asked.
"Dealing coke, heroin, and crystal meth", she hissed. "And child abuse."
…...
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ivy whispered to Melissa as the guards marched her father to the window.
"We have to," Melissa replied, taking a seat.
"What do you want, Carly?", he scoffed. "YOU put me in here, and I'm not getting out until your kids have kids. Here to gloat like your mother would?"
"I'm not interested in your whiny garbage about my mystery mom, Dad", Melissa growled. "I never wanted to see you again, but something...strange has come up. Does the name 'Avalon' mean anything to you?"
John chuckled, then began to laugh, building to the point he was almost falling out of his chair on the other side of the glass.
"So, found out on your own, did you? Or did Carmen finally find you?"
"What does it have to do with Carmen?", Ivy barked from behind Melissa.
"I was the best of her agents once upon a time", he said bitterly. "I thought she loved me, that we'd be partners. But she only wanted me in her bed long enough to give her an heir."
"Wha-what are you saying?", Melissa breathed, trying to stop connecting the dots, but couldn't.
"But made her pay for her betrayal", he smirked. "When I stole you when you were born, I even erased the pretentious name she gave you; Avalon Monalisa SANDIEGO! Oh, the look on your face right now is PRICELESS! I wonder what your 'Chief' will think? HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Melissa stood, turning from the window, "Let's get back to Acme, I've got paperwork to do,"
She walked away before they could respond.
…...
"WHAT?" Chief cried, bouncing around the screen, "You're serious?"
"Like the plague," Melissa grumbled slumping even farther into the chair, "I'll turn in my resignation,"
"NO," Chief replied.
"Just because Carmen's your mom-" Zack began.
"Doesn't mean we're kicking you to the curb," Ivy finished.
"Take some days off and clear your head then come back when you're ready,"
…...
Chance startled when his mother dropped the folder in front of him.
"What's this?" he asked leafing through it.
"That's your sister, Chance, I found her,"
"Then why isn't she with you?" he questioned before seeing where she worked, "You're going to train me now, right?"
"No,"
"Why?"
"As I said before you aren't applying yourself as evidenced by your recent grades," she held up his report card.
"I'm passing," he argued.
"You're barely trying,"
"And you think my sister the Acme detective will take over VILE?"
"You never know, Chance, you never know,"
Carmen left, closing the door behind her. Once she was gone, Chance pushed the folder from his desk with a snarl.
"Mom can't train Avalon if she's dead," he chuckled, a plan starting to form.
…...
Melissa paced her apartment, Oreo trailing her, dragging his leash.
"No walk today, I'm sorry boy," she sighed flopping onto her couch.
She grabbed her current journal from the coffee table, fished a pen from the cup on the end table then began to write.
As if my life couldn't get any worse. Surprise, my mother isn't six feet under. Oh no, she's very much alive. Carmen Sandiego! Yeah, that's my mother. My waste of skin father said so. I really, really, wish I could kick him where the sun doesn't shine. You think this revelation would cost me my job but Chief seems insistent on keeping me around. Still, I have my doubts.
Why is my life such a hot mess?
What am I going to do now?
Shutting the journal she brought her knees to her chest.
There she sat for the rest of the day.
…...
Two weeks had passed and Melissa hadn't yet returned to work. With Carmen gone quiet Zack and Ivy had nothing to do except sit, wait and repeat.
"Have you heard from Melissa?" they asked in unison as the chief popped up.
"Nope, nada, zip," Chief replied, "You two wanna check on her for me?"
"We don't know where she lives," Zack reminded him.
"Here's her address," he replied, said address flashing beneath him
"Isn't that considered private information?"
"Not if you're there on orders. Melissa has some...medical issues I'm worried,"
"We're going," Ivy nodded, standing, the C5 opening behind them.
It dropped them on the sidewalk outside the apartment complex.
"Ow," Zack grumbled.
After brushing themselves off the two dashed inside to find Melissa. Arriving at her apartment on the second floor they knocked, once, twice.
The door creaked open and Melissa poked her head out.
"Come in, excuse the mess,"
Entering the apartment they quickly noticed the stacks of boxes scattered around the living room. Marked pre-k through twelfth and packed to the brim with sketchbooks and journals. Stepping around them they followed Melissa to the kitchenette.
"You two want anything? I've only got frozen foods I'm afraid,"
"No, that's okay," Ivy shook her head.
"We just wanted to check-in, Chief is worried about you,"
"My PTSD," Melissa said, sitting down at the bar, "He's worried I'll have an episode, That's what Oreo is for," she picked up the wriggling Chihuahua, "He keeps me from hurting myself or someone else,"
"He's cute, was he trained to do that?"
"Yes, remember how I said art was the only worth-while thing in the school, the teacher was the only person who was ever kind to me, his wife trains dogs like these. They don't allow big dogs here so she trained Oreo, he was my graduation gift,"
"You want to talk about the case?"
"No," Melissa shook her head, "But I wouldn't mind the company,"
"Okay, no problem,"
…...
His mom wouldn't be happy to find that he had hijacked the only plane, leaving her stranded at the cabin but Chance didn't care. He had a plan and his mother would only get in the way.
"Watch out, Avalon soon I'll be all Mom has!"
…...
Bum, Bum, Bum! I figure that's a good stopping place. A big thank you goes to my friend, DRAGONDAVE45 for helping with this chapter.
Please, review!
