"It was more than thirteen years ago, when this happen. I was still at ACME, I was sixteen years then and had great career at the agency. Those were the years I tell you. It was an early spring night, when I was in hot pursuit of a supposed murderer. He was running madly in front of me through the streets of San Francisco. He climbed buildings, jumped to other houses on their ceilings, then jumped back down to the streets. He was very skilled at this, but one thing that got me thinking was that he never looked back.

I continued to fallow him, but at times I could see another figure running in front to him. He continued to fallow that figure that at times disappeared, it was like instinct was the one controlling him.

I followed him through a tight corner and there was a dead end. A wall of concrete at least 18 feet high. He was pounding on the wall and then he fell crying on the floor. This is not an uncommon site for a criminal, but something in his cry made me think it was for something else.

"Freeze," I shouted. "Kiss the dirt and put your hands on the floor in front of you."

He continued crying sited against the wall. I came closer to him.

"I repeat, I said to get down and put your hands on the floor were I can see them."

I came even closer and he looked at me, at my eyes.

"Please, let me go," he said in a broken voice.

"I'm moved."

"I need to find him."

"Find who, Alice?"

"The man that killed my brother," he broke down and started to cry again. "The man that has his teeth colored gold and silver."

I didn't knew what to do. I was in front of a guy that was crying like a baby, had a gun on him, and was supposedly the murderer of his brother, but he said that someone else did it.

"Well, I'm sorry for you, but I must arrest you. You are wanted for the assassination of Miguel Mangual."

He looked up at me with his face and eyes full of tears. He stood up and with his face down he said, "I'll be grateful to you, if you let me go."

"And how is that," I said crossing my arms.

He looked into my eyes again and said. "I'll prove it to you, that I'm innocent."

In his eyes there was determination, fear, and the look of revenge. I don't know how many minutes passed while we looked at each other, but that moment was broken by a sinister laugh on top of us. He looked up and anger was shown on his face by the moonlight. I looked as well and a figure disappeared into the night.

I stayed looking at that point more than I should have, but I was giving him time to slip out. The police sirens were near and I signaled him with my hand…to go away. I don't know why, but I believed in him, that he was telling the truth.

When the police came, he was no were in site. They asked me and I said that he got away and I didn't knew how.

I went to ACME headquarters and thought to find all the background info of that man. His name was Rocky Mangual, age 18, he had a gun license, his parents were Olga Mangual and Edward Mangual, and they were Puertorricans living in San Francisco. He was admitted to Harvard with scholarships of various institutions. He was accused to kill his brother in a gang fight.

I had to check the scene of the crime. Everything said he was the culprit. I was getting furious, I couldn't believe I fell for it. I let him go, because I TRUSTED him. I checked again and again, but nothing. I remembered every detail that had happened, the chase through the scene of the crime, his gun in his left hand, he grabbed the doorknob with his left hand, and the crow bar he tossed at a mysterious figure was in his left hand. Hmmm… wait just a minute. I checked the info again and bingo. He was telling the truth, he could never have killed his brother. Rocky was left handed. From where he was standing, he could have never made a shot like the one found at the body's head.

I got out of there very happy, not knowing why. I told it to Chief and he told me it was possible, it was convincing enough. The only problem is that he resisted to be arrested, but that was explainable.

I set out looking for him that night. But where to start. It was midnight and no sign of him, but a sign of the mysterious figure with the same laugh.

Someone was running to me and we stumbled. It was him.

"You," he said.

"You," I said.

"What are you doing here? Are you crazy?" he got up and started running.

"Hey, wait," and I went after him. He ran very fast but I cough up with him.

"Who is he?"

"The one that killed my brother. Why are you here anyway?"

"'Cause I confirmed that you are innocent and I want to help you catch him."

"Good, now come on, this way."

He grabbed my arm and guided me through that labyrinth. Jumping over walls, over ceilings, down the light posts. That was a chase like no other, but in one of the jumps my right ankle hurted. It hurted badly, but I didn't stopped, the figure was getting nearer or so we though.

It disappeared over a tall building, and we were trapped in the dead end. We stopped at the wall and breathed heavily. I had to sit down because the pain in my ankle was very strong. I heard him lean down besides me and he was breathing very heavily.

"Why did.. you came… back for… Just … to tell me… I was innocent."

"Not exactly… I want… to help you… find.. the real murderer… and bring him… to justice."

"You wanted to help…me, really…"

"Yeah… I believed in your desire to …avenge your brother.. and I wanted to help."

"No one… has help me like that before. Why?"

"Because I would have done the same if I had a brother or a family."

"Oh," he extended his hand to me. "Come on lets get out of here."

"No, no, it's OK. I will just call Chief so he will pick me up."

"Take my hand. Come on."

I took his hand, but I couldn't get up, my ankle hurted a lot.

"It is hurt really bad. You should have stopped when you first got hurt."

"How did you knew?"

"You slowed down."

"That doesn't prove anything. Ouch!" he touched my ankle to see how it was.

"Not on normal terms, but you were running with such determination that it was very evident your sudden change in character."

"But, I kept up with you."

"Yeah, I'm thankful for that. Come on, I'll take you to a telephone booth so you can call Chief."

"No, no, don't worry, I'm fine. Really, I can… "

"Trust me, please," he cut me off.

Then I let him carry me to a telephone booth. He waited for Chief to pick me up. We talked and chatted for nearly half an hour. When the police came down he took off. He offered another interview very soon.

For the next two weeks, I often found thank you notes attached to roses on my locker. I then started to send him info about the murderer. He had created a band to destroy every NIMH operation of mutation, cloning and junctioning or to form chimeras or golems. He often asked me out to diner or the movies. I met all of his gang and befriended then. We had parties and hanging out on the roofs eating pizzas. We exchanged info on the NIMH operation. He was very obsessed with killing that man, but he was always nice with me. He cared a lot about me, always looking me up at Acme. We talked about history, books, the universe, and movies. We had a lot in common and you know were all of this headed.

Weeks had passed after that, and Chief was starting to get a little worried because I wasn't paying that much attention at my cases. I was found daydreaming at my work, or looking for info on NIMH operations. I told him that I was fine that I just needed more adventures.

I escaped form the agency at various times to go to his hideout with info. I wanted to go with him to the stalkings but he always said that I shouldn't, because if the police caught him or me I would be in serious trouble. He always protected me, he cared a lot about me. Always buying me flowers, taking me out anywhere, talking about books. He read to me and I read to him, when we were alone and the longer we stayed alone the better.

We started having sex (no wonder). I had never been with a man before, so he was gentle with me. We had sex, more often and more passionately. The nights became longer as the weeks passed, I almost was every night at his hideout and Chief was getting hysterical. He thought that I was giving up the detective work and pursuing another career was desperating him.

One night in specific, we were reading a children's book, it was called Redwall (it sounds silly, but it is so cute) and we started reading sinchronisedly. It was so nice, and then we looked at each other, acting the words, one by one. We started to kiss very passionately. We started to get undressed and to slip our hands around our bodies.

The night was dripping off on us, but our passion was starting to ignite. The rain was cold, but our bodies were at fire. He touched every part of my body with supreme delicacy and I gave into his charms. He had entered my body, as he entered my heart, with passion. It was going to be the last time we spent together like this for a long time. He was going to get his payback on the NIMH operations. He was planning to go to an uncharted island in the Atlantic. We both knew it and made this moment to last forever.

SCENE 2

"Look if this gets anymore kinkier I'm going away," Ivy said.

"It is not kinky Ivy, it is history," Zack was immersed in the story.

"This is a history which involves a murderer and a detective betraying the law to help this killer get fee, because he is her type."

"It is not about betrayal Ivy, it is about love."

SCENE 3

Three weeks had passed since that night, he was in his hideout planning how to invade that island, how to get his revenge and how to get out. He sent me flowers and funny jokes, because he heard that I was sick. I retaliated that I was not, although I had to throw up nearly every morning, my stomach hurted and I was feeling dizzy at times, but nothing else.

Chief was obligating me to have a medical exam done, but I refused, I was fine. But, he continued, and continued, day and night until I gave in and took the test, but not were he wanted. I went to a private doctor, because I was afraid of the results. I had a persistent though and if it was true I didn't wanted Chief to know.

The doctor examined the results and came with a very concerned look.

"Young lady," he said sitting in front of me. "Do you have the slightest idea of where the hell you have gotten yourself into?"

"I don't fallow."

"You're pregnant."

"What?" I was shocked. I was happy, it felt great. "Really, I can't believe it." I was very enthusiastic about it (I don't know why), but then reality hitted me. "That can't be, but we… I mean I always.."

"You have a 25 day pregnancy, you are nearing the critical time on a pregnancy period."

"That can't be," I sat down, I couldn't believe this, my life had taken a strange turn, it was headed to a big downfall.

"Why don't we talk about this problem. Tell me why did you have sexual relationships?'

"Tell you why, because I trusted him, I … believed in him, …I… I… loved him, and he loves me."

"Why?"

"Hell, I don't know, because I wanted it."

"Who is the father."

"That doesn't concern you. In fact he doesn't deserve to know this, it'll ruin his plans."

"Like he ruined yours. Taking care of a baby is a big responsibility."

"Responsibility you won't take away," I got up and went for the door.

"Wait miss," but I slammed the door on him.

I couldn't believe this outcome of life. I didn't knew what to do, where to go. I had a forbidden child growing in my entrails. I was so confused.

I had to tell him, I had to let him know, not to ruin his life, but to help me decide what to do.

He was getting ready for his stalkings when I appeared. He received me quite lovingly and affective. We were left alone on his command.

"Hey, girl, what brings you here?"

"Rocky, there is something very important that I must tell you, but I don't know how."

"Ahh, come on, I can take anything. Except a Chuck Noris musical special."

"No, no, God saves us from that. Is that, this is something that has changed my life and it could change yours, but I just want your help, to decide what should I do, that is all I want."

"Help you .. I will not only help you I will protect you and secure you, but answer me now. With what should I help you?"

"Rock, the thing is that… that…"

"Well, I'm getting anscious, and that is not a good sign.'

"Why is that?"

"Because then I must go pee.'

"Anyway, the thing is that… Rocky…I am pregnant."

A moment of silence, it was broken with Rocky's laughter.

"Really… do you really are pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Of me," he was getting happier by the moment.

"Yes."

"Wow!" he was jumping up and down, very happily. "I'm going to be a daddy." I couldn't believe what he was doing, he was actually happy for this. Suddenly he stopped. "But…what about you?" He turned to look at me.

"I don't know…I hadn't expected that reaction from you."

"But why not? This is great news. But… I am worried about you. You look very sad."

"Well, is that I don't know what to do, I can't go back to Acme."

"I don't understand why you can't, I mean Acme is your family. I believe they'll understand if you tell them what really happened."

"No, I can't. They can't know, now one has to know."

"But why?"

"It'll break Chiefs feelings, he believes in me and I just betrayed him."

"Oh…I'm so sorry, then I must apologize to him."

"For what?"

"This is all my fault, and I owed to you and I just made it worse."

"No, no it is nobody's fault, and you don't have to apologize to me nor Chief. This is my problem and I'm going to handle it. I just need someplace to stay for awhile."

"This is not your problem, this is our problem, and if you are not going back to ACME you'll stay here with me."

"But… but… I mustn't really bother you like this."

"Nonsense, bother me how? You are my girl and we'll get out of this alright I promise."

So I moved with him to his hideout the next day. I escaped during the night without saying good bye to Chief. I was sorry for what I did and I couldn't forgive myself. I don't know how much Chief cried and if he was depressed for more than a year, if he knew what really had happened he would have thrown me out or never speak to me again. So this was the last option.

That night I went to stay, Rocky received me with a happy face. It lightened me up to see him this happy. He said he was going to make me so happy that I would never feel apart form anyone. And he did.

He took my hands and went to his gang. He yelled he was going to be a father and was greeted with cheers from everyone. Everyone was salutating us and a big party was given in honor of the new headdress and the new heir to this organization.

The months passed and the news of a lost Acme detective gave out. I was having a great time, I was so happy in the gang. I learned so much from the "criminal life" and the supposed "underworld". The girls taught me the many ways of stealing objects and the guys taught me the physical abilities to use. The big leaders taught me the correct decision to make during a heist and Rock taught me how to defend myself in case I had to use alternatives like guns or knifes.

In less than six months, I was a great leader of the pack. Everyone in the underworld had heard of Chieftainess Sandiego. While Rocky took care of half of the pack, I took care of the other.

And so the days passed and that time was coming nearer and nearer.

SCENE 4

"What time?" Zack asked.

"And I though this story was PG-13," Carmen sighted.

"Argh… Zack! What happens after nine months of pregnancy?" Ivy asked him irronically.

"Aahhh…. Ooohhh…. Uuhhhh…" Zack said.

"You are short of two vowels," Carmen said.

SCENE 5

As I was saying the time of my birth was getting nearer. Rock was nervous, more than me, I think. We were all expecting a heist from NIMH at any moment and Rocky decided that we should move out for sometime.

But that was never going to happen.

That day I had been having early contractions and in the early night, I was in full pain. We couldn't go to a hospital because the police will capture us for sure. So there was no other choice but to have the baby in the hideout.

I was in extreme pain and the baby was coming. It was night when the sirens were heard. The police broke in on us and a bullet exchange between the police and the gang occurred. A small war had started and Rock was needed out.

I was in labor, so I was unable to help. He left me in a small hut with Myceane, my best friend there.

I couldn't see anything outside my hut, but the screams and the fire I could hear.

"Come on Carmen, you can do it," Myceane shouted at me. "This is for the future of the gang."

I did what she told me, it was the hardest moment in my life. Then a cry was heard, the cry of a baby, my baby, our baby.

"It is a girl, girl," Myceane was cleaning her. She then handed her to me. She was beautiful, I couldn't believe I had done that, I gave her the life. What a great moment and feeling but some noises where heard on the back.

"Carmen, get up, wrap the baby and get out of here."

"But why?"

"Get out of here, and go to the wagon on the back."

"OK," I had heard and seen the strangers in the place. Mycean took a dagger from her pocked and prepared for battle. As soon as I got out, the police broke in and attacked Myceane.

I got out in time and in front of me was Rock. He was looking at me from afar, and started to run to me. He was so into the though of seeing his child he totally forgot about his surroundings. Suddenly he fell to the ground. Someone had stabbed him with a knife on the back. Rocky faintly called me. I was inmedeatly by his side. I was holding him in my arms and he looked at the baby.

"Look at… that face…, so intriguing and caring… like yours….Yet so strong… and brave… like me….Please girll… take care of her… I want to be proud… of my little one… up there….Now be… careful you girl… make our time count… I love you… my girlssss….."

"He closed his eyes on the world, awaiting for his revenge. I didn't knew what to do, I couldn't save him," Carmen was holding back her tears now. "He was dying in my arms and there was nothing I could do. When his hand fell form the baby's lap, he had two chains connected by a heart. It read on both sides 'My heart will go on in you.' I stared at if for a moment, on one of the extremes it had a nametag with LINA on it , on the other chain it had CARMEN.

I swore that I would avenge him and his brother one day. Then reality hitted me, and I tried to revive him, pounding him on his chest, giving him air, but nothing.

"Come on Carmen," Myceane yanked my hand. "We must get out of here." She made a reverence to the deceased Chieftain and pulled me way form him. All around us there were members of my dear gang dead and the hideout was burning out.

We cramped in a van and left the hideout. I was looking through the back windows and saw a figure with Rocky's body on the roof of the Winston Building. The figure pushed him to fall of the edge but the body moved and grabbed the edge. 'He was alive.' I thought. He only pretended to die so I would get out of there fast. The figure dropped him into the fire below, I could do nothing.

"Is everyone dead?" I asked holding my tears.

"Except we four," Myceane said.

George was driving the van as fast as it could go. The police was in hot pursuit of us and caught with us on a nearby alley.

The police car crashed on us. George was killed by the impact and the van went spinning out of control and smashed against a wall.

"Get out of here," Myceane pushed me out with the baby. "Get out of here and never return."

I ran and hide myself in the alley. Mycean confronted the police, no they were form NIMH. They killed her of nearly 50 gunshots. She screamed in pain and then laughed as she fell. I still don't know why.

They ran form the place leaving a dead friend behind. I went to her, examined her, she was dead. I made a reverence to her and swore that this deed will not go unpunished. A new Carmen had been born that day.

I started stealing things from the NIMH and made myself very well known throughout the underworld and the police agencies. So was my daughter in the underworld. She was being attacked and was looked up to be killed. Many attempts were made to her and I couldn't keep control over them. She got burned in one of the attacks and that broke me off. I wanted her to be safe, to have a choice of her own. I must leave her were she could make a life of her own, but were? I though it over and over, it was hard to decide to give her away, but it was for her own good. I decided to give her to Rocky's parents, they were the best choice.

It was nearly 2 in the morning when I showed up on their front steps. They recognized me as the one that got killed their son. They slammed the door on me but I insisted on talking to them, and they gave in. I explained everything that had happen and I showed them the baby.

They were shocked to see their only granddaughter, but at the same time marveled at the issue. Edward was still angry at me but took compassion for the baby, Olga forgave me and accepted the child.

"She is now ours, understand. Don't you ever get close to her or us for the rest of your pathetic life," Edward was really mad. "We want nothing from you and she doesn't need anything from you. Now go, and peace will be settled."

"May I atleast name her?" I asked.

"Yes," Olga said, closing the baby to me.

"Rock had this chain with her name and mine on them. He named her Lina, and here is her half of the broken heart chain," I put the chain over the babies neck. "I will stay with the other half, is the only memory I will ever have of her."

"Not only that, but your last name too. You are not worthy of our pardon, and this child will be attempted to it. This is you fault!" Edward said and signaled me to go.

As I was walking away I felt terrible, what was I doing. My world was crumbling, how can this be, my life isn't worth anything. I heard the baby cry from the distance but I decided to ignore it. I ignore it as I ignore the fact that my friends were not avenged yet. Without Lina in my life, and the pressure of revenge on NIMH I dedicated full time to my life of thievery. And here I am today, the greatest thief of all times. The one that has stolen everything possible for a human to steal: life, soul, revenge, money, time, things and most importantly the future of the innocent.

SCENE 6

Zack and Ivy didn't knew what to say. This story is not what they had expected it to be. This story is to hard to swallow. No wonder it was Carmen's ultimate secret. It could destroy the future of so many lives.

On top of that the wind was starting to catch up.

"I sorry Carmen," Ivy finally spoke. "But couldn't it had been easier for you to had continued looking for the murderers?"

Some lightning was seen.

"Yes, but after that night my will power was lost. I couldn't find meaning on revenge, so I decided on a none violent way of life."

The huge thunder was heard.

"So you gave up the most precious thing in the world in order to protect her and give her a life without trouble," Zack was marveled at this outcome. "That is a very courageous thing to do, Carmen. I give you my respects."

It was clear the eye of the storm was leaving their sight.

"Thank you Zack. And by the way, I do gave up on things."

The peace was breaking down, the wind was signaling them of the inevitable.

Ivy looked around and spotted something very interesting written on one of the walls. "Hey Carmen, how did you spell NIMH?"

The forests was singing with the sounds of pain.

"It's N. I. M….."

The sky was turning monstrous.

"H.," Ivy cut her off.

The moon turned away from the disaster that will occur.

"Yes, how did you knew it had an 'h' on it."

The clouds were roaring from anger.

"I think I know why you gave up on revenge, and why you are here tonight. Look over there?"

The storm was hungry, the land sacrificed herself for it.

Carmen looked to where Ivy was signaling and she gasped in horror. There it was in vivid red colors the letters N.I.M.H..

End of Chapter 7