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Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past.

Mateo sat perched on a rooftop, watching as Carmen Sandiego disappeared into the night. The gleam of her crimson trench coat flickered like a fire against the ink-black sky, as if the very shadows parted to make way for her. Her silhouette melted into the darkness, leaving only the distant echo of her footsteps and the memory of her audacious charm lingering in the air.

He had been following her for years now, and still, the feeling of awe and fascination never quite left him. It had started at V.I.L.E. Academy, those years of structured chaos where the world's most skilled thieves honed their craft. Back then, she was a star—bright, untouchable, untamed. And no matter how many times Mateo found himself watching her, from across the classroom or in the middle of a heist, the connection they shared—or rather, the lack of one—remained as enigmatic as ever.

It had been years since their days at the academy, but the memories of Carmen never truly faded. And tonight, as always, he found himself drawn to her, an invisible tether that pulled him back to those days when he first realized the gravity of his feelings.

Mateo—*Umbra*—wasn't the type to show his emotions. In fact, the very nature of his job required him to keep his feelings under tight control. As *Umbra, he was a shadow, the embodiment of stealth and secrecy. He had perfected the art of blending into the background, an unseen observer in a world of high-stakes heists and dangerous players. And when it came to V.I.L.E., he was the top of his class. There were few thieves more skilled than he, fewer still who operated without leaving a trace.

But Carmen Sandiego? She was different. She had been different from the first moment he had seen her at V.I.L.E. Academy. His eyes had followed her even then, unable to tear away from her magnetic presence. She was clever, unpredictable, and, at times, downright mischievous—qualities that made her a legend even in the cutthroat halls of V.I.L.E.

But the one thing Carmen always had that Mateo lacked was the confidence to act on what he felt. The academy had been a pressure cooker of competition, where emotions were considered vulnerabilities, weaknesses that could lead to a downfall. There, the only thing that mattered was efficiency, power, and the will to take whatever you wanted. And yet, Carmen had always seemed to exist above it all. She had an effortless elegance, a way of being both brilliant and reckless, and somehow, it made Mateo feel small in comparison.

He could never bring himself to speak to her. There were moments when their eyes would meet across a crowded room—those moments when his heart would race and his pulse would quicken, and for the briefest instant, it felt like there was something more between them. But it was always fleeting. Carmen never seemed to acknowledge him beyond the occasional glance, and Mateo was far too afraid of what might happen if he let his emotions slip to even attempt a real conversation. Instead, he retreated into the shadows, watching her like a ghost.

At V.I.L.E., no one could afford to care about anyone else. Relationships were a liability. Even friendships were merely transactional. But for Mateo, who had always been the quiet one—the one who lingered in the corners of classrooms, the one who worked tirelessly to hone his skills without fanfare—there was always something more to Carmen. She was an enigma that his mind could never quite puzzle out. He was drawn to her, in ways that both excited and terrified him.

But it wasn't just admiration. Over time, his feelings had grown—complicated, confusing. There was something more than just a fascination with her skills. Something deeper that scared him, something he had never been able to explain. Yet, in the shadows, he continued to watch her, to observe.
After every mission—every heist, every task for V.I.L.E.—Mateo would carve out a moment of solitude, where he could slip away from the chaos of his responsibilities and find his way to a quiet vantage point, hidden from view. There, he would wait, often for hours, simply to watch Carmen. Whether she was outsmarting guards, executing one of her trademark pranks, or simply strolling through the streets with her usual carefree air, he couldn't bring himself to look away. It became a ritual for him, one he couldn't break, even as it gnawed at him.

Tonight, as he followed her through the shadowy corridors of the high-security building she was infiltrating, his eyes never left her. Every movement was precise, calculated—just as he had expected. Carmen moved through the vaults with the same ease that she had always exhibited back at V.I.L.E. Academy. She was in her element, completely untouchable. And he was here, as always, in the shadows, unable to get any closer, unable to let her know he was there.
For a brief moment, he found himself remembering a particular night at the academy, a night that had left a lasting impression on him. It had been just before their final exams, when Carmen had pulled one of her trademark pranks on Professor Maelstrom. The way she had made the entire class laugh—even the hard-nosed instructors who would have never dared show any weakness—was something Mateo had never forgotten. And in that moment, with the room echoing with laughter, he had felt a spark of something—a connection that he had never been able to explain. But he had buried it deep, deep inside, because there was no place for such emotions in the world they inhabited.

Tonight, as he observed her in the same effortless way, a strange tug in his chest began to stir. Was it that feeling again? That connection that he had tried to suppress for so long? It felt different now. The stakes were higher. Their paths had diverged long ago, and yet, here they were, in the same city, chasing the same prize.

He was no longer just a shadow in her world.

For the first time in years, Mateo felt an urge—an almost desperate need—to step out of the shadows. To stop being a mere observer. He had never been so aware of his emotions, never so consumed by the need to act. But the instinct to stay hidden, to remain anonymous, kept him from making a move. It was too risky. His role was clear—*Umbra* did not reveal himself.

But his heart was no longer in the mission. No, it was in the dangerous game he had been playing with Carmen for years, one that involved far more than just stolen jewels and hidden agendas.

The sharp ring of his communication device pierced through the stillness of the night. He pulled it from his jacket, his fingers trembling for the briefest of moments. It was an unexpected interruption, but he had no choice but to answer.

"*Umbra," he said, his voice low, steady.

"Mateo," the cold, authoritative voice of The Professor crackled through the speaker. "I trust you've been keeping an eye on Sandiego? You know what's at stake here. Do not forget your purpose."

Mateo's jaw clenched at the sound of the Professor's voice. It was a familiar tone, one that reminded him of his obligations—of the years he had spent working under V.I.L.E.'s command, executing mission after mission without question. He was good at it. Too good. But tonight, as he looked out at the darkened streets, his mind felt clouded.

"I'm watching her," he replied, his voice devoid of any hint of hesitation. "She's making her move."

"I expect results," The Professor's voice was final, commanding. "Do not fail me."

The line went dead. The device clicked off, leaving Mateo alone with his thoughts once more.

He remained on the rooftop for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on the distant city lights. The sense of inevitability tugged at him—he had a job to do. He was *Umbra, a shadow who was paid to operate without remorse. But Carmen... she had never been just another target. She had always been more than that. The emotions he had buried for so long were starting to break free, and he didn't know if he could control them any longer.

For the first time, Mateo wasn't sure what the next move would be. Would he stay hidden, as always, or would he risk everything to protect her? To stand beside her, even if it meant confronting the tangled web of feelings he had been hiding for years?

He looked out into the night, the call from The Professor still lingering in his ears. The tension in his chest seemed to grow tighter with every passing second. Carmen's silhouette was fading into the distance, but for once, Mateo didn't want to just watch her disappear.

Something had to change.

And he wasn't sure he could remain a shadow any longer.