Fall To Dark (Carmen Sandiego 2019)

Chapter 2

           Graham's eye drifted open groggily as he felt bright light shining on his face. He groaned as he sat up, looking around him, immediately able to tell that he is in a hospital room. His head hurt as he moved, no doubt from the impact of the shock. Even though he managed to wire his weapon to stun mode, it still packed quite a punch.

Then Graham remembered, he didn't manage to place the device on Carmen. He failed her. And now, she was probably still with V.I.L.E. All his and the agency's efforts were nothing but a waste in the end. They accomplished nothing. Graham laid back down, burying his face in his palm in dismay. He couldn't help but think about what Carmen could be doing at this very moment now. She could probably be out on another caper for V.I.L.E. having fun at the misery of others. And the thought of Carmen doing something that was so out of character for her made the man feel sick and guilty.

If only he had put up more of a fight, if only he had tried sooner, the Carmen Sandiego he knew could be back to who she always was. But now, her mind was still the same as V.I.L.E. left it, and she was still V.I.L.E. faculty, and they might never get another chance to bring her back after that one time as Gray was sure that Carmen would be more careful now.

Then, as he laid there, closing his eyes as he thought of everything that happened, blaming himself internally. He heard the door open and the footsteps of someone walking into the room. Graham opened his eyes and was surprised to see the old woman in person and not as a hologram.

"My my, could this be the real you?" asked Graham smiling weakly but behind that smile there were pain and guilt.

"All of it is real this time, Mr. Calloway, the hospital stay and the jolt that landed you here," Chief said plainly.

"Ah... electrician trick, I rewired my device, making sure it wouldn't go higher than stun mode," Graham explained.

"Lucky that you did as well. Miss Sandiego could have killed you back there," Chief said. The old woman could tell that Graham was feeling down as she saw that shift in his expression.

"V.I.L.E. messed with her mind. That was not Carmen," Graham mumbled weakly. "She is not the Carmen I know and f... please... tell me you have another one of those devices," Graham said desperately.

"Sadly, we don't, that was the only prototype, but we could still build another from the blueprints we have, but it will take time," Chief said solemnly. "What will you do now, Mr. Calloway?"

"What do you mean?" asked Graham frowning.

"V.I.L.E. is still out there and to them... you're dead, assuming Miss Sandiego told them about your 'death', it would indeed put you in a difficult position if you're found out to be alive," Chief said.

"What are you proposing I do?" asked Graham.

"A.C.M.E. can give you the protection you need for now," Chief offered.

"What's the catch?" asked Graham blatantly, raising his eyebrows.

"We need your intel and what you know about V.I.L.E.," Chief said, and Graham chuckled.

"Of course," Graham scoffed. "And to think that I could walk away from all of this."

"Mr. Calloway, you're our only remaining link to V.I.L.E, the only person who knows about-" Chief persisted, she needed to know.

"If you have been tracking Carmen long enough, you would know that's not true," Graham answered. "Carmen got her team, and they can help you, and I'm sure they will be willing to help," the electrician stated plainly.