fallen | ✓

Chapter 34: "Fate"

Carmen's POV

The buzz of my radio in my pocket startled me. I grabbed it and held it up to get a better reception. I faintly heard Bishop's rough voice on the other end. "C-C-Carmen-n." The feedback was still scratchy. I ran to a hill and it cleared. "Carmen are you there?"

I pressed my finger down on the side button. "Yeah," I responded.

"You need to come back." He said urgently.

"Why?" My face contracted slightly.

"I need to talk to you." He said, his voice softening slightly. I was silent for a long moment. Then his voice broke back into my thoughts. "Carmen?"

"Yeah. Where?" I asked. He took a moment of satisfaction before answering.

"Meet me at the second floor of the SandShark's Mall." He said.

~~~

It took a while to walk back. I got lost a few times, actually. With time, I finally got to the big plaza, sliding under the garage entrance. I went up the stairs to the second level, and across to the other side. But oddly, no one was here. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows.

Phantom! The same man that saved me from the SandShark! I opened my mouth to speak before he removed his hood and bandana, sliding down his goggles to straddle his neck. As soon as he gave me a smile, I instantly knew who it was.

"Bishop." I smiled. He stepped toward me, towering over me with his height. I stared up at him.

"As you can see," He said in his baritone voice. "I am two people." He grinned. But then his smile dropped. "But that's not the only reason I called you here, Carmen." My heart sank for a moment and I raised a brow. What else did he have in store for me? "It's about Joao."

My hand fidgeted. His stare bored into me. "What's it?" I swallowed. He frowned a bit.

"You are aware that he's a Black Water Barracuda, yes?" He asked. I nodded firmly. "The BWB's are slavers, Carmen." A rush of panic flooded through my body. I stared at Bishop, not knowing what to do. But he continued on. "He enslaved a woman and did... Unspeakable things.." My blood roared in my ears and it became difficult to breathe. "Carmen, he's killed tens, maybe hundreds of innocent people.."

My gut tightened and my gaze fell to the floor. He put his hand on my shoulder. "You know you're one of my VERY good friends. I hate to see you spend so much time with someone as dangerous as him." He frowned upon me.

"Bishop, when I look at him," My voice was strained. "I don't think 'slaver' or 'killer'." I grit my teeth. "I think 'friend'."

Bishop didn't hesitate to prove me wrong. "Would you really want to be friends with a person who is a threat to your friends, just for merely talking to you?" His voice went softer.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"You need to get him out of your life." He said firmly.

"I can't do that." I shook my head. "I just feel like running from all this shit."

"I'm afraid you can't run away from this one, Carmen." He said gravely. His radio suddenly buzzed and he picked it up, lifting it to his ear. "Yes, sweetie?" There was a muffled cry on the other end. "What's wrong?" I held my breath, staring at him. "Daddy'll be there soon, okay? Just hang on." He looked to me and took a deep breath. "Carmen, I'll see you later." He informed me. "My kids are in danger. See you around." Then he dashed off.

I stood there for a while, numb. I didn't know what to do. Was I going to go back to Crane Town? No. I needed some time alone. Eventually, I went to the open area, down into the subway, using the stairs. I ran through the tunnel, my destination clear in my head. I was going to that abandoned sewage apartment.