CARMEN, riverdale.

' wicked '

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   "WHY IS it that it's always you who get hurt?" Robin had a frustrated look on his face as he looked at her, concerned. He had sat at the edge of her bed, looking at the girl who had her gaze downcast.

"Just stop worrying, Dad, I'm still alive, aren't I?" Carmen blurted to him, her eyes pleading.

"One day you won't be!" Robin throws his arms up in frustration. "You hear me?! I can't always be there to keep you alive but everyday you just keep getting hurt! Do you always expect me to be there to save you when shit gets tough? Carmen, I have a life to live!"

"Then stop trying to save me, Dad!" Carmen snapped back, her eyes filled with angry tears. "Stop trying to save me because I'm not asking for you to do it! I'm not asking you to drop everything for me, I can take care of myself!"

"Yeah, that was clear when you got taken and died," Robin's tone held a hint of sarcasm, and immediately after he said that, his expression turned into one of regret. "Carmen, I—"

"If I was such a burden, you shouldn't have revived me that night. I'll be late for school," Carmen spat, her eyes had a hint of anger but they were tired. She scratched at her wrist as she got up, walking past him towards her bathroom, thankfully knowing that it was connected to her closet. There was no way she'd come out of the bathroom in a towel, even if her life depended on it.

She locked the door behind her, turned the shower on. Tears stung her eyes as she leaned her hands against the sink, looking at what seemed to be the shell of herself in the mirror. He was right, everyday, she seemed to always get hurt.

Carmen stripped and went to stand underneath the damn cold water, although freezing, it was slightly calming. That sense of calm disappeared moments later when an image flashed in her head, drowning under the pool, the searing pain. The brunette falls to the floor, the water pelting down on her skin. She holds her hand against her mouth to muffle the sobs, she was only glad that the breakdown decided to hit her fully in the showers. Their grimy hands gripping her skin, Carmen clutched herself. Her arms hugged around her figure as if forming a shield.

She raked her hands through her hair, curling into a ball as she angrily changed the water setting, turning it into a scalding temperature that burnt at her skin, it was better than remembering she had died. If she had stayed dead, would she have been more peaceful? Immune to pain?

The water seemed to have drowned out her sobs, but not to Robin. He knew full well, she'd be crying again. He sighed to himself, slamming his closet door and walked down the stairs. Maybe they needed time apart, he didn't think he could handle it any longer to see her get hurt everytime.

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   "HAVE YOU been crying?" Kevin softly gasps at Carmen's bloodshot, swollen eyes. The girl gave a weak chuckle, shielding her eyes slightly.

"That obvious, huh?"

"Oh my God, was it about last night? Jesus, Carmen," Kevin pulled the girl in an embrace. There was a strange vulnerability seeming to surround her that day, but she did a good job at making people question if it was her or them because her eyes never seemed to have a change in their coldness and confidence.

"Just a few bad dreams and a mental breakdown, nothing I can handle. Did I miss anything after I left last night?" Carmen patted Kevin's back.

He seemed to remember something, because sympathy suddenly fills his eyes. "My dad wanted me to ask you if you remembered anything from the incident when you went missing. Did you?"