The Silver Wolf

Chapter 7

Warning: Semi graphic depictions of injuries. Just blood and stuff, nothing too bad.

(Carmen's POV)

I was waiting in my cell, bored out of my mind. After I had fought Jules, I had been taken back to my cell. Coach Brunt was very frustrated that I had seemingly no problem with fighting their newest recruit, sending me off with the recruit from before. As I was thinking back I let out a small growl of frustration. I was so close to removing the mask, so close to freeing Jules. The operative in charge of guarding me turned back, annoyed.

"Could you cut that out? I'm trying to concentrate here."

I looked them up and down, surprised. I hadn't noticed that the student guarding me had left, only to be replaced by an actual operative. I wondered what their 'thing' was. They were wearing a blue blazer with a dark grey button up. They had a lighter grey tie, but the most surprising thing was their hair. I had seen operatives with natural dyes before, but I looked and I saw blue hair, pulled back with copious amounts of hair gel.

"So, you work for Countess Cleo?"
I could tell just by looking at them. The way they dressed, the fact they could have their hair however they wanted, and the fact they were looking at information on 'The Girl with The Pearl Earrings.' I knew the countess had wanted it; I had foiled that caper a few months ago. Of course, with me out of action, VILE thought they could take whatever they wanted.

"I work for all of VILE, but yes, I do work mainly for her."

There was a loud noise and 5 figures came bolting out of a nearby room. I saw the operative follow the group with their eyes, yelling at a yellow haired girl.

"Tai, what have they done this time?"

The girl, Tai, turned back and ran over to the operative.

"Oh, you know, same old, same old. Fire in the kitchens, all that stuff."
She looked behind them at me.

"So, Lucas, this is the Carmen Sandiego we've been told so much about?"

Lucas. That was the name of this mystery operative. With a heavy sigh, Lucas placed down his tablet, and several art supplies? I looked at the canvas they had put down and gasped. It was an exact replica of The Girl with The Pearl Earrings!, or the start of one at least. Noticing me admiring the painting, Lucas smirked.

"Once I'm done, no-one will be able to tell it from the real thing!"
He turned back to Tai, clearly proud of himself.

"So, what did you and the others do this time? Aren't you banned from the kitchen?"
Tai smirked, clearly proud of herself.

"Riot got out her guitar, sent everyone into a rage, the usual."

Lucas let out a snort. With a start, I realised that I was learning a lot about these operatives, and began mentally noting everything they said.

"I leave you lot alone for an hour to take over guard duty, and you set fire to things? It's a wonder we haven't all been booted out yet."

Lucas got a light punch on the arm, and Tai started laughing.

"It's because the model can't bear to not have her paintings. If you didn't hang out with us we would have been long gone. Anyway, you down for a girl's night?"

I saw Lucas bristle, and Tai tried to fix it.

"You know what I mean. It's just called that for simplicity. When you're done on guard duty, we'll be in the dorms. Bring explosives."
As Tai turned to walk away, more doors came bursting open. Lucas shot her a look, but she responded with one of confusion. Curious I walked over and looked, seeing a stretcher being rushed down the hallway. An idiot operative who got themselves hurt probably. I was turning back, when I saw a flash of silver. I looked, and Jules was lying there, blood all over her head, her arm sitting at an awkward angle.

"JULES!"

I cried out her name, hoping that by some miracle, she would wake up. She would remember her past. She would leave. As she stayed on the stretcher and got rushed away, I sunk back on my bed. This was my fault. I'm the one who beat her in that fight. I'm the one that got her sent off. She probably got punished for loosing. I don't know how long it's been, but it feels like a while. Has Bellum been torturing her this whole time? Was another operative sent to do it to her? I should have never fought her, never tried to get that mask off. It's my fault that she ended up like this, my fault that she may... I shook my head. Jules would survive this. She had to. Without her, the faculty had no leverage on me, no way to keep me in line. As sickening as it was, I knew she would survive. Despite this, the thoughts kept echoing inside my brain.

"You did this."

"It's your fault."
"You weren't quick enough."

"You're the reason she even got captured."

My head swirled, and I tried to hide under the covers of my bed, curling up into a ball.

"I didn't know, it's not my fault."
As much as I tried to deny it, I knew I caused this. I was the reason for all of this.

"You're pathetic, can't even save one person."

I started to cry, whispering reassurances to myself.

"It's not my fault, it's not my fault."

For every time I reassured myself, there was a voice refuting me. I stayed under the covers for hours until I heard frantic panting from outside. Slowly, I looked out the cell bars to see an operative running. They turned, and I managed to get a good look at their face.

"Jules?"

So sorry that this one is mostly filler, alternating back and forth is hard when you need one character to progress. Lucas and Tai are VILEsonas, Lucas belonging to me, Tai belonging to D.C on discord. Hope you enjoyed, you better prepare yourself for some major angst next chapter!