Blood Warning

Remember the D-

Carmen POV

I was fighting for my life on the edge of a cliff when it happened. I saw him. Somehow, VILE had managed to turn Gray back onto a path of evil, and catching a glimpse of his achingly familiar face in the middle of a battle with Tigress was more than enough to catch me off guard.

In my momentary surprise, Tigress lashed out a clawed hand, making contact with my face. Pain rocketed through my eye, coursing down to my cheek as I screamed and stumbled back. My hand flew up to the torn flesh, blood already seeping through my fingers. Only able to see from my right eye, I bit back another yell and tried to dodge Tigresses next blow, failing miserably. I was thrown to the rocky edge by a kick, skittering dangerously close to the drop.

"CARMEN!" Ivy and Zack were shouting from somewhere to my right, anger and fear erupting into their voices.

Trying my best to hold a whimper in, I struggled shakily to my feet, blood and dirt gritting between my teeth.

"Aw," Tigress stopped a few feet in front of me, popping a hip and giving a wicked smile. "Is the runt bleeding? Why don't I help you with that!" With a yowl, she left forward, reaching her claws towards me.

To my surprise, however, someone slammed into Tigress at that moment, throwing her away from me. She snarled and jumped to her feet, but stopped. I did the same.

It was Gray.

"Crackle, what are you doing?" She growled, enraged. 

"Get out of here, Pussy Cat." He snapped, his eyes angry. "Carmen's mine." There was so much loathing and hatred in his voice that I flinched, taking a foolish step back.

My foot slipped, of course, sending me plummeting down.

A hand snagged me before I could even scream.

Breathing heavily, my face torn and bloody, I blinked up at Gray with my good eye, crying. "Why are you helping them? After everything they did to you, Gray, why-"

"It's Crackle."  He said harshly. "And it's you or my sister. One of you has to go."

I shook my head. "No, Gray, we can save her. Just let me-"

"No! They already have her!" His voice broke, tears pricking his eyes as his grip on my hand tightened. "They have her right now. They're watching us, making sure that I- that I... kill you."

I sucked in a pained breath, glancing to a hill farther away. On it stood Zack and Ivy, being held captive by VILE operatives. Next to them, a trembling girl with familiar brown hair was tied up, a gag in her mouth.

"She's all you have left, isn't she?" I whispered, my vision dimming.

Gray made a choking sound, his eyes suddenly terrified as he nodded. "Carmen, I can't lose either of you. You're all I have left, too."

Smiling sadly, I took in a deep breath and blinked at him again, the action causing my to flinch as pain spiked again. "It's gonna be OK, Gray. Don't worry. I know what to do."

There was no way that I was going to put myself before an innocent girl, especially since she was being used to control Gray. I did know what I needed to do. Gray wasn't going to have to choose between me and his sister.

Because I was going to make the decision for him.

"Make sure Zack and Ivy get away, okay?" I gave him a weak smile, the taste of blood overloading in my mouth. "They're my family. And family always comes first, right?"

Gray's expression morphed into a mask of horror as he realized what I was about to do. "Carmen, no-"

"I love you." I whispered, giving his hand one last squeeze before letting go of it.

There were screams as I fell, my consciousness gone before I even hit the ground some 120 feet below.

Gray POV

"No, no no nonono! Carmen!" Gray couldn't hear his own voice, only feel his vocal cords shake as he screamed, watching Carmen's limp form fall into the darkness of the chasm below. Sobs rocked his body, and he clung to the rocks until they cut into his skin. Holding up a trembling hand, he stared at the blood on it.

Not just his.

It was her blood.

He had let her die.

Rage suddenly filled his veins, and Gray stood, angry and mournful tears dripping from his chin. He would keep his promise to Carmen and get Zack and Ivy away, along with his sister.

Carmen had sacrificed herself for his family. If he had to do the same for hers, then, well.

He would.

At least that way he wouldn't have to live a life without Carmen Sandiego.