Yet another Tiny Blood Warning

Sorry

Zack and Ivy were hidden in the dense jungle trees, watching the building that stood on the other side of a wide clearing. Shadowsan was in the forest, looking for any other signs of VILE. When he got he back, their plan was to make their way into the compound, locate Carmen, and get her out safely.

It definitely wasn't as solid as Ivy wanted it to be.

"Hey," Zack muttered to her. "when we find her, do you think-"

The sound of slamming doors suddenly rang out through the night, startling them. Zack hefted his binoculars and stared at a moon-lit figure that was racing for the tree line, right towards them. There was a weary lurch to the persons movement, as if they couldn't move correctly. Zack blinked. "That's Carm." Then, louder, "Ivy, that's Carmen!"

"What?!" Relief hit Ivy like a tidal wave as she saw that her brother was right. She stepped out of the bushes and waved her arms, careful to keep her voice low. "Carm, over here!"

The thief's head jerked, and her entire body seemed to spasm with shock as she saw Ivy. But then she was running to them frantically, panic written across every angle of her face. As she neared them, Ivy could see -by the light of the moon- that Carmen's hair had been cut to just below her shoulders, and dark bands were wrapped around her torso and arm.

Carmen was just mere yards away when she stumbled and collapsed to the ground, her left arm twitching violently as she seemed to bit back a scream of pain. Zack and Ivy were instantly to her, kneeling as if to help her up.

Something in their friend's eyes stopped them.

The thief looked up at them and gave a sorrowful smile. The corners of her mouth twitched as blood dripped from them, and she disappeared in a sudden crack of blue light.

Ivy stared at the hazy imprint of a person, which was also gone far too soon.