Art of McKenzie Wolfe

This is the outfit that McKenzie(Carmen) is wearing when she first goes outside and gets her memories back. Just ya know, with shoes. I also realize that the bandage is on her right arm instead of her left, but when I first drew this I was planning for her right arm to be hurt, and I just changed that later.

Alternate Ending:

Before I actually get started on this, let me tell you when it happens. In Home, what you have read, Carmen picks up two crackle rods with the intention of knocking Coach Brunt out and escaping. As you know, this doesn't happen, and things get really bad really quick. In my original writing, this isn't even CLOSE to what goes down. The alternate ending picks up at the point where Carmen is grabbing the crackle rods. Here you go. Enjoy. 😉

Carmen dodged yet another one of Coach Brunt's fists, scrambling to grab a second crackle rod from a fallen operative as her former mentor lunged after her. She whipped around at the last second, adjusting the two stick's settings as she shoved them both into the cloth of Coach Brunt's track suit. The VILE instructor froze and growled painfully as Carmen turned the dials up even higher, electricity snapping around her. The larger woman scowled, fury hidden into her green eyes as she fell to the finally fell to the ground, immediately unconscious.

 Breathing heavily, Carmen let the crackle rid drop from her shaking hands. She glanced around wearily as the adrenaline faded from her system, causing her whole body to ache in places she hadn't known possible. Several operatives were scattered across the clearing, also knocked down and out. Many had drawn back and were now eyeing her with fear, as if wondering if they should attack her again.

The thief laughed at their cowardice and gave them all a particular vulgar gesture. "You don't control me!" she yelled almost happily, picking the knife up and chucking it to the compound. "You never did, and you never will!"

Carmen resisted the urge to spew more curses at them and turned away from VILE, walking painfully to the sunrise-lit jungle trees.

The chapter would've ended here, with the next one called: Not a Happy Reunion originally going like this.

Ivy ran to Carmen, scooping the frail red head into her arms. Her friends gave a weak cry of pain as her wounded arm bumped against Ivy's own, causing the Bostonian released her and kept her from crashing to the ground.

"Carm? Carmen, I need you to look at me." Zack helped his sister pull the thief to her feet as blood dripped down her hand, and she blinked at them with tired eyes.

"She needs immediate medical attention," Shadowsan instructed.

"There should be a hospital just-" Ivy started, eyes wide and scared.

"No," Carmen interrupted, her voice dreadfully quiet. "No hospital. Not this time. I just want to go home." She started to tremble, tears lining her eyes. "I've been dealing with this pain as long as I can barely remember, it makes no difference to me. Please," she whispered. "I just want to go home." The thief's eyes rolled up into her head as she crumbled, muscles going slack.

"Carmen!" Panic shot through Ivy, and she scrambled to catch her limp frame as Zack did the same, and Shadowsan appeared in front of them, first aide kit in hand.

"Set her down gently," he muttered, concern glimmering in his dark expression. He got to work as the siblings watched in silent terror.

"Shadowsan, what are we going to do?" Ivy whispered, her gaze flicking over the scars and blood marring Carmen's pale skin.

"Despite her wishes and my want to respect them, I do not currently have the tools to treat shock, trauma, and major blood loss. We need to get her to the nearest hospital as soon as possible."

"Okay." They both nodded, neither willing to argue.

Next chapter, called: A Thief's Return

Carmen woke with a start, blinking groggily against the dim sunlight that was streaming into her eyes. Letting out a small moan, she moved to sit up, but a familiar pain in her left arm caused her to thump back down to the red sheets, whimpering.

Wait, red sheets?

The thief glanced around at her surroundings, emotion pricking her eyes as she realized she was in their San Diego headquarters, laid out in her room. In her bed. Not a cot. Not a cold concrete floor in a dark, hopeless cell, haunted with the metallic scent of her own blood.

She had escaped VILE alive.

Carmen gave a broken smile to the ceiling, tears sliding down to the corners of her mouth as a laugh started to bubble itself in her throat. "Ivy," she yelled softly through deep breaths, her shoulders quivering. "Ivy, Zack," she repeated. "I'm awake." She had just finished her words when warm arms were suddenly wrapped around her neck as Zack and Ivy appeared.

"Carm," they both whispered, their blue eyes smiling and filled with tears. Ivy cradled Carmen closer, sobbing. Zack helped the thief sit up.

"You've been asleep for two weeks," he whispered.

Carmen blinked. "Two weeks?" Shock resonated through her. How had she possibly lost even more time?

Zack nodded, biting his lip. "You lost a lot of blood, Carm. As soon as they told us that your vitals were strong, we got you out of there as soon as we could, but Shadowsan said that if you didn't wake up from your coma soon enough he'd take matters into his own hands."

She paused. "So you did bring me to a hospital?"

Zack nodded again as Ivy put a hand over her mouth. "We almost lost you to the infection in your arm, it caused a fever that kept threatening us with 106 degrees." She shuddered, blinking back tears. "Can-can you move it?"

Carmen shifted out of Ivy's embrace to look down at herself. "I'm... afraid to even try," she admitted, eyes running down the thick bandages that reached her wrist.

"That's OK," Zack said, his voice weak.

The thief only managed a slight nod, which probably wasn't very reassuring.

After a moment, Ivy sucked in a breath and glanced up. "Carm, what did they do to you?"

Carmen shivered and laid back down on the pillows. "Tell me how long I was gone, first."

The siblings glanced at each other, eyes swirling with emotion. "Six weeks, two days, and five hours, give or take a few," Zack responded sadly.

The red head sighed. "I didn't know how long it had been." She paused, then closed her eyes. "They did a lot of stuff. Not all of it was terrible, just... most of it." Wincing at the painful memories, Carmen told them of her time with VILE. Her mind had been wiped, her back whipped, her arm practically maimed, her spirit broken. And yet...

Here she was.

Safe, in the arms of her family, with hopefully thousands upon thousands of miles between her and VILE. Maybe later she'd have to explain to Shadowsan why she had made him leave her, or fly herself out to Niagara Falls so that Player could yell at her or hug her if he wanted. But that was later.

Carmen closed her eyes, choking back small tears as Zack and Ivy squeezed her hands lightly. "We'll talk in the morning, Carm," they whispered.

She nodded, her mind already clouding over with fatigue. But before she could nod off, Carmen said, "Zack? Ivy?" 

Their footsteps stopped, indicating that they were listening.

"I really missed you." She didn't hear their responses as the first restful sleep she'd had in a long time claimed her.

Welp, that's what would've happened had I not killed off Coach Brunt.

Yep.

Sorry.

Anyway, that scene does not relate to ANYTHING in the actual writing, please remember that. Or, if you want to keep the happy ending in mind and forget all the angst I put you through, go ahead and do that, don't read book two. (Shrug) Your choice cough cough *Not Really* cough cough.

Now, continuing on!

https://youtu.be/PWVTfNz45GE

The above video is a podcast on YouTube about Carmen, it's basically a review/reaction podcast by Crimson Sin, it's super good and I would recommend it HIGHLY. He's such a fanboy and so in love with Carmen right along with the rest of us, it's literally so funny and adorable. XD

https://youtu.be/2SYdCUdL2Fw

Now, THIS video is Marco Polo by The Relay Company. Really good song, I'm including it because it mentions Carmen Sandiego in it.

I don't really need any other reason than that, do I?

No, I don't, and you know it.

Now, by special request of a big CS fan like myself (you know who you are) here's the title for book two! Please note that this is MY idea and I fully claim it, please don't steal it, that's just rude. And, if you did, everyone else reading this would know it was mine first and would help me hunt you down. So.

Official title for the sequel to HOME:

Just Let Me Protect You // Book Two

I would release the cover, too, but I REALLY don't want that getting stolen because it honestly took me WAY too long to make. And yes, I've already made it. Even though I've just barely started writing book two, I created its cover two weeks ago.

You're welcome.

Anyway, I believe that concludes the extras, and, therefore, officially concludes Home in its totality! Again, thank you SO much to everyone who read, commeneted, and voted and added Home to reading lists, that's a huge honor for me and one of the only reasons I kept writing.

Also guys, WHAT THE HECK!?!?

5,985 READS AND 274 VOTES!!!

THAT'S INSANE!

ALMOST 6K LET'S GOO!!!

I love you all! Have a wonderful day (sorry sorry, sandiego-tastic day, almost forgot to pull that one last tine) and STAY SAFE!

I look forward to seeing what you thought of HOME!

And, if anyone wants to guess who the new faculty member is, I'd love to see what you come up with. On to book two!

Love you!

-Pug_Moneyz55 (Bex)