At the base of the mountain looking through the trees’ noticing the commotion. Something was going on. Something they needed me on. I double time it finding the path Helena and I made in the brush. My mind not reacting at all to the tumult of emotion pounding inside of me. Finally made my way across and Hunter salutes me and is trying to say something.  He is out of breath from running trying to get to me. Its plain as day that he has something to say. Something about a woman beaten and bruised maybe dying. Something that I am not getting.

“Come on man. Stop and breathe. Breathe. That’s it. Ok…..you all right.”

“Yes…..Shane…….we found her….she infiltrated the base……..”

“Ok…..it’s a woman…..is she alone?”

“Yeah the boss lady is with her…she is really messed up Shane…those Hellfire fucks really messed her up.”

“Where are they?”

“Shane…….the boss lady wants you to see her before you go the infirmary.”

“Hunter…”

“Shane!”

“Helena…..what’s going on…..why is everyone standing around like this…?”

“Come with me…we need to talk.”

“What the fuck! I don’t need to talk. I need this burning feeling in my stomach to stop. I need the people under me to stop treating me like I am a fucking child.”

Unreal flash of an argument with Helena. After the Hellfire Club sacked my old home. Helena yelling at me because I went out alone on a mission. Getting back and her accusation that I left to go see “her.” that all I cared about was “her.” Unreal moment. A recognition in her eyes when it finally hits me. The thing they didn’t want to say. The words they couldn’t spell out. The hurt and jealousy in Helena’s eye. It was “her.”

I shake my head not believing it.

‘Its Carmen isn’t it?”

“Yes. They found her on at the entrance. She was dumped….”

“Where is she?”

“Shane….”

“Helena, where is Carmen?”

“Hunter told you she’s in the infirmary……”

I break to the direction of the infirmary.

“……….Shane, she won’t make it past tonight….she is dying…..”

“She’ll make it…..”

Tbc……