CHAPTER 5:1

"Excuse me?"

The lady behind the counter was talking fervently into a phone while reading a cheap gossip magazine. Her back was turned towards Caitlyn and she waved at the sheriff to leave while squealing in delight as her friend told her something.

"Piltover National Library and Governmental Archive has just closed, so come back another day," she said before continuing her almost incessant chattering.

I'm not in a mood to play nice for especially long. Caitlyn frowned in annoyance but she patiently tried again. "Hello, I'd like to gain access to old news articles. Where can I find them?" she wondered in her most polite tone. "It's rather urgent, I must assure."

The librarian finally seemed to hear and turned around with a snappish answer on her lips. But when she saw who the commanding voice belonged to, her expression of irritation was immediately replaced with an excusing smile. She was very pretty with sophisticated, blue eyes and long, blonde curls and seemed genuinely ashamed of her behavior, but Caitlyn observed the sudden change of demeanor with an unexplainable chagrin.

Oh, so now I'm important enough for you to stop ranting about your nails? Pathetic. "Good afternoon," stated Caitlyn coolly. "Now did I at last catch your attention, Miss?" she added with the smallest hint of sarcasm and smiled.

"Oh no, eh, Sheriff–" She whispered something into the phone and flung it beneath the wooden counter. "I was just... having a small crisis. Boyfriend and family and... other things. I hope you don't mind, Sheriff."

Caitlyn crossed her arms. No not really, it's not like my friend just died on me and I'm trying to protect Piltover from erupting into total chaos. It's not like I have a life outside of my job and it's not like that is in ruins as well. It's not like I'm facing what could be our nation's downfall all alone and without any aid. "It's fine." She huffed. "I'm just flattered that you decided to talk to me. Thank you, Miss. It really does brighten my day."

The librarian's cheek flared with heat and she averted her gaze in shame. "I do apologize, Sheriff." She hesitated before continuing with a low voice, even though there was nobody else around. "I heard what happened on the radio. You have my condolences."

"I don't need your sympathy!" snapped Caitlyn angrily and slammed her gloved palm on the counter. The woman yelped and recoiled but Caitlyn was able to snatch her by her neatly ironed shirt. She pulled the librarian back towards the desk and met the latter's terrified gaze with a cold glare.

What am I doing?

"I want to know where the library keeps their stocks of old news articles," demanded Caitlyn with a now calm voice. "Please."

"W-what year?" stammered the woman and gulped as Caitlyn's grip around her blouse tightened. "P-please don't hurt me, I'm only trying to do my job."

Caitlyn ignored her pleading. "About a decade ago, plus minus two years. I'd also like to review all the copies you have of police records at the same time," she replied sternly.

"I-I can lead you to there, if you'd like," answered the librarian and nodded. "I'll even help you find the correct information."

"Didn't expect anything else," said Caitlyn and let go off the woman who staggered backwards a couple of steps before regaining her balance. Their eyes met.

So this is what true fear is like, thought Caitlyn indifferently and straightened. Interesting; none of the criminals I've ever caught looked at me like that. Very interesting. "Don't let this happening transpire out into the public," she said politely, although the threatening aspect of her words was undeniable. Her expression hardened. "If I hear even the slightest rumor about this, I'll not only deprive you of everything that's of some worth to you, but I'll make you taste real desperation and fear." Caitlyn smiled. "I could arrest you or have someone watch you, but wouldn't that be such an infuriating and unnecessary precaution? I don't like poor investments nor useless expenditures. So I'd suggest you to abstain while I'm being this quite generous, Miss...?"

The woman was stunned by the harsh words and had a difficult time responding. "I-I-I'm... I..."

"Miss," said Caitlyn calmly. "What is your name?"

"M-my name is Valery Johnson," she answered hesitantly. "B-b-but 'Val' is alright."

Caitlyn shook her head. "Sounds like a dog's name." She gestured for the woman to step around the counter and the librarian obeyed immediately. "Lead the way, Valery. And be quick about it; I don't have all day."

As the two started walking, Caitlyn suddenly felt someone watching her from behind. She instantly whipped around and analyzed her surroundings, but there was no sign of anyone anywhere. Reassuring herself that she was just a bit jumpy after the abrupt death of Miranda, she slowly turned back forward and followed Valery.

Umm... where am I?

"Don't fright, Officer. You're alright."

Vi tried to open her eyes but found that her left eye was covered with bandages. A severe headache was clouding her mind but she slowly noticed that her gauntlets were gone. Vi groaned in pain and moved her arm to touch her face, but realized that she was bound by her hands and legs to a stretcher on top of a stone table. There was an empty chair next to her and the room was completely dark save for a lonely light bulb hanging high above her.

Damn, did I say that out loud? "Where... who are you?" she asked with a sudden flare of anger. "Where are my weapons?"

"Nobody you know, of course," answered the male voice coolly, ignoring her second question. "But you arrived in company with an old friend of mine. Jayce."

Viktor. "Bastard!" she exclaimed and struggled against her shackles. "Where is he?"

"He's fine, no worries," replied the Zaunite from somewhere behind her. "You, on the other hand, are in a much worse shape, I'm afraid. Since you remember Jayce, I guess your long term memory is intact, but what about more recent events? Hmm? How did you hurt yourself?"

She tried to turn her head towards the voice but a sharp pain intercepted her movement. Vi grimaced. "I..." she started, "I think I hit my head. In the ground."

He chuckled. "Correct. You lost consciousness and got a rather nasty wound. I've already tended to it but you'll always have a scar across your eyebrow. I apologize for the incident; I didn't think Jayce would bring someone with him. Tell me, what do you two have in common? I thought he fancied the Sheriff."

"Stop lurking around in the shadows, you coward!" she yelled furiously. "And let me out of here! Where is Jayce? Where are my gauntlets? You can't hide them from me!"

A tall man suddenly emerged from the darkness to her right. He wasn't unattractive – not at all – with black, long hair and striking features, but the reason why Vi stared at him in shock was different.

Brilliant blue eyes regarded her in what seemed like amusement. His skin was covered by thick pieces of metal and the same blue light that shone through his eyes were flowing through his body in a regular rhythm. He seemed to have no problem moving but it just looked wrong when his synthetic muscles moved in harmony with his few human body parts. Vi had never seen anything like the man in front of him and couldn't even imagine what pain Viktor must have gone through to end up like the creation he was now. He was a techmaturgical monster.

He is... he is completely fucked up, she thought, horrified with what she saw. No wonder everybody calls him crazy. He totally is. "Wow, nice costume," she mocked. "Oh wait, that's not a costume. That's you."

"There's no point of taunting me, Officer," he replied with the slightest smirk. "This is nothing compared to what's been done to you." Viktor's smile widened.

Vi tried to frown but the pain lashed back at her and she groaned. "What are you talking about, crazy? Oh, my gauntlets? No, they're just an accessory. They match your face perfectly."

Viktor approached her slowly and rested his cold, robotic hand on her shoulder. Vi tried to shrug it off and was even able to slip away for a slim second, but he persisted by brusquely shoving her back with such power that she lost her breath.

"Calm down, it's not like I'm trying to cut you up or anything," he commanded sharply. "And don't scream, because nobody will hear you. Don't force me to do this the rough way."

Vi tried to calm her breathing. Don't panic. There's obviously a reason why you are here and not in some stereotypical prison cell. "And what could that be, freak?" she wondered sarcastically. "You can't make me talk. I won't spill anything about Piltover."

Viktor smirked. "This has nothing to do with Piltover," he replied and huffed. "Like I care about attacking it. It's a strong nation and you are good friends with both the Demacians and the Yorldes. Even a fool would think twice."

"Then what do you want?" she asked venomously. "I won't answer any of your questions."

He sat down on a chair next to her and crossed his legs. "Oh really?" he said and raised his eyebrows. "What I want to ask you is of something completely different, I assure you," continued Viktor casually then lowered his voice. His strange eyes locked with hers and something of a smile flickered past his lips as he spoke. "Wouldn't you like to know where your sister is?"

"Here you are."

Caitlyn didn't even bother lifting her gaze from the table. "I appreciate it, thank you," she replied and held out her hand. "Hand them over. You got the tea as well?"

"Yes, Sheriff, I did exactly as you told me–"

Caitlyn raised her other arm as well. "Give me both. Now," she ordered.

"Yes, Sheriff."

The time had been more than late when Valery finally managed to find the door to the right archive. They had been walking in the underground corridors for longer than Caitlyn found it pleasant, but the reward for enduring the boring walk in the seemingly endless, but well-lit, tunnels had been worth it. The poor librarian was thereafter forced to find everything Caitlyn thought was even the remotely associated with her case, and had then carried it all the way back. Valery was fortunately stronger than she looked and hadn't dropped a single sheet of paper during their return. Caitlyn didn't know why she suddenly made use of her dominant position as the Sheriff or Piltover, but she actually liked it somehow. When they finally found a good place, she had made Valery fetch her some cupcakes and tea-to-go by an expensive café just outside the library.

I won't do this ever again, promised Caitlyn silently and sipped her hot beverage. The light from the desk lamp shone brightly onto her papers. I'll never make use of anyone again. I just had to try this one time to get a feeling of why so many other people do it. I'll apologize to her, I will. "Thanks for the tea," she said and kept her voice indifferent. "I really needed it after a day like this. Sorry for the treatment earlier as well; I wasn't myself."

She saw Valery move to a seat next to her in the corner of her eye. The blonde woman smiled. "It's alright, I shouldn't have said anything. I don't even know you. I apologize as well for insulting you."

Caitlyn nodded and changed subject. "You can leave now." She put down her tea on an unoccupied spot on the table and sighed. "Thanks for the help, yet again."

Valery nodded. "It's no problem," she replied. "You can stay here for as long as you want. Don't worry about the doors when you leave; they will lock automatically when they close." She seemed to have something more to say, but she refrained from speaking and quickly rose up from the chair then vanished into the now dark library. The sound of her heels faded away and Caitlyn could distantly hear the large building doors open then close.

Finally, she thought and sank down in a chair, feeling genuinely relieved by the librarian's departure. Now I have everything I need to finish this mystery. Even if it'll take me by the end of the night to finish this, I'll be damned if I give up before it's solved.

With a determined look on her face, Caitlyn gently started processing the stacks of yellowing police report files on the table. She rapidly glanced through them all one by one and sorted them by relevancy in a range of five piles: the oldest to her right, by her cupcakes, and the most recent to her left, by her tea, and the rest in between. Hours passed as she read through the files from her right to left and her tea and cupcakes diminished in the same tempo. There was nothing that caught her attention in any of the oldest newspapers she had had Valery bring up, and neither in the latest. All the headlines were of usual things, such as the abnormal weather or a new, groundbreaking invention, but for about eleven years ago, the Piltover Daily had covered the happening of an elderly janitor's death at a private school.

This must be the janitor I used to know, mused Caitlyn and found a pen and a notebook in her bag, immediately scratching down the date. November 4th. She sipped the last of her beverage and placed the empty cup beneath the table where it wouldn't be in the way before reading the short article.

"'A fifty-nine years old caretaker died in the most horrible way at the Primary School of Logic yesterday afternoon'," she murmured. "'It was around three o'clock when a teacher at the mentioned school encountered the dead body and called for emergency. The man had seemingly fallen down from the roof but there were no witnesses to affirm the truth–' What?"

Caitlyn furrowed her brows. But I was there, I talked to the police... there was no teacher. I was. I called for help. I alone. What is this nonsense? Maybe it's explained further on.

She continued reading out loud. "'The forensic scientists explained this morning that the body had been crushed almost beyond recognition and it was impossible to judge how the man had jumped for his body to be so utterly destroyed. They have theories which might be determined in a later stage what, how and why the man died like he did, but they are almost a hundred percent assure that it was a case of suicide'."

Wrong, wrong, wrong. That wasn't a suicide, it was definitely a murder.

The article ended with the journalist's name: Harper Brent. Caitlyn wrote it down into her notebook and edited the date to November 3rd. She also scribbled down the oddness about the teacher and the word "suicide" next to a big question mark.

Caitlyn put the newspaper to her left and kept it in place with her elbow while searching for the right police file. She held her pen between her lips as she carefully pulled out a thin folder out of one of the stacks in front of her. The Sheriff browsed through the neatly sorted reports until she found the right one.

"Hmm... let's see," she mumbled and quickly glanced through the text. There was nothing interesting but the identity of the janitor being revealed. She put down the useless paper with a sigh and decided to reread her notes instead.

So let's check if I got it alright. "Unknown teacher reported the death of the janitor," she stated dryly. That's a false statement since I was there by myself, but when I think about it... I wasn't the one who called for help. The police just showed up. How odd. Maybe it was someone from the school or in a building close to the school. But then again, I was the one being interviewed and not some teacher. That should have been worth mentioning if the journalist knew of it but I guess she didn't. There is only one solution to this.

Her eyes were growing heavy and Caitlyn yawned. I should probably retire for now and try again tomorrow morning when I'm alert. I've already gotten more than I thought out of this spontaneous trip and it seems like I'm forced to visit this "Harper Brent". She stretched out and yawned again. Only a little more. I have to check if there are more articles about this...

She didn't even notice when she fell asleep.

"What are you talking about?"

Vi tried to sound calm but it was impossible. Her thoughts were racing in her head and bashing against each other. Is Viktor the one who wrote me those letters? How much does he really know about me? How did he find her? She couldn't hide her shock and Viktor smiled contently.

"Well, she's a faithful customer of mine," he said nonchalantly. "She has a very big mouth, I assure you." He cocked his head to the right and examined her. "You are actually rather similar. I would easily have been able to tell without even knowing. The same chin and forehead... a resembling nose... but your eyes are what really defines your origin."

He's talking about me and her almost like we're experiments. Vi huffed. "What's with my eyes? Do we share the same color?" she asked mockingly.

"No, I didn't mean that," replied Viktor in amusement and shook his head. "It's the feeling of wrongness. Like you were never meant to exist." He chuckled. "I can only tell it since I'm as twisted as you are, officer. But you must realize that you're as mad as me and your sister."

"Fuck off," she snarled and glared at him. "Fuck off, or I swear I'm going to crumble your pathetic junk of a body until you can't even recognize yourself."

"Don't be rude to someone who's only trying to be nice," he answered indifferently. Vi was satisfied that at least his smile was gone. "I know the secret of your whole life. I know where you were born, where you grew up as a child and why you were put through the things that you've been forced to forget. Wouldn't you like to hear it yourself?"

Vi didn't know what to say. If what Viktor just saidis true but I deny it, I'll probably never stumble upon an opportunity like this again. I won't ever be able to find out the truth about my past... and neither will I ever understand my sister how and why she became what she is. But if it's false, and I accept... no, my instincts tell me he's honest about this. But there must be a catch...

"What do you want in exchange for never telling anybody about this except me?" she inquired suspiciously. "I guess you want a pretty hefty sum or some crap about getting access to the Academy."

"Tempting, but no thanks. I actually just need your help with a thing that I promise you'll enjoy." Viktor sighed. "It's about your sister. She's getting out of control more with each day and risking destroying a project of mine. I want you to deal with her and I'll tell you everything you want to know."

"What project? And how do I know you aren't lying?" she immediately asked. "I am in no position to bargain; why don't you take her out yourself? You wouldn't lose anything that way."

He shook his head. "The project is my secret," he calmly replied and crossed his arms over his chest. "And no, don't consider things in such a brutal way, officer. You aren't completely powerless even down here. I can't kill you nor hurt you because that would anger your friend and I'm not keen on waging a lonely war against whole Piltover and probably the Institute of War as well. Therefore, I cannot force you to do anything."

This guy and Cait would get along perfectly. Wow. "If you now posses such respect to the laws of war, why are you keeping me bound?" snapped Vi and pulled at her shackles. "You afraid of me?"

"No," he said, "I'm definitely not. But you would probably try to attack me and hurt yourself in the process." Viktor gently knocked on his metallic arm. "I'm more steel than man now. Think twice before you strike me. So what do you say about my offer?"

Vi exhaled heavily and stopped struggling. She stared up into the lamp above her and swallowed before speaking. Her mind and heart had already decided what she needed to do, and she could only hope she was choosing the right path.

What a sleeping beauty you are.

Caitlyn immediately snapped to consciousness and rose from her seat with such force that it fell backwards. The sharp sound echoed away into the emptiness of the library as she quickly examined her surroundings to find the source of the voice.

"Who's there?" she called sharply and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "I heard you, now come out from wherever you're hiding."

Nobody answered and she huffed in annoyance. "Don't you know who I am?" She tried again and stared into the dark. There was nothing but old shelves filled with books and occasional flashes of light from the cars passing outside. "I am the Sheriff of Piltover, not some thief. I have all right to be here, so don't think you've caught some pathetic imposter. Come out now, wherever you are."

She heard nothing but the pattering rain against the windows and harsh blowing of the wind. Caitlyn sighed. Seems like I'll have to find the joker myself, she realized and her forehead creased in irritation. I don't have time for this. Maybe I just imagined something. I am tired and exhausted, and I even fell asleep on a table in the library. Vi would've reveled at the sight of me.

Caitlyn looked around for one last time before relinquishing her thoughts as nothing but superstition. She picked up the chair and pushed it closely against the desk. I ought to return home now. I should have decided to do that before I embarrassingly enough slept through an hour or two. Despite the rain, there should be of no major issue to walk the short way home.

She picked up her bag and pulled out a thick scarf she fortunately had decided to bring during the morning, and wrapped it around her neck and head to cover her from most of the rain. When she finally was satisfied with her provisional protection against the storm outside, Caitlyn turned to the desk and wrote a note for Valery, pushed down the files she found useful into her bag and turned off the desk light. Her bag was heavy but manageable, and she left the library in swift strides.

The early autumn weather was rough and Caitlyn hugged her denim jacket tighter around her body. She hadn't foreseen the tempest and wasn't properly dressed for neither the rain nor the wind, but especially not for the cold. Her teeth started chattering ever so slightly but she decidedly clenched her jaws together and moved her legs even faster. She didn't live especially far from the gigantic library, only a couple of blocks away, and Caitlyn reached the tall apartment building in less than ten minutes, although freezing and completely drenched.

She opened the gates to the small courtyard with a key and firmly closed it behind her. Lightning shattered the black clouds above her, illuminating the whole city with its blinding light during the blink of an eye, and an almost deafening rumble followed afterward. Caitlyn hurried to the doorway both tired and startled, and stiffly inserted another key to open the door. Entering the warmth and the lights of the building made her exhale in relief and she just then realized how scared she had been.

The dark... it still haunts me even today, she bitterly thought and started heading up the stairs all the way to the fifth floor. I can't even use the elevator. It's too frightening. Damn... what's wrong with me?

Caitlyn finally arrived at her apartment and found a third key to unlock the door. She swiftly sneaked in and closed the door behind her. Another bolt of lightning pierced through the dark skies and she didn't dare to turn on any lights, but unfurled her scarf and placed it on her coat-hanger together with her jacket. Caitlyn pulled off her boots and gently placed them to the side. She was soaked into her bones and shivered as she walked to her kitchen and found a candle and a box of matches.

I'll take a hot shower and then straight to bed, she thought decidedly and lighted the candle. Maybe a cup of tea, though I don't want to risk malfunctioning anything with this sudden storm...

Caitlyn headed towards her bathroom with the candle in her hand. She entered and put her rather savage source of light on the sink, then started undressing. When she was done, she hung her clothes over the radiator and took a quick glance in the mirror.

An unknown necklace adorned her naked chest.

Caitlyn blinked a couple of times in disbelief, thinking that she was only imagining its existence, but when she opened her eyes and looked again, the necklace remained. She hesitated before touching it and approached her reflection with slow steps.

A soft-pink gemstone was encased in what looked like gold, and a thin chain in the same material as the latter was carrying the thumbnail-sized jewel. Caitlyn unlatched the rich ornament from her neck and held it up in the cozy light of the lonely candle. There were no engravings on the necklace and she couldn't recall seeing it anywhere in the stores. Her memory was rarely wrong and she trusted her instincts: the necklace was handmade, done by someone very skilled in the area and with much care. It looked extremely expensive, but beautiful in its simple way.

Great, then that's figured out, she sarcastically noted and shivered again, but this time it wasn't because of the cold. Someone got into the library and was able to put it on me without awaking me. Someone was able to do that and then disappear without any trace. She gritted her teeth together. What an infuriating bastard! How can he do all that? How does he get so close to me? How?!

Caitlyn threw the jewelry across the bathroom and trembled in frustration as she stepped into the shower. The water burned against her cold, quivering skin and she soundlessly screamed in anger as tears streamed down her face.

C – who is he?