It took Vi a second to understand the double meaning of what Jinx had just said, wordplay never being something she enjoyed. But as she lugged out the covered platter, horror crept into her heart. Caitlyn...? Please don't let that be-
Jinx whipped the lid right off, not giving her sister any time to prepare, smiling maniacally at Vi's revolted reaction to the surprise underneath. The Hextech gemstone shone bright, nestled in the palm of Caitlyns right hand, the fingers casting shadows around the room as they were loosely curled around it like a dead spider. "I hope she wasn't needing that one," Jinx says in a mock apologetic tone. "She put up a real fight, so I let her pick which one I took, and believe it or not she's just like me, a righty. Strong too, but I'm stronger."
Vi's entire mind had gone blank. She had no idea what to do. This woman in front of her was Powder. She was her sister. What do I do? What can I do?
"P-Powder, why-"
"Why did I do this," she interrupted. "Why did you do this? I told you to stay at home Powder! Mylo was right! You are a Jinx," she said, her voice rising as she walked away behind Vi. Her footsteps receded for a while, leaving Vi in silence, Silco staring her down across the table, still gagged.
Vi didn't care to confront him though. She could only stare at the hand laid in front of her, guilt and fear gripping her heart. There has to be a way to fix this, she thought. Get her to a Doctor, or use some Hextech machine to reattach it. But she knew that the real problem needing fixing was Powder. Jinx. What if Ekko was right? What if she actually is too far gone?
Vi felt sick, a visceral illness as her heart fought against her mind. She is my sister, and it's my fault she ended up this way. If I could sacrifice myself to get Powder back, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but how do I get her to see it that way? And how can she go back after what she's done?
The sounds of footsteps and humming returned, slowly fading in as Jinx walked back into the room, the sounds of something heavy dragging along behind her. "Caitlyn, Caitlyn, Caitlyn," she says in the voice of an admonishing parent. "What are you doing gallivanting around with Undercity trash like Vi? Having a little bit of fun before going back to your nice life in that big house?"
Jinx comes into Vi's view dragging a barely conscious Caitlyn by her collar, lifting and throwing her into a chair with one arm, her eyes aglow with the shimmer.
Vi reacts instantly, calling out, "Caitlyn!"
Caitlyn's eyes flutter open, flicking around to take in her surroundings before they settle on the hand on a platter. Her hand. She glances down at her right arm, lifting it and looking at the stump in horror, a poorly crafted tourniquet the only thing preventing her from bleeding to death. "Vi..." she says weakly, before turning and seeing Jinx next to her.
She immediately, instinctively lurches backwards, slumping in her chair as her breathing quickens, panic evident on her face.
"Caitlyn! Calm down, please. I- I'm gonna take care of everything," Vi stammers, turning her attention to Jinx who was staring down at Caitlyn, her pink eyes full of anger and jealousy. "Powder! She has nothing to do with this! She is just an enforcer who wanted to help the undercity. She isn't like Marcus!"
Jinx turns her gaze to Vi and says, "You'd say anything to save her, wouldn't you." She turns to Silco, adding, "Liars all around, I suppose." She reaches into a pocket and pulls out a vial of shimmer. She walks over to Vi and places her pistol in her bound hands, ensuring that her finger can wrap around the trigger. "I lost my sister that night. It's about time you lose yours, don't you think?"
Vi's hands shake as Powder- Jinx stands up. "Powder, what are you doing. Please... Let's just- Let's talk! Let's get out of here just you and me, and talk about it all!"
Jinx cracks open the vial of shimmer, forcing the liquid down Caitlyn's throat before holding her mouth closed and pinching her nose, her weak struggles useless against Jinx's unnatural strength. "I'm going to give her a fighting chance against me. If you don't want to lose her, kill me. If you really are still my sister, you'd choose me over anyone, right?"
"Powder! You know you are being crazy right now, right? This doesn't- You aren't- This isn't you," Vi shouted, stumbling over her words as she began to panic, Caitlyns convulsions becoming stronger as the shimmer made up for her blood loss and fatigue.
Jinx lets her go and she pushes herself out of her chair, staggering as she coughs and gasps, looking around like a frightened bird. "What is this," she said in a scared voice, unfamiliar with the sensation coursing through her veins. "Come on, cupcake," Jinx said, using the pet name like a curse. "The longer you fight back, the more time Vi has to choose who she loves more."
Caitlyn looks at Vi, at the gun in her hands, then glances at Jinx before instantly diving for Vi. Her arms outstretched, she manages to get one finger on the gun before Jinx's hands grab her hair, halting her movement and snapping her head back. She reaches back with her stump, trying to grab Jinx's hand, the shimmer making her forget her lost appendage. Jinx lets go of her hair before kicking her squarely in the back, causing her to fall onto her face.
"Powder stop! Please! I- Why are you making me do this," Vi screams as Jinx sits on Caitlyns back, lifting her head and forcing it into the stone ground repeatedly. She stops, lifts Caitlyns bloodied face up to Vi, and with a satisfied smile she says, "Just accept that Powder is gone. You left, you didn't leave what does it matter. What happened happened, and this is who I am now. If you don't like it..."
She slams Caitlyn's face into the ground again. "If you don't like it, then stop me."
Caitlyns weak, desperate voice cries out, "Vi, please."
Vi's mind forces her back in time, cries of "Violet please, I need you," ringing out, tears pouring down her face as the gun shook in her grip, still aimed directly at her sister.
Jinx stands up over Caitlyn, letting out a sigh, saying, "Maybe I should have given her more. I thought she would put up more of a fight. Oh well." She lifts her boot over Caitlyns head, looking at Vi. "Now's you-"
Silco's needle jabs into her neck, giving her just enough time to furiously turn before her limbs became numb, falling into his arms like a tired child. "I don't lose you, Jinx. You may not like me for it, but I do not lose you," he says, ignoring Vi despite the gun she holds, knowing she wouldn't shoot at her sister.
"W-wait," Vi calls out as he turns to leave.
He pauses, turns back and tilts his head. "You really don't understand, do you. Powder is gone. Whether it's your doing or mine, the result is the same. This is Jinx, and she is perfect without you."
He reaches towards the table, plucking the Hextech Gemstone from the dismembered hand as he leaves. Should I try to shoot him? What if I shoot Powder? Should I shoot Powder? Vi is silent, wracked with confusion, pain, and guilt, doing nothing as Silco walks away with Jinx limp in his arms.
The second he is out of sight, Vi turns the gun downwards, pressing the barrel against the knot of rope holding her legs together. She squeezes the trigger, the ball of rope exploding as her legs come free. She kicks off the edge of the table, tilting her chair back till it collapses, the wood splintering beneath her, ropes coming loose as she shakes herself out of the wreckage of the chair. She grabs a knife off the table, turning it towards her before slowly sawing through the ropes that bind her wrists.
She drops to her knees next to Caitlyn, her already pale skin a deathly shade of white, her face covered in blood from what was definitely a broken nose. She held her head up, ensuring she was alive, hands shaking as she tries to think. She could have died... What's wrong with me?
Caitlyns eye's flutter open as Vi gently strokes her hair, opening her mouth and letting out a pathetic, "...Hey."
Vi shushes her gently, tears in her eyes as she says, "I'm sorry, Caitlyn... I'm so sorry this happened. I'm gonna get you to a doctor, and you're gonna be alright, ok?" Unless Powder comes back into the situation... Will I just sit there, unable to take a side again? Why is this happening to us of all people...
She lifts Caitlyn, the limp woman's head nestled into her shoulder as Vi leaves the burned down factory, to the only friend she might still have down here. Maybe Ekko was right about Powder. Maybe she's...gone. Vi steeled herself, tears drying on her cheeks as she walked through the Undercity towards the Firelights hideout. Caitlyns uniform drew attention that was immediately steered away by the protective glare Vi wore, allowing them to reach the hideout unassailed. She made sure no one else was in sight as she made her way carefully through the secret labyrinth of abandoned alleys and tunnels, making sure to keep Caitlyn as clean as possible. She would undoubtedly have a far worse time dealing with any illness she picked up here than the average undercity native would.
As they finally arrive at the hidden entrance to the Firelights hideout, Vi sets Caitlyn down, leaning her against the wall as she catches her breath. Caitlyn was slim, not weighing much at all, but the trek still took a great deal out of Vi. She raised her fist and banged three times on a metal sheet riveted to the wall, the sound echoing around the empty hallway. From above, a voice calls out, "Password?"
Vi, exhausted and frustrated, shouts, "I don't know... I'm Vi, an old friend of Ekko. I'm on your damn mural. Please just get this girl some help! She is hurt!"
The source of the unseen voice pauses for a moment, then says, "Wait here."
Vi rolls her eyes and mutters under her breath, "Where else would I wait..."
The wall suddenly opens behind her, startling her as she turns around, blindsided as Ekko wraps her in an embrace. She is shocked for a moment, then returns the embrace. He pulls away and quickly motions to two Firelights to grab Caitlyn, whisking her into the hideout, following behind as fast as he can on his crutches. Vi takes this time to say, "Ekko... I think I know a little more about what you mean about Powder."
He looks at her with a harsh expression. "Was that after she shot at you, after she tried to blow me up alongside her, or when she did that to your girlfriend," he says in a voice bordering on anger. Vi looks away, the reality setting in for her. Ekko's tone softens and he says, "Hey... I get it. I froze too. I had the chance to stop her, but I couldn't. We've all had a hell of a week. You're welcome to stay for now, till your Pilty is back on her feet. And Vi...?"
He stops walking, grabbing Vi's arm for emphasis. "Jinx really seems to have it out for this Caitlyn girl. If you don't want her to suffer any more than she already has, keeping her around is a bad idea..."
Vi pulls her arm out of his grip and continues walking. "I know that... I already cut myself off from her before coming back down here. Powder didn't get the memo, apparently. I need to be there for her right now... I'll figure it out later."
They enter the infirmary, Caitlyns bed one among nearly a half-dozen. As a doctor cleans and dresses Caitlyns wounds, wrapping her stump with a bandage, Vi sits on an overturned bucket, holding her other hand. "Just rest now, Cupcake. I'll be here when you wake up."