Chapter 6 - The Firelights
Having arrived at the Firelights hideout, Vi had screamed so much at her kidnappers that she had a hard time continuing to do so, and gave up. Almost as soon as they'd arrived they put a bag over her head, not allowing her to see where they were going. Then after a bit of a walk they stopped and the sound of a heavy door could be heard opening.
"Come on, in with you!" Someone behind her said, pushing on her back to make her move.
"Fuck you." Vi said back with her hoarse voice. This awarded her a hit to the back of her head, although not very hard but still fucking annoying. After she'd been guided forward for about 10 steps they took hold of her shoulders and pushed her down, binding her wrists to something she was now leaning against.
"You gonna leave me here to die now is that it? Fucking cowards." She heard someone spit on the floor close to her. Seriously? Fuck these guys!
"Stop." Vi heard someone say right after. And then their footsteps walked away from her, the door closing behind them.
Well… What the fuck now? Just when I finally get to meet Powder again and they FUCKING TAKE ME AWAY FROM HER!… fuck. Not having the energy to really do… anything, Vi just sat there and tried to get in as much of a comfortable position as she possibly could, given the situation.
Powder… seems like she's been treated okay over all these years at least. She almost seemed unnaturally strong honestly. And she's grown really beautiful… Powder really did grow up huh? I mean her long braided hair and that tattoo I saw on her arm and stomach, going down towards… okay stop. Now you're getting weird. Vi shook her head, embarrassed by where her thoughts had taken her for just a second there.
Around 30 minutes later she could hear someone groan behind her.
Huh? Someone else is in here? Did they kidnap Powder too?
"Powder!?"
"Ugh… no… Caitlyn…"
"Caitlyn!? They got you too?"
"Yes. Guess that's what I get for trusting YOU."
"Well you haven't really been very open yourself."
"I'm not the one who walked us into, not one, but two of Silco's traps!"
"This isn't Silco, it's someone else."
"Yeah? How do you know?"
"Cause we'd already be dead if it was."
"Oh, how nice. So when were you planning on telling me that your lunatic sister works for him!?"
"Just as soon as you were planning on telling me what the hell you're actually doing down here! And she's not a lunatic!"
"I told you the truth!"
"Bullshit. What was that glowing stone you were so focused on earlier, huh?" There was a slight pause in the conversation as all Caitlyn responded with was a sigh. "Yeah that's what I thought." As soon as Vi finished speaking the door to wherever they were kept opened up and someone walked inside.
"Who's there? What's going on?" Caitlyn asked to whoever had entered. Caitlyn was however ignored and Vi started resisting something just a few seconds after the door had opened.
"Hey, stop! Get your fucking hands off of me!"
"Leave her alone!"
"Let me go!"
"Vi?" The door closed again and Caitlyn couldn't hear Vi's voice anymore. "Vi!… Vi!" Shit! Where the fuck are we? And what are they gonna do with Vi…
"Where the fuck are you taking me!?" Vi was hit on the back of her head after constantly having yelled at her unknown escort.
"Shut up." Was all the person told her. Vi growled a little in reply but felt that trying to get information out of whoever it was, was probably pointless. After a short walk, Vi was sat down on the ground and tied with her arms behind her back to something again.
Seriously? They gonna leave me somewhere again now? the bag over Vi's head was suddenly ripped off her head.
Huh, guess not. Who the fuck is this guy? Vi looked at the guy that had taken the bag on her head off. The mask he'd worn earlier was now fastened to his waist. The same mask she'd punched so many times in the fight earlier today.
Wait is this the guy that I… When Vi started looking up at his face he looked down at her and cracked his neck sideways, back and forth, as if to say 'Fuck you for hitting me'.
So it is him… yeah fuck you too bitch. He walked over to another guy sitting still, his mask still on.
"Hey, I've brought her." He said, nudging him on the leg to wake him up from his light sleep. The guy sitting motioned with his head for him to get out, and so he did, leaving Vi and this other unknown masked guy.
So what the fuck does this guy want then, still having his mask on, fucking pussy. "You shy? Or just ugly? Hell maybe even both." Vi asked him, anger apparent on her face. The masked guy stood up in response, putting his bat down to the side and approached Vi.
Really? That's enough to make him mad? Hah. As the guy got closer and closer, he stopped and moved his hands towards his face. So you're finally gonna take it off huh? Good for you. As he took off the mask and held it in his hand Vi could now see his face and it was indeed—
Wait… Ekko!? What the fuck?
"You look good for a dead girl."
"Ekko?" Ekko looked at Vi with a judgmental glare and opened some kind of device that contained the small blue crystal that Caitlyn had been looking for all this time unbeknownst to Vi.
"What do you know about this?"
So Ekko got a hold of it in the end huh? What the fuck even is that thing? What was Powder doing with it?… "Nothing. What the fuck is this all about? Why did you kidnap me!?" Ekko ignored Vi's questions and asked more of his own.
"What were you doing with Jinx?"
"Her name is Powder! And I just found her when you and your goons showed up out of nowhere!" Vi stood up as she was shouting at Ekko, clearly very angry with him for what he'd done. What the fuck Ekko? Why are you being so fucking suspicious of me? "It's me, Vi. Same person who used to take you down to the junk heap and hose you down when you got covered in grease!"
"That was a long time ago. People change."
"Yeah. I've noticed…"
"Are you working for Silco?"
Is he fucking serious right now? "Fuck. You." Vi shook her head in disbelief.
"I thought you were dead Vi, now you show up with some fucking Piltie and give her a tour of the lanes?"
"Wait, you were following us? Why didn't you say something?"
"I didn't know If I could trust you!"
"Yea, maybe you shouldn't cause I'm not sure if I can fucking trust you after what you did."
"What do you mean?" Vi spat on the floor to let some of her rage out.
"You took me away from my fucking sister!"
"Jinx isn't your sister anymore, she's changed, a lot."
"We've all fucking changed Ekko! We were doing just fine before you arrived and fucked it all up!"
"No, you don't get it. You don't know what she's done."
"I don't care. She's my sister, that's all that matters."
"Fine! I'll fucking explain to your thick head why we can't trust her." Ekko started explaining about a lot of the things she'd done over the years and how she'd come to work for Silco. Vi was concerned to hear some of it but in the end couldn't really believe that her little sister would ever do some of the things he said.
Fuck this, I've heard enough. Vi managed to get out of her handcuffs and when Ekko wasn't looking approached him from behind.
"That's enough Ekko." Vi said making Ekko turn around to the sound of her voice and received a straight punch to the face from Vi, throwing him flat on his butt.
"What the fuck Vi!?"
"You fucking deserve that after you all just came out swinging like there was no tomorrow."
"Gee, wonder who I learned that from."
Fuck, maybe I hit him a bit too hard? Vi thought as she looked at Ekko sitting on the floor, rubbing the side of his face slowly. No he deserved it Vi, he definitely did.
"Ah, well you should've learned more. You still punch like a fucking kid."
"And you still block with your face."
"You've definitely grown up, standing up to me even though you're down…"
"As you said, we've all changed."
God dammit Ekko… Vi sighed and offered Ekko her hand which he took hesitantly, getting helped up to his feet and brought into a tight hug by Vi.
"What are you?" Ekko asked, confused at the sudden show of affection.
"I fucking hate what you did Ekko, taking me away from my sister like that. But, it's still good to see you again after all these years, I'm glad you've survived."
"Vi I…"
"No, just… let it be for now." Vi hugged Ekko even harder powering through his guard, making him hug her back and crying just a little bit at finally feeling loved again by his long lost 'family member'.
Over in Jinx's hideout, sounds of a girl quietly sobbing and groaning with pain occasionally could be heard. Jinx had taken a couple of hits in the fight earlier with the Firelights. She'd left a small trail of blood after her as she made her way over to her little workstation table and sat down.
You lost her. She could hear Mylo saying right away as she sat down to treat her wounds.
"I didn't lose her! They took her away from me!"
She cares about that topsider girl, you saw how she acted.
"No! You're— you're wrong, she was there for me! Not the topsider."
Remember her name? One could almost hear that Mylo's voice was enjoying taunting Jinx at this point.
"Why would I remember her name?" Jinx got ready to take her first dosage of pain suppression. Soon she would forget the pain, she kept telling herself.
She's taking Vi away from you.
"She's just some stupid topsider wannabe hero! Vi would never leave me for someone like her!"
Are you sure about that? Jinx wasn't having this conversation anymore so injected more and more pain suppression into herself until the voices in her head got quieter and the pain from her wounds started disappearing. Now having a clear head Jinx could finally think for herself.
That girl… Vi called her Caitlyn right? "Caitlyn…" She must be working together with the Firelights or something. She didn't know that me and Vi are sisters either. Tough luck bitch, Vi is mine. NOT YOURS! Jinx started laughing out loud at the absurdity that someone would ever think to take Vi away from her, especially now that her sister had returned from the dead. Jinx leaned back and spotted a glowing green bug flying above her, a Firelight, attracted to one of the many lights In her hideout.
You don't deserve her. She thought just before 'playfully' imagining shooting the glowing bug with her fingers. I'll kill you, Caitlyn. Jinx stood up from her chair and started picking up all of her equipment, it was time for war.
You take my sister from me when I finally get to meet her again… I'll kill you, I'll kill all of you fuckers. Jinx thought as she started leaving her hideout, ready to kill anything in the way to her sister. Hold on Vi, I'm coming. Just need to find this fucking hideout of their first, guess it's time to talk with Silco…
Back in the Firelight hideout Vi released Ekko after a long hug.
"So, where the fuck have you taken me? And when do I get to go back to Powder?" Ekko let out a sigh, having hoped that Vi would let the topic go.
"Vi… Powder is, gone. You'll have to accept that. Everyone calls her Jinx now, even she herself does."
Powder did… tell me to call her Jinx, didn't she… "She might not be the same Powder as back then and maybe she calls herself Jinx now, but doesn't change the fact that she's my sister Ekko. I have to talk with her about… everything."
"I think you're making a mistake Vi… but I can't really stop you. I thought you'd seen enough when you saw how she fights."
"Yea, but I also saw how she was when she doesn't fight." Ekko just gave Vi a disapproving look.
"Anyways, let me show you where we are."
Fucking finally "Yes, it'd be nice knowing where I am." Ekko turned around and walked towards the door. When he opened it the light entering the dark room they were in blinded Vi temporarily. Outside you could hear kids cheering happily and people talking. Above her head was green leaves…
Green leaves!? Vi looked over to the center of the hideout and in the middle of it all was a huge… Tree!?
"Is that a real tree!?"
"Pretty cool, huh? When I first saw it, I knew this was the place for us. If a single seed could make it down here, then so can we."
"You… built all of this?"
"I wasn't alone… After Vander… died. Silco flooded the lanes with shimmer. He didn't care what it did to people. Everyone here was an addict or a victim because of it. They needed somewhere safe to start over." Fuck I… I missed all of this because of that fucking prison… if only I'd just never left Powder back then I…
"I should have been there for all of you…"
"Thinking like that is a good way to drive yourself crazy. If I'd have gone with you back then, then maybe none of this would've happened."
"Or maybe you'd be dead, or… changed…" My sister is still alive in there, I know it.
"Your sister's gone, Vi. All that's left is that crazy lunatic Jinx and she belongs to Silco."
"No. You're wrong Ekko. I know she's still in there after I got to meet her, I saw it, I know it. I CAN reach her."
"You can't."
"I can!" Vi put her finger on Ekko's chest to prove her point. Ekko didn't believe her in the slightest though.
"I know my sister."
"If you say so… I've got one more thing to show you by the way. Come on." Ekko walked away, expecting Vi to follow him, which she did.
You're wrong Ekko. I know that whatever she is now, she's still a sweet girl on the inside. My girl.
A short walk later arriving at the base of the huge tree Vi was shown a gigantic mural that had a bunch of faces painted on it. Some of the faces included her own, Powder, Vander, Mylo and Claggor.
"This is everyone we've lost. The price of our freedom. Some of it was enforcers. Most was because of Silco… and Jinx."
"Ekko there's no way—"
"Your sister works for him not because she has to, but because she wants to. I'm sorry Vi but that's just who she is now."
Pathetic. "You've given up on her way too easily. The fact that you even put her face on this mural made for DEAD people, tells me enough. I won't give up on her like you've done."
"We tried to save her from Silco for a while you know? But she changed pretty fucking fast. She never trusted us enough to willingly leave Silco."
"No shit. A bunch of people with masks show up and wants to 'save you' from the person that feeds you and gives you somewhere to sleep at night."
"You don't know enough to make a good decision here Vi."
"Maybe you're right… but I'll be making fucking sure I know enough by talking to her. Not making assumptions about how her mind works."
"Are you willing to work for Silco if it meant you'd get your sister back?"
"What? No I would never—"
"Seriously."
I don't know… I don't think I'd have to if I just show her love again… right?
"Exactly… maybe think about it for a bit. Your sister is tied to Silco now." Ekko finished and started walking away.
"Hey, where you going?"
"Did you forget? We brought another girl with us you know?"
Another girl?… Caitlyn! I forgot… "Caitlyn! Shit, I actually forgot…"
"Can we trust her?"
"Trust her? I don't think you'd wanna trust her with everything but I can tell she's a good person at heart. No reason to keep her here, or… whatever else you had in plan for her."
"I see… I'll take your word for it then. Come on, let's go release her." And so they started making their way to where Caitlyn was held, still tied up and blinded.
After a bit of a walk Ekko stopped infront of a thick looking metal door, unlocking it and swinging it open. Inside sat Caitlyn in complete darkness, now only the light from the door leaking in. Vi walked inside and got behind Caitlyn while Ekko took of the bag from Caitlyn's head.
Who is this? Where's Vi? Caitlyn thought as she looked up on the man standing before her. "… What have you done with Vi?" Caitlyn asked Ekko. He just looked at her confusingly before turning around and sitting down by the door, looking at her.
"Let her go, it's me you want. I was the one that—" Caitlyn got interrupted mid sentence as she felt a tap on her shoulder and a girl with pink hair looking down on her.
"I'm fine Caitlyn…"
"Vi!? I thought… I thought they were torturing you or something!"
"Nah, apparently the 'leader' of the firelights is and old friend of mine." Vi said looking over at Ekko sitting by the door.
"I… see…"
"Vi tells me I can somewhat trust you." Ekko said to Caitlyn. So, you get a pass back topside, that's it."
"A… pass back?"
"Yea, you don't belong here topsider."
"I don't belong here? I'll have you know—" Vi put her hand on Caitlyn's shoulder, interrupting her again.
"Caitlyn. You really don't belong down here, you know it." Vi said with a bid of a sad smile on her face. It wasn't like Vi didn't want Caitlyn down in the Lanes but people who aren't born and brought up in the Lanes usually don't manage to survive for long if they decide to stay. Caitlyn sighed in defeat, she knew they were right.
"Come on, let's go" Ekko said, beckoning both Vi and Caitlyn to follow him.
When they got out of the dark creepy room that Caitlyn had been held captive in she was shocked just like Vi had been.
What is this place. It's… beautiful… Caitlyn thought as she slowly followed behind Ekko and Vi. Birds were chirping and kids could still be heard in the background playing and chatting with each other.
"This place is… beautiful." Caitlyn said to no one in particular. Vi and Ekko turned around and looked at her, both smiling just slightly.
"If your people had your way, this place would've been ash and rubble." Ekko said.
"It's all a misunderstanding. They think you work for Silco."
"Your people hunt us like animals! And Silco pays them to do it."
Silco pays the topsiders to… to hunt them? That just sound… Vi thought as Caitlyn and Ekko started their argument.
"That's not possible. You're wrong." Caitlyn said in response.
"Say that one. More. Time." Ekko's body was starting to tense up and he was leaning forward to Caitlyn.
Ah shit, this is getting a bit too out of hand now. Vi thought as she started walking up behind Ekko, walking between them and pushing them apart, separating them from each other.
"Ekko, she believes what's she's saying. Our worlds are so fucking different we just can't understand each other, okay? I don't think she wants to be your enemy. Right?" Vi said looking to Caitlyn but Ekko scoffed at what she said and quickly responded.
"Oh, yeah? Then what's this?" Ekko took out the blue crystal from his shoulder strapped container and showed it to them both, Vi had already seen him with it earlier though.
"You got it. You have to let me take that back."
"Why should I?" Ekko asked her, putting it back in his container securely, clearly not trusting Caitlyn enough to so easily give it away to her. Caitlyn sighed, not sure how to make them understand how important that little crystal orb was.
"What is even that thing?" Vi asked Caitlyn.
"It's a gemstone. It was stolen during one of the attacks on topside. Your sister was the one who stole it."
Why is she saying all of this now?… for fucks sake. "What you just, forgot to mention that earlier? Come on Caitlyn…" Caitlyn not wanting to start that argument continued explaining what the 'gemstone' was truly capable of.
"Someone with the right knowledge could be able to build any kind of Hextech device with it. If enforcers are becoming more… aggressive recently, then that gemstone is definitely the reason."
"We… we could beat Silco with this." Ekko said.
"That won't solve things." Caitlyn said back.
"Easy for you to say. Your people aren't dying all around you."
"Ekko, it's wrong what's been done to you. You'd be well within your right to keep it. I couldn't blame you, really."
That gemstone… Powder had that when I met her, I wonder what she was using it for… Vi thought as she looked over at Ekko, curious as to what he was thinking about right now.
"But if you keep it… this cycle of violence and death will never stop. This is our best shot at setting the record straight. This city needs healing. More than I ever realized… Please, let me help you."
Huh… didn't realize Caitlyn cared so much about us down here. Guess she's seen enough from our little tour to understand what's actually happening down here. Maybe she could potentially help me and Powder to put an end to Silco…
"You got a plan?" Ekko asked Caitlyn after she'd finished her desperate attempt at making them understand her.
"I have a friend on the council. Let me take the gemstone to him. He'll listen to me. Your people wouldn't have to hide anymore."
"… I've got one condition. I wanna be the one that gives it to them."
"Fine. As long as I tag along it should be fine… probably."
Then there was a pause in the conversation, it seemed like they were done talking and had made up their minds. Vi feeling like she'd been a bit left out spoke up.
"So uh… do I… tag along too?" Both of them looked at her, surprised at her question seeing as it had such and obvious answer.
"Of course Vi." Caitlyn said.
"I just… I need to find my sister again. I didn't get enough time with her, not nearly enough."
"Vi, I've told you she's—" Vi interrupted Ekko as he once again tried to change her mind.
"No. I don't care what anyone says about her, I want Powder to tell me her side of the story. You can't change my mind Ekko."
"Whatever, you're making a mistake." Ekko mumbled, barely audible.
"Vi are you sure? Your sister is… well, at least known as Jinx…"
"I know everyone thinks of her like she's some type of war criminal or whatever. But she's my sister Caitlyn. I can't just give up on her without even speaking to her properly. It's been so long since we did. We're almost strangers at this point."
"So, are you leaving to go look for her again?"
"I wish I could Caitlyn, I really do. But I've got a feeling I won't find her as easily this time. I'll Follow you guys to the bridge at least and on the way I'll… think about what to do."
"Alright. Well, we should probably start making our way topside, the faster we get there the better."
"Agreed. Follow me." Ekko said, turning around and going somewhere. Vi and Caitlyn looked at each other and shrugged, following Ekko. They had no idea where they were right now after all.
As Jinx got closer to 'The Last Drop' she could see from her vantage point up on the roof of the bar that Sevika was leaving from the front, clearly agitated about something.
What's she so mad about? She thought, tilting her head to the side while looking at her walking away and entering one of the many alleyways.
As Jinx entered Silco's office through the roof hatch she saw him sitting in his chair, resting his head in his hands, looking like he was deep in thought as he let out a long deep sigh.
"Where has that girl run off too…" Jinx could hear Silco mumble to himself.
Is he talking about me? Jinx thought as she was lying on her stomach on one of the wooden beams in the ceiling, supporting her head with her hands and making sure to stay quiet and watch him carefully. She saw him open on of his desk drawers and take out the special syringe Jinx always helped him use on his left eye.
Guess it's time again huh? She thought as Silco looked at his desk, letting out a sigh that almost sounded kind of sad.
God dammit Silco… Jinx quietly made her way down from the roof and stood behind Silco. Just as he was about to inject his eye Jinx came up at his side and quickly snatched the injector out of his hands.
"Well look at you, don't need my help with that anymore do you?" She said, pushing his face back against the back of his chair, the chair that had now been cleaned of the message she'd written on it before, but the slash mark from her knife still there.
"Where have you been, Jinx?" He asked as Jinx started walking behind his chair again, out of his line of sight.
"Oh, you know. Here and there, chasing down dead ends." Silco heard quiet sounds of chains rattling as she was behind his chair. "And guess what?" She said as she took hold of one of his wrists "They're not all dead." Suddenly Silco's left wrist was locked in place to his chairs arm support and quickly after his right wrist too was stuck.
"Jinx!? What are you— I can explain."
"Oh really? Please do…"
"I didn't know! Marcus never—" Silco made a sudden movement while speaking to try and turn around and look at Jinx while talking. Bad idea. The moment he started moving Jinx instead came around and grabbed a hold of his jaw and used the injector on his cheek, piercing his skin and drawing a small amount of blood. Silco let out a grunt from that sudden pain.
"Don't move, silly. I might hurt you accidentally."
"He never told me she was in Stillwater." Jinx once again used the injector on something besides his eye, this time she slammed it down just above his knee and activated it making Silco let out another groan of pain in the process.
Stillwater? Is that what the prison is called? "But you found out she came back. You lied. To me." Jinx once again used the injector, this time on his hand. Silco was starting to shake a little bit in anger it looked like, losing his patience.
"Fuck!" Silco let out angrily.
Oh no you're not going anywhere with those bad boys on Silco. She knew her handmade handcuffs would hold for his strength easily.
"I wanted to protect you!"
Yeah right.
He's lying! Mylo also said in agreement with Jinx, which rarely happened.
"I can protect myself." Jinx spat out, clear disbelief heard in her voice as she was starting him down from about two meters away.
"I want information on the Firelights little hideyhole." Jinx said and started pacing around. Silco shook his head.
"You know that the only ones who have that information are the Firelights themselves Jinx."
"Really? Not even the all powerful Silco knows?" Jinx said, putting her arms up in the air jokingly with open hands to emphasize the word 'powerful'.
"If I knew I would've already had them killed."
Fuck… what now…
"Give me something Silco, please…" Jinx looked at him with pleading eyes. Having learned throughout the years that Silco could be persuaded by her if she did it right. And it seems like it worked this time too as Silco let out a disappointed sigh and looked to the side at his desk, a bunch of reports and documents scattered over it.
"The bridge connecting Piltover and Zaun."
"Yes?" Jinx said, now coming closer to him and leaning slightly forward, urging him to continue. Silco looked hesitant but in the end did continue.
"Something's happening in Piltover. The enforcers are barricading it and they have a bunch of them stationed on the bridge inspecting everyone who goes through."
"And this matters because?"
"Big events attract the Firelights, you know this."
Hmm… he's right… Jinx, satisfied with the information backed up again.
"Why do you want to know this all of a sudden? You've never been this interested in it before."
"She… They took her." Jinx said as she looked away, not wanting to show the emotion visible on her face.
"They took her? You know what that means Jinx. Give up on this."
They wouldn't kill her! At least not this quickly… right? "No! She came back for me! She said she still love me."
"She and the Enforcer are back for the crystal. Not for you."
The crystal? No… Vi barely even looked at the thing but that other girl… Caitlyn, she's an enforcer?...
"Have you forgotten how she abandoned you? Who found you? Who cared for you? Gave you a home?"
But she's my sister, she came back for me! After all these years…
"I am your family. Everyone else betrays us."
Vi needs you Both Mylo and Claggor said in unison.
"I need you" Silco continued with his assault of words.
Now more than ever
"Now more than ever."
Silco… Jinx slowly approached Silco and prepared herself to inject his eye finally.
"Jinx… you have to complete the weapon." Jinx flinched a little bit at his words.
The weapon? THE WEAPON!? Jinx was now crying softly but anger was also visible on her face as she used the injector on his left eye, effectively stunning him from the pain for a couple of second. In those few seconds she threw the injector on the ground and ran out of his office, slamming the door behind her.
All you care about is the fucking weapon! Fuck you, I'm finding Vi first!
A/N: Next chapter might take awhile. Thinking i'm probably gonna be making some big changes to stray away from the original story.
Also thanks for reviewing, always fun to see people enjoy this thing :P
If you have any ideas for future chapters and would like to share, don't be afraid to write them in your review or just PM them directly to me :)