Vander confides in Marie about his past which leads to another moment of passion and comfort, and when all seems to calm down around them, the whole day takes a drastic and dramatic turn for the worse.
Chapter 7:Before and After
He held him down by his neck beneath the surface, hearing muffle cries of desperation as water filled his lungs. He felt the burn of his dull fingernails clawing at his skin and his desperate kicks of distress hitting him in the ribs and stomach as he fought with everything to escape his grasp.
Vander felt his heart racing against his chest as he fought him to stay under the toxic water and he knew he was definitely doing the same, there was no doubt about that. I have to do this. He told himself, There's no other way.
Blood began to mix in with the waters from the cut Silco had received from the fight on the bridge, something that had occurred prior to their disagreement, "You don't know what you're talking about!" Silco had vented, "I could lead us to victory, brother!"
"It will only lead us to a disaster! The attack on the bridge was a mistake! If we stop now, we could still save the Lanes and a lot more lives if we-"
"Stop now? After everything we went through to get here, you want to quit! Everything we've done to risk our necks!" Silco yelled over the sound of the water whooshing and swishing passed their boots, the rain just as loud and noisy had drowned out the world around them, "The price is too high! We need a better plan Silco! We're killing our own people here!" He bellowed angrily.
"They knew the risk!" Silco hissed back, "We both knew that there would be casualties of war! It's necessary for the bigger picture! For the future of the nation!"
"That nation will grow up parentless and orphaned if we continue this way!"
"Then so be it!" And that was it, that was all Vander needed to see what needed to be done. Silco wanted diplomacy, but at the cost of Zaun itself if Vander let him walk away now.
It was just him, and Silco there, no one else would witness his sin. His shame.
"Don't do this." He growled at him, he remembered the seeth of rage he felt in that moment. He wished he could've stopped himself then, he wished he would've back down, and shut his mouth, but he didn't.
He was in too deep.
"Someone has to. You're just going to throw it all away for something else entirely, and if that's the case, I'm taking control of what you can't!"
"You're making a mistake." Vander's voice was pleading, something in his voice knowing what Silco could do if he let him.
He had seen it over the years. He could become a leader, oh yes, that was for certain, and Vander would've followed him if it wasn't for a few discrepancies.
He was used to underhanded means, but Silco wanted more than what Vander had ever wanted. It was as if their goals were in two separate directions, and he could see that. The Lanes would only follow one of them. And one it would be. At least, that's what he used to think. That was his old way of thinking, survival of the fittest.
He couldn't remember how he got there, how they had gotten there, in the middle of the cesspool of toxic waters fighting life and death, but he was. He was holding him down, choking him, his inner self telling him to stop.
Stop. It cried.
Stop it!
I don't want to do this!
Just then as he pulled back and when his head popped up out of the water, the face was no longer Silco's, but the different faces of people, that had died on the Day of Ash. The men, the women, the children. Each one of them he remembered vividly, but they looked different. Pale white, with eyes milky white staring back at him yelling out in silent cries of terror, No...No!
"NO!" Vander sprung up in bed breaking out into a cold sweat shaking all over. His breaths were short, heavy, heart pounding against his chest and he felt as though he had been holding his breath for quite a while, and so he sucked in as much air as he could trying to regain his composure, trying with all his might to stop the shakes.
He wiped his face in relief when he realized it was all a dream but he could still feel the lingering effects of his nightmare. Fear, anxiety, anger, and a gnawing pain of guilt, "Fucking hell."
This wasn't the first time he had woken up to these night terrors. He had lost count after many years. He tried to learn and live with them, but it was nearly impossible some days.
Luckily for him, once Marie had arrived it felt as though it had been replaced with thoughts of her, dreamless sleeps, and rest he hadn't felt in years. That is until tonight. He hoped to have another night of rest, but life had other plans it seemed.
When regained himself again Vander suddenly felt something slip over his shoulder and hitched his breath until he turned to see it was Marie with a worried expression, staring back at him with deep concern, "I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to wake you like that."
"Are you okay?" She asked him anxiously.
He wasn't sure if he should tell her, but he also didn't have the heart to lie to her, "Y-Yeah, I just need a minute. Just a really bad dream." She looked him over for a moment but nodded as she softly rubbed his back in comfort.
Even though she didn't know what it was he dreamt Marie could tell something was wrong.
With the outburst, the anxiety, and the shakes, the only thing he was missing was the paranoia, but she couldn't say for sure.
Marie had seen this many times before. She had experienced it with Micheal, and immediately began to think of the war between Piltover and Zaun, of how Vander was a big part of it in the beginning and what lasting effect it must've had in him.
She thought of all the things he would've seen and experienced, and what he believed he had to do, so many lives he must've taken. He was a soldier in his own way just as Micheal was, and trauma came in all forms, in all shapes and sizes and no matter how many times she'd witnessed it, it was hard not to empathize.
It broke her heart, and it broke her to see him this way. Vander was a strong man, in more ways than one. He also had a great poker face, which meant he, more than likely, had to hide those inner demons away, a lot. He had to for the kids and for the underground.
Still, it didn't stop Marie from feeling a lump in her throat and tearing up when she realized his nightmares had more than likely been caused by trauma.
She scooted up from her spot on the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulder. Vander immediately grabbed her hand in his and began to kiss it repeatedly, "I'm okay." He said softer this time in a low tone.
Marie sadly smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. She did so carefully making sure he was comfortable with her doing so, and he quickly pulled her in placing his head against her own. He then looked down at the pauldron still strapped across his upper right arm.
He then lifted it from his lap and looked over the dark leather piece from front to back with furrowed brows, a rueful expression that carried his stigma and he carefully brought it up for Marie to see it, "I don't know if you know this...But, I was in a gang as a kid. It's tough to admit, but it's true. It was better to be in a group than on your own down here, especially in the lower levels. People would steal the cogs from under your nose or kill you if you just looked at them the wrong way. It still happens of course, but it was worse then." She nodded acknowledging his words just listening to his own personal account of his experiences holding him close as he continued to speak about the past, "I was immensely hot headed, heh, exactly like Vi. I guess that's why I'm on her so much. Every word that comes out of that kid's mouth is exactly the same ones I've said at one time or another." He then placed his left hand over the pauldron on his right upper arm and pulled it into himself as though he was attempting to hide it away, all while seeming to reminisce long and hard on something, "Things change though." This made Vander lower his voice to a near whisper with his gaze still distant and full of so many emotions.
She could only imagine the terrible weight on his shoulders. How many people were killed by his hands? How many had he seen be killed by the hands of the enforcers or discriminated against just for living in a different place which was completely out of their control? She knew what kind of damage that could bring, or resentment, and hate.
Luckily, he chose a different path. He stopped while he still had the chance to change. Things were very tense between Piltover and Zaun, and even if it was so, he still had a hope to keep the peace, even if that peace was hanging on by a thread.
She always understood his hands weren't clean, and it was written all over his face. Many like him often regret their old choices or what they had to do to survive, and once there's room to breathe it's hard to face the reality of it all. All the trauma it can leave a person with, and others, and how much it could drastically change their lives.
It's impossible to undo all that pain or unsee all the horror war can cause, and sometimes, for some, it becomes unbearably hard to live.
She began to feel that lump in her throat tighten for a split second before swallowing it back and cupping his face so that he would look at her, but when she looked into his eyes she could see how misty they looked, how much anguish he had been carrying in his heart, "Marie, I'm not a good person. I may be a barkeep, but I'm also a smuggler, it's just how it is. I was even worse when I was younger. I was selfish, and stupid. My temper and brash choices always got me into trouble. Heh, oh I'd hate to think of what a sight I'd be in if I had stuck to my old ways." He sniffled back and chuckled softly, his gaze looking back at her with such shame and guilt that it was almost hard to stare back into his eyes without Marie sniffling back with him, "You would've hated me then."
She hushed him softly, but he went on, "At first, I was so quick to jump into a fight, and so when that day came on the bridge, I lost myself in that war...I also lost a lot of good people that day, people I considered family. I soon saw that I was the cause of that. I was the one that led them to their deaths and...When I found Vi and Powder there that ended up being my wake up call. I realized we couldn't keep this up, that our victory meant nothing if we left children without their families. Our job was to protect our city, and we failed. Our means for victory was coming from a place of pride and it wasn't right. I didn't realize it at the time until I saw the aftermath of what that war did to us...What it did to kids like Vi and Powder and Mylo and Claggor."
He was gripping the pauldron now, he felt the old wound sting and ache as he scratched against it, "I became someone else that day, and when I tried to talk Silco out of retaliating he wasn't too happy about it." He seemed to struggle with the next part of that story, and why shouldn't he? It was probably the most painful memory of it all, "I...I begged him, Marie. I begged him not to go back, but he-," Vander had to pause, it was visibly obvious how upset it made him and so he took a breath, then continued, "He wouldn't stop. He just kept going. He wouldn't reason with me, and so I...I had to do something! All I remember is trying to..." He couldn't even finish, it was apparent it was too much to say, "And then he got away." Her heart ached for him, for Silco too. War tore so many lives apart.
The people in the council, besides maybe a few of them, didn't want Zaun to have independence for whatever reason, whether for control or something else, Marie knew that if Piltover would have just helped them with basic necessities such as fresh food and clean water or hadn't forced them into working in such awful conditions, maybe, just maybe the war would've never occurred.
Maybe Silco and Vander might have still been brothers under different circumstances.
Unfortunately, it was too late for that.
She hadn't realized her dead silence, and so Vander began to give a look of worry and slightly panic, "I'm sorry, love. I'm so sorry." She gasped snapping back to what was happening in front of her shaking her head and pressing it against his to make sure he could see her mouth as she spoke, 'I know you are.' Marie brought him into the tightest embrace she could give, and Vander melted into it nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck as he hugged her, never wanting to let her go.
He inhaled her scent and screwed his eyes shut as he held her there knowing that she was real and present with him, his heart swelling with gratitude but also regret, "I didn't have a choice. We would've been destroyed." He muffled against her neck, bringing her in as close as humanly possible.
They stayed like that just listening to the sound of the rain outside, bare form and completely vulnerable to one another.
Marie then pulled away just a bit to cup his face in her hands, and made him look at her again. She could see his eyes were wet, and he was breathing through his teeth, holding back tears as hard as he could. 'You are so strong.' She told him, wishing he could hear her at a time like this, but then sentiment was still there, 'I know you have made choices you regret.' She told him, rubbing the back of neck feeling the tension in his muscles, 'Your home is in desperate need of help, and you did what you thought was right at, you still are.' She gave him a gentle smile, and kissed him once before looking into his handsome grey eyes rubbing her nose against his to see a faint smile on his face, 'I know, because I've seen it. I've seen all of it. The bridge...The river.' Her words were careful but audible enough for him to hear her and when she mentioned this Vander's eyes widened and he pulled away just a bit, "You...You saw me?" She nodded slowly, and when Vander tried to pull away more she shook her head again and pressed her lips to his ear, 'It's okay.'
"I'm so ashamed." He whispered to her, "How can you even look at me after knowing that?"
'The same way those kids can look to you.' She told him, 'You're not an evil man...You're not a monster...' Marie shuffled around him to slide onto his lap and straddle him making sure he could not look away from her adoring gaze, 'You're human.'
Vander was taken back by this, not removing her, but allowing her to sit in his lap all while watching her carefully, his eyes flicking to her hardened nipples before looking back into those pretty dark irises.
She then ever so gently took his right hand in both of hers, and began to kiss his fingertips. Then down the side of his hand and over his palm.
His eyes widened in surprise at her affection, but they soon fell half lidded as he watched in silence, almost hypnotized.
She continued down his arm with gentle pecks, kissing over the leather of his pauldron until she reached one of its metal clips. Marie looked up to see his face, and smiled softly, her gentle misty eyes full of compassion and adoration for him, 'Can I see?' She knew it was a sensitive spot there, something extremely personal, so she would respect whatever answer he chose. That he may say no.
But his face was calm, yet his stare was apprehensive as he considered her question.
He was self conscious of it, but remembered she had probably seen a thousand unpleasantries in her occupation, and had probably healed many scars just like his. With that in mind he looked back at her taking in her fair and gentle features before he furrowed his brows and nodded.
Her smile widened and with a silent thank you she carefully unclipped the first latch.
Then the other.
And with her hand taking pause to let him take another second to reconsider, Vander nodded again, trusting her fully. They both lowered their gaze to the pauldron, and with the second latch removed Marie slowly slipped the leather from his arm and nearly gasped at the nasty looking gash across his upper arm.
It looked just like Silco's eye, the skin around the angry scar a pale grey and warped from the toxic waters. The skin that had attempted to heal looked brown and like it had been eaten away, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt her tears filling the corner of her eyes.
She kissed all around the damaged skin, patient with each one she left behind. Each one Marie left she'd brush her lips against his arm and move to another spot, then another, and another until she had come all the way back to where she had started.
Marie then gazed up at him and smiled warmly letting his hand slide across her cheek and cup it. It was warm to the touch, and inviting compared to the nip of the air.
Vander was overwhelmed by her, in a good way. His breath was bated and his lips had spread into a kind smirk, his gaze full of endearment and a hint of something else, "Oh darlin'..." He murmured. He leaned his forehead against hers, and Marie's cheekbones flushed at the contact unable to stop the smile from spreading across her lips.
They both breathed in deeply, nose to nose and in the tender moment Vander found his eyes wandering, etching every detail of her in his mind. Her pretty bright eyes, her button nose, her rosy colored cheeks, her luscious lips and floral scented skin.
Everything about her was just too good to be true, and when he could hold back no longer he lifted his lips to hers and kissed her. The first one was just a butterfly kiss, the second was slow but incredibly sensual. The third he was a hard passionate kiss.
Marie put her hands on both sides of his shoulders and gently pushed against them to signal him to lay down. Vander chuckled but did so getting a better hold of her, moaning quietly against her mouth as he secured her on top of him and laid his head back against the pillows.
While deepening the kiss, Marie began to move her hips swaying them back and forth until Vander hissed and truly moaned, "You're too good to me, you know that?" He muffled against her lips running his fingers through her hair and down her back.
His mouth began to suck and nibble at the sensitive part of her neck with both of his hands at her waist now, so he could feel her hips sway and rock against him.
She was already so wet down there, and the slick that had accumulated was now lubricating his member, "Gods have mercy." He brought her lips back to his, the passion and hot-blooded excitement coursing through his veins as she rolled her hips in just the right way, his cock erecting and becoming hard from her teasing.
When he had pulled back to catch his breath they were shortened and heavy, and everything about the way he stared at her burned with intensity and arousal.
Marie threw her head back in bliss, enjoying every single second of pleasuring him, so happy that he could let his guard down around her. How he trusted her with his vulnerability. She not only felt honored, but incredibly lucky, and she would never take it for granted.
Marie then sat up to give him a better view of her, Her long hair spilled over her breasts and shoulders as it cascaded all around her. It was a sight he beheld while hearing her soft little gasps as she nearly used him to pleasure herself.
His eyes watched on completely glued to her letting his hand massage and squeeze at the tender flesh of her hips and rear so he could watch her expression change with each touch.
He then slid one of his hands up to the other breast and cupped it in his palm brushing his thumb up against her nipple to feel it perk up under his foreplay.
When her mouth dropped open Vander licked his lips at the tantalizing sight of her.
Marie pressed herself into him more, his grip tightening to make her shiver and buck her hips until he knitted his brows and groaned.
Marie then lifted her hips up just enough to press the tip of his cock against her folds, taking her hand to wrap her fingers around his pulsing member and gave it a few good strokes before rubbing him against her, hearing him hitch his breath. His tried not to move, but she knew his toes were curling by the way his legs tensed underneath her.
His hands tried to grab and massage her upper torso, hands so greedy that she silently moaned as she carefully slipped the head of his member inside her.
He'd never known such pleasure like this, he thought he had, but the way she moved so fluently, and the way he felt inside her left him at a loss for words. He was holding back moans and began to slide a hand back down to her thigh to squeeze it tightly feeling himself fall deeper, and deeper into her until she was fully seated on him.
At the wonderful sensation Marie leaned forward the best she could to capture his lips, but Vander was more than happy to meet her half way, tasting her tongue with his own until they were both completely engulfed in one another.
They savored every second, every moment, he memorized the feel of her lips and tongue, and Marie did the same to him as she attempted to lean in a little more, although when she tried she could feel him slipping out of her, their size difference making it slightly difficult for her to do both.
They couldn't help but chuckle at it, but only for a spared second until Marie found herself flipped over with her back to the mattress and a wild and messy haired looking Vander smirking devilishly above her.
Vander didn't give her a chance to respond, not that she could, but by the breathless expression on her face he could see she wanted to. Instead he positioned her legs around him and placed his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together and extending her arms above her head as he brushed his nose against hers.
And when he had what he wanted Vander plunged into her once more, seeing Marie's mouth drop open and her eyes shut close in ecstasy.
He started off slowly, gently rocking his hips against her until she was squeezing his hands, and tightening around him, "Does that feel nice sweetheart?" She nods barely opening her eyes as she gasps back to his gentle thrusts and with it he smiles ever so gently and kisses her as he begins picking up the pace.
He moans hearing those little soft noises she makes for him. Her body language expresses everything he was doing to her, as if she was performing a beautiful alluring dance. He could see it in her face, in her movements, the way she pressed against him as he filled her over and over again.
Once Vander has pulled away from the kiss he sits up to get a better look of Marie's bare form. Her face was flushed and lips reddened by his passionate rough kiss.
He never slowed the rhythm, and grabbed onto the side of her hips as he quickly began to slam into her, hearing the noise of their thighs smacking against his own. Vander barred his teeth and grunted with each thrust, each movement deeper than that last until he couldn't go any deeper.
If Marie had her voice she may have needed a pillow to stay quiet, but she was lucky in that regard. Every time he hit the deepest part of her where it was the most sensitive, the most pleasurable she thought it couldn't get any better until she felt his thumb pet the nub between her legs, "That's it. That's it, nice and tight." His words sent a wave of shivers up and down her body at his breathtaking gaze shining bright with lust and ecstasy, "Gods, you feel incredible." His strength knew no bounds, he had her in the palm of his hands silently whimpering and whining, controlling her every move.
To Vander she looked so pretty with her hair all a mess, and her breast freely bouncing in front of him. He couldn't help but take one in his hand and leaned down to softly bite the nipple and flick his tongue against it, feeling Marie flinch to the sensation and run her fingers through his hair as she held hugged his head. He then sucked it into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it until he pulled back to see it red and glistening with his spit.
He smirked up at Marie and kissed her lips once more before sitting up again to lean back against his heels and gazed down to see himself completely filling her. He was all the way to the base, but then he pulled back just a bit to watch her hiss back and sway her hips in response, "Pinch me if I go too far." She nodded to him, her chest rising up and down in anticipation, squeezing her walls around him as she pushed her hips down getting Vander to hiss, squeeze her, and then growl lowly as he readied himself.
Marie took him by his upper arms, making sure to mind the scar as she held on tight. He looked into her eyes, gave a hint of a warm tender smile and jerked his hips into her.
She gasped out loud to his hard thrust, the initial shock of his size stretching her so abruptly that she tensed and arched, but undeniably enraptured. When the next powerful thrust came she merely screamed out and dug her nails into him.
He ravished her harder, faster, letting himself moan freely as he made her his. For now at least. That's what he wanted to believe. He didn't want to think about her leaving, and so he made sure to make this moment last.
He would bring them both close to the edge then have them pull back, just to do it all over again. He'd make sure to leave an everlasting impact on her, because she sure had done so for him.
At one point she tried to touch herself, wanting that sweet release, but he had other plans. He grabbed her hand and tasted the fingers she had soaked almost growling in delight, "So tasty darlin'. Such a pretty little thing." Electricity ran up her spine, and her walls ached at the way he sounded. His voice was so deep and sultry.
It was like something out of her deepest darkest fantasies and he was giving it to her as he fucked her into the bed, drilling into her until she was a muted moaning mess.
"I'm close. I'm so damn close." Vander told her, short-winded. Marie's pants were the only thing he could hear, everything else was the smell of them and the sounds of their bodies colliding with each other.
Vander soon began to roll his hips against her, getting nice and deep while Marie used the hand he had licked to get herself to climax. Knowing he was watching her, knowing he was getting off on her body drove her closer, and closer.
When she finally gave a soft hiccup of urgency Vander knew her release was just a couple strokes away.
"Come on..." He huffed out, chest burning from exertion, sweat mixing in with hers as he brought her chest to chest with him and pulled her into what could've been considered a bear hug, "Come on sweetheart, cum for me." Those words would be her undoing swiftly sending that coil inside her to break and do exactly as he asked of her.
If she didn't know any better she felt Vander swell inside her just as he came, but it was hard to tell. Was it him or was it her?
Through the orgasm Vander thrusted in as far as he could go and came with his mouth diving straight for the crook of her neck muffling his growls and moans with open mouth kisses against her skin holding her tight to him until he slowed his pace.
Tingles of the aftereffects rolled up and down the skin. From toes to fingers all while coming down from the beautiful high with only the sounds of their huffs and puffs floating up into the air around them.
Vander soon pulled out and turned Marie sideways so that his chest was to her back and pulled her incredibly close to him enjoying the early morning silence while he left behind soft teasing kisses against her shoulder.
She smiled at the tender moment and thought this man couldn't be any more amazing than he already was. Marie knew he was flawed, but who wasn't? Life was so complex, and for Zaunites it was so much more difficult. She knew. She understood, and she had already seen who Vander was, and is.
Then, something clicked, and her heart felt as though it had dropped from the clouds when she realized what was to come. Her eyes widened, and like a plague it consumed her mind. She could see it clearly now, the image of him fighting Silco's followers, how he drinks the shimmer to save Vi. How he dies. And even still... how he becomes Warwick.
The thought made her skin crawl, and instinctively she took Vander's hand in hers and brought it to her cheek kissing his palm as she held this knowledge to herself. She wanted to tell him, she really did, but now wasn't the time.
She would tell him tomorrow, or the next day, but not when he needed an anchor to stay grounded. He needed time, which was what she prayed they had. Please...Please...Just a few more days. She then interlaced their fingers together and let her eyes close before she could let any of her tears well up and fall, swallowing back the lump in her throat as her heart pounded against her chest.
"I feel like I might've gone a little overboard this time. My apologies for letting my enthusiasm get the better of me." His words were muffled against her shoulder, but she could hear the sound of his slurred words loud and clear unable to stop the smile from spreading across her face.
She turned her head to him, seeing flints of lust still remaining in his grey eyes, his mouth brushing against her skin as he smiled, "You sure you're okay?" She nodded grinning and kissed his fingers that she held interlacing her legs with his to get Vander to chuckle and wrap his arm around her tightly, "Sorry if I'm nagging. Just-, I know it's been awhile for the both of us. That, and...I don't want to hurt you."
'I promise you can't break me that easily.' She looked into his eyes reassuringly seeing him smile as he cupped her face and brought her into an intimate kiss.
Vander pulled away just enough to gaze back at her and suddenly smiled warmly, "Thank you."
Being slightly confused she tilted her head and asked him, 'For what?'
"For being as sweet as you are." Her eyes softened to those words, and as her cheeks changed a bright pink Marie smiled back lovingly and pressed her lips against his before pulling away to lean herself into him and just soaking in every moment she laid in his arms.
Unaware of the time they were suddenly interrupted by a loud alarm that startled the daylights out of both of them. It wasn't until Vander sighed cursing that Marie knew what kind of alarm that was, "Sorry, sorry!" He turned over to his night stand and grabbed the clock to turn it off then placed it back before falling against the mattress, "Agh, bollocks...I was hoping we had a little more time than this. I'm sorry love." He looked over to Marie who looked back at him raising her eyebrows with a wide smile on her face.
'Do you need help opening the bar? I could put down the chairs if you'd like.' Her question was sincere, but it left Vander surprised raising his brows at her trying to find his words.
"Oh, no you don't have to do anything like that. I'd feel bad for even asking."
'I don't mind, especially if it helps lighten your load...and your mood.' She gave him soft pleading eyes to get him to glare at her playfully and laugh, "Alright. Alright, you win. But first things first..." He leaned his head forward and looked up at her with an even wider smile, "Care for a shower?" She nodded unable to withhold a giggle as he leaned over and grabbed the back of her neck kissing the crown of her head, "Then let's get to it."
The morning went smoothly, and with Marie's help it felt as though her words had been true. She not only put the chairs down, but made breakfast for everyone, readied the kids before sending them off to grab some ingredients for dinner, and Vander even gave them a few cogs to grab some treats on the way back. Vi, Mylo, and Claggor and even Powder seemed to have a pretty good idea of what was going on, but just kept it to giggles and little whispers between themselves, one that eventually Marie overheard as she was eating. Vander clear his throat and told them to eat their food, and that they would talk about it later, which was fair. It was to be inevitable that they would find out. Although, it wasn't a secret to begin with. Should it have been?
"Does that mean Marie is going to be out new mom?" She heard Powder whisper to Vi before Vander tapped his finger against the table. "Eat."
The kids just snickered and continued on with breakfast. Even Marie couldn't help but smile a bit as she helped Lia cut up her foods.
Once the kids were gone Marie and Vander headed up stairs and did the daily bar routine. Marie set up the barrels of wine and crates of miscellaneous bottles making sure to arrange them all while Vander was writing out messages and taking his inventory, the boring things of being a bar owner. Marie then brought up new bar towels from the storage closet and readied the ice box with ice.
Vander was pretty impressed by her efficiency and admired her from the island as she lit up each of the candles in the booths.
Within an hour the first wave of customers had arrived and took their seats, conversing amongst themselves and playing a game of pool.
After finishing the last candle she placed it down at the far end of the table and began to walk back towards the bar when she heard the front door slam open, "Hey! You're going to want to come and see this!" Marie and Vander looked to the entrance door of the bar to see a regular calling out to him.
They could both hear a loud commotion outside, and followed the noise to see a bunch of people looking up and pointing up to the bathyspheres up above. It was faint in the distance but through the fog of the day it was visible from where they were.
One of the elevators had come off the track and was tilted to the side. Marie gasped at the sight of it. She could barely see someone dangling from the front of it before the people inside had pulled them back in.
Everyone inside the bar had come out with them and gawked at the catastrophe unfolding before their eyes, "Vander." Sevika had slid her way through the crowd to find him, and stood next to him as she leaned in, "We've got a problem." She said softly, making sure not to bring attention to herself, "It's hanging on by a thread, and it's a few wires away from smashing to pieces..." She leaned in even closer almost whispering, "There's more..." Sevika gazed down at Marie for just a second, a look Marie didn't seem to like the look of, but she would have to say it regardless, "Apparently the kids are inside the damn thing." Vander's eyes widened looking to Marie's face who had turned a ghostly white, "Shit." Just before he could finish the curse Marie was bolting through the crowd in the direction of the bathyspheres.
She didn't stop, not even when Vander and Sevika called out to her, all she could think about was Lia and the children, "Marie! Marie!" He called her. She was gone before they could catch her, she couldn't wait another minute. She dodged people left and right until almost tripping over strangers feet as she ran up a cascade of stairs.
She ran and ran and ran until she came up on the scene noticing a clear space where the people were keeping clear from just in case the entire thing collapsed. In the mean time Marie was shifting her eyes all around the giant structure of the entire mechanism to see if there was anywhere she could climb, ladders, an excavator, anything she could use to get to the children, but there didn't seem to be anything around.
The only way up, was to climb it. She gulped back, shaking at the thought, but as she took a step forward a hand ceased her motion and turned her around, "Don't even think about it.You want to break your neck?" It was Sevika, but Marie seemed to look pass her as she looked around for anything to somehow lower the bathysphere without causing it to fall, "Look I know you're freaking out about your kid, but running off like that before having a plan is reckless and stupid thing to do. Hey, are you even listening?" When Marie just kept walking Sevika grabbed her by the arm, "Hey!" She forced Marie to turn around this time to bring them face to face as she looked her in the eyes.
Marie could see how bright her silver grey eyes burned, a magnificent thunderstorm shimmering within them a familiar gaze Marie remembered seeing when Sevika was usually heated or angry, but the longer she gazed into them the softer they became, more than likely due to the fact that Marie looked as though she was going into auto pilot.
She didn't know why, maybe it was from her profession, but the shock was obvious.
She wasn't sure what to do at first, but then Sevika grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her gently, "Take a breath." Marie didn't know if she wanted to do it, but eventually she caved in and gave a deep sigh to center herself.
Sevika smiled as she patted her shoulder, "Good. Now, relax, we'll get them." She looked to the back of the elevator and pointed to a couple of ramps in the back of it, hidden and almost unnoticeable, but specifically for situations like this. "We can use those. The problem is the cart's slanted forward, so we need something we can reach them with." Marie agreed and gave another look around seeing a rope with a hook on it discarded to the side near some barred fences.
She grabbed for it and rolled it up around her shoulder ready to go up there herself if she had to, but Sevika was right behind her extending out her hand. Marie couldn't help but roll her eyes at her and give her the rope which made Sevika smirk in amusement, "You ever done anything like this before?"
She shook her head and pointed to the bathysphere, 'That is my daughter. His kids are up there too. I'll be damned if something happens to them.' Sevika admired her for that. She wasn't much of a kid person, but she could understand her will to fight for something, even an offspring. After seeing the determination in her eyes Sevika gave her a nod of approval and she let her go.
As they ascended their way up the stairs Sevika remembered Silco showing her that unique device, remembering how he had his heart set on this woman for her technical uses, but Sevika was more than curious to see how far this woman was willing to go.
Just then the sound of the cart made a low creaking noise and gave a metallic boom before it dropped another two stories. Marie's heart leaped out of her chest as she covered her mouth, and gave a silent scream that left a terrified look on her face.
Even Sevika took a few steps back before she looked at Marie and grabbed her hand to pull her along, "Come on, this way." Her voice was dangerously low and precarious as she took them up the ramp. She smashed the lock on a door and led her up the steps, the sounds of the kids getting louder and louder.
Marie could hear Lia's cries, and someone speaking to her. It sounded like Vi's voice but the next person to speak wasn't anyone she knew. Probably a passenger that had gotten stuck in the cart with them. From their side of the ramp Marie could see the top part of the cart, and noticed that it was filled with other people inside of it, which meant they needed to lighten the load before trying anything else.
This is bad. Really bad. She didn't know why, maybe it was because of how panicked she was or the stress, but she felt that familiar sharp pain in between her ribcage and abdomen causing her to involuntarily jerk forward hunching over the rail in order to steady herself and catch her breath, Oh please, no, no not now. She begged herself.
"You alright there?" Sevika could see her paling white and breaking into a sweat, but Marie waved her off and opened the caged door.
It took them a couple of tries to hook the cart, but eventually Sevika got it and began to pull it towards the ramp as far as it would go, and when it was close enough Marie slowly made her way across it, feeling the gusts of wind trying to push the cart back and forth, making her legs wobble as she balanced herself the best she could without shaking like a leaf, but that was nearing impossible.
"Easy now." She called out watching Marie tie off the rope to the metal bars to give herself more resistance in case the thing decided to drop again.
When Marie reached the top of it there was a latch for her to open, and when she did she saw Vi holding Lia close and Powder holding onto the side next to her, while Mylo and Claggor were trying to close up the entrance so no one would fall out.
There was more...Marie noticed a woman with a rather round belly laying on the ground giving labored breaths while a man held her hand tightly.
Amongst them were two other people who Marie had immediately recognized and shook her head in disbelief. One was a bald head man with a dark coarse brown beard with two blue colored tattoos on both of his muscular arms, and a blue sleeveless shirt. The other was an attractive purple haired dark skinned woman with glowing golden eyes and a pair of purple wings tattooed on her face.
When she made the connection of who they were it left her in a stupor.
Oh my God...Those are the traders.
" Marie?!" Vi was surprised to see her, but definitely relieved. She was holding Lia in her arms protectively and others seemed to be spread out to keep the cart from tipping to one side, which she thought was clever.
Marie waved but immediately pointed to the woman on the floor, "She's...uh, she's pregnant?" She did a double take but took a deep breath and pointed to Lia and Powder. Since they were the smallest they were the first to go, and without arguing Vi quickly lifted up Lia who was sniffling back tears, 'It's okay baby, I've got you!' Her own eyes began to water but she wouldn't let this waver her, not when she needed to be strong for them.
"So is she just going to save the children or..." The bald man pointed his thumb up at Marie who was completely unfazed as he asked this, but also seemed to be impressed by the woman's quick action of coming to their aid.
"Quiet Verne." Jules hissed as she watched the first child go, then the second. Powder was pretty easy to lift and when the two were waiting to cross over Vander had arrived with Benzo right behind him, "Come on girls this way!" Vander put out his hands and scooped up the two and brought them to safety.
Mylo was next but he was able to lift himself up by the ceiling and Marie carefully pulled him up by the belt of his pants, "What about the others?" Vi looked at the couple leaving Marie completing before she heard a long growl of the emergency breaks trying hard to stay in place, but soon started to get louder and louder until the cart moved just a bit.
Vander called out Marie's name hoping to get her attention, but she was too busy trying to convince Vi to leave that she couldn't respond. Marie pounded on her chest and tried to verbalize herself but Vi was stubborn. "I'm not leaving without Claggor!" She yelled out.
"Vi just go!" He yelled back.
' We're wasting time!' Marie tried to raise her voice but what could she do? Nothing came out but an angry whispering over the sound of groaning metal, "I'm not leaving you in here!" She told him, "I'm staying!"
The painful stab became more excruciating, more pronounced to the point Marie jolted back and gasped.
Just as she clutched it with her hand the cart jerked downward and launched Marie over the side. Her life flashed before her eyes when her hand quickly gripped for anything, her mind racing a mile a minute before feeling a cord and grabbing for it until she felt the cord come to an abrupt halt and left her dangling in the air.
From the ramp everyone could only watch in shock and horror, trepidation clutching at Vander's chest as he watched in absolute fear, "Oh Gods no..."
Marie's eyes adjusted to the crowd below, almost wanting to scream out when she used her other hand to get a better grip of what she could and held on for dear life. She gulped back, trying hard to ignore the throbbing sensation in her arm, and attempted to look up.
Just up.
Okay Marie! It's just like being on the monkey bars in elementary school! All upper body strength! The voice in her head was in denial, almost overly positive trying to block out what was happening as she refused to believe this was going to be it. Not today. Not before she could get to the others, not before she could go home.
In reality, she was shaking like a leaf, her grip was slipping and sweat was beginning to drip from her face as she felt that bubble inside her eating her body from the inside out, slowly, but surely. Like long fangs digging into her flesh and reaching her soul. How was she supposed to do this when she couldn't lift herself up? For a split second she started to let the fear take control. She screwed her eyes shut and began to hyperventilate, but when Vander spoke it was with such a light careful, yet urgent tone, "Marie!" She didn't look up at first, afraid she'd lose all concentration if she did. That she'd fall to her death before she even got a chance to look at him, but he called her again, "Marie, love, look at me!"
When she opened her eyes she searched for his and could see the utter fear through the determination in his eyes as he tried to reassure her, "You can do this. You got this." She took pause, the petrifying fear being instantly replaced with strength of will as she tried to bend her knees and lift herself up.
She tried to think about everything and anything to get herself up there. When she found her footing underneath the cart a memory of her and Micheal going to the gym popped into her mind. It was a rock climbing gym, and the sound of distance cheers ringing a distant memory.
Come on honey, feel the burn!
He said clapping his hands with a wide smile spread across his face. He was so proud of her that day, she could see it in his eyes as he cheered her on.
You're almost there!
In real time she used those words to get her up the cart, finding her grip carefully before climbing up it. She started to feel hope again, her heart still pounding against her chest until...
The cart bucked and descended, down and down, her heart now in her throat as the world around her became a blur and the sounds of yells and screams took up like a chorus.
This was it... She was going to die.
Her eyes were wide and frightened, water leaking from the corners as the pit of her stomach summersault when she dropped down. Then with a loud thud she felt her body hit the ground and smack into the pavement.
She heard the sound of loud gasps of shock, yells and screams of people all around her, but it all seemed to mix in together as she laid there unmoving, her eyes looking at the street she laid on.
Her bones didn't feel broken, if they were she would definitely feel the repercussions of it later. She tried to turn herself over feeling heavy and almost unable to do anything at the excruciating stab in the center of her body increased by ten fold.
It was then she looked above her, and all she could see was the sight of the cart about to crush her underneath. She raised her hands up in front of herself with her eyes tightly closed as she waited for the cart to make contact with her entire being.
Her mind went blank, and as she tensed up all she could feel was a sudden weird push flowing out from her body, and the sound of a low baratone hums and a tender sweet high tones.Almost like a distant voice. A call. And then there was silence.