Author's Note

Hello beloved, thank you for being here!

As you read, time to time, you will find this type of notes: [Play "song title" by artist]. These are for you to play the song while reading the scene. The reading pace is set so that it matches the song's melody which, to me, enhances the reader's experience. Of course, it will depend of your reading speed, so feel free to play around with it, with and without music. After all, it is YOUR experience.

NOTE: if having lyrics in the song prevents you to fully immerse yourself in the reading, look for the instrumental version of the song.

Please leave me a review once you've read the episode. It is an important tool for me to get honest, constructive feedback about how it made you feel, the story, the way it's written, etc.

Thank you, and enjoy the ride!

Chapter One: Square One, New Game

[Play instrumental version of "What Could Have Been" by Sting feat. Ray Chen]

– I really thought you could love me like you used to, even though I am… different.

Jinx paused, coming to terms with the events that had just taken place moments ago.

– But you've changed, too –she stated sharply–. So… here is to the new us.

With deep sorrow and a mind clear as day, Jinx got up from the chair she was sitting on, her name written in it with pink spray in it.

She walked towards Vi, who was thoroughly tied up to a wooden chair, and picked up her machine gun from the floor. Beside the weapon, there was the unconscious body of Caitlyn, still knocked out. What a brave yet stupid attempt to make Jinx surrender. One numb glance at her older sister, Jinx took the Hextech gemstone from a muffin tower placed on top of the large dining table and walked away.

Sensing movement around her, Caitlyn slowly came back into consciousness. Feeling dizzy, she opened up her eyes and saw Vi looking at her, panting; a wave of unraveling emotions was engulfing her from within. As Caitlyn began to move with the intention to get up, a massive blast of blue light blinded both of them, their ears ringing. When the brightness turned into darkness, there was no trace of the weapon nor Jinx.

Clumsily, Caitlyn managed to get up. She approached Vi and untied her. When the ropes came loose, Vi put Caitlyn's cheeks in between her hands, checking on the area where she had been hit. She wiped a few traces of blood from her nose with her thumb.

– Are you OK?

– Yeah, I'm fine –she muttered, unconvinced–. My head's spinning a little.

Vi noticed the wound on her thigh got open again. Immediately, she got up and passed Caitlyn's arm around her neck to help her stand up. In doing so, she saw the unbroken Hextech globe right beside her. She picked it up and put it on, just in case. Intrigued by the blast, the two women walked over to the edge of the rundown warehouse. Crossing the night sky, a long-shaped cloud of dark smoke was following the trace of a vibrant blue line. Their eyes widened in terror: it was headed towards Piltover's Council building.

Approaching at a great speed, the deathly rocket shortened the distance between the departure point and its infallible target – a distance that symbolized an eternal fight of interests between two worlds that had lasted far too long. Ironically, the only possibility for peace that ever got truly considered was about to be swallowed up by a final act of despise, sorrow and pain.

– No! –Caitlyn screamed from the top of her lungs, but her voice broke half way, together with her heart.

The red supermoon, witness of it all, was staring at the scene with the same impotence as the attendees to that macabre reunion of disastrous consequences. Time was turned into fragments of eternity floating around, just as if someone had turned off the gravity switch.

A distant and strident sound of glass breaking, followed by a deafening explosion. Then, flames raised up to the sky. Where before stood the splendid emblematic tower of Piltover, now there was a huge fire topped by thick black clouds of iridescent smoke. Perplexed, Vi stared speechless at the scene while still holding her partner up. On the other hand, Caitlyn felt a nervous system breakdown all over her being. Tears ran down her face while an excruciating pain crushed her heart. She could only gasp, as the word "Mom…!" barely made it out of her lips.

Vi felt the heaviness increase on her partner's side, realizing she needed to sit down. She helped her to gently reach the floor, keeping an eye on her open wound. Caitlyn was experiencing a full body shock and started to hyperventilate.

– Hey, hey. Take a deep breath –Vi instructed.

She was trying her best to be supportive even though she didn't know how to help her process her emotions right now. In an attempt to provide connection, Vi reached out with her free hand and placed it on Caitlyn's arm. It seemed to work.

– The-The Council… –Caitlyn finally stuttered– The Council was gathered tonight.

– What?

– My… My mother told me Jayce had called an urgent meeting –she sobbed–. That room was full of people, Vi! The entire body of Piltover was in there!

The breakdown morphed into an unexpected rage that Vi hadn't seen coming. She could feel her muscles tensing up, her blood vessels throbbing. Caitlyn gave into her pain and started crying, her hands on her mouth with eyes pressed together. Vi turned around on a whim to look at the spot where the rocket had hit. She quickly realized the magnitude of the disaster her little sister had just caused. She slowly turned back around, her hand now gently on her partner's forearm.

– Caitlyn –she paused–, I am so sorry.

But the Enforcer's anger was coming back to the surface.

– I had her… I had her right in front of me… and I let her go.

A tug of war kept Caitlyn at bay between untamable rage and unbearable guilt. On one hand, her duty; on the other one, her heart. And in between, an ocean of doubt that caused the most pain to everyone involved. She knew what the sensible choice was. Yet, she chose to not hit the target. She just could not have shot Jinx in front of Vi.

Notwithstanding, things were much different now. And the thought of having wasted the one opportunity that was left to put an end to all of this was something Caitlyn wasn't going to forgive herself for anytime soon. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to breathe through the heaviness of her torn heart. How could she call herself an enforcer, now? She had failed – not only at protecting her city, but at protecting her own family.

Something within had changed in her, even Vi felt it. With one knee on the floor in front of the Enforcer, Vi seemed agitated on the outside, but within, she was afraid of also having lost Caitlyn on the count of that terrible encounter with her sister, Silco and the ghosts of the past.

– This wasn't your fault –Vi uttered–. If there's someone to blame… It is me.

She made a pause as her voice lowered, then looked away. Cailtyn made an effort to listen, lightly opening her eyes.

– I always knew she was brilliant, but I had never imagined she'd build something like this –her voice broke a little– nor do something… like that.

Still in tears, Caitlyn lifted her head up to look at Vi. For the first time ever, she saw the brawler's emotions flooding. Vi started to cry as well, grieving what she had fought for so tirelessly for 7 long years: her little sister. Now she knew she was gone forever. With her fists closed and her heart aching, Vi let her glutes hit the floor. She covered her tears with one hand, her elbows resting on her knees. However, seeing her raw, with no masks on, moved the enforcer's heart. A change of lenses allowed Caitlyn to feel deep compassion for Vi, and her nurturing nature came back and took action instinctively. She reached out and encircled her, taking her in close to her chest. And, in doing so, she realized she herself needed a hug, too.

Absorbed in her own pain, Vi was caught by surprise. But it was only a matter of seconds until she surrendered completely to the embrace. And there they stayed, hearts beating together in timelessness, allowing the pain to be expressed in a safe space. With their breaths syncing up as a result, a much needed healing energy emerged like an invisible ointment being spread on their wounds. Enveloped in an unexpected feeling of gratitude, the hug naturally came to an end. They both stopped only a few centimeters away from one another, her hands touching. What was deep sadness began to morph into love, for that soulful exchange had brought the attention to the fact the feelings for each other were officially on top of the table.

Vi was completely starstruck, her edges completely softened for the first time in her life. She could feel her heart racing while the enforcer looked deeply into her eyes. Caitlyn was very much sure of what she felt for that person; nevertheless, she also knew where her focus had to be at this time.

– I need to go back to Piltover –she ushered, thus breaking the spell–. I have to check on my family and find out if my mother and the rest of the Council are… at least, alive.

Vi gently placed her hand on the enforcer's cheek and jawline.

– I know, I'm going to get you there.

Caitlyn responded with a soft touch on her forearm and nodded. Next, she stood up with Vi's help. They began making their way out of that warehouse, haunted by too many deaths already.

With hope on one hand and uncertainty on the other, the two women headed towards the streets of the Nation of Zaun, now more dangerous than ever.

To be continued...

Thank you for reading!

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