Chapter X – Finally be free?

The sun was slowly rising over the heights of Bilgewater as Jinx ventured deeper into the city. It felt like the light was chasing her. The rooftops were becoming too exposed—it was safer to slip into the crowd. It was strange to walk the streets without anyone recognizing her. The anonymity brought a sense of relief—a fleeting taste of freedom she hadn't felt in a long time. But it didn't last.

Someone was following her. She could feel it. Heavy footsteps made the wooden planks beneath her tremble with every step. She turned sharply into a narrow alley, hoping to lose them. The further she went, the tighter the space became. The walls closed in, the light faded. And then—dead end.

She cursed under her breath and spun around, but it was too late. Tree men blocked the exit.

Her mind raced. Tree against one. One of them had a hand cannon strapped to his waist. Another carried a harpoon—massive, its jagged tip looming over his shoulder. The other one had a blade—a cutlass, dirk, or something just as deadly. Its hilt gleamed faintly in the dim light.

Jinx exhaled slowly, fingers twitching at her sides. This wasn't good.

"Well, well, look what we've got here."

The voice carried a lazy amusement, but the way they moved was anything but casual. Boots scuffed against the wooden planks as they closed in, forming a loose circle around her.

"You're new, aren't you, Baby Blue?" one of them drawled, his grin flashing a gold tooth. He stepped closer, tilting his shark-toothed blade so its jagged edge caught the dim morning light.

Jinx didn't move.

The second man—broad-shouldered, with a scar running from temple to jaw—rolled his shoulders. "You know," he added, "this city can be real dangerous for a little thing like you, all on your own." His voice was slick, teasing, but there was weight behind it. A warning.

"Lucky for you, we're feeling generous today. Might even offer you some protection… for a small price."

The first man let out a low chuckle, his eyes flicking to the hextech pistol at her hip. "That's a nice piece you've got there," he mused. "What a coincidence—Marius here just happens to need a new one." As he spoke, he drew his cutlass toward Jinx's gun—then lifted it to her throat, pressing the jagged edge just enough to make his point.

Marius—tall, stocky, and built like a battering ram—shifted his stance, the old scar on his face pulling tight with the motion. A wry smirk tugged at his lips as he rested a hand on the firearm strapped to his belt, fingers drumming lazily against the barrel.

The last man stood still as he adjusted the harpoon slung over his back. Unlike the rest of them, he didn't speak, didn't sneer—he just watched. The harpoon was heavy, its wood worn from salt and its metal pitted with rust, but it was no less lethal. Designed to pierce the hides of sea beasts, it would skewer a man just as easily.

Suddenly, a voice rang out. "Let her go, you bastard."

The gang froze. The voice came from behind them, and only Jinx was facing it. The two men turned, startled, but the harpooner didn't budge—his eyes remained locked on Jinx.

"Go play somewhere else, kid, if you don't want to end up as fish food," Marius growled, his voice grating as he pointed his gun at the silhouette in the distance.

The figure appeared so insignificant, barely more than a shadow in the dim light, that the two brigands dismissed it, turning their attention back to Jinx.

"Now, where were we? Ah, yes, your gun, Baby Blue," Marius said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Don't call me that," Jinx shot back, her voice sharp.

"You hear that, Wayne?" Marius chuckled darkly, glancing at the man with the cutlass. "She doesn't want us calling her Baby Blue."

Marius stepped closer, his grin widening. "Listen closely, Baby Blue. I'm getting tired of this. Hand over your gun, or Vorn will come and take it." He pointed his gun at her, the barrel gleaming.

Wayne raised his cutlass and sliced through one of the bandages on Jinx's belly wound. "And this time, a simple dressing won't be enough," he added with a cruel grin, his eyes glinting as he turned to the harpooner, who was now hefting his weapon.

The voice behind them rose again. "I told you to let her go."

The silhouette stood in the glow of the main street, while the alley where Jinx was trapped remained shrouded in shadow. This time, the figure held a weapon in his hands. From this distance, it was hard to make out the details, but his stance suggested it was a rifle with a long barrel. With the weapon aimed, he cautiously advanced toward the group. It wasn't until he stepped into the dimness of the alley that Jinx noticed a faint blue gleam emanating from the rifle. She froze, her mind struggling to grasp the sight. That figure, that gun, the way he moved—it was her. It was Caitlyn. She had found her.

The men initially didn't seem threatened by this mysterious savior; they didn't even turn around at the shout. They were focused on Jinx, and they immediately saw the change in her gaze—she looked terrified. That sudden shift in her expression raised an uncomfortable anxiety in them. They turned quickly, only to see a thin silhouette holding a gun. Nothing to fear, they thought.

As they looked back at Jinx, Marius and Wayne remained confused by what was happening. But in the blink of an eye, both men were on the ground. The only thing they could make out was a flash of pink light hurtling toward them. When they turned their heads back to the dead-end, the girl was gone, vanished without a trace.

Jinx rushed toward the mysterious silhouette, tackling her to the ground. As she pinned the figure down, she saw Caitlyn's face, her laughter ringing in Jinx's ears. The words screamed at her, 'It's over. I've found you.'