Chapter Text
I arrive at the police station’s storage and maneuver my way through, knowing the location of everything like the back of my hand. I quickly locate the guns and immediately reach for a sniper. Collapsing it into a folded state, I grab a satchel and rounds of ammunition. Once the bag is attached to my back, I put the gun and the ammo inside it.
I rush out and start to head back to the forge, hoping that Vi and Jayce were still there and hadn’t left yet. As I approach, at least thirty enforcers rush past me. A flash of red catches my eye and I throw myself against a wall. I peek around the corner to see Vi, now equipped with both gauntlets, and Jayce, who’s wielding a massive hammer. The enforcers and Jayce follow Vi’s lead down to the Undercity.
It’s now or never. I pull myself away from the wall and throw my hood up, starting to quietly follow from behind.
***
How far is this Shimmer factory? I mean understandably, Silco wouldn’t want this to be an easy find. My concern is trying to keep myself hidden. Jayce and the enforcers may not recognize me but Vi definitely would, as she’s the one who stole this outfit for me. I look around as we venture deeper and deeper into the Undercity, mining entrances coming into sight. I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as I see a train pulling into one.
”That’s our way in,” Vi says, pointing at another train that’s headed at a snail’s pace to another mine. I secretly follow everyone, as if I wasn’t already, and quickly hide behind a rock as they approach the train. I watch as Vi and Jayce hop onto the cart. Once they’re up near the front, the enforcers join. I follow suit, crouching down behind a crate once I’m on board.
I hear several people giving orders and soon enough, glowing purple catches my eye. Shimmer. Hundreds of barrels are filled with its contents. From my crate, I see Shimmer being loaded onto the cart, container after container. After about a minute of inactivity, the train starts to move again.
It’s dark once we enter the mine. The sound of a lighter catches my attention and I peek my head out to see someone standing guard of the barrels, lighting a cigarette. The next thing I know, the sound of a lighter is replaced with a gun cocking. Looking over, I see one of the enforcers aiming a gun at the man’s head.
Vi and the enforcers come out of hiding and start grabbing the contained Shimmer and throwing it overboard. One by one, I see purple liquid decorate the ground. Before I can even know what’s happening, the train is speeding back the other way. Crashing through the mine’s entrance, I fall backwards against the railing, gripping on tight as I brace for impact. Now at a stop, everyone hops off.
I haul myself up off the ground in time to see Jayce go one way while Vi goes another, the enforcers splitting up. I decide to follow Vi, since I can guarantee she knows her way around much better than Jayce. I hear screams from down in the factory, causing my head and Vi’s to turn in the direction of the sound.
”Shit,” I hear her quietly mumble between clenched teeth. She swings her arms around, warming them up before swinging herself over the ledge and appears to fall down into the factory. Panicking, I quickly rush to the edge, hearing the horrific, screeching sound of metal scratching against metal. I look down to see Vi hasn’t fallen but is descending herself with the help of her gauntlets on a support beam.
I look further and can see multiple individuals that seem to be glowing purple. I can’t tell what they are from up here, though as I’m too far up. Whatever they are, I watch as Vi launches herself from the beam and takes one of them out in a single punch. I need to get down but there’s no way in hell I’m doing what Vi just did. I look to my right and thank god, there are stairs. For people like me who are not so fucking reckless.
Enforcers are firing and I keep tight against the wall as much as I can as to prevent myself from being accidentally shot. Briskly making my way down to the next level of the factory, I pull out my rifle and load it. Now that I can get a better look, I realize the glowing purple individuals are what I can only describe to be as Shimmer monsters.
I hear growling and turn to see one of the enforcers get taken out by one of the creature’s blades. Horror written across my face, I quickly bring my rifle up, aiming it and fire, the monster stopping in its tracks and dropping to the ground. Turning, I line up a shot and take out another.
Vi and Jayce are on the next level below me. Vi is handling herself no problem and Jayce is managing better than I had expected. As Vi fights off one enemy, I see another running up behind her in an ambush. Lining my gun up in record speed, I press the trigger and take it out. I should start keeping tally of how many times I’ve saved Vi’s ass.
I notice explosions of bright, blue light and see Jayce firing blasts from a Hextech orb that’s attached to his hammer. Shot after shot, multiple Shimmer monsters are blown from their positions. However, the firing abruptly stops, causing me to look out of concern. I realize a kid got caught in that last blast, as he falls over the railing. Jayce is still holding his hammer, looking mortified as he looks over at Vi.
All the creatures seemingly taken care of, Vi starts making her way down the next staircase, Jayce following behind once he somewhat gets his bearings. I look around at all the dead Shimmer monsters as well as enforcers, a lump forming in my throat as I slowly follow Vi and Jayce.
I notice several more enforcers standing guard as well as hundreds of kids. Silco’s been using them to do the dirty work in the Shimmer factories?! Unbelievable. I stop partway down the last flight of stairs as I see Jayce knelt down next to the now dead boy he accidentally shot. Vi’s nowhere to be seen, perhaps checking to see if there’s anymore danger. Unsure of what to do, I sit myself on the stairs.
As fast as I sit down, Vi comes back into view, talking to Jayce. Jayce seemingly explains to Vi that he’s now a part of this whole mess. However, she quickly fires back about how he and everyone else topside have always been a part of this ugliness and I know she’s right. She’s shown me first hand.
I’m startled as Vi engages her gauntlets and Jayce lifts his hammer, facing each other off. Hate to break it to you Jayce, but Vi will kick your ass, even with your hammer. Especially since she has the gauntlets. The woman’s dangerous enough with her regular fists as it is.
The sound of footsteps breaks me out of my train of thoughts and I see Jayce exiting out of the factory, leaving Vi standing there by herself. I watch her walk over to the little boy, her shoulders dropping as she sighs heavily. I feel my heart drop into my stomach. Vi’s seen so much of this shit and is so used to it, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
She makes her way over to what I presume is the Shimmer core and raising a fist, she shatters the glass, Shimmer pouring out. Getting back on my feet, I make my way down the rest of the stairs. Her head turns slightly, most likely at the sound of my heeled boots. Wordlessly, I put my hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it.
She powers down her gauntlets, taking them off. She stands in silence before I feel her squeeze my hand back. I look over at the fallen kid solemnly as Vi now turns to properly face me. I don’t know what to say.
“Thanks for the save,” she says and I momentarily look confused until I remember. Of course she knew I was here. I nod as Vi looks over at the Shimmer poured out over the ground and several dead Shimmer monsters, her eyes landing back over to the boy.
“Please, don’t blame yourself,” I tell her and she tenses.
“I don’t. Everyone in Silco’s business knows what they’re getting themselves into and the risks that are taken. Yet, they’re still shocked when this shit happens.” She’s getting ramped up but I don’t interrupt. “And then what happens? They attack people like me and my family. People who have done nothing wrong and we get hurt and killed. But maybe if your bullshit council got their heads out of their asses, they could actually try to help us instead of turning a blind eye like they’ve always done with a silver spoon in their fucking mouths. Because that’s all your people care about. High prestige, fancy galas and status. The second one of you gets a glimpse of what really happens down here, you run away.”
“Vi, I never once ran away from you or anything you showed me and you know that. Everything you said is true and it needs to change,” I tell her as she shakes her head.
”If you think talking to the council again is the solution, it’s not going to fucking happen,” she grits out.
”I don’t. We’ll figure this out together like we’ve been doing. But Vi, I’m imploring you. Don’t push me away. I keep proving it to you, time and time again that I’m not leaving your side.” I take her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. She looks down at our intertwined hands before looking back up at me. Although reluctant, she gives the faintest nod of her head.
”Okay, Cupcake. Let’s get out of here. It’ll only be a matter of time before word gets out or Silco and his goons show up.” I nod, heading back up to the stairs as I realize I forgot to grab my gun. Putting it back into my satchel, I look back to Vi, only to see she’s not there.
“Vi?” I look around everywhere but she’s nowhere to be seen. “Vi!” I call out but no response. I reach back into my satchel, grabbing my gun and unfolding it, just to be safe. It’s dead silent now, not a sound to be heard. My skin starts tingling, my mind starting to race. I hear a small but unsettling chuckle that I recognize instantly. Jinx.
”Can’t be late for dinner, Cupcake,” is the last thing I hear before I’m knocked out.