A tale of two different worlds

Anxiously Powder made her way through the familiar streets of Zaun with Ekko in tow to Benzo's shop. She needed to stay strong. For Ekko. For Vi. But she couldn't help being afraid something would go wrong. A premonition of sorts.

The walk was quiet as Ekko stayed pretty shaken up after seeing what happened to Grayson. Powder tried her best not to think about it. 

'You're not a baby Powder. So stop being scared and act how Vi would!'

Eventually they made it to Benzo's but were immediately greeted with a new problem. The shop was closed for the night therefore it was locked and they couldn't get in.

"Uh, you wouldn't have a spare key, would you Ekko?" Powder asked trying to rack her brain with a way to get inside. Ekko simply shook his head staying silent.

Great....

Seems like now it was time to prove she was helpful and not a 'jinx' like Mylo constantly referred to her as. Powder took the bag that contained her 'inventions' off her back and started rummaging through them for anything that could be helpful. There wasn't much. Just her monkey bombs and whiskers. But those didn't seem of any help with the current issue at hand. This wasn't good.

"You sure there's not like another way inside or something?" Powder asked once more getting nothing more than a simple head shake from Ekko. 

She sighed still trying to figure out what to do. It's not like they had Mylo here to pick the lock or Vi to bust it down. Maybe the best thing to do was knock on the door and hope Benzo would hear?

"Let's try to get Benzo to open the door." Powder suggested setting her bag down and beginning to bang on the door much like Vi had been doing when Vander locked her in the basement. 

Poor Benzo had been dead asleep when he heard the racket coming from outside that almost gave him a heart attack. Angrily he made his way over to the shop's door and opened it to be greeted by a petrified looking Ekko and a desperate Powder.

"What in Jana's name is all this about? Do you two have any idea what time it is!" Benzo scolded irritated that those two were behind his rude awakening. But that was quickly changed when Ekko ran into Benzo's arms and started loudly sobbing. Powder couldn't help but start crying too. So much for staying strong...

"Did something happen?" Benzo asked panic being evident in his voice. Ekko continued to sob, "T-they killed her and t-took Vander." 

Killed?

 Benzo's eyes widened at the statement. "Who was killed? And who took Vander? Where's the rest of you lot?"

Powder clutched tightly onto the rabbit Vi gave her she carried alongside her prized inventions desperate for any sort of comfort during this confusing ordeal. "Vi and them went to save him..." She answered her voice barely being more than a whisper with tears falling from her eyes.

"The scary man did it. His face looked like it was melting." Ekko revealed referencing Silco's appearance. 

Benzo sighed knowing exactly who he was talking about. When the hell did Silco get the nerve to start acting so boldly? Kidnapping Vander and killing another Benzo had yet to figure out who? And the kids, if they were going up against this deranged monster they were as good as gone. 

Being the only adult left, now it was up to Benzo to take care of Powder and Ekko keeping them far away out of Silco's grasp even if it meant putting his life on the line.

-

Vi, Caitlyn, Mylo, and Claggor rushed along the Zaun streets towards the dock where Silco's 'supposed' hideout he was keeping Vander at was located. Each one wielded a weapon ready to attack at any point necessary. Vi had the makeshift gauntlets, Caitlyn had the riffle she had taken from what was left of Grayson, Mylo had a bat, and Claggor had a pipe. 

"Stay on guard and look out for Vander." Vi reminded leading the lot with Caitlyn right beside holding her hand tightly. 

The night was quiet and the remnants of life from the city that seemed miles away at this point were the only things ringing through the air. Vi tried her best to keep her composure and stay masking the 'protector' role she was given, but it was hard with all the stress and fears this job brought.

Caitlyn took notice of Vi's behavior and stopped the girl. She cupped her hands onto Vi's cheeks and pressed her forehead against hers, "Vi, It's ok to be scared. It's ok to cry. This is scary for everyone even you. Don't feel like you need to keep up the tough guy act through all this. Give yourself some space to breathe and a second to process everything, please." 

Vi looked at Caitlyn with those gray eyes she loved so much. They turned from sharp to soft in an instant as Cait's words reached her. She was right. It was ok to cry. It was ok to show emotion. So that's what Vi did. Carrying on the path to the warehouse, she silently cried and stayed holding onto Caitlyn's hands for a sense of comfort. Mylo and Claggor seemed concerned but let Vi do her thing and swore they'd protect their sister if anything tried to test her. 

When they reached what was the supposed building, Vi wiped her eyes and took a deep breath before jumping onto some platforms and scaling the building to get to the roof with the three others right behind. Caitlyn struggled but managed to keep up somehow.

"Let's get Vander and get out." Vi said rather coldly before jumping through one of the broken windows trying to stay as undetected as possible. 

It took maybe a total of two minutes to see Vander tied onto a chair in the next room over from where they landed. Vi taking the lead poked her head out from behind a pillar to check for any potential problems and when she found none motioned the others to follow suite.

Vander looked up to surprisingly see the group of teenagers standing before him, "Vi? What are you doing here?" He asked not before being practically tackled into a hug by his daughter. 

"We're breaking you out." Vi answered shortly going back to once more rejecting any emotions she felt. "Mylo. You know what to do." She instructed as the boy reached to grab a lock pick from his bag without hesitation and rushed to their fathers side.

Caitlyn clutched the riffle she weld and carefully stayed on guard scoping the area for anybody who might try to come and stop the rescue. But a chilling, "Welcome" startled everyone as they tried to figure out where the voice was coming from. Silco emerged from the shadows clapping and applauding the effort of the children who so dared to break into the warehouse. 

"You have my congratulations," He started turning to face the bunch, "But I'm afraid this will be a very short reunion."

A group of people seemingly out of nowhere crowded behind Silco as they didn't take kindly to strangers causing commotion in the building even if they were children.

Silco took notice to Caitlyn mogging him from beside Vi and let out a small laugh, "Wouldn't you know? The Piltie royalty wanted to help her little girlfriend out. Your relationship is a little scandalous wouldn't you say?" He teased getting under Cait's skin as she took the riffle and showed she wasn't afraid to fire if necessary. 

"You stay back." She warned getting in front of Vi shielding her from the crowd. 

"No. Get out of here, now. You don't understand how dangerous this is." Vander instructed fearing the worse now that they had been spotted. 

But Vi and Caitlyn were resilient. They knew Vander would die at the hands of Silco if they didn't do something to help. 

Both girls turned to look at each other's expressions to see if they were on the same page, and it seemed like they had a mutual understanding of what needed to be done. 

"You ready cupcake?" Vi asked in an unserious manor earning a small smile from Caitlyn in return who was used to the cheesy nickname by now. "I'm always ready for anything hotshot."

That was all the approval Vi needed. The pair positioned their weapons and raced out to strike the enemies. 

Caitlyn fired first aiming her rifle at Silco's head but the bullet ricochet off the wall and missed almost backfiring and hitting Vi instead. This wasn't going to be as easy as they assumed it would. 

"Well well well, it would seem you have a long way to go before you become a top shooter young one. Too bad you won't be here to see that point." Silco taunted as Caitlyn's confidence fell. 

Vi made eye contact with Cait once more mouthing something along the lines of, 'You've got this' to try and keep the girl on track. Caitlyn couldn't help but feel greatful to have someone like Vi by her side. And she was right. She did have this.

Trying once more, she moved her target from Silco towards a bigger dude near the edge of the railing and aiming at the wall. It wasn't supposed to hit him but rather scare him instead. As he tried to dodge the bullet he lost his footing and fell over just as Cait had intended. 

Vi couldn't help but feel proud seeing Caitlyn finally putting those skills to use. It was the first time she really felt butterflies throughout their time together. "You're an alright shot cupcake."

"I'm an excellent shot." Caitlyn corrected sarcastically feeling the high from her small win. 

Following in Vander's footsteps, Vi squared up with the gauntlets and began to beat up Silco's crew one by one with Caitlyn shooting right beside. For someone with Vi's stature it was really groundbreaking how well she put up against people half her size. Sure enough it didn't take long for them to be cleared out and Silco to retreat back to wherever he had been originally.

Vi for once that night could finally catch her breath and start to gain some of the hope she had initially back. 

But as most things do, this didn't last long. 

Silco's menacing laugh could be heard and out came a hybrid looking human with purple veins approaching the girls lusting for a bloodbath. But Vi didn't break. She kept the same stance she had for all the others they fought and started to attack the thing only to be caught mid air in a chokehold that she couldn't break free from. Vander watched in terror as Caitlyn struggled to shoot the thing and Vi struggled to breathe. 

"Silco let her go! This is between you and me!" He yelled trying to negotiate with the devil all while Silco stayed behind and refused to give up.

"You had your chance."

Seemingly getting bored of the competition, Vi was thrown from the monsters grasp and backwards towards the room. 

"Violet!" Caitlyn cried rushing over to the girls side getting flashbacks to the explosion at the lab that seemed so long ago now.

"I'm fine Cait." Vi reiterated getting up slowly and taking her hand rushing back inside the room and slamming the door closed before the thing could get inside. It pounded on the door sending anxiety coursing through everyone's veins.

Claggor was halfway through with creating an exit and Mylo finally was able to get the lock off the chains that held Vander to the chair. 

It was all finally coming together.

"You girls were more than amazing. I'm so proud of you two." Vander applauded stunned by how maturely the girls were able to handle this situation against adults half their size. Vi hugged Vander once more really thankful he was ok.

It was all finally coming together...

Something went wrong, very wrong. What was supposed to be a happy reunion followed by a near escape was destroyed in an instant by a fiery explosion sending everyone flying and debris to fall crushing the boys, Vi, and Vander. 

Caitlyn fell back and watched in horror suddenly feeling like she was unable to breath.

"Oh god! No! Please!" She cried unable to process the scene in front of her. Were they alive? She couldn't tell. 

Without hesitation she rushed over to Vi's side and clutched the girls hand putting it up towards her cheek as tears steamed down her face. "C'mon you've gotta get up!" Caitlyn begged feeling hopeless and desperate for some sign she was ok. But Vi was unresponsive just like everyone else in the room.

No. God. She couldn't do this. This was too much. Caitlyn sobbed as she watched the only person she truly believed could understand her presumably 'die.' This was crazy. 

But Vi was a fighter. She wouldn't go down that easily. Instead she awoke and wearily looked up at Caitlyn who could finally calm down.

"Vi, Oh you're alive!" She cried never being more greatful to see those gray eyes like she was now. 

But Vi was trapped under the rubble and couldn't free herself. Her whole body ached in pain similar to the explosion before. But what ached the most was seeing the sight of the only family she ever knew gone just like that. 

Everything was happening so fast. Not a clue shined light as to what had caused the explosion. 

Caitlyn had a sneaking suspicion it was something to do with whatever lab they had going on in the warehouse somehow exploding and catching on fire. That was the only explanation her traumatized brain could think of.

There was no time to escape as the building was burning and collapsing by the second. The roof was falling and sure to crush the two girls serving as a tragic way to die so young. They would have no time to escape.

Caitlyn realized that and accepted it being terrified and hugging Vi one last time cherishing the memories the two had made in such a short amount of time. 

But this wasn't the end of a tale of two different worlds. Someone had other plans.

Somehow Vander had managed to free himself from the rubble and grabbed the two girls taking them out of the building before the roof came down once and for all. 

That was it. And just like that he was as good as gone. 

"Vander no!" Vi choked seeing the sight of the man who unselfishly took Powder and her in raising them for years teaching them how to grow up and defend themselves in the lanes. 

This couldn't be happening...

"Violet..." He managed to say, "Take care of Powder for me..." 

Those were his final words.

"No!" Vi cried harder than she had when her parents passed on the bridge all those years ago. Caitlyn sat back crying just as much still not believing that this was reality. Why did it go wrong?

Vi was angry. Silco. Fucking Silco. She'd never let that man live as long she was still breathing.

Caitlyn was for once terrified of Vi. The hurt and anger in her eyes was like she'd never seen before. This wasn't the Vi she'd grown to love.

"Vi, c'mon we need to get help." She said taking the girl's hand to which Vi coldly rejected in return. 

"I-I can't do this right now. I need to be alone" Vi replied turning away from Caitlyn and running off to separate herself. 

Vi struggled to walk and managed to get a few steps away from the gruesome scene before she gave out and slumped down beside a wall crying. 

Silco's crew surrounded the outside area causing Caitlyn to scatter looking for her lost lover.

She looked for a few minutes before she saw Vi being taken by a familiar face Cait never would've associated being affiliated with Silco. Marcus.

That bastard.

"What the hell are you doing with her Marcus! Were you a part of all this!?" Caitlyn accused standing in front of the officer. 

He looked at her confused and shaken as panic ensued. Caitlyn wasn't supposed to be here. Now she'd for sure rat him out and that'd be goodbye to the sheriff position now that Grayson was dead. No. Not today. Not on his watch.

"You weren't supposed to be here Caitlyn. I guess now you really can be together with this sumprat after all." Marcus said disgustedly. 

He called for backup from another officer from behind him to grab Caitlyn who ever so tried to fight back but she was quickly taken out due to exhaustion and weakness. 

I guess now you can really be with this sumprat after all...

Those were the words that rang through her head as she faded to unconsciousness.