Chapter 14
Vi stood frozen, her eyes locked on the massive plume of blue smoke rising into the murky sky. It twisted and curled upward, an unnatural beacon in the distance. Her usually sharp expression softened for a moment, replaced by something hard to read—concern, curiosity, maybe even fear.
Ivy slowed her pace, her gaze shifting between Vi and the smoke. There was something haunting about the way Vi looked at it, like she was staring at a ghost only she could see. Ivy opened her mouth to say something but hesitated.
Before she could decide, Caitlyn's hand gently but firmly grabbed her arm. "We need to keep moving," Caitlyn urged, her voice low yet resolute. She tugged at Ivy's arm, but her gaze flicked to Vi as well, worry creeping into her usually composed demeanor.
Vi didn't budge. "I need to see it," she said, her voice rough but steady. Her words hung in the air, weighted with meaning none of them fully understood yet.
Ivy exchanged a glance with Caitlyn, the two sharing a moment of silent agreement. Ivy nodded to Caitlyn, gently pulling her arm away. "We can't just ignore it," Ivy said, taking a hesitant step toward Vi.
Caitlyn sighed but didn't argue. "Fine," she relented, crossing her arms. "But let's not linger too long. This isn't the safest place to stand around."
Vi finally turned to look at them, her face set in a determined scowl. "I'm not leaving until I know what that is." Without waiting for a response, she started walking toward the distant smoke, her stride purposeful.
Ivy glanced at Caitlyn and shrugged. "Guess we're going," she said before following after Vi.
As they continued walking, Ivy glanced sideways at Vi, her expression thoughtful. She waited until Caitlyn was far enough ahead, preoccupied with scanning the path, before leaning closer to Vi and lowering her voice.
"So... when are you going to tell her?" Ivy asked, her tone casual but pointed.
Vi furrowed her brow, pretending not to understand. "Tell her what?"
Ivy gave her a knowing look. "You know what. About Jinx. That she's your sister. Caitlyn's sharp—she's going to figure it out sooner or later. You can't keep it from her forever."
Vi sighed, running a hand through her short hair. "I know," she muttered. "I just... it's complicated. Caitlyn doesn't get how things work down here. She doesn't understand what my sister has become, or why."
Ivy shrugged, her voice softening. "Maybe not, but she's trying. And she cares about you, Vi. Hiding this from her isn't exactly fair."
Vi looked down at the ground as they walked, her jaw tightening. "It's not just about fairness," she said quietly. "Powder isn't the same little girl I knew. She's different, Ivy. And if Caitlyn finds out... I don't know how she'll react. She might see her as just another criminal."
"Probably," Ivy admitted.
Vi stayed silent for a moment, her fists clenching at her sides. Finally, she looked at Ivy, her expression conflicted but resolute. "I'll tell her. When the time's right. But not now. Not yet."
Ivy studied her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll keep quiet for now. Out of respect. But don't wait too long, Vi. Secrets have a way of blowing up in your face."
Vi gave a faint, humorless smirk. "Yeah. I've noticed."
The conversation ended as they caught up to Caitlyn, who turned to give them a curious glance but didn't press. Ivy stayed silent, watching Vi carefully. It was clear this wasn't a burden Vi could carry forever—but for now, the secret remained hers to keep.
"You two wait here there's something I need to see" Vi quickly disappeared into the shadows, Caitlyn turned to Ivy, her brow furrowed with curiosity. Ivy, already weary, dropped to the ground, leaning her back against a crumbling wall. She stretched her legs out in front of her, absently wiping some dirt off her pants.
Caitlyn crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What was that about?" she asked, tilting her head toward where Vi had walked off.
Ivy shrugged, feigning indifference. "What do you mean?"
"You and Vi," Caitlyn clarified. "You were talking back there. Then she gave you that look before leaving. What aren't you telling me?"
Ivy looked up at Caitlyn, her expression unreadable. "It was nothing important," she said, her tone deliberately vague. "Just... stuff about the Undercity. Things I've seen."
Caitlyn frowned, unconvinced. "You expect me to believe that? You two clearly have some kind of understanding that I'm not part of."
Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples. "Look, Caitlyn, not everything is a grand conspiracy. Vi and I are just... similar in some ways. We get each other."
"That doesn't answer my question," Caitlyn pressed. "What's she hiding from me?"
Ivy hesitated, her eyes flickering with something unspoken. "It's not my place to say," she finally replied. "If Vi wants you to know, she'll tell you. Until then, you're going to have to trust her."
Caitlyn took a step closer, her voice softening slightly. "And you? Can I trust you?"
Ivy leaned her head back against the wall, smirking faintly. "You already do. You're just too stubborn to admit it."
Caitlyn huffed, clearly frustrated but unwilling to press further. She turned and took a few steps away, her hands resting on her hips as she looked out into the darkness.
"I don't like being kept in the dark." She said quietly, almost to herself.
Ivy watched her, her smirk fading. "None of us do," she said softly, her tone surprisingly genuine.
The two of them sat in tense silence, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavily between them as they waited for Vi to return. Caitlyn paced back and forth, her boots crunching on the dusty ground. The silence was gnawing at her, and her patience was wearing thin. Finally, she stopped and turned toward the path Vi had taken.
"I'm going after her," Caitlyn said decisively, her tone firm.
Ivy, who had been sitting against the wall with her arms crossed, immediately shot to her feet. "No!" she exclaimed, stepping in front of Caitlyn to block her path.
Caitlyn blinked, startled by Ivy's urgency. "What do you mean, 'no'? Vi could be in trouble. We don't know where she went or who she's dealing with."
Ivy reached out, grabbing Caitlyn's arm to stop her from moving. "We can't go," she said, her voice sharp but edged with something that sounded almost like desperation.
Caitlyn frowned, pulling her arm slightly but not breaking Ivy's grip. "What are you not telling me, Ivy? Why are you so insistent we leave her alone?"
Ivy avoided Caitlyn's piercing gaze, her jaw tightening. "Vi can handle herself. She doesn't need us getting in her way."
"That's not an answer," Caitlyn pressed, stepping closer. "Why would she want us to stay here while she goes off alone? What's going on?"
Ivy tightened her grip, her own frustration bubbling over. "Just trust me, alright? She knows what she's doing. If we show up, it could ruin everything."
"Ruin what?" Caitlyn asked, her voice rising. "If this is about her sister, or something else, I need to know. We're supposed to be a team!"
Ivy sighed, shaking her head. "Sometimes, Caitlyn, being a team means knowing when to back off. This isn't your fight—it's hers. And if you go barging in, you'll just make it worse."
Caitlyn studied Ivy for a long moment, her expression a mixture of suspicion and confusion. "You're hiding something," she said, her voice quieter now but no less intense. "What are you and Vi not telling me?"
Ivy hesitated, her resolve cracking slightly under Caitlyn's scrutiny. "It's not my place to say," she admitted at last. "But I know this: if Vi wanted you to follow her, she would've asked you to come. She didn't. That means she needs to do this alone."
Caitlyn's lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration clear. "And what about you?" she asked. "Why are you so determined to keep me here?"
Ivy's expression softened slightly, though her grip didn't loosen. "Because I've been where Vi is," she said quietly. "Sometimes, you just need space to figure things out. And sometimes... people like you showing up makes it harder."
The words stung, but Caitlyn didn't back down. She glanced toward the path Vi had taken, her instincts screaming at her to follow. Caitlyn then darted up the narrow steps, her boots clattering against the worn stone. Ivy trailed behind, her breath ragged as she tried to keep pace.
"Caitlyn, stop!" Ivy called, reaching for her arm but missing as the enforcer pushed ahead.
"I need to know what's going on!" Caitlyn shot back, her determination unwavering.
As they ascended, the faint sound of voices reached them, and Caitlyn quickened her pace. Ivy followed, dread coiling in her chest.
When they reached the top of the steps, Caitlyn stopped abruptly, causing Ivy to nearly collide with her.
Standing in the dim glow of the moonlight was Vi, her arms wrapped tightly around a girl with long blue braids. The girl's small frame trembled for a moment before she pulled away, her expression shifting from relief to suspicion.
The girl's gaze snapped toward Caitlyn and Ivy. In one fluid motion, she raised a menacing machine gun, the barrel gleaming with an ominous light.
"Who is she?" the girl demanded, her voice sharp and cold as her eyes narrowed at Caitlyn.
Caitlyn held her ground but eyed the weapon cautiously. "Who are you?" she retorted, her tone steady but with a slight edge, her sharp gaze taking in the girl's appearance.
Ivy stood frozen, her heart pounding. Her eyes darted between Vi, who looked torn, and the girl, whose tense stance made it clear she wasn't about to lower her guard.
Vi stepped forward, raising her hands to diffuse the tension. "Wait," she said carefully, her voice softer than Caitlyn or Ivy had ever heard. "They're... with me."
The girls icy gaze flicked to Vi, disbelief flashing across her face. "With you?" she repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism. "Sevika wasn't lying. Since when do you hang out with enforcers and—" she paused, giving Ivy a once-over, "—whoever she is?"
Caitlyn clenched her jaw. "Your sister is Jinx."
Vi turned back to Ivy and Caitlyn. "Listen, we can work something out."
Ivy took a cautious step forward, her hands slightly raised. "Look," Ivy said evenly, trying to steady her voice. "We're not here to hurt anyone. Vi just wanted to—"
"Shut it!" Jinx snapped, aiming the gun directly at Ivy now. Her finger hovered dangerously close to the trigger.
Vi moved quickly, stepping between them and placing a hand on Jinx's arm. "Powder, it's me," she said firmly, her eyes locking onto her sister's. "Just... hear me out."
Jinx snapped her attention to Vi. "Stop calling me that!" she shouted. "It's Jinx now. Powder fell down a well."
For a moment, the tension hung thick in the air, the only sound the faint hum of the machine gun and Ivy's uneven breaths. Ivy, however, couldn't tear her gaze away from Jinx. There was something hauntingly familiar in her wild, broken demeanor, something that struck a chord deep within her.
Jinx's hands trembled slightly as she turned the machine gun on Vi, her jaw tight and her eyes burning with an unsteady mix of fury and hurt.
"Stop talking to me like I'm a child!" she snapped, her voice cracking. She gestured sharply toward the glowing blue orb lying on the floor between them. Its eerie light cast flickering shadows across their faces. "Is that why you came? For the stupid stone?"
Vi held up her hands, her face a mask of calm despite the tension. "I don't even know what that is," she said carefully, stepping closer. "I came for you."
Jinx let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You always say that, but it's never true. It's always something else, isn't it? Something more important than me."
Caitlyn stood frozen, her eyes darting between the two sisters. Ivy watched silently, her instincts screaming at her to stay still and let Vi handle this delicate moment.
Vi's expression softened as she reached out toward Jinx, her voice filled with an almost desperate sincerity. "Powder, listen—"
"Don't call me that!" Jinx screamed, the gun jerking upward slightly as her grip faltered. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears, though her stance remained defiant. "Powder is gone. You made sure of that."
The words hit Vi like a blow, and for a moment, she looked utterly broken. "You're not gone," she whispered. "You're still my sister. You're still—"
Jinx cut her off with a snarl, her finger twitching near the trigger. "Don't you dare try to tell me who I am. Not after you abandoned me! Not after you left me alone."
Ivy's fists clenched at her sides, her heart aching at the raw pain in Jinx's voice. She wanted to say something, anything, but knew it wasn't her place. This wasn't her fight—this was between Vi and her sister.
The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved grief pressing down on everyone.
"I didn't abandon you," Vi said softly, taking another tentative step forward. "I was taken. I didn't have a choice."
Jinx's laugh was hollow, her tear-streaked face twisting with anger. "You always have a choice, Vi. And you didn't choose me."
The machine gun's hum grew louder, its glow intensifying as Jinx's emotions spiraled out of control. The blue orb on the floor pulsed faintly in response, as if feeding off the chaos in the room.
"this why you're here" Jinx said again, her voice quieter now but no less volatile. She gestured toward the orb with a sharp nod. "Go ahead. Take it. Leave. Do what you always do."
Vi's hands dropped slightly, her shoulders slumping as the weight of Jinx's words bore down on her. "I don't care about the stone," she said. "I care about you."
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the machine gun and the steady pulse of the orb. Jinx stared at Vi, her expression unreadable, as if weighing her sister's words against years of pain and betrayal.
Caitlyn exchanged a brief, uneasy glance with Ivy, the tension in the air almost too much to bear. Neither dared to speak, afraid of tipping the delicate balance.
The moment hung in limbo, the fate of the fragile reunion resting on Jinx's next move. "Everybody shut up!" She yelled. "Do you hear that?" She turned her attention to the pipes next to them. A low hum was emerging with a faint green glow.