Chapter 23
The group walked onto the bridge that connected the two cities, their footsteps echoing faintly in the stillness. The sun had set, replaced by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through a faint mist over the water below. Silence hung over them, and Ivy's heart picked up its pace as her eyes flickered between the flickering lampposts and Piltover looming ahead.
Without warning, Vi stopped walking.
Ekko, Caitlyn, and Ivy halted, turning back to look at her. "Vi?" Ekko asked, his voice cautious.
Vi stood still, her hands clenched at her sides. She stared ahead but seemed lost in her own thoughts. Finally, she spoke, her voice wavering slightly. "I can't leave her again."
Ekko frowned, tilting his head. "You can't change her," he said quietly, a mix of frustration and understanding in his tone.
Caitlyn and Ivy exchanged a glance, their expressions uncertain. Neither of them spoke, sensing the weight of Vi's words.
"I have to try," Vi said firmly, her eyes burning with determination.
Ekko sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Vi, you know what she's done—what she's capable of. This isn't just about you anymore. We have bigger things at stake."
"Maybe we do," Vi said, turning to face him. "But she's my sister. If there's even a chance to pull her back, I have to take it. You'd do the same for someone you love."
Ivy shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Caitlyn, whose face softened slightly.
The silence between them lingered heavily until Ekko stepped forward. He walked up to Vi, his expression conflicted. "Just don't get yourself killed," he said, pulling her into a firm hug.
"No promises," Vi replied with a smirk, though her voice wavered slightly.
Ekko pulled away, backing up to give her space, his hand lingering in the air for a moment before dropping to his side. Then Caitlyn stepped forward. Her usual composed demeanor softened as she hugged Vi, holding her tightly.
"It's been real, Caitlyn," Vi said, her tone sincere. "Thanks for everything."
Caitlyn pulled back, her hands lingering on Vi's arms as she nodded, her lips pressed tightly together, clearly holding back words she couldn't quite say.
Finally, Vi turned her attention to Ivy. Ivy's faint, saddened smile betrayed the humor she tried to muster as she stepped forward and wrapped Vi in a hug. "I'm going to miss you, Pinky," Ivy said, her tone light but tinged with genuine emotion.
Vi chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, let's not use that nickname again," she said, pulling back slightly but keeping her hands on Ivy's shoulders. Her expression softened, and she added, "I'm going to miss you too. But you'll be alright without me."
Ivy gave her a small nod, trying to keep her composure as Vi stepped back.
Vi glanced at the group one last time, her eyes lingering on each of them as if committing them to memory. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, her silhouette fading into the fog.
They stood in silence, watching until she disappeared entirely. The faint sounds of the city beyond the bridge filled the void she left behind.
The bright lights blazed down on them, momentarily blinding the three as they halted in their tracks.
"Halt!" a commanding voice yelled.
The group shielded their eyes against the glare. "What the hell is this?" Ekko growled, his voice tense.
Caitlyn quickly pulled out her badge, holding it up. "Sir, I have proof," she said firmly. "Silco is behind everything."
A man emerged from the blinding light, his uniform marking him as an enforcer. His presence sent a jolt through Ivy, her hairs standing on end as a wave of unease swept over her. The man pushed down the barrel of a rifle held by another enforcer, who had it trained on them.
"Show me," the enforcer said, his tone authoritative as he stepped closer.
Ekko's eyes narrowed, and he leaned closer to Ivy and Caitlyn. "No," he whispered urgently, his voice a warning.
Caitlyn turned her head slightly toward him, her expression calm yet firm as she gave a reassuring nod.
Ekko hesitated for a tense moment, muttering under his breath, "Shit." Slowly, he reached down, his hands trembling slightly, and opened the satchel to reveal the glowing gemstone inside. Its radiant blue light spilled out, casting an ethereal glow in the tense atmosphere.
The enforcer stared at it for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he raised his firearm.
"NO!" Ivy shouted, but the sound of the shot drowned her out.
The bullet struck Ekko, knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling to the ground.
The enforcers moved in, their boots thudding ominously on the bridge as their guns remained trained on the group. Ivy's heart pounded, her pulse deafening in her ears. One of the enforcers, the man who had fired, stepped closer to her, his gun now aimed squarely at her chest.
He tilted his head, scrutinizing her features. A cold, amused smirk crept across his face.
"Kingsley," he said, his voice dripping with derision.
Ivy froze, her breath catching in her throat. Confusion and fear twisted together as his words hit her like a punch to the gut. "How...?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'd recognize that white hair and green eyes from anywhere," he sneered, taking another deliberate step closer.
Ivy's initial fear began to boil into anger, her hands clenching into fists. "How do you know who I am?" she demanded, her voice laced with venom.
The enforcer chuckled, a sinister sound that sent a chill down her spine. "Your parents," he said, his words slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment. "They were good friends of mine... until they crossed the wrong man."
The gun in his hand clicked as he chambered another round. "Let's just say I took care of them."
His words hit Ivy like a bolt of lightning, her anger igniting into an uncontrollable blaze. She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "You... what?" she growled, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "That's impossible they" Her words faltered as she remembered Silco's words.
They did make a big mistake crossing me in the end, but they were good people, Ivy.
The enforcer ignored her, his eyes locked on Ivy. "I see the fire runs in the family," he taunted.
The world around Ivy blurred into chaos as the vivid flashbacks consumed her—flashes of fire, screams, the faces of her parents twisted in pain and fear. The memory clawed at her mind like a wild animal, pulling her into its depths. Her chest heaved, her vision tunneling until only the enforcer's face remained in sharp focus.
"I'll fucking kill you!" she screamed, her voice raw and unhinged. Before Caitlyn could react, Ivy lunged forward.
The gun went off, the sound deafening, but the bullet missed its mark as Ivy tackled the man with unrelenting force.
"Ivy, no!" Caitlyn's panicked voice echoed through the chaos, but Ivy was too far gone.
Ivy wrestled the gun from the enforcer's hand with trembling fingers, her tears falling freely, streaking her pale cheeks. Her hands were steady, though, as she pointed the barrel at his head, her eyes wide and bloodshot. The enforcer, though pinned beneath her, laughed darkly.
"Do it," he goaded. "Killing me won't bring them back."
That taunt only fueled her rage. She let out a guttural yell, wrestling to keep him restrained as he fought back, his hands grabbing at her wrists.
Suddenly, amidst the chaos, the faint, rapid sound of flapping wings cut through the air. It started as a distant hum but grew louder with every second. Everyone froze, heads turning upward in confusion.
A small, green butterfly landed delicately on Ivy's arm. For a split second, she stopped, her rage interrupted by the sight of the strange, mechanical insect. Its wings fluttered, gears clicking softly.
"What the..." Ivy muttered, her grip faltering as she stared at it. She flicked it off of her.
Before anyone could react, the butterfly's wings flared wide, revealing intricate mechanisms within. A loud beep came from it, followed by a series of rapid explosions erupting around the bridge.
The blasts sent Ivy flying backward, the force tearing her away from the enforcer. Her body slammed into the edge of the bridge with a sickening thud, the metal rail digging into her back.
The world became a cacophony of noise—shouts, screams, and the relentless pounding of explosions. Ivy's ears rang, drowning out all sound. She lay there, gasping for air, her head spinning. Her vision swam, dark spots dancing in her periphery as the chaos unfolded.
The explosions still echoed in Ivy's mind, overlapping with the screams and chaos from her past. Her chest heaved as she coughed, her throat raw from the smoke and tears. Memories she had buried deep clawed their way to the surface—the lifeless body of the market vendor, the cries of her people as the enforcers stormed through, and the overwhelming sense of helplessness. The way they grabbed innocents killing them, was a vivid memory through Ivy's mind.
"No," she whispered, her voice trembling as her body shook. Tears streamed down her face, her hands clenching into fists. "No, no, no!"
She rolled onto her back, gasping for air. Her sobs wracked her body, and her voice grew hoarse as she cried out to no one, "I'll do it... I'll do it...I'll kill them..." The words came out in a choked whisper, almost like a plea to herself.
With sheer willpower, she forced herself to sit up, then stand, every movement a battle against the pain radiating through her body. Her head spun, but she ignored it, her resolve hardening with each step. The haze of smoke and mist blurred her vision, but the scene before her was unmistakable—enforcers lay lifeless across the bridge, the aftermath of the explosions. Blood splattered and spilled across the bridge. Their lifeless eyes frozen, lifeless from their deaths.
Through the haze, she spotted him—the enforcer who had laughed at her, taunted her, confessed to killing her parents. He was alive but struggling, pushing himself up onto his knees. Ivy's breath hitched, her jaw tightening.
Her fingers brushed against the hilt of her dagger. The cool metal steadied her, its weight reminding her of the promise she had made to herself.
As the man tried to stand, she strode forward, her steps heavy but deliberate. Pain lanced through her side, but she didn't falter. Reaching him, she raised her foot and kicked him back down.
He fell with a grunt, coughing violently as he hit the ground. Before he could recover, Ivy grabbed him by the collar of his uniform, hauling him up with a strength fueled by rage and anguish.
"You don't get to stand, or live." she hissed through clenched teeth, dragging him across the bridge's rough surface. His boots scraped against the ground as he struggled weakly, but Ivy didn't let go.
She stopped near the bridge's edge, her chest rising and falling as her fury threatened to consume her. With a guttural yell, she threw him against the cold metal railing. He hit it hard, his back slamming into the edge, and he let out a sharp cry of pain.
Ivy stood over him, her dagger drawn. The enforcer coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, but he managed to look up at her with defiance.
"Go ahead," he rasped, his voice weak.
Ivy's hand trembled, her knuckles white as she gripped the dagger. The fire in her eyes flickered, torn between rage and something deeper—something more painful. Ivy's breathing grew erratic, her hand trembling as she raised the dagger high above her head. "You worked for Silco, tell me what business he had with my parents."
"No." The man smirked, blood pooling at the corners of his mouth, but that smirk only fueled the rage within her. His smile soon faded as he coughed again. He looked up at Ivy a plea in his eyes. "Tell my daughter tha-"
His words were cut off by Ivy's scream. It ripped through the air as she brought the dagger down, her vision blurred by tears. The blade pierced his chest with a sickening sound, but it wasn't enough—not for the years of pain, loss, and anger that had festered inside her.
She pulled the dagger out, her body shaking with each heaving sob, and plunged it again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike carried the weight of her grief, each scream an echo of the little girl who had lost everything. Memories flashed before her eyes—the fire, the screams, lifeless faces. She wasn't just stabbing him; she was trying to destroy the pain, to obliterate the helplessness that had haunted her since that day. The blood splattered across her face, but her tears washed over them in bloody streams down her face.
Her hands and arms were slick with blood, her dagger heavy, but she couldn't stop. It was as if her heart was breaking all over again, her cries growing louder, rawer, until they devolved into hoarse sobs.
Finally, her movements slowed, her strength waning. She collapsed to her knees beside his lifeless body, the dagger slipping from her bloodied hands and clattering against the ground.
Her breaths were shallow, her chest heaving as she stared at him, her vision still swimming with tears. His mutilated body below her was a tough scene to see. The rage that had consumed her was gone, leaving only an unbearable emptiness.
"I fucking hate you," she whispered, her voice breaking. But the words felt hollow now, as though they couldn't bear the weight of her anguish.
She looked down at her trembling hands, covered in blood—his blood, her parents' blood, her own memories and pain spilled across them. A deep, shuddering sob escaped her lips as she fell back against the railing, staring up at the darkened sky.
Ivy's chest heaved as her bloodied hands fell limp by her sides, her heart still pounding from the rage she had unleashed. Her gaze drifted upward and locked onto Caitlyn. Caitlyn was struggling to stand, her injured leg trembling beneath her weight.
The look on Caitlyn's face froze Ivy in place. Shock. Fear. It wasn't just fear of the chaos around them—it was fear of her. It was as though Caitlyn was staring at a stranger, and that realization hit Ivy harder than any blow ever could.
The hot tears of anger cooled, turning into something more unbearable—shame. Ivy's vision blurred as her chest tightened, and for a moment, the world faltered beneath her. Her knees buckled, but before she could crumble entirely, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the moment.
Her eyes flew open, her head snapping toward the sound.
Bullets tore through the misty air, and she saw Vi rushing toward Caitlyn, helping her up. But before they could move further, the two were thrown back, narrowly avoiding the barrage of bullets.
In a blur, Ekko came flying in on his board, the whirring sound cutting through the chaos. He flipped off the board mid-air, his weapon swinging in a wide arc, deflecting the rain of bullets.
Jinx stood ahead, her wild, manic grin illuminated by the flicker of flames and the flashing muzzle of her machine gun.
"Miss me?" Jinx called out to them, her voice dripping with mockery as she unleashed another volley of bullets, forcing everyone to scatter.
Ekko twisted and dodged, narrowly avoiding the hail of bullets Jinx fired at him. With a powerful swing of his weapon, he knocked her to the ground, sending her skidding across the bridge. Ekko slid across the floor, his movement precise, and hurled the satchel containing the gemstone toward Vi and Caitlyn.
"Go! Get out of here!" he shouted, his voice firm and resolute. His eyes flicked briefly to Ivy, a glimmer of worry breaking through his determined expression. "All of you!"
Vi wasted no time, rushing to Ivy's side and looping an arm around her waist to help her stand. Ivy clutched her dagger tightly, its handle slick against her palm, and leaned heavily on Vi. Her legs felt weak beneath her, her body battered from the fight and explosion, but it was the storm in her mind that weighed her down the most.
On Vi's other side, Caitlyn limped forward, each step labored but purposeful. Her face was pale, and though she glanced at Ivy, her expression was unreadable—caught somewhere between concern and distance.
Ivy kept her gaze locked on the ground as they walked away from the bridge, the sounds of Ekko and Jinx clashing behind them fading into the distance. Shame burned through her, a searing reminder of what had just unfolded. She couldn't bring herself to look at Caitlyn or Vi, knowing what they must have seen in her during those moments of blind rage.
Her thoughts swirled chaotically, images of the bloodied bridge and the lifeless enforcers flashing in her mind. The weight of what she'd done pressed down on her chest, threatening to choke her.
Vi's grip tightened slightly around Ivy's waist, a silent reassurance as they continued forward. No one spoke. The only sounds were the distant echoes of gunfire and their uneven footsteps on the bridge. Each step felt heavier than the last, and Ivy wondered if she would ever be able to look any of them in the eye again. Even though her thoughts of embarrassment filled her mind there was still a part of her that didn't regret what she had done. She had done the very thing she swore to do the second she got out of jail. Her vengeance for her parents had fueled her rage and pain. But in the end, was vengeance truly worth it?