Neutral Through Chaos

Chapter 17: An Awaited Confrontation

My heart thudded, everything spinning rapidly. A tsunami of fear washed over me, drowning me. I gripped the side of a chair, attempting to steady myself.

"He- he's what?" I stammered, "I haven't been gone for long-"

"Some of his goons have questioned people around town asking where you are," she explained, taking a drag of her cigarette "I don't know what he wants you for y/n, but with him it can't be anything good."

The thought that they may have harmed  or interrogated people for that information was horrifying.

"Is everyone ok? Did they hurt anyone?" I demanded.

The yordle sighed.

"Yes, everyone's ok. A couple bumps and scratches here and there but no one got hurt severely to my knowledge."

Relieved, I stood up, "Thank you for telling me, I owe you one as well."

"You're a good kid, stay safe," she called out after me as I left the room.

As I observed the hallway it struck me that Vi was already gone. I had to work hastily and find her before it was too late. Sevika was strong, Vi was too but Sevika quite literally had the upper hand. Her mechanical arm was deadly, I had helped her to manufacture it in fact. It was a lethal weapon, and I knew that she wouldn't be afraid to use it. Rushing along, I peered into one of the rooms. Caitlyn sat, chatting with a girl on a lavish sofa. So I was right. My growing worry was only alleviated momentarily as I felt happiness for Vi. Continuing to hurry, I exited the building.

I thought quickly of where Sevika would be. She had invited me to play card games with her and some of her acquaintances before, and to my knowledge she usually hung out in a specific area to do so. With that in mind I ran onwards, through bustling streets filled with drunkenness and blaring music. As I went down an alleyway, fog obscured my view. Trying to wave it away, I was suddenly struck. The wind was knocked out of me as I fell to the ground.

"Jesus watch where you're-" the familiar voice trailed off.

I glanced upwards to see Sevika.

"Y/n?" she muttered.

Pulling myself up from the ground I noticed blood spatters on her face, it was heavily scarred and swollen. She was clutching her bionic arm, the shimmer vials on it smashed and leaking the purple liquid. Clearly I had been too late.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"Does it look like it?" she growled, "Vi's back, some girl with her shot my arm up."

As Sevika stumbled along I followed her quickly, wrapping my arm around her to support her. Was Vi hurt as well? I forgot to respond, lost to my thoughts.

"Where the hell have you been anyways?" Sevika scowled, "Boss was looking for you, you had a deal."

"I've been here and the-" I began.

"Marcus told him you were caught up in the explosion last night, he was supposed to bring you back to Silco, but you had other plans. Odd that you and Vander's brat show your faces on the same day too."

My thoughts raced, of course Marcus would have told the crime lord about my situation. I had been stupid to think otherwise. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. There was no denying what happened now.

"The girl who shot you broke me out, and Vi. I only went along with it so that I could get back here without being questioned by enforcers," I insisted.

Sevika sighed, shaking her head in frustration.

"Don't tell Boss you were with Vi, this stays between us," she concluded, "It's a full-time job keeping you from being killed y/n."