The Betrayal - Arcane (Season 2 in progress)

Chapter 3: The Base Violence Necessary for Change

Vi quickly walks down the stairs and I let a smile creep onto my still half-asleep face. I'd woken up only seconds before. "Vi?" Claggor asks "Where's the-" Vi begins as she gets to the bottom of the stairs, "oh you're back" Powder runs up to Vi, hugging her. Vi takes a shaky breath before walking over to the table to grab Vander's gauntlets. "Hey. those are Vander's, slow down what's going on?" Mylo asks, grabbing Vi's hand as I finally make it down the stairs and to the table.

"Benzo's dead, and they took Vander" Vi explains. "Who took Vander?" asks Mylo
"I don't know, but I need to help him"
"We're going with you"
"Whatever killed Benzo... was like nothing I've ever seen," Vi says as she starts crying. "It tore him apart," she adds.

"You're not doing this alone." Claggor says, as he and Mylo hug Vi. "He's our father too." Cayden adds, going to join the hug. I quickly stand up from Caydens bed and do the same, offering what little comfort I could. "Do we know where they took him?" asks Mylo, everyone dispersing from the group. "Ekko followed them. The old cannery next to the docks. He said..." Vi stops and looks at Powder and I, ready to go.

"I need you two to sit this one out." Vi says. "What?" asks Powder, confused. "You're not coming" Vi confirms. "I'm not afraid"
"It's too dangerous"
"But families stick together. You said it yourself." Says Powder desperately. "I know what I said,"
"I want to fight. I can help."
"You're not ready," Vi says. Powder gasps, I wrap an arm around Powder and hug her. "You're all I've got left. I can't lose you." Vi says trying to soften the blow.

"Why can't I go? I'm perfectly good at fighting!" I ask. "You're not going either Evelyn." Cayden states. "But why not? There's no reason I can't."
"Evelyn, no." I huff in response. "Why not?" I ask my voice getting a little louder. "Do you want another near death experience? Evelyn, that enforcer almost blew out your brain. I'm not letting that happen to you again!" He answers, making me go silent.

I look down at the floor to hide the tears filling my eyes. "Listen Evelyn. I'm sorry, but I can't let you go. We already lost dad that night, and I almost lost you too. I can't have that." He pulls me into a hug, which I return, hugging him tightly. "Please get him back. Be safe Cay." I say quietly. "I will." He promises.

As soon as we step away Vi steps forward. "Here, if they come for you take this and run," she hands us a flare "wherever you are, light it up and we'll find you. I promise." They all start walking out of the room and to the cannery.

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Powder and I sit on her bed. Powder is sobbing hysterically as I cautiously try to calm her. She breaks one of her monkey's heads off its body and throws both pieces at a wall. Then she shrieks. "Powder-" I begin as she stands up and grabs her box filled with tools, about to throw it. Instead, she falls to the floor, dropping the box. I let out a sigh and kneel down next to her.

"Powder, it's ok," I say, trying to make her feel better. Powder only looks up at the crystal on the floor, having rolled out of her box when she dropped it. "Powder?" I ask as she stares at the crystals in thought. "We can help them." She says. I look at her confused, "How?"

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We climb up a boarded wall on the side of the cannery Powder climbs up ahead of me knocking off a panel in the process, almost hitting me. I manage to maneuver my body out of the way, the panel falling harmlessly to the floor beneath us. "Sorry!" Powder whispers in an apologetic tone. "It's ok," I reply.

When we make it to the top, we look through a hole in the wall. Vi stands on the bridge beating the people coming at her up as they get to her. She dodges as a man with a knife tries's to stab her. She's doing well now, but I can tell she won't last much longer if she keeps going on like this. But, what makes me gasp in fear and worry, is on the other side of the bridge.