In My Blood- Arcane x OC (Complete)

Chapter 2- Escape

TW: implied underage SA (read with caution) 

A few months later Ezra was still staying with Vander. She had grown very fond of the kids, Vander, and the reminders of her mother. She grew especially close to Powder. Ezra would help at the bar when things became overly crowded, but outside of that she would sit at the bar and keep Vander company or help Powder with inventions.

One day Ezra was sitting at the bar, things were slow so she started drinking. Ezra had a few more drinks, she wasn't drunk but more tipsy. A group of three or four enforcers came in causing everyone to go quiet. "Welcome to the Last Drop." Vander looked up and his face changed when he saw the enforcers, "What can I get for you?" His tone became more serious. "Four sump-rats will do." One of the enforcers took off their mask. Ezra recognized him, but didn't say anything. "Search the place." The enforcer didn't break eye contact with Vander while the other enforcers wandered off. "Vander, why don't you pour this hard working man a drink." Ezra smiled at the enforcer, "Marcus can enjoy the Last Drops finest while he wastes his time." Marcus looked at Ezra and his jaw dropped. "Give him the strongest you've got, he needs it." Ezra turned her entire body so she was facing Marcus. Vander started pouring a glass for Marcus, and although no one saw it, he pushed a button under the counter to alert his kids downstairs.

"Long time no see." Ezra smiled and took a long sip of her drink. "Vander, have you met Marcus? I presume you have but he's not the best at introductions." Ezra teased Marcus. "I thought they'd kill you in there." Marcus looked at Ezra. "I put up a good fight. You know this." Ezra glanced at a scar on Marcus' lip. "Vander, see that on his lip. He got that the night he arrested me. You remember, right Marcus?" Ezra found joy in belittling Marcus. "Didn't stop me from arresting a murderer." Marcus was red in the face. "Did Vander tell you he wasn't always the peacekeeper?" Marcus chuckled and looked at Vander. Vander kept an unashamed look, "Well you can't escape the past right? Would be a real shame to have to put those back on." Vander looked at a pair of metal gloves hanging from the ceiling, "Cast iron, well, it's hard to clean."

The enforcers came back upstairs and interrupted Vander and Marcus's staring or intimidation contest. The enforcer shook his head, telling Marcus there was no one to be found. Marcus's nose scrunched up, "You people down here are all the same. Mistaking arrogance for bravery. But we know that there's a crime behind every coin that passes through this place. And you're just a small man in a hole the world forgot to bury." Marcus looked at Vander then smashed his cup causing the alcohol to burn on the countertop. "And I'm going to bury the lot of you." Marcus shouted to the rest of the bar then stormed out, enforcers following.

"God he's such an asshole." Ezra finished her drink and lit a cigarette. "If I wasn't fresh outta Stillwater I would've beat the shit out of him." Ezra furrowed her brows and took a long drag. Vander groaned. "The kids okay?" Ezra asked and Vander walked out from behind the bar. He went down the stairs and Ezra heard him shut a door behind him.

Vander was gone for a long time. Ezra couldn't hear or see what was happening so she stayed at the bar unsure of where else to go and to make sure Marcus didn't come back. Vander returned upstairs almost an hour later. He looked frustrated and exhausted. He returned behind the bar and began preparing the place for closing. "Is everything okay?" Ezra gave Vander a perplexed look. "Vi's pissed." Vander groaned. "Teenagers, when are they not?" Ezra took another drag from her cigarette then stood up. "I'll talk to her." Vander nodded and Ezra wandered around the Last Drop until she found Vi out on the roof.

"I get why you're pissed." Ezra dropped her cigarette to the ground and stomped it out. Vi turned around and rolled her eyes. "Just don't be pissed at me." Ezra lightly scolded. Ezra eased up and relaxed after a deep breath, "Talk to me. I'm not Vander; I won't reprimand you or tell you that you're wrong, or what you should or shouldn't do." Ezra sat down next to Vi. She was sitting on the edge of the building with her legs hanging over the side. "I just- I don't want Powder to have the life I had. She deserves more." Vi curled up, bringing her knees to her chest. Ezra sighed, "My mom did the same thing." Vi looked at Ezra, "What do you mean?" Ezra smiled as she thought about her mom. "She got pregnant at fifteen. When she found out she ran away, leaving all of this behind so I could be safe and happy. She sacrificed everything, even Vander and Silco who were her family, so I would be okay." Vi opened herself back up and faced Ezra as she explained. "But it didn't work. She still died." Vi defended, unwanting of Ezra's pity. "Yes she did." Ezra looked away from Vi and out at the Undercity. "However, out of my own selfishness, I ruined everything she had given me. I got myself sent to Stillwater and ruined the haven she had given me. As much as I don't regret killing the man that killed her, this isn't the life she wanted for me." Ezra looked back at Vi who looked confused, "And your point is?" Vi wanted more. Ezra took a deep breath, "Don't do something stupid! I know you want more for Powder. I want all four of you to have more! But this might not be the right time for it. You don't want to throw everything you currently have away for something you can't achieve on your own. The right time will come." Ezra smiled at Vi, trying to push her to do the right thing. Vi just looked away, unsure of what to say. Ezra stood up, "Just promise me you wont get yourself thrown in Stillwater. That place-" Ezra froze, "it takes away from you, especially as a teenager." Vi nodded and Ezra walked away, leaving Vi to think on her own.

"I talked to her." Ezra fell into a barstool by Vander. "And?" He looked at Ezra with anticipation. "I told her to think about what she's doing. Oh and to not get herself thrown into Stillwater. That place is hell." Ezra tried not to think about her time in Stillwater. Things happened that she never wanted to speak of, but being so young she had to do what she needed to survive. "That girl has ambition. It scares me." Vander chuckled as he cleaned up a few glasses. "Yeah." Ezra replied. Now that she was thinking about Stillwater she wasn't feeling very good. "I'm going to head to bed, I'll see you in the morning." Ezra forced a smile. "Good night." Vander replied and Ezra went upstairs. Vander wanted to ask if she was okay, but he didn't want to pry, so he let her walk away.

Now that Ezras had been there for a while, Vander turned one of the storage rooms into a small bedroom. There wasn't much, just a bed, a small side table with a lamp, and a set of drawers for clothes. Ezra planted herself on the bed and stared at the wall next to her. The memories from Stillwater filled her brain. She tried to shove them away and get rid of it, but she knew she couldn't.

"Hey sweetheart." Some junkie said as he came up behind Ezra. "Fuck off." Ezra rolled her eyes. "That's no way you talk to your elders." He spat. The man was probably in his mid to late thirties. "And that's no way to talk to a minor! Now fuck off." Ezra turned around and got in the guys face. "Well, aren't you a feisty one." The guy stepped closer to Ezra causing her to back up. Ezra swung her arm up trying to punch him, but he grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the wall. "Well that wasn't very nice little girl." The guy shoved his body against hers. "Stop-" Ezra fought back tears as she tried to squirm free. "What's the matter sweetheart? Afraid I might kill ya?" he laughed, "Don't fight me and you'll survive sweetie." He did horrible things and Ezra was left defenseless.

Looking back Ezra should've tried to fight more, but he had threatened to kill her and she needed to live. That was two years into Ezra's sentence, but it still haunts her. Ezra cried herself to sleep. She was too tired to hold back tears or pretend she was fine in front of Vander.