Tides of Zaun

XIX

Amid the chaos of the failed execution, the spectacle had turned into something far more menacing. Ambessa Medarda, who moments ago had seemed poised and unshakeable, now stood amidst the wreckage of her pride, clutching large, unevenly hacked strands of Jinx's blue hair. She seethed, her body trembling with rage as her grip tightened around the hair, pulling it as though she could yank the rebel back from her escape through sheer force.

The crowd that had gathered, both Piltover's elites and the streetwise citizens of Zaun, watched in stunned silence. They had come expecting a show of justice, a triumph over rebellion. But now, they stood frozen, watching as Ambessa's fury tore through any semblance of order. Her chest rose and fell heavily, eyes blazing with a fire that no one dared meet.

"CHOOSE YOUR SIDE!" Ambessa's voice erupted across the square. "ZAUN AND PILTOVER, WAR IS COMING!" She threw the strands of Jinx's hair to the ground, stomping on them as she yelled at the enforcers to chase down the escaped criminal. The declaration echoed throughout the streets, its meaning rippling through the crowd. It was a line drawn, a choice being forced upon them all.

From the crowd, Jayce watched, his heart heavy with a weight he hadn't anticipated. His eyes darted between Ambessa and the crowd, and a bitter taste filled his mouth as he realized the situation was slipping further from his control. The Medarda name, the very force that had once kept him anchored in Piltover's politics, was now unraveling before his eyes. He saw Ambessa's fury and wondered how far she would go. Would she destroy everything to satisfy her need for vengeance? Her power to declare war had been nothing more than a whisper until now, but this was the moment she had made it a promise.

Vi's eyes were glued to Jinx's hair on the ground. Her heart pounded as she took in the sight, every inch of those strands representing what her sister had been through in captivity. Bruises on Jinx's arms, the weight she had lost—evidence that Jinx had fought, suffered, and survived within the walls of her cell. Vi clenched her fists, her knuckles going white, frustration boiling under her skin. This wasn't how she wanted to see her sister—stripped, vulnerable, and used as a symbol in someone else's war. For a second, she felt helpless, her anger, and guilt turning inward.

In the crowd, Caitlyn's eyes scanned for Vi, heart hammering in her chest as the reality of Jinx's escape sunk in. She needed to find her, not just because she still cared about her, but because they needed to face what they had let fall apart. She shoved past onlookers, searching.

Then, she saw Vi.

Without a word, Vi grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her out of the chaos. They ran through the throngs of confused and panicking people, Vi's grip firm but not harsh. She led Caitlyn through alleyways, avoiding the attention of enforcers, until they found a quieter spot. There was no time for hesitation, no moment to catch their breath.

"I knew it," Vi hissed as they ducked into the shadows of an old, crumbling building. "I knew you were hiding something, Cait."

Caitlyn caught her breath, her heart still racing, both from the escape and the flood of emotions that came with seeing Vi again. "I didn't have a choice. You have no idea how complicated this all is."

"Complicated?" Vi's voice dripped with sarcasm, though her eyes betrayed the pain beneath her anger. "Jinx is my sister. I've been busting my ass to figure out how to help her, and you—you've been keeping me in the dark."

"I was trying to protect you!" Caitlyn's voice broke, the weight of her choices crashing down on her. "I didn't want to risk you getting caught up in all of this. Ambessa—Jayce—none of them were going to let Jinx go without a fight."

Vi stepped closer, her breath hot with frustration. "We don't get to protect each other from this. It's too late for that now. What we have to do is fix it."