The Sixth | Ekko

Chapter Eighteen - Flashback #3

-          Zaun, 1 Year Before the Beginning of Arcane

"Watch your step, Six," Pipsqueak advised, having been keeping an eye on the younger teen. Pipsqueak was their leader, and she trusted the others' abilities as much as she trusted her own. But when it came to the youngest of the lot, she always felt the need to look out for her. She'd seen some nasty shit, more so than the rest, and it made her protectiveness towards the girl flare.

The sixteen-year-old nodded emotionlessly in response, heeding her warning as she descended down the pipe attached to a corner building. Right now, it was just the three of them; Pip, her right-hand Claret, and Six. They were on their way to one of their safehouses, Nan having requested they fetch some scrap metal she'd left there about a week ago.

Six hopped onto the awning Claret and Pipsqueak were waiting for her on. She nearly lost her balance until Claret reached out and grabbed her, steadying her stance.

"Woah there," Claret said, a smirk forming on her face.

Six made no reaction and instead turned her focus to Pipsqueak for further instructions.

"Right, we're almost at the safehouse. But we gotta pass through here first. You two ready?"

"You know it," Claret said confidently, which was contrasted by Six's silent nod.

The three females darted off, with Pipsqueak leading, Claret running in the middle, and Six trailing behind the two. Pip led them to the top of a wooden tower where they then scaled a thin ledge, having to shimmy across it on their sides.

Halfway across the ledge, Six caught sight of a flash of neon green in the far distance. Flickers of emerald whisked through the air, and when she looked closer she could see gun fire.

"Firelights," Pip said, "Let's keep moving. We don't wanna get caught up in whatever mess they're involved in."

Six knew very little about the Firelights. She'd seen them occasionally throughout the last year, but hadn't gotten the chance to figure out what their motives were.

When they reached the next passage they had to move through, Pip swore when she noticed a Firelight and some blue-haired chick standing in the way.

"We'll have to wait it out."

Claret groaned in annoyance and plopped down on her ass. "Aw man, this bites."

"Jinx is involved," Pip uttered, having caught sight of her long braids.

"Crazy bitch," Claret came back, rolling her eyes and running her hand through her short, crimson hair. It was one of the characteristics about the girl that made Six compare her to Vi.

Six watched as the Firelight confronting Jinx removed their mask, revealing their face. She tensed when she recognized the dark skin and white hair, and even more so when she spotted the hourglass painted on his face.

Ekko.

In seconds she was on her feet and running towards him. She hadn't seen him since before the explosion—when he pulled her into the alley before she got taken.

"She's gonna get herself killed!" Claret exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

"Don't worry, we'll get her," Pip declared before gesturing for Claret to follow her.

Six raced along building roofs as fast as she could, desperately trying to get to him. She hadn't seen him in six years, and he was the last remnants of her old life before the explosion.

She approached the bottom of the wooden bridge Jinx and Ekko were standing on and climbed up one of bridge's supports. When she made it to a wooden piece that attached the support to another one, she felt something tug on her yellow coat. She looked down to see Pip, who had grabbed a handful of her jacket to get her to stop.