Scarred For Life

Chapter 20

An all-out war surrounded me. Shouts, gun shots, explosions, the slicing of blades. I should be alarmed, I should be on edge, I should be running to safety or fighting for it. And yet here I am, crying in his arms as he lifts me off the ground.

Ekko gently put me down, refusing to fully let go as he shielded me from the fighting around us. I snapped back into reality, watching a golden forcefield encase us for a moment to protect us from flying arrows.

I looked to see Mel, a small smile creeping on her face as she nodded to us. She gave me a slight wink before turning around to continue her fights.

"I...guess we still have a fight to get through huh" Ekko chuckled nervously as he ushered me over to a pile of rubble.

"Are you real?" I asked, not realizing the words had slipped out.

His eyes saddened as he looked at me. He gently grabbed my hand and brought it up to his face. His eyes closed as he leaned into my palm with a sigh.

"I'm real, I'm right here" He smiled as his eyes met mine.

I let out the breath I had been holding in all this time. Ekko brought my hand down and smirked.

"Let's go kick some noxians on their ass" Ekko raised an eyebrow.

I gripped his hand and nodded, allowing him to lead me from our hiding spot.

Chaos ensued as one of the hexgates defenses powered up above us. An enforcer took aim at the giant orb below.

"We should go" I warned Ekko.

He nodded, bringing out his hoverboard and hopping on. It extended behind him, giving me room to jump on myself. I gripped his shoulders as we sped off, just as the enforcer pulled the trigger on the weapon.

The explosion visibly shook the ground as it crashed into the orb. Dust covered the surrounding area. I stared down anxiously as we flew towards Jinx's balloon.

The dust began to settle, revealing the cracked open orb. The only thing that laid inside was the print of a man's body in the bottom.

"Viktor's gone" I spoke in shock.

"Careful" Ekko called out to me as we landed.

He helped me down over the railing of Jinx's hideout. I looked around it, feeling the familiar barriers with a scoff.

"Welcome aboard sis" Jinx flicked her eyebrow up as she approached me.

I nodded to her, holding out my hand. She hesitantly took it before letting out a small yelp as I pulled her in for a hug.

"We've gotta get better at these" I joked as we broke away from each other.

"Uh...guys" Ekko called out as he stared over the railing.

We quickly approached the railing, staring at the ground below. Groups of white and gold creatures that Viktor created flashed across the concrete, grabbing enforcers and zaunites alike. They raised them into the air, holding their face up to the sky.

"What are they doing" I breathed out as I watched the eyes of the restrained go blank.

"Shit!" Jinx cursed as she ran off. She grabbed hold of the helm and began steering the wheel towards one of the towers of the hexgates. "Scarlett, take over!"

I quickly ran to her, taking her place at the wheel. I watched as a group of the creatures climbed up the tower we had flown to. Ekko jetted off on his hoverboard while Jinx grabbed her minigun and stood on the railing, showering the creatures with bullets.