lou

I knew they were making Caine the villain but….

I stepped closer to Violet's side. "We wanted things better for the next generation, for you kids." I spoke.

"I led us across this bridge, thinking things could change. . .If I hadn't." Vander paused. I saw him struggled to get the words out.

"Your parents would still be alive." I said, barely above a whisper, but I knew Violet heard me. Vander gave me a thankful glance, before continuing.

"I know you want to hurt the topsiders for what they've done to us, but who are you willing to lose? Mylo? Claggor?" Vander paused. I saw Violet's face drop in understanding. "Powder?" Violet sighed, her shoulders dropping.

Vander turned and was now on Violet's other side.

"No one wins in war." I stated. Violet leaned her head on Vander's shoulder, stuffing her hands in her coat pockets.

"What are we gonna do? The Enforcers will be back." Vi asked.

Vander sighed. "I- I don't know. I'll figure it out."

In the last ten years that I have known Vander; I have only heard that tone twice before. He was clueless and afraid. When my brother was afraid, I knew we were in deep shit. We always pulled through for each other though. He was my family.

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When we returned home, Violet hugged us before returning to her room. Her embrace with Vander lasted longer than normal, but she was always Vander's little girl. Vander made his way behind the bar, while I took a seat in front of him.

"You need a drink after that?" He asked. I nodded, sighing. "I can't remember the last time I went there. That fight is still fresh in my mind."

Vander and I sat in a moment of silence while he made my usual drink. "Add an extra shot of whiskey while you're at it."

Vander chuckled. "This drink is already strong, you sure you can handle it?"

I smirked. "Can you?" I asked, knowing he would have the same. Vander stayed quiet, shaking his head while smiling. He poured the drink into two glasses and slid the second glass to me. I hummed in thanks.

"So." I start after taking a sip. "What are we going to do about the Enforcers? We both know they won't rest until someone pays for what those kids did."

Vander sighs before pulling out his pipe and lighter. I took another sip of my drink. "I'll have to turn myself in." He says before lighting the substance in his pipe.

"Absolutely not!" I slam my drink down. "We won't survive without you." Vander inhaled deeply, then exhaled as he handed the pipe to me.

He stared at me as I refused to take it. "I'll talk to Benzo. He'll take care of things down here, with your help of course." He stated.

I stayed quiet, a frown remained on my face as I stared the man down. He kept his hand out, offering the pipe to me. I eventually took it. "I don't like this plan." I said before taking a hit. "I already lost my chance to be on good terms with Silco." I exhale. "Now I may never see you again either?"

I took a second hit before returning the pipe to Vander. "It's not ideal, but it's better than starting a war and we don't betray our own." He said simply, leaning down to my eye level.

I sighed. "You're the only one left. I- They'll sentence you to life in Stillwater for this." I said, remembering how unkind the Council was to people of the undercity, especially ones whose crime targeted a Counciler.

"I know. . .but it's the only way." He sighed. I finished my drink just as Powder came up to the bar, holding a stuffed bunny.

"Hey baby blue." I said offering the seat beside me. She didn't look up at me but took the seat anyways, placing the bunny on the counter and resting her head on her arm.

Vander smiled at her, then reached down grabbing her cup, pouring her juice and adding her favorite straw to the cup. Powder looked up to Vander, then her gaze focused back to the bunny.

I grew worried. Powder was only ever like this when Mylo picked on her, but last I checked Violet kept- Violet!

Vander and I made eye contact, our expressions the same.

"Powder, where is your sister?" I asked her, trying not to raise alarm. She shrugged. "I don't know, but she left and- I don't think she's coming back." Powder pouted when she spoke. I turned to Vander.

"Get Benzo. I'll stay with the kids." I spoke. He nodded before rushing out. I turned my attention to Powder. "Do you think she's coming back?" She asked me, looking at me with the tearful eyes.

"Vander will get her. I promise we wouldn't let anything happen to you kids." I said, leaning down and kissing her forehead. "Let's go check on the boys." I suggested. She smiled, grabbed the bunny and followed me down to the kids' room.

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Several hours passed and I had to go between the bar and the kids' room too many times. Not only were people rallying to fight topside and being Vander's "sister", I had to keep them in check; but also, being the only parental figure around, I had to keep the kids from wreaking havoc.

As I poured drinks for people, hoping they'd think they were too drunk to take on the Enforcers, I saw an anxious Violet make her way around the drunken loud crowd. I decided to finish the drink I was working on and follow her back downstairs.

When I walked in, I heard Violet speak. "Benzo's dead." She sobbed. "What?" I asked.

Mylo and Claggor turned to see me in the doorway. I rushed to Vi's side. "Dead?" Claggor asked.

"They took Vander." Violet said as she started collecting materials around the room. "Who took Vander?" Mylo asked.

"I don't know, but I need to help him." She said, tears rolled down her cheeks. "We're going with you." Claggor spoke up. "Um excuse me?" I tried speaking, but Violet sobbed over me.

"Whatever killed Benzo. . ." Violet started shaking. "It was like nothing I'd ever seen. It tore him apart." She put her face in her hands. Mylo and Claggor rushed to comfort him.

"You're not doing this alone, Vi." "He's our father too."

I spoke up. "Kids, I am proud of you, but I don't think you'll be up against Enforcers this time. There are worse people out there. You better have a good plan, Vi."

She gave me an understanding look. "Do we know where they took him?" Mylo asked. "Ekko followed them." Vi started.

"Did Ekko see what happened to Benzo?" I asked. Violet grabbed a bag and started putting everything she needed in it. "Yea." She sobbed. "He said the old cannery near the docks. I-" Violet paused, looking at Powder.

Violet swung the bag around her shoulder and sighed. "I need you to sit this one out, Powder"

"What?" Powder asked.

Violet walked closer to the girl. "You're not coming."

Powder pouted. "I'm not afraid." Violet doubled down. "It's too dangerous."

"But family sticks together, you said do yourself!" Powder's voice raised. "I know what I said-" Violet was cut off. "I want to fight. I can help!"

"You're not ready!" Violet shouted. Powder was shocked and very upset at what her sister just said. "You're all I have left. I can't lose you." Violet said, reaching out to touch Powder's cheek.

"Here." She continues, handing her a flare. "If they come for you, take this and run. Wherever you are, light it up, and I'll find you. I promise." She said, giving Powder a tight hug, before the four of us left the room.

"Check in on Ekko?" She asked me. "I'll bring him back here so that Powder isn't alone." I replied, "but you better wait until I get there to go in." She nodded, then we went our separate ways.

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I ran as fast as I could to Benzo's shop to check on Ekko. Every breath I took felt forced; every step left heavy. . .Then it hit me.

The smell of blood and gunpowder.

I turned the corner to see five bodies unmoving, many of them dismembered. Whatever attacked them had torn the individuals' limb from limb. Bullet shells littered the ground indicating these victims fought back. Four of the bodies were those of Enforcers, one being Sheriff Grayson, and the fifth body was Benzo.

A string pulled on my heart and tears started to pour before I could think. In the last eight years, Benzo became the closest friend to Vander and me; parenting the kids when we could not and stepping in to help at the bar when new hires walked out.

I felt as if my breath had stopped as I stared at Benzo's face, lifeless eyes staring back at me. His mouth was left open, caught in a final battle cry. Blood dripped from his nose and temple. Time stopped as I replayed all the moments I had with Benzo, the good and the bad.

I don't know how long I stood in that ally. . .waiting for life to come back, or for the dream to end.

The sound of a bell, followed by a door closing softly broke me out of my trance. For the first time in however long, I looked away from my friend and laid eyes on the reason why I came here.

"Ekko." I whispered.

The boy stood still, his feet together, head low, and shoulders drooped like a puppy caught doing something wrong. From the distance I could make out the tears staining his cheeks, and the small trail of snot dripping from his nose. He reached one hand up and whipped his upper lip, sniffling.

I forced myself to move one foot in front of the other like it was the most difficult task known to man. After three steps, Ekko broke out in a sprint, practically jumping onto me.

He wrapped his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist. He was very small for his age, but that was our malnourished life in the undercity. I cradled his head with one hand and secured his weight with the tight hold around his torso. The two of use cried for what we had experienced here, him more than me.

"I am so sorry." I whispered to him, rubbing my hand over his hair. He sniffled but remained speechless. "Vi, Mylo, and Claggor have gone after Vander. I am here to take you back to Powder and make sure you're alright." I spoke.

Ekko only nodded against my shoulder in response. "Can you walk? Or do you want me to carry you."

His grip tightened around my neck, answering my question. I squeezed him tightly for a moment before slowly walking back to the Last Drop.

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At some point, Ekko fell asleep on my shoulder. I quietly entered the kids' room and laid him down on Vi's bed. I went to check on Powder in her bed and saw that she was gone. I gasped before rushing around the building. I checked my room, then Vander's. She was nowhere to be found.

I panicked, expecting that she was taken by an Enforcer, or by someone worse. I decided to check on Ekko one last time before leaving. He was curled up in Vi's bed, sleeping peacefully. I placed a blanket over him and kissed his head before turning off all lights and locking the door behind me.

Where did Violet said she was going? The cannery near the docks.

As I ran to the location, I just prayed Vi listened to me; that she'd wait for me before taking action in rescuing Vander. That's when I saw it.

An explosion of blue in the distance towards where I was running.

"Shit." I yelled out loud to nobody. I picked up my running pace, ignoring the mucus growing in my throat from my panting. I spat it out as I ran. I was almost there. . .almost. . .but I was too late.

The building was on fire. The chance of anyone making it out of there was slim. I took a second to catch my breath, but between the smoke, my emotions, and my god-awful lungs, it was proven difficult. I begged myself not to pass out; to hang on just a little longer.

I coughed and stumbled my way into the building.

"Violet!" I shouted, covering my mouth with my sleeve.

"Mylo!" My coughing grew more violent.

"C-Claggor!"

I heard a loud bang as wood and metal fell around me. I collapsed onto my knees, begging my lungs to work. Tears formed in my eyes and the heat of the fire seemed to only grow more intense. I heard a scream.

I found myself laying on my side, clinging to what I had left. Just as I began to close my eyes, rain fell. I managed to turn my head towards the sky, pleading for water to lubricate my scratchy throat.

The rainwater surprisingly helped, and I managed to slowly crawl away from the fire. The situation I found myself in caused me to think that everyone was dead. Vander, Violet, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor. They were gone but as I regained strength, I forced myself to believe they were all okay.

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This next part is turning out to be a lot longer than I expected. Also, last week was crazy. I lost my job, and my cat fucking died. The poor baby had kidney failure and went in his sleep two days before his euthanasia appointment. As for work, my co-workers and I are working on suing the owner for workplace harassment, stealing money from each of us, and overall mistreatment. Idk how I'm going to afford rent due August 1st, but hey! Thank you all for your patience. I hope this next part is worth the wait.