Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 21

My eyes felt leadened as I stared ahead unblinking and unmoving, waiting for Vi to return. It was still quiet, the hubbub and the noise of the city echoing in front the tunnels noticeably more faint leaving my thoughts alone.

Fear gripped my heart as I became ever so familiar with the feeling of dread settling inside my stomach. Ahh, my old friends, how I hate seeing you once more. My throat tightened as what felt like an eternity drag on. Without any point of reference, time felt like it could be an instant or an eternity. My perception is further warped by the emotions welling up from my heart.

I felt so stupid right now, letting her go back there when we could have just went our way. We had a bright future ahead of us, a future bright enough to leave our past behind but we thought bringing closure to this part of our lives would have been best. It almost felt like my life was a tragedy, a series of stupid mistakes I was oblivious to piling up on top of each other until it finally caught up to me an making me suffer for my naivety. Was I just going to let it happen?

Slowly I stood up, my tired legs finally waking up after sitting still for so long. My life isn’t a story, I had to act. I don’t know much time has passed or if I still had time left but I had to act. I can’t just stand here, I need to move. I shouldn’t have let indecision rule my thoughts when I could punch my problems away, maybe literally even

I made a decision then and there, I needed to get Vi back no matter what even if I died trying. I just don’t know what to do if I ever lose it. The worst has come to pass and what happens next depends on what I do now. I hoped and I prayed that I still had time as I went back to our house. Seeing Jinx sleeping peacefully reminded me of what I could further lose if I didn’t act.

I quickly started packing things I needed. It tossed on my toolbelt, an extra roll of copper wires, a sturdy rod, my sharpened shiv and several puffcap mushrooms on me before reaching for my wings. I strapped them all securely onto myself before waking both Floofington and Whump up. “Hey Whump, I need you and Floofington to go to Bob’s right now. Can you guys do that?”

Whump looked up at me with confusion as he had just been woken but he quickly got the message. He jumped on top of Floofington before the two went off down to the tunnels.

Wearing my wings wasn’t just an ordinary event right now, it felt like it completed me now. With my wings, I freed myself, helping me to act against my fears and worries. I felt my heart settle and my breathing steady as I lifted my little angel. I couldn’t leave Jinx unattended while I searched for Vi, I needed to get her somewhere safe. After bundling her up in her blanket, I flew out and went to the only person I could trust with my sister.

I shot through the tunnels, flying hard and fast as I took to the skies after exiting through one of the wider openings of our underground home. The feeling of the cold wind and the smog against my face wakes me up. I felt the fog ahead of me part apart, helping me fly towards Bob’s workshop. With the wind behind my back, I got there in record time.

Thankfully Jinx hasn’t woken up yet even as she snuggled closer to me from how cold it was today. I landed softly without a sound, my feet touching the ground as I walked up to the door. Ringing the door, I was thankfully met by a tired Cindy.

The blonde rubbed her eyes as she yawned out a reply “Ark? Jinx? What are you guys doing here so early? It's not even morning right now”

“Going to do something potentially suicidal. Need you to take care of Jinx and keep her here while I’m gone”. I didn’t give her time to reply as I passed Jinx over to her making her stagger as she balanced my sister in her arm before I shot up to the skies

“Suicidal? What, Ark come back here!” Her fading voice called out just like her silhouette faded in the mist.

I know where I had to go or at least I know where I had to go. I know where Vi worked, having asked about it sometime ago. I had a safe bet that whatever happened, my fist clenching at the thought alone, to Vi… I could find it there.

With the wings on my back, I could cover a lot of ground. The buildings around me are blurring past as I fly faster than I usually dare. Any mistake could be fatal but I am done making mistakes right now. My silent wings helped me in my search, giving me the chance to search places without anyone that wiser. I could do that as well on foot, searching every spot through the tunnels, but it would take too long especially when time is of the essence.

As silent as an owl in flight, I glided along the air as I entered the territory of another baron. Vi and I talked about our jobs as a way to pass the time as well as give both of us an idea where to look if anything ever happened to us. Vi carried a lot of messages in her day job and it made it clear which place was where I should be heading. After all, the center of operation should be the place where the messenger has to come back again and again right?

I soon came upon the warehouse. It stood out among the poorly maintained buildings around it for its height alone. It didn’t look like anyone was here but from above I could see the “beggars”, probably guards, posted around the building and betraying its inhabitants. I circled around slowly, taking time to observe the buildings, how high the windows were and how it was almost built like a fortress with only a single entrance and a backdoor with a… carriage parked behind the building.

I glided slowly, descending down on the sloped roof, if not quite touching it for fear of making a sound if I ever decided to walk on top of the building. I hovered across the solid structure, disappointed at finding it devoid of glass ceilings but then again there weren’t any natural light sources for us Zaunites to take advantage of.

I felt my heart race but a few calming breaths helped me center my thoughts as I hover over the edge of the roof and peered down inside through the window. I was thankful that there were no known fliers in Zaun or else people would be looking up almost all the time. As I stared inside, my deepest fears were realized. Raised above the ceiling was a large metal cage and sitting inside was my Vi. She looked a bit roughed up but there was still fire in her eyes, even if they were marred by her split lip and the large black eye around her left eye.

Vi stilled, head twitching towards my direction but she refused to to look towards me as she looked down below. I followed her gaze and soon found the person that caused my misery for the last few hours. I clenched my fist as I saw a wolfish looking man talking to a chembaron that I knew all too well. I barely restrained myself by doing something as stupid as breaking in and attempt to kill them as I was quick to notice the weapons these assholes were wielding. Guns and swords a plenty with glistening saw bits and tanks of chems to power them.

I was outgunned but I refused to believe I was outmatched. I had to get her out but I didn’t know how I could even hope to take them out. It was then I felt something reverberate across the air as a loud boom echoed from the distance. It was a sound of thunder, of destruction untold threatening to shake Zaun to its core. Another fight was taking place and it seems that it was taking place where this baron's territory was.

I could hear the commotion from above as the chem baron spit and shouted, gathering most of the heavily armed men leaving an angry and fuming wolfman to hold down this area. They looked like they were about to fight but that was soon stopped as what I could assume was a messenger came running in. The wolfman backed down as the Baron took most of the goons with him; leaving me with a better chance to actually free Vi.

The window was far too narrow for me to fit in especially with my wings on and I wouldn’t want to be caught without them right now so close to my enemy. I had to find another way in. Panic sets in as Vi’s cage jerks before the chain holding up lowered her down near the ground.

I flew away from the roof, getting a glimpse of the baron's carriage as it drove straight to his territory, before I tried to find any sewer entrances. I found one soon enough and I didn’t waste any time getting in.

Zaunite buildings have several things they’re attached to. One is the city's water supply as every building needed water for sewage as well as drinking water. The other is the local chem distributor in place of electricity as it was generally cheaper. Then there was the local heating as Zaun can be quite cold. Lastly, Zaunite buildings, especially big commercial ones, are often connected to local air distributors. All of these can be accessed in the sewer for easy repair in case things broke... and now I could break every single one of them but I had to be smart about it.

I searched for an entrance inside, trying to find a door that could lead to the inside and found one but it was locked. I could feel it was shut tight as I barely made it rattle. I needed someone to open it from the inside but thankfully I had four reasons to give them. I quickly chose to avoid the chem lines as hitting those is just asking for the entire building to burn down in alchemical fire while hitting the water line wouldn’t make them notice, so I decided to hit the air and the heat pipes.

Finding cover to hide behind once I start blowing things up was essential as things could get dicey fast. I hoped that the steam explosion wasn't going to be too loud as I aimed my fingers at a far away pipe. Electricity danced across my arm as a ball of light built up at the end of my finger, growing and pulsing with energy ready to be unleashed. My world lit up as lightning raced out from my fingers. It struck hard and true, deforming metal pipe which bulged from the high pressure steam inside. I ducked and covered my ears as a bone rattling explosion echoed inside the tunnel. It rattled me to my core but I had to move. With my ears ringing and probably half deaf, I rushed towards the door

That loud bang should get their attention and they’ll quickly find themselves losing heat and fresh air real quick. They’re not essential but annoying to deal with. They’ll have to send someone down to assess the damage and that was when I was going to strike. With electricity dancing across my hand, I moved quickly as steam covered my form.

I hid beside the door, heart thundering in my chest as I waited. I could barely hear anything right now, relying entirely on my sight alone. Finally, the door opened and in came a pair of disgruntled tattooed men. I waited for a few more seconds, hoping that they do not look at my direction, just to see if there are others waiting but no one else came in or called

Clenching my fist, I lash out and strike his back making him seize up before he falls like a puppet with his strings cut. I didn’t have time to think as I jabbed my first against the chest of the other man, who did similarly to the first. I felt light headed as I might have killed them, but I forced myself not to care. I had to do this, I needed to do this.

I peered inside and found myself inside a nondescript room whose function eluded. All I saw inside were stacks upon stacks of crates with faded signs. That was two down and still a few more to go but the shouts of pain I heard inside spurred me on.

I was inside but what now, I needed to think, I needed to plan and so I did even as I felt my heart tear from the sound of her cry of pain. I had only one shot, I needed to kill the son of a bitch hurting my Vi before he notices that the two of his men might be dead.

I flew above the ceiling, hugging in close while my wings were tucked in close to myself and crawled along its surface. I glided along its surface, floating as I drag myself forwards. I followed the cries of pain, rage welling up inside my chest as I got closer. Louder it went until I finally reached the main area of the warehouse.

I could hear them now more clearly, a man’s calm voice along with the sound of metal hitting flesh. “Vi, Vi, Vi, why did it have to get to this?”

“G-go fuck yourself Warwick” I bit back a growl as I heard a slap echo inside the building. I crept closer, peeking behind a high stack of crates. They tied her down to a chair as Warwick loomed over her. Alarm bells rang in my mind from the name alone. I expected a monster yet the man in front of me wasn’t the twisted man wolf hybrid. For all intents and purposes however, he was close to one in my mind especially with the clawed gauntlet in his right hand.

What was left of his men surrounded him, a ragtag group of mooks that were less equipped than the previous set of guards earlier. They looked ill disciplined but they merely jeered as Warwick did his interrogation.

“You break my heart here Vi, you truly do. I almost see you as a daughter yet you decided to betray me” He replied as he held his hands over his heart

“I just want out ok. I’m done, I’m through why won’t you let me go” Vi spat out as she turned her head away from me, showing that she saw me. He was distracted, he just needed to keep talking. I could throw a bolt of lightning at them but Vi was too close, I don’t want my lighting to arc around and hit her. I need to hit him up close.

“Haven’t we talked about this before? You’re part of the gang the moment you survived all those suicidal message runs. You’re far too valuable to let go, plus you know a lot of things we don’t want going riiight here.” Warwick replied as he tapped her in the temple with his clawed hand, drawing blood as the tip pricked her skin.

“Just… just fuck you. I don’t want any of this shit! I just wanted money for my siblings!” I slowly rose from behind the cover, raising up high while they were distracted.

“Don’t we all and you can have more if you just join. You and your siblings would live like kings and queens if you put your trust in me and my boss.”

“And be like a fucking dog on a short leash just like you?”

Warwick sighed, covering his face as he replied “You and your freedoms… why can’t you realize here that’s merely an illusion. You know what, how about this. Why don’t you just tell me how you get around and I’ll let you go”

Vi spat out a bloody glob of phlegm at his face. I took that as my que. I rushed down towards Warwick, racing through the air with my feet aimed squarely at the back of his head. The wind howled as I propelled myself through the air without restraint, pushing myself further than ever before until I felt the heel of my boot crash against the back of his head. It felt like I just kicked a brick wall and I aimed a bit too high as he toppled over face first as I sailed past him and Vi

My foot felt like I broke something in it rather than the other way around and dared not think of what would have happened if I used my fist instead. Vi and I were still not out of this situation as I crashed my knee right against the nose of the man ahead of me. The soft cartilage broke as I flew up to give myself distance from them.

Panic sets in yet they still managed to rally themselves as they started shooting. I thanked my lucky stars for their horrible aim as I dove down once more. I haven’t realized just how fast I could go until now when I didn’t hold back as I weaved around their aim and brushed my hands against their limbs. Sparks flew as I started zapping without restraint and knocking people over with my wings

I felt like I could take the whole world as they dropped left and right but the world reminded me of reality as I saw Warwick lunged for me on the edge of my eyes. If it wasn’t for my wings ability to turn on a dime, he would have nailed me with his clawed hand. I felt his claws rake across my leg, scratching me deeply as I rose up high.

His blood shot eyes and the howl of rage he let out was almost inhuman. If looks could kill, his glare should and the sound he made rattled me to my core. Tubes ran across his arms, machinery which I now just noticed started hissing and churning as chems were pumped into his veins.

I had forgotten a cardinal rule; double tap. I would regret it as this rage fueled monster raised a gun right at me. I dove down hard, avoiding his shot as I tried to get to Vi and book it yet the monster guarded her, staying closer to her knowing that she was who I was after. I had to get him away from her so I turned tail and ran

He roared out like a beast as he came rushing for me. The chase was on and I found myself the prey in a horrible game of cat and mouse.