"Wake up! Wake up, Owen!" Mylo's voice brought me back, but whatever is left of his face is mutilated and his body mangled. I grab the arm that he's holding me down with.
"It was just a nightmare." Vi revealed with her soft voice. She didn't have a face; it had too many holes. The damage is beyond indescribable. Too many bullets for one human being to endure.
"You're okay, man. Just breathe." Claggor, his frame betrays his mass. All bone, all he has is his torn flesh hanging off his bones.
They all appear the same as the memories within the dream. That can't be the possible future of my world. That can't, I won't let it. A smile begins to form on my face. I reach out to cast away the memory back to where it belongs. Not with me, the me that put that rifle to Jinx's head. I focus on casting the memory away, casting it into the distant future that has not yet come. Just go away. I close my eyes while I stretch my hand out. A hand grabs it.
"Just a nightmare, bro, just breathe." That is Mylo's voice. Listen to him; he is your Mylo. He. IS. ALIVE.
I began breathing in and out, then opened my eyes. They are my family, they are here, and they are alive and whole. A smile spread across my face.
"That's one way to get the blood flowing." I said as I sat up, but as I did so, my head began swimming.
They began sighing in relief. "This day keeps getting more exciting by the hour." Claggor stated as he let go of my legs.
"You're still sweating, man." Mylo pointed out.
"Yeah." I wiped my face, which was completely drenched. "That nightmare was...something."
"A nightmare? Or a comedy show gone wrong? What's so funny?" Vi asked with a grin on her face.
I couldn't answer immediately. "It was something...ugh... I need some air. I'll be back, okay?"
I began to push myself off the bed and slipped past them.
"Do you need someone to come with you?" Mylo asked as he looked me up and down.
Looking over at the couch, Powder is still there resting. Ekko is seated next to her on the floor. He's holding a new contraption that looks like a butter knife. Never stop thinking, little man.
"Yeah..." I began pacing around. "Yeah...that sounds nice, not going to wait on you, though."
With that, I climbed the steps and made my way to the top. People again, but this time it's more orderly. Making my way through the place, it is beautiful. The life, the laughing, the music that glides through the air, it's all as it should be. Nothing destroyed, people living and thriving, not surviving and being sacrificed to the walking horrors of that world. No. I bumped into someone.
"Oi." He turns to me, it's Benzo, sitting in the front stool of the counter. "Are you alright, lad? You're far too young to be sweating like that."
I chuckled. "Spent too much time down under. Need to feel...something else."
Vander is busy in the back, grabbing glasses. I don't want to bother him now.
"Tell Vander I'll be back in an hour for me." I asked as I walked out of the bar.
"Yeah." Benzo looks confused and worried. "You got it, mate."
"You move too fast for me." Claggor's voice called out to me. Good, who's going to mess with me with Claggor backing me up?
"Finally." I breathed heavily as I walked down the street towards the markets. "I was waiting for our one-on-one time."
"Really? All you had to do was ask." he said as he caught up to me.
Where is my favorite person, whose face I've never seen? I stop in front of her usual spot, and it's empty. Bewildered, I stand there with a growing void building in my stomach.
"Oh, the herbalist. I guess she moved to Piltover." Claggor stated the obvious, for which I am grateful.
Just breathe, deep breaths. I can't tell anyone, can't bring anyone worry. Be calm, think your way out of this. That future isn't here yet. It may never come at all. The effort to prevent that outcome may bring it forward even faster. But to do nothing might welcome it with open arms. Deal with that future as you've dealt with Zaun. Change the fate of important people. But to do so will require me to dream of that terrible future again. Even worse, discuss it with the professors. They know that I have dreamt into the future by now. It is inevitable. Even if I have the desire to tell them, I have no idea where they live. I need to deal with this my way, for now.
"The last thing you need is more of that weird stuff." Claggor declared. And he's right, but I need this.
"Yeah, you're right." I agreed with him, still looking around frantically for her.
"Why don't we just work out? Get your mind off it?" he suggested as he patted my shoulders hard enough to get me moving.
That kind of distraction could be better than getting it from a wild herb. What was I thinking? It shouldn't have been my first instinct when panicked.
"Thank you, Claggor. I might have done something stupid if you hadn't tagged along." I admitted as we began walking back to the Last Drop.
"I should tag along more often then, you do stupid stuff all the time." Claggor said.
Ow, that set my mind straight. "Are you asking me to let you do things?"
"Hey! What do you mean? I do things." Claggor exclaimed.
"Oh, I'm sure you do things, just not enough of it." I added.
We made it to the bar finally. It's still packed, but orderly. Strange, these strangers are becoming familiar to me, almost like extended family. Some still hesitate to look at me, but others manage to give me a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"Oi, it hasn't been an hour yet." Benzo spoke up.
"Telling time is not my strong suit." I replied as I stopped to lean against the counter.
"What are they teaching you two in that academy then?" He looked between Claggor and me with a sly smile.
"How to sit still and be good little boys, and you know we aren't their kind of good." Claggor critiques.
"As long as you don't forget where you came from, that's all that counts. Learn as much as you can, and turn this city into something great." Benzo, he declared as he took a sip of his drink.
Build the city to be greater than Piltover. I want to do that, but it's one of the paths to that future. If I somehow sabotage that goal, I will be worse than the people in Piltover that left Zaun to rot. There has to be a better way to build Zaun into a powerhouse that will cast a shadow over Piltover.
"Now that you've mentioned it, I have a few ideas in mind." It might work, it has to.
"I guess those professors aren't as useless as I feared." Benzo said.
"They better not be." Vander placed a few drinks down on the table, alcohol of course. "We didn't do all this work for nothing."
"And there's still more work to do." I said absentmindedly. "I'll get to it."
I turn to march down the stairs. This is what I need, a goal, a mission. To just linger around, being vulnerable, being normal, I just can't do it. I need to work, more specifically, I need to work on resisting that future. My feet glide down the steps with ease.
"How do you do that? Do your feet even touch the stairs?" Claggor asked as he stomped down.
"Even big guys like you can learn how to fly." I commented as I touched the bottom.
"Really?" he asked, surprised at my response.
"Really." I said as I saw Powder and Ekko at the workbench, doing what they do best. She's up and active, good. That's one worry put to rest.
"Owen! Check it out." Vi waved me over to a pad machine.
"Huh, why haven't I noticed that before?" I wondered out loud as I approached Vi and Mylo, who were setting the machine up for another round.
"It's pretty hard to miss, you know, being this big, all that red." Claggor bantered.
"Hey, I miss important details sometimes, only sometimes." I admitted with a shrug.
The machine roared to life and twitched its multiple arms.
"You can't afford to miss this." Vi looks over at me and winks. "Watch."
Mylo flips a switch on the machine, and the bell rings. Vi begins throwing punches at the pad that moves closest to her. Just by observing, I noticed that the machine doesn't offer much of a challenge. It must be just a difficulty setting. Or perhaps if it did, Vi would accidentally break it, which I can see happening now. The machine struggles to withstand the relentless onslaught of her assaults. A few screws wiggle loose as Vi's score rises. Before she could beat her 4th best score, two of the arm joints collapsed, causing the machine to glitch, then shut off.
"Aw, man." Vi whined. "At least it turned on this time."
"I'm not fixing that." Powder yells over her shoulder.
"I got it." Mylo declared that he already had tools on his belt. He shot a look at me before he knelt to begin work on the joints.
"Hey Owen, come with me." Vi waved her hand and nodded her head over towards the heavy bag.
I turned to Claggor. "Thanks for reeling me in."
"It's all good." He raised his fist. "Get out of here."
I bumped it before following Vi to the bag. She threw me a pair of gloves.
"If you're going to look after Powder, you better learn how to punch harder." Vi! I demanded as I pushed my fists into them. Something on her face tells me that she's going to go for the hard questions.
"Right," I said after securing my fists within the leather gloves. Vi moved behind the bag and held it firm.
"Go ahead, knock me off my feet," she encouraged.
Standing in front of the bag, I raised my hands and flicked my jab. Slowly, but surely, I begin to warm up. Falling into a rhythm, I made the effort to let my mind be free. Allowing it to scheme and plot will slow me down, inflate my arrogance, and send me down that lonely path once again. Now, there is nothing complicated. No other agenda or schemes, just simple controlled aggression. My muscles awakened to the familiar sensation of impact stress. Slamming my fists against a target that could take it used to be my release. Crushing someone with my own strength, or strength lent from my unique chemical compound, gave me an edge over others at a young age. It frightened me, the things I had to do scared me to my core. But when I succeeded in defending my life for the first time, it awakened me to a new reality. Whether I wanted it or not, I have entered into the world of violence. I have been chosen to be hunted down like an animal of prey. It took a whole year for me to become the hunter. To abandon my innocence and to embrace the world I was served. It's been that way until I met Vander. His willingness to reject the notion of my choice to live alone and to deny my former lifestyle is what built the family I have today. It is unspoken, but to keep Zaun from making another Owen, another Hamin, I need to build Zaun into a better home for every family.
"Um, when are you going to stop?" Vi asked.
I woke out of my mind to see myself throw one more punch that nearly pushed Vi against the wall. Backing up, I allowed Vi to step forward and release the bag. It swung forward enough for me to hold my swollen and burning arms up to slow the momentum. Vi then held the bag in place.
"Do you usually space out like that?" Vi asked as she rested one hand on the bag, with sweat running down her face.
"All the time." Powder yelled over her shoulder again.
I glanced over at her, but she returned her attention back towards the workbench.
"Thanks." I said to no one in particular as I pulled one glove off. Claggor lowered a heavy weight on the rack, causing a loud collision of metal to echo off the walls.
Vi walks towards me. "You're punching like a man at this point."
"But there's only one little man." I bantered as I held the glove out to Vi.
"Ow is still on the table." Vi suggested as she took the glove.
"It's not going to stick." I start pulling the other glove off. "I won't allow it," and then hand it to Vi. "I refuse."
Vi pouted, then snatched the glove away. "I'll ask tomorrow." She threw the gloves under the heavy bag.
"So tell me, do you still need a distraction?" She asked as she popped her knuckles individually.
"Huh?" I asked with a raised brow.
"You're just going to do that thing you always do. Shut the world away and think," she speculated, and she's right.
I would like nothing more than to detach from this world and dive into a world of my own. A world where I have all the time to plot a plan to turn Zaun into a utopia that will bring Piltover to shame.
"We can still hang." I offered. Why am I feeling nervous suddenly?
"You still owe me grappling lessons." she crossed her arms, but I get the feeling that she's putting up a tough front. Grappling can't be the only thing she wants to learn.
"Sure, I've got nothing but time." I said as I walked over to the ring and pulled myself in.
Vi had an easier time slipping through the ropes. She couldn't hide the excitement.
"Unlike some people I know, I'm not going to skip steps. I actually want you to learn something." I began.
"Sounding more like those topsiders." Vi was criticized.
"If that were true, you would know how to speak properly by now." I shop back.
"Oh! Funny man!" Vi faked a laugh, then grabbed me by the shoulders.
I grabbed her arms, fell to the floor, pushed her foot from under her, and used my other foot to balance Vi over me. The only thing that would have saved Vi is if she were to fall gracefully. However, the only falls she gracefully executes are jumps from buildings.
"All you need to do is tuck your head in when you fall." I critiqued.
"So it's no different when I fall from jumping?" she asked as she sat up.
"No, it's very different. By the way you're doing it now, you'll be crippled before you're 20. Watch this." I backed up and showed her how to roll in grappling by tucking my head down and throwing my arm between my legs, and I rolled forward.
"So when you land, get familiar with this motion." I jumped on the turnbuckle, then jumped off. At the moment of impact, my legs collapsed into the roll.
"Huh, that makes sense." Vi stood up and began rolling as I instructed. Looking around the room periodically, I caught glances in our direction. Vi then climbed the turnbuckle and successfully replicated the fall and roll.
"Good, now we can do the fun stuff." I declared ecstatically.
Maybe I should charge for grappling lessons. Then again, if everyone gets good at grappling, I'll be in big trouble. Maybe I should get some more meat on my bones first? Teaching Vi grappling is an entire workout in and of itself. Although she's willing to learn, there are times when she makes it known that she's still in charge. It's always going to be a dance with her, I suppose. As she gets older, it's going to get even worse—something to look forward to.
"You're slowing down." Vi warned us as we were in the middle of our 4th drill. We are locked in a grip, on our knees, shoulder to shoulder, neck to neck.
"And you aren't?" Sweat poured down my face, turning the ring into a funky floor of moist horror.
"Hey! I can smell you two from here! Clean up!" Claggor yelled as he grabbed his nose and waved his hand in front of his face. The others agreed with similar enthusiasm.
We released each other and exchanged smiles of embarrassment.
"No one appreciates the smell of hard work anymore." I whined as I slid out of the ring and pulled out a towel to wipe down the ring.
"Now I see what you mean." Vi grabbed herself a towel as well.
Together, we make quick work of wiping the sweat from the ring. Afterwards we bathed, separately of course.
"Going to Jericho's?" Mylo suggested as he tossed a bag of coins in the air. "My treat."
"Won't say no to that." Ekko said as he and Powder raced to the stairs.
I can't pretend the cold shoulder I'm getting doesn't affect me. However, I'm too hungry to care. I followed everyone out. I watched them all form their own formation until I was pulled forward to the front. Ekko hasn't changed, he's still as cheerful as ever. Maybe he's that way just to keep the mood high. Right now, I don't know where I am. I'm grateful, not only does he keep me grounded, but he was there to keep Powder in a right state of mind. Periodically, Ekko's skin grazed my forearm as he tried to bring me into the conversations. I couldn't bring myself to offer more than dismissive and deflective humor. Hopefully it didn't give off any negative insights into my mind. Judging by how hard he laughed at my dry humor, I'm guessing not much. Powder avoids eye contact with me. She's careful not to touch me at all. Even managed to keep just the right amount of distance to appear as if everything is normal. But this isn't normal. It feels as if she's miles away from me. But at least she's here and safe. At least there isn't a rifle pointed at her face.
"Hey, Jericho!" Mylo greeted the giant fish man. Jericho gave a distinct gurgle from his throat in response. Amazing, it almost sounds like a language. Everyone began ordering their meals.
"What are you having?" Mylo asked as he flipped a coin in the air.
"I'm feeling nostalgic today. I want all the bugs in one bowl, extra spicy." I requested.
Jericho gave his signature laugh and set to work on cooking up a dish with extra love.
"Hope I find a job that will get me laughing like that." Mylo said as he moved on to flip two coins with one hand.
"I can see you as a showman." I offered, as I began to think about the qualities that he excels at.
Mylo chuckled. "You're saying I talk a good game?"
"You talk better than you play them." I concluded.
"Oh!" He dropped the two coins as he started wheezing from laughter. "Where did that come from!"
I picked up a coin. "Guess I'm getting too good at verbal abuse."
"No! That was funny, man." He recovered the other coin. "You could be a comedian if you wanted."
"Then I would have to be nice to people; that makes me mad." I said as I returned his coin.
He took the coin from me. And his face got serious. "You helped save Zaun. You saved Ekko and avenged Powder. You are a good person when it counts."
I lowered my head. Am I? Am I really?
"Here. Your spicy bowl of bugs." Mylo handed me my meal with a face free of judgment, seriously.
It's better than the bugs I used to pick out for myself. They are a healthy blend of fatty, crunchy, and slimy ground crawlers. Perfectly boiled and grilled to spread the natural acquired flavors. I grabbed the bowl and dipped my fingers in the soup. I can feel the oils that pull out every ounce of juice and spread them to the other bugs. Visually appealing for me, and hopefully, Jericho's touch can bring me back to the one thing I miss about being homeless. I drink the soup first before scooping the crawlers into my mouth. It's the familiarity that gives them their flavor. By their taste alone, I can tell that many would avoid this. If I had parents who didn't throw me away, I might have never met this delectable bowl of delights. Before I knew it, the bowl was empty, and I had a new appreciation for the giant fish man.
I exhaled deeply as I returned the bowl to Mylo. "It's everything I ever wanted in a bowl."
"You. Is the special kid here, Owen?" Mylo complimented him as he took the bowl onto his own and placed them on the counter and paid Jericho.
On our way back, I couldn't help but make a mental note to study the two journals that Hal gave me. It's a long shot, but they might have the answers I need to change that future from ever happening. As we approached the Drop, we had to watch the little man wave goodbye for now. Guess Benzo needs him to help close down the shop. Then I felt a tap on my right forearm. Looking over to my right, her smile greets my eyes.
"Want to go to our usual spot?" she asked as the bandage threatened to dance across her cheek.
"Yeah, sure." I muttered.
"No one should bother you now." Vi hugs us both. "But if they do, bring home a story, alright?"
"Gonna bring home more than just a story if that happens." I guaranteed.
Vi grinned and shook her head. "And make sure he doesn't go too far?"
"Okaaaay." Powder mocked and whined.
We begin to walk on the dirt path towards our special place that no one will ruin. Each step we took begged for communication. However, she is silent, and I'm afraid to look at her. To be reminded of the price she paid for me not being there. And I'm mad all over again. I remember their faces, their dimensions, and unique physical traits. If there is a bustling crowd, the only difficulty I would have is to find the appropriate tools to extend their torment. Afterwards, the chemicals needed to keep them in their bodies, before their souls are cast into the sea of eternity. Perhaps I can go even further than that. The faster I learn the secrets of the universe, the sooner I can follow their wretched souls into the beyond. At that point, no one can stop me from
"STOP THAT!" Powder screamed at me so loud, I almost fell on my ass.
We are here, where we made it known just how special we are to each other.
"Sorry, I—"
Powder grabbed my hands. "Stop apologizing and just let me in."
"It's too much." I whispered as my gaze went from her grey-blue eyes to the ground.
"Your nightmare?" she inquired as she began to kneel.
"Yes." I confessed as my legs gave out.
"Was it that real?" she asked as she tried to sit me up.
"It was too real." I recounted as I pushed myself up. Powder is patiently waiting for me to describe the future that I won't let happen. "I smelled the gunpowder. I had memories of things that shouldn't have happened. Too many people were murdered." That was difficult to push out of my dry mouth. "Everyone we knew in that world is gone." I forced myself to look at Powder. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. The only two I know who made it are you and me."
"What happened?" she asked with a shaky breath.
"War. Somehow, Piltover and Zaun went to war, and horrible things were unleashed from both cities, just to win. War machines and horrific monsters were used for the sole purpose of winning the war. But at that point, there wouldn't have been anything left to win." I described.
"Wha-what happened to Vi?" she asked, Please, Powder, don't cry. I couldn't look at her, I shook my head.
"What about everyone else?" she pressed on.
"Please...Powder... I can't think about them...their faces are still fresh in my head." I shake my head as I say this, as if it will make it better.
"Okay, okay." she rubs my back. "Sorry."
"I was someone who I never imagined myself becoming." Shaking my head, I smiled. "A commander of Zaun's army.
"What?" Powder smiled as well. "You a commander? Well, I don't know, I can kind of see it."
Hearing that slapped the smile off my face. "I was tasked to win the war. To do that, I had to find you."
"To help you?" she guessed. But as I failed to answer her, the smile faded. "No."
"In that world, you stood against Zaun and Piltover." I disclosed.
"What? How is that even possible?" she shakes her head at the notion of betraying Zaun. "Where would I even go?"
"You thrived. You even had a gang of your own called ,Jinxers." I informed her as I started rubbing her hand in mine.
"Jinxers, huh? That's ironic." she quietly stated.
"I was led to a building where you all were held." My chest is tightening up, and my eyes are irritating me. "You put up a good fight."
"What happened?" she asked.
"I cheated." I ran my hand over my face. "The last thing I remember." I breathed deeply. "Was..." I can't.
Powder's eyes ran over my face, looking for any signs other than what her mind is piecing together.
"That man isn't me." I brought her hand to my forehead. "I would NEVER do that."
"Here, lay down." Powder guided my head to lay on her leg.
"He isn't me, he won't be me." I declared with finality.
"You stopped saying nightmare. You used the word ,world," she acknowledged as she looked down at me with curiosity adorning her face.
"Yes." I confirmed.
"You think that wasn't a nightmare? Just a nightmare?" she asked as she ran her thumb across my cheek.
"Nightmares don't give you those kinds of senses. When I run, I sweat. Spikes of rocks and stone stung my eyes, pierced my skin. Their screams turned my blood cold." I recollected.
"So, Professor Hal is right?" she concluded.
I haven't given him much thought. Correction, I refused to acknowledge the fact that he is right. The further I dive into the studies, the closer I'll be to traveling from world to world.
"I guess so." I agreed.
Powder looks down at me. "So let's make our world the best world."
"Build Zaun with me, Powder." I decided. "You, me, Ekko. I'll even make Vi read a book or two."
A powerful smile flexed its way to Powder's face. "That scene belongs in a whole other world."
"That's going to be our world, I promise." I mean it.
"You're making a whole lot of promises." she recalled. "Do you remember any of them?"
"Hmm." I play coy. "Many of them have something to do with—"
"Owen," she rudely interrupted me.
"Fine, just saying." I beamed up at her.
She pokes at my cheeks. I resist her fingers by smiling harder.
"Wow, you should do that more often," she suggested.
"People don't like it when I smile." I reminded her.
"Well, you aren't that person anymore." Powder determined.
I sighed. "Yeah, I kind of miss that guy."
Powder's hand sped towards my armpit, but I caught it with my forearm just in time.
"Please, no! I'm sorry!" I pleaded.
"Are you begging?" she asked with an amused expression.
She got me.
"You know about that, huh?" I can feel my face burning.
"I had to get Vi to talk about it without her hitting me." she pulled her hand back and continued brushing my cheek with her thumb.
"Do you have nightmares?" I hope I'm not stepping on sensitive territory.
Her playful smile fades into one of concentration. It takes her a while to speak. I know she has a story for me. Her mouth hesitates to open.
"I don't remember. I think it's more like a memory. I'm really little; Vi is holding me. Fire is everywhere. I keep thinking that I'm missing someone. It's only until I'm close to waking up when I remember that my parents." she pauses to compose herself. "Were killed by enforcers."
It all makes sense now. I squeeze her hand.
"I'm sorry." I sat up and faced her.
"No, it was a long time ago." she shook her head. I hugged her anyway.
"Guess we have a lot in common. I didn't think I had parents." I admitted.
I felt Powder exhale, or cough? I'm not sure what that was.
"What do you mean?" she asked in my ear.
I answered truthfully. "I thought about it one day. Everyone else has at least one parent in Zaun, but I never met mine. No one else had ever seen them either when I started to ask around. So." I cleared my throat. "I figured that I might not be human."
Powder loosened her hold on me to look me in my eye. "What? Don't think that, ever."
For the first time, I look into her eyes, admit all of my secrets, and my face isn't flushed. I feel at peace, peering into her eyes of eternity; I could stay there forever.
"Okay." I nod my head.
"You are a person." she laid her hand over my heart. "You are real. You are human. And you have a family.