Chief of Runes: Limerence

Inmate

Month 1

As my blood scatters across the cold cell floor, I recall why I'm here. The Enforcer grabs my chin and guides my face towards it. He, she, and they were all the same. Brutes, torturers, monsters, sadists, humans. They wore their usual uniforms, the plain issued blue uniform that is the symbol of oppression against Zaun. Their fist raise, blocking the light that beams in the hallway. That helmet makes them look robotic and inhuman. It will be easier for me to destroy them when I make my move. The fist descended, its slow speed betraying the power that sent my mind back to when I heard the news.

"So..." I continued eating Vander's special, just the way I like it. It took him about three years of me pestering him to get it right. Thick slices of pork, rich gravy, mashed potatoes, and lots and lots of green beans. "They waited all this time?"

Vander sits beside me, gathering all the strength he has not to lash out. "That was reckless, Owen..." he sighs deeply. "But I don't blame you for what you've done."

Vi stomps across the bar as she paces. Claggor is close beside her, my insurance in case she jumps on me for doing what I did. Powder holds onto my arm as I eat, sniffling at my situation. Sevika nurses a drink, maintaining the mystery of what she's thinking. But I've grown to know her as my second mother, and her slumped body language tells me everything. She's disappointed and angry at me. But more so, angry with herself. Wanting to play both counselor and my protector is double overtime labor. I refused to allow her to work herself into the dirt. So, with a heavy heart, I gave her most of my letters to look through, just to keep her busy. She was smart enough to catch on to what I was doing. Still, she didn't complain, as she still wants me to have a childhood, even if she wouldn't admit it. Silco stands beside Vander, studying me with his intense eyes.

"You seem rather...unbothered by this." He stood mostly as a statue, only moving when there's an advantage to gain in my line of thinking.

I understand. However, their worries aren't lost on me. A full year of steady development turned Zaun into a near unrecognizable jungle of ingenuity. We have excelled in ways I never thought possible. And with our rapid growth came our rapidly annoying problems. This move will, perhaps, slow things down. Rarely anything good comes from growing too fast. It took me this long to notice that.

The next spoonful of peas stole my appetite, but I forced it down anyways. Don't think I'll be coming back for a long time. "For what I have in motion..." I run the peas around in mashed potatoes. "...everyone will receive all that they are owed."

Powder softly nudged me. "Stop being scary."

"This plan of yours is going to bring everyone back?" Vander asks as he lowers his hands to the table.

I finished the last of the special and leaned back. "Everyone who survives can't bring back the broken." My hand glides over Powder's, taking in every detail of her skin.

Sevika gets up and approaches the table. "When you get out, I'm staying by your side. And that's the end of it." She turns to leave the bar but mumbles under her breath. "Should have never let you out of my sight."

Mylo barged in, nearly running over Sevika. "Whoa!" he catches himself on his foot. "Sorry! Coming through!" Then he approaches me, sweat pouring down his face. "Got all of us out of Piltover. Everything topside has, we have. And if not, we can make better."

A kick to my stomach woke me up from my daze. Bile began leaking from my mouth. The taste of Vander's special is still better than it was the first time.

"Get up," the Enforcer orders as if he were disappointed in his punching bag. He kicks me again. The enchanted steel-toe boot caught my rib. But at the instant of contact with bone, like a tuning fork, it sent healing vibrations through my body. I'm healed just enough to endure more punishment. I don't know if their armor was enchanted for me and me only. At this point, it's something to consider.