Layla

After I promised everyone I would stay, Powder brought me up to her hideout to get me out of the mystery mans baggy clothes and showed me what I needed to see. The memorial Powder had made for Vi was an old photo of her surrounded by candles and little things that reminded her of Vi. The bunny she gave Powder, a photo of the six of us that we took in the basement. Ekko had found pieces of an old polaroid camera and fixed it, he came running to us and wanted to try it out. It was the only photo we'd ever taken, I didn't think I'd ever see it again.

I fell to my knees and ran my fingers down in as I let out a light sob, putting my other hand over my mouth.

I've lost her again.

But now I don't think I can ever get her back.

"You really don't remember anything, do you?" I looked up at Powder sadly, I couldn't speak so I just shook my head.

"How? When did-," My voice cracked as I asked for answers. Powder sat down next to me and held her knees to her chest, resting her head on her knees to look at me. She gave me a 'don't ask' look, "Please Pow, I need you."

She closed her eyes briefly and sighed, "It was the job Ekko told us about, up in Piltover. I found these crystal and dropped one on accident. Apparently they activated on impact, because it blew up the building. Vi was coming to check on me so she was caught in it, you were at work so you found out later."

I felt sick to my stomach. The job that started everything in my life, ended Vi's in this one. She really is gone? I can't even imagine how I must've felt when I found out, especially that I felt bad enough to leave everyone I love.

"She got killed in the explosion?"

"That's the whole reason why you left us. You said you couldn't stay because we reminded you too much of her. Benzo and Ekko were heartbroken, we all were." Powder said quietly as she looked at the picture of Vi. I gasped lightly and was about to ask about Ekko when a deep voice rang through Powders hideout.

"Okay Pow, I finally made a sketch of the thing I saw in my dream. I think it's good enough for-." I turned around and saw Ekko stop mid step, his mouth was open as he stared at me. "What the hell are you doing here?"

My edge in his voice made my jaw dropped as I stood up, he looked so different. He was dressed in nice clothes like Mylo and Claggor, but he was missing the white tattoo on his face. He looked so clean, but the glare on his face as he looked at me made me think he wasn't my Ekko. "E, I-I'm sorry. Let me try to explain."

"So what? You're back, that's it? You staying for good this time or are you ditching us as soon as shit hits the fan again?" He questioned, he dropped his sketch book on the desk and crossed his arms.

I took a few steps closer to him slowly, "I know what I did was awful, I'm sorry. I woke up this morning and I don't remember anything that has happened, I don't remember leaving. I'm not going to sugarcoat it and tell you I'm never leaving again. But I'm here now and I want to make it up to all of you."

My apology was shitty, mostly because I didn't know the entire story I was apologizing for. This dimension me could've said some awful shit or got physical before walking out. I don't know, my stomach is aching and my nerves are shot. I'm losing my mind, how did things get this bad? I'm going to kill Jayce once I see his stupid ass.

"I don't want your damn apologies, Layla. What I want is for you to turn back time and stay with me when I needed you. When we all needed you! You looked at us like it was our fault before packing your bags and shutting us out. I saw you with that disgusting shithead, you were too busy sucking his face to see me. Come apologize to me when you can actually show me you mean it." He scoffed and threw himself into the chair at their desk, turning to whatever gadget he had brought with him.

Powder put a hand on my shoulder, I put on a fake smile and turned to her. "I'm going for a walk just to ah, clear my head. I'll be back soon, I promise Pow."

She gave me a skeptical look and I kissed her forehead before walking to the stairs, not looking at Ekko. I knew that if I looked at him I'd lose my mind, more than I already have.

~~~~~

I ducked through the fire exit we had on the second floor. We never used it and since this place was now abandoned, it was the only way to get in. The doors were boarded up and the windows were either broken or blacked out. The entire inside was dusty and dark, it was also trashed. Graffiti lined the walls and the tables were thrown all over the place, broken glass littered the floor.

It made me sad, this place was always full of life. Not always the good side but it has never been this quiet, not even when we were closed.

My ears perked as I heard the floor boards creak from down below, I'm not alone.

I creeped towards the balcony that overlooked the first floor, staying on my toes so my heeled boots didn't make noise. I stepped over the holes in the floor and put my hands on the railing, looking down.

Three kids danced all over on the stage, two girls and a boy. They twirled and jumped around as they all sung different songs, I smiled lightly.

One of the girls looked eerily familiar, I just couldn't pinpoint who.

I quietly walked over to the stairs and walked down them. The floor creaked as I stepped onto the first floor making the kids freeze in fear. I walked closer to them, so I was standing in the light from an open window. I put my hands up so they knew I wouldn't hurt them, "Hey it's okay, I'm not here to hurt you! I came in through the fire escape, my name is-."

"Layla!"

My eyed widened as one of the girls came over to me, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. She had dark purple hair, pale skin and the prettiest brown eyes. She looked like she was a bundle of joy, "My mommy talked about you, she said you were the star of the Underground and you had an amazing voice! It's you, right? I'm Azzy, oh she's gonna be so excited!"

She couldn't have been older than 7, her friends looked around that age too. The boy was standing on the stage with his arms crossed and the other girl was kicking her feet as she sat on the edge of the stairs.

I smiled at the girl, bending over to look her in the eye. "Yup that's me, it's nice to meet you Azzy. Who are your friends?"

She squealed and grabbed my hand to pull me towards the rest of her friends, the girl waved at me while the boy glared.

He's just like Ekko was at this age, protective and tough. He looked ready to pummel me in order to keep the girls safe, I admired him for that.

"This is Wes and Mika, they don't talk much. Wes thinks he's too cool for us while Mika hasn't said a word in years."

Mika.

Oh Mika. She was one of my favorite kids who lived with us in the rebellion. She didn't say a word to anyone until I got her to trust me. She had such horrible trauma as a kid and it caused her to go mute.

The boy scoffed and interrupted Azzy, "Wow Az, just explain our entire life stories at this point. We don't even know this woman."

I smiled at the kids, Azzy sighed before letting go of my hand and sitting next to Mika. I crossed my arms and smiled, "Well then ask me. What do you want to know?"

Azzy and Mika smiled brightly and looked up at the boy, he let out a small smile before beginning his interrogation.