Chapter Text
Jinx was afraid. The darkness pressed against her like a living thing, suffocating and unrelenting. Monsters buzzed in her ears, whispers of demons lurking just beyond her vision, waiting to pounce.
She knew she was crazy. Broken beyond repair. There was no help, no salvation—no way out. Her chance at life had ended the moment she fired that missile into Piltover’s council chambers a year ago.
Now, she sat in the dark, trembling. Every nerve in her body felt wrong, like it was twisting in on itself. She wanted to scream, to hurt, to unleash the chaos inside her and make the world feel her pain. Like she had done before, countless times over the past year. But this time, the rage didn’t come.
Instead, there was only emptiness.
Hurting wasn’t the solution anymore. The only way to stop the noise, the pain, the endless screaming in her head, was to end it all.
Everything felt lost - her sister wasn't coming back. She wasn't capable of love - of being loved. She was too far gone, crazy. Utterly insane.
Jinx let out a shaky breath, her fingers twitching as she gripped the edge of the cold, metal ventilator fan. She had eked out a miserable existence here, in this rusting cage, for months. But now, it was time to end it. No more pain. No more Jinx. No longer hurting the people she was supposed to love.
She climbed the steps to an old protrusion overlooking some parts of Zaun, the same spot where she had launched the smoke flare to call Vi. It felt fitting, somehow, to end her existence here - where she once had some sort of hope. Her demons screamed louder in her head, urging her forward as her heart pounded in her chest. She would take them down with her, at least.
Everything hurt - Jinx was ready.
The edge was only a step away.
Jinx stared out at the city, at Zaun. Her hands were trembling as memories surged back - memories of pain, rejection, abandonment, and loneliness. Life had never been fair. And now, it would finally end.
She leaned forward.
And then arms wrapped around her from behind.
“Hey, Jinx!” came a voice, soft but firm, full of determination. “Don’t do that!”
Jinx froze. That voice. She knew that voice.
It was Vi.
Her sister.
“No… you can’t!” Jinx stammered, her voice breaking as her body began to shake uncontrollably. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
“Jinx?” Another voice joined, softer, more determined - a voice she didn’t expect to hear. Caitlyn. The Sheriff of Piltover. Top Hat.
Jinx’s heart raced as panic surged through her veins. She thrashed against Vi’s grip, trying to break free. She didn’t want to face them—not now, not like this. But Vi was strong, and despite all the Shimmer coursing through her, Jinx couldn’t overpower her sister.
Or maybe… she didn’t want to.
Her thoughts spiraled into chaos as fear, guilt, and the crushing weight of her emotions overwhelmed her. But the warmth of Vi’s embrace grounded her, pulling her back from the brink.
After a moment, Jinx turned around, her arms trembling as she clung to Vi with all her strength. Jinx didn't know why. She only knew that she needed it. An anchor. To her sanity.
Tears streamed down her face. Purple streaks of Shimmer marking her cheeks as sobs wracked her body. She buried her face in Vi’s shoulder, her cries growing louder and more desperate until they turned into muffled screams.
“Hey, Bluebird,” Vi murmured, her voice steady and comforting. “I’m right here. I’ve got you.”
The words broke something inside Jinx, but in its place came a tiny spark of warmth. It felt… good.
But there was the urging problem of Top Hat, who still wanted to take Vi away from her. And the big bad monster approached them.
Jinx’s body tensed as she glanced up, fear and paranoia flashing in her wide eyes. Caitlyn was watching her, calm and steady, her hands raised in a gesture of peace.
Jinx expected coldness. Judgment. But instead, Caitlyn smiled—a small, kind smile. It confused Jinx deeply.
Thoughts of betrayal, traps, and punishment spiraled through Jinx’s mind, but they faded as exhaustion overtook her. The voices in her head grew quieter, and for the first time in forever, she allowed herself to trust.
“What… what’s going to happen to me?” Jinx whispered, her voice trembling as she clung to Vi.
“I’m the Sheriff of Piltover, as you might know” Caitlyn said gently, her tone measured but kind. “I’m here to help you, Jinx. Not to hurt you. You’ve suffered enough. This city has failed you, and it’s time we make things right.”
Jinx blinked through her tears, her mind struggling to process the words. This wasn't supposed to happen. But Caitlyn continued, her voice firm but compassionate.
“I’ll make sure you get the care you need. A fresh start. You’ll be admitted to the finest psychiatric care we have. You’re not beyond saving, Jinx. You still have a chance at a better life.”
Thoughts about traps, hate and fear once again spiraled through her head - only to end in nothingness. She was too deep in pain; her schizophrenia didn't allow her to see clearly.
Somewhere, deep down, Jinx knew Caitlyn could manipulate a trial to save her. No one had died in the council attack, after all. But rational thoughts felt distant and irrelevant. All Jinx could feel was fear—and the faintest glimmer of hope.
She glanced up at Vi, searching her sister’s eyes for reassurance.
“We’ll do this together,” Vi promised, her voice filled with determination. “One step at a time. I’ve got you, Bluebird. I’m not letting go. Never again.”
Jinx broke down again, her tears flowing freely as relief and fear collided in her chest. She clung to Vi with everything she had, sobbing until her body gave out from sheer exhaustion. All she did was whisper a barely audible "Okay."
Darkness crept into her vision, but this time, it didn’t feel like an ending.
It felt like the beginning of something new. She would wake up somewhere safe.
For the first time in years, Jinx believed in something she thought was lost forever:
A second chance.