The rain came down in a relentless torrent as you raced through the alleys of Zaun, each breath burning your lungs. The shouts of enforcers echoed behind you, their heavy boots splashing through the puddles. Your heart pounded as you turned a corner, barely keeping your balance on the slick cobblestones—only to crash headlong into someone running just as fast.

The collision knocked you both to the ground. Pain shot through your knees as they hit the pavement, but you scrambled to your feet, ready to bolt again. Then you saw who it was.

Vi.

Her pink hair was plastered to her face, her gauntlets dripping with rain. She stared at you with sharp blue eyes, her expression twisting in irritation. Just your luck. Out of everyone in Zaun, it had to be her.

“Seriously?” Vi growled, shaking her head like she couldn’t believe it either.

“Get out of my way,” you snapped, stepping back to leave, but Vi didn’t move. Her stance shifted, her fists tightening as if she were ready for a fight, even now.

Before either of you could say more, the harsh beam of a flashlight swept over the alley. Both of you froze, instinct kicking in. Without a word, Vi grabbed your wrist and yanked you toward a crumbling doorway nearby.

She pressed you into the shadows, her broad frame blocking you from view as the enforcers’ boots thundered past. You could feel her breath, warm and steady against your cheek, a stark contrast to the cold rain dripping from her clothes. Her scent—sweat, metal, and rain—filled the tiny space, making it impossible to think about anything else.

“Stay quiet,” she whispered, her voice so low it was almost drowned out by the rain.

You nodded, barely daring to breathe. The sound of the enforcers searching nearby seemed deafening, every stray shout or splash of water sending a spike of anxiety through you. But Vi didn’t move. She stayed close, tense and unyielding, her eyes trained on the alley like she could take on the enforcers herself if it came to that.