Even though no soul was around you couldn't help but feel watched. It was like a pair of eyes following your every move, looking down on you from the corner of your mind.

Maybe it was just your imagination but you found your gaze wandering along the ceiling of the lift one too many times to mark it off as being weary.

No, this was different. You felt paranoid.

Vi seemed to notice your upset state of mind. Her attention shifted from the two stones she had balanced in the palm of her hand to you.

You could feel the weight of her eyes on you, cold, blue. Like a sky before the storm arrived. You wondered how it would feel like once you set foot outside the prison.

Zaun wasn't exactly a place to be fond of. It was a hellhole, stuffy, hard to navigate around and dark. Most days the pollution made it impossible to see the sky and the many buildings that had been stacked close to one another did not make it any easier.

Comfy wasn't a word that could describe the Undercity. But it was vibrant, lively and different. It didn't live from beauty but from all the corrupted desires a bad person could have.

From weapons to endangered creatures and drugs. It was a hellhole but for those who sought hell it was paradise. The answer to every rotten prayer.

At least that was what you remembered.

"Do you remember the lanes?", you met Vi's gaze with a glimmer of curiosity in the (E/C) of your eyes.

Tilting her head, Vi thought for a moment.

"It's been a bit.", she recalled and looked down into her palm where the soft blue shimmer kissed her pale skin. "Six years, I think. Maybe more."

You let out a low snort.

"How was it six years ago?", you asked.

She frowned.

"You don't remember?"

You shook your head. Strands of your (H/C) hair caressed your cheeks. You could feel the adrenaline fade and a strange dullness took its place. Your mind refused to let your body rest but it also allowed it to not be on edge all the time.

Now you were sharp, expecting everything to happen but at the same time you managed to take a deep breath again without feeling suffocated.

"I've been here far longer than six years.", you frowned for a second, unable to tell how much time actually had passed. "When was the last war between Topside and Undercity?"

"When Vander led us across the bridges?"

You nodded.

"I think I was... not older than ten back then? They caught me on the bridges. Been here ever since.", all of a sudden you could feel how she looked at you, sorry and so full of pity.

It made you sick to your stomach. Baring your teeth, you gifted her a glare of warning and shook your head.

You did not come here as an innocent child but a murderer. Back then the enforcers could have killed you with close to no consequences.

Many had died that day. No one would have paid a second thought to one more child. But instead they had taken you, had treated you like the worst of criminals.

To be fair you had done your part in the past years to keep that privilege. Some victims had been cell mates. Others enforcers.

That had ultimately earned you your place in the lower levels and ultimately also as a candidate in the arena. The world wasn't black and white it was grey.

And you had done your best to keep it that way. Sure, you had been a kid but instead of maintaining that innocence and eventually getting out on parole you had decided to become a monster that had to remain locked away within these walls.

Everything was a reflection of your own choices. You didn't regret. But you did wonder if things would have been better if you had chosen otherwise.

"Stop looking at me like that and tell me how it is in the lanes instead.", you said, teeth bared with a low growl of annoyance.

Exhaling deeply, Vi let her eyes fall shut and leaned against the metal mesh wall of the lift. A soft sound of machinery working filled the silence for a moment.

As she opened her eyes again she seemed sad.

"It was okay.", she huffed about her own words. "Who am I kidding? It was Zaun."

"Shitty place to be born.", you recalled with sober sarcasm.

"Yeah. Pretty much nails it. Back when Vander was boss... it was fine. Sure, he had a deal with the Topside but he kept things going. And peaceful. More or less."

"I heard he was a good man. Many talked about him here. Some hated him. Some loved him. But it felt like everyone respected him."

Again, Vi had to close her eyes. Pained, she pulled a face and swallowed a low sound of desperation. Almost like she needed to keep herself from breaking down.

"Yeah...", her voice trembled a little. "Yeah he was... he was great. It wasn't like the lanes were clean under his rule but it was working without much trouble. Few imprisonments every now and again but the common scum could strike a shady deal or two with Piltovians who needed a thrill."

Smiling softly you grew more comfortable with the ideas of being a free woman soon.

"How's the food though?", you asked all of a sudden, one eyebrow raised. "I could get something to bite once I'm out."

With perfect comedic timing Vi's stomach started to growl. Groaning she threw her head back and chuckled.

"Gosh I can't wait to eat some fish delight!", she sighed and then immediately started to dwell in the memory of whatever food she was talking about.

Huffing, one of your eyebrows lifted in scepticism.

"Eat what?", you asked.

"Fish delight.", she gestured for a bowl in the air. "It's fishy and slimy and saucy and-!"

"Hm yeah...", you pulled a face. "I think I'll have to pass on that."

"What? No! You'll love it."

"Can I doubt that statement?"

"At least try!"

"Do I have to?"

Vi put on a broad, pearly white grin.

"I'll make you love it.", she said. "Just how I managed to make you love me."

You couldn't help but roll your eyes at that statement. But she wasn't wrong. How unfortunate for you.