Alone

63: Dust

Peter POV:

I ran through the rubble towards Lizzy, I could see the aftermath of her scream and the battle that took place. I couldn't ignore the feeling of my heart stumbling over its own rhythm. 

"Lizzy," I could see her now, down on both of her knees staring at her trembling hands, I came to a halt, I noticed the tears in her suit and the gashes on her back and legs, "Are you okay? Lizzy-" She turned looking up at me, her face and neck bruised, blood covering and dripping from her lips and nose. 

I dropped down beside her, staring at her wounds, unable to imagine the pain. I moved my hands to her face, gently letting my skin graze the purple bruise on her cheek. I let my fingers trail down her cheek to her neck where I could see a clear handprint. She stared at me, her eyes burgeoning with tears.

"I failed," she spoke in a suffocated whisper as tears spilled from her eyes, "I couldn't stop him," 

I felt tears threaten to fall from my eyes as she spoke, I pulled her into my arms, holding her as if to protect her, seeing her in pain was like a knife twisting within a wound. 

"It's okay, I'm here," I said as she sobbed quietly into my shoulder. 

Starlord, Mantis, Drax, and the blue girl walked slowly towards us, as Doctor Strange helped Mr. Stark to his feet. 

"We should go back to my ship. I have stuff that can help her." Starlord said. Lizzy moved from my arms, wiping her tears from her cheeks.

Mr. Stark walked towards Lizzy and me, staring at her, his eyes glazed with tears and worry. 

He put his hands to her face, "Oh my sweet Elizabeth," he smiled softly, "You did so good. I am so proud of you." Lizzy smiled as he spoke. "How about we go home?" She nodded, wiping the blood from her lips and nose, and I wrapped my arm around her helping her to her feet. 

Elizabeth POV:

It was quiet as I got to my feet, there was an unsettling sense of calm in the air that sent a chill up my spine. 

"Somethings happening," Mantis spoke, half in anticipation, half in dread. 

I stepped towards her as I watched with numbed horror as she turned to dust. Quill stared at the empty space where she had stood only moments earlier, his lips parted in silent terror.

We all turned to Drax, watching as he too turned to dust, he looked up now, his eyes pleading, "Quill?" his words were soft but haunting as he disappeared. 

Quill stood frozen, before turning to us. 

"Steady, Quill," Tony spoke, trying to ease any fear he could.

"Oh, man," Quill said before his dust was being taken by the breeze.

Peter grabbed onto me, holding tightly, his eyes in wide circles. 

"Tony." Strange spoke, we all turned to him now, "There was no other way." He looked down now, breathing slowly as his body disappeared, accepting his fate.

"Lizzy?" Peter's voice broke as he uttered my name, I turned to him, dust slowly coming off him "I don't feel so good." 

"Peter?" I spoke quietly. 

"I don't know what's happening," he said as he stumbled to the ground. "I- I think somethings wrong-" 

"No, no," I fell to my knees next to him as he held my arm tightly, my heart hammering in my chest, as his breathing became thin and ragged. "It's okay, I can save you," I tried to gather shadows but none came. "No, no no no no no no," my eyes darting around, desperate for any help.

"Lizzy..." he choked out. 

I looked at him now, "Please, don't go." I rested my forehead on his, as tears fell from my eyes, "Don't leave me." I pleaded with growing desperation. 

I lifted my head off him, placing my hands on the side of his face, "I love you." he whispered as the details of face I had memorized all these years disappeared and turned to dust. 

I stared at the space between my hands where his face had been. I remained still, rigid with terror, too overwhelmed to move. And as if my silent pleads had been heard the tips of my fingers began to turn to dust, slowly moving up my body. I watched with relief as I slowly lost feeling in my body. 

Tony dropped to his knees in front of me, eyes pleading for it to stop.

"No, no..." he paused, he reached his hand out to touch my arm but only met air, "Not my girl..." he spoke barely above a whisper, as he watched as I became nothing.