This is War | Infinity War [6]

TWENTY THREE

THIS IS WAR | INFINITY WAR
Chapter Twenty Three
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            THE SNAP FELT DEAFENING IN ANIMALIA'S EARS. She watched as if time slowed when Thanos rose the Infinity Gauntlet and snapped his fingers, sparking a pulse of energy that burnt the golden glove to a crisp. The gauntlet was smoking, metal scorched and Stones no longer glowing vibrantly.

Animalia turned around, analysing her surroundings slowly in search of changes or incoming threats. But there was no threats at all... Until Animalia suddenly felt a twist in her stomach. It made her want to throw up, made her feel like she was overwhelmed with sickness for some reason. Her arms fell around her stomach as she leaned forward, staring at the ground with wide eyes in confusion. She was fine for one moment but felt terrible the next... What was happening?

Behind her, Thor returned his attention to Thanos after glancing at the gauntlet. "What did you do?" The God yelled, before reapting the question with more fury: "what did you do!?"

Thanos seemed to be dazed, unsure of his surroundings. He didn't reply, merely using the Space Stone to open a breach and make a smooth exit, leaving Stormbreaker to fall harshly to the floor.

A loud bang echoed through Wakanda, Melissa figure soaring above and landing in the clearing where the fight took place. She landed with a fist planted in the ground, looking the most angry any of the Avengers had seen her. Flicking her head up, she blew her hair away from her face to reveal her burning heat vision, but it didn't last long. The heat died as she noticed that Thanos was gone.

"Where'd he go?" Steve breathed out once he stumbled into the clearing, clutching his bruised side. "Thor, where'd he go...?"

Thor ignored him, turning on his heels and immediately being put on edge again at the sight of Animalia's hunched over figure. He left Stormbreaker behind and hurried to her air, catching her before she felt to the ground, her strength abruptly disappearing. "Lia..." the God whispered, watching as her skin began to flake off, specks of her left arm beginning to fly away like dust in the wind.

Animalia lifted her hands cupping Thor's face, feeling his left hand lock around her wrist as the other rested on her deteriorating hip. She stammered over her words, the sickness in her stomach growing her her sense of touch fading. "I-I-I don't know... I don't know what's happening... B-But know that I love you, Thor, so much."

She knew her time was coming to a close and shook her head in denial as Thor claimed that there was a solution. Animalia pulled the Wildlife Stone from her neck, pressing it into Thor's grasp and forcefully closing his fingers around the charm. "Please, don't let Zelea die..." She closed her eyes and bowed her head, accepting death as she slowly faded to dust, flying away in the wind.

Thor stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend what just happened. His fingers slowly uncurled from the Wildlife Stone, and he looked down slowly lifting the necklace from the palm of his heads as a tear slipped from his eye.

Melissa stumbled back, blinking rapidly, believing this to be a dream, no... A nightmare... The Superhuman moved with great speed in search of her best friend, feeling the sudden urge to be by Reyna's side.

"What the hell was that!" Laurel yelled in shock, still sat on the Wakanda soil but seeming to have regained her breath from when Thanos eliminated her cry. Her breathing was still harsh and unnecessary hard, eyes darting back and fourth with fear.