BlackHill | If only

Chapter 24

Maria's POV:

My eyes peeled themselves open, and instantly cold seeped into my body from the water lapping around me. An orange glow seemed to emit from my clenched hand and as I unfurled my fingers, my heart sank.

Nat was gone. The stone now in my palm was proof of that. A sob racked through my body, and I couldn't stop replaying the image of her tilting off the edge. If only I had been quicker or done something to stop her.

It should have been me.

My body curled up and laid there for a while, staring into nothingness. Only letting the cold envelop me as I could only remind myself of the feeling of Nat's hand leaving mine.

After what felt like an age, I finally stretched my limbs, leaden and numb. I had to complete this mission. I will avenge the death of my wife, the woman I truly love, even if it means killing Thanos myself.

I slammed the button on my wrist, this time prepared for the lurch in my stomach. And once again my feet hit solid ground. Without the comfort of Nat's hand around mine. I opened my eyes to everyone staring. Steve spoke up first, "where's Nat?"

I couldn't stop the flood of tears, even if I tried, collapsing into his open arms as I sobbed uncontrollably. "She sacrificed herself, she's gone". The silence was deafening. I felt a tear fall in my hair as I clenched my arms tighter. "It should have been me".

My entire body felt numb like something was missing. Like my body had been robbed of something. I could still smell her, still feel her body against mine. The softness of her skin under my hands.

I couldn't even describe the pain, even if I had the words. My chest burned and ached like my heart was trying to free itself from a body so incomplete and alone. My throat seared with agony, tightening through the tears.

I had been tempted to end everything. If only to be with her. Just to see her face one more time rather than replay the image of her saying goodbye.

Tony gently prised the stone out of my hand, murmuring "we'll take good care of this one".

A sudden whirring caused me to look up through the gap in Steve's arms. Bruce was now holding Tony's gauntlet in his hands. Multicoloured lights pulsed across his arm and his face contorted in agony as his fingers inched together.

A blinding flash forced me to clench my eyes shut. Silence. Bruce slumped to the ground, his arm now smoking and blackened beneath the gauntlet. I spoke up, "do you think it will bring Nat back?"

Bruce muttered, "I tried... I did. But it was a sacrifice Hill. I think the rules are different".

I disentangled myself from Steve. "Fuck the rules. Let's just kill Thanos".

The building suddenly shook, alarms started to blare, shutters came sliding down over the windows, hitting the ground with a clang. Tony shouted, "PROTECT THE GAUNTLET! DO NOT LET THANOS GET HIS HANDS ON THE STONES!"

The floor started to shake now. Thanos was firing missiles at us from above. Another shake blew a hole in the side of the wall and water came rushing toward us. "We need to get out now!!"  I shouted at no one in particular and began to run towards another hole about 10 feet away.

That's when I heard it. Some sort of animalistic screech coming from behind me, I could only recognise it as the Chitauri from all those years ago in New York.

Just then a huge explosion flung me off my feet, slamming me into the nearest wall. As I collided with the ground I could barely move. A ringing sound flooded my ears and the smell of charred flesh filled my nose.

I realised this was probably the end. It was peaceful, bright flames around me in beautiful gold and crimson. I saw Nat's face and smiled closing my eyes.

"Hill!" I could hear a voice now like I was underwater. My eyes flicked open and I could feel someone shaking me. "Hill! Are you alright?"

I found myself looking up at Yelena.

I instantly smiled at the sight of her. Lurching up to the best of my ability and wrapped her into a hug. "Where's Natasha?"

My heart dropped. And I choked trying to get the words out. My throat tightened with each syllable.

"I... She's... Gone, Yelena. She sacrificed herself for me. For everyone."

I felt her sob through my body. Amidst the chaos and the fire around us, I heard her sniff. Despite the ache she was most likely experiencing, she still hoisted me up off the floor. "Can you walk?"

I gave a small nod as my feet began to regain feeling. "Then let's kill this bastard".

The battle was a blur, occasionally I saw people we had lost soaring overhead, bringing a smile to my face. I unloaded clip after clip into every Chitauri that was in my vicinity. I doubled over to catch my breath, noting the alien blood covering my boots. My head snapped up as I glimpsed a commotion further away.

I began to run towards something glowing, I stopped in my tracks gasping as I realised who it was.

Carol Danvers. She had her back turned to me, but I now realised what she was doing. The gauntlet was now atop her arm, lights flashing into the sky as she turned to face who I assumed was Thanos.

As she snapped her fingers the same flash of light emitted from her hand. Blinding me once again.

I opened my eyes to a completely new scene. Carol had slumped to the floor, but there was no sign of Thanos or anyone on his side. The ships had disappeared from the skies and only dust floated into the air where the Chitauri had once stood.

We had won.

All that was left now was to put the stones back.