𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃| 𝐒. 𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 |

prolouge

SOKOVIA
2004

In the heart of war-torn Sokovia, nestled within a crumbling apartment building, lived the Maximoff triplets: Pietro, Milana, and Wanda. Their home, a small, dingy apartment, bore the marks of poverty and the ravages of conflict. The paint on the walls was chipped, and the furniture was worn from years of use. Despite the lack of material wealth and the constant threat outside, the triplets made the best of what they had, finding joy in each other's company.

In their cramped bedroom, the three children played with their assortment of second-hand toys. Pietro, the oldest and most cheeky of the three, held up a battered action figure, making exaggerated voices to entertain his sisters.

"Watch out! The evil robot is attacking!" Pietro declared, making the toy lunge at Wanda's doll.

Wanda giggled, her eyes wide with excitement. She hugged her doll close, pretending it was in peril. "No, don't let it get her!"

Milana, the second oldest, watched them with a gentle smile. She was the responsible one, often taking on a motherly role. Despite being only ten, she had a maturity beyond her years. "Pietro, be careful," she admonished softly, "you don't want to scare Wanda."

Pietro rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a grin on his face. "Relax, Milana. It's just a game."

Milana sighed, but she couldn't help but smile. Her brother's antics, though sometimes exasperating, brought a lightness to their otherwise harsh life. She turned her attention to Wanda, who was looking up at her with a mixture of admiration and dependence.

"Don't worry, Wanda," Milana said, her voice soothing. "We'll always keep you safe."

Their bedroom was small, with barely enough space for their three beds, which were little more than thin mattresses on the floor. The walls were adorned with drawings the children had made, brightening the otherwise dull room. The only window was cracked, but it let in a sliver of sunlight that illuminated the children's faces as they played.

Outside, the sounds of conflict were a constant reminder of the war that raged in Sokovia. The distant rumble of explosions and the occasional crack of gunfire made it hard to forget the danger that loomed just beyond their fragile walls. Milana did her best to distract her siblings from the turmoil outside, knowing how easily it could steal their innocence.

"Pietro," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her, "let's build a fort with the blankets. Wanda, you can be the queen."

Wanda's eyes lit up at the idea, and Pietro, always eager for a new game, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I'll be the knight who protects the queen!"

As they gathered their meagre supplies to build the fort, Milana cast a quick glance out the window at the decaying cityscape of Sokovia. She could see plumes of smoke rising in the distance, a stark reminder of the war that threatened their world. She wanted to promise her siblings a brighter future, but she knew the truth was more complicated. Still, she couldn't let them lose hope.

"Milana," Pietro said suddenly, his tone more serious. "Do you think things will ever get better?"

"I don't know, Pietro," she admitted. "But as long as we stick together, we'll be okay. We've got each other, and that's what matters most."

Pietro nodded, his usual mischievousness replaced with a rare moment of contemplation. Wanda snuggled closer to Milana, finding comfort in her sister's presence.

In their small, dingy apartment, the Maximoff triplets found strength in their bond. They were each other's protectors, friends, and family. And in their hearts, they carried a resilience that no amount of hardship or war could ever diminish.