Escaping Maximoff

Slipping Through My Fingers

Green. Just the colour reminded me of her. The trees, the grass, apples, frogs, even my aunt's favourite emerald sweater, which is actually the most hideous thing on this earth, but none of us would ever tell her. I couldn't escape her. Every step through the forest sent a jolt of pain to my heart, a perpetual echo of the woman who would soon be leaving me.

If she cared about her life, she'd be gone by the evening. If she cared about my heart, she'd turn all of the S.W.O.R.D operatives into rabbits. But I knew that would just be a temporary fix. There would always be another power-crazy-psychopath ready to take Hayward's place. If they knew where she was, Wanda would never be safe, and if she stayed here, neither would the rest of us.

Green leaves crunched agonisingly under my feet, their sounds vibrating against my fragile skin. I felt like I was made of ice, one wrong move and I'd shatter into a million pieces. There was nothing I could do to help Wanda Maximoff, there wasn't anything I could say to make her leaving easier.

Leaves turned to gravel, and soon I was at her door, staring through the open passage and into those attentive emerald eyes.

"Wanda," I barely choked out, my cold fingers clenched against my hands, frozen and stiff. "You need to go; the soldiers are only about half a mile away."

Wanda crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her lip caught between her teeth as she tried to come up with a solution. "There has to be another way; there must be something else we can do."

I shook my head, my vision blurring with tears. I wanted her to be with me forever, but it wasn't safe for her anymore. Our time had run out.

Wanda reached out to grab my hand and pulled me into a warm hug, her soft jumper tickling my cheek as I pressed my face into her shoulder. I let my body crack and melt into hers, my broken heart mended just by her presence. Her lips pressed against my head, and I sighed. How could I let the only person I could call a mother go?

"Come with me," she whispered, pressing another chaste kiss to my head. I stiffened, the comfort I felt in her embrace disappearing immediately.

"How could you say that?" I asked, my voice shaking as I tore myself away. My hands trembled at my sides, my forehead creasing in anguish. "How could you possibly ask me to leave? Do you know how unfair that is?"

Her green eyes swirled with hurt, pain slashed across her face as if I'd carved a hole in her chest. "I thought this was what you wanted."

I shook my head vigorously, forcing out any thoughts of going with Wanda. I couldn't leave my family behind. I couldn't give up my whole life to go on the run with Wanda. It would be unfair to them and to me. Although I would never admit it to anyone, I had dreams. I wanted to achieve things in my life, and if I was constantly on the run from S.W.O.R.D or anyone for that matter, there would be no chance I could live the life I wanted.

"You don't understand, Wanda. You could never understand."

She laughed bitterly, the sound forceful and filled with hurt. "Why? Because my family is dead?"

I sighed and looked away, evading her eyes as my heart sank. "You know that's not what I meant."

"I don't think I know you at all," she hissed, her hands clenched at her side, nails digging into soft skin.

That was it. My heart shattered in my chest, shards of my happiness left in its wake. "I love you, Wanda," I whispered, biting back sobs as tears left trails down my cheeks. "I'm sorry for not being enough. Please just leave as soon as you can; I don't want you to get hurt."

I waited for a moment, taking in her flaming locks and milky skin for the last time before turning and sprinting down the path that led away from her house. I ignored her desperate calls, her cries muffled by sobs that followed me down the road. I couldn't turn back. I couldn't face her ever again. I had hurt Wanda, broken her. I had ruined everything between us, destroying the only thing that ever truly made me feel happy. And to top it all off, I still had to go to school.

In that moment, I understood why my parents had left. It was easier to run away from your problems than to face them. It was much simpler to leave than to stay with me.

Gravel crunched underfoot as I slowed down, savouring my last moments of freedom before the impending day of torturous learning. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't stop to question why the streets were empty or why Sam had sent me a message saying to go straight to the sports hall.

Little did I know, everything was about to get a whole lot worse. My worst nightmare was about to come true.