AURORA

The Dark Figure

Aurora hesitated at the door of the safe house, her body still trembling from the intense confrontation. Wanda kept a steadying hand on her shoulder, guiding her inside with a reassuring firmness. The interior was sparsely furnished but felt secure, a refuge from the chaos outside.

"Sit down," Wanda instructed gently, leading Aurora to a worn but comfortable couch. "We need to talk."

Aurora sank into the cushions, her exhaustion palpable. "I don’t know what’s happening to me, Wanda," she admitted, her voice a fragile whisper. "Every time I try to rest I see Natasha in a corner or beside me, I even thought it was her when you came to the Alley, It’s like my mind is playing tricks on me."

Wanda knelt in front of her, taking Aurora's hands in her own. "We’re going to figure this out together. But first, I need you to trust me. I need to go into your mind and see what’s causing this."

Aurora’s eyes widened with apprehension, but she nodded. "Okay, just promise me to not hurt me again." Wanda looked at Aurora with an apologetic look. "I promise" she smiled weakly.

Wanda closed her eyes, concentrating. Her powers enveloped them both in a soft, crimson glow. She reached into Aurora's mind, feeling her way through the turbulent thoughts and memories. The deeper she went, the clearer the source of the distortion became.

---

Inside Aurora's mind, Wanda found herself in a labyrinth of memories and emotions. She saw fragments of Aurora's past, moments of pain and joy, all jumbled together. As she navigated the labyrinth, she noticed a dark presence, something that didn’t belong. It was herself indeed but the dark figure of Scarlett Witch that seemed to be causing Aurora to see Natasha dying or asking for help over and over again. Wanda closed her eyes for a sec, guilt surround her.

Wanda focused her energy, isolating the foreign element. It writhed and twisted, resisting her attempts to contain it. With a surge of power, Wanda managed to envelop the dark presence, slowly dissolving it. As the presence faded, the confusion and fear in Aurora's mind began to dissipate.

Wanda withdrew from Aurora’s mind, her eyes opening to find Aurora watching her intently. "I think I found the source of the problem," Wanda said, her voice steady. "It was like a dark shadow, something trying to manipulate your perceptions. I’ve removed it, but you need to rest and let your mind heal." Wanda saying the half truth because she was feeling guilty.

Aurora nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Thank you, Wanda. I… I -"

Wanda embraced her, offering a comforting smile. "Shhhh...You’re not alone. We’re going to get through this."

---

Later, while Wanda was preparing some tea in the small kitchenette, Aurora slipped away. Her mind still felt fragile, and the emotions coursing through her were overwhelming. She found herself in the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The haunted look in her eyes unsettled her.

Desperate for relief, Aurora rummaged through the medicine cabinet, finding a bottle of pills. Her hands shook as she opened it, the urge to silence the chaos in her mind overpowering her reason. She poured several pills into her hand, staring at them with a mix of fear and determination.

Before she could take them, Wanda’s voice echoed in her mind. "Aurora, please don’t do this. You’re stronger than this."

Aurora hesitated, the pills slipping through her fingers and clattering into the sink. She slumped to the floor, sobs wracking her body.

---

Meanwhile, Yelena stood outside the courthouse, her phone pressed to her ear. "Wanda, it’s Yelena. We’ve got a situation. Mia’s getting suspicious, and I can’t keep her distracted much longer. How’s Aurora?"

Wanda’s voice came through, filled with concern. "She’s struggling, but I think we’re making progress. Keep Mia safe and away from here. I’ll handle Aurora."

"Understood," Yelena replied, her tone resolute. "I’ll do my best."

Yelena ended the call and turned back to Mia, who was looking at her expectantly. "Everything okay?" Mia asked, her worry evident.

"Yes," Yelena lied smoothly. "Just some updates. Let’s go back inside. We’ve still got a lot to cover."

---

Back at the safe house, Wanda found Aurora curled up on the bathroom floor. She knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around her friend. "It’s going to be okay," she whispered. "We’ll get through this together."

Aurora nodded weakly, leaning into Wanda’s embrace.