Escaping Maximoff

MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Stealing a car is actually pretty easy, especially if you just so happen to have the keys to that car and also two cousins who, for some reason, have extensive knowledge of how to drive said car.

"I feel like you guys have done this before," I joked, sliding into the backseat and slamming the door shut behind me. Their lack of a reply caused me to look up, raising my eyebrows at their sudden silence. "Have you?"

"Do you actually want us to answer that?" Ryan asked with a grin, his eyes sparkling at me through the rearview mirror.

I looked to Sam who just shrugged, an unsurprised look plastered on his face before replying, "Maybe later."

For once in my life I was actually grateful to have scheming cousins who always manage to get themselves into more trouble than I do. It's not like they can help it; they were just made that way!

"There they are," Sam practically screamed, his hands pressed to the cold glass of the window like a little kid. "Drive slower; we don't want them to get suspicious."

"Jeez, do you have to make it sound so creepy?"

"Y/n, we're basically stalking the soldiers. It's kind of weird."

I rolled my eyes at Sam, my gaze instead settling on the snowy mountains and tall trees that flew past the window. The air was crisp and frozen, a shot of ice that cooled my throat and settled my churning stomach.

It was the morning after I told my cousins about everything. They had actually taken it really well and were more than happy to help us. To be honest, I had a feeling they only came because they were secretly hoping Hawkeye would show up. Nevertheless, they had surprisingly been a big help, with Tristan overhearing that the next day was when the last soldiers were leaving.

Following them to the closest S.W.O.R.D compound wasn't the best plan in the world, especially since it's easy to spot someone following you on practically deserted roads, but it was the only plan we had and Wanda was worth the risk. We were all willing to do whatever it took to get her back.

I had a dream about her the night before. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, exhausted from a day of planning, yet part of me wished I'd never closed my eyes.

I found myself in a stark white hallway, stretching further than I could comprehend. An invisible force pulled me, lured me to reach the end. Despite the shrill screams bouncing off the walls, I obeyed. My legs dragged me forward, stiff and unfeeling, unreactive to the constant banging of fists against locked doors. I stuck out like a sore thumb in my Snoopy Pyjama top, a flash of colour amidst the blindingly bright lights. My feet echoed against the floor, each step agonisingly slow, as if time itself stretched out endlessly. Eventually I reached the end, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw there.

Wanda Maximoff.

A smile broke out on her face, her eyes glistening knowingly as if she had been waiting for me to open the door. Not a single hair was out of place, not one scratch was visible on her perfectly smooth skin, like they hadn't just dragged her way from me.

I stepped closer, hardly believing that she was in front of me.

"We're coming to save you," I had said eagerly, desperate to give her hope.

But she hadn't said anything back. No words escaped her pink lips. She simply lifted one hand to hold my face, her soft fingers caressing my cheek gently.

It felt so real. I could smell her perfume, taste the vanilla at the back of my throat. I could actually feel her touch, as if she were in the room with me.

But then I had woken up. And every wall I had put up to stop me from breaking down crumbled. I'd lost her again. Only the lingering heat from her fingers remained, a distant memory of the mother waiting for me.

"Shit, they're pulling into a driveway. What do I do?" Ryan spoke, ripping me from my thoughts.

"Park somewhere close. We can walk."

Ryan stopped by the side of the road about a mile away from the compound, guiding us on foot through the forest that led up to the giant building. The walk was treacherous (Sam tripped over tree roots about a million times), but nothing could compare to the fear of walking through those glass doors and facing the horrors within (a bunch of nerdy-looking scientists with thick ass glasses).

S.W.O.R.D may look perfect on the outside, with glistening stone walls and statues like Greek gods, but they had secrets. They were hiding their true nature, and we were going to uncover it.