Episode 1: Welcome to Westview

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Wanda Maximoff stood at the window of her quaint little home, gazing out at the picture-perfect town of Westview. It felt like a long-lost dream, a slice of normalcy in her otherwise chaotic life. The streets were lined with charming houses, and the sun shone down on neatly trimmed lawns, making everything look almost too good to be true.

"Another lovely day in Westview," she murmured to herself, a small smile creeping onto her lips. It was hard to believe that this was where she had built her life-a haven of peace amidst the tumult that always seemed to follow her.

She turned away from the window and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for her weekly grocery run. In this world, where every day felt like a scene from a sitcom, grocery shopping had become an oddly delightful routine. With her trusty shopping list in hand, she stepped into the living room, where her husband, Vision, was lounging on the couch, engrossed in a book titled "How to Blend In with Humans."

"Hey, honey!" Wanda called out, her voice light and playful. "I'm heading to the store. Do you want anything?"

Vision looked up from his book, his expression a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "Do they have, um... synthetic brain food? I might need some if I plan to continue pretending to be human."

Wanda chuckled, shaking her head. "I think you'll be fine with some apples and maybe a few snacks. We can't have you running out of energy mid-conversation, can we?"

"Apples it is!" Vision replied, adjusting his collar as if preparing for a serious mission.

As Wanda left the house, she stepped onto the sidewalk, soaking in the ambiance of Westview. Neighbors waved as they tended to their gardens, and children laughed as they rode their bikes down the street. It was idyllic, but there was an underlying tension that Wanda couldn't shake-a nagging feeling that something was just beneath the surface.

Arriving at the local supermarket, she pushed through the automatic doors and was greeted by the familiar scent of fresh produce mixed with the faint hint of baked goods. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, illuminating the bright aisles filled with colorful packaging.

"Wanda! So good to see you!" called out a voice from behind the produce section.

She turned to find Agnes, her cheerful neighbor, adjusting her apron. Agnes was a staple of Westview-a whirlwind of energy and gossip. "You're just in time for the weekly bake-off competition! I hope you brought your A-game."

Wanda grinned. "I might whip up something special. But I'm more here for the snacks this time."

"Oh, snacks are just as important!" Agnes winked, grabbing a cucumber and tossing it into her cart. "You know what they say-cucumbers keep the drama away!"

Wanda couldn't help but laugh. "Is that what they say? I must have missed that memo."

"Trust me, it's a well-known fact," Agnes replied, feigning seriousness. "Last week, I made the best pumpkin spice cookies, and it was all thanks to the cucumbers. No one could resist!"

As they chatted, Wanda's gaze drifted to the colorful aisles. "What's the theme this week for the bake-off? I could use some inspiration."

"Spooky season, of course! Think ghosts, goblins, and everything Halloween!" Agnes exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've already got a killer idea for a cake that looks like a haunted house. I might even throw in some gummy worms for effect!"

Wanda nodded, her mind swirling with ideas. "I could do something similar. Maybe a cake shaped like a pumpkin? Or I could try to make it look like a witch's hat."

"Oh, I love that! You always have the best ideas!" Agnes encouraged, her enthusiasm infectious.

With a wave goodbye, Wanda continued through the aisles, filling her cart with essentials-milk, bread, and a few treats. As she picked up a box of her favorite snacks, a flicker of light caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Turning, she spotted a small television perched on a shelf in the electronics section, flickering with static.

"Hey, what's going on with that TV?" she asked one of the employees, a young man who looked up from his task of organizing the DVDs.

"Not sure," he replied, frowning at the screen. "It keeps glitching. I think it's broken."

Wanda felt a strange pull toward the screen. It flashed images that seemed almost familiar yet distant, like memories just out of reach. Shaking her head, she dismissed the feeling and continued her shopping, pushing the thought to the back of her mind.

With her cart full, she headed to the checkout line, where she was greeted by the friendly cashier, Dottie. "Hey there, Wanda! How's your day going?"

"Pretty good! Just getting ready for the bake-off," Wanda replied, her smile genuine.

"Oh, that's right! I'm excited to see what you come up with. Your desserts always steal the show!" Dottie beamed, ringing up Wanda's items.

As Wanda paid and bagged her groceries, she overheard a couple of customers chatting animatedly about strange occurrences around town-flickering lights, odd sounds in the night, and fleeting shadows that seemed to dart just out of sight.

"Have you heard about the old house on the edge of town?" one woman whispered. "People say it's haunted!"

"Haunted? Please! This is Westview, not a horror movie," the other replied, rolling her eyes.

Wanda's heart raced. Was there more to Westview than she had realized? The thought sent a chill down her spine, but she pushed it aside. She had a bake-off to prepare for, and that was more than enough excitement for one day.

As she made her way back home, groceries in hand, the sun began to dip low in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and purple. The townspeople started to wrap up their day, laughter echoing through the streets as families gathered for dinner.

Wanda smiled, comforted by the warmth of the moment, but in the back of her mind, the whispers of uncertainty lingered. She unlocked the door and stepped inside her home, the familiar smell of spices and fresh bread welcoming her. Vision was still on the couch, flipping through the channels, but he paused when she entered.

"Did you find the apples?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Wanda set the groceries down on the counter, the sound of bags rustling filling the air. "I did! And I might have picked up a few extra things for our bake-off preparation. Get ready for some spooky treats!"

Vision smiled, his mechanical features softening. "I look forward to it. Just don't forget about my synthetic brain food!"

As they settled into their evening routine, Wanda felt a warmth spreading through her chest. Here in Westview, she had found a semblance of peace, a place where she could be herself without the weight of her past. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that shadows loomed, waiting for the right moment to surface.

That night, as she lay in bed, Wanda couldn't sleep. Her thoughts raced as she replayed the day's events-the strange television, the rumors of hauntings, and the flickers of light that had danced around her consciousness. She pulled the blankets up tighter, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to settle in her bones.

"Maybe I'm just imagining things," she whispered into the darkness, hoping to convince herself. But a part of her knew better.

As the moon cast a silvery glow through the window, Wanda drifted into an uneasy sleep, unaware that Westview held secrets far darker than she could ever have anticipated.

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