R͟u͟t͟h͟l͟e͟s͟s͟ {Q͟u͟i͟c͟k͟s͟i͟l͟v͟e͟r͟/ A͟v͟e͟n͟g͟e͟r͟s͟}

Chapter 46: Tragedy or Success

Before I could process the slightest bit of anything that was going on, I saw a snaking red magic approach me and tighten around my neck. I choked on a gasp of shock, invisible limbs tightening around my neck. In my defense, a pulsing energy flew off of me, releasing me from Wanda's grip.

"You're just scared," I hissed, "You know I can stop you."

"You'd like to think that," Her voice didn't waver as we looked at each other, a shaky tension in full force, "I don't think so."

I leaped at her, all at once, throwing all my body weight at her, my hands glowing and crackling with energy. She didn't even look surprised, throwing her arm to the side and slamming me against the side of the wall. If I hadn't cushioned myself, I would've been smashed into a million tiny pieces. I landed softly on my feet, my heart pounding as I glanced up at her. She sent another wave of red, obviously trying to make its way into my head, but I pushed it away easily, glaring at her. At this point, we were evenly matched.

"Strong!"   Somebody screamed, choked. I whipped my head around. Clint was glued to a wall, unable to even struggle against his red bonds, with a thin line of scarlet against his neck like a knife.

Fear spiked in my chest. My blood thumped in my ears. Tactfully, I said slowly, "Let him go, Wanda."

"What are you going to do for me?" She said, her breathing heavy and her eyes wild.

"So this is blackmail now?" I asked harshly.

"It's always been blackmail," She said, her voice cracking, but she managed to cover it up nicely, "You stole my brother."

"Your brother chose us," I corrected her, gritting my teeth, "Let Clint go, Wanda. You can still stop all of this. Help us. Disable the bomb. Let these people go."

She shook her head, "The human race has become too corrupted. They need a leader. They need direction. They need me-"

"Go to hell!" I roared, feeling lightheaded, "These people are dying under your care. You've killed more people in the last weeks than in the entire span of both world wars!" I knew my skin was glowing, I felt the energy rising from me, almost in the form of heat. My breathing was quickening, and I felt adrenaline creep into my system. I took a deep breath. "Let him go or else, Wanda. You don't know what you're doing."

She smirked at me, like everything was fine. There was a moment of complete silence, and then her arms slammed into the floor with a rumble. Everything happened in a shaky, uncontrolled blur. Pieces began to fall from the ceiling. Clint was falling, and the ground was shaking. Wisps of red magic floated back and forth innocently, but I knew their identity. Chunks of stone were collapsing from the ceiling around me, potentially lethal, and dust was in my eyes. Where was Clint? Where was Wanda?  I created a barrier between the debris and me, feeling like the Invisible Woman with my bubble like shield surrounding me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and, crashed through the falling rocks effortlessly, searching for Clint. 

A pile of rocks was covering where Clint used to be hanging, and I blew them apart frantically, praying for him subconsciously, my conscious mind only focused on the task in front of me. The rocks exploded on top of him until I saw a face, a body. Relief surged through me. "Clint?" I asked, concerned.

A low, bloody groan escaped him. I was torn. If I left him here, he was both vulnerable and would be possibly dead when I saw him next. I closed my eyes, took a breath, and decided. "Clint, I'm going after Wanda. Don't die.... Please." I said weakly, turning around, and pushing the rocks away from him completely. 

He said nothing, just a shaky breath as blood trickled into his mouth. Just keep breathing, Clint. The building had stopped shaking. Wanda must've just left. I sprinted in a blur out of the building, trying to feel her energy and follow it. She stuck out like a sore thumb among everyone else, thanks to her powers, and blindly I followed my gut. I looked around wildly, trying to figure out where my body was taking me. "Where are you?" I said under my breath, scowling. I was getting closer and closer to her. Her energy was like a shot of adrenaline, plunging into me, again and again. I could feel her death toll, it was in her bones, in her aura. She was right next to me at this point, my body was vibrating as it felt that kind of power. Was that what I felt like? I shook away the thought.