Shadows➟Pietro Maximoff

2- The voice in the shadows

      Pietro wasn't sure how long they had been there for. Their cells didn't have any windows and the guards seemed to come and collect them at all hours. It could have been days, weeks, months; Pietro didn't know, but it felt like an eternity.

      The constant exposure to the stone had started to change them. Pietro got hungrier and he noticed he was getting some silvery hair. Wanda on the other hand was getting constant headaches. Pietro could hear her screaming through the walls. All he could do was listen to her cry in pain and think it was his fault.

       The voice in the shadows hadn't visited, though Pietro could feel them watching him. At night, during the stone exposure, even when he was awake. They were there, he just couldn't see them.

      The silvery haired twin also started to notice the guards talking about Project Umbra. From what he understood was that there was a problem with the black stuff they were injecting her with. It may have seemed selfish, but Pietro didn't care much for her. She signed up for this just like he and his sister did.

      What happened to her wasn't his problem.

       At least until it was.

       Pietro wakes with a start as guards bust his door open and pull him out. Ahead of his he sees two more guards carrying his sister. "Pietro!" She shouts as she looks back at him. Pietro shakes his head telling her not to fight. That'll only get them hurt.

      Neither of the twins have any idea where they are going. They haven't been in this part of the facility. If even possible, it's colder and even more terrifying. Eventually they are tossed into a room that resembles a massive shower room. Pietro swallows hard when he sees the blood puddles in the floor.

       Wanda rushes to Pietro's side and helps him sit up. Strucker walks in and looks around the room. His eyes land on a particular dark past of the room. "Come out." He demands. The twins look over in the corner and Pietro creases his brows. It's the shadows.

      Strucker pulls a device out of his pocket and raises it in the air. "Now. Or I activate it." There is a pause, then Strucker presses a button on the device he's holding. A scream fills the room, then a woman falls out of the shadows. Electricity crackles at the collar around her next as she looks at Strucker.

       The man looks at the two twins. "Heal her." He demands, then turns out of the room. Wanda and Pietro look over at the woman as she cries, looking at them. Wanda stands and notices the black veins under her eyes, and the black blood around the corners of her mouth.

      "Umbra." Wanda whispers. Pietro rushes to his sister's side, then kneels down next to Umbra. Wanda joins him. Umbra looks between them both, then looks at the ceiling. Both of the twins notice how much she is sweating, and her struggle to breath. They share a look then Pietro nods and stands.

      "We'll help you." Wanda tells Umbra quietly. The girl's eyes meet Wanda's and she nods. Pietro returns with a rag soaked with cold water. He presses it to her forehead and for a moment they share a look. In an instant Pietro knows. This is who tried to warn him. This is the voice in the shadows.

❖

      "How is she doing?" Pietro asks as Wanda walks over to sit by him. "Not good." She answers. They both look at Umbra from her place in the corner. They originally had her in the light, but she moved to the darkness on her own. Pietro and Wanda both noticed the shadow tentacles surrounding her, moving so slowly it almost wasn't noticeable.

      They were guarding her, despite Umbra being unconscious. Strucker didn't tell them what was wrong with her, but he must have known they could do something. They had doctors here. This wasn't because they didn't have someone to help her. This was a test.

      "How long do you think she's been here?" Wanda asks as she rests her head on Pietro's shoulder. He shakes his head. "I don't know." Wanda sighs and stares at Umbra. Her eyes twirl with red mist for a moment. "Years." Wanda answers. Pietro looks at her.

      "How do you know?" Wanda looks at him and he doesn't need an answer. It's the stone. It's changing them both.

     Wanda looks back at Umbra. "She's scared. Not of us. Of Strucker." The brunette tilts her head. "She's listening to us." Pietro looks at Umbra and the girl's eyes peek open. The shadows grow around her, and they almost consume her completely. Wanda sits up.

      "She needs to be in the dark. It's how she heals." Pietro stands up and looks at the one light fixture lighting the room. He looks at his sister. "Are you sure about this?" Wanda stands and nods. She glances at Umbra who now has her eyes closed. She's getting worse. "Do it."

      Pietro nods, then jumps up, punching the lightbulb out of place. It becomes pitch black and Pietro looks around. "Wanda." He calls out. He feels something touch his back and he whips around. "I'm here." She calls. Pietro grabs her and pulls her close. "What now?" She whispers.

      "We wait."

❖

      "Are you sure it was wise to introduce them so early?" Strucker's second in command asks. Barron nods. "They were showing no progress. They needed motivation. I gave it to them." A scientist walks into the room holding a tablet. He shows Barron.

      On it is an almost completely black screen, except every few seconds there is a spark of red light and two faces are illuminated in the room. Barron grabs the tablet and shows his Second. "It seems my plan has worked." The red glow ceases going out and the happy faces of the two Maximoff twins can be seen.

      Strucker turns to his men. "Bring them fresh water." The guards nod and leave the room. Strucker turns to his Second. "Do you want to question my decisions anymore?" The man shakes his head and Strucker walks over to his desk, continuing to watch the screen. His plan is fitting into place.

❖

      Wanda and Pietro cover their faces as the door to the room bursts open with light. Two guards place bottles of water on the ground, then leave. Wanda and Pietro share a look. "I'll get it." Pietro says as he stands.

      He begins walking across the room with nothing but his sister's ball of light to see. Suddenly, something grabs his ankle. He looks down to see a wisp of darkness holding onto him. He tries to kick out of it, but it holds tight. "Pietro." Wanda whispers. Pietro turns around and finds that the water is now in front of him.

      He grabs them and looks over to the dark corner where Umbra is hiding. Wanda's light seems to have no effect on her darkness. It consumes all light.

      Pietro sits down and hands his sister a water, then looks to Umbra's darkness. "Would you like me to help you?" He asks wearily. They both know she doesn't trust them.

      The darkness begins to shrink back until Umbra can be seen. She looks better, but not by much. She's thin, and clearly dehydrated. "Here," Pietro says as he tries to walk closer to her. Umbra's eyes snap open and her shadows flare around her. A defense mechanism. Pietro puts up his hands. "It's okay. I won't hurt you."

      Umbra stares at him for a moment, then relaxes and her shadows retreat completely. Pietro shares a look with Wanda then carefully approaches Umbra. He lifts the water bottle to her mouth and she begins drinking it thirstily. Once she is done, she sits back and breathes heavily.

      Pietro studies her face. She's beautiful. He can see that past her sickness. Her eyes are truly a wonder. "Why is this happening to you?" Wanda asks as she scoots closer to Umbra. The woman's eyes sleepily open as she looks at Wanda. She stares at the red ball for a moment, then closes her eyes.

      "My blood..." She says weakly. Pietro's eyes find the blood veins under Umbra's eyes. "It does not always bond with the serum." Pietro remembers when he and Wanda saw her strapped down to the chair and pumped the black liquid into her and the electricity.

      "What can we do to help you?" Wanda asks. Umbra's eyes peak open and she looks at the twins. "Nothing." The darkness consumes Umbra and Pietro and Wanda sit back as it shrinks back and Umbra is not there. She left through the darkness.