(TWO WEEKS LATER)

" Vis, I'll be leaving the house and going to the store, " the scarlet haired Sokovian echoed her voice from the doorway.

The red skinned male synthezoid nodded no furiously and busied himself studying books and newspaper articles about missing people from decades ago. Wanda looked concerned at her humanoid boyfriend for the past several days. She noticed that he had restlessly begun collecting information of the deceased people. She has become unnerved which he was engrossed to read stories about them and their mysterious deaths.

" Vis, I know you're busy in your study. I'll just knock the door later when I come home. Okay?! "

" Take care of yourself, Wanda, " he broke his silence and kept flipping the pages of the newspaper's obituary section.

Wanda sighed and gently closed the door, leaving the house. She got herself into the car and drove it. Heading on the road, she noticed another ambulance in front of another neighbor's house and closely looked at the woman who wailed over deceased husband's covered body.

" It's been two weeks that I have seen people who died, " she curiously thought and got herself back on the wheel. " Is there a problem in this town? Why does everyone die here? "

Reaching the main town square, Wanda saw a motorcycle accident which the rider was lying on the ground and bleeding excessively. The paramedics instantly arrived when few bystanders on the streets kept looking at it. Wanda heavily sighed and kept driving, until she reached at the grocery and parked the car on the corner. She entered the establishment and took a cart for her purchased items.

Focusing herself picking some food from the metallic shelves in each aisle, Wanda didn't want to hear any deaths happening in this town and diverted thoughts by listening to the music being played. She had reached herself into the aisle and noticed a group of middle aged women chatting around while picking up the items.

" Did you know what happened to Agnes last night? " the blonde woman in her fifties asked.

" Do tell, Dottie, " the brunette lady said and interested to hear.

" She just died before going upstairs into her bedroom. "

" Oh, my..." an African-American woman sadly sighed. " She was so happily talking to us yesterday? How come? "

" I don't know. "

" Was she sick? "

" No, she's perfectly healthy, " Dottie answered. " She was too cautious in her diet and aerobic junkie. No vices for her. "

" I'm so sorry if that happened to her. "

Wanda overheard the discussion and became frightened which she had seen or heard of another town resident's mysterious passing. She had enough and moved away, going to the next aisle. After she had picked up all of her items and paid the cashier, the Sokovian mutant lady placed her purchases into the car. Suddenly, another African-American lady in her thirties approached her. She had her dreadlocks being set as a ponytail. Her lovely and mysterious grey irises were hiding behind the clear lens of her dark framed spectales. Wanda curiously tilted her head and paused herself from entering the car.

" This town has been cursed for centuries, " the lady seriously spoke.

" What do you mean? " Wanda asked.

" A lot of people died here. This time, they meet their sudden and mysterious fate. There's a lot to explain which it will take more time for us to talk about. "

" What are you talking about? "

" I'm just talking about Westview. It's not safe to live and remain her for good, " the bespectacled woman answered. " You are an Avenger, Wanda. You should know that this place is a threat. "

Wanda cocked her eyebrows in apprehension which she didn't realize a Westview resident had recognized her. She asked, " How did you know it's me? "

" Your fake accent, the scarlet hair, your face, " the woman answered. " I have seen and heard you from the TV news. You're too recognizable, even you have a short hair. "

" Look, Vision and I have been hiding from HYDRA. We chose this place as a safe haven. Don't tell me you're one of them, " Wanda sternly replied.

" I'm not those kind of people who chased you. I'm a paranormal expert and psychic. I'm warning you that this town is cursed for centuries. If I were you, you could have avoided living this town. Most likely, preventing yourself to be part of this death curse. "

" A curse of death? Like literally. "

" Well, you won't remain silent until you find your answers. The name's Althea Jones, " she answered and handed the mutant a calling card. " If you want to help me, bring your boyfriend and yourself to do some ghost hunting at the town's park square at 8 pm. We're going to find out some answers to this mystery. "

Wanda received the card and intently looked at it. For her, she never believed in any existence of ghosts. Perhaps, this would help Vision to understand and give closure about his sixth sense.

" I'll come with you, " she nodded. " There is something that I need to ask you later on. "

" Good, " Althea smiled and nodded back. " I expect you guys to come. "

(LATER THAT EVENING)

The moon watched the silent town streets when the dark clouds greeted her. The restless shadows had roamed around the town's park square along the cold evening breeze. The tree branches and leaves danced and swayed in the rhythm of the wind. Wanda and Vision had arrived at the park where they were expecting to meet the lady paranormal expert. Althea parked her sedan near the sidewalk and opened the door from her car. She picked her flashlight and some of her gadgets in detecting spirits. The paranormal expert was wearing a purple long sleeved shirt and a pair of khaki knickerbockers, aside from a pair of dark green snickers.

Vision noticed the woman coming to them and called her attention, " You must be Althea. Wanda has spoken about you to me. "

" Yeah, " Althea nodded in reply. " We will be doing some ghost hunting in this place. We will start from here. "

" You mean you have the ability to see and communicate with them? "

" That's right, " she turned to Wanda and said. " I just need more light power from you. This place is too dark to walk around the area. "

" Got it, " Wanda nodded and illuminated her left hand with red light. " I can't see ghosts, but this could help in seeing them. "

" Thank you. Let's begin monitoring this place. "

The three began to walk around the park which they remained inseparable throughout this session. Althea and Wanda kept illuminating their way as Vision followed the two women. The red faced synthezoid kept moving his head around to and fro, becoming vigilant for ghosts who would dare to haunt him. They reached at the farthest area of the park where they were heading near to the woods. Althea pointed her flashlight and showed to the couple a tall Sycamore tree, taking out her infrared detector. Wanda's left remained illuminated and looked at the paranormal expert with concern.

" So, why are we stopping here? " Vision curiously asked.

" We haven't detected the ghosts while we're walking, " Althea replied. " Unless if they start showing up. "

" What's going to happen if they arrive? " Wanda queried.

" Well, it's either they can communicate or haunt us, " she answered. " My infrared sensors can detect any unknown energy. "

Vision looked at the Sycamore tree, turned to Althea, and said, " This tree had lived for several centuries as I had read about it on the book. Why is it so special here in Westview? "

" That tree had witnessed some multitudes of bloodshed, " Althea replied.

" Bloodshed? "

" Yes, it happened. "

" So, Westview has a history of deaths before, I take it? " Wanda added, becoming apprehensive.

" Precisely, " Althea nodded and explained. " This place where you are standing right now was a ground of the 17th Century Death cultists performed their rituals and sacrifices to the natives, slaves, and the English settlers. The cult summoned a chant around the Sycamore tree and poured human blood to its roots as a form of worship for the death god and his boatman. "

The couple shared glances as they couldn't believe in what the paranormal expert was saying. Then, they found it gory and looked at the tree and kept listening to the history of the Westview tree.

" The cult had taken a thousand of lives; young and old, men and women. They kept doing it until their cult leader had passed on. "

" So, what happened to the cult members? " the Sokovian Avenger asked.

" They committed suicide and buried themselves here, near this tree. The souls of their victims had become restless until now. "

Vision remained silent and remembered the ghosts from the other night. He realized that they were crying for help and learned the history of them through the tree. Still, he wanted to know more which he kept searching for answers from the books and newspapers.

" You guys should anticipate who in this town will die next, " Althea continued.

Just then, a chilly wind whispered and touched the synthezoid's face. Even in a thick blue hoodie jacket, Vision instantly hugged himself and felt cold. He became uneasy which he had sensed something eerie. Wanda looked at her boyfriend with concern when bright red energy from her left hand glowed harder.

" Vis? Are you okay? " she asked.

" I-It's t-them, Wanda!! " he shakingly cried. " The ghosts are here! "

Althea's extrasensory device beeped louder and detected some unknown aura present at the park. Her face grew anxious as she moved her head around.

" Indeed, they are, " she sternly spoke.