The X-Mansion

Wanda woke up on the couch, completely startled. She jumped up from a nightmare, but she was immediately comforted by Pietro standing next to her, along with Professor X and Jean Grey.

Pietro: Sis, relax! It's me. It's Pietro.

Wanda: (breathes frantically) P... Pietro? You're here! You're...

She stumbled forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

Wanda: I th... I thought I lost you!

Pietro: I'm here. It's okay.

She let go of him and saw the X-men standing around her. She looked around and didn't see Vision or her children anywhere.

Wanda: The boys... Vision?

Professor X shook his head.

Pietro: Vision and I... Tried to look for them... We didn't know what happened to you in the raft... We were this close to fiding the truth of what happened at S.W.O.R.D and Transia... Then Vision... he... he...

Wanda: He what?

...

Wanda: He WHAT!?

Pietro: We were attacked. By a being... called Chthon.

The mere word triggered a heavy response in her.

Wanda: No... don't say that name!

She grabbed her head and closed her eyes, breathing heavily.

Professor X: We don't know if Vision made it... It's also a good time to mention that your father... well he's been missing ever since he tried to rescue you out of that place. We don't know where he could be. But we now know who's taking them.

Wanda: No... This can't... be happening!

Pietro: I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry sis.

He embraced her as she broke apart in his arms. She was overwhelmed past her breaking point, everything was a mess. She is a feared and hated fugitive, the monster who tormented her is taking her loved ones off the board one by one, Peter Parker was taken away too, and she faces a fate worse than death if she were to be found guilty.

Wanda: What do I do!!!!

She sobbed in his shoulder.

Jean Grey walked towards her and touched her shoulder.

Jean: Wanda... When I looked into your mind... I saw terrible... awful things. I felt it. I want you to know you're not alone. I know you don't deserve any of this, and you have a home here. With us. We will get you through this.

Wanda: I don't know what t-to do.

Professor X: I know it seems like there might be no way out of this, but we are with you no matter what. We already made contact with everyone we could think of and they are all looking everywhere for your children, your father and Vision, and if your other friend (Spider-Man) turns up, we'll be the first to know. Now you got to promise you'll do exactly as we say. Can you do that?

She nodded with hesitation.

Professor X: Your attorney contacted me moments ago. He spoke to the authorities and they granted him three hours to get you to appear in court.

She gripped the couch with her hands and they could feel her unease.

Wanda: N-no I... I...

Professor X: Calm down. It's going to be okay. Your attorney is one of the best this world has to offer, and he seems confident in his plan. The question is, do you trust us?

Wanda: I... I can't go back. Please don't let me go back... I WON'T go back!

Professor X: Wanda, we would not let anything like that happen to you again.

Wanda: You don't understand! He's... he's after me... nowhere... *gulp*... nowhere is safe!

Jean raised her hand towards Wanda's head.

Jean: May I?

Wanda leaned forward and Jean used her telepathic abilities to calm her nerves and make her feel more at peace. Wanda shed a small tear of relief and looked at Jean.

Wanda: W-what just happened?

Jean: I suppressed... or eased some of your anxiety. Just for now, so that you may be able to trust us.

She took a few moments to recollect herself.

Wanda: What... must I do?

Professor X: Matt is on his way here. Once he arrives, you just do exactly as he says. In the meantime, I want you to come with me to the lab.

Wanda: What will you do?

Professor X: Just a quick examination. To see if...

Wanda: (Interrupts) There's nothing wrong with me.

Pietro held her hand.

Pietro: The professor knows what he is doing. Trust me. He can help.

Professor X: If we can figure out what's causing these outbursts of your powers, we can work on stopping it from happening again.

Wanda was silent for a while, thinking it all through.

Wanda: How long will it take?

Professor X: It'll be over before you know it.

The lab

The professor layed her down on the steel bed and was about to tie her down for her safety, but she ripped her arms away. Immediately being reminded of her time in the raft.

Professor X: It's alright.

Wanda: Please... Don't.

Pietro: It's okay Wanda. (Takes her hand)

Professor X: These straps are just for your own safety. And ours.

Wanda: No! No please...

Jean held him back.

Jean: It's okay, Professor, she doesn't need these. Wanda, if anything goes sideways, I'll calm your mind. Otherwise we might have no choice but to restrain you.

Wanda: O-okay... Just... Don't do anything bad.

Charles (Professor X) sat behind her, with his hands on her head. She was holding Pietro's hand while he stood next to her. Her heart began racing already.

Professor X: Do not be alarmed, Wanda. We're your family. This is not the raft.

Her grip tightened around Pietro's hand.

Wanda: I-I'm just... It's still fresh.

Pietro: You mean the things that happened?

Wanda: Yes.

Professor X: There is nothing to fear. I am simply scanning through your brainwaves, searching for triggers that might cause these outbursts. I apologize in advance, when I find a trigger, you will experience a mild version of a real anxiety attack.

As he scanned, Charles picked up on something.

Professor X: Have you experienced any anxiety attacks before?

Wanda: Y-yes. And it's... getting worse.

Professor X: When did it start?

Wanda: The s-same day as the wedding.

Professor X: Hmmm

Wanda: Aahhh!!!

Her heart suddenly pounded in her throat.

Pietro: It's okay. I got you.

Wanda: What d-did you do!?

Professor X: I found a trigger. A memory.

Wanda: Aaahh!! Stop!

Professor X: I just scanned through multiple similar memories, just to make sure.

Wanda: What kind or memories?

Professor X: Memories linked to trauma.

Charles stopped scanning and she sat upright on the bed.

Professor X: It seems you are experiencing a common phenomenon among people who went through traumatic experiences, except yours are a tad worse, considering everything you had to endure since childhood, added with your most recent and current circumstances.

Wanda: What does that mean?

Professor X: You have several mental... complications. Mostly stemming from life experiences.

Wanda: What kind of complication?

Professor X: From what I could decode, you have a complex form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) paired with multiple different anxiety disorders. Combined, I am sorry to say but it is something no person should even be expected to cope with.

Wanda: Am I... really that broken?

Pietro: You're not broken, Wanda. Don't say that.

Professor X: The reason your powers got out of control is because it seems to be connected to your emotional state. When you experience a severe form of sadness, anger, angst or fear, your powers react like a defence mechanism, an uncontrollable storm that tries to fend off the enemy.

Wanda: What?

Professor X: See it like this, if you get sick, your immune system activates its defences, trying to get rid of the disease. Your powers react the same, but it tries to fight an enemy that does not exist. This explains why Westview happened a few years ago. And considering your current situation, it's no wonder it's getting worse.

Wanda: So... how can I... fix it?

Professor X: That, unfortunately, is a long journey. Proper medication, counseling, keeping away from anything that might trigger the attacks.

Wanda: That's... Impossible...

Professor X: I know in your current situation it might seem impossible... but if we can get through your current legal predicament and get rid of the man that's causing you great pain, it is possible. I can also have Doctor Hank McCoy (Beast) look into it. Perhaps he can make something to block your powers from doing so, but it will take time.

She looked at Pietro.

Wanda: Everything is falling apart... He's... He's doing all of this! He did this t-to me... Everything.

Professor X: Who?

She put her hand over her chest and took a deep breath in angst.

Professor X: Chthon?

Wanda: *gasp* Don't say that name.

Wanda began breathing heavily as a sudden angst overwhelmed her. Jean immediately touched her head to calm her down.

Jean: It's gonna be okay.

Wanda: How!? My f-family is... missing, that... that monster is after me... and did things...

Her mind immediately tried to suppress those memories at the raft and she continued to speak up.

Wanda: ... The world HATES me and I can't even step outside or I'll... or I'll get caught... How is everything ever gonna be okay again!

Matt (Daredevil) walked into the lab unexpectedly.

Matt: Because you have me.

Professor X: Mr. Murdock.

Matt: Professor.

Wanda: It doesn't matter! Nothing can stop him!

Matt: Stop who?

Matt was still oblivious to everything regarding Chthon.

Professor X: The one behind all of this.

Matt: You know who it is!?

Pietro: He attacked us... Vision and I... at Kamar Taj when we were this close to figuring out the truth.

Matt: Do you know his name?

Jean: Not any name you'd recognize. He's a monster. And he fed off Wanda ever since she was little. I saw glimpses of his influence over her life when I touched her mind before I brought her here.

Professor X: Wanda has a very strong reaction whenever we mention his name.

Matt: Wanda, if this person is behind everything, I must know who he is and why you think he did it.

Wanda: I can't.

Matt: Please... It's the only way you can prove your innocence.

Pietro: His name is Chthon.

Her heart rate spiked and she began breathing heavily.

Matt: Does he have a real name?

Wanda: It's the doctor! He's him!

Matt: The doctor? You mean the guy who tortured you in the raft?

Wanda: Yes!

Pietro: The doctor was merely a disguise. He's a monster.

Matt: And is there evidence that he did all of it? The attack at S.W.O.R.D and Transia?

Pietro: It's complicated. There was footage, possibly. But he took it.

Matt: Wanda, did he tell you anything while he worked on you?

Wanda: T-tell me what?

Matt: Anything that could help us? Did he say why he did those things to you in the raft?

Wanda: H-he... said he needed my DNA, and my powers. He needed... every part of my...

Matt: Of your what?

Wanda: Essence.

Matt: Essence?

Wanda: It's what... what h-he said.

She teared up when thinking about her experience.

Wanda: He had t-to do things... bad things... t-to me. To get... everything he needed... for his m-machine.

Jean: We know. We saw. I'm sorry you had to go through that. No one deserves that.

Wanda: You all saw that?

She was ashamed to know they all saw her in that vulnerable, violating state. She shed a few tears and lowered her head again.

Matt: I didn't show them everything.
Some of it is too much. But they do know about it. And soon the world will know too.

Wanda: I-I don't... want that. The world to know...

Matt: Unfortunately they have to know or we have no shot at getting you out of the raft.

Wanda: I just... I just wanna forget. E-everytime I close m-my eyes I... It's like I'm there again! And a p-part of me feels... guilty for... for allowing it to have h-happened.

Pietro gnashed his teeth in anger and frustration while shedding a tear.

Pietro: You're here with us now. It's over. Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened to you in the raft. That... monster will get what's coming his way.

Professor X: Wanda, you said he's building something. For what reason? Do you know what he's building?

Suddenly, as the professor tried to get an answer, the air grew colder, and a heavy darkness settled over the room. Wanda's breath fogged the air, and she shivered. The lights flickered and then went out, plunging the room into darkness. She felt a chill run down her spine as an oppressive, malevolent presence filled the space. Everyone in the entire room was frozen in time. Wanda remained the only one consciously aware of everything going on around them.

Chthon: wAnDa...

A voice whispered, echoing around her. It was a voice she dreaded, one that haunted her nightmares.

Wanda: No...

She breathed, her eyes wide with fear.

Wanda: No no no no no no no no--

She continued without ceasing. Her breaths short in terror.

The darkness coalesced into a figure in front of her: Chthon. His eyes glowed with a sinister light, and his presence exuded an aura of fear. Chthon stepped closer.

Chthon: YoU tHoUgHt YoU cOuLd EsCaPe Me, WaNdA? yOu ThOuGhT yOu CoUlD hIdE?

Wanda backed away, her heart pounding in her chest.

Wanda: Just LEAVE ME ALONE!! You... You can't do this!!!!

She began having another panic attack and grabbed her chest in pain. She crumbled to the ground and breathed heavily.

Chthon: Oh, BuT i CaN.

Chthon's voice dripped with malice. He waved his hand, and the room around them warped and twisted. The walls melted away, replaced by the stark, sterile confines of the prison she had escaped from. The air smelled of antiseptic and fear.

Wanda looked around in horror.

Wanda: No! Not here! Please!

Wanda clutched her head. The memories of her torture and violation flooded back, the fear and agony overwhelming her.

Chthon crouched beside her, his eyes boring into hers.

Chthon: YoU tAlK tOo MuCh AbOuT Me, LiTtLe OnE.... YoU tElL yOuR fRiEnDs AnYtHiNg ElSe AbOuT mE, aNd ThEy WiLl SuFfEr... YoU wIlL sUfFeR.

With a wave of his hand, he altered reality instantly around them. Wanda saw Pietro, Jean Grey, and Professor X, their bodies contorted in pain, their faces twisted in silent screams. Blood pooled around them, their eyes wide with terror.

Wanda: No stop! Stop it!

Wanda screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Wanda: Stop it! Please!

Chthon leaned in closer, his breath cold against her skin.

Chthon: YoU sEe, WaNdA, i CoNtRoL yOuR rEaLiTy. I cOnTrOl EvErYtHiNg. YoU bElOnG tO mE.

Reality around them changed back to the way it was before.

Chthon: IF yOu WaNt ThEm To LiVe, YoU wIlL kEeP yOuR mOuTh ShUt. Do YoU uNdErStAnD?

Wanda sobbed, her body trembling. She felt an invisible force choke the air out of her lungs.

Chthon: Do YoU uNdErStAnD!!?

Wanda: Yes! Yes I understand! I understand!!!

He let her go and she fell on her knees.

Wanda: W-what... *cough* What d-do you want from me? Why r-ruin my life...

Her voice became soft and barely audible.

Wanda: ... Why...?

Chthon: I wAnT yOu To PlAy AlOnG.

Chthon hissed. He waved his hand again, and a new image appeared. Wanda saw Hawkeye (Clint Barton), locked in a dark cell, his face bruised and bloodied. He looked up, his eyes filled with despair. But he was unable to see them. He was one of her only real friends, along with Peter.

Wanda: No! Clint! What... What have you done to him!!!

Chthon: If YoU dOn'T gO tHrOuGh WiTh ThE tRiAl, iF yOu DaRe To DeFy Me, ClInT wIlL dIe... PaInFuLlY.

His voice was cold and unyielding.

Chthon: AnD hIs BlOoD... wIlL bE oN yOuR hAnDs. DoN't ThInK i'Ll StOp At HiM, eItHeR.

He showed her two sons being held in a cell next to Clint. Wanda's heart broke at the sight of her boys.

Wanda: No... Billy! Tommy!

Chthon: ThEy CaN't HeAr YoU...

Wanda: I'll do it I'll do it! I'll do whatever you want. WHATEVER YOU WANT! Just don't.... Don't hurt them! Please!

She crawled towards his feet in a desperate plea.

Wanda: Please don't hurt them!

Chthon smiled, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Chthon: As LoNg As YoU dOn'T sTeP oUt Of LiNe... YoU wOn'T hAvE tO wOrRy... ReMeMbEr, WaNdA... I'm AlWaYs WaTcHiNg. OnE wRoNg MoVe, AnD tHeY aLl DiE.

Wanda gathered herself, mustering her courage through her fear.

Wanda: W-What about Vision? What about my father!? Where are they!?

Chthon: YoU aSk ToO mAnY qUeStIoNs.

With another wave of his hand, the illusions disappeared, and the room returned to normal. The lights flickered back on, and time resumed. Wanda found herself on the medical bed next to Pietro, Jean, Matt and Professor X. Pietro and the others had no idea what Wanda just lived through, since they didn't experience anything that just occured, but her sudden change in expression caused them to have concern for her well-being.

Pietro: Sis? Are you okay?

Wanda looked up at him, her eyes filled with fear and resignation.

Wanda: I-Im fine.

She lied, her voice barely a whisper.

Wanda: I'm fine.

The professor continued the previous conversation about Chthon building a machine.

Professor X: I'll send word out to the Avengers. If he's building something using your DNA and powers, it can only mean one thing.

Matt: Enough talk. We don't have much time left. I assume you know why I came here Wanda. The trial is about to start.

She felt a cold chill run through her body. The time has finally arrived.

Matt: Once we arrive, you will unfortunately be detained by the police right away. And they probably won't be gentle. I'm warning you ahead of time, there will be lots of people there, and they won't be friendly. Press, protesters... Don't let them get in your head. The whole world will be watching, so be your best self.

Wanda: I-I can't do this...

She felt a tremendous amount of angst inside her. The mere idea of being watched by the prying eyes of the world, being at the mercy of a biased jury and under fire by people thinking she's the worst person to have ever walked the earth, was too much for her to handle, and now she knew she was being watched by Chthon himself.

Matt: It's okay, Wanda. Today won't take too long. Our only goal for today is to simply plead your case which is of course not guilty and then convince the judge to tranfer you to a better holding cell during the trial.

Wanda: I... I can't... I can't be locked up again! Please. And my... my family. I-I need to find them!

Matt: Unfortunately we cannot break the law. But that's what the trial is for, right?

Pietro touched her shoulder as she sat upright on the medical bed.

Pietro: It's okay sis, we will find Vision and your children... and everyone else that monster might have taken.

She lowered her head and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Wanda: He's gonna take you too.

Pietro: The Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men... everyone is looking for him. If he shows up again, he won't know what hit him.

Matt: Wanda, we have to go.

She began sweating as her anxiety gripped her heart. She knew they stood no chance against him. She just saw first hand what he was capable of.

Wanda: I can't do this... I c-can't...

She was silent for a while, trying to digest her dillema. She knew she had no choice, but her body could not move. The entire situation was too much. Chthon was merely the cherry on top. Matt held out his arm.

Matt: Come, Wanda. It's time.

Her trembling hand reached out, taking his. She didn't want to do this, but there was no choice. She was handing her life over into his hands now. She had no control over her destiny any longer, and she was scared to death of what's to come. Worst of all, she was constantly being watched... by her worst fear.