CHAPTER 9
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

The Raft
Supermax prison

3:40 AM (at night)

The helicopter's blades echoed through the desolate air as it descended towards the ominous structure known as the Raft, a supermax prison surrounded by the ocean. The Raft could be seen ascending from under the deep sea into open air. Wanda sat in the corner of the vehicle, completely drained of energy. Her eyes seemed dark and tired because of being drugged, but she still had full consciousness of everything around her. She felt the cold grip of fear tighten around her heart. Wanda was in utter distraught, anguish and confusion.

As the helicopter touched down, Wanda's breaths became shallow, anxiety gripping her with each passing second. She knows full well what this place is. A cruel, forsaken hell, reserved for only the worst of the worst. Serial killers, sadists, 'world enders'... monsters. The idea that they saw her in that light shattered her heart to a million pieces and she had no idea why she was brought here in the first place. The agents led her towards the entrance, their stern expressions only amplified Wanda's emotional turmoil. The heavy metal doors creaked open, revealing the cold interior of the Raft.

The corridors seemed endless, the cold, sterile walls closing in on her. Wanda's mind raced with thoughts of her children, where they might be and who wrote those words on the window. Panic surged through her veins as the realization hit her like a truck. The realization of her new reality. Was this her home now? Away from everything and everyone? Being treated less than an animal in a hell hole underneath the ocean? She secretly tried using her powers, but to no avail. Whatever she was drugged with, caused her mind to be unable to use any abilities.

Wanda: (whispers) What have you done with my children? Why am I here?

The guards remained silent, their impassive gazes offering no comfort. Wanda's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her sons, but the sterile surroundings provided no solace.

They came to a standstill in a room where she was ordered to stand in front of a striped white background to get her picture taken.

After that, she was escorted through the corridors of the Raft towards the search room.

Wanda: I don't deserve to be here! What did I do?

As they approached the search room, a sense of dread washed over her.

"Discard your clothing and put it on the counter."

Wanda: W-what?

They activated their stun batons as a warning.

"Commencing search procedure."

Her body shook slightly and she froze in place.

Wanda: I d-don't... want t--

"Last warning, inmate."

Wanda: I'm not... comfortable to--

She was tazed by their batons before she could finish her sentence.

"Comply, inmate!"

She felt powerless, helpless and at the mercy of the guards. With no choice in the matter, she followed their orders with tearful eyes.

"Stop shaking."

Wanda: S-sorry--

"You're not allowed to speak, inmate!"

Her heart pounded in her throat, as the guards commenced the invasive search procedure, their gloved hands were cold and impersonal as they patted and inspected her thoroughly down to the last shreds of her unadorned personal space. Wanda held her breath, her body tensing up with the invasive process. Trying everything in her power not to make a peep, as to not give them the satisfaction. However, the tears in her eyes showed it all.

Wanda: (voice cracking) Please... I-I... I didn't... do anything wrong.

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as they continued the inspection. Once the procedure concluded, they escorted her to a small shower room adjacent to the cell.

Wanda: What is this?

The guards remained stoic, their instructions clear. She stopped in her tracks just before entering the room. An involuntary response of hesitation. They pushed her inside, causing her to fall over her feet. As she layed bare on the ground, a few droplets of tears dripped on the floor, thinking about how inhumane this treatment was, and she hasn't even been here for a few minutes. Was this how prisoners of the raft were treated? Less than human.

"On your feet, inmate!"

She seemed to give up as the current situation overwhelmed her. She didn't even have enough time to process what happened at S.W.O.R.D yet. Not to mention finding out one of her closest friends were dead.

"On your feet!!!"

One guard grabbed her by the hair and forced her back onto her feet.

The room's cold air was biting into her exposed skin, causing chills to run through her body. The shower offered no comfort, only amplifying the isolation, violation and despair she was feeling at this moment. It was a contrasting mirror to the fleeting hours before her wedding.

Her mind grappled with extreme uncertainty and fear after exiting the shower when she saw what they would adorn her with, giving her instant flashbacks to her small time here after the Lagos incident, which was also no fault of her own. Seeing the guards unfolding a strait-jacket triggered a suppressed trauma, causing a spike of adrenaline to rush through her body. She stumbled backwards and everything around her blurred instantly.

Wanda: No... wait... wait wait wait no please! Not that. Not that... Please not that! I'm not crazy!!

Another panic attack was triggered, and as always, she saw glimpses of her past, flashing before her eyes. The guards became disoriented figures, then instead of seeing the guards, she saw the faceless entity.

Wanda: No!!!! Get away from me!

She tried to run but they tacled her from behind and subdued her with force, putting the strait-jacket on her body and escorting her to her cell without showing mercy.

It took a minute for her to finally see things they way it was really happening. When finally regaining some composure, she was already in the strait-jacket, with a shock collar on her neck. As she was escorted past the cells, the prisoners looked at her with intrigue. They all bashed on their cell doors to welcome the new inmate. They varied from normal humans to 'supervillains' like Whiplash, several Hydra loyalists, Baron Zemo, Mordo, Bullseye, Hellcat (Trish Walker) and many more.

They came to a standstill in front of her cell and one of the guards scoffed at her in a whisper to her ear.

"How the mighty Scarlet Witch has fallen. Welcome to your new home. You won't like it."

Wanda: My name is wan--

"That name doesn't exist anymore. In here you're nothing."

She was pushed into the cell and the door closed behind her. The cell was cold and empty with no bed, towels or even a toilet.

"Food and water twice, bathroom privileges once a day. Step out of line, face the consequences."

Wanda: H-how will I even...

She tried to refer to the strait-jacket.

The guards walked away, leaving her alone in the forsaken, dark cell.

Wanda: W-wait! Please... Just t-tell me why I'm here! Where are my children?

They continued to walk away as she leaned on the cell. She thought she once experienced the true feeling of despair. The feeling of TRUE hopeless and desolation. But for the first time, she really felt like it was all over.

No hope.

No future.

No nothing.

But the worst part? The world will go on with everyday life, thinking she's a monster while she rots in a cell underneath the ocean away from society for all time. A place infinitely worse than the Island. All while wondering what ultimately happened to her children. And wether the rest of her loved ones were targeted as well.

Wanda: I don't deserve this!

They continued to walk away, ignoring her pleas.

Wanda: I don't deserve this!!!

...

The next morning.

"FOX News: Just 24 hours after The Scarlet Witch's incident outside the New York Sanctum, also known to be the home of Doctor Strange who has been missing for a year, it has now been confirmed that Wanda Maximoff was arrested last night for the brutal murder of 120 S.W.O.R.D Agents, where security cam footage reportedly showed The Scarlet Witch ruthlessly killing them all in a few minutes. She's been taken to the maximum security prison known as The Raft, which is currently under the control of the DODC."

"CNN: Authorities have not released the video to the public as it contains footage too brutal for anyone to witness. This happened yesterday morning, after she was taken to a S.W.O.R.D facility due to what happened the night prior. As previously reported, on that same day she almost killed four cops on a collapsing bridge.

"WHIH Newsfront: Conspiracies were already running wild, claiming that she was secretly part of the terrorist group that caused the incident at the bridge as well as the theme park two days ago, setting up scenarios to make herself seem like a hero. As of now there is no connections to prove that, however, her involvement at the Transia incident seems all the more likely, as she was the only confirmed survivor last year. For those unaware, it was the mysterious and tragic incident that took the lives of many Transia citizens including some of our heroes such as Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, The Wolverine and even the notorious vigilante known as Frank Castle (Punisher), among several others. With that said, the bodies of Doctor Strange and Wolverine were not yet found since last year."

Millions of people around the world were watching with interest and shock.

A television was turned off, showing nothing but a black screen.

Erik Lenscher along with Pietro and several of the X-Men stood in front of the TV at the mansion, shocked and in disbelief.

Erik (Magneto): This... Can't be. My daughter would never--

Beast: But didn't she do this exact thing to our friends three years ago at the Baxter building? We should've seen this coming.

Pietro: Hey! That's my sister you're talking about.

Professor X: What happened on 838 was different.

Beast: Charles, she killed you. If she hadn't changed reality and merged our worlds when we fought the incursion war, you would still be gone. An incursion she started, might I add.

Professor X: I know, but I'm here now because she saw what she did was wrong. The darkhold had her. And as I've said before, she can't possibly be guilty of Transia. Just because a person stumbles and loses their way d--

Cyclops: Doesn't mean they're lost forever. Yeah. We've heard that one before.

Jean Grey: Perhaps the darkhold didn't have as much influence as we thought.

Pietro: She was corrupted to do those things! Okay? And where are the children? Where's Vision? Are they at the raft too? Would they not have come here when it happened? Something's not adding up.

Cyclops: How can we still deny this? She just got arrested. And not based on conspiracy or guesses either. They have hard evidence.

Erik: Footage can be doctored!

Professor X: I agree. And with super-powered and supernatural individuals running rampant around the world there's no telling what someone can do to make things seem true.

Cyclops: Charles, you saw how strange she acted at the wedding. Erik, you were here when she collapsed on the shower floor. She's losing her sanity.

Erik: Be careful with your words. You will not talk about my daughter that way, am I clear? Let's not pretend you didn't stand up for Jean when she was the Dark Phoenix, hypocrite.

Professor X: The mere fact that she can't even remember the death of Stephen Strange already shows signs of suppressed memory, which, to me, proves she was not the one responsible for Transia. As for yesterday... Without access to the footage we can't conduct our own research.

Beast: What if she's experiencing what we call dissociative identity disorder? She might as well be of the belief that she isn't what the world sees her to be, and whenever she experiences an... episode... she immediately dissociates herself from what happened. Which could explain why she can't remember doing it.

Professor X: We can't know that without conducting tests. I still believe she's innocent.

Jean Grey: Well if we wanna get her out by the book, we're gonna need a lawyer.

Professor X: Lucky for us, we know a very good one.

Erik: I've got a better idea.

Professor X: Erik, no.

Erik began walking away. Charles followed him with his wheelchair and stopped him outside the mansion.

Professor X: Stop. Erik... I know what you're about to do.

Erik: Many years ago, you promised to never read my mind again.

Professor X: I wasn't. I know you, Erik. How long have we known each other? Do not let your emotions control your actions. You know this won't end well.

Erik: I'm going to break her out. It will be quick. I promise nobody will die.

Professor X: And make the world see mutants as the villains again? Or slander Wanda's and your own name even further? Or worse, get arrested yourself? Maybe even killed? If she's truly innocent, we have to prove it.

Erik: And what if we can't do that? What if she gets the death sentence herself? Huh Charles? What then?

Charles kept quiet.

Erik: That's what I thought.

Professor X: I'm sorry, Erik.

Erik: For what?

Charles used his telepathic abilities to put Magneto in a deep slumber.

Professor X: I hope you will forgive me.

Inside the mansion there was silence, as most of them were looking at Pietro while a million thoughts ran through his head in a few seconds.

Pietro: I gotta go check on Vision and the kids. I feel something off about all this.

He instantly ran at super speed towards Wanda's home in Westview. He opened the door and called out for the children.

Pietro: Tommy? You here lil bro? Billy?

He went upstairs and saw the broken wall and roof.

Pietro: Vision?

He walked into the twins' room and noticed the broken window, and the beds were still untidy. Something was definitely off, and Pietro began to panic as he ran into Wanda and Vision's room.

Pietro: Vision!

He ran towards Vision laying on the floor.

Pietro: What have they done to you?

He then saw the vibranium dart in his chest and immediately took it out. Vision suddenly opened his eyes.

Vision: Where am I?

Pietro: Home.

Vision: Wanda... Where is she!?

He jumped up.

Pietro: She's... They've taken her. And the kids are gone too.

Vision: No... That's not possible. How could they have taken us off guard like that.

Pietro: I don't know, but they did.

Vision: Why would they take her? And why the children?

Pietro: There was no mention of the twins on TV...

Vision: TV?

Pietro: She's being accused of mass murder.

Vision: Of what!!? There has to be some kind of mistake.

Pietro: They said she killed like 100 S.W.O.R.D agents.

Vision: Did you say S.W.O.R.D agents?

Pietro: Yes.

Vision: And you're positive?

Pietro: Was all over the news.

Vision kept quiet for a long while, processing information.

Vision: Last night, just before they barged into our home, she attacked me in her sleep. But when she woke up she was convinced she just came from S.W.O.R.D. At first I thought she must've had a nightmare because she mentioned that everyone died. Then I found out she doesn't even remember yesterday at all.

Pietro: What does that mean? Why was she at S.W.O.R.D?

Vision: The night before, she became very disoriented after the wedding when I told her about Strange. Then she fell unconscious outside the sanctum, and her powers burst out of her which caused a brief power outage around Manhattan.

...

Vision: Thing is, her powers didn't fade away and only built up more energy, so I flew her to S.W.O.R.D as a last resort...

Pietro: Why didn't you tell me? You know we looked all over for you two.

Vision: I was afraid if Charles or Erik found out, they'd not let her stay in Westview.

Pietro: And now we're in this mess because of you.

Vision: Now what? Are we just going to let them take her?

Pietro: The professor is working on it.

Vision walked to the twins' room and looked around.

Pietro: What are you doing?

Vision: Scanning.

Pietro: You're a detective now?

Vision continued to look around, but saw no evidence to suggest that the intruders even touched the beds where the twins slept in.

Vision: This is odd... Nobody except Billy and Tommy seemed to have touched these beds.

Pietro: What are you saying then? They just disappeared?

Vision: The probability of that happening is almost zero.

Pietro: Almost!?

Vision: They were definitely taken. But not by physical force.

Pietro: Taken by who? For what?

Vision: I'm picking up particles in the air. Something else was in here before the intruders came. Something powerful.

He scanned the particles for more information.

Vision: Whatever it was, it dates back to millions of years.

Pietro: That's not comforting at all. That's actually terrifying. So... what? An entity millions of years old stole my nephews? It doesn't add up!

Vision: I see a similar pattern of energy signatures that I have encountered before...

Pietro: When?

Vision: Last year, during the Incursion War...

The Raft

After a restless night without sleep, Wanda was sitting in the corner of her cell with no expression, only pain and despair, feeling a sense of Deja Vu, however this time it felt a lot worse.

A sudden knock on the cell door startled her instantly. The reality of where she was, sank in again, and the constant feeling of despair loomed over her.

"Wake up, inmate!"

Wanda: I am awake.

"We did not say you can speak!"

They opened a small door underneath the cell and slipped a plate of breakfast and bottled water through towards her. The first thing she did was try to use her powers again, but still nothing.

"Breakfast. Eat up. You're gonna need it."

Wanda: H-how can I... M-my arms.

She looked down at the strait-jacket on her body which prevented her from using her arms.

"I thought the dreaded Scarlet Witch was smart. Figure it out, inmate!"

She had no energy to engage in an argument that would surely not end well for her either way, so she began eating the plate off the floor with her mouth. She felt utterly defeated and disgusted. A screaming sound from another cell caught her attention and she immediately turned her head into the direction of the sound. It was a horrible sound. Like a man in extreme anguish. She turned her head back towards the food, a tear escaping her eye, realizing the hell she was in and she couldn't do anything about it.

Wanda looked at the guard standing in front of her cell.

Wanda: Where are my children?

"Quiet, inmate!"

Wanda: It's just... a question! I'm a human being!

She looked at the guard with pleading eyes, but he only activated a stun baton and prepared to enter the cell.

"I said... Quiet."

Wanda: What just happened to that man? What did he do wrong?

"You mean the man who tried to kill thousands at a Stark Expo? Exactly what will happen to you now. For disobeying orders."

She responded with bravery, but a tear fell down her cheeks, showing how she truly felt inside. She looked at the baton, electricity surging through it.

Wanda: I've been through hell... my entire life. You think that thing scares me? Do your worst!

The guard maximized the voltage and entered the cell and began tazing her with the baton.

For a moment, Wanda felt courage unlike anything she felt before. It was a surprisingly good feeling. To stand up for herself when she didn't even have ground to stand on. The pain was immense, and almost caused her to faint, but it was worthit. She didn't change a single expression on her face. It took the guard by surprise until he decided to give up. But then she spat in his face and he hit her over the head with the baton, punched her in the stomach and walked out.

"You'll break soon enough. It's what this place is designed for. It's what you deserve. You see, this is not just a prison. It's an Asylum. Everyone breaks eventually. All it takes is one... small... push."

Those words were still fresh in her mind and she gasped upon hearing it. Immediately thinking back at her dreadful encounter with Doctor Strange. The same words being spoken to her from a prison cell in the raft of all places, was something that gave her chills all over her body. As if something was pulling all these strings trying to push her to a breaking point.

Wanda: (whispers) I have to get out of here...