Chapter 2: Side by Side
Dark. It's so very dark "how much longer?" her voice raspy and meek "soon-I promise" the response rumbling through her. That voice, it was so sure of itself its passion and reassurance tightened around her heart. She would be safe so long as that sound continued to reverberate in the world; Wanda knew this to be true. The swaying; turned thumps awoke her under the tween deck of the boat. She heard footsteps very busy and harsh they brought back horrible feelings that which she wished to forget. In a haste to erase such things she shook her brothers violently "Pietro...Pietro" angered now she smacked his arm with fervor, he jolted awake confused and scared unsure of who was touching him or what was going on. Wanda's voice snapped him back in the moment "we have to go please" he could hear the desperation in her voice she sounded almost on the verge of tears. Pietro jumped to his feet grabbing his sister's hand, it was firm and he was certain not to let go no matter what. The deck was cramped it was difficult to avoid the cargo sliding every which way. Both Wanda and Pietro had to crouch if they wanted to move it hurt terribly, they hadn't moved for what felt like an eternity and now they were up and about as though they were reanimated corpses. Pietro made his way to deck of the ship with Wanda in tow quickly making their way to the back of the ship facing an alleyway. It was dimly lit so nobody would notice their escape. The jump was a good 10 ft. drop, Pietro leapt onto the harbor the harsh cobblestone cold and wet caused him to slip during his dismount sending his body crashing to the ground, Wanda, still on the boat looked down to see him rolling on the ground hobbled over in pain. "Co-come on jump." Wanda hesitated, growing wary of the people unloading the ship who were getting closer she had no choice but to jump. She made a panicked leap towards her brother taken back by his sister's frantic flailing Pietro made a desperate attempt to catch her. They both hit the ground Wanda in a daze and Pietro in even more pain than before his breaths now labored, but they couldn't afford to stop not after all they went through to get there, Pietro picked himself up off the ground tugging at his sister's sleeve urging her to do the same. Once to their feet Pietro headed towards the alleyway "HEY! HEY YOU!" the man dropped the crate he was carrying making his way over to the pair. The ground shook violently the man albeit fat, was quick and angry never had they seen a face contorted in such a way. It was pure malice, Wanda and Pietro both stood in shock their bodies unsure of what to do. The crashing of the crates snapped him back into reality "GO!" Pietro turned quick on his heels, Wanda still in hand was thrown off her feet she hit the ground hard, the man now closing in loomed over her pulling her up by her wrist "what do you think you're doing?!" Her eyes were big with uncertainty and fear. His grip was tight his calloused fingers dug into her skin "WANDA HIT HIM!"Pietro looked to be busy with something so she was left to her own devices, all she could muster was a sharp kick it must've been enough because he stumbled back. Now free she headed for the alleyway as fast as she could her feet aching, eyes burning with tears she ran till she felt the fatigue grip at her.
Wanda's vision was hazy she stumbled to find some support, she had managed to catch a wall before she fell to her knees. The wet cobblestone, so cold that it sent a jolt through her body throwing her out of her dream-like state. She rose the best she could using the wall to balance her out she looked around for her brother when she heard a loud thunderous crash. Pietro came racing around the corner grabbing Wanda as he passed, the guards path blocked by barrels of fish he had knocked down. Even though Pietro knew they were slowed he didn't dare risk being caught again Wanda despite herself did the best she could to keep up. Pietro stopped in front of a rundown old creaky apartment complex, Pietro was sure to look around before heading in the alley beside the building. Once he was sure they were clear he let go of Wanda's hand it was red and slightly bruised from the rough handling. Wanda could no longer stand and slumped near a dumpster next to a brick wall. Pietro looked to Wanda, her hair tangled and matted from having to lie on the hard wooden floor under the boat. Pietro could see she wasn't well, the trip had taken more of a toll on both of them than they cared to admit, but even so Pietro carried on the best he could for her sake. The air was cold, a drop of rain trickled down his cheek, Pietro while looking up at the sky to be sure his sense had not deceived him about the shower to come caught a glimpse of a boarded up window. The window was just above a fire escape, but the ladder had rusted and fallen away. Pietro looked to Wanda to see if she could help him get up to the window but, she was too tired to even view their surroundings. It looked as though he was on his own for tonight, Pietro looked around the alley for anything to give him a boost without crushing under his weight when he came across a metal trash can in the far reaches of the alley faintly illuminated by the street light, its form outlined by the faint yellow glow. As Pietro stepped forward some trash fell from the can, figuring it was the wind he continued, until he saw large yellow eyes. Nothing more than an alley cat Pietro went down into a slight crouch in hopes of getting the can without provoking the feral creature but despite this the cat was unpleased and swatted at him batting him away leaving slight cuts across his face. "Augh! Damn cat!" but before Pietro could strike the feline it darted out of the alley quick to make an escape from the unfamiliar beings. After checking his face for blood, Pietro dragged the trash can under the fire escape allowing for him to reach the window above. The plywood used to cover it was lazily leaning to the side and the nails were half-heartedly hammered in, most likely due to the assumption that no one would dare make the attempt to try and get in. With a few tugs of force Pietro was able to get the plywood out of the way setting it down to the side so as to not arouse suspicion and for a cover so that no one would notice something was amiss. "Wanda! Come on" Pietro called beckoning her to follow she just simply shook her head no. She looked like nothing more than a lifeless doll abandoned in an alley, Pietro crawled in while listening for any suspicious sound before climbing back down to bring Wanda up. Putting all modesty aside Pietro lifted Wanda over his shoulder so as to be able to carry her up the fire escape to the window. The room held a foul stench that smelt of mildew and decay Pietro recoiled at it both times when he had stepped inside, the floor groaned as he made his way to the corner of the room nearest to the window. Gently he sat Wanda down not once had she stirred since she laid down in that alley Pietro worried she'd never wake up from her death-like slumber, her breathing so shallow had the new world not been asleep when they arrived he wouldn't have been able to hear it. The most he could do now was his best to keep them warm, Pietro picked up Wanda once again her skin sleek, wet, and cold. Pietro now sitting where she once was while cradling her to keep her warm. Slowly rocking her back and forth as he himself joined her in the sandman's embrace.
"They said the casualties of the Russian civil war were momentous, somewhere in the hundred-thousands, some who were innocent young men. Now nothing more than a pile of needless death, at least that's how I saw it." Pietro didn't exactly feel the same way about the futility of war. He'd go off on these rants turned monologues about doing what one must do to protect those that they love and the things that they hold dear, but Wanda knew there could be no compromise with war; it cannot be reformed or controlled; cannot be disciplined into decency or codified into common sense; for war is the slaughter of human beings, temporarily regarded as enemies, on as large a scale as possible. The house which they lived was nothing more than a shack with one bedroom with which they shared, the cold air stung her cheeks Wanda did her best to bundle herself up. Her coat being made of ragged animal pelts that her brother had found or stolen from markets. The pelts were thin and somewhat itchy, the stench that wafted off of it as the wind blew repulsed her. She resented the coat, it felt like nothing more than a physical reminder of what they had been reduced to ever since the wars started. The fireplace now bearing only hot embers and darkened wood, Wanda got up each movement a sharp pain from being in one place for so long trying to keep warm. She grabbed the poker and moved the ashes around in hopes of reviving the flames once more but nothing can come from nothing and she knew it was all for not least she get more wood. So she returned to her spot when she heard a loud knock on the door, Wanda froze in place planning out an escape route in case things got out of hand. "Wanda it's me open up!" Pietro shouted she rushed to the door to let him in and look him over so as to make sure he didn't get himself into needless trouble. Pietro set down a small pile of wood he had gotten, Wanda knew full well that he didn't cut that wood it was far too cold and his hands too warm. She knew better than to ask but it still upset her "Where'd you get the wood..." He continued to take off his scarf and coat, no response. Petro avoided eye contact with Wanda as he put the wood in the fireplace "Where did you get the wood?" Her voice raised, tone stern Pietro was fed up with her persistence "What does it matter Wanda, Jesus I got us some wood." Wanda cut off his to the bedroom "It matters because we're in enough trouble as it is!" she threw a flurry of punches to his arm all of which did nothing but annoy him "Pietro, please we're constantly on the run I'm tired" Pietro sighed while he intended to do anything to keep the two of them safe he would always be willing to compromise if it meant keep her happy. "Fine, what do you want me to do?" Wand lead him back to the fireplace where they sat down on the floor. The heat of the flames engulfed them taking them away from winter's grasp the fire caught all the colors in Wanda's eyes the heat causing the pale skin to become flushed with blood. "There's a man who works at the market, he's a good man Pietro i swear." He already knew where this was going Pietro involuntarily rolled his eyes at the idea, but Wanda remained firm cupping Pietro's face with her hands "Look at me" This slightly startled him never had he seen her so determined her eyes now a bright hazel with the flames reflecting from them, the fire seeming to grow brighter. "He pays well he doesn't' ask any questions please." Pietro saw the pain in her face grow as he mulled over his decision "Alright I'll do it where is he?" Wanda lit up rushing to hug Him he soft brown hair brushing against his face, her breast crushed against his chest, she was warm. He held her in his arms for hours "Thank you Pietro, thank you."