Chapter 13- The Face-Off, Part 2
Pietro stared in horror as the pile of boulders didn't move, and his twin sister stood smirking in triumph, as Viktoria lay dead underneath it all. "She can't be dead. She can't be dead." Remy placed a hand on his friend's shoulder as tears slid down Pietro's cheeks for his deceased lover. "She not dead, homme. De petite got more tricks up her sleeve den dat, no?"
"She's not dead. I can sense her mind, Pietro," Jean reassured. "I'm not sure if she's even injured."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Down below, Viktoria emerged from behind the pile of boulders completely unscathed. Wanda stared at her in horror, her jaw dropping open. "Your- your dead! I killed you! Those rocks- you- they fell- YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
"Afraid not," Viktoria replied. "See, you dropped those boulders on a image of me." She gestured to her side, as an exact replica of Viktoria Cole appeared, a bright smile on her face. "It did hurt a bit when you threw me against the wall though."
"You're not even bleeding." Wanda moaned, her face contorting into a look of pure anguish. "Why won't you just DIE?" She threw up her hands as another hex flipped Viktoria into the air.
Landing on her back, she tried to scream in pain, but found she couldn't as the breath was knocked out of her lungs. Viktoria braced herself for another fall as she felt Wanda's magic lift her body into the air again. Instead of dropping though, another force held her up inches from the ground. Viktoria glanced up to see Jean concentrating hard.
**Thank you** Viktoria sent to her, as Jean lowered her body back onto the ground.
**Anytime.**
She stood up as Jean's telekinetic grip recoiled. She faced Wanda again; her eyes wary and mouth dry from screaming. "How did you do that?" Wanda asked.
"Magic."
Viktoria rubbed her hands together, a small ball of fire forming between them. She pulled them apart as the fire grew into an enormous inferno of heat and light. Concentrating all of her strength, she pushed the ball straight at Wanda. It exploded just above her in a bright burst of energy as Wanda covered her face from the blast.
Wanda screamed as Viktoria forced the fire to regroup around her in one giant engulfing ring again. She tried to hex the fire into extinguishing again, but found this time Viktoria had been ready for it. Every time she hexed it, the fire came closer to her.
"Keep doing that and you're gonna burn yourself," Viktoria warned. The fire was now a mere three feet in every direction as Wanda continued to try and hex it away. Viktoria wondered if Wanda even realized she was causing it to come closer.
Dipping into her mind, Viktoria felt Wanda's struggle with the flames, and with her own powers. Why won't it disappear? Wanda's mind screamed. Why? Why? Why?! Her thoughts were all jumbling together as her survival instincts took over for her. Stop the fire! Why? Stop it now! Why? Why? Why won't it work? Stop the fire now!
Viktoria shuddered, clearing her head of the wild thoughts as she collapsed the ring of fire surrounding Wanda's frantic form. Wanda continued hexing however, and the energy hit her like a cement truck.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Stop it! Damn you, why won't you stop the program? They're going to kill each other in there!" Pietro shook Scott's shoulders as the leader of the X- Men just stared back at the frenzied mutant through ruby-colored shades.
"I can't shut off the program until one of them concedes. One of them has to give up eventually."
"Or one of them will kill the other first," Pietro countered. "What's wrong with you? I know you don't like either of them very much, but that's MY sister and MY girlfriend in there and I'll be DAMNED if I let you just sit idly by and let them destroy each other!" Pietro loosened his grip on Scott's shoulder, instead shoving him back into his seat. "I'll take care of this myself you senseless prick."
Pietro rushed out of the control room and through the secret hallways underneath Westchester Mansion until he reached the large metal door that was the entrance to the Danger Room. He pounded aimlessly on the door, tears streaming down his face and rage burning a hole in his heart. Inside, the two girls battled on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I hate you! I've always hated you! Why can't you understand that? Why can't you just leave me alone? Why do you always have to be so perfect at everything?" The brunette yelled, arms flailing at her sides as she tried to concentrate her powers on Viktoria.
"Why does Pietro have to love you so much? Why does everyone love you? What do you have that I don't?" Wanda screamed at Viktoria, flinging hex after hex at the blonde sprawled across the floor. A stream of blood ran from a large gash in her forearm, as cuts and bruises began to appear across her battered flesh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Above, Jean and the others watched as Wanda assaulted the helpless form on the ground. They all seemed to be frozen in a state of absolute horror, each unable to make the necessary moves to stop Wanda.
Only Pietro had been able to free himself from the strange control room tableau. And even now, he was downstairs banging relentlessly on a door that couldn't be opened without a computerized access code.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As a last resort, Viktoria used her final ounce of strength to send a mental bolt to Wanda. Feelings of guilt, fear, remorse, regret, alarm, and most of all a request for forgiveness flooded Wanda's brain. The Scarlet Witch faltered on her feet, reeling under the rush of emotions that swamped her in less than a moment.
Wanda sunk to the ground in surrender as Viktoria slowly slipped into an unconscious heap in front of her. She could barely hear the blonde girls' words in her head; they were so faint, fading in and out at points. **I.. sorry. Wan..dah. In the beg.. ning.I never me.. ant to hu..rt you. I only.. did. it be.. cause you. hated.. me... Forgiv.. me.**
Wanda turned the tiny green knob on her wristband until it flashed red as she cradled the blonde girl's head in her lap.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The scorched canyon walls faded back into hard metal as the program finally shut off. Pietro burst through the door and raced to his sister's side. "I'm so sorry, Wanda. I'm just so sorry."
Wanda stared at her twin brother through eyes swimming with tears. "Please, Pietro. Help me- carry her. I think- I think I may have-" A stray tear ran down the side of Wanda's face, landing with a tiny plop on Viktoria's forehead. Pietro wiped at the tear, causing it to smudge the dirt already covering her delicate features. The twins stared at each other for a moment as years of unspoken anger, bitterness and resentment flowed away with their tears.
Lifting her up in his arms, Pietro carried Viktoria's limp body through the Danger Room door and into the seemingly endless array of halls and doors, passages and elevators. Wanda kept pace at his side, quietly leading him to the sick bay of the Institute.
Pietro placed Viktoria's body on a bed, as Wanda sat down in the chair beside it. "Is she-? Is she breathing, Pietro?"
"Yes," he replied with the smallest of nods. "It's really shallow though. Can you watch her? Please? I need to go get Hank. Or Jean. Or.. somebody. Please, Wanda? Please? Make sure she doesn't-"
"I know, Pietro." Wanda took his hand in hers and squeezed it tight. "I will. I'll watch her. Go." Pietro nodded quickly and zipped out of the room to find help.
A/N: Kind of a twist ending to the chapter, huh? Hope ya'll enjoyed this one.
Pietro stared in horror as the pile of boulders didn't move, and his twin sister stood smirking in triumph, as Viktoria lay dead underneath it all. "She can't be dead. She can't be dead." Remy placed a hand on his friend's shoulder as tears slid down Pietro's cheeks for his deceased lover. "She not dead, homme. De petite got more tricks up her sleeve den dat, no?"
"She's not dead. I can sense her mind, Pietro," Jean reassured. "I'm not sure if she's even injured."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Down below, Viktoria emerged from behind the pile of boulders completely unscathed. Wanda stared at her in horror, her jaw dropping open. "Your- your dead! I killed you! Those rocks- you- they fell- YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
"Afraid not," Viktoria replied. "See, you dropped those boulders on a image of me." She gestured to her side, as an exact replica of Viktoria Cole appeared, a bright smile on her face. "It did hurt a bit when you threw me against the wall though."
"You're not even bleeding." Wanda moaned, her face contorting into a look of pure anguish. "Why won't you just DIE?" She threw up her hands as another hex flipped Viktoria into the air.
Landing on her back, she tried to scream in pain, but found she couldn't as the breath was knocked out of her lungs. Viktoria braced herself for another fall as she felt Wanda's magic lift her body into the air again. Instead of dropping though, another force held her up inches from the ground. Viktoria glanced up to see Jean concentrating hard.
**Thank you** Viktoria sent to her, as Jean lowered her body back onto the ground.
**Anytime.**
She stood up as Jean's telekinetic grip recoiled. She faced Wanda again; her eyes wary and mouth dry from screaming. "How did you do that?" Wanda asked.
"Magic."
Viktoria rubbed her hands together, a small ball of fire forming between them. She pulled them apart as the fire grew into an enormous inferno of heat and light. Concentrating all of her strength, she pushed the ball straight at Wanda. It exploded just above her in a bright burst of energy as Wanda covered her face from the blast.
Wanda screamed as Viktoria forced the fire to regroup around her in one giant engulfing ring again. She tried to hex the fire into extinguishing again, but found this time Viktoria had been ready for it. Every time she hexed it, the fire came closer to her.
"Keep doing that and you're gonna burn yourself," Viktoria warned. The fire was now a mere three feet in every direction as Wanda continued to try and hex it away. Viktoria wondered if Wanda even realized she was causing it to come closer.
Dipping into her mind, Viktoria felt Wanda's struggle with the flames, and with her own powers. Why won't it disappear? Wanda's mind screamed. Why? Why? Why?! Her thoughts were all jumbling together as her survival instincts took over for her. Stop the fire! Why? Stop it now! Why? Why? Why won't it work? Stop the fire now!
Viktoria shuddered, clearing her head of the wild thoughts as she collapsed the ring of fire surrounding Wanda's frantic form. Wanda continued hexing however, and the energy hit her like a cement truck.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Stop it! Damn you, why won't you stop the program? They're going to kill each other in there!" Pietro shook Scott's shoulders as the leader of the X- Men just stared back at the frenzied mutant through ruby-colored shades.
"I can't shut off the program until one of them concedes. One of them has to give up eventually."
"Or one of them will kill the other first," Pietro countered. "What's wrong with you? I know you don't like either of them very much, but that's MY sister and MY girlfriend in there and I'll be DAMNED if I let you just sit idly by and let them destroy each other!" Pietro loosened his grip on Scott's shoulder, instead shoving him back into his seat. "I'll take care of this myself you senseless prick."
Pietro rushed out of the control room and through the secret hallways underneath Westchester Mansion until he reached the large metal door that was the entrance to the Danger Room. He pounded aimlessly on the door, tears streaming down his face and rage burning a hole in his heart. Inside, the two girls battled on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I hate you! I've always hated you! Why can't you understand that? Why can't you just leave me alone? Why do you always have to be so perfect at everything?" The brunette yelled, arms flailing at her sides as she tried to concentrate her powers on Viktoria.
"Why does Pietro have to love you so much? Why does everyone love you? What do you have that I don't?" Wanda screamed at Viktoria, flinging hex after hex at the blonde sprawled across the floor. A stream of blood ran from a large gash in her forearm, as cuts and bruises began to appear across her battered flesh.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Above, Jean and the others watched as Wanda assaulted the helpless form on the ground. They all seemed to be frozen in a state of absolute horror, each unable to make the necessary moves to stop Wanda.
Only Pietro had been able to free himself from the strange control room tableau. And even now, he was downstairs banging relentlessly on a door that couldn't be opened without a computerized access code.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As a last resort, Viktoria used her final ounce of strength to send a mental bolt to Wanda. Feelings of guilt, fear, remorse, regret, alarm, and most of all a request for forgiveness flooded Wanda's brain. The Scarlet Witch faltered on her feet, reeling under the rush of emotions that swamped her in less than a moment.
Wanda sunk to the ground in surrender as Viktoria slowly slipped into an unconscious heap in front of her. She could barely hear the blonde girls' words in her head; they were so faint, fading in and out at points. **I.. sorry. Wan..dah. In the beg.. ning.I never me.. ant to hu..rt you. I only.. did. it be.. cause you. hated.. me... Forgiv.. me.**
Wanda turned the tiny green knob on her wristband until it flashed red as she cradled the blonde girl's head in her lap.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The scorched canyon walls faded back into hard metal as the program finally shut off. Pietro burst through the door and raced to his sister's side. "I'm so sorry, Wanda. I'm just so sorry."
Wanda stared at her twin brother through eyes swimming with tears. "Please, Pietro. Help me- carry her. I think- I think I may have-" A stray tear ran down the side of Wanda's face, landing with a tiny plop on Viktoria's forehead. Pietro wiped at the tear, causing it to smudge the dirt already covering her delicate features. The twins stared at each other for a moment as years of unspoken anger, bitterness and resentment flowed away with their tears.
Lifting her up in his arms, Pietro carried Viktoria's limp body through the Danger Room door and into the seemingly endless array of halls and doors, passages and elevators. Wanda kept pace at his side, quietly leading him to the sick bay of the Institute.
Pietro placed Viktoria's body on a bed, as Wanda sat down in the chair beside it. "Is she-? Is she breathing, Pietro?"
"Yes," he replied with the smallest of nods. "It's really shallow though. Can you watch her? Please? I need to go get Hank. Or Jean. Or.. somebody. Please, Wanda? Please? Make sure she doesn't-"
"I know, Pietro." Wanda took his hand in hers and squeezed it tight. "I will. I'll watch her. Go." Pietro nodded quickly and zipped out of the room to find help.
A/N: Kind of a twist ending to the chapter, huh? Hope ya'll enjoyed this one.