When the last of the daylight had faded from the cell and they heard the familiar sound of Strucker's dress shoes against the cobblestone before the cell door was opened, Pietro, Wanda, and Beatrix cuddled into each other even tighter, fearing what may happen. It was Wanda however who peeked up at the HYDRA agent and saw him smiling widely.
"Today is the day, my children!" He announced. "Today, you take your first steps into the age of miracles!"
Despite her brother's silent protests, Wanda pulled away from him. "It is our turn?" She asked, cautiously optimistic.
Smiling at her interest, and hopefully willingness, Strucker moved into the cell to hold his hand out to her. "Yes, it is time, my dear."
Slowly her smile grew before it widened completely in hope as she took his hand and rose to her feet. Looking back to the two still on the floor, she focused on Pietro. "Brother, it's our turn. This is what we've been waiting for! They wouldn't have come to us if it still was not ready."
Turning his gaze from his sister, he studied the woman in his arms before then looking to Strucker and asking the first and foremost question on his mind. "Will we be kept together?"
At this the German's face fell slightly before he recovered and gave them a smile, though this time it felt more threatening than reassuring. "Of course…" He promised. "Now, come along."
"Let's go." Wanda reached out to the two most important people left in her life. "This is it."
With no other choice, Beatrix and Pietro reached up to take her hand, rising to their feet. With a final look to each other, they grasped at one another as they were escorted out of and away from the cell that had been their home for the last 6 months.
"Pietro, I'm scared." Bea whispered, clutching his hand tightly as they were marched through the castle.
"So am I, printessa." He whispered back, squeezing both girls' hands as he walked between them.
They fell back into silence as they were marched through the castle, the sound of thudding boots the only sound filling the empty air. As Bea began to recognize where they now were, she tightened her hand around Pietro's and began to open her mouth when she was spoken over, making her balk.
"Strap them down."
That's when everything changed.
Instantly strong hands were on their shoulders, pulling the three young adults away from each other. Cries of protest turned into screams for each other though when they were each pulled towards separate rooms, fingers outstretched to seek final fleeting touches. The soldiers proved to be too strong however as they succeeded in hauling them into the test rooms.
"We'll test on Braedon first." Strucker told List over the screams.
Unfortunately, the twins heard this, directing all their thoughts and actions towards getting to their friend who had never asked for a part in this experiment in the first place. "No! Beatrix!" They screamed.
"Wanda! Pietro!" She shrieked for them. Her screams were abruptly silenced however as the heavy metal door to her room was slammed shut.
"Strucker! You promised-" Pietro shouted before he and his sister were silenced in a similar manner.
"Hmm," Strucker hummed thoughtfully, looking at each door. "I'd have thought at this point they would have been willing once more to participate. Such a shame."
She felt as though she were on fire. The number of times they had injected her with molten hot, glowing blue liquid filled syringes left her trembling on the table she was belted to. Her cries of pain and for help eventually died away as she let herself fall into despair and defeat. If this was the type of miracle Strucker had so highly praised, she hoped that it would take her away and end her suffering soon. Whether or not that prayer was answered or ignored depending on how one looked at the situation as he walked into the room carrying a shining gold spear with a glowing blue gem, Bea let out a shuddering breath.
"If I survive this, and you get what you want," She wheezed pathetically. "Can I go home?"
Both List and Strucker turned their heads to her in surprise before Strucker began to laugh.
"Did you really think it was that simple, fraulein? We give you power and you can simply walk away with it when you're no longer needed? Go home to your family?" Lifting his arm, he brought the glowing spear up to rest above her chest. "Doctor, go prepare, Pietro." He ordered lazily, sending List scurrying out of the room. As Bea watched the smaller man leave, Strucker lowered his face to fill her vision. "But what home do you have to go back to when your family is dead?"
Hearing this, a sob ripped through the young woman's lips that turned into a scream as the spear touched her heart, a blinding blue light filling her vision.
In his own room, Pietro continuously flexed and relaxed his hands anxiously, waiting for his fate to be delivered. He remained alert throughout though, as he watched the Doctor prattle around the room as he made his preparations. It felt as though a part of his world died however when a soldier came through the door to stand in the dim light and said "Doctor, the Braedon girl is dead."
No… no, no, no, no. Pietro thought, his heart feeling as though it had been dropped. Beatrix couldn't be dead; she just couldn't be…
"Oh." List said dejectedly. "And I had such high hopes her. She survived much longer tan the rest of the subjects, you know." He looked down at the still yet panicked Pietro. "There may be hope for you yet, boy. Shall we?"