Chapter Twelve

Wanda

She hadn't been told anything. Well, she hadn't been told anything important. All Wanda's father had told her was that she had to get up early in the morning so they could get Pietro so they could go somewhere special. Her heart sank at the mention of her brother. She couldn't so much as look at him without thinking about what had happened a few days prior. Had it really only been that short a time period? She felt like it should have been much longer. She had been fast asleep when sudden light flooded the room. "Time to wake up," Erik said, shaking her gently.

Wanda groaned and sat up. She didn't know what time it was, and she didn't really care. At least she'd get to see her brother, even if she didn't know for how long. She didn't bother changing, having slept in her street clothes. She headed to the bathroom and ran a brush through her mangled brown hair before tying her shoes and meeting her father at the door.

"Ready?" Erik asked. He almost felt bad, the poor girl had no idea what was about to happen. But he couldn't tell her. She would panic, and if she panicked, the probability that her powers would act up would increase tenfold. Wanda nodded and followed her father to the car, taking a seat in the back behind the driver's seat.

"Are we gonna get Pietro?" Wanda asked, leaning her head against the glass. It was still dark outside, and all she wanted to do was sleep. She didn't see why they had to be up that early anyway. Nothing would be open, so it wasn't like they could do anything.

"Yes," Erik answered. Wanda frowned. He'd been especially limited in his words, and she thought that was weird. She knew he didn't talk much to begin with, but still. Something was off, she just wasn't sure what. She perked up when she saw a familiar driveway come into view. "Stay here," Erik said. "I'll get him." He parked the car and got out, heading for the door.

Wanda watched as Pietro came out of the house. She smiled, seeing that most of the cuts and scrapes on him had healed up. They hadn't even scarred. He was dressed warmly in his favorite blue-and-white sweatshirt. Wanda figured that was a good thing. A few raindrops started to fall from the sky as Pietro slid into the seat next to her.

"Hey," he greeted with a slight smile.

"Hey," Wanda repeated. She couldn't help but notice that even he seemed off. "You okay?" she asked.

"Better," Pietro answered. The car started and silence consumed the three.

The car ride seemed to take forever, at least in Wanda's mind. It wasn't too long before the slight sprinkle of rain turned into a full blown thunderstorm. "That place is creepy," Wanda said when she saw an old building surrounded by a wrought iron gate.

Pietro nodded in agreement. "Really creepy," he agreed before there was a sudden shift in direction. "Why are we turning?" he asked.

"This is where we're going," Erik answered. He pulled the car up to the front of the creepy building before putting it into park and stepping out. "Out of the car."

Wanda didn't like what was going on, but did as she was told anyway, Pietro following suit. If the building was creepy, she didn't know how to describe the people waiting for them. They looked completely deranged in her opinion.

"Wanda, you'll be staying here for awhile," Erik said suddenly.

Wanda stared at him. "No! You can't!" she shouted. She tried to run off, but two of the workers restrained her. "You can't! Father!" she pleaded, looking between him and Pietro. The workers started to pull her toward the place. "Father!" Erik watched for a moment before turning away. Wanda looked at Pietro. She knew he wouldn't let them keep her in that awful place. Pietro would always protect her. It was his job. They were brother and sister; they had to protect each other when no one else would.

But Wanda's heart sank when Pietro turned and followed after Erik. "No!" she screamed. They couldn't leave her there. They couldn't leave her there with those people in that place. She wasn't like them. She needed a normal house with a normal family and her brother, not some dumping place for crazy people.

A spark of anger ran through her veins as the familiar car drove through the gate. She wanted to stop them from leaving, do anything to stop them from leaving. But she was completely helpless. She moved her hands and saw a flash of red light. One of the workers was thrown to the side, but not the other.

"Don't let her move her hands!" one of the ones that wasn't restraining her shouted. Next thing she knew, her hands were being held down so she couldn't so much as lift a finger.

"Damn witch," the worker that had been thrown to the side said as he regained his composure. Wanda looked around the group, and for once she felt completely hopeless. She was never getting out of that place. And it was all her father's and brother's fault.