The group kept advancing deeper into the facility. Surprisingly, they no longer faced any resistance—neither from mutants nor normal soldiers. They didn't even encounter a single scientist.
"It seems most of them have run with their tails tucked between their legs," one of the mutants chuckled.
Mark adjusted his path, walking in front of Wanda instead of beside her.
Their trek finally came to a halt as a massive alloy door blocked their path.
"Is this a dead end?" a mutant muttered. Just as he spoke, the alloy door slid open with a hiss of pressurized air, revealing a wide white room with another alloy door on the far side.
"W-What's going on?" another mutant stammered, taking a step back.
The group stood tense, but nothing charged at them. They waited for ten whole minutes until one mutant couldn't take the silence any longer.
"What are we waiting for?!" she shouted. "If we keep standing around, whoever is in control will have time to run—or worse, counterattack!"
"I feel like it's a trap," Mark said.
"Do we have another choice?" Dragan asked with a weary smile. "The entrance is locked, and the only way forward is through here. Whatever plan this organization is brewing, it seems we've fallen right into it." He laughed self-deprecatingly and patted Mark's shoulder. "Guess your intuition was right, kid. But we have no choice. We've got to face it head-on."
The faces of the others turned grim. Dragan sighed, his eyes sharpening. "Let's go!"
The group pressed forward. Just as the last mutant crossed the threshold, the far door began to open. Before anyone could react, Boris—standing near the back—expanded in size and dashed forward. He slammed into Mark, sending him flying through the opening just as the door cleared to reveal a massive cannon.
Under the shocked gaze of everyone present, a thick blue beam surged from the cannon's muzzle, swallowing Mark whole as it hurtled forward.
"Scatter!" Dragan shouted as the group leapt clear of the path. The beam struck the rear door, blasting a hole through it before thinning out and vanishing.
"Are you okay?" Peter asked, turning to Wanda, whom he had pushed to safety.
Wanda ignored him. Her gaze was transfixed on the spot where the beam had consumed Mark. The sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears, deafening and rapid. Memories of Mark flashed through her mind.
"Why...?" she muttered in a low, raspy voice.
Peter shifted his gaze to the manically laughing Boris, then looked back at Wanda in confusion. His eyes widened as a thick red aura began seeping from her body. The energy radiated immense danger. Without hesitation, Peter backed away, but Wanda didn't even register his movement. Her eyes remained locked on the doorway, repeating that single word: "Why?"
Nearby, facing the hostile and shocked stares of the rebel army, Boris finally stopped laughing, though an unhinged grin remained on his face.
"Viktor," Boris called out. "Do you really think we can win? You might not know this, but I do! This organization isn't just in Sokovia—this is only a branch! They have worldwide influence. Do you think our measly resistance can defeat them?! It's impossible! Join me! Join them!"
"Do you think I don't know our fight is futile? Do you think I care?!" Viktor roared. "I'll fight a futile fight as my last sign of struggle, then I'll join Nadia in hell!"
Before Viktor could charge, a wave of crimson energy exploded from Wanda, rippling through the room with violent force and throwing everyone off their feet.
Wanda slowly levitated into the air. Crimson energy swirled through every strand of her hair, turning it deep red, and her eyes snapped open to reveal glowing red irises.
Boris tried to push himself up, but he was instantly slammed back to the ground. Even as his muscles expanded and his body grew, he couldn't move a single muscle. The sickening sound of his own bones creaking echoed in his ears.
Snap!
Boris's eyes widened, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Please... forgive me..." he rasped.
Wanda ignored his plea. Under the horrified gaze of the rebels, Boris's body was slowly crushed under invisible pressure until, with a sickening burst, blood exploded from his pores. His eyes went glassy and lifeless.
Wanda turned away from his corpse toward the cannon. As the reinforced door began to slide shut, she thrust her hand forward. A crimson blast obliterated the door and destroyed the cannon behind it. Without a moment's hesitation, she shot through the opening like a jet.
The rebel group stood frozen in disbelief until a sharp sound echoed through the quiet room—
Click!
Like the sound of a heavy gear shifting.
***
There's an auxilary chapter for a vote you can check it out