About a month had passed by and it was finally Phoenix's birthday. I hadn't seen him much since the incidents, both his and mine. But the other day I heard Stephen and Dad taking. "He's getting worse, Stephen. I don't need to be a doctor to see it." I could hear the fear in his voice. "He almost got ahold of his file." Stephen had a look of disbelief on his face as Dad held out a file folder. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and flicked through the papers. "We have to tell him!" Stephen exclaimed. Dad had the same look on his face as he did the day he told me about Peter. He was tired, I could tell, but sad at the same time. "We can't. He can't know or else bad things can happen. He could snap early or when he does snap the effects would be gruesome. His headaches are getting worse every day, Stephen, and I don't need to be a doctor to know that they are connected. The only thing we can do about him is prepare."

"Manya, you good girl?" Maria asked while tapping me on the shoulder. I blinked a few times before looking at the clock. Crap, the party started a half hour ago. Let's hope no one notices. I thought to myself while finding appropriate shoes to wear. I push at least 5 pairs of shoes out of the way before finding my favorite low heeled boots that matched my black party dress. Maria and I hold some small talk as we walk to the party. I still can't figure out why she still hangs out with me so often. She's 21 and could be doing way better things. But I guess she gets lonely because every weekend she comes right back home. I don't mind it one bit though, she distracts me from thinking of my parents and what happened.

I had realized that all of my friends are older than me, by at least ten years. I mean, I don't go to school and one closest to my age is Phoenix and we haven't seen each other for almost a month. I find Thor standing by the window, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hey, Thor. Are you enjoying the party?" He turned to look down upon me with a sad smile. My question must have fazed him slightly because he gives me a gesture to sit and he soon follows. "You remind me so much of him." He whispered.

"Of who, if you don't mind me asking?" I ask. " My brother. I lost him a few years ago. He's like you, adopted that is, but we took him in. Mother and I loved him like he was our own blood, but father planned to use him. I loved him more than anything, and then he broke. My brother went insane and tried to rule over the earth. Then he was sent to jail on Asgard. He was stupid, I will say that, but he is still my brother. In the end, he redeemed himself by sacrificing himself to save me during the war." Thor gave me a thoughtful smile. "He would have loved to be here tonight. Parties were always his thing. Every time I look at you I see him in your eyes."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Phoenix enter the room near the staircase. "Please excuse me, Mr. Thor. I need to speak with Phoenix." I say slowly getting up to make my way across the room to him. He had a strange look to him. Pain seemed to be in his eyes when he looked at me. We made eye contact only for a moment or two before he broke it to look at my dad. "Mr. Stark, something doesn't feel right." Phoenix grabs his head in excruciating pain before shouting at the whole party, "Run!".

Phoenix stopped for a moment to straighten up before drawing his gun. Without any hesitation he pointed it straight at Bruce before pulling the trigger, sending a bullet into the back of his skull. Bruce fell to the ground, dead. Panic ensued, people were running and screaming at what had just happened. Dad reached over to the wall slamming on the interface there while saying something along the lines of "point break protocol". The room went dark and I knew we would go into lockdown. My mind was spinning and even before I could process what had happened my hand could be found covering my mouth, and tears stain my cheeks. Phoenix turned to me with an emotionless face, but a glare that burned into my soul. When I looked back into his blue eyes, they seemed to have dulled. No longer full of life. He was a man on a mission and nothing would stop him.

Clint wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me towards the door. I stop him and scream out at Phoenix, "Why, Phoenix! Look what you've done, what you're doing!" I try to confront him when I am again pulled back by Clint. I searched the dark room for anyone besides Clint and I. Everyone already hid, and Phoenix was on the hunt for us. I was being dragged back by my wrist. I was twisting and trying to pull my hand away. I let out a hiss before I finally gave in to Clint, spraining my wrist.

This is all too real, it has to be a dream! I thought. Dream! That's it. This is just like the dream I had before Phoenix started avoiding me. Was this the dream all over again? Am I actually asleep? My mind was racing with all the possibilities of what happened. No. In the dream, it was I who had shot the gun. And it was Phoenix that was dead on the ground. By the time I stopped thinking about what had happened, I realized that Clint had brought me down to the main floor. I created a copy of myself for him to leave with before I ran back into the tower for an answer. I will play his game of Hide and Seek.

The building was powerless as I ran through the many flights of stairs to get up to the party room. I knew I should be hiding but I couldn't, I needed answers on what had happened. I crept around and checked every floor, but there was no sign of him. Where is he? I don't know what I was looking for the man who just killed one of my friends, but there was something off about it all. I know why I looking for him. Phoenix, my closest friend, was in danger and I had to help him. I finally saw someone I knew, dad. I know he saw me because he's already terrified face grew even more scared.

"What are you doing here!? Clint was supposed to take you to the safe house if this ever happened. Why didn't you stay with him?" he whispers. His voice was full of rage and fear. I could tell he was thinking of Peter. "I...I couldn't leave you here...." my response was awful but it was all I could give. I heard a door slam open and dad grabbed my sprained wrist pulling me under the counter he was at. The door was none other than him. I hissed at dads action involuntarily. I only looked down at my now swelling wrist as dad peered around the corner to see if it was clear to move. He pushed me toward the door and took me up to my room. " Why are we here?" I asked with a curious expression on my face. He didn't say anything but shoved me into the closet and told me to stay.

There was a small chair under a box in the corner. "Manya, listen to me. You will be sent down to the garage and I need you to go to the jet and put your hand on the scanner. Then get in a seat and wait till you get to Clint's to leave the ship. He will take care of you for a few days while everyone here works on stabilizing Phoenix. Ok?" he gave me a small kiss before leaving my room and finding a new hiding spot. It took me a bit but I finally made my way down and got to the jet. I strapped in and prepared for a long flight.

Clint approached the jet as it landed to lead me inside. "It's good to see you are safe, but that was extremely irresponsible. For the next few days, you will work on fixing up the house with me. For now, Laura will take you up to your room." His face was serious but he spoke with a slightly joking tone. I just had to listen to him, before I did anything stupid. All I could think about was the safety of those still at the tower. What's happening right now? Is anyone else killed or hurt? Is dad ok? What about Phoenix, is he going to be stable? Will he be safe, what happened to cause this? Why am I going through this? I'm only 13 and I watched one of my father figures get murdered in cold blood by my best friend. My mind is racing but all I can do is wait, and wait for some kind of answer from them.

(Yay it's a long one this time. I had so much fun writing and brainstorming this chapter. Leave comments on your favorite parts so far and don't forget to vote.)