Heroes: Monster, Scarlet Witch

Monster:
Strikers

Wanda: This is a Cult set up if I've ever seen one. And I've seen plenty.

You and Wanda were standing before the Aurora Cult Compound just outside of town. However, Wanda had noted that the magic spell, whatever it was, still reached out here.

After the broadcast last night, you figured it was best to follow up on the connection between the Prophet's words and Sandy's tattoo.

You walked over to it with Wanda in tow before you reached the door. However, before you could even knock on it, it opened.

You and Wanda looked at each other before a voice came from inside. A female voice.

???: Hello. We've been expecting you.

The door opened a bit more and a hand gestured you to enter. You hesitated for a moment before you walked through the door.

You and Wanda looked around, but it was dark.

Y/N: Where...

The door suddenly closed behind you just as a hand snaked around your arm.

???: Come with me. The Prophet wishes to speak to you.

You quickly grabbed Wanda's hand as the woman lead you through the dark.

Y/N: W-Who are you?

???: Me? You can call me Sister. Once the Long Night arrives, names won't matter.

Wanda gently squeezed your hand before you found yourself walking down some stairs.

Wanda: What is the Long Night?

Sister: You'll be better off asking the Prophet. He knows all there is to know about the Long Night.

You suddenly reached the bottom where there was some more light. Not much, but enough to see.

All around, black cloaked figures stood around and chatted among themselves. Words you couldn't make out. Whispered you could hardly hear.

Wanda: Why live in the dark?

Sister: Simple, Wanda Maximoff. Because we become our better selves in the dark.

Did she just call Wanda by name?

Sister: We hear better. We taste better.

She stopped and walked over to Wanda. She slowly placed a hand on her cheek and leaned forward.

Sister: Feel, better.

Wanda grabbed her wrist and pushed it away.

Wanda: Touch me again, and I'll break your hand.

Sister: Oh. You're a spicy one.

Sister laughed to herself before she continued forward. You looked at Wanda who was clearly unnerved by the whole situation. You were too, honestly.

You finally reached a a door where Sister stopped.

Sister: Prophet is inside.

She then left you both. You sighed and reached for the door knob. Once you were both inside, you looked around. Inside was a set up for recording. A few radios and a microphone.

Sitting in the center of it all, was a man wearing a black robe.

Prophet: So, the heroes finally arrived. I must say, it's an honor to finally meet the famous Monster.

You raised a brow. He knew who you were?

Prophet: Please, have a seat.

Y/N: We're okay with standing. We have some questions. Actually, a lot of questions.

Prophet: And here I am. With answers. I know exactly what you want to know. You want to know if I'm responsible for killing those women.

Y/N: Well, that saves us some time. We found out that Jessica Reilly was a member of your Cult.

Prophet shook his head.

Prophet: I do, despise that word. We are a Night Cathedral. And we choose this place because it flooded with Darkness every winter.

Wanda: The Long Night.

The man nodded.

Y/N: Last night, on the radio, you said "Goodnight Nobody". Sandy Evans had that same phase tattooed on her arm. One hell of a coincidence.

Prophet: It is deliciously apocalyptic, don't you think? And accompanied by a blank, black page.

Y/N: The second murder happened after Jessica left the compound.

Prophet smiled.

Prophet: I didn't kill those women. And whatever you're looking for, you won't find any prints.

He held out his hand and you looked at them. His fingerprints, they were burnt off.

You and Wanda looked at the man as he stood up and signaled for you to follow. As you did, he leade you down into a cavern of some kind.

Prophet: We got this building very cheap. Unstable, they said. It was built over this cave. Tell me, have either of you ever heard of, Ley Lines?

Wanda: They're channels of spiritual energy.

The Prophet nodded.

Prophet: They converge here. In Burns. I'm not the first one to consider this place a very holy and very dangerous place.

You and Wanda stopped as he began to take off his robe. He dropped it to the floor and approached his followers.

Prophet: Something much greater is at work here. All over, Burns is cursed. Nothing is ever as it seems.

He stopped and looked at you from over his shoulder.

Prophet: Goodnight, to us all.

He went to walk away, bit stopped again. He then looked at you and smiled.

Prophet: Perhaps you should go and talk to the Langrocks. They seem to have a hand everywhere.
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User Monster updated his message board...

Hey, guys. I know I haven't checked in in a few days, but we're doing good. We made it to Burns after a while and it's pretty nice. People here are kind, food is great, and I'm getting closer to finding my dad.

But, there is this weird thing going on that we're investigating first. A series of murders. The police said that the first two were from grizzly bears, but I saw the photos. Someone tell Widow I said thank you for that SHEILD badge. It's coming in handy.

There's also this, cult, here. Call themselves the Aurora. Like the northern lights. About five months ago they showed up to town and bought some sketchy warehouse. No one here likes them, and I could see why.

I would fill you guys in on some of the details but, they get pretty graphic. Just know me and Wanda are on the case.

I'll keep you guys posted.

Comments:

Ms Marvel: Dude, where have you been? It's been months!

Iron Fist: Five months ago? How did you not see them if you've been gone for nearly 7?

Nova: Nice to see you ain't dead. Widow is freaking out!

Spidey: Just....keep us updated.
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You drove down the road with a tight grip on the wheel. You couldn't explain it, but what the Prophet said got under your skin. You could hear your phone go off but you didn't really care to look at it right now.

Wanda: Darling, are you alright?

You let out a sigh.

Y/N: Yeah. Just....how did that guy know us? He called you by name. He called me Monster. I never revealed my identity to the public.

Wanda: I don't know. But, he did tells us about the Ley Lines. And, there is a spell over this town.

Y/N: I know. But I just don't get it. How could he know what he did?

Wanda couldn't come up with a satisfying answer. Neither could you. You instead opened the glove box and pulled out a small journal. You opened it up and looked at the name. A hunter by the name of Josh Brooks. Next to his name was his address.

Wanda: I think Widow would approve of you using your SHIELD status to get this evidence from the police.

Y/N: I could have the sheriff's office if I really wanted to. Time to question a hunter.

Wanda: You have fun with that, darling. I have a name of my own to look into.

You raised a brow.

Wanda: There was a fight, not too long ago, at the Blue Oyster. The same place Jerry said he first met Victor.

Y/N: You think he was involved?

Wanda: It is worth looking into.

You nodded.

Y/N: Alright. Divide and conquer. I'll drop you off.
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Josh: I know how it sounds, kid. It sounds like I was on the sauce. But I swear it's true. I'd swear on the good book.

You sat on the hunter's porch as it rained all around you. The chill was rough, but the heater made it cozy enough to question him away from his daughter.

Like everyone else, Josh was a bit hesitant at first. Why would he want to talk to a kid about what he knew? But once you flashed your badge, he quickly agreed. He was like everyone else in this town.

He wanted justice.

Answers.

Y/N: Go ahead. I've seen plenty of weird things in my life.

Josh nodded as he took a deep breath.

Josh: I'd been stalking a herd of thirty elk for two days. Trying to get downwind of them. I was stationed on a ridge, glassing the meadow below, when I seen the herd startle. This was dawn, so the fog hadn't burned off. Everything looked like a dream. The wolves were fading in and out of sight. That's when I saw him.

You leaned forward as Josh thought back on his experience.

Josh: I don't trust what I'm seeing, kinda like how you don't trust what I'm saying.

Y/N: I believe you. Go on.

Josh: It was like sometning out of a fairy tale or a myth. It was a man. Large, hairy, naked man. His eyes were feral, like he was one of those wolves. My gut told me to run. Head home. Take a long shower and wash the craziness out of my eyes. But I couldn't look away. He...he pounced onto one of the elk and took it down. He tore into it like a Savage.

Josh rubbed his chin as he leaned on the porch banister.

Josh: Then, it was like he could smell me. Cause as soon as I was upwind, he looked directly at me. That's when I made a break for it. I never ran so fast in my life.

You nodded and pulled out a map you had gotten back in town. You held it up.

Y/N: Can you show me where this happened.

Josh nodded and pointed to a place in the map.

Josh: About five miles from his cabin.

Y/N: His?

Josh: Victor Creed.

You nodded and folded the map back up. Josh watched you for a moment.

Josh: Do you think he killed those women? Couldn't be a bear.

Y/N: Only been a dozen bear attacks in the last century, right?

Josh let out a dry laugh.

Josh: As if. I can name dozen from the last year. You can't trust a single statistic you find online about this place. Nobody reports anything here. We're on our own.

You sighed as you placed the map into your pocket.

Y/N: Alright, then. Do you think it was a bear?

Josh shrugged.

Josh: Heard stories about a grizzly near Splitrock Canyon. Bigger than a train car. Don't know what I believe, really. I'm heading out later to join the hunt.

Y/N: The hunt?

Josh: Langrocks are offering a bounty of ten thousand for whoever kills that bear. Money like that buys a lot of whiskey and ribeye.

Y/N: Well, anyone else you could think of who might have seen something like this?

Josh gave it some thought.

Josh: Could talk to the natives up the road at Ekwok Village. Or you might talk to Brent.

A new name. You made a mental note on both points.

Y/N: Who's Brent?

Josh: Brent Langrock. Son of Joseph Langrock. He's in the woods more than a tree. Hunting and trapping...it's like a religion to him. Big guy, full of himself. Just like his old man.

Y/N: And what about this Ekwok Village? Anything I should know?

Josh: Not much, really. They're Inuk. The kind that like to tattoo their faces. They're good people, just like to keep to themselves.

You nodded.

Y/N: Well, looks like I'm overdue for a date with the Langrocks. Thank you for your help.

Josh: Of course. I don't trust the police here and their bullshit. Hopefully SHIELD will get us better answers.

Hopefully. Too bad SHIELD wasn't here.
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Wanda sat at the bar of the Blue Oyster while the bartender cleaned some glasses. She was young, around 22 or so. Short, blonde hair. Tattoos up and down her arms. A single nose piercing. One small scar on her cheek.

The bar itself was empty. Hadn't even been opened yet. Just the two of them.

Wanda: So....Mallory....I heard that Victor was a regular here.

The girl, Mallory, grunted.

Mallory: He would come in.

Wanda: I also heard there was a fight.

Mallory: There's lots of fights involving lots of guys.

Wanda: But I'm quite sure you would remember this one. Considering it seems to have involved you.

Mallory stopped cleaning the glass and looked at Wanda. Sure, she could use her magic to make her talk, but she wasn't here to cause more terror. She was here to help.

Mallory hesitated for a moment before she set the glass down.

Mallory: Fishing's more or less a seasonal job. And you got folk coming in from everywhere everyday. It's not easy to find Burns, though. It's almost like...like you have to be lost to find it.

Wanda took note. Could that have something to do with the spell?

Mallory: I don't know what the male to female ratio here is, but I know it's not good. If you're a woman here, you have to put up with a lot of ugliness. And that night, there was trouble.

She looked over to a booth in the corner.

Mallory: A crew had worked a 14 hour day and they wanted to get their drunk on. But even though they were messing with me, they really wanted Victor's attention. One of the men grabbed me, held a knife up to my neck.

Wanda: What for?

Mallory: Like I said. They wanted Victor. Started going on about how he tore off one of the guy's arms and how he leaped off the ship two miles from shore. He slipped the knife against my cheek, I don't know if it was on purpose, but Victor finally jumped in.

She pointed to a spot on the counter. Looks like someone tried to take a bite out of it.

Mallory: Had to use pliers to pull someone's tooth out of the wood. Bout 12 guys against Victor.

Wanda: How did that end?

Mallory: Bad luck. Game Warren happened to be in the bar. Shot Victor with two grizzly tranquilizers. Cops dragged him out a few minutes later.

This guy was your dad? No wonder you had a habit of finding trouble. Must run in the family.

Mallory: Victor saved me, that night. I don't care what anyone says, he's a good guy. A hero.

Wanda slowly nodded before she felt her phone go off. She pulled it out and saw that you had sent her a text regarding the Langrocks.

Wanda: Well, thank you for telling me this.

She got up but Mallory grabbed her wrist.

Mallory: Just....you and that guy are here to find out the truth, right?

Wanda looked at the woman before she nodded.

Mallory: Then make sure it's the right truth. Everyone in this town deserves that much.
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Wanda: 7 months?

You nodded. You had just looked at the responses from your post to the Forums and saw how everyone was freaking out after not hearing from you for so long.

Wanda: That's impossible. We left a month ago.

Y/N: It was also summer when we left. That's why Jerry said it was fall. That's why it's still snowing.

Wanda: Do you think this has something to do with the spell over town?

You shrugged.

Y/N: I swear to God, if fucking Gandalf is behind this....

Wanda placed a hand on yours as you drove towards the Langrock manor.

Wanda: Darling, you need to calm down.

You sighed.

Y/N: Yeah. Sorry. It's just....this whole thing is getting more and more....rough. We came here to find my dad then we got wrapped up in a murder case. Now there's a Cult, magic, and time travel. The hell is going on around here?

Wanda: I don't know. But we'll figure it out. Together.

You looked over to her and smiled.

Y/N: Yeah. You're right. Together.

You turned back to the road. Wanda then realized something.

Wanda: How do you know who Gandalf is when you didn't know what a spoon was?

You stayed silent.

Your silence spoke volumes.