CHAPTER TEN; INFINTY WAR

❝ Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen? Time went on for everybody else, she won't know it ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ avenger's compound ❞

FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE STANDING with the Avengers Alina felt out of place. Not only were her own emotions all over the place but since waking up it just like she knew people's emotions, it was like she experienced them as if she was them. And every single person in the room added to the weight of Alina's grief.

The worse of it coming off of Tony who was sitting at a table, getting blood for healing. Sabrina couldn't take her eyes off holographic casualty report lists the names and faces of those lost to the decimation. She couldn't believe what just a few hours of Thanos on Earth had made of her life.

Rhodes began to tell everyone, "It's been 23 days since Thanos came to Earth."

Adding onto his words Natasha told the rest, "World governments are in pieces. The parts that are still working are trying to take a census. And it looks like he did... he did exactly what he said he was gonna do. Thanos wiped out fifty percent, of all living creatures."

"Where is he now? Where," Tony asked the group of gathered Avengers. The thought of Thanos made Alina mindlessly reach for the hand she felt clutching her throat. Every time the Titan crossed her mind the Dranganov sensed the same thing, her sinking, and sickening limbo made from her very own mind.

"We don't know. He just opened a portal and walked through," answered Steve his gaze falling to Alina who hid in the corner behind the two girls standing guard. Her friends saw how difference just a few days away had made for her and each felt guilty they couldn't have been there for her. Once Alina had told them her story Sabrina most of all had become especially aware of Alina's needs. She knew when to be there, and when to back off; which was something Alina desperately needed with her power no longer being her own to control.

Every emotion seemed to lead either to self destruction, pain, or just untamable power that longed to be set free. Tony's eyes fell to a sullen-looking Thor, who could still be seen sitting on a bench, seemingly deep in thought. "What's wrong with him," the billionaire asked pointing at the God who had yet to speak.

From the corner of the room, Alina swore she was losing her mind because a talking raccoon replied, "Oh, he's pissed. He thinks he failed. Which of course he did, but you know there's a lot of that's going around, ain't there?"

"Honestly, until this exact second, I literally thought you were a Build-A-Bear," remarked Tony leaning back in his wheelchair.

With his small hands the racoon lifted it waving off, "Maybe I am."

Feeling bad he didn't understand Gwen told him, "You're not a build a bear." The blonde hadn't felt comfortable speaking up and hadn't the whole time she and Sabrina lingered near Alina, Tony had nearly forgotten she was even there.

Moving the conversation along Steve prodded, "We've been hunting Thanos for three weeks now. Deep Space scans, and satellites, and we got nothing." Remembering what Alina had explained about the visions she saw, the super soldier eyes fell to Tony as he questioned, "Tony, you fought him."

"Who told you that," countered Stark swiftly as his eyes fell to the young Dranganov his sarcastic question receiving it's unintentional answer. "I didn't fight him. No, he wiped my face with a planet while the Bleecker Street Magician gave away the stone," Tony snapped at his former friend. He didn't notice how his words made Alina flinch. "That's what happened. There was no fight."

Seeing he'd struck a cord with the billionaire Steve simply agreed, "Okay."

"He's unbeatable," Tony's eyes fell to Alina, "Even she couldn't do anything,"

His words forced Alina from her chair as she looked out the large glass window to avoid his stare. She knew what he was going through, Alina couldn't blame him for being a mess. She'd nearly killed everyone in her grief, Tony was entitled to his outburst. However that didn't mean Alina didn't have the strongest urge to tear through his throat for the harsh reminder how she, and everyone else failed.
"Did he give you any clues, any coordinates, anything," tried Steve needing just a sliver of help to keep hope alive.

Stark scoffed reminding everyone, "I saw this coming a few years back. I had a vision. I didn't wanna believe it. Thought I was dreaming."

"Tony, I'm gonna need you to focus," urged the soldier seeing Tony losing his sanity with each passing second.

Seething Tony retorted back his face scrunched, "And I needed you. As in past tense. That trumps what you need. It's too late buddy. Sorry. You know what I need?" Alina could hear the sound of Tony standing pushing things off the table with a clatter. "I need to shave. And I believe I remember telling all you—" the frail paper thin man moving towards Steve, Rhodey cut off his path.

Gently trying to stop him he said putting his hand on his friends chest to still him, "Tony, Tony, Tony!"

But it didn't matter, Tony only had eyes for Steve spitting venom as he said, "Alive and otherwise what we needed was a suit of armor around the world! Remember that? Whether it impacted our precious freedoms or not- that's what we needed!"

Alina scoffed finally looking back being reminded of yet another time Tony's emotions caused issues for them all. Sometimes Alina understood she hated Tony most when he reflected the worse traits of herself that she knew would always exist. It was as if Tony was committed to perfecting the image of it as he stood before them all. Alina wanted to be compassionate, but it just wasn't in her anymore. She tried forcing it to the surface but it just wouldn't come. All she could feel was her rage, Tony's and all their shared grief and the ripples of death the blip left in the core of her being.

"Well, that didn't work out, did it," reminded Steve as everyone else clung silently to their every word. Carol, Sabrina, Rocket, Nebula, and Gwen being even more invested given they hardly knew what most of the stuff was they were referring to. All they knew was that his words were cutting Steve deeply. Thor hardly cared about anything they said that wasn't about Thanos. Bruce was terrified another fight would break out, he could feel it thick in the air. The room was gasoline and someone was going to light the match. A thought Rhodey shared and was trying to prevent. Pepper just wanted Tony to rest, he never let himself rest. Natasha and Alina were the only one who truly understood the pain in his words other than Steve himself.

Not missing a second Tony lifted his chin reminding him again, "I said, 'we'd lose.' You said, 'We'll do that together too.' And guess what, Cap? We lost. And you weren't there. But that's what we do, right? Our best work after the fact? We're the Avengers, we're the Avengers. Not the Prevengers."

The sound of Tony getting loud was tuned out by the heavy breaths coming from Alina. Sabrina turned at the sound, "Alina, are you okay?"

"I can't take this," Alina admitted just wishing her emotions would level out again.

Sabrina brought Alina back to her seat rubbing the girls back as Tony rambled on. Once she was sat, the Benson teenager kneeled before the witch taking her by her hands, "You're okay, it's just noise. It's all just noise. I'm here, Gwen's here. We're not going to let you get hurt, you're safe."

When Sabrina still heard Tony going on, "We need you. You're new blood. Bunch of tired old mules," she glared at the man. Tony was walking right up to Steve's face, his voice hushing down to a venomous whisper, "I got nothing for you, Cap! I got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options. Zero. Zip. Nada. No trust. Liar."

"Shut up! Can't you see what you're doing to her," Sabrina said loud enough to make them look to her as she still held onto Alina's hand. Despite her desire to allow her own rage to control her, for Alina's sake. Every avenger froze as the young girl went on, "She feels everything you guys are now. It's not just sensing and being aware of what you feel, she is literally feeling the exact emotions you are, and she can't control it. Alina died for you, for all of us, the least you can do is keep your shouting and arguing the fuck away from her. I don't know half of what you're talking about, but I do know I am not allowing Alina to have to carry it all."

Gwen had agreed with every word, she was just in silent awe Sabrina had the courage to say them, they were the avengers, and she was a 16-year-old demanding their corporation without care for who they were. Alina was grateful she did because all their strongest and worse projected emotions became simple guilt. Guilt that wasn't drowning her, as much. And Sabrina was doing her absolute best to ensure her rage never gripped at her the same way it had Tony.

After a moment, Tony ripped his Arc Reactor from his chest and shoved it into Steve's hand calmly telling him, "Here, take this. You find him, and you put that on. You hide. Do what you want, I'm done." The frail billionaire attempted to take a step, but his legs gave out from under him. Shouts for Tony fell out as everyone, but Sabrina and Gwen caring Alina ran to his aid.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ avenger's compound [ er wing ] ❞

Alina and the others watched in on Tony sleeping soundly on a bed, with Pepper at his side. "Bruce gave him a sedative. He's gonna probably be out for the rest of the day," Rhodey explained returning from inside the room with them.

"You guys take care of him," declared Carol her words making Alina turn around with a raised brow. Not even just she was stunned, she could see the looks on everyone else's face saying the same thing. Beginning to walk away she finished, "And I'll bring him a Xorrian Elixir when I come back."

Watching as she left Alina asked, "Where are you going?"

"To kill Thanos," answered Carol. Without thought Alina began to follow after her, wherever the Danvers woman was going, she was going with her.

Natasha looked back to Steve before they both swiftly rushed after her. When the Romanoff caught up she said, "Hey, you know, we usually work as a team here, and between you and I, morale's a little fragile."

"Just a little," mumbled Alina begrudgingly crossing her arms.

Natasha sent the girl a hushing look as Steve reinforced, "We realize up there is more your territory, but this is our fight too."

Asking her the real question, Rhodey who stood in the door was inquired, "You even know where he is?"

With a simply shrug Carol assured them, "I know people who might."

Clapping her hands together Alina declared, "That's good enough for me, we'll be back soon." Carol didn't bother to argue with the girl as they attempted to leave once again.

Before they could Nebula spoke up emerging from the room, they left her in, "Don't bother. I can tell you where Thanos is."

Looking up at the blue and metal woman Alina announced to the room of hero's, "Then what the fuck have we been waiting around here wondering for?"

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ avenger's compound [ conference room ] ❞

Nebula refused to meet everyone's eye as she sat against the wall explaining, "Thanos spent a long time trying to perfect me. And when he worked, he talked about his great plan. Even disassembled, I wanted to please him. I'd ask, 'where would we go once his plan was complete?' His answer was always the same: 'To the Garden.'"

"That's cute, Thanos has a retirement plan," grimaced Rhodey.

"Nothing like murder and mayhem to make you want to spend the rest of your days on a farm, huh," mumbled Gwen.

Knowing the reference wasn't truly clear enough to deduct, Steve asked, "So where is he?"

Finishing for her, Rocket stood before their table hologram of the earth and said, "When Thanos snapped his fingers, Earth became ground zero for a power surge of ridiculously cosmic proportions." Another thought crossed his mind as he finished while everyone looked at the projected recreated of the energy from the stones rocket was looking Alina who was sat in the chair in front of him, "Well, until the stones and her," he added gesturing to Alina.

All eyes fell to the Dranganov teen who pointed at herself and repeated, "Me? What about me?"

Clicking the button on the remote forward it to a few moments later when Alina awoken changing the entire projected image. It was a wave that came from the stones, as if ripples from a nuke. What was before Alina now was a worlds sky covered in red and lightning. "Cosmic energy that released from you is something that hasn't been seen in galaxy, ever really.  What you gave off that day would be stronger than the stones themselves. Not sure what that's about. No one's ever seen anything like it... Until two days ago."

The hologram of a planet different from Earth switched places with a shockwave visibly traversing the surface. 
"On this planet," said Rocket.

"Thanos is there," answered Nebula.

Her eyes fixed and darkened Alina said, "He used the stones again."

Bruce took one look around the room and cautioned again, "Hey, hey, hey. We'd be going in short-handed; you know."

Softly Sabrina skeptically began to say, "Look, I know I'm new here but doesn't round two really seem like what you're ready for? Maybe I'm just naive but this guy hit Stark with a moon; has anyone else around here thrown one and I just don't know about it? He still has those stones."

Her face showing no remains of the tears she had shed Carol deduced easily, "So let's get him... use them to bring everyone back."

Carol's idea was the first thing to truly give Alina hope, the trickling in feeling of light. "Just like that," Rhodes interrogated his gaze searching the room.

"Yeah, just like that," stated Steve.

Across the table the soldier eyes fell upon the newest member in the room, as if a silent way of acknowledging no matter what, they would go through with her idea. Voicing herself Alina told them all, "Even if there's a small chance that we can undo this... I mean we owe it to everyone who's not in this room to try. We can't give up on them, we just can't leave them behind..."

"If we do this, how do we know it's gonna end any differently than it did before," countered Bruce his caution stopping him from being able to rush in. If they went and lost again, who would have been left behind?

"Because before, you didn't have me," stated Carol being the only one in the room who still had the confidence to say the words.

Confidence that seemed to be too much for Rhodes who hissed, "Hey, new girl, everyone here is about that superhero life. And if you don't mind my asking, where the hell have you been all this time?"

Not missing a beat, the Danvers woman replied, "There are a lot of other planets in the universe. And unfortunately, they didn't have you guys."

"And I was different," Alina retorted calling attention back to herself, "I was alive and weaker, now I'm dead and more powerful than I've been before, and I don't even think I'm hitting my peak. Thanos killed me, and almost everyone I love, I can kill him I know it."

Thor, who had been eating a bowl of cereal behind them all, stood leisurely made his way to Carol. The sound of his chair scraping against the floor made Carol turn to face him. The God towered over her, and Sabrina was sure the intensity of his detached eyes would make her crumble. But Carol didn't, she stood her ground defiance exuding from every inch of her. Everyone watched, their breaths caught waiting for someone to give. Thor lifted his hand calling for Stormbreaker and when the axe flew past her head, Carol didn't so much as flinch. 

Instead, she was smiling at the God of Thunder. Placing the bottom of his axe down to rest his hands on top of, Thor smiled saying, "I like this one."

"Let's go get this son of a bitch," declared Steve making his way towards the door, "Suit up, we leave in 25."

As everyone began leaving the room Bruce tapped Alina's shoulder, "You sure you want to go after him," confirmed the scientist his question attempting to let her know she didn't have to.

Alina nodded, "I have to. There's no other choice for me now," said the brunette crossing her arms across her chest.

With a heavy sigh Bruce replied, "I thought you might say that. In that case, I left a new suit for you in your room. One that looks like the design you wanted and acts as Kevlar to block attacks." Alina's eyes seemed to fall off her mind going elsewhere to the flashes of Thanos dropping her on her own blade. Touching her shoulder he said, "You'll be protected, Alina."

His words pulled her from her own mind, her detached voice said, "I don't need protection anymore, I'm already dead. Thank you though Bruce, I appreciate it." Alina turned away from him trying to make it to her bedroom when Sabrina and Gwen perked up seeing her getting closer.

"We're coming with you," said Sabrina who stood up blocking the pathway out. Alina raised her brow with an amused smiled before simply walking around the Benson teen who looked to a puzzled Gwen for support. The blonde shrugged throwing her hand up before they followed behind their friend. "Please Alina, just let us come," she pleaded.

Still heading towards her bedroom Alina walked up the stairs saying, "First, I don't control who comes with us so asking me without talking to Nat or Steve is just pointless. Second, they don't even like me going with them, but I've been trained rigorously so they allow it so good luck with part one. Thirdly, what fight have either of you been in that was near this. Or picked up a gun, or made something move with your mind?"

 Hearing Gwen o to open her mouth Alina swiftly added rounding a corner, "And no Gwen, me attacking you and Connor doesn't count, at all. I literally was holding back so much it's laughable. So, to my final piece of evidence, Thanos killed me, the likely hood he'd be able to do the same to you is far too high for you to come."

As she finished speaking Alina arrived at her door turning around to see their disappointed eyes. Alina sighed softly taking each of their hands telling them, "Stay here, I'll be back and whatever happens, we'll deal with it together."

"Just come back as fast as you can," relented Sabrina the list of reasons for them staying behind long enough already.

Letting go of them Alina opened her bedroom door; "I will. I'll see you guys at the ship. At least you'll get to see a spaceship take off," she finished attempting to reassure them with humor before entering her bedroom. 

The moment she shut the door behind her, her eyes landed on the box on her bed with the protruding mostly black and golden armor out. Alina gingerly made her way towards it and the second she was close enough; she could see the red speckled through the chest fabric and underneath the golden armor points. Her mind wandered to Ned, and what he would think of the new suit. Her mouth cracked into a small grin as she thought about Peter's reaction to it. Her thoughts being the ultimate reason Alina picked up her new suit.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the benatar ❞

The Dranganov teen was in awe of the distant sight of Earth below their ship as they slowly came to a stop. She couldn't help but wonder ha Peter taken the time to enjoy the things he saw in space? There was a hammer in her head reminding her that had she gone with him, she would know the answer. Alina sat next to Steve towards the front of the ship and Natasha could hardly stop watching her. Once Natsha had come across Alina's lifeless body, she didn't know how not to worry about her. 

Which, to be fair, trying to not worry about Alina had proven nearly impossible for these last few years. Pulling Natasha from her own worry, Rocket spoke up from the pilot's seat, "Okay, who here hasn't been to space?"

The raccoon and his co-pilot in the front of the ship, Carol looked back to see all but Nebula and Thor raise their hands. "Why," piped up Rhodes from his seat next to Thor all the way towards the back.

Without answering Rocket looked forward saying, "You better not throw up on my ship." 

Alina locked eyes with Steve asking him, "Why would we throw up?" The soldier shrugged feeling the need to grip at the seat belts holding him in, a sight that made Alina do the same.

From the far back of the ship at the rear controllers with Bruce, Nebula's raspy voice began, "Approaching jump in 3... 2... 1!"

All around Alina the sky before her went from being dark and sprinkled with stars to the most breathtaking blues, the deepest pinks that mixed together illuminating the sky with a powerful violet that danced with the colors. Even with the pull of her entire body being practically made one with her seat, Alina was too engulfed by the beauty to even care. For a moment when her smile cracked, it was real, not one of sadness or politeness, but with true joyful feeling. All of this before a yellow lined hexagon shape appeared before them and as they went through it, the ship instantly slowed.

Before he now was a planet with giant masses of land with rings similar to Jupiter, only bigger and accompanied by too moons. Alina's smile dropped at the sight of it, they were moments before seeing Thanos. As soon as they had Carol asked Rocket, "Open the hanger."

Rocket flipped the switch as Carol called the warm yellow and blue glow from within herself coating her body in its shimmery protection. When she exited the hanger and flew closer to planet and wasn't immediately shot, she looked back at those she left on the ship saying, "I'll head down for recon."

Alina released herself from her seat standing with Steve and Natasha watching through the large plane of glass before them. In the moments before battle, Steve reached for the same thing he did every other battle he'd seen before, his compass. Not for the literal sense of direction it offered, no, for the direction the picture of Peggy Carter gave him. Catching his gaze, Alina nudged Natasha pointing to the compass. The blonde smiled at her friend; he was so strong yet somehow too soft for the world around him all at once. "This is gonna work, Steve," she told him.

"I know it will," replied Steve his eyes lingering on the image of Peggy for a moment longer before he shut the compass adding, "Cause I don't know what I'm going to do if it doesn't."

Alina had to admit, she had begun to wonder, if this didn't work what was next? Much to her own relief, her thoughts were halted by the shimmering light that was Carol returning. As soon as she was outside the ship she told them, "No satellites, no ships, no armies, no ground defenses of any kind. It's just him."

"And that's enough," said Nebula, the only one who saw the depths of his horrors in way no one else ever had.

Alina rubbed her hand against her palm revealing her naginata blade that would always hidden near her. Her magic was different now, but illusions were all the same. "It used to be enough," declared Alina the darkness returning to gleaming red eyes.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the garden ❞

Using one hand, the other burden with the burnt Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos walked among his crops, harvesting fruit, and putting them in a sack. It made Alina twisted with sickening rage as they remained hidden. He was walking over to the shed, with a dragging quality to his legs, like it pained him to walk. He was acting if he deserved to have any right to rest, like he truly had done something worthy of it.

Thanos tried to sit down on the floor of his shed wincing from the burns on the whole left side that was burnt black with blisters; he was peaceful in his silence when the sound of something whirring through the hair made him lift his curious head.

Suddenly, Carol had flown through the roof, knocking Thanos down, and grabbing his neck all before he could even see her. Seconds behind her was Rhode who held down Thanos' last good arm. Bruce in the Hulkbuster armor busted up from the ground tearing the dirt up in his arrival. The dirt fell into Thanos' eyes as Bruce grabbed Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet arm. Just a fast, Thor tore a hole through the shed as he threw down Strombreak slicing the Infinity Gauntlet clean off. 

The sound of Thanos' pained cries made Alina smirk as she, Rocket, Steve and Natasha were the last to enter. Steve and Natasha had forced her to linger back with them, they didn't want the youngest of them having to do the most of them all again. Rocket was the first to reach the sliced off Infinity Gauntlet, the small raccoon grunted flipping it over.

Hope lifted Alina's feet as she rushed behind him feeling nothing but a pang of a gunshot ring through her chest. Not because someone had actually fired upon her, but because when she looked down all that remain was the chard remnants of the gauntlet, without the stones was left. 

"Oh no," said Rocket as Alina dropped to her knees beside him.

Her gaze was fixed, "Where are they," questioned Steve.

Thanos refused to speak, and Alina wasn't even sure if she wanted to hear his voice. Carol squeezed the titan's throat demanding, "Answer the question!"

Grunting through her grasp, Thanos said, "The universe required correction. After that, the stones served no purpose, beyond temptation." Alina slowly lifted the gauntlet taking it into her arms, how such a shiny broken thing had ruined her life.

"You murdered trillions," screamed Bruce letting go of Thanos only to shove him back, the might of Hulk Buster armor forcing him onto the ground.

Lifting his face from the ground Thanos hissed, "You should be grateful."

Without a thought, Bruce swung down on him again punching the mad titan in the jaw. Taking deep breaths Natasha choked out, "Where are the Stones?"

Repeating what they weren't understanding, he said, "Gone. Reduced to atoms." 

His words made Alina gasp for air as she clutched her own stomach as if to brace herself. "You used them two days ago," shouted Bruce.

"I used the stones to destroy the stones. It nearly killed me. But the work is done. It always will be," Thanos said sitting himself up a little straighter, "I am... inevitable."

Alina's hand clutched at the wood beneath her hand crushing the floorboards. "We have to tear this place apart, he-he-he has to be lying," stuttered Rhodes his eyes already scanning the room.

Much of the surprise of even herself, Nebula stepped towards her father gingerly saying, "My father is many things. A liar is not one of them.

"Ah, thank you, daughter," said Thanos his words coming out nearly as a whisper that made Nebula's skin crawl. She was never his daughter, "Perhaps I treated you too harshly," he reasoned.

Thor gripped at his axe about to swing down on him when Alina's voice stopped him from ever moving, "Do you think...you just treated her harshly?" Everyone stood silent as the teenager slowly looked up from the ground her breaths becoming uneven. "That she is your only victim," Alina asked again stepping towards the titan.

Thanos finally took notice of the teenager, "I killed you; you may be my victim but your worlds are not."

His words made a wicked laugh escape Alina's mouth and filled the room with an eeriness that froze all others. Alina had to put her hand over her mouth to stop herself, "You think I mean me? You think I see myself as your victim? I'm alive, I'm not a victim." The amusement suddenly dropped out of Alina as if it was never there to begin with.

The death in her eyes made even Carol swallow nervously. "No, Peter Parker. He was your victim. My best friend, the only kid who knew anything real about me, the one person I never had to lie to. He is your victim," Alina tried taking deep breaths to calm herself but it wasn't working.

And each second that past she didn't want to be in control. From all sides of the planet, out of their sights, a dark shadow grew seeking out what called for it. What everyone had noticed, was the feeling of wind picking up around them. Natasha stepped forward touching the girl on her shoulder, the second she had, a shockwave of air exploded from Alina sending all but her and Thanos back.

Steve dug his shield into the ground catching Natasha's arm shielding them from her winds of destruction. Bruce was doing his best to shield Rocket, Nebula and Rhodes from the young girl but with each second that past it was getting harder for them all to breathe. Thor and Carol were attempting to crawl to Alina, but her winds were just too strong for even them. 

Thanos watched them all struggle safely inside the vortex, safe for the moment at least. "You think you could kill the boy I love, me and half the fucking universe and you get have some happy fucking retirement!" Alina raised her hands and with-it Thanos floated as his veins protruded on his arms from Alina feeling for his blood. Thanos grunted and screamed from the sensation of his blood boiling beneath the surface.

From her spot on the ground, Carol looked out the window seeing shadows creeping towards them. Smacking Thor's arm she coughed out, "W-What's tha-t?"

Fighting the winds that wanted to move him, Thor looked back at the darkness and then again to Alina. "Her. It's all her," Thor told her watching as Thanos' bones snapped breaking in towards himself.

Alina shook her head as her powers lifted her off the ground, "No. No, you don't get to have the happy ending." The tearing sound of wood breaking and shards of it falling made everyone cover their heads as the shadows came tearing away at the room. Everything was becoming void of light that even in his suit Bruce was struggling to see a thing. Alina's eyes became a bright red and she became the only source of light in the room. Forming familiar sphere of energy this time only red in her hands Alina's voice echoed as she declared, "No. Nothing will grow here, no life will grow here, no light will be found! Everything here will die and rot in darkness! As will you!"

The last thing Thanos saw was, Alina beckoning him forth raising her orb of magic to his face. "You don't have to pretend you're not afraid Thanos. I already know you are," Alina said a grin forming on her face as she forced her magic down his throat. Once he had, Alina allowed the winds to slow but it didn't matter what any of them tried to do. The second they were able to move, Thanos' skin illuminated from her red embers just underneath his purple skin. The titan howled as the magic ate away at him twisting his body and snapping bones in all sorts of directions. The bones tore through his flesh spraying her with his purple blood splattering her face and body until there was nothing, but the broken liquid flesh of the titan left behind.

Alina's shadows retreated as if smoke in the winds she had made; all that was left in their wake was the dead grass beneath their feet. Peering outside Natasha watched as all the plants they had seen upon arriving slowly lost their color. Alina had created, with just her words, a barren planet with no life. Standing to her feet, Natasha stepped towards the teenager asking her softly, "Alina...what did you do?"

Without even looking back numbly Alina told her, "He took my everything, so, I took the only thing he ever cared about, his life." The teenager turned around and instantly she knew, none of them would ever see her the same way again. In that moment for all those who knew, she was just Hex standing before them. A shell of Alina, and they were right to feel that way. When Alina saw the gauntlet she knew, whatever good lived in her died with Peter Parker.

alina's outfit for part of the next chapter