“Let’s hope you’re one of us.”
Of all the ways Phil expected this meeting to go, he hadn’t counted on this. It took a bit of convincing, but he had gotten the approval to go instead of Gonzales - he would have to thank May later — and had promptly headed down to Afterlife.
Shortly into the meeting he realized just how wrong everything had gone. She had no intention of working with S.H.I.E.L.D. and didn’t seem like she ever would. She was holding a very reasonable grudge, one Phil couldn’t hold against her.
But, as she pulled out a terrigen crystal he felt everything move in slow motion. Trying to reason with her proved futile, no way to get through to her. She was in pain and has been in pain for some time.
The crystal smashed at his feet. The mist grew, encasing his body whole. His muscles contracting immediately at the contact, tightening enough to be painful, every nerve burning as if on fire. Feeling as if he was being torn apart and crushed simultaneously. Yet, he couldn’t make a noise, completely petrified.
Lightning danced through his veins, body going from burning to feeling as if ice were encasing him. He could hear it crackling, his skin hardening. It started at his feet, working its way slowly up his body.
Barely able to think, he wondered if he would make it through.
He hoped he would. He hoped he wouldn’t.
All he could do was pray that no one else would be exposed to the mist. That his team, his family, would be safe. He’d do it a thousand times over to guarantee their safety.
Before the mist consumed him whole, he had one final thought.
‘I hope May-’