The Unconscious Mind
"You must be careful when you enter her mind. She will not fight you when you enter, but be prepared for fight when you do. The unconscious mind is a tricky thing. You never know what could be hiding." Bruce said taking a step back from Wanda to stand next to Loki. Wanda stood behind Ophelia's bed and hovered her hands around her head.
"You can do this." Loki said sensing her worry. Wanda took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.
"I'm ready." She said then allowed her eyes to close. Her hands began to form red wisps around Ophelia's head.
*INSIDE OPHELIA'S UNCONSCIOUS MIND*
Wanda found herself in a dark room with one chair in the center. Chains lay on the ground. She bent down and picked up a chain and examined the cuff. Dried blood caked the inside and lip of the cuff and Wanda frowned. Had this been where HYDRA tortured Ophelia?
Suddenly the door before her opened and two men in black tactical gear and HYDRA symbols sewed to their chests stomped in and grabbed her harshly by her arms.
"Let go of me!" Wanda screamed and thrashed against the men but they did not remove their grip nor did they say a word. Just as they were about to drag Wanda through the door a bright light shined in her eyes and she was suddenly in a child bedroom. The walls were painted yellow and the bedframe looked to be hand made. She walked over to it and ran her hand along the beautifully crafted wooden bedframe. "Papa." She said softly. Her father had a hobby of woodworking. He would often make little trinkets and toys for her. She recognized the craftmanship immediately. Being so deep in thought she hadn't realized someone was standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
"Time to go Lia." Wanda looked up and saw a beautiful woman with long hair and caramel skin standing in the doorway. Her eyes green and sparkled as the bedroom lamp's light shone upon them. Ophelia's mother. "Are you ready?" The woman asked.
"For what?"
"School. You silly child. Now come." The woman held out her hand and Wanda took it. The bright light shined in her eyes again and she was now standing in Ophelia's apartment. She looked around and smiled seeing Ophelia's safe space. Her things were placed neatly and not a spot of dust was present. She took care of her things, things she hadn't had the luxury of having most of her life. As walked through Ophelia's kitchen she picked up various objects. A book of Sokovian poetry sat beside her half drunk cup of cold coffee. She flipped through it and smiled at the tagged pages of her favorites. She picked up the cup and laughed when she read that it said "Worlds Best Employee" on it. Obviously a gift from her favorite boss from her job at the vintage store she so loved. She then walked over to Ophelia's small living room area and picked up the television remote. She clicked on her Netflix app and scrolled down to her "List." The shows and movies she had picked were all documentaries. Wanda knew Ophelia to always be curious and wanting to learn as much as possible about everything she could. It was heartwarming but also caused Wanda some heartache. Her sister had been held in captivity for so long she had no idea what certain things on earth, and beyond, were truly about. But she was grateful to have met her now. So she can share new experiences with her and create memories to cherish for the rest of their lives.
Wanda walked over to the other side of Ophelia's apartment and opened a door. She was in Ophelia's bedroom. She jumped back and let out a small squeak when she realized she wasn't alone. Laying on Ophelia's bed was Ophelia herself. And Loki. They were laying together side by side holding hands and looking into each others eyes. It was a sweet moment between the two of them. Ophelia turned her head and scowled at her. She sat up and Loki's image disappeared.
"What are you doing here?" Ophelia asked angrily.
"To free you. You are trapped in your own unconsciousness. This isn't real."
"Like hell it's not. Get out!" Ophelia's eyes sparked red and Wanda took a step closer. She placed a hand on her sister's shoulder and tried to use her magic to calm her down. But it didn't work. "Your magic is no good here. Now leave me alone!" Ophelia screamed and Wanda fell to the ground. She groaned as she pushed herself to her feet.
"Please, Lia. This isn't real. You have to come back to us. You have people who care about you."
"Care!? About me!? Well isn't that rich. Especially coming from you."
"What are you talking about?"
"You knew I was in that place and you never came for me!" Ophelia shouted and Wanda furrowed her brow. She had no idea Ophelia had been in the clutches of HYDRA. Nor did she know she even had a sister until just over a year ago.
"That's not true. I had no idea you even existed."
"More lies!" Ophelia said shaking her head with a mock smile. "Do you happen to remember having dreams of a young girl dressed in red? Her cried haunted you each night." Ophelia explained. Wanda thought for a moment. She often had nightmares of a child being hurt and crying out in her youth but she never thought too much into them. She thought it was her own trauma tormenting her. Could those screams really belong to Ophelia?
"I thought they were just dreams. I don't understand."
"Neither did I until recently. I have been working with Bruce on recovering some of my memories from my time with HYDRA. My subconscious blocked them from to protect me from myself. I remember seeing you. Well your back. You faced away from me on an empty street and I couldn't get to you. I screamed for you as loud as I could, but you would never hear me. You never turned to look at me. I now know that somehow we have always been connected. But you should have felt me there. But you didn't! Or at least you chose not to! I can suffering and you didn't do a damn thing about it!" Ophelia yelled then launched herself at Wanda. The bright light flashed and the two were thrown back into that room where Wanda first entered Ophelia's mind. Except this time, there were no chains or a chair. Just a dark empty and cold room. The two sisters fought hard. Throwing punches and pinning each other to the walls and floor of the compact space.
"I'm sorry!" Wanda screamed as she dodged Ophelia's punches. "You have to understand! Before I became an Avenger I didn't know how to properly control my powers. HYRDA had me too. They had Pietro!" Wanda began to cry. The tears ran down her cheeks and she gave in. Ophelia pinned her against a wall and pressed her forearm against her neck. Wanda grimaced in pain.
"At least you HAD Pietro. At least you HAD someone. I had nobody!" Ophelia seethed.
"I would have rather had nobody than to lose the only somebody I ever had." Wanda said softly between sobs. Ophelia's expression softened for a moment. "But he's gone, and I can't change that. And it's hard, it will always be hard. I miss him every second of every day. But things are different now. I have you, and you have me. And I know in my heart if Pietro were still alive he would have loved to have you as a sister." Wanda looked into Ophelia's eyes and saw pure pain. She dropped Wanda to the floor and took a step back.
"I felt it. When he died. I didn't know what it was at first. But I felt him. I know I didn't grow up with him. But some part of me feels as if we were connected somehow."
"You still are. Pietro died saving the life of a boy from our home. He is with you just as he is with me. You are family."
Ophelia sank to her knees and hung her head.
"Let's go home."
Ophelia opened her eyes and winced at the bright light of the medical room she was in. The first thing she saw when her eyes adjusted was Loki staring down at her with concern on his face.
"I'm okay." Ophelia whispered. Loki leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Yes, you are."