The Neighbor

Chapter 66

Wanda's heart races as she speeds down the road, her knuckles white as they grip the steering wheel. The last message from you is burned into her mind, a flashing alarm she can't escape. Someone's in the house. I'm hiding with Isabella. The panic tightens around her chest, but she can't afford to lose focus. Not now. Not when you and Isabella are in danger.

With her free hand, she jabs at the dashboard to place a call to shield. The ringing seems to stretch out endlessly, each second a reminder that she's too far away.

She curses in Slovakian under her breath, pressing harder on the gas pedal as the road blurs past.

Finally, the call connects.

"SHIELD. This is Agent Hill."

"Maria," Wanda breathes, barely holding herself together. "I need backup at my house. Now."

Maria's tone shifts immediately, from professional to concerned. "Wanda, what's going on? Are you okay?"

"It's not me. It's Y/n and Isabella," Wanda says, her voice cracking with urgency. "Someone's inside the house. I don't know who. I'm on my way, but I don't know if I'll make it in time."

There's no hesitation on Maria's end. "I'll dispatch a team immediately. They'll be there soon. Stay on the line if you can."

"I can't," Wanda growls, weaving around a slow car, her anxiety spiking. "I need to drive."

"Understood. They're on their way. Be careful, Wanda." The line goes dead.

Wanda's heart still hammering as the fear gnaws at her. The air around her feels thick with tension, her senses tuned to every second ticking by.

In the backseat, Tommy's voice breaks through the heavy silence. "Mom? What's going on?"

Wanda glances up into the rearview mirror, her two boys sitting in the back, wide eyed and nervous. Tommy is leaning forward slightly, his hands gripping the seatbelt. Billy looks just as worried, his fingers fidgeting in his lap.

"Why are you driving so fast?" Billy asks softly, his voice edged with anxiety.

Wanda's throat tightens. She wants to protect them from this, from the fear coursing through her, but she can't hide the truth. Not now.

"There's...something happening at home," she says, trying to keep her voice steady, but the words feel brittle. "Someone's there, and I need to get back as fast as I can."

Tommy frowns, his voice firm. "Someone? Who? Is it bad?"

Wanda swallows hard, her grip tightening on the wheel. She glances at the boys again, both of them staring at her, looking for answers. "I don't know who, sweetheart" she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to make sure momma and Isabella are safe."

Billy shifts in his seat, his brow furrowed. "Is momma okay? Is Isabella okay?" His voice wavers, and Wanda can feel the weight of their fear pressing down on her.

"I don't know yet," Wanda says, her heart aching as she meets Billy's gaze in the mirror.

Tommy's jaw sets with determination, but his voice trembles slightly. "What can we do? Can we help?"

Wanda's heart breaks at the innocence of their question. She wishes she could tell them they could help, that they could make everything better, but the truth is she needs them to stay safe. "I just need you to stay calm, okay? Stay with me. I'll handle it."

The boys fall silent, but Wanda can feel the tension in the car, the weight of their uncertainty hanging in the air. She pushes harder on the gas, the world outside flashing by in a blur. Every second feels like an eternity, the distance between her and home far too great.