Three days passed after the morning meeting at the old storage house.
Three days of planning, moving people, shifting supplies, and trying to stay one step ahead of Black Ridge.
The first day was the busiest and the most tense.
The leaders, Milen, Lira, Wanda, and Pietro, sat with the trio again and discussed every possibility they could think of. Black Ridge was strong. Too strong for a direct fight right now. They had more men, more weapons, and more support from corrupt officers. Dawn Watch knew that if they tried to attack head-on, their people would be wiped out in minutes.
So the four leaders, after long discussion, agreed on a different approach.
A defensive one.
They would protect their people, strengthen their group, and avoid any full confrontation for a while. And at the same time, they would cause confusion inside Black Ridge by using another militia group that already hated them.
That group was called Crimson Wolf Battalion.
They were another violent Sokovian militia operating from the east side of the city. Smaller than Black Ridge but known for being unpredictable and aggressive. They fought for territory, not ideology, and almost anyone could become their target. Black Ridge and Crimson Wolf had clashed several times in the past, leaving injuries and deaths on both sides.
The Dawn Watch leaders decided to use that rivalry to their advantage.
If they could make it look like Crimson Wolf attacked Black Ridge again, then the two militias would fight each other and leave Dawn Watch alone for some time. It would give them the breathing room needed to move their people and plan their own strategy.
This job was risky, so Liam and Natasha volunteered to handle it.
Natasha already knew how to stay hidden in enemy territory. Liam, on the other hand, was unexpectedly good at starting trouble in a controlled way.
On the second night, they followed a Black Ridge scouting team near the abandoned market. Liam threw a stone at the soldiers from a hiding spot, but he wrapped a red cloth around the stone first, a cloth used by Crimson Wolf members. When the Black Ridge soldiers saw it, they shouted and started searching the area.
Later that night, Liam knocked down one of the Black Ridge men from behind, tied him up, and left him near Crimson Wolf territory with red paint smeared on his jacket. When the man woke up, he screamed that he had been attacked by Crimson Wolf.
Two hours later, shots rang through the eastern district as both militias exchanged fire, each blaming the other.
Natasha, watching from a rooftop with her binoculars, whispered, "You enjoy this too much."
Liam smirked. "What? I'm doing community service."
On the third night, the two militias clashed again. This time, Liam threw a bottle with the Crimson Wolf marking at a Black Ridge patrol, making them furious. They chased the fake trail he left behind and ended up exchanging shots with Crimson Wolf scouts.
It worked.
Black Ridge redirected most of their attention to fighting Crimson Wolf, giving Dawn Watch the time they needed.
Meanwhile, Steve, or Stefan, took charge of training the younger Dawn Watch members. Boys and girls from ages sixteen to twenty-two came to practice behind Lira's old storage house. Steve taught them basic self-defense, how to disarm someone holding a knife, and how to move quietly.
Natasha helped too, showing them how to stay calm under pressure and how to escape when surrounded. She did not teach anything too advanced, just enough to protect themselves.
The younger ones admired Stefan immediately. He was patient, strong, and encouraging. Nadia scared them a bit at first, but they learned quickly that she pushed them only when she knew they could handle it.
Liam also trained them sometimes, mostly in hand-to-hand combat. But most of his time went into spying and stirring problems between the militias. Because of that, he returned very late at night.
Every night, Wanda or Pietro stayed awake to check whether the trio had returned safely. Mostly Wanda, since Pietro often fell asleep by accident.
By the start of the fourth morning, Dawn Watch was finally more confident. They had moved their people to new houses. Their scouts had mapped out Black Ridge patrol paths. And the rally, the biggest meeting Dawn Watch had planned in months, was only three days away.
It was this rally that Wanda was preparing for now.
The trio were currently staying with the four leaders in Wanda and Pietro's family home. It was small, a little congested, and the furniture was old. But Natasha had insisted they all stay together until the situation eased.
"Your leaders are targets," she said on the first night. "We stay close to them until things settle."
So, for now, they shared the small home.
The morning of the fourth day came quietly.
Liam woke up later than usual. He stretched his arms above his head and jumped off the bed.
When he stepped into the living room, he found Wanda sitting at the small wooden table. Papers were spread in front of her, and she was writing something with a pen that kept running out of ink. A small cup of tea sat beside her.
The morning sun came in through the window, lighting the dust in the air.
Liam scratched the back of his head and walked over.
"Good morning," he said, voice still rough from sleep.
Wanda stopped writing and turned around. She gave a small smile. "You should rest more. You came back very late last night."
Liam waved his hand dismissively and sat on the chair opposite her. "I'm alright. Used to it." He glanced at the papers. "What are you doing?"
"Writing a speech for the rally," she said. "People need to hear something strong and hopeful. If they feel unsure, the crowd might panic."
Liam raised a brow. "So you're giving the speech?"
Wanda nodded. "Yes. Pietro says I speak more clearly than he does. Milen and Lira will speak too, but I will open the rally."
Liam leaned forward a little. "Sounds like a big responsibility."
"It is," she admitted softly. "But someone has to do it."
There was a brief quiet.
Then Liam asked, "Where is everyone else?"
Wanda continued writing. "Your brother and sister are outside, training the younger ones again. Pietro is helping them for a while. Milen and Lira went to gather supplies and prepare the meeting area for the rally."
Liam nodded slowly. "Busy morning."
"Yes," Wanda said with a small sigh. "There is always something to do."
Liam watched her quietly. Although they had known each other only four days, anyone could see she carried a weight heavier than her age.
After a moment, Liam leaned back slightly. His tone was calm and careful.
"If you don't mind me asking," he said, "what made you take all this on? Leading people, organizing rallies, fighting back. You're young. You could've stayed out of it."
Wanda paused. Her pen stopped moving.
She turned slightly, giving him a look that was more thoughtful than guarded.
"That is a big question for first thing in the morning," she said with a faint smile.
Liam lifted his hands lightly. "If it's too personal, you don't have to answer."
Wanda set the pen down and leaned back.
"It's not that I don't want to answer," she said softly. "It's just something I don't talk about often."
Liam nodded. He did not push her.
Wanda stared at the papers for a moment, then finally spoke.
"When we were children, Sokovia was already unstable. Foreign armies above us. Militias fighting each other. Streets calm one day and dangerous the next. People learned to live with fear."
Liam stayed silent.
Wanda continued in a steady tone.
"My parents tried to keep us out of it. They wanted Pietro and me to grow up normally." Her eyes softened. "My father fixed radios, chairs, anything broken. My mother taught neighborhood children to read. They believed small kindnesses mattered."
Liam heard something under her voice, a pain that never faded.
"One night," Wanda said, "we were eating dinner. It was calm outside. For once."
Her fingers curled on the table.
"And then a bomb hit our building."
She spoke steadily, but her eyes were distant.
"The explosion took our parents instantly. Pietro and I fell through the floor. We hid under a table, trapped in the rubble. We waited for help."
Liam did not speak.
"We waited for two days," Wanda said quietly. "Two days with another bomb right in front of us with the name Stark written on it."
Liam blinked. He knew this story from a different universe, but hearing it from Wanda herself made it feel heavier.
"No one came for us," Wanda said. "Not any rescue teams. When we finally got out, we were lost, angry and scared."
The room felt heavier.
"For years after, Sokovia kept falling apart. More bombs. More fighting. More groups trying to take control." She looked down. "And more families losing everything like we did."
Liam nodded slowly.
"That is why we joined Dawn Watch," Wanda said. "Not to be leaders. Not to be heroes. But because someone had to help. Someone had to speak when others were afraid. Someone had to protect the ones who still had something to lose."
Liam sat back.
Wanda was not emotional or dramatic. She did not cry. But her words carried the weight of everything she had survived.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Wanda shook her head. "Don't be. You didn't do anything."
She picked up her pen again but paused. She looked at him thoughtfully.
"You know my story now," she said softly. "So how about you tell me a little of yours?"
Liam stiffened slightly.
He had not expected that. Wanda, still mostly a stranger, had shared something deeply painful only because he had asked. Maybe she did it because he saved her life, or maybe she simply had no one else to tell.
Liam took a slow breath. He could not tell her who he truly was. But he could say something real.
Before he could reply, Wanda raised her both hands with a wide smile on her face, mimicking Liam. "If it's too personal, you don't have to answer."
Just as Liam parted his lips to speak, the front door swung open without a knock.
Natasha stepped inside, her footsteps quick, her expression tense.
"Viktor."
Her voice was sharp, urgent.
Liam straightened immediately. Wanda looked up, surprised.
Natasha crossed the room fast and spoke in a low but clear tone.
"We have to go. Now."
Liam frowned. "What happened?"
"Our aunt suddenly collapsed," Natasha said firmly. "Severe pain. The neighbors called us. We need to get there immediately."
Wanda's eyes widened. "Your aunt? Is it serious?"
"We don't know yet," Natasha said. "But it's bad enough that we cannot wait."
Liam stood up instantly.
If Natasha used that excuse, something serious had happened.
Wanda stood too. "If you need medicine or help, tell us. We will try to provide it."
"Thank you," Natasha said quickly. "But we have to leave now."
Liam turned to Wanda. "We'll be back soon. Stick to the plan."
Wanda nodded, concern in her eyes. "Go. Family comes first."
Liam gave her a small nod of thanks and stepped toward the door.
Just before he left, Wanda called softly, "Viktor?"
He paused.
She held his gaze, sincere and calm.
"You can tell me your story later," she said. "Whenever you decide to."
Liam nodded once. "Sure."
Natasha touched his arm lightly, telling him to move.
The two stepped outside.
The door closed behind them.
Wanda stood still for a moment, staring at her unfinished papers. Viktor's story would have to wait.
Outside, footsteps hurried away down the street.
And Wanda had no idea that the sudden emergency Natasha mentioned had nothing to do with any aunt...
***
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