Dark Universe(2) MARVEL

Chapter 8

Her blue eyes fluttered open, trying to grow used to the sudden light. A tall figure stood holding her as she realized she was on the floor. She felt a burning sensation on her neck and legs. Once her vision became clear, she saw Bucky, and a soft smile formed on her face. She was surprised to see him in the Sanctum or anywhere near sorcery.

To try to help her, he propped her against his chest. Her breathing was heavy as she tried to relax. She was unsure of what was real and what was fake, a part of her imagination. Avalon had jumped through too many realities at once and it took a toll on her body and mind. Carly noticed out of the corner of her eye that Strange looked very concerned for the Stark. He was pacing.

"Do you have any idea of how dangerous that was?" Brandr started parenting her daughter.

Bucky looked up at her, "Not now."

"Brandr, please," Strange was not the pleading type.

"Excuse me? I'm sorry, do I know you?" She huffed, "Just because the redhead brought you in here thinking you may be helpful, doesn't mean you get to speak to me like that. Avalon did something incredibly stupid and wreckless."

"Brandr, not now." Wong calmly told her.

"This isn't real." Avalon whispered.

Due to feeling exhausted, Avalon passed out in Bucky's arms. Being as gentle as possible, he stood up, bringing her to a bedroom that Strange found available. As strong as Avalon may be, her mind was tired. It was being forced to wander to other realities. Most would not be allowed to do that. It was considered a crime to mess with time and reality.

It took hours for Avalon to get a well-rested sleep. Bucky demanded for everyone to leave her alone, although the only one he allowed inside was no one other than Carly Barton. After all, she was the one to rush to Brooklyn to find him. As annoying as she was, Carly was pretty persistent, but with good intentions.

"Thank you for coming," Carly told him as she exited Avalon's room.

He smiled, "No worries, I was glad to offer my assistance. Is she going to be okay?"

"Strange," Brandr stared at him, "It's been hours and she is still not back."

"Looks like we have to go the other route." He said, shrugging, wishing they didn't have to do this.

Brandr offered to go first. She's Avalon's birth mother, and that had to mean something. Without Brandr, Avalon would've never been born. There had to be a chance that Brandr could be the one to bring Avalon out of the trance she was trapped within. As Brandr stayed near the circle's barrier, she slowly raised her hand against it. She tried pressing on the invisible shield, but all it did was create a burn mark on her hand. She knew and felt that she wasn't the one to bring her daughter home. Once again, Brandr failed her daughter, she thought.

The next person was Carly Barton. The girl who Avalon grew up with. They played, trained, and fought together. They made each other better. The girls treated each other as if they were sisters, doing whatever for one another. Carly tried holding onto the memory of how Avalon almost killed her and deeply regretted it. She knew that memory meant something to Avalon. It would haunt her because of harming someone she loved dearly.

Carly wasn't able to break through either, which meant that Strange was up next. The first time they met in 2017, Strange didn't think highly of Avalon. He thought of her as a strong potential threat to Earth, but over time of actually worked together. they blended well. They were arrogant and knew that. Their egos fed off one another. Avalon wasn't a threat but a challenge to Stephen and as much as he denied it, he loved it. One might even say that Stephen Strange was developing romantic feelings for her. His last relationship didn't work too well, and he was afraid of messing something up with the Stark woman.