In Another Universe [Dr. Strange's Daughter]

Chapter 5: S.S

[flashback]

Eli woke up from her nap to the sound of falling pans down their kitchen. Still half asleep, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and checked the time. It was 7:14 pm. After scrolling her phone for about 5 minutes, she then decided to get up and help her mom prepare dinner.

The smell of delicious baked mac and cheese filled her nose when she opened her door. She walks downstairs to see her beautiful mom, still in her grayish uniform, setting up the table.

"you know for a second there I thought Gordon Ramsey is in our kitchen cooking our dinner because of how amazing the food smells," Eli says as she hugs her mom from the back.

"If Gordon Ramsey was to cook for us, I'm pretty sure mac and cheese wouldn't be the one he'll be serving" her mom chuckled.

"Let's eat before the food gets cold, yeah?" her mom said. Eli released her mom from her hug and sat down on the chair opposite her.

After they said their prayers, both of them enjoyed their meal. The dining area was filled with laughter as they both took turns in telling interesting stories. Eli took up all her courage to finally ask her mom about something she's been wanting to know. Something that's been bothering her everyday.

"Mom?" she says gently

"hmm?" her mom looked at her while eating her food.

"What was my dad like?" she asked directly, making her mom coughed and drink water.

"Eli, we've talked about this-"

"Mom, it's almost been a year. Shouldn't you think I deserve to know about my own father? about my past? about myself?" Eli says as she's trying to keep her frustration inside her

"Eli trust me, I am doing this for your own good. There are things, bad things, that you don't know of and-" her mom says in a persuasive tone as she tried to hold Eli's hands but she moved them away.

"that's bullshit!" Eli didn't notice that she was already standing up and accidentally raised her voice at her mother. The now what should've been a nice dinner turned is now filled with tension.

It didn't take long until Eli realized what she just did.

"I'm sorry" she says lowering her voice while slowly sitting back down. Her mom sighs and walked over to her. Her mom gave her a hug and whispers "it's okay"

"I know you're trying to protect me, I get it. It's just that, not remembering anything from your past is very frustrating. Every night, I can't sleep because I kept thinking of who I really am? what was my father like? and the life that I had before I had amnesia-" Eli's voice broke as she starts crying.

Her mom, on the other hand, feels bad for her daughter. Ever since Eli woke up not remembering anything that had happen before, she decided to keep it that way; not because of selfish reasons, but because of reasons something bigger than that. Seeing Eli cry breaks her heart, she loves her so much so she decided that maybe this is the right time to tell her.

"I'm sorry, Eli. I only wanted to protect you but you're right. You deserve to know about your father- " but before she could even continue what she was about to say, her phone rang. Eli nodded at her mother signaling her to take the call.

"I'll be right back. Stay here" her mother quickly walked out of the dining area. "It must job related" she thought.

Her mother's job has been a mystery to Eli. All she knows is that she is a researcher. That's it. She doesn't know who she's working for and what she's been up to.

"what do you mean she's here?" Eli heard her mom from the other room.

"wherever she is we have to find her" her mom continued talking in a concerned voice. Who are they talking about?

"find the girl" Eli's eyebrows furrowed. Who is that girl?

Her mom walked out of the room hastily grabbing her bag and her coat.

"what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, Eli. There's an emergency at work and I really need to go" she says and Eli's face dropped.

"hey" her mom put her hands on her cheeks "I promise to tell you everything when I come back. No more secrets" she convinces Eli who is frowning. Eli looked at her mother's eyes and all she could she is how genuine she is,

"Promise?" Eli says

"promise" her mom smiles. "I need to go. I'll just text you, okay?" she says walking out the door but she stopped half-way "oh and don't leave the house until I come back okay?" in which Eli responded with a nod.

After her mom left their house. She decided to clean up the table and wash the dishes. It was nearly 9 in the evening when she got done with the chores.

She was about to go to her room when she thought of an idea. El could not wait any longer to find out about the truth so she quickly rushed into her mom's room and looked into her drawers for anything that could answer her questions. Any pictures that could answer what was she like before the she lost her memories and what does her father look like.

After minutes of searching, she found nothing. She even searched under her mom's sheets but still, nothing. It wasn't long enough until she gave up. As Eli was walking out of the room, she noticed a strange book in the corner of her eye. The book stand out among the others because it was the only one who differs from them because of its brown cover.

[For Reference]

Eli carefully reached for the book and saw the initials that is engraved on it.

"S.S" she gently stroked the initials which was gold in color

"Who is S.S?" she was about to open the book when suddenly the sound of falling pans caught her attention again. "It must be mom" she thought. Still holding the book, she went downstairs.

"Hey mom, who's book is thi-"

Eli stopped with what she was saying when her eyes met a pair of a stranger's eyes that is currently eating a leftover pizza from their refrigerator.

"I don't know about you but people, especially strangers, don't usually sneak in to other people's houses to eat leftover pizzas" Eli tried to say calmly as she was slowly walking down the remaining steps of the stairs.

"Well, technically I am not a stranger. We've actually met before. Just not in this universe though" the stranger smiled, still eating a pizza

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

The girl wiped her mouth as she puts down the pizza on a plate.

"My name is America"