AURORA

Stephen's Student

Aurora spent the next few hours trying to reach Wanda, her calls going unanswered. She left several voicemails, each one more desperate than the last, but Wanda remained silent. The emptiness left by her departure seemed to consume the safe house, and Aurora felt a growing sense of dread.

Kate was pacing in the living room when Aurora finally emerged from her bedroom, her face pale and eyes red-rimmed. Kate stopped and looked at her, frustration evident in her posture.

"Aurora," Kate began, her tone sharp, "we need to talk."

Aurora sighed, feeling exhausted. "What is it, Kate?"

Kate crossed her arms, her voice rising. "It's about Wanda. You need to know what happened before she left."

Aurora's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Kate took a deep breath. "Wanda and I got into a fight. She accused me of trying to get close to you for the wrong reasons, like I was trying to replace her or something."

Aurora frowned. "And what did you say to her?"

"I told her that maybe she's the one who's pushing you away," Kate said, her anger flaring. "That she's so obsessed with protecting you that she can't see she's hurting you."

Aurora's expression hardened. "You had no right to say that, Kate. You don't understand what she's been through."

Kate's eyes flashed. "And you think I don't care about what you're going through? I'm trying to be here for you, but you're so wrapped up in Wanda's drama that you can't see it."

Aurora took a step back, shaking her head. "This isn't about you or Wanda. It's about me trying to keep things together. And now she's gone because of this fight."

Kate scoffed. "Maybe she needed to go. Maybe she needs to figure out that she's not the only one who cares about you."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension between them palpable. Before either could say more, Yelena entered, her face set in determination.

"I have to leave," Yelena said, breaking the silence. "My mission can't wait any longer."

Aurora turned to her, the weight of everything crashing down. "Yelena, please, not now. I need you here."

Yelena's expression softened, but she remained resolute. "I know, Aurora. But I have responsibilities too. I'll be back as soon as I can. Just...take care of yourself."

With that, Yelena gave Aurora a quick, reassuring hug, then nodded at Kate before grabbing her bags and heading out the door. The sound of the door closing behind her felt like a finality that Aurora wasn't ready for.

Aurora stood there, feeling more alone than ever. Kate reached out to her, but Aurora pulled away, needing space. She walked back to her bedroom, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone, hoping for a sign from Wanda. But the screen remained dark and silent.

In the quiet of her room, Aurora let her tears fall freely, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She had to figure out a way to mend the rift between them all, but for now, she felt utterly lost.
___
The next morning, Aurora awoke to a peculiar feeling, as if the air around her was humming with energy. She tried to shake it off, attributing it to the stress and exhaustion of the previous days. As she moved through the safe house, a sense of unease gnawed at her.

In the kitchen, Kate was making coffee, her movements sharp and tense. Aurora approached her, but before she could say anything, a shimmer of light appeared in the corner of the room. Both women turned to see a figure materializing before them, cloaked in dark robes and emanating a menacing aura.

Aurora's heart raced as she recognized the figure from Doctor Strange's description: the rogue student.

"Aurora," the student said, his voice a mix of arrogance and desperation. "Come with me"

Kate immediately stepped in front of Aurora, her stance protective. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded.

The student ignored Kate, his eyes fixed on Aurora. "My name is Marcus. I studied under Doctor Strange, but I have found a power far greater than anything he could offer."

Aurora felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you want, Marcus?"

Marcus smiled, a cold, calculating expression. "I need your help. You possess a unique power, one that can aid me in achieving my goals."

Aurora shook her head, stepping back. "I'm not interested in helping you with dark magic, Marcus. Leave now, before I do something I might regret."

Marcus' expression darkened. "I'm not asking, Aurora. I'm telling you. If you refuse, there will be consequences."

Kate stepped closer to Marcus, her fists clenched. "You need to leave. Now."

Marcus glared at Kate, his eyes flickering with anger. "Stay out of this, or you'll regret it."

Aurora's eyes turned a darker shade of purple this time ready to attack without caring about the consequences. But before the situation could escalate further, a gust of wind swept through the room, and Doctor Strange appeared, his presence commanding and intense.

"Marcus," Strange said, his voice stern. "This ends now."

Marcus snarled, his form flickering with dark energy. "You can't stop me, Strange. I've grown too powerful."

Strange raised his hands, magic crackling around him. "You underestimate the strength of those who stand against darkness."

A battle ensued, the kitchen becoming a battleground of swirling magic and flashing lights. Aurora and Kate ducked behind the counter, watching in awe and  as Strange and Marcus clashed.

Despite Marcus' power, Strange's skill and experience soon gave him the upper hand. With a final burst of energy, Strange banished Marcus from the safe house, leaving behind a tense silence.

Strange turned to Aurora and Kate, his expression grave. "Are you both alright?"

Aurora nodded, her heart still pounding. "My kitchen, my home, (she paused) get out..."Aurora now mad at Stephen that he didn't handle his problem outside of her home. Kate touched Aurora's arm making her eyes turn back to normal. Stephen after a few seconds talked. "What does he want?" Aurora stared at her big hole in her kitchen but turned her gaze to him again . "My power."

Strange's face darkened with concern. "Marcus is dangerous. We need to stay vigilant. Aurora, it's crucial that you don't engage with him. His intentions are not just dangerous—they are catastrophic."
"I'll be careful, Stephen. Now please get out"

With that, Strange flew out of the hole that was created my all the fighting. " That bitch" Aurora run towards the hole looking at flying Strange.

The atmosphere remained charged with tension, but there was also a newfound determination in Aurora's eyes.

Kate finally broke the silence, her voice softer than before. "I'm sorry, Aurora. I was just trying to protect you."

Aurora sighed, the weight of the past few days heavy on her. "I know, Kate. And I appreciate it. But we need to stick together, now more than ever."

Kate nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "Agreed. Let's get through this, together."

As they stood there, a renewed sense of solidarity between them, Aurora's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, hoping for a message from Wanda, but it was still silent. But it was Mia telling her she's coming back. She took a deep breath, throwing her phone at the floor tired.