When two worlds collide

Chapter 21

The clouds overhead had thickened into a rolling mass of black and gray, swallowing the sky and casting everything in a cold, oppressive shadow. Y/N's heart raced as they and Wanda made their way through the war-torn streets, both on high alert. Whatever lurked in the dark, it wasn't going to wait much longer. It was only a matter of time before the next move was made.

Y/N could still feel the dull, insistent ache in their chest—a lingering reminder of the damage the doppelgänger had done. It was a pain they couldn't shake, and one that grew worse with every passing minute. But they couldn't stop. Not now. Too much was at stake.

Wanda glanced at Y/N, concern written all over her face despite the storm raging around them. "You sure you're good?" she asked quietly, her voice barely cutting through the howling wind.

Y/N gave her a tight nod, forcing a smirk despite the growing discomfort. "I've had worse."

Wanda didn't seem convinced but didn't push the issue. They both knew the clock was ticking down fast, and with each second, they grew closer to something neither of them could fully grasp.

As they approached what seemed like a deserted industrial area, the air shifted. The atmosphere became heavier—oppressive even. It was as if reality itself was folding in on them, and Y/N could feel the weight of something dark looming just beyond their reach.

Y/N's breath quickened as their eyes swept over the landscape. The entire area felt wrong, like it had been distorted by the doppelgänger's influence. The once familiar world now felt hostile and foreign, filled with hidden threats at every corner.

And then they heard it.

A low, eerie hum that sent a chill crawling up Y/N's spine. It was barely audible at first, just a whisper carried by the wind, but it grew louder with every step they took. The hum seemed to vibrate in the very air around them, setting Y/N's nerves on edge.

Suddenly, without warning, the ground beneath Y/N's feet cracked open, and before they could react, they were sent tumbling into a dark pit. Wanda screamed Y/N's name, her voice full of panic as she reached out with her magic to try and catch them. But it was too late.

Y/N hit the ground hard, pain exploding through their body. They groaned, gasping for breath as the impact knocked the wind out of them. Their vision blurred for a moment as they tried to orient themselves, the taste of blood thick in their mouth.

"Y/N!" Wanda's voice was frantic as she descended toward them, her magic crackling in the air around her.

Y/N tried to sit up, but the pain in their chest flared violently, forcing them back down. They gasped, clutching their chest as agony radiated through their body. Something was wrong—very wrong.

Wanda reached them in seconds, her eyes wide with fear as she knelt beside Y/N. Her hands glowed with red energy as she scanned their body for injuries. "You're hurt," she muttered, her voice tight with panic. "I need to—"

Before she could finish, the air around them shifted once more. The shadows seemed to deepen, the darkness becoming almost tangible as it closed in on them.

And then, just as they had feared, the doppelgänger appeared. They stepped out of the shadows with an unsettling calm, their face twisted into a cruel smile. "Well, look at this," they said, their voice dripping with mockery. "You really should've known better than to come here."

Y/N tried to push themselves up, but the pain was too much. They could barely breathe, let alone fight. Panic began to creep into their mind, but they forced it back down, focusing on the doppelgänger with a look of defiance.

"What the hell do you want?" Y/N growled through gritted teeth, every word a struggle.

The doppelgänger smiled wider, taking a step closer. "I already told you," they said smoothly. "I want everything."

Wanda moved to stand in front of Y/N, her magic swirling around her like a protective barrier. "Stay away from them," she said, her voice low and dangerous.

The doppelgänger chuckled darkly. "You can't protect them forever," they said, their eyes gleaming with amusement. "Sooner or later, they'll break. And when they do... there won't be anything left to save."

Wanda's magic flared, her anger palpable in the air around her. But the doppelgänger only grinned wider, seemingly unfazed by the threat.

And then, in one swift motion, they struck. A surge of dark energy shot toward Y/N, too fast for Wanda to block. It slammed into Y/N's chest, and they screamed in pain as the force of it knocked them backward.

"Y/N!" Wanda cried, rushing to their side as they collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

The doppelgänger watched with cold amusement, their expression unreadable as they surveyed the damage. "You should've known," they said quietly. "You can't win this."

Y/N gasped for breath, their body trembling as the pain consumed them. They could feel something inside them tearing apart, like their very essence was being ripped to shreds. It was unlike anything they had ever felt before—like the darkness was eating away at them from the inside.

Wanda knelt beside them, her hands glowing with red light as she tried to heal them, her face etched with fear and desperation. "I've got you," she whispered urgently. "Stay with me, Y/N. Please."

But Y/N wasn't sure how much longer they could hold on. The pain was overwhelming, their vision swimming as darkness edged in around them. They could feel their strength slipping away, like sand through their fingers.

The doppelgänger stepped closer, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "This is only the beginning," they said softly. "Soon, the multiverse will crumble, and you won't be able to stop it."

Wanda's magic flared again, brighter this time, but Y/N could feel the strain it was putting on her. She was fighting with everything she had, but even her power had its limits.

"Wanda," Y/N rasped, their voice barely a whisper. "You have to... you have to stop them..."

Wanda shook her head, tears welling in her eyes as she poured more of her magic into them. "I'm not losing you," she whispered fiercely. "Not like this."

But Y/N could feel it—they were slipping away. The darkness was closing in, and no matter how hard they fought, they couldn't escape it.

The last thing they saw before everything went black was Wanda's face—desperate, terrified, fighting for them with every ounce of strength she had.

And then there was only darkness.