When two worlds collide

Chapter 22

When Y/N finally regained consciousness, the world around them was different—warped and twisted, like reality itself had been stretched thin. The air was cold and stale, and a dim, eerie light filtered through the space, casting long, distorted shadows over everything.

Y/N groaned as they tried to sit up, their entire body aching from the doppelgänger's attack. The pain in their chest still burned, sharp and relentless, and every breath felt like it took more effort than it should. They weren't sure how long they had been out, but the disorienting feeling of isolation made it clear they were no longer anywhere near Wanda.

Their surroundings were foreign—nothing like the industrial area where they had fallen. This place was a strange, barren void, a desolate wasteland where the ground seemed to shift beneath their feet and the horizon was lost to an endless expanse of darkness.

Y/N struggled to their feet, steadying themselves against the pain that still throbbed through their body. They blinked hard, trying to shake off the lingering disorientation as they scanned the area for any sign of where they were—or worse, where the doppelgänger might be.

Before they could gather their bearings, a voice broke through the silence.

"So, you're awake."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and they whirled around to find the doppelgänger standing just a few feet away, watching them with a smug, satisfied expression. Their dark eyes glimmered with something cold and cruel, and there was an eerie calmness to their demeanor that sent a chill down Y/N's spine.

Y/N swallowed hard, trying to push past the fear that gnawed at the edges of their mind. "Where the hell are we?" they demanded, their voice hoarse but defiant.

The doppelgänger tilted their head slightly, their smile widening. "We're somewhere between worlds," they said casually, as if that explained everything. "A place that's been forgotten. But don't worry—you'll have plenty of time to get used to it."

Y/N glared at them, frustration boiling in their chest. "Why are you doing this?" they demanded. "What do you want from me?"

The doppelgänger's smile faltered slightly, their eyes narrowing as they regarded Y/N with something closer to disdain. "You still don't get it, do you?" they said quietly. "This was never just about you."

They took a step closer, their gaze never leaving Y/N's. "This is about the multiverse," they continued, their voice cold and deliberate. "It's about survival. It's about power. And it's about making sure no one else suffers the way I did."

Y/N frowned, their mind racing as they tried to piece together the doppelgänger's cryptic words. "What are you talking about?" they asked, their voice low and cautious.

The doppelgänger let out a short, humorless laugh. "You think this is some simple revenge plot? Some petty grudge?" they asked, shaking their head. "No. This is much bigger than that."

They turned away, pacing slowly as they spoke, their voice filled with bitterness. "I wasn't always like this," they said quietly. "I wasn't always... this version of you. But the multiverse has a way of breaking things—breaking people. And it broke me."

Y/N watched them carefully, trying to read between the lines of what they were saying. "How?" they asked cautiously. "How did it break you?"

The doppelgänger paused, their expression darkening as they stared into the void around them. "I was like you once," they said softly. "A fighter. A survivor. I thought I could make it through anything. But then the multiverse... shifted. Reality started to fracture, and I was caught in the middle."

They turned to face Y/N again, their eyes burning with anger and pain. "I was torn apart," they continued, their voice sharp. "I was split across a dozen different worlds, each one worse than the last. I saw horrors you can't even begin to imagine. And every time, I had to fight just to survive. But it was never enough."

Y/N's stomach twisted as they listened, a deep sense of dread settling over them. "And then?" they asked quietly. "What happened?"

The doppelgänger's gaze grew distant, their voice lowering to a near whisper. "I started to lose myself," they said. "Piece by piece, I began to disappear. The person I was—the person you are—it all started to unravel. I became something... else. Something darker. And when I finally pulled myself back together, I wasn't the same."

They took a step closer to Y/N, their eyes locking onto theirs with a fierce intensity. "But I wasn't going to let that break me," they said quietly. "I wasn't going to let the multiverse win. So, I did what I had to do. I became stronger. I became smarter. And I learned how to manipulate the cracks in reality to my advantage."

Y/N's breath hitched as they listened, a sickening realization creeping into their mind. "You're... destroying the multiverse," they whispered, horrified. "You're trying to break it even further."

The doppelgänger smiled again, but there was no warmth in it—only cold, calculating malice. "I'm not destroying it," they said. "I'm remaking it. I'm taking control of it. And once I'm done, there won't be any more fractures. There won't be any more chaos. There will be order. Balance. Power."

Y/N shook their head, their heart racing in their chest. "You're mad," they said, their voice trembling. "You can't control the multiverse. No one can. You'll tear everything apart."

The doppelgänger's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You underestimate me," they said softly. "I've already started. And soon, the multiverse will belong to me. All the worlds... all the possibilities... they'll be mine to shape as I see fit."

Y/N's mind raced, their thoughts a blur of panic and confusion. This wasn't just a personal vendetta—this was something far bigger and far more dangerous than they had ever imagined. The doppelgänger wasn't just after them—they were after everything. Every world, every universe, every version of reality.

And if they succeeded, there would be nothing left.

Y/N's chest tightened as they stared at their doppelgänger, a sick feeling of dread settling in their stomach. "You can't do this," they said quietly, their voice shaking. "You'll destroy everything. You'll destroy yourself."

The doppelgänger's smile faded, their expression growing cold and hard. "I've already been destroyed," they said quietly. "This is just the endgame."

Y/N swallowed hard, fear clawing at their throat as the weight of the situation pressed down on them. They had to find a way out of this. They had to stop the doppelgänger before it was too late.

But before Y/N could say anything else, the doppelgänger stepped closer, their eyes narrowing as they looked Y/N over. "You're not strong enough to stop me," they said softly, almost sympathetically. "Not yet. But maybe... maybe you can be useful in other ways."

Y/N's heart pounded in their chest, their breath coming in short, shallow gasps. "What are you talking about?" they asked, their voice barely above a whisper.

The doppelgänger's smile returned, dark and sinister. "You'll see," they said. "Soon enough."

And with that, they raised their hand, and a surge of dark energy slammed into Y/N's chest once again, sending them spiraling into unconsciousness.