When two worlds collide

Chapter 23

Wanda could still hear the echoes of Y/N's scream in her mind, a sound that had ripped through her like a blade. It haunted her, and every moment that passed without Y/N beside her felt like an eternity. She couldn't allow herself to imagine the worst, not yet—not while there was still hope.

She moved quickly, her red magic glowing faintly at her fingertips as she hovered just above the cracked earth, her eyes scanning the distorted landscape for any sign of Y/N. The world around her felt wrong, as if reality itself was warping and bending under the weight of something far more sinister than she could comprehend.

Doctor Strange floated nearby, his cloak billowing in the air as he methodically scanned the area with sharp, focused eyes. His magic pulsed in intricate patterns, searching for any trace of Y/N's energy signature. He didn't say much, but his presence gave Wanda a sliver of reassurance. If anyone could help her find Y/N, it was Strange.

Wanda's breath came out in shallow gasps as she forced herself to stay calm, though her heart raced with anxiety. Her connection to Y/N had been severed the moment they fell through that strange, dark rift, and the silence between them felt suffocating.

"Anything?" Wanda asked, her voice tense as she glanced over at Strange.

He shook his head slightly, his expression tight with concentration. "Not yet," he said. "But I'm close. There's a disturbance in the magical field up ahead—it could be where they are."

Wanda nodded and sped up, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She tried not to let the worst-case scenarios overwhelm her, but it was hard. Y/N had already been through so much, and now... now they were in the hands of that twisted doppelgänger.

The wind howled around her as she pushed forward, her magic burning brighter with every pulse of her heart. She would find Y/N. She had to.

A flash of light appeared in the distance, followed by a low rumble that shook the ground beneath her feet. Wanda's eyes widened as she recognized the dark energy lingering in the air—it was the same signature she had felt from the doppelgänger before.

"This way!" Strange called, his voice rising above the wind as he veered sharply to the left.

Wanda followed him, her stomach twisting with dread. She could feel it now—a faint trace of Y/N's energy buried beneath layers of dark magic. It was faint, but it was there. And that was all she needed to know.

As they drew closer to the source of the disturbance, the air grew heavier, thick with the scent of burnt ozone and the metallic tang of magic. The world seemed to twist and bend unnaturally around them, and Wanda had to fight against the nausea rising in her throat. This place was wrong on so many levels, and she could feel the toll it was taking on her body.

Finally, they reached a clearing of sorts—a desolate area where the ground had been scorched black and the sky above seemed to ripple like the surface of a disturbed pond. And there, lying at the center of it all, was Y/N.

Wanda's heart lurched in her chest as she saw them, their body crumpled on the ground, motionless. She didn't even wait for Strange to say anything—she rushed forward, her magic flaring with desperation as she knelt beside Y/N.

"Y/N!" she cried, her voice breaking as she carefully rolled them onto their back. Y/N's face was pale, their lips tinged with blue, and their breathing was shallow and labored. Blood stained their clothes, and dark, jagged marks crawled up their arms and chest—evidence of the doppelgänger's dark magic.

Wanda's hands trembled as she hovered over Y/N, her red magic flickering uncertainly in her palms. She wasn't sure if she had enough power to heal them, not with the doppelgänger's dark energy still clinging to them like a parasite.

"Doctor Strange," Wanda called, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need your help. I—"

Before she could finish, Strange knelt beside her, his hands glowing with soft, golden light as he examined Y/N's injuries. His face was grim as he worked, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"They've been hit with a strong dose of corrupted magic," he said quietly. "It's eating away at them. I can stabilize them, but it's going to take time."

Wanda's heart clenched painfully in her chest. Time was something they didn't have. She couldn't lose Y/N. Not now—not after everything they had been through together.

"Do it," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "Whatever you need to do—just save them."

Strange nodded and placed his hands over Y/N's chest, his magic glowing brighter as it surrounded them. Wanda watched anxiously as Strange worked, her own magic ready to assist whenever he needed it.

Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. Wanda's eyes never left Y/N's face, her heart pounding in her chest with each shallow breath they took. She whispered quiet words of encouragement under her breath, hoping—praying—that they would pull through.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Strange leaned back with a sigh, his magic dimming as he withdrew his hands.

"I've stopped the spread of the dark magic," he said quietly. "But they're still weak. They need rest and care—somewhere safe where we can keep an eye on them."

Wanda swallowed hard, tears stinging her eyes as she nodded. "I know just the place," she said softly. "Help me lift them."

Strange nodded and carefully lifted Y/N with his magic, cradling their limp form as gently as possible. Wanda hovered close, her magic wrapping around Y/N like a protective cocoon as they began to make their way back to the safehouse.

The journey was slow and quiet, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air. Wanda kept her focus on Y/N, refusing to let herself think about what could have happened if they had arrived any later. She couldn't let herself go there. Not now.

Finally, they arrived at the safehouse—an old, abandoned building that had been warded with layers of protection spells by both Strange and Wanda herself. It wasn't much, but it would keep them hidden from the doppelgänger for a while, and that was all that mattered.

Strange gently lowered Y/N onto the worn couch in the center of the room, his magic still lingering around them to keep them stable.

Wanda knelt beside Y/N again, brushing a stray lock of hair away from their face as she whispered softly to them. "You're going to be okay," she murmured, more for herself than for them. "You're safe now. I won't let anything happen to you."

Strange stood by the door, his arms crossed as he watched them with a solemn expression. "We need to prepare," he said quietly. "The doppelgänger won't stop until they've completed whatever they're planning. We need to be ready."

Wanda nodded, though her attention remained on Y/N. She knew Strange was right, but in this moment, all she cared about was making sure Y/N was safe. Everything else could wait.