UNKNOWN GUEST

#113 Infinity Stones

Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, the eerie quietness settled over us like a shroud, broken only by the occasional flicker of candles and the distant hum of ancient magic at work.

The dim lighting cast long shadows across the intricate, otherworldly symbols carved into the walls. It felt like we had just stepped into another realm entirely—one where time and space folded in ways that were impossible to understand.

Tony let out a long, exhausted sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood across from Doctor Strange and Bruce Banner. "Alright," he grumbled, shooting an exasperated glance at both of them, "are we finally going to get to the point? Or are we just going to stand here in ominous silence all day?"

Strange, as always, kept his composure, his expression carved from stone. He gave Tony a small nod. "Yes. But first..." His gaze shifted to me, and I felt the weight of it settle like a stone in my gut.

"Mr. Rogers," Strange said, voice cool but direct.

My heart skipped a beat. Oh, crap. He knows.

Tony's expression darkened as he narrowed his eyes at Strange. "His name is Jason Roberts," he said pointedly, his voice edging into protective territory. "And he has nothing to do with this. He hasn't broken any rules—"

I held up a hand, cutting Tony off before he could dig in further. "It's okay, Mr. Stark," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to talk to him."

Strange gave a small nod and gestured toward one of the side chambers. "Follow me."

Without another word, I trailed after him, feeling the knot of tension tighten in my chest. As soon as we stepped into the room, the door swung shut behind us with a soft but definite click. The sound echoed in the small, quiet space like the closing of a vault.

Strange turned to face me, crossing his arms over his chest. His piercing gaze pinned me in place, making it impossible to look away. "You're not supposed to be here," he said, his voice low and calm, but heavy with warning.

I swallowed hard, feeling my throat go dry. "First," I started, trying to sound composed, "I need to know—have I already broken the timeline? Did I mess anything up?"

He let out a slow, deliberate sigh, closing his eyes for a moment as if bracing himself. "No," he admitted quietly, "not yet. But the problem is, you're walking a very fine line, and I'm afraid—"

"I won't interfere," I cut in, shaking my head. "I swear I won't. It was a mistake. I never meant to show up here." My voice wavered, but I pressed on, hoping to get ahead of whatever lecture was coming. "I was supposed to arrive around 2022, but... something went wrong. I miscalculated."

Strange didn't react, just watched me with the same unsettling calm. "That's beside the point," he said at last. "What matters now is what you do next. And what happens when people start to recognize you."

I forced a smile, trying to inject some humor into the conversation. "Well, that's what I've got you for, right? You'll help me out if things get too complicated."

Strange exhaled through his nose—something between a sigh and an amused scoff. "You have no idea what you're up against."

He unfolded his arms, taking a step closer. "Let me give you a sneak peek," he said, his voice dropping into a more serious tone. "You've already encountered them."

That stopped me cold. My heart started pounding in my chest. "What do you mean? I've already come across them?" I leaned forward slightly, eyes wide with disbelief. "Who are they?"

Strange gave a subtle shrug, his expression unreadable. "That's for you to figure out. It's your job—your purpose. I'm just here to warn you."

I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying, but the implications hit like a punch to the gut. People I had already met—someone I had crossed paths with—were tied to this mess. And I didn't even know it yet.