Chapter 39: The Fall (Part 1)

"Ah, a strange ceiling."

Wong slowly woke up on the hospital bed, his eyes first catching sight of the pristine white ceiling above. Instinctively, he turned his head left and right, only to be shocked by the sight of Doctor Strange lying on another bed nearby. His voice broke with disbelief as he called out, "Strange! What happened to you? How did you get hurt like this?"

Wong's voice trembled with fear and concern as he struggled to process the sight before him. Doctor Strange's left side was wrapped tightly in bandages, his face twisted in pain. But what truly terrified Wong was the gruesome reality—Strange's left hand and leg were missing.

Faced with this grim truth, Wong felt a surge of helplessness and dread. He couldn't fathom what kind of foe could inflict such devastating injuries on the mighty Sorcerer Supreme.

Strange heard Wong's exclamation and looked visibly uncomfortable, his expression a mix of guilt and embarrassment. He hesitated as he attempted to form his words, clearly finding it difficult to explain.

"It's... It's my fault…" Strange began haltingly, his voice heavy with regret and shame.

Wong's concern deepened as he watched Strange fumble over his words. Knowing his friend's tendency to downplay his troubles, Wong pressed gently, his eyes full of unspoken encouragement.

After a long pause, Strange sighed deeply, finally recounting the incident. His voice grew quieter as he finished, his hand brushing over the bandages on his face. "And that's how it happened. It's… it's disgraceful."

Wong shook his head, trying to console him. "Strange, you don't need to blame yourself so much."

Bang!

Suddenly, a deafening crash shattered the stillness of the hospital room, as if something or someone was trying to force its way inside. Both Wong and Strange snapped their heads toward the noise in unison.

The door to their room shook violently under the impact, rattling ominously.

"Wong," Strange asked with a hint of sarcasm, "what do you think of the quality of nurses on this helicarrier?"

"They're excellent. They don't usually wake patients like this," Wong replied dryly.

The two exchanged a knowing glance. In a synchronized motion, they leaped off their beds—Wong landing lightly on the floor while Strange levitated just above it, compensating for his missing leg.

Strange raised his right hand, fingers forming a precise gesture. A glowing orb of purple energy coalesced in his palm, radiating potent magical energy. His voice cut through the tension, commanding and firm. "Whoever you are, stop right now and identify yourself!"

His voice echoed through the room, followed by an unsettling silence. Then, the pounding on the door resumed with even more ferocity. The door shook violently with each impact.

Strange narrowed his eyes, the purple energy in his hand swirling more aggressively. Finally, he adjusted his stance and flipped his wrist, transforming the energy into a fiery red hue. He bellowed, "By the name of the Vishanti, I unleash the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak!"

Invoking the name of the Vishanti was like rhyming in spellcasting—it amplified the magical power significantly.

At his command, the energy surged forward, morphing into a crimson ribbon of light. It shot toward the door like a streak of lightning, brimming with unparalleled strength and speed.

The door exploded into splinters, scattering debris everywhere. Simultaneously, the intruder was ensnared by the Crimson Bands and suspended mid-air.

Wong and Strange stared in shock at the ensnared figure. It was only now that they realized why the intruder had not shouted or spoken.

The "person" was a nurse—or at least, had once been. Its jaw was torn away, leaving behind a gory, bloodied mess. The hollow, milky-white eyes stared aimlessly, devoid of any humanity. Despite being bound, it thrashed wildly, snapping its teeth in a grotesque attempt to bite.

Wong gritted his teeth, exclaiming, "What's going on? How could even the helicarrier be compromised?"

Strange only sighed, his expression grim. With a twist of his hand, the Crimson Bands coiled tighter around the nurse's head, producing a sickening crack. The creature's skull collapsed, spraying red and white matter onto the floor.

"We need to get out of here, Wong," Strange said in a low voice before floating toward the shattered doorway. Wong stepped over the corpse, quickly following behind.

They reached the nurses' station, only to find it eerily deserted. Bloodstains painted the walls and floor, but no other signs of life were present.

Wong scanned the area uneasily, feeling a growing sense of foreboding in the unnatural silence. Strange's sharp gaze darted to a security camera mounted on the wall. He waved his hand at it, and the camera tilted in response, as though alive.

A voice crackled from the camera's speaker. It was familiar and authoritative. "Doctor Strange, stay where you are. We're sending a cleanup team to secure the medical bay."

Wong froze, startled to hear Maria Hill's voice.

A moment later, a heavily armed squad of soldiers stormed into the area, their movements precise and methodical. The leader carried a scanner, waving it over Strange and Wong to confirm they were uninfected.

Once cleared, the soldiers fanned out in pairs, kicking open doors and systematically sweeping each room for additional threats. Their professionalism was evident in their swift, silent communication and careful coordination.

After several tense minutes, the squad regrouped. The leader approached Strange and Wong, saluting sharply.

"Doctor Strange, the medical bay is secure. Please follow us. Director Fury is assembling the survivors."

Wong, desperate for answers, asked quickly, "What happened on the helicarrier? Why are there… zombies?"

The soldier hesitated briefly before responding, "We'll explain on the way. Time is critical. Stay close to us for your safety."

Both Strange and Wong nodded in understanding and followed the squad down bloodstained corridors. The distant sound of gunfire echoed ominously, heightening their unease.

As they rounded a corner, the squad leader motioned toward a reinforced metal door. "This is it. The Director is inside."

The soldiers moved off to secure other areas, leaving Strange and Wong alone before the imposing door.

Taking a deep breath, Strange reached for the handle. The metal creaked as he turned it, and the door slowly swung open.