Disclaimer: Please I wish I owned Doctor Strange. Marvel does. Not me.

The Missing One

It was three hours before any decent time. Throughout my city people slept. Even the shadows in my home had finally settled down to sleep. There was only an unearthly silence. At least, there would have been if I had time to sleep.

Instead, while everyone in the city slept I was trying to create a new sealing spell. It was part of my duty as Sorcerer Supreme. Mystical defender of the Earth from creatures from the other side. The project was draining. I spent the last ten hours translating ancient Taoist alchemical texts and trying to combine it with Pythagoras' theory of the world, Aristotle's theory of the elements, the five elemental theory of China, the Greek idea of Nous and the original sealing spell set by Merlin. It was contradictory, exhausting and annoying.

I was sitting there when I felt a small shock shoot across the nape of my neck. It meant that someone was knocking on my door for help. I was getting nowhere with this new seal and so, I welcomed the change. If I came back to it later maybe I'll find it easier. Aside from that, it is against my oath to turn away a person in need of help.

And so, for the first time in hours I stopped my levitation and allowed my feet to touch the floor. I stretched my legs and as I walked across my study, the candles I was reading by began to turn off. I walked out my study, walked out my sanctum, raised the protective spells behind me and as walked down the stairs I heard Wong say something in another language. Someone was saying something back when they heard my footsteps come down the stairs.

I took my time coming down the stairs. The only sound was of my footsteps as they echoed throughout the room. As I stepped down the stairs, the shadows that obscured my features faded away. After the shadow left my face I stopped, looked at my guest and said, "Greetings. I am Doctor Stephen Strange."

My guest looked scared, nervous and distressed. He was an older gentleman at least forty years old. His glasses sat at the end of a sharp nose. He was balding at the top of his head. The rest of his black hair was perfectly groomed. The hair loss probably bothered him. He stood below my shoulders and had a small belly. He had bronze skin and scars on his knuckles that looked recent. But his eyes were the most important part. There was absolute terror there.

He looked at me, swallowed and said, "Please. I-I am in need of help."

"I am aware of that," I replied, "The only people who come to see me are."

I waved at my sitting room indicating for him to sit down. As I came down the last steps I examined Wong. Despite it being so early and despite the fact that he had probably been sleeping, somehow, Wong had beaten me to the living room without making a single sound. How he did he do it? I have no idea. Must have been magic.

Wong shut the door and turned towards me. I gave him a look and he smiled, shrugged and left to make some tea. He seems to believe that it is calming. I'm not sure how true that is but Wong's tea was worth dying for.

I walked into the guest room and sat across from my guest in my red chair. I gave my guest a few minutes to relax and while I waited Wong came in and served him tea. My guest said thanks and sipped it. He then closed his eyes and shuddered.

See what I mean about the tea?

He exhaled, placed the saucer on the table in front of him and looked up at me. I didn't drink any. I don't eat in front of untrusted guests. It makes me look human.

"I… am Doctor Rashid Shah. My…My son was kidnapped."

"Doctor Shah. Why did you bring this to me? Why not the police?" I asked.

He wrangled his hands, avoided my eyes and replied, "I…I… I need help! They're tracking me."

"Who?" I asked.

"I don't know what they are. This can't be happening," He said mostly to himself, "They can't be human. But… He was suppose to be my friend." He looked like he was on the verge of tears. I'm not particularly good at empathizing with others but when I see pain I felt obligated to help.

"Dr. Shah," I said in my softest and most concerned voice, "It is okay. In my home you are safe. And if you tell me what is wrong I will help. I give you my word."

He looked up me at me with a questioning look on his face. I nodded back at him. He nodded, exhaled and started again, "A month ago my son, Khalid, began to suffer from night terrors and then insomnia. He cried in his sleep, screamed, wet his bed… It was terrible. He dropped out of the university, began staying out late, hanging out with a strange crowd. My wife and I decided we were going to have to get to him help. Three days later I was dropping off a friend. When we got to his home he just sat there. Smiling. Then he said that he…" He stopped for a second searching for the words.

"…he took my son." The words came out small. "I stared at him in disbelief. I asked him what he was talking about. He repeated it. I took your son. All while he was still smiling. I lost it. I hit him in his face. His face… melted off the bones. Thin razor-like teeth protruded through the melting skin and his eyes flashed into vertical yellow slits. People came out the house smiling at me with beady eyes. He told me that he was leaving town to where he had my son and that if the police came after him, I'd never see the boy again. He told me to leave and to get sixty thousand in ten days. He said he'll find me. He got out the car and all them got into one group and disappeared. Just like that."

"Dr. Shah. How did you know where to find me?" I asked. I wanted to know how he known this place could help. Most people couldn't find this place unless they were in trouble. So someone had to have told him.

He looked uncomfortable. "I had a dream. Something told me to come here for help. Same dream for the last three days. It always told me to come here."

A strange dream that knew my exact location? Now that was interesting. Seems like someone was setting me up. I wanted to say Nightmare but Nightmare didn't know physical locations in the material world. I stared clearly at Dr. Shah trying to sense any hostile intent or lies. I couldn't sense anything. As far as I can tell he was telling the truth.

"Do you have any of your son's hair?" I asked.

He jumped in his seat looking bewilder. Apparently he thought I wouldn't believe him. Or maybe he thought it was an odd request. "He had a brush at home," he replied.

"I'll need that to find him." I rose to my feet and gestured at him to rise. We were walking to the door when I said, "I'll be by later to pick it up." Wong had somehow beaten me to the door and opened it. Dr. Shah looked like he was going to say something but I interrupted, "Don't worry Dr. Shah they won't see me. I will find your son first and then I'll take care of this group." He looked conflicted for a second then said, "Thank you." And left without an another word.

Wong closed the door and I knew he had something to say.

"Yes, Wong?" I asked.

"If you don't mind me asking but… did any of that seem odd to you? There was something wrong there."

I shrugged. "True but I sensed no deception. I believe he was telling the truth." I rose to my feet stifling a yawn. "Either way I need a breather. This is exactly the activity that I need to clear my thoughts. Besides if there is a boy in trouble I can't abandon him. Danger or no danger. Besides, what are the chances that this would be a trap?"

One searching spell and consultation with the Orb of Agamotto later, I found that my missing person was in Tibet. Wong made the reservations and I packed for the trip. The thing about being a sorcerer is that we are, at the core, human. We bleed and die like everyone else without the proper spells and tools. Earlier in my career I almost died from a gunshot wound. So since the things in the dark could kill us easily we made up for it by being paranoid and possessing multipurpose tools. I never left home without my red cape, the Eye of Agamotto, my sash, and my blue shirt with the drawing of a demon on it. They were my prized and versatile objects. Gifts from my beloved and departed Master.

I slept on the plane and as I left the terminal, I endured five minutes of aside glances and snickering. I ignored it, as I am use to it, until someone dredged up the courage to tell me to check my hair. One trip to the bathroom later and I found that some kids had decided to share some of their candy with my hair while I slept.

Kids.

After ten minutes of picking candy from my hair and another ten minutes trying to fix my hair (I like to look good), I walked out the terminal searching for my ride. I spotted the car. Or more precisely I spotted Sen-Yu sitting on the hood smiling in my direction. Sen-Yu was an elderly man who managed the finances of the Ancient One's disciples. He was a pleasant fellow who always had smile for anyone who asked for his help.

I was on the way to the car when three kids blocked my path. They couldn't be older than twenty-five. All of them wearing shirts meant to show off their muscles. The one standing on my left was little over five foot and thin. His black hair was a mess and he needed a shave. Evidently he was trying to grow a respectable beard. Key word is trying. It was spotty and made him look sickly. He had a gym bag across his shoulder and had a scowl that could curdle milk. The one on my right was stocky and squinted at me. I think he needed glasses. He stood even with my shoulders but had to have thirty pounds on me. He was muscular but it looked like he only worked out his glamour muscles. The one acting as the lead had tattoos on both arms, above his left eyebrow and on his right cheek. All of them were symbols for God in various cultures. Either he was religious or he wanted to be God. Unlike the other two he looked like he exercised muscles that were actually needed for a fight. Take away the tattoos and he would be what is traditionally considered handsome. He had short black hair that fell a little short of his eyes and a smile that could melt a girl's heart. He stood confidently and upright with his hands near his back pocket. Clearly near a weapon.

Oh, they were going to try to mug me.

And in broad daylight.

I could already feel a twinge of annoyance. I came to a complete stop and stared hard at them. I didn't have to change my facial expression. I find that people consider it fearsome by default.

"If you think this is a good idea then you don't know who—"

"Oh, we know. We know you. Doctor Stephen Strange. Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. Slayer of the Earth's Vampires," Their glorious leader interrupted.

I raised an eyebrow at that. Most people who know who I was and were intelligent, stayed out my way unless they needed help. Not try to mug me. Which meant that these kids were either unbelievably arrogant or not particularly bright. Possibly both. Not terribly surprising I suppose. That is the trait of youth. Or possibly humanity as whole. I have met people who were centuries old who acted as such. Clearly they thought they had me thrown me off because they were smirking like they just won something.

"We are here concerning this action. Me and my comrades have a problems with their extinction. We…"

I am not going to lie. I tuned out of his little speech. They weren't the first people to have a problem with the vampires' death and I didn't have time for this.

I adjusted the bag on my shoulder and said in authoritarian tone, "Enough. Get out of my way."

The two lackeys stopped smirking and glanced towards their "glorious leader." He looked shock and then very angry. He tried to cover it up with smug indifference and pushed his hair out his face. I believe he was trying to go for "What is this a joke?" He dropped that for a second as if he was thinking and when it returned he was rushing at me drawing a blade. Apparently the other two weren't expecting it and rushed to attack my sides.

It didn't matter how fast they moved, I had been ready. I had begun gathering the Power that resided with me and mixed it with the energy in the universe while they mouthed off. As I brought my hand up, that energy took the form of kinetic energy that hit them in legs sending them tumbling over each other. If it weren't so annoying it would be comical. The blade flew from their leader's hand and the genius three crashed in front of my feet.

I stepped over their down forms, stopping only to pick up the blade. It was a silver blade. A completely normal, silver blade.

Pathetic.

There were some silver blades that could hurt me but this wasn't one of them. Those were made through a special ritual. These kids really were clueless.

"I would advise you to change your ways 'lest you meet someone crueller and less tolerant than me." I said without looking back. I placed by bag into the car and stared to get into the car. I stopped halfway.

"Understand this," I said.

I stared back at the group.

"If you hurt anyone I will find you."

The group flinched and kept looking at the ground, avoiding my eyes.

I got in the car and took one last look at the now bickering group. I rolled my eyes and let out an annoyed sigh.

Kids.

"Good to see you're still a people person," Sen-Yu said to me five minutes later.

I frowned at him and he gave a bright simile back.

"Children must love you," he said holding back laughter.

"Yeah. Everyday they line up to be my kid. Frozen yogurt and bright smiles. It breaks my heart to turn them down. Now, a little quiet please, I got work to do." I replied with a smile on my face. I started taking out the hair I had gotten from Khalid's brush. I held it in my gloved hand, closed my eyes and began to create a connection.

All things are one. Even when separated there is a connection. What was separated desires to return to completion. I reached deep down in my reserves and separated it from myself. I began to mold the energy to connect it with the flow of the universe. Usually I had equipment that helped with this but I figured that I was close enough to not need them.

"In the Name of Mighty Oshtur… By the Power of the Deathless Vishanti… I Call upon the Hosts of Hoggoth! Lead me to the source of this lost one! Heed the Words of thy mortal servant!"

As I said each word I felt power enter me. Clear crystalized power that emptied my mind and sang in my soul. Power that grew larger and larger until it felt like it was going to suffocate me and then I let it out. The power flared and the hair burned. In a couple of minutes the hair would burn completely. But for now the spell was still working. There was that smoke drifted upwards with a faint trace of energy in it. Energy that popped against my etheric field and tickled my nose.

I sat back and focused on the point at the crown of my head. I blocked out everything that was around. The smell of burning hair. The chattering crowds outside the car. The engine of the car. My body. I could feel my body dissolve away from my thoughts. Everything slipped away. There was once a time when I would have needed props and incense to do this. It would have taken me hours.

I had improved since then.

I released my astral form. A translucent ghost-like image of my physical self. I freed myself from my body. I felt good all over. I felt no ache or pain. I could feel vibrations all across my body. A steady hum coming from all around me. I felt right. It was satisfying. Like drinking cool water after thirsting for so long. There was no gravity. No limits. I was completely free. Something without beginning or end. I loved my astral form.

I stared at my immobile and deathly still body and then I got to work. I willed myself upwards free from the oppressive confines of gravity. I flew upwards out the car and over the crowds. One of the downsides of astral projection was that I left physical tools behind with my body. Which was one of the reasons I don't carry many mystical tools and why I carried the Eye of Agamotto. The Eye had a physical form and an astral form. It made for a very potent weapon.

I activated the Eye. A blinding white light poured out the Eye sweeping away the scenery and revealed a silver cord that came up from the car and ran through the city. I followed it to the eastern side of a hotel. I stopped and, through the Eye, I saw no traps or spells. I peered through the wall and saw that…

…There was no one there. Correction, there was only one person there. Khalid Shah, the missing person. He was sleeping. I felt a twinge of annoyance. I checked my senses again. I checked my Eye again.

Nothing.

No magic. No hidden people. No bombs. No monsters.

Nothing but a sleeping teen.

This. Was. A. Complete. Waste. Of. Time.

I hadn't sensed any deception or malice from Dr. Shah. So in all probability the kid had just run away from home. He probably had nightmares because his dreams touched Nightmare World. He eventually had problems with his parents as teenagers are prone to have. Shah had been serious about meeting some supernatural creature however. I recognize the look that someone get when they face the impossibility of the supernatural. Some evil beast had found out Khalid ran away from home and pretended to have kidnapped him.

I let out a sigh. I would get the kid to go home, go back to America and defeat whatever evil was behind this. It would be simple.

It is always enlightening when looking back and realizing one never stops learning.

I psychically sent Sen-Yu a message where I was and I waited for the car to arrive at the hotel. I wanted to keep track of the boy if I was wrong about him being kidnapped. I wasn't wrong. He thought that he was alone. Just trust me on this. He definitely thought he was alone. While he was distracted I had managed to psychically move his key card half way under the door. The car stopped in front of the hotel some time later. I rejoined my body and flashed Sen-Yu a quick smile. He left to find a place to park the car and I walked into the hotel.

I missed it while I was in my astral form but it looked like an expensive place to stay. The floor and the wall looked like it was made of clean and spotless glass. A soft blue light glowed from it surfaces. The walls flashed advertisements for this some type of drink or for McDonald. There were steel bands that ran across the walls going upwards. There were cute smiling women dressed like a cross between those uniforms from Star Trek and a stewardess. (Or is the proper term flight attendant, now?) There were bag carriers that dressed in blue and silver versions of their stereotypical uniforms. There was a crowd of what looked like tourists in the center of the room looking down at the floor while one of the women was talking to them. I was able to peer over the shoulder of one of the tourists and saw a giant black fish (more like a small whale, really) circling and that shone a pale blue light this place seemed to love. It must be some new type of species. Probably something leftover from some mad scientist's experiment. They weren't allowed to live in the wild to ensure the protection of genetic diversity or something like that.

This would probably impressed a lot of people other than me but I had seen better. Instead I looked around and frowned. I remembered this place before all of this. There were little houses and a field. Kids played and skinned their knees here. When I was still an apprentice I got into an argument with an insufferable woman here. The first time I banished a spirit without my master now had a kiosk selling electronics.

This place had changed. Just like everything else.

"Sir? Can I help you?"

I turned to face an attendant standing behind me. She had a bubbly smile that was just infectious. I had to fight to prevent myself from smiling on pure instinct. A sorcerer commands his body, not the other way around. So when I smiled back it was by choice not because she was.

"Yes. I was looking to check in." I replied.

"Okay, I'll be happy to help," She walked over to a computer and started to punch something in. "Under what name?"

"Doctor Stephen Strange."

"Oh. You're a doctor? That's good. You help people. I can't think of anything better." She gave me a beaming smile and handed me a key card.

I took it and said, "Neither can I."

I took an elevator ride to the eighth floor and walked to the room I came to earlier. I wasn't planning to stay long. I would probably give the key to Sen-Yu. He would enjoy a vacation. I knocked. I heard some rustling and the sound of someone hitting the floor.

"Erm… Who is it?"

"Someone to bring you home. Open up."

Why lie? He deserved to know the truth. Besides I was going in no matter what he did. I bent down and grabbed the key card I had slid there earlier. I popped the key card into the slot and opened the door to a quickly redressing Khalid. He looked at me with shock and looked like he was about to scream when I raised a hand and said, "Stop."

And he did. I didn't need any magic. At all.

In the midst of congratulating myself over my mastery of the teenage species, I felt …something. Something mind-blasting horrible. Something that reeled against my senses. A feeling of nihilistic despair. Of screaming, unbearable torment. Of suffocating hate. I was already preparing a defense on instinct when I saw a mystic bolt was streaking towards me right from the building across the street.

On my right, Khalid was rushing at me.

Hmm.

This was a trap.