"Wong, open the door!"
Genesis knocked on the door of the New York Sanctum rapidly. No one answered. She gave a heavy sigh as she kept knocking. "Wong, it's me!"
Suddenly, she felt the ground fall from underneath. After flipping through the air, she landed on her back. Groaning, she sat up and rubbed the back of her neck when she realized she wasn't in the Sanctum. It was a warehouse. She got to her feet and paused when she heard a clinking sound, like small tinkling of glass. The mirror dimension.
"Genesis," a voice said.
She turned and saw Stephen standing. A cut on his lip, and he gripped his arm. Genesis only stared and waited for him to say something else. When he said nothing, she said, "You're okay."
"Don't worry about me. Do you have it? The Time Stone?"
She approached him and studied his face. "Are you okay?"
He shook his head and replied, "Don't worry about me. Is it safe? The stone?"
Genesis reached into her backpack and took out her jewelry box. She gently placed it in his hand as he took a sharp inhale. Without warning, he took her broken wrist and squeezed. She screamed in agony as Stephen's features faded away to reveal Mordo.
"You little fool. I would kill you if it didn't make Stephen cooperative."
Almost on cue, Stephen appeared, dangling like a puppet above the floor. Genesis saw his pale skin and tired eyes. His face was filled with pain and discomfort.
"Mordo...you have the stone. Now, leave her alone," Stephen breathed.
Mordo glanced at Stephen. "Your bill is long overdue, Strange."
He released Genesis and with a wave of his hand, the jewelry box vanished. Mordo turned his back to them and said, "The Stone will be under my protection. You will submit to me, or the death of this girl will be an example as to what will happen if you do not."
"Wong is still out there," Stephen panted.
"A mere librarian is where you put your faith?"
With that, Mordo left the two alone and Genesis quickly grabbed her backpack. She hurried over to Stephen and opened her bag. "It's here. Take it!"
The bronze eye hanging around Stephen's neck opened as the stone took its place inside. Stephen closed his eyes as he felt new strength in him again. His fists clenched as the strands holding him snapped. He gently landed on his feet as he ordered Genesis to stand behind him.
"I'm going to turn back time. When I do, you have to get my ring from Mordo. It's in his cloak."
"Wait, wait-"
He formed his fingers into a shape and the Eye glowed green. An orb formed around his left wrist, like a watch. His shoulder ached but he managed to turn back time. Mordo reappeared and did his previous actions in reverse.
"Go!"
Genesis hurried to Mordo, repeating Stephen's instructions in her mind over and over. Get the ring, get the ring. She approached Mordo and hesitantly, reached into his cloak. She took Stephen's ring and pulled away, quickly. He took his ring and put it on. With all his strength, Stephen binded Mordo with strands of sparks from head to toe. Mordo fell over and gave muffled protests. Genesis backed away and stood by Stephen.
With his shoulder already numb from all his movement, he managed to open a portal to the Sanctum. Wong froze when he saw the portal open and gasped at the sight before him. He rushed through and helpes carry Mordo through the portal. Stephen and Genesis followed behind and the portal closed. Wong laid Mordo down and pulled Stephen into a deep embrace.
"My friend, are you alright?"
Stephen smiled. "The Stone is safe."
Wong nodded and looked at Genesis. "Thank you."
She shook her head and glanced at Mordo. "So, what now?"
Wong straightened up and cleared his throat. "I will store him in a case upstairs. He will remain a relic."
"Wait, you're not going to..kill him?" Genesis asked.
Stephen lowered his head as Wong looked to him for a reply. "For now, he'll remain upstairs."
With a nod, Wong obeyed and carried Mordo upstairs. Genesis cradled her wrist before turning to Stephen. "Are you okay?'
"Clavicle. It's broken. I'll mend it, but let's look at that wrist of yours."
He walked past her and up the stairs. She followed him as they entered his bedroom. He held out his hand and she placed hers in his. The wrist wasn't very well bandaged, so he rebandaged it.
"I'm going to need your help with my shoulder. The most I can do is put it in a sling," he explained, opening a drawer.
He handed her a piece of cloth as he instructed her on how to tie it. Biting her lip, she did her best. It was a little too tight, but Stephen was too exhausted to correct her. When she finished, she left him alone to rest. Closing the door, she gave a sigh of relief that everything was alright. For now, she assumed, since Mordo was still around and alive. But Stephen and Wong were safe.