Chapter 76: Different Turn Over
The moon hung high in the inky black sky, casting an eerie glow over the sprawling mansion. Nestled in the heart of New York, the mansion was a fortress, a symbol of power and control. Inside, the matriarch of the Gnucci family, Ma Gnucci, sat alone at a grand dining table, her supper laid out before her. Her face, a roadmap of wrinkles, was as hard and unyielding as the empire she had built. Her hair, a wild tangle of watermelon hues, was as eccentric as the woman herself.
Ma Gnucci was the reigning queen of New York's underworld. With the demise of formidable crime bosses like Kingpin, Robinson, and Finn Cooley, she had seized control of the city's illicit activities. Her reign was absolute, her power unchallenged. She was the puppet master, pulling the strings of the city's underbelly, her hand covering the sky of New York.
Yet, as the old adage goes, there are no absolutes in this world. Even the most powerful are not immune to threats, especially those that transcend the realm of mere mortals.
As Ma Gnucci savored her late-night meal, a portal materialized before her, ripping through the fabric of reality. From it emerged a man, his yellow robe billowing around him, his gray hair a stark contrast to his somber expression. Two men in dark red robes trailed behind him, their faces hidden in the shadows.
"Good evening, Miss Ma Gnucci," the man in the yellow robe greeted, his voice as deep as the abyss. His name was Kaecilius, a name that echoed with an ominous undertone.
Ma Gnucci, despite her hardened exterior, was taken aback. She had never witnessed such a supernatural spectacle. Her mind raced, struggling to comprehend the situation. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice betraying a hint of fear.
"I am Kaecilius," he replied, his tone nonchalant. "I am here to reclaim what rightfully belongs to my master. Or rather, what once belonged to Parker Robbins."
Ma Gnucci's heart pounded in her chest. "I can't give that to you!" she retorted, her voice echoing through the grand dining hall. "I need it to maintain my status!"
Ever since Parker Robinson's demise, Ma Gnucci had gone to great lengths to acquire his relics, his equipment. She knew that Parker, once a petty thief, had risen to power as the boss of Hood's gang, thanks to these supernatural artifacts. They were her trump card, her means of maintaining her status and instilling fear in her adversaries and subordinates.
Kaecilius chuckled, a sound that sent chills down Ma Gnucci's spine. "Ignorant," he sneered. "You have no idea what the real use of this thing is!"
The tension in the room was palpable as Kaecilius moved closer, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intent. The balance of power was shifting, and Ma Gnucci could only watch, her heart pounding in her chest, as the man from another realm reached out for what she had fought so hard to possess.
Kaecilius's voice echoed through the grand dining hall, his words as cold as ice. "These artifacts are not mere symbols of power. They are a bridge between the Earth and the Dark Dimension, a conduit to summon Dormammu, the master of the Dark Dimension. They could have been used to merge Earth with the Dark Dimension, granting immortality to all. But your vision is limited, confined to your pitiful status!" His words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the power she had unknowingly possessed.
"Where are the hood and boots?!" Kaecilius demanded, his voice reverberating through the room. Ma Gnucci, taken aback by his intensity, instinctively glanced at the safe tucked away in the corner of the room. Kaecilius followed her gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. He gestured to one of his companions, who stepped forward, a yellow magic compass materializing in his hand.
With a swift motion, the mage used the compass to slice through the safe, revealing the coveted artifacts. A red cloak and boots lay nestled within, their power palpable. The mage collected the items without a word, and Kaecilius, satisfied, prepared to leave. He conjured a portal, the swirling vortex a stark contrast to the opulence of the mansion.
"Wait, you can't take it away!" Ma Gnucci protested, stepping forward. But her plea fell on deaf ears. One of the mages turned, a magic blade appearing in his hand. With a swift, merciless stroke, he slashed Ma Gnucci's throat. She fell to the ground, her life extinguished as quickly as it had been lived.
Kaecilius and his companions stepped through the portal, leaving behind a mansion echoing with silence and the lifeless body of Ma Gnucci. The Ancient One had been right; Parker Robinson's death had been inevitable, his existence erased from the annals of time. His equipment, the key to summoning Dormammu, had been the cause of his downfall.
***
Meanwhile, on a winding mountain road, a luxury car navigated the darkness. Behind the wheel was Stephen Strange, a renowned surgeon yet to become the famed Doctor Strange. Beside him sat his girlfriend, Christine Palmer. Their lives, unbeknownst to them, were on the brink of a monumental shift.
"We have to celebrate!" Christine said, her voice filled with excitement.
"Yeah, we will," Stephen replied, his mind already wandering to the celebration that awaited them.
"You completed a complete hemisphere resection surgery," Christine praised, her eyes shining with admiration. "The operation was successful!"
"It should have been successful," Stephen replied, a hint of pride in his voice. He was at the top of his specialty, a master of his surgical branch.
"Yeah, but that sounds amazing to me!" Christine confessed, her voice soft in the quiet car.
"You too," Stephen responded, a warm smile playing on his lips. Christine blushed, her smile radiant in the dim light of the car.
As they continued their journey, Stephen navigated a sharp turn on the mountain road, only to find a taxi blocking his path. Impatient, he swerved, accelerating to overtake the taxi on the narrow road. Suddenly, Christine let out a gasp. A car was approaching them, its high beams blinding Stephen.
"Stephen!" Christine cried out, shielding her eyes. Stephen's heart pounded in his chest as he swerved to avoid the oncoming car, narrowly averting a collision. Christine let out a sigh of relief, her body still trembling from the shock. Stephen reached out, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, you're okay!"
But their relief was short-lived. A large vehicle was barreling towards them from behind. The blaring horn filled the night air, a chilling prelude to the impending disaster. Stephen glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes widening in horror. He tried to swerve, but it was too late. The vehicle rammed into their car, sending them spiraling out of control.
The world spun around them as their car tumbled down the hillside. Time seemed to stretch, each second an eternity. When the car finally came to a halt, Stephen slowly opened his eyes. His seatbelt had saved him from being thrown around, but the sight that greeted him was one he would never forget.
Christine lay motionless on the passenger seat, her body covered in blood. "No, no, no, no, Christine!" Stephen cried out, his voice filled with despair. "Wake up, Christine, please!"
But there was no response. The woman he loved, the woman who had been by his side through thick and thin, lay lifeless beside him. At that moment, Stephen Strange didn't lose his hand. He lost his love of life.
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