They finally arrived at the steps of the Sanctum Sanctorum.
The towering structure stood silent on 177A Bleecker Street, its ancient walls pulsing faintly with magical energy. Jack parked the car and stared at the doors like they might bite.
Strange floated beside him, expression serious.
"I can't go in," he said.
Jack blinked. "What?"
"There's a soul ward. A protective enchantment. It'll destroy any lingering spirit the moment it crosses the threshold." Strange looked at Jack. "So... good luck."
Jack stared at the front door, then at Strange.
"I'm gonna die."
"You won't," Strange said calmly. "Probably."
Jack gulped and slowly approached the entrance. The doors creaked open like they had been waiting.
He stepped inside, heart pounding.
The air was cold — unnaturally cold. Magic buzzed in the silence, vibrating through the walls. He shut the door behind him with a soft click.
Suddenly—
"Who are you?"
The voice was sharp. Commanding.
Jack spun around.
Wong stood in the hallway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Jack panicked. "Uh—nice building."
Wong didn't blink. "Who are you? I won't ask again."
Jack raised his hands. "Chill, okay? My name's Jack Willson. Something really weird is happening to me."
He explained it all — the body, the shadows, the underwater vision... and Doctor Strange.
When he finished, Wong's expression had darkened.
"Where is he?"
"In my car," Jack said nervously.
"You brought him in your car?" Wong's voice rose.
"Not the body. The... soul. He's sitting in the front seat. Well, floating."
"I can't see him," Wong said, stepping out the door with Jack.
Back at the car, Strange looked annoyed. "You took your sweet time."
"He noticed me," Jack muttered. "This is your fault."
Wong stared at the passenger seat. "Where is he?"
"Right there," Jack pointed. "Floating. Not sitting."
"Whatever," Jack added quickly.
"I still can't see him," Wong said, frowning.
Strange leaned forward slightly. "Tell him to cast Soul Vision."
"He says cast Soul Vision," Jack relayed.
Wong's face twitched. "He told you that?"
"Yep."Jack said.
Wong sighed, opened a portal with a flick of his sling ring, and disappeared into the golden circle. A few moments later, he returned with a thick, rune-covered book, flipping through it quickly.
He began chanting softly. A circle of glowing glyphs appeared over his eyes.
Then — he saw him.
Strange appeared before him, half-transparent, cloaked in his astral form.
"Strange…" Wong whispered. "You should have told me."
Strange smiled faintly. "Would you have believed me?"
Wong looked between him and Jack. "I would've prepared for it."
Wong stepped back, still watching Strange with a mix of concern and suspicion.
Strange floated just above the ground, arms crossed, cloak flickering like smoke.
"Whatever," Strange muttered. "Teach him about spells."
Wong raised an eyebrow. "You want me to train him?"
"He doesn't have a choice," Strange said. "Neither do we."
Wong sighed, then turned to Jack. "I can cast a location spell. It will reveal the gate's current position — wherever in the world it is."
Strange's expression darkened. "That's dark magic, Wong."
Wong asked, "Tell me what happened when you used that dark magic."
Strange said, "First give me a protection spell, or my soul will be destroyed if I enter the Sanctum Sanctorum."
Wong casted the spell.
As they began walking toward the portal, wong looked at Strange and asked, "Why did you try to use dark magic?"
Strange replied, "To bring Christine back."
wong asked, "How did she die?"
Strange said, "She died in a car accident… with her boyfriend. Both of them didn't survive."
wong looked between the two of them. "So… what now?"
Strange looked at Wong.
"To Kamar-Taj."
Wong nodded, opening another swirling portal, this time revealing distant snowy peaks and the grand courtyard of the mystical city.
Jack's mouth dropped open. "We're seriously going to Nepal?"
Strange smirked. "You said you were up for this."
Wong glanced at Jack. "Step through quickly. The shadows are still watching."
Jack took a breath… and stepped through the portal.
Behind him, the golden circle closed — and the wind of another world hit his face. The journey had only just begun.