It was a warm summer evening, the kind that felt like it could stretch forever. Adrian Stone stood at the kitchen sink, rinsing the last of the dinner plates while the faint buzz of cicadas hummed through the open window. The sunset had painted the sky in soft hues of orange and pink, and the air outside smelled faintly of grass and earth after a light afternoon rain. It was an ordinary evening in an ordinary life—a life that Adrian had worked hard to build.

As the water ran over his hands, Adrian glanced over at his wife, Emily, who was drying dishes with practiced efficiency. She was calm, content. Her long, wavy brown hair fell loose over her shoulders, framing her warm smile as she bent down to place a dish in the cupboard.

Their three-year-old daughter, Ava, was perched on a booster seat at the kitchen table, giggling as she made her favorite stuffed bunny hop around the tabletop. Ava’s laughter was infectious, and Adrian found himself smiling as he watched her. The sight of his little girl, so full of life and joy, never failed to warm his heart. She had Emily’s soft brown hair and her bright, curious eyes—eyes that were always seeking out the next adventure.

“Mommy, look!” Ava’s voice rang out, full of excitement. “Bunny’s jumping!”

Emily chuckled, wiping her hands on a towel as she leaned over to kiss the top of Ava’s head. “Well, aren’t you clever,” she said, her voice filled with affection. “That bunny’s a real athlete.”

Adrian finished with the dishes and dried his hands, turning toward the table. “Ava, you’re going to wear that bunny out if you keep making him hop like that,” he teased.

Ava grinned up at her father, her smile as wide as the horizon. “Bunny’s strong! He can jump forever!”

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, as long as Bunny’s okay with it.”

Life had settled into a comfortable routine for the Stone family. Adrian had his work as an engineer, designing and troubleshooting all kinds of mechanical devices. Emily had her martial arts training, which she had practiced for years, honing her body and mind with a discipline that impressed even him. They were a solid team, balancing work and family with ease. And Ava—she was the heart of it all, filling their home with light and laughter.

But tonight, everything was about to change.

As Adrian reached for the last dish, a low rumble vibrated through the floor beneath his feet. It was subtle at first, but it grew louder, resonating in the walls and making the air seem to hum with energy. He paused, his hand hovering over the dish rack, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Emily stopped too, her body going rigid. Years of martial arts training had sharpened her instincts to a razor’s edge, and those instincts were now screaming that something was wrong. Her eyes flicked toward the window, her senses on high alert.

“Did you hear that?” Emily asked, her voice calm but tense.

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Adrian nodded, his eyes narrowing as he listened more closely. The rumbling was growing louder, like the distant roll of thunder, but there was no storm. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “It’s coming from outside.”

Before he could say anything else, there was a sudden roar, louder now, like something tearing through the very fabric of the sky. The air itself seemed to crackle with energy, and the floor beneath them trembled as if the world itself was about to split open.

Emily was already moving, her body coiled with readiness. “Stay here with Ava,” she said, but Adrian was already by her side, his heart pounding in his chest.

“I’m not letting you go out there alone,” Adrian said firmly, though he knew Emily could handle herself. He admired her strength, but this—this was different.

Emily glanced at him, her eyes hard but understanding. She nodded, and together they moved toward the window, their hearts racing as they tried to make sense of the chaos outside.

The sky, which had been clear just moments ago, was now swirling with colors—deep purples and golds that streaked across the horizon like ribbons of light. It was beautiful and terrifying all at once, like a cosmic event unfolding in their very backyard. But there was something wrong, something unnatural about it. The air buzzed with an intensity that made the hair on the back of Adrian’s neck stand on end.

“What the hell is that?” Adrian whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar in the sky.

“I don’t know,” Emily said, her hand gripping his arm as they stared out in disbelief. “But whatever it is, it’s not good.”

Ava, sensing the tension in the room, looked up from her bunny, her wide eyes filled with confusion. “Daddy, what’s happening?”

Adrian tore his gaze from the window and knelt down beside Ava, his heart aching at the fear he saw in her innocent face. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “Mommy and Daddy are here. We’re going to keep you safe.”

But even as he said the words, he wasn’t sure if they were true.

The roar in the sky grew louder, and suddenly, without warning, there was a blinding flash of light—a light so bright it seemed to consume everything around them. Adrian instinctively shielded his eyes, but it was too late. The light was everywhere, surrounding them, swallowing them whole.

The last thing Adrian heard before the world went dark was Ava’s frightened cry, and then, there was nothing.

Adrian woke with a start, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. He blinked against the harsh sunlight that filtered through his eyelids, momentarily disoriented by the strange sensations around him. The ground beneath him was hard, cold. The air smelled different—cleaner, but with an undercurrent of something metallic.

Slowly, he sat up, wincing as his body protested the movement. His muscles felt sore, as if he had just run a marathon, though he had no memory of doing so. His mind was foggy, still reeling from whatever had just happened. The light, the rumble… and then, nothing.

It took a moment for his vision to clear, but when it did, his heart nearly stopped.

This was not their backyard. This wasn’t even their city.

Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass facades gleaming in the sunlight. The buildings were sleek, modern—almost futuristic in their design. The streets were bustling with people, cars, and the constant hum of a city that never seemed to sleep. It was all so… alien.

“Emily?” Adrian called, his voice rough and hoarse. Panic began to claw at his chest as he scanned the area, searching for any sign of his wife or daughter.

“Over here,” came Emily’s voice, steady but tense.

Adrian turned to see Emily sitting on the ground a few feet away, cradling Ava in her arms. Ava, thank God, seemed unhurt, though she clutched her stuffed bunny with a death grip. Her wide eyes were filled with confusion, but she wasn’t crying.

Adrian rushed over to them, relief flooding through him as he knelt beside them. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice thick with worry.

“We’re fine,” Emily said, her eyes scanning the surroundings with the same sharpness as before. “But this place… it’s not home.”

Adrian swallowed hard, his eyes following hers. No, this definitely wasn’t home. The city was too strange, too foreign. And yet, there was something familiar about it—something that tugged at the edges of his memory.

As his gaze swept over the skyline, his eyes landed on a building in the distance. His breath caught in his throat.

Stark Tower.

It stood tall and imposing, its sleek design unmistakable. The giant "A" emblazoned on the side of the building glinted in the sunlight like a beacon.

“No way,” Adrian muttered under his breath, his heart racing. “That’s… that’s impossible.”

Emily followed his gaze, her brow furrowing as she took in the sight. “What is it?”

Adrian’s mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be.

But there it was, clear as day.

“Emily,” he said slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’re not in our world anymore.”

Emily’s eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. She knew what he meant. She had seen the movies, read the comics. And now, standing before them, was undeniable proof.

They were in the Marvel Universe.