Artum Infernum Pt. 1 - The Dreamland Saga

"You know, people will think you're weird if you bring broccoli to the party."

Michael says to his bestfriend, Kevin, walking down the street with him.

"I don't think you get to talk about "weird" things, Michael."

Kevin says back, teasingly.

"Besides, everyone likes broccoli, right?"

Kevin says while looking innocently at the munched on broccoli in his hand.

"I'm not so sure..."

Michael replies, a bit embarrassed by his friend's silliness.

"Well whatever. Just don't come crying to me when you get rejected by every person you meet."

Michael says casually, putting his hands behind his head as he continues walking. As they walk and talk, a girl comes running down the sidewalk around the corner, checking her watch. Before she can do anything else, however, she runs head first into Michael, smacking her head against his jaw.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I should've been watching where I was going."

She quickly apologizes as she rubs her head.

"It's okay. I'm not hurt or anything so it's all good."

He says as he rubs his chin. Suddenly, Kevin chops Michael on the top of his head, yelling at him.

"How dare you not even consider how she feels!"

He then immediately snaps to the woman with a smile and a thumb pointed at himself.

"I'm Kevin by the way."

The woman looks a bit confused about as Michael crouches behind them, holding his head in pain.

"I know. You okay Michael?"

The woman asks with a slight smile. She leans past Kevin and looks at Michael.

"Yeah, just tired of being hit all the time, haha!"

He stands up and rubs the back of his head as Jade steps next to him. Kevin looks back and forth between them quickly, obviously confused about how they know each other.

"Aw! Why do you always know the hot ones?"

Kevin says, pouting. Michael cups Jade's face in his palm.

"Kevin, this is Jade, remember?"

Kevin gets a look of realization and puts his fist in his hand.

"Oooh, the one you have a huge crush on! That one right?"

He points at them as Michael blushes in embarrassment. Jade giggles.

"No! Definitely not! And don't we have a party to go to?!"

He quickly deflects and starts shoving Kevin's face down as Jade gets a surprised look.

"You guys aren't going to Jasper's party, are you?"

Michael, who has Kevin by the collar shaking him around, stops and looks at her, surprised. He then proceeds to drop Kevin entirely.

"Yes we are actually."

"Me too! That's why I was running. I thought I was going to be late..."

She laughs awkwardly as she waves her hand lightly. Kevin points his finger up shakily from the ground.

"Don't worry! Michael will get us there in no time!"

Kevin says before dropping his arm back to the ground. Michael sighs.

"Yeah well I won't be able to if we don't get going so come on."

Michael points his thumb over his shoulder in the direction they need to go. He then turns and takes a step off the curb into the clear street. As soon as he does this though a car seemingly comes out of nowhere, screeching to a halt the best it can. Michael turns his head sharply a moment before everything goes black.

'Here we go again...'

His voice echoes.

"Michael! Michael!"

Kevin and Jade stand over him as he hardly opens his eyes. They're both terrified, Jade stands behind Kevin, who is calling for help, holding her hand over her mouth with tears forming. 

'It always ends up this way.'

Michael lays there on the road looking up towards the sky, his body horribly injured with hollowed eyes. Hardly conscious yet deep in thought.

'I must be dreaming... because the same thing is happening again...'

He brokenly turns his head slightly, struggling to look at the driver coming out of the car.

'Jazmine...'

He looks at her, Jazmine, who steps out of the car with a worried look on her face before it all goes black, another voice speaking.

"Reset."