Chapter 1: The Dinner Invitation (<Niko>)

November 7th, 202X

8am

I awake, my head spinning with confusion, I am unsure of whether not my dream was real or just another reality. I begin to question my surroundings as if they weren't real, I took my face carefully feeling my rugged sideburns. I am hosting a dinner later tonight I better get ready. I get out of bed carefully almost falling down, but holding myself together. I look at Jessica's impression in the bed, as my heart aches deeply. I wander to my closet, carefully picking out my scruffy white v-neck shirt and slipping on my pajama pants. I sneeze with an obnoxious sound, as I stumble to my bedroom door and open it with my shaky hands, the handle rattling loudly. My butler, James, startles me when I exit my room. "Good morning, sir. It's fifty-two degrees outside, with a possibility of showers later today. I have sent the dinner invitation to everyone you requested yesterday." James states, in an almost entirely monotone voice. I pause before asking, "James, could you fetch me some breakfast and headache medication?" James nods and walks towards the kitchen, as I walk down the stairs towards the garage.

I walk down the stairs, opening the glass door with my ID. "Niko Yates identified. Authorization approved." The system states from the speakers. I walk through the now open door to the garage. "Montana! Open Project: Reality!" I yell as the operating system responds, "Yes sir. Opening door." A door opens on a chalkboard with a machine shrouded in darkness behind it. I take off my shirt, tossing it onto the top corner of the chalkboard, as I look at my battered body. Most of the wounds either very bright and recent or faded and old. "Montana! Begin recording." I yell, as Montana replies with a countdown. "Rolling, sir." Montana says as the red light activates on a camera facing me. I begin with an exhale. "Hello. I am Niko Yates. Day 84. I have returned once again. You, viewer must be shocked by this, but you should have the book I've published to accommodate this recording. If you turn to page 47, you will have a full explanation over this phenomenon that you are witnessing." I say, as I swallow.

I begin to list to the camera how many different ways I've died and returned while pointing at the different wounds. "I am unsure of how I do come back, but I do. I should be dead. Based on modern science, my lungs are extremely damaged, my heart beats with an irregular pulse, and most of my muscles have been torn. Yet, I still walk, talk, eat and operate." I have a decisive and mischievous plan. I need William here to do it, though. Which is an easy reason to throw a party. Because I can die continuously, I plan to have William become unconscious and I'll leave their soul with my carcass, as I get to the bottom of what's happening between William and Jessica. I've hired a detective tonight for the party. Since I know I'll be dead, I need someone intelligent on the scene to throw this "party" into motion.

I shut the camera off and throw on my shirt as Montana states from upstairs, "Welcome home, Jessica." I exhale, my wheeze more apparent than I'd like it to be. "Montana close Project Reality." I say, as the large door shuts with a thud behind me. Not a moment after, Jessica clicks down the stairs in her heels, her breasts jiggling softly with each rushed step. "Niko! Are you down here? James said you went down here once you woke up!" She softly yells into the garage, her voice softly echoing. "Yes, I am Jess." I respond, not wanting her to worry.

Jessica scans her ID on a panel near the door and walks in to face me. "Niko, I was worried about you. You shouldn't be moving in your condition." Jessica says, reaching out and touching my cheek. Jessica believes that I served in the military and am suffering from wounds and damage from it. I reach out and practically fall on to her. I stand taller than her, despite her being in heels. "Oh my, Niko! Are you okay?" She asks as I fake a cough, my lungs aching in agony as I do. "Will you stay with me?" I ask, knowing full well that she can't. I paid her business to send her on a trip to the southern country, so she wouldn't know the party or the plan I have. I don't need her to know.

She "helps" me walk back to my room and lays with me. "Niko, babe, I have to leave for a work trip. I hope this doesn't hurt our already rugged relationship anymore. I love you." Jessica says, her breasts jiggling as she sits on the edge of my bed. I get side tracked immediately by James awaiting in the doorway. "Come in James!" I shout from my bed, as James nods and walks in with a silver tray and, presumably, my breakfast on it. James sets the tray on the side table, opens the blinds to the room and promptly leaves without a word. Jessica kicks off her heels and slithers up my body, "And, when I get back..." Jess says, leaning close to my ear, "We can enjoy ourselves, intimately." I bite my lip out of lust and she seductively moans in my ear. I grab her by her shoulders and roll on top of her and lean into her ear, "I'd like that very much."

Jessica believes that she can help and repair our relationship by allowing me to lust over her. It doesn't. She doesn't understand that affairs aren't something you can just heal and get over easily without punishment on the guilty party. I loved her, and she tore out my heart when I saw her sweet-talking and kissing William. I play along with her idea of "lust healing" to make it seem like I don't know that she's cheating on me. I give her a hug and we make out for what feels like forever, until she says, "I must leave, love. I promise we can be together once I get back." Jess gives me a long and sweet kiss before leaving with a heart hand gesture.

The front door shuts with a thud, as I get out of bed, cracking my neck in several places on both sides. I pray she doesn't know. For when I take over William's body, all her lies will be revealed and I'll know how long Jessica's been cheating on me. I can only hope that William doesn't attempt to do anything while I walk as him. Luckily, I don't need him dead, I need him unconscious. But, I'm unsure of how my "death" will effect him. William doesn't deal with loss very well, but I need him alive to do this. I begin to eat my breakfast. The toast was delicious, with the eggs sunny side up and the yolk roughly intact.

After I finish my meal, I set everything back on the platter and look at my phone that I neglected when I got out of bed this morning. After I check the news, which is claiming that the work William did at the council was, "beyond productive". After a while of reading his accomplishment and many people's concerns about me, I look at the time, and gasp as it is less than an hour before my guests arrive. I quickly get dressed and tidy myself before exiting my room.