Dante's POV:

"DANTE!" My mom's voice pierced through the peaceful morning air, jolting me from my slumber.

"YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as my mom barged into my room, wearing her trademark look of exasperation.

"Gee, mom! I'll get ready," I muttered, swinging my legs out of bed. She sighed dramatically.

"Why must you go through this teenage phase? You'll be an adult in a year!" 

I wished my mom was less dramatic.

With a resigned sigh, I headed to the bathroom to start my morning routine. I threw on a loose black T-shirt and track pants, hastily tying my shoulder-length hair into a half ponytail.

Downstairs, my mom had prepared my usual breakfast - toast and scrambled eggs.

"Thanks, Mom," I said, sitting at the dining table.

She kissed my forehead.

"Have a great day, sweetheart," she said with a smile.

"You too, Mom," I replied, Grinning in return.

Grabbing my bag, I headed to the garage, giving my beloved Harley Davidson ironhead a fond pat before reluctantly leaving it behind. Today, Fox would drive us with her Volkswagen. As I climbed into the back seat of Fox's car, I greeted her with a nod.

"Wassup!" she exclaimed, flashing me a grin.

Fox and I had been close friends since middle school.

"Hey!" I replied, returning her grin as she pulled out of the driveway.

Carleton University was just a fifteen-minute drive from my house. We arrived just in time to meet our friends, Michael and Noah.

"Hey!" Fox called out as we approached them.

"Oh, hey guys," Michael greeted us with a smile.

"Good to see you two," I said, nodding at them.

"You too!" Noah replied.

"Have you seen the others around?" Fox asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Not yet," Noah answered. "We just got here."

As we chatted, Crissie joined us. Her ginger hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she looked less than thrilled. She was Carleton's head cheerleader and fashion icon, but today she seemed more subdued than usual.

"What's wrong?" Fox asked, noticing Crissie's mood.

"Nothing, just caught a cold," Crissie replied, her tone clipped. "The rain didn't help."

"Why didn't you take the day off?" Michael asked.

"I didn't want to miss our business administration class," Crissie explained.

"You could have asked Regina for the notes," Fox suggested.

"I didn't want to bother anyone," Crissie muttered, pulling her hoodie tighter around her.

Her gaze flicked to me, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Despite her clingy demeanour, I knew Crissie had feelings for me. But my Gemini self couldn't tolerate her self-obsession. Just then, Evie arrived, and Fox ran up to her with a hug.

"DANG! YOU WORRIED ME!" Fox exclaimed.

As I watched their interaction, I couldn't help but wonder where I stood with Evie. But before I could dwell on it further, the bell rang, signalling the start of classes.

"See you guys at lunch," Noah said, and we all nodded in agreement.

I sighed and walked to chemistry class, grateful for the distraction from my tangled thoughts. As I settled into my seat at the back of the room, Evie entered, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of anticipation. She took the seat next to me.

"You look tired," she said.

"It's chemistry," I replied.

She chuckled lightly as the rest of the class entered. I sighed and closed my eyes, ready to doze off.

"It's not nap time, idiot!" she quipped.

I sighed again. 

"It's not nap time; it's chemistry."

She rolled her eyes and flicked her pen. I glanced at her, noticing her blue eyes for the first time. They complemented her blonde hair well. If only she didn't have such a nerdy personality, she might be attractive to most.

The teacher entered the class, clearing his throat to silence the room.

With my head on the table and eyes closed, I listened as Mr. Sam began the lesson. 

"Let's continue with ionic equilibrium. Turn to page thirty-four..."

As the others flipped through their textbooks, Mr. Sam approached me.

"Where's your textbook, Whitelock?" he asked.

"It's at home," I replied sleepily.

He sighed. 

"Go and get it!"

"Okay," I mumbled, starting to rise from my seat.

But before I could move, he stopped me.

"I was only joking," he said, laughing at his attempt at humour.

"I insist, Mr. Sam," I replied, my tone serious.

He seemed taken aback by my sudden change in demeanour.

(...)

The echoing bell signalled the end of class, and I made my way downstairs with a resigned sigh. Grabbing my bag, I waited for Evie amidst the bustling crowd of students departing the campus. She approached me with a glare that could rival the intensity of a thousand suns.

"I hate you," she declared, her tone laced with irritation.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her candidness.

"You caught me," I admitted, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "But hey, at least Mr. Sam spared me today."

A brief moment of laughter passed between us, easing the tension that had lingered in the air.

As the afternoon lectures beckoned, Evie and I found ourselves strolling together, our steps falling into a comfortable rhythm. However, our leisurely pace came to an abrupt halt when a sharp light pierced through the horizon ahead.

"What's wrong?" Evie inquired, her concern evident in her voice.

My heart raced as I recognized the ominous glow, a harbinger of impending doom. I grasped Evie's hand tightly, the weight of my impending fate pressing down on me like a leaden shroud.

"We need to go back," I urged, my voice trembling with urgency.

"Dante, what's happening?" Evie pressed, her eyes wide with fear.

"We're in danger, Evie," I confessed, my words heavy with the weight of our shared peril.

As the blinding light intensified, engulfing us in its luminous embrace, I braced myself for the inevitable. In an instant, the world around us dissolved into nothingness, and I found myself adrift in the void of oblivion. 

(...)

I woke up on the dry ground, sand clinging to my face as I scanned my surroundings. Ahead, I heard the murmur of voices, and as my vision cleared, I spotted two figures cloaked in black.

"Excuse me," I called out.

One of the figures stepped forward, his gaze intense as he circled me. His weathered face and gray hair suggested years of experience.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice steady.

"Dante," I replied, feeling a sense of unease creeping over me.

The other figure remained silent, his presence imposing as he watched us.

"The name's Will," the first man said, his tone revealing nothing. "This is the second time I've encountered a vamp."

"A vamp?" I echoed, my mind reeling at the revelation.

"You're not aware?" Will responded his demeanour cool and collected. "You, my friend, are a vampire."

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I struggled to comprehend the implications.

"What do you mean?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Taking my hand, Will pointed to the lines on my palm.

"You see these three lines," he explained. "This indicates that you've experienced death three times. Only vampires have that kind of resilience."

As he traced the lines, a sense of dread washed over me.

"They all converge at one point," he continued. "You died from a supernova."

I nodded, the memories of my previous deaths flooding back.

"I'm a grim reaper," Will added, his words hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Shocked?"

I could only nod, unable to form a coherent response.

"Someone cursed you," he said, his tone grave. "Reliving the death of a supernova is already agonizing enough."

"Who would do such a thing?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

Will examined my hand once more before the other figure returned.

"He's on his third death," Will explained to his companion.

"We can't keep him here for long," the other figure said, his voice stern. "He needs to endure his fourth life."

"Understood," Will replied, turning back to me.

"Find out who cursed you," he said, his gaze piercing. "I'll meet you in the human world."

With a nod, I watched as a portal materialized before me.

"Good luck," Will said, his words echoing in my mind.

"Thank you," I replied, steeling myself for what lay ahead, before nearly stepping into the portal and preparing for my fourth life.

"Hold on a sec," a voice interrupted.

The newcomer appeared to be in his late twenties, with a rugged charm that drew attention.

"Yeah?" I responded, curious about his sudden appearance.

"You're planning revenge, aren't you?" he inquired, his tone serious.

"Yeah," I confirmed, matching his intensity with my own.

"I'd like to lend a hand," he offered, his gaze unwavering.

"Are you a grim reaper too?" I ventured to ask.

"Yes, and he's our leader," Will interjected, nodding towards the man.

"I'm Atticus Adair," he introduced himself. "Trained as a grim reaper at the tender age of eleven."

"Interesting," I remarked, impressed by his early initiation into such a solemn role. "So, grim reapers receive training?"

"Not exactly. Some of us are born into it," Atticus explained. "I'm the one who guides souls to the afterlife."

"How many souls have you guided?" I inquired, curious about his experiences.

"Just one—my wife," he revealed a hint of sorrow in his voice. "It's a strange feeling, guiding someone you love."

"Your wife?" I echoed, struck by the unexpected revelation.

"Yes, it's a rather unconventional love story," Atticus admitted with a rueful smile. "But she was the most beautiful sight, even after spending six years in a grave."

"And you're only twenty-four?" I exclaimed, surprised by his youth.

"That's right," he confirmed with a nod.

"Remarkable," I murmured, realizing the depth of his experiences at such a young age.

"I'll come visit you, along with Will," Atticus offered before turning to leave.

"I'll be expecting you," I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie with this unexpected ally.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Atticus disappeared, leaving me to prepare for my next journey through the portal.

(...)

Finally, I am done with the first chapter!! <3

I am planning to do a Q&A with you all.

Question 1: What is your guilty pleasure?

Mine is Cheetos <3