Alice found herself walking around nature, surrounded by beautiful tall trees. She could hear the birds chirping, the bugs buzzing and water running from a small creek Alice knew was a few meters away. She turned to her husband, Tim, and said, “You see, we are almost at the creek now. That wasn’t that hard, was it?”

Tim was a 6’0 medium build man with short brown hair. He was not in optimal shape, but he wasn’t out of shape either. He was almost at the dad bod stage of his life minus the children. He was covered in sweat and catching his breath, and said, “I don’t know how you enjoy any of this. I have bug bites all over me, and I’m drenched in sweat.”

Alice handed Tim a water bottle and said, “Come on! We are almost there. You will love it once we reach the creek, trust me!”

Tim nodded and continued walking. Alice started following Tim, glancing left and right admiring all the nature around her.

“How much farther?”

“Just a few more miles and we will be there. Stop whining,” responded Alice.

“Not whining! I just need to be mentally prepared that’s all.”

“Of course you do.”

Alice started admiring the nature all around her, looking left and right to take it all in. She glanced back at Tim and thought, “Oh Tim, I’ve missed you so much… wait…Tim? Where am I? What is Tim doing here? Where is Grimmy? Bonetta? Rami?”

Alice started to panic. She did not feel as if she was dreaming. This felt real. Too real.

“Tim?” Alice shouted.

“Yes, babe?”

“Where are we?”

“What do you mean? Your favorite hike of course. You have been insisting on coming here all week.”

“Is this a dream?” responded Alice.

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Everything froze. No more birds chirping, no more big buzzing, no more water running.

“That was faster than expected,” whispered a voice behind Alice’s ear.

Alice turned around and jumped back from the scare. When she turned around, she saw a tall slender man, dressed in a purple suit exactly like the ones from Earth. He had a white shirt and a matching tie. Blonde hair, almost matching the beige color of his suit, which reached the tip of his shoulders.

“Who are you?!”

“Who am I? Isn’t it obvious? Look at where you are. Look at what you’re doing. Look at who is here with you. Take a guess.”

“Am I dreaming?” said Alice, confused.

“Yes, Alice, you are dreaming.”

“How do you know my name?!” said Alice as she tried reaching for her non-existent sickles.

“Oh, dear, how would I not know your name,” the mysterious man said as he circled Alice as if he was studying her. “The famous Alice Raven. The champion chosen by the God Death. The champion that will represent him in the upcoming tournament. You are a celebrity you know. It’s rare that the God of Death takes a liking to a mortal. Even rarer for a mortal to take a liking to him. What is it about Death that intrigued you? Please tell me. I’m dying to know.” The mysterious man grinned and patiently waited for an answer.

“Take me back to my friends. What have you done to them?”

“I asked first. Answer my question and then I will answer yours.”

“Joe is a nice person. He is just misunderstood. Plus, I talked to him for a few hours, and I tend not to judge a book by its cover, unless that cover has me in it.”

“Joe, is it? Marvelous, I see you’re on a first-name basis. How fascinating. Please tell me more about yourself. I want to know everything about Joe’s chosen.”

“If I remember correctly, it’s your turn to answer my question.”

“Ah, of course, I’m a man of my word. Your friends are fine. They will be there where you left them as soon as you wake up.”

“So, I am dreaming. Good that answers my second question.”

“Aren’t you a perceptive one,” said the man, annoyed. “I’m starting to see what Death sees in you. Is this your husband?” He started circling Tim, no longer looking at Alice.

“Is that your next question?”

“So, he is your husband, interesting…”

“What of it?”

“Oh, nothing really. It’s just good to know that there are things I can use for… motivation.”

“Whoever you are and whatever this is… leave him out of it.”

“Oh, perceptive and protective, good combination.”

“Are you going to tell me who you are? Or are you going to be that guy who thinks being mysterious is cool? It’s not cool. It’s never been cool. I don’t know why guys think it is. Plus, that outfit is not doing you any favors.”

The man snapped his finger, and everything disappeared, leaving a black void surrounding Alice and him.

“Ok, playtime is over,” said the man, clearly annoyed this time. “I thought my presence would be obvious by now but seems like I was mistaken when I said you were perceptive.”

“Hey, I am perceptive, but I’m between two options right now, and I don’t want to assume. I’m not friends with a guy dressed like a bat, so I think I know who you are, but I just want to make sure.”

The man took on a confused look.

“I don’t know what that means, but I’m going to add bad sense of humor to the list,” replied the man. “You can call me the God of Dreams.”

The man snapped his fingers again and Alice woke up.

She stood up, sweating with an elevated heartbeat.

“Alice! Are you okay? Is it happening again? Remember you’re not alone. You have us. Rami, look at what you did! You are making her have nightmares. Don’t say things like that again!” said Grimmy.

Rami came in sprinting. “I’m sorry, Alice, it really was not my intention to make you feel bad about your loved one forgetting you.”

Bonetta appeared behind Rami and slapped him again. “Ignore him, Alice. He is just an idiot.”

Alice took a few deep breaths and said, “No, it wasn’t what Rami said. It was something else this time. Grimmy, do you know the God of Dreams?”

Grimmy gulped with concern on his face.