**Chapter 1: The Fatal Encounter**

The streets were always alive at night, and Darren had grown accustomed to the sounds of the city. He walked hand in hand with his girlfriend, Marcy, as they strolled through the crowded sidewalks. They had just left a movie theater, and the cool night air felt refreshing after being cooped up in a dark room for two hours. As they turned a corner, Darren noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. At first, he thought it was just a lost soul, but as the figure stepped forward, Darren's instincts kicked in. The man was tall, with a menacing scowl on his face. "Hand over your wallet and phone, now!" he demanded, a glint in his eye. Darren stood his ground, his heart racing with adrenaline. He wasn't going to let some thug take advantage of him and Marcy. "Back off, buddy," Darren said, trying to sound confident. The stranger sneered, pulling out a knife. "You think you're tough? I'll show you tough." Without hesitation, Darren lunged at the man, trying to disarm him. But it was too late. The knife flashed in the dim light, and Darren felt a searing pain in his chest. He stumbled backward, gasping for breath. Marcy screamed, her eyes wide with horror. "Darren, no! Oh my god!" As Darren lay on the ground, he saw the stranger towering over him, the knife still clutched in his hand. He looked up at Marcy, expecting her to call for help, but instead, she rushed toward him, tears streaming down her face. "Darren, don't die on me! Please, don't leave me!" Darren tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. He reached out to Marcy, and she clutched his hand. The stranger stood frozen, his eyes locked on Marcy. For a moment, Darren thought he saw a flicker of recognition, but it was quickly replaced by a smug smile. As Darren's vision began to fade, he saw Marcy lean in, her lips brushing against his ear. "I'm sorry, Darren. I love you." But before he could respond, Marcy's face changed. Her eyes, once filled with tears, now sparkled with a different kind of emotion. She leaned in closer, and Darren saw her kiss the stranger, passionately. The world went dark. When Darren opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky. He was lying on a bed of leaves, and the air was crisp and clean. He tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over him, and he fell back, clutching his chest. What had happened? Was it all just a dream? And where was Marcy?