[If you are someone who doesn't want to waste their time and money on books they may not like, please read the Author's Advice before continuing. I don't want you spending it on THIS unless you know what you're getting into.]
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"Art… Arth… Arthur… do not leave the house today…" A soft, familiar voice called out to him.
Darkness surrounded him. Arthur was in a dungeon, his hands chained and a vine full of thorns tied around his neck.
A book floated close to his head. "I told you not to leave your house. " The strange voice was coming from the book.
Arthur looked around in confusion. It felt too real and painful for a dream. Panic quickly taking over him.
"I see what you did, but this wouldn't change anything," an old voice echoed through the dark dungeon.
Arthur tried to follow the source of the sound, but it came from behind, and the chains made it impossible to move.
"Don't worry, Arthur Serpentcrown Miller… soon you and I will be one, followed by the mother, Anioessa," the old man said, stepping closer, robes dragging across the dungeon floor.
Arthur swallowed. "Who are you? Where am I?"
"Looks like even the mighty Arthur can't handle the toll of time," the old man laughed loudly.
But as he approached closer, his laughter faded into an angry scream, "Your finger!"
Arthur, trying to make sense, looked down at his hand. His index finger was missing.
"Arthurrrrr… What did you do?" His voice cracked, echoing loudly through the dark.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Arthur pulled at the chains, metal clanging uselessly.
The man rushed in front of him, grabbing Arthur's chin and forcing him to look up. His gaze locked onto Arthur's eyes.
"…Two pupils…" he breathed, stepping back slowly. "No… not when I'm this close… not now…"
As he backed off, Arthur finally saw the man. The darkness made it hard to focus on his face, but his golden hair was visible even in the dark.
The old man reached inside his robe, pulling out a small knife. Arthur shook his head violently from fear. The motion made the thorns in the vine dig into his neck.
Tears dropped from his eyes. "Why is this happening?"
Arthur screamed in pain as the old man lunged forward, slitting both of Arthur's eyes in one swift motion.
The darkness suddenly warped around him, twisting and turning into various weird signs he didn't recognize.
A bright flash was accompanied by that familiar soft sound from earlier.
"DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE TODAY, ART. Please don't be the hero. They don't get a happy life."
Arthur's eyes snapped open.
He stood up so fast that the bedsheet was flung a few inches away from the bed.
He checked his arms. Both were completely fine. He frantically touched his neck and eyes. no scars, pain, or blood.
He looked around. He wasn't in any strange dungeon anymore. It was a place he was most familiar with. His house.
Everything looked normal and peaceful. The morning light poured in through the window, lighting up his huge wooden bed.
Arthur walked to the mirror first. He leaned close, squinting at his eyes.
"…One pupil. Two pupil. Normal pupil," he whispered, tilting his head left and right like he expected them to suddenly split in two again.
He blinked a few times just to be sure.
Nothing.
He moved to the wardrobe, opening it halfway, as if something might pull him back into that weird dream.
Arthur let out a small breath of relief… then immediately checked under the bed.
Empty.
He walked over to his desk and stared at his notebook for a moment, suspicious. He nudged it with one finger.
It lay there blankly with no talking or flying.
"…Good," he murmured.
Arthur finally straightened up, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah," he sighed. "Definitely just a dream."
After finally calming down, he grabbed the phone, checking all the notifications.
Group chats full of nonsense, missed calls from unknown numbers, and a reminder about upcoming exams that made him wince a little.
He tossed the phone back onto the bed and stretched his arms over his head, letting out a long breath.
Arthur walked toward the door, but just as he was about to open it, a loud knock from outside startled him.
"Arthur!" His little brother's voice came from outside. "Mom said to stop sleeping. Breakfast is ready!"
"Alright, alright. I'm coming," Arthur responded, opening the door.
Outside, his little brother Vincent was standing, neatly dressed in a school uniform.
They walked into the dining area together.
His mom stood near the kitchen counter, pouring tea. His older sister sat at the table scrolling through her tablet, barely glancing up.
"Finally," his sister said without looking away. "The sleeping prince wakes."
Arthur dropped into a chair. "I woke up five minutes ago."
"Which means you almost missed breakfast," his mom replied gently, sliding a plate toward him.
Vincent sat down across from him, eating quickly, as he didn't want to be late for school.
His mom looked at him over her cup. "Arthur, since you're free today because exams are coming… can you drop Vincent at school today?"
Arthur opened his mouth to say yes automatically.
Then he remembered the words from his dream.
Do not leave the house today.
He hesitated. 'Even if it was just a dream, better safe than sorry…' Arthur thought to himself.
"…Actually," he said slowly, scratching the back of his neck, "I think I'll stay home and study."
His sister choked on her drink. Vincent froze mid-bite. Even his mom blinked.
"Study?" his sister asked, raising an eyebrow. "You?"
Arthur frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
His mom smiled faintly. "Arthur… you're almost failing everything."
The whole table burst into light laughter.
Arthur's face tightened. "Maybe studying will finally make me not fail everything."
He stood up, annoyed. "You know what? I am gonna go and study right now."
As he began making his way back to his room, his mom called for him again.
"Arthur, since you are going to stay home and... study, can you go and put white lilies on your father's memorial?" she said, her voice a little deeper than before.
"They are on the kitchen counter. You know today is when—"
"He went missing..." Arthur completed her sentence. "Yeah, I'll do that."
As Arthur said, she stood up, grabbing the lilies from the counter.
"Your father would've loved to see how much you've all grown," she said softly as she stepped closer and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Thank you for going."
Vincent ran to his room to get his bag. His older sister put her hand on her face to avoid making eye contact.
None of the siblings knew how to react or process emotions well.
Arthur gave a small nod, taking the flowers from her.
Seeing Arthur get a bit emotional, she tried to crack a joke to lighten the mood.
"Maybe brush and take a shower first… you know, he was just like this too, never prepared. He'll probably feel pride in how you turned out, more like him than me."
Arthur gave her a faint smile before going towards the exit door and putting on his shoes.
White lilies.
Just a ten minute walk.
He had gone to the memorial more times than he could count. Up the small hill behind the house. Nothing strange had ever happened there.
'What could possibly go wrong?' Arthur thought to himself as his hand hovered on the doorknob.
DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE TODAY.