Introduction
Year: 1987
The air felt alive as the cars zoomed by Michael, while he strutted down the busy New York streets to the local florist shop. This was no ordinary stop for Michael, though, as he was stopping for flowers because he was finally going to profess his love to his longtime crush Dana. Michael had been chasing after Dana since his days as a teenager pining after her from across the classroom but never able to muster the courage. Michael was working with her now at the illustrious A&S Plaza mall as they both were set to graduate from Manhattan College and he knew he had to take his chance before it was too late. After picking out the biggest bouquet he could with his pocket change, Michael raced to the mall only to see a fleet of emergency vehicles at the front door.
Michael couldn't believe his eyes as he saw Dana being hurried on a stretcher into the back of the ambulance. He raced over to the nearest officer frantically.
"What happened?! Is she going to be okay?" Michael blurted.
"We just got here, son. You'll have to go check in with the docs there," the officer admitted.
Michael knew he had to find Dana and could feel the desperation mounting, so he took off sprinting down the street trying to catch the fading ambulance lights in the distance. After about three blocks of frantic sprinting, Michael gathered himself and realized he could never keep up that kind of pace even in a city as busy as New York. He hailed a cab and set out for the nearest hospital before suddenly going unconscious in the back seat.
Michael looked around saw nothing but milky white clouds and a lone figure in the distance. Michael marveled at his surroundings before looking closer and realizing that it was Dana in the distance. He tried moving towards her but with each step he took the silhouette went further and further into the horizon. He began to pick up the pace wondering where the sudden boost of energy came from, but Dana became but a speck among the far away clouds. Michael cried out so loud he popped awake and scared the grizzled cab driver into nearly swerving lanes. Michael knew what had happened must have been some kind of sign, but not a good one.
"Hope you're okay taking the long way there," the cab driver cackled.
Michael looked out the back window and was horrified to see the once bustling city streets now replaced with a matte black abyss.
"Where are you taking me?!" exclaimed Michael.
"To Dana of course," the cab driver responded as he pointed towards a distant flickering flame.