Chapter 1 - Déjà Vu

Magnus is a pre-made who attended college with my previous Apocalypse challenge founder. Long story short, poor Liam died. Unable to bear watching a reflection go through the motions of Liam's life, I extracted his best-friend to experience the horrors of the Super-Bowl Blowout.

Usually, Magnus would be ecstatic to be standing in front of his new dorm. He was certain that this place would be the home of great times and good memories from his college years, but... he couldn't shake this feeling of déjà vu. Like he'd been here before...

He barely managed to fake a smile.

Magnus had never been good at chess as a child (he always mixed up the rook and the bishop), but college was a time for trying new things. With a reluctant expression, he sat at the board and began to pick up each of the pieces, trying to remember what they did.

 

He'd only been playing for a couple of minutes when a lanky redhead with an oversized t-shirt sat down and began to contemplate the pieces. "Name's Venkat." The redhead offered before jerking the rook across the board and cornering Magnus' unprotected king, "Checkmate."

After a few hours of playing Magnus had radically improved. "Checkmate." He purred, lifting a bishop into the air and snatching Venkat's king with a satisfied smirk.

 "Beginner's luck! You won't beat me a second time!"

 

"We'll see about that."

Later, after Magnus had won three rounds straight, he migrated to the cafeteria. While there, shoveling food in his mouth, a brunette wearing nothing but pink entered. "Oh, my head..." The girl groaned, stooping down with her eyes screwed tightly shut.

"Are you alright?" Magnus inquired with cheeks as full as a chipmunks. The girl gave her head a mild shake before standing and trotting over to him.

"I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. Thanks for your concern." She said, gently stooping down and placing her hand on Magnus' shoulder. As her hand grazed his shoulder, he tightened his cheeks to keep from spewing his mouthful of food all over the table.

University wasn't as exciting as Magnus expected it to be... most days he woke up early, ate breakfast, went to class, then played chess late into the night with Venkat. His life was so dull, that if not for a strange, persistent feeling of déjá vu, vague memories, and addled senses, his story may not be worth telling at all.

The memories were brief flashes; in each one, Magnus found himself to the side, watching an enigmatic individual wile their way through life.

The addled senses occurred when Magnus stayed up late studying with Venkat. He'd wander into his Corey's room, asking for a 'Liam'.

"Magnus, out! There's no Liam here -- out!" Corey shouted, jumping towards the door while waving Magnus out.

"Then where is he? Why are you in his room?"

"I'm locking my door -- go to bed!" Corey snapped before grabbing Magnus' shoulders and forcing him through the door.

Magnus couldn't put his strange feelings to words, but he could most definitely put them to art! Each time he pressed his brush onto the canvas, he was inspired by monochrome tie-dye, the idea of a past-life, and the supernatural.

He turned away from his painting when he heard the door swing open. He stared at the brunette entering the room before exclaiming, "Is that you, Yusun? I barely recognized you with your hair down... and no pink."

"Listen, Magnus, I'd love to talk - just some other time. You really stink." Yusun hissed, using her hand as a barrier between herself and the stinky male.

Magnus may have to shower before he can woo the ladies.