#project immortal

“This world is unforgiving,” John Doe said, lazily peeling a pecan. He pushed back his sloppy hair, as he popped the nut in his mouth. In a slow, unconcerned movement, he lifted himself up and sat in a criss-cross manner.

“Humanity simply doesn’t care. The monsters,” John rolled his hand in the air, “the species, all of them. They could care less.”

“That doesn’t give you a right to mess with it,” I snapped, glaring at him.

John looked over at me, brows furrowed, a frown twitching. He finally stood up, plodding over to me. Bending down to eye level, he lifted my chin up to make me look him in the eye.

“And why,” John patiently paused, giving weight to his silence. “Why should I care?” His lips creep into an unnerving smile with no efforts, his eyes tilting to the corner ground. “I never gave much thought to why humanity deserves to live. Let alone the Immortals.

“It’s a dog eat dog world. And personally, I wouldn’t mind watching them fight.”

“So what?” I growled, gritting my teeth. “You're in this for entertainment? Fun? The world is suffering because of your ignorance to protect it. Not fighting isn’t an option. Cowardness isn’t an option!”

Those were the wrong words. Anger fitted in John’s eyes like dry grass set ablaze as his hand that lifted my chin now grabbed it firmly, his eyes looking at mine. But his smile was all the same. Lazy. Unnerving. Wild.

“Now, whoever said I was cowering?” Abe questioned me, his voice rising. “Who are you to judge, [Jane Doe]?! For four years you sat in your little apartment, biding your sweet little time while the mortals killed each other!” His hand gripped tighter, nails digging into my skin. I felt blood begin to drip off of my cheek. Vines quickly wrapped around my legs, creating an uncontrolled urge of discomfort and fear to run through me. “What makes you any different than the rest of us, huh? You think you're special because you're the Immortal of the Dead? Because you sit on a fake throne!?”

John threw me to the ground, making my skull ring with pain as the stone floor greeted me harshly. The room blurred as I felt everything hurt. John returned to his little place in front of me, criss cross with his head resting on his palm.

He waited for me to open my eyes again. Like he was waiting for me to listen to him again.

“Little apprentice, I am no different than you,” he bellowed. “You are no leader. You’re a child trying to be an adult. But deep down, you use big words to convince yourself that you’re better than us.

“But you’re exactly like us.”

I whimpered, propping myself up on one arm trying to get off the ground. “Leave me alone, if all you're going to do is mock me.”

“I would,” John admitted, brushing a leaf off his shirt. “But I’m too tired to walk up the stairs.” His lazy smile returned. Threatening. Hateful.

I turned myself to face away from him. Trying to ignore the fact he was very well still staring at me. All I could think about was the John I met at the party. The John I thought I knew. What had the world done to him to make him so heartless?

“You said, I’m only in this for the fun right?” John continued. “But what about you? Who guilted you into this hellride, huh? You act like a saint. What would happen if we killed your father-”

“Don’t you even dare think about it-”

“What if we took away something that mattered to you?” he pressed on. “Would that convince you that no one else matters? You keep yourself grounded. Is that all that matters to you? That your father is safe?”

“That’s not the reason!”

“Then what is?!”

My answer was never given. I ignored him, closing my eyes. I was done fighting with a brick wall. Or a forgotten tree.

[Written by: @that-artemis-studios ]

[Project: Immortal]