IMMORTALITY
*Gideon*
“Veni, vidi, vici: I came, I saw, I conquered”
Julius Caesar
“Abigail!” I shouted into the darkness. There was no sign of her. I had followed her into the tornado before it closed.
I waved my hands above me, and a ball of light shaped like a half moon appeared and feebly lit the place. Looking around me, I was surprised to find myself surrounded by thousands upon thousands of gravestones. The ghastliness and silence of the surroundings didn’t scare me, but I was scared to think of what might have happened to Abigail.
“Abigail!” I shouted again. I glanced around, desperately searching for a way out. I knew D well, so I knew I wasn’t going to find a huge door with a flashing exit sign above it. She loved playing games, and from the look of the graves around me, I knew she never lost.
I made my way through the headstones, shouting for Abigail as I moved. Halfway through, I felt like the dark, strange world was closing in. Angels didn’t have to breathe in order to survive, but for once, it felt as if I was losing my breath and possibly my mind.
“Abigail!” I shouted more frantically, and then I began rushing through the gravestones.
Hello. Anyone out there? Gideon, can you hear me? Valoel? I heard Tristan’s voice calling out in my head.
Tristan? I called, finally happy to hear a sound, even if it was Tristan’s voice. Tristan, I can hear you. Where are you?
I’m behind the red line, he answered sadly. You’re in the Underworld?
I was surprised. The red line?
The red line was the line that separated the living from the dead. Souls had to cross over it when they passed so they could enter the land of the dead. D’s job was to lead souls to the line so they could cross over.
Tristan, move away from that line, I warned him.
I can’t. I tried. D said only someone who is alive can pull me back to the side of the living, or my other choice is to cross over.
I swear if I find her I’m going to… I stopped myself when I realized how I sounded. Do you remember how you got there?
Tristan whispered no. He looked around him. I saw what he saw. He stood in a clearing. In front of him was the red line, and behind him were thousands of gravestones.
I knew I had to save him, for Abigail, but I really didn’t want to. I didn’t like him, and he almost kissed my girlfriend, so I was sure no one would blame me if I didn’t save him. But then Abigail kept showing up in my head. I knew she’d be upset if Tristan died, and I’d never hear the end of it from Valoel if I didn’t save him.
I literally had to pinch myself when I realized I’d save Tristan.
I’m surrounded by gravestones, too. Just stay where you are, and I’ll come get you.
You’re coming to save me? Gideon, I think you’re going soft, Tristan said cheerlessly.
Don’t make me change my mind, I warned. I was saving him instead of looking for Abigail, but maybe by saving him, we’d have a better chance in finding her.
You came here alone? Tristan asked as I made my way through the gravestones, knocking some of the stones out of my way.
I wanted to tell him that I came with thousands of warriors, but I knew Tristan. I knew that if he knew only nine of those warriors would return home to their loved ones, it would kill him.
Yeah. Abigail and Valoel want you alive, so…here I am. I lied. Tristan was right! I was going soft. What was with me trying to spare his feelings?
I ran and ran through what seemed like a never-ending graveyard, but I couldn’t find Tristan. I went in circles. Almost half of the gravestones were in ruins because I smashed them into pieces during my search. I was covered in dirt, and there was no sign of either Abigail or Tristan. I was losing my mind, and giving up wasn’t an option.
I could just cross over and…
Don’t you dare! I shouted angrily. I came here to save you, and I’m not leaving until I do.
After I said this, both of us went silent. I thought about nothing but Abigail being lost. I even tried making sense of why when Princess Sela was shot and fell, that I fell, too.
Can you feel that? Tristan broke through my thoughts, a little hope ringing in his voice.
I couldn’t feel what he was talking about at first, but suddenly I felt his presence. I knew he felt mine.
I think I can find you, I said with renewed energy, and I started heading toward the pull of Tristan’s presence. I walked for a while before I finally reached the clearing and saw Tristan. I had never been happier to see him in my entire life.
You found me. Now I’m positive you like me, Tristan said, and this time his voice was full of teasing.
Don’t psychoanalyze this, I said as I rushed toward him. But before I could reach him, a scream from behind stopped me.
“Abigail!” I shouted when I saw her. She was hanging in midair with her hands tied behind her. I saw that her body was covered in bruises and blood. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears. I rushed over to her, but the moment I reached out to touch her, she disappeared.
Tristan sounded scared when he said, “Gideon what’s going on? Was that Abigail?”
“Yes,” I said and made another attempt to free Tristan, but the moment I stepped toward him, Abigail reappeared.
Her appearance and reappearance could only mean one thing. “Cut the crap, D. I know you’re there.”
D appeared right beside Abigail, who was struggling to free herself. The moment my eyes met D’s, I charged at her, but she vanished, only to reappear behind me.
“Gideon, aren’t you happy to see me?” D asked with a seductive grin on her lips.
“D, let them go,” I demanded.
She laughed, “I must say, Gideon, I never imagined this day would come. You trying to save Tristan and a human.” She laughed again, and her voice filled me with rage. I turned from her and took a step closer to Tristan, but the moment my foot touched the ground, Abigail started screaming in pain.
“Abigail!” Tristan and I shouted. I moved toward Abigail, but D disappeared with her again.
D’s voice came from behind me again, saying, “You move, and I keep torturing her.”
“I swear, D, if I—”
She cut me off, saying, “You’ll what?” She smiled at me. “I can’t let you save Tristan, and I’m enjoying torturing this human, so I can’t let her go either.”
I was now standing between Abigail and Tristan, both within reaching distance, but I knew D wasn’t joking, so I didn’t move.
“What the hell do you want?” I couldn’t stand seeing the pain in Abigail’s eyes. Blood dripped from her wounds, and I knew whatever it was that D was doing to her was killing her.
“War,” D answered simply. “I’m tired of doing the same thing day after day. I lead souls here to the Underworld and make sure that they cross over—it’s boring. I want my freedom. I want to die and get my happy ending.”
I didn’t understand her reasoning. “Here’s an idea. Why don’t you go look for a freaking new job?”
“Oh, but you are missing the point. I’m bound to this job as long as those stupid humans exist.”
I still didn’t get where she was going with her speech. I couldn’t bear to see Abigail looking so weak and hurt. “What has Tristan got to do with this stupid plan of yours?” I demanded. I was pretty sure the human race would be around for a long time.
“I need Tristan out of the way. I can’t have him trying to save the humans when I try to destroy them all.” Finally, I understood why D held Tristan captive behind the red line. If Tristan died, no one could stop her from destroying everything. She was powerful enough to do that.
“You can’t do—” Tristan started.
D laughed and cut Tristan off. “Oh, poor naïve Tristan, you—”
The fireball I launched hit D in the chest, and she crashed to the ground on her back. I looked away from her and immediately rushed over to Tristan.
“Stop!” D shouted the moment I reached out to pull Tristan from the line. At the sound of her voice, Abigail started screaming louder than before. “Stop or I’ll kill her!” There was no remorse in D’s voice, and I knew her well enough to know that she meant what she said.
Abigail’s screams echoed around the graveyard. I didn’t know what to do. “D, let’s—”
“Let’s make this more interesting, shall we?” she asked through a laugh. Suddenly, she moved Abigail’s levitated body toward me. Abigail was close enough for me to save. “You can only save one of them, but either choice you make falls in my favor.” And then she laughed louder.
I wanted to ask her what would happen if I were to save Tristan and not Abigail, but I knew the answer myself. I’d personally help D destroy the world if I lost Abigail. Because what would be the point in living if I had nothing to live for? D was right: whatever choice I made, I would lose.
“I’ll give you a hint,” she said. “Two lives you hold. Choose for blood and save one, or choose for pride and lose them both.”
I replayed D’s words in my head.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked, but all D answered with was laughter.
If I were told to choose between Tristan and Abigail when I was first assigned to them, I’d have chosen neither. If I were to choose between them last week, I’d have chosen Abigail. Now I didn’t know whom to choose, because whatever choice I made would hunt me forever.
If I chose Abigail, the world would lose its hero and savior. Frankly, it fell in my favor, there would be no Tristan around to stop me from hunting and killing humans and angels. But I knew Abigail would be miserable if D followed through with her plans for war. She’d always cry for Tristan, and she’d blame herself for being saved instead of him. Her unhappiness would make me unhappy.
Abigail finally spoke, and her voice was a tiny whisper. “Gideon, save—” Abigail didn’t finish what she wanted to say because D snapped her fingers and tied her mouth shut.
I couldn’t stand it anymore. “D, I’m not—”
Abigail started screaming at the top of her lungs.
D shouted over Abigail’s screams. “I told you not to move!”
“Stop!” Tristan shouted. “Please, stop. Don’t hurt her anymore. I’ll cross over!”
“No, Tristan, don’t you dare!” My eyes met Tristan’s for half of a second. He looked apologetically at me, and without another word, he crossed over the red line and disappeared.
I shouted, “Tristan, no!” But it was too late. He was already gone.
“D, you—” I started, but before I could utter another word, I crashed onto my back. Abigail screamed, and the graveyard started burning.