2. Wake up!

The President's Secretary of Defense Vittoria Rider sat on a chair on stage in front of a crowd of reports and college students. Her blond hair was held up with pins and she wore a woman's suit. To her right sat a man named Harvey Decker, a religious zealot and news anchor for FOX News.
"So can you tell us what exactly a, as the government began calling them back in the seventies, what a suicider is?" The host of the night asked. Harvey Decker spoke first. "They are an abomination. They are not human."
The hall roared and clapped in approval. Vittoria Rider leaned forward.
"Perhaps a more substantive answer?" Everyone stopped chanting for Decker's point. "What we know as suiciders are immortal beings called the "Gilgamesh." Scientist today call them the Gilga Sapiens. They are an evolved animal that we believed to have stemmed off from our class the Homo Sapiens. They are beings incapable of being killed."
The entire room was silent. They knew all this information, but to have it said so eloquently was new for them. The host spoke, "Why can't they be killed?"
"They are in what we believe to be constant rapid regeneration. If they are injured they heal instantly. If they are killed they regenerate to their previous state."
"It is not God's work." Decker pointed out.
"No, it may not be. This seems to be beyond God's work. If what the bible says is true, God created us, but he did not create them."
The crowd booed.
"Quiet everyone, quiet. Now, Secretary-"
"You can call me Vittoria."
"Thank you. Now, Vitorria, is this genetic or is it magical?"
Vittoria smiled and almost laughed.
"David, I do not believe in magic. There is nothing magical about the Gilga Sapiens. While we cannot pin down what caused this evolutionary change, we know it's genetic. You can see it under the microscope. Even on the cellular level we see them acting in the same way we see a man that is blown to pieces in war act. They, like him, regenerate. They do so in such a fascinating way. We just have not been able to understand how, let alone, why. My hope is that one day we do. Science is on the trail."
The host turned to Decker.
"Thank you, Vittoria. Mr. Decker, what say you, magic or genetics?"
He straightened his tie.
"I say Satan. This is the same type of thing we see in the bible with demons. These things, these suiciders, they are threats to humanity. Left unchecked they will destroy us all. It is not like we could do the same to them."
The host crossed his legs.
"Why are they called suiciders? How did that come about?"
Vittoria was quick to answer. "It's quite a simply answer, really. The term suicider is a derogatory word for the Gilga Sapiens. It comes from the fact that in order to know you are one you must die."
The crowd was silent. She knew she had their attention.
"When word first began to spread about the Gilga Sapiens in the 70's people began to kill themselves in order to discover if they would live forever. In many cases people killed their own families. Suicide is a touchy topic for most Americans, let alone the religious, so the government used the word as a way of keeping people from going down that path."
Decker spoke up next. "It's more than that! Have you ever seen a baby live years without growing an inch?" The crowd began to shuffle at his words. "People began to even kill their babies. These gilga monsters even remain as babies!"
David turned to Vittoria.
"Is this true, are there babies that live forever?"
She leaned back in her seat.
"I'm afraid so. The gilga mesh come in all shapes and sizes. Tragically, if a parent killed his or her baby to see if they would live forever, she or he doomed that soul to that life for all eternity. We see the same thing happening with older people in their old age. If you die at the age of eighty eight and are a Gilgamesh, you will regenerate in that state. Living forever trapped in an older body, or worse as a baby before you even became self aware."
Decker interrupted. 
"I think what the people out there need to understand is living forever is not always glamorous."
Vittoria smiled at him.
"The first valid point you've made all evening, Mr. Decker." She turned to the crowd. "Eternity is not for everyone, and it certainly is not for the youngest of ages, nor the oldest of bones. My advice to you is to not seek immortality."
"And why's that?" David asked.
"Because you may never wake up again."
The crowd was silent.

_________________
A lady and a man stood in an art gallery watching Vittoria on TV.
"How many times must they confirm to us what we already know?"
She turned around. The man spoke.
"It could be scare tactics. People still need to be told to not go and off themselves."
"Oh, fuck them. There's nothing to be afraid of. It's not like they are super powerful or anything."
He turned around also. In front of them was a fish tank in the wall.
"Believe me, they're as easy to catch as any human."
Inside the tank was a man chained up in the water. It looked as though he was sleeping.
"How long does it take for him to return?"
She messed up her hair.
"Usually two minutes. It used to take longer. He just gets better at coming back. Apparently that's a thing."
The man in the water opened his eyes and began to struggle. He was drowning. Again.
"It's marvelous, isn't it? I call it life and death. It's such a beautiful cycle. This has to be my most precious work of art. It's so alive! Wouldn't you agree?"
She turned to look at the man standing next to her.
" It's marvelous. Life imitates art, after all." An unknown voice said.
"Oh my-"
He fell to the ground as a blade was being pulled out of him.
"What is going on?"
She was kicked down to her knees.
"You're going for a swim."
They dragged her to the back where the tank is by strangers in masks.
"Andra, get him out."
Andra opened the tank and pulled the man out.
"You can't do this to me! I am just an artist!"
She was pulled up the stairs to the tank by her hair.
"And you must be responsible for your work."
The woman dragging her to the top bent down and touched the water.
"It's nice and cold. I'm sure you and the water have that in common."
They turned to the lady who was now crying.
"Please don't do this!"
The woman grabbed the artist and began to chain her.
"I don't want to die."
Andra spoke up.
"Well then I guess you better hope you come back to life."
Her sobs echoed through the building.
"Who are you people?"
The woman bent down toward the artist.
"I'm the King, you peasant."
She kissed her and dropped her into the water. As the artist began to drown they walked back out to watch her suffer.
"I love your work, Michigan. Will you be having another show soon?"
Michigan King took out a can of red spray and began to spray against the wall over the tank. She turned to Andra after and laughed.
"I'll be here forever."
The woman was dead and above her in red writing it said WAKE UP.


On a ship out at sea two figures stood before hundreds of people working.
"Do you ever think this is too much?" Asked the black haired woman. Her name is Sophia Grace. She was small in size but not in beauty. Her voice traveled through the air gently.
"We aren't doing enough, Sophie. The world can't exist with too many of them."
"It just seems so cruel."
A man was brought before them in the arms of two men. He struggled to break free but it was no use.
"You people are monsters! You can't do this! You can't!"
"Silence." The man fell silent.
"You have been captured by The Order of Mortis. You are accused of murdering your family."
"I had to know! I had to know!"
He began to cry.
"Under Mortis law you have been sentenced to death."
"But I can't die! You can't hurt me."
He laughed hysterically. The men took him and lined him up with many more prisoners. The woman to all the people lined up.
"I am Jade of the Order of the Mortis, Queen of the West. You all have been sentenced to death for your crimes. For too long you have roamed the Earth and have done terrible deeds. We stand before you as the purifiers of the Gilgamesh race. It is time to meet real eternity."
Each person was chained to giants weights.
"Please don't do this! My kids do not deserve this."
A lady spoke next to her family.
"You all deserve this. Welcome to the sea of life. Drop them."
The soldiers pushed every person on the edge off into the sea.
"You always were the most dark of us all."
"Some things never change."
They stood over the edge and watched bubbles disappear.
"Have you heard the news, Sophie?"
"I hear everything, Jade." Sophia was considered the brain of the entire Mortis operation.
"They are saying there is a cure. After all this time."
She turned to face her.
"Is it true?"
Sophia nodded. "I'm afraid so." She pointed at the moon. "The government has these children of the cure under surveillance. We have yet to find their whereabouts. We are looking. Give it time."
"For the first time in centuries I feel afraid."
"You have good reason to be. This could change everything. The end of the gilgamesh when we barely started."
"You know, for immortals our species haven't been around long."
They laughed.
"I'm just afraid of all this change."
Sophia put a hand on Jade's shoulder.
"Change is existence's greatest paradox. In an instant you die and are born. None of us can escape it."
Jade smiled.
"Change, the first and last of the gilgamesh."
"The very best of us."


1928...

Holland woke up cold and alone. He sat up in a pool of blood. His memory raced back to him. He fell off the building to save the girl. To save Charlie. He decided to run home. As he ran, he felt as though he'd never been more alive. He came to his home. The door was cracked open.
"Hello?"
As the door swung open he saw something no one should ever see. His family was dead all over the living room. His wife was on the couch face down with a while in her head. His son on the floor next to the couch holding his mother's hand.
"No!"
He ran to his family and fell to the floor next to them. He held his son in his arms and sobbed. "James." He turned his wife over with his free arm. "Daisy. No." He had never cried like this before. It was the type of cry that did not feel like it had an end. Why should it? He had lost everything.
"You're home, honey."
Holland turned toward the kitchen and saw Charlie sitting on the counter with a glass of wine.
"They didn't wake up."


Now...

Sophia and Jade were having dinner at a rather expensive restaurant.
"Any word on King, Sophie?"
"A few. She's always getting into trouble."
"What else from someone that wants to conquer the world?"
"She always was the most ambitious one."
Jade sipped her wine.
"I think it may be time we turned the King poor."
Sophia laughed.
"Just let her be. If you think of it, she's a King with quite so little followers. She is no threat to us."
"All the best kings started off with one follower."
Charlie stood next to the table.
"Hello, Charlie. Come to have dinner with us?"
"Of course, sisters."
She sat down at the table with them and ordered a glass of wine.
"It's time we overthrow the King."






Holland took a deep breath in. He was lying in the back of a car. His entire body was wet.
"Where am I?"
The girl closest to him spoke.
"You're with the King's Circle, kid. Welcome."
The woman in the front seat turned to look at him. She was the most beautiful person he'd seen since his wife Daisy. Since Charlie. His head throbbed at the thought of Charlie.
"I'm Andra. The man driving is Marcellus."
The lady spoke.
"And I'm Michigan. Michigan King."
His face smiled without his permission.
"Thank you for saving me."
She didn't smile, but he felt as though she had.
"You never have to thank me for anything. You're family. Forever."
Family?
"I'm Holland. Holland Bible."
Andra shook his hand.
"Ha, and now we have a Bible for our King. This shit writes itself."

1. Oh, Death.

"Will you tell me about your adventures?"
Year 2026
Holland Bible sat leaning against a giant glass wall that divided him from the little girl asking him for a piece of his memory. Holland Bible is 6 feet tall with short brown hair and green eyes.
"What kind of adventure? That's a bit vague, Prudence. You know I have a lot of stories."
Prudence Eurydice sat in bed with the covers up to her neck. She had long blond hair and blue eyes.
"A sad one. I want to hear a sad adventure."
Holland turned to look at her. She was so young, what did she want to hear a sad story for?
"Why a sad story?"
She smiled.
"Because sad stories make people stronger."
He turned away.
"Yes, and they also destroy people."

Year 1928
Holland sat at a table in a bar with a glass of wine in his hand. He wore a black suit with a blue tie. Tonight was his night out away from home. He decided to have a drink to relax in the artistic underground club world. He loved the taste of wine and good soulful music.
O, Death. O, Death.
The woman playing tonight began to sing a slow dark song on the piano. Holland could not be more comfortable. The atmosphere is what he lived for.
Won't you spare me over 'til another year?
"If only this was every night."
He chuckled and took a drink of wine.
"To be spared from death? Is that not every night?"
A beautiful woman stood before him. She had long black hair and brown eyes. Her slender body was covered in a tight black dress.
Well, what is this that I can't see.
"The name is Charlie."
She extended her hand and he shook it.
With ice cold hands takin' hold of me.
"I'm Holland."
She smiled. "Would you like to dance?"  Normally Holland would not deny a beautiful woman like this a dance, but Holland is engaged to a beautiful woman named Daisy who is at home sleeping next to their son James. "I'm engaged."
When God is gone
 "That does not mean you cannot have fun, honey. Besides, you're alone tonight."
and the Devil takes hold
 "I cannot argue with that, but-"
She put the index finger of her right hand on his mouth and grabbed the cup in his hand with her left. 
"Shhhh, you'll ruin it."
Who'll have mercy on your soul.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the dance floor. They began to dance slowly to the soothing music.
"How old are you?" She asked.
"I'm twenty three."
"Young." She put her lips close to his ear. "I like that."
I'll open the door to heaven or hell.
"How old are you?"
"You're not supposed to ask a woman her age."
O, death, someone would pray
"My apologies, I did not mean to offend."
He felt himself getting nervous.
"Man is such a monster, that when he is kind, they call him gentle."
Could you wait to call me another day?
"Are you gentle, baby?"
He let go of her hands.
"I can't do this."
The children prayed, the preacher preached
"Relax, little one. We are just dancing."
They began to dance again. After a moment she spoke again.
"I'm old."
He laughed. "Aren't we all?" He did not understand the reason why she had answered with such a vague way.
Time and mercy is out of your reach.
"Some more than others."
This very hour come and go with me.
They danced until the very end of the song.
Nothing satisfies me but your soul.
"Let us retire. I need a drink." 
He followed her to the bar. She was beautiful. He felt guilty looking at her. The urge to apologize to Daisy danced in the back of his head.
"Drink up."
She handed him a cup and they drank. An hour later he found himself seated next to her at a table. He was drunk.
"I should really get home. I need to put my son to bed."
"A child, huh?"
"Yes. His name is James. He likes when I throw him up in the air. He's five."
"What a strong father. I bet he really feels like he can fly when you toss him up."
She took another sip of her drink.
"I love him." He set his head down on the table and passed out.
"Nothing satisfies me but your soul." She sang the ending to the song

Year 2026
"Is that all?" The boy across the room in bed from Prudence spoke.
"Shhh, be quiet August. You'll ruin it."
August Eurydice was tall, blond, and blue eyed like his sister.
"You can continue, Holland."
"Thank you, August."

Year 1928
When Holland opened his eyes he did not know where he was. He was passed out on a couch in a strangers home. He got up and quickly sat back down. His head began to spin because he rose quickly. There was a robe next to him. He put it on and stood up slowly. He looked around the room until he saw what seemed to be a shape in the dark outside on a balcony.
"You're awake."
"What the hell am I doing here?"
"You passed out, silly. I did now know where you lived. I brought you back to my place. I hope you can forgive me someday."
"I should really get going."
"I do not think you are in any condition to be going. Stay the night. I promise we will not do anything your lover would be upset by."
He felt odd being on a balcony with another woman. Especially one in a robe as beautiful as this one. It was almost as if she was made of stars by how she shined under them.
"Do you like the stars?"
He looked up. He had a love for space Daisy did not understand.
"I do. Space is something else. I would love to go one day."
She fixed her hair. "How about today?"
"That is not possible."
"Your body is a cage."
She sat on the edge of the balcony.
"Free your heart from the even smaller cage they call ribs."
She licked her lips.
"Do it and I will take you to every star above."
He laughed.
"You are full of silly words, you know that?"
"Better to be full of that than fear."
He tilted his head. Was he just insulted?
"What am I afraid of?"
"Dying."
"Aren't we all?"
"Some more than others. Others not at all."
"Are you?"
"Not at all."
He walked up to the balcony and looked down.
"Sit up here with me."
He hesitated.
"See what I mean?"
He sat next to her on the ledge.
"You learn fast."
"This aint so bad. How far are we up, twenty stories?"
"Twenty nine."
It was silent for a few minutes as they both took in the stars.
"Do you want to live forever?"
She asked him. His head hurt too much to think so philosophically.
"I do not know. It sounds appealing but then it sounds horrible."
"It is unfathomable."
"I imagine so. Why do you ask?"
"I am curious."
"About?"
She looked him directly in his eyes. He felt paralyzed. 
"You."
She kissed him. He backed away.
"I cannot do this."
She grabbed his hand.
"What if I told you that you could live forever?"
Suddenly he felt as though he were speaking to a lunatic. Live forever?
"I would call you insane."
"But if it were true?"
"I'd say I would not leave normal life without my son and my fiancée."
She looked down.
"Yes, love does have a way of making people think selfishly."
She looked back up at him. Her eyes looked glazed.
"Love is not a friend of eternity."
Holland no longer knew who he was talking to. The once beautiful woman was now becoming complex and old.
"There is no point in living forever without the people you love."
"Unless you love yourself."
He was dumbfounded. 
"I was never really the most lovable."
"But you can be. You would have forever to become someone even you could love."
She touched his hand.
"And if that did not work, you could find another timeless body and wrap it around yours."
He moved his hand away.
"Just what are you getting at, Charlie?"
She pulled out a cigarette and lit it.  "Immortality." She was young again, suddenly, despite all the crazy things she was saying. "The chance to live forever."
She looked up.
"Unlike the stars above us, you would burn forever."
He looked up at the burning stars. He liked that idea. Forever.
"Even if this was real, what about my family?"
She blew smoke towards him.
"They would be taken care of. You would be happy and free."
He sat in silence and contemplated this for a moment.
"What do I have to do?"
She threw her cigarette off the building.
"There is one simple way to acquire the endless."
She moved closer to him. Holland was always good with cold weather. He did not feel how cold it really was until he felt her warm body next to his. She was beautiful.
"Do you want to live forever?"
He gulped.
"I do."
She looked him in the eyes again but he spoke first.
"Will it be lonely? Forever?"
"Not unless you wanted to be."
"I don't. I never want to be alone."
"None of us do. Are you ready?"
He looked up again.
"Yes. What happens next?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Well you're hurtin' my body
"Suicide, darling."
She kissed him hard and let go.
You make me cold
She pulled back off the balcony. 
O, Death. 
Holland tried to grab her not thinking that he would go as well. 
O, Death.
They fell. Side by side.
Won't you spare me over 'til another year?
They hit the Earth.
You run my life right outta my soul.
Together.
Nothing satisfies me but your soul.