Immortal

Jeff hated going to thrift stores with his mom.  Every Sunday she took Jeff out to breakfast, which he loved, then bought groceries, and finally ended the day at the thrift store.

Jeff was 8 years old and thought everything at the thrift store was only for old people.  Ever since Jeff’s Dad died the year before, this has been their Sunday ritual.  He loved his mom so he endured.  After all, everything she has done for Jeff, he could give up an hour to go through a thrift store.   

One Sunday something changed.  Jeff usually heads  to the toys to see if he could find something cool or interesting.  On the table next to the toys he saw a book.  It was propped up on a clear stand.  

Jeff didn’t like books but this one caught his eye.  This book had bright colors.  Drawings of; skulls, stones, mystical items, fire, jars over fire, and even animals surrounded by blood.  Jeff was hypnotized by this book.  As he reached for the book he realized it had no title.  

It was heavy. It felt wrong in his hands.  As he opened the cover the first page had the words, A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO IMMORTALITY, written by hand.  

There was no author name.  Just a symbol—two small claw marks with one more mark intersecting the first two.  Jeff thumbed through the pages.  The illustrations were dark and disturbing.  

Jeff instantly liked them.  Human bodies being disemboweled.  Plants and animals being used in rituals.  People in robes surrounding a fire.  Jeff read the titles of the chapters;   “Alchemy for Being Immortal”.  “Magical elixirs”.  “Do away with Death”.  

The last chapter, “Meet an Immortal”, drew a gasp from Jeff.  His mother came and touched his shoulder.  Jeff jumped. His mother asked what he had.  Jeff only told her he found a book he wanted. 

When they arrived back home Jeff couldn’t wait to read his new book.  After he helped his mom bring in the groceries he ran straight upstairs.  Closed the door and began reading.  

It was a how-to book.  Even with a list of needed ingredients.  Jeff was excited.  He didn’t know where to start.  He decided to start with, “Meet and Immortal”.  Jeff read what needed to be done.  He needed Frankincense, dried tobacco leaves, and red wine.  Candles were needed for all the rituals. 

Unfortunately Jeff had no idea what Frankincense was so he used his mom’s Dragon’s Blood incense.  He stole two cigarettes from his mom’s purse and crushed them onto a plate. The red wine, well his mom had plenty of that. 

Jeff waited until his mom fell asleep to start his journey.  He grabbed a small saucer plate, a glass for the wine and a lighter. 

The moon was high in the sky. 

 Jeff set the candle up in a circle.  The instructions told him to stay out of the circle after beginning the ritual. The saucer of Tobacco was set inside the circle.  The Dragons Blood was in an incense holder on his dresser.  He lit all the candles, the incense and the Tobacco.  The glass of wine was placed inside the circle.

Jeff sat on the floor, legs crossed.  The book was on his lap.  He read the words out loud as best he could.

Vocatis me ad vos

 Aeternum Memini te praestes

Jeff repeated these words several times.  He waited.  His eyes searched the dark room.  Shadows seemed to dance in the firelight. He heard what sounded like small claws running across the floor.  He began to get frightened.  He was breathing hard but could not find his words to scream. As he reached the door he heard a guttural voice behind him.

“Young boy, why have you called me here?”

Jeff turned slowly.  What stood in the circle was no man.  It stood on two legs, but they were not human legs. The creature that stood before Jeff appeared to be a goat of some kind standing upright on two legs. Jeff walked closer to the creature making sure he never crossed the circle. 

“I want you to show me how to become immortal.”  Jeff’s voice was shaky.

“And why would I do that?”

Jeff held the book in front of himself.  “I called you.  You have to do what I say.”

“Is that so?  Well I guess I have no choice”.

The creature showed teeth, dropping its head to reach Jeff’s height.  

“Young boy you play with powers you do not understand.”

“I understand.”  Jeff was becoming irritated.  “Show me how to become Immortal.”

“As you wish.”

The creature steps out of the circle. Jeff gasps in panic and runs for the door only to be grabbed by the creature.

“You used the wrong ingredients.  Said the wrong words.  However, I will still grant your wish.”

Jeff’s eyes widen as the creature closes the distance between them.

–

The next morning Jeff’s mom wakes up and goes through her normal routine.  She goes to the bathroom.  She makes her coffee.  As she begins breakfast, she goes to wake her son. She knocks on his door.

“Jeff, time to wake up.”

She opens the door and sees the room is a mess covered in blood.  She looks on the wall above the bed and sees Jeff’s body crucified to the wall.  He has been gutted.  Intestines and organs cover the bed and floor.  Beside him written in his own blood are the words.

From this day forth your name will be eternally known.

You are Immortal.