[ WP ] [ TT ] The oldest person in the world is now officially a person who is a veteran of every single war his country has been in since WW1 . Reporters ask him how he has lived so long . His answer ? `` Make sure death is too afraid to come for you . ''

**11:18 PM, October, 1963. Russia, Moscow. ** 
 
 It was 11:18 in the night. I was 8 years old. The wind blew furiously outside, and the coldness of the winter months seemed to seep into the house. I was shivering, even with heavy blankets covering me. I sat in silence, urging myself to close my eyes and rest. My mind had different ideas. 
 
 Suddenly, I heard a creak on the steps. I dare did not speak. Surely it was Mother, coming home from work, or Father coming home from the mines. I did n't hear the door open, though... 
 
 Another creak. It was coming towards my door. If it was n't my parents, what if it was a robber? Or a murderer? I glanced at the metal baseball bat beside my bed. If push comes to shove, i'll need to use it. I have n't touched that thing in years... 
 
 The creaks seemed to get more audible as they sneaked forward. Brash steps on the wooden planks that were the floor. Something was coming for this room, maybe even me. We did n't have anything valuable, as my family was poor. If they wanted me, they're out for blood. I heard the door open with a sharp cringe of the door handle. Whatever it was, it's here now. 
 
 I stayed absolutely still. If it was here for loot, maybe I could make it look like I was sleeping. I shut my eyes tight, and pretended to snooze. The footsteps seemed to go right next to my bed, and stop. It was silent, for what it seemed like forever. Maybe it left. Maybe it was waiting for me to flinch. Maybe it was toying with me. My parents would take too long to answer my cries, if it tried to hurt me. I ca n't stay this still for so long. My hands desperately wanted to move. Just a inch, a slight inch. Maybe it would n't notice. 
 
 I creaked open my eyes a little bit. They did n't shut when I saw the cloaked figure sitting there, staring at me with nonexistent eyes. It was watching me, I knew it, even if it did n't have eyes. It watched me under the black cloak. It's hands were clamped behind it's back, seemingly contemplating. I could see nothing else. My eyes could n't shut now. They were hypnotized. 
 
 We stayed like this for over an hour, from what I felt. I could n't remember blinking. My eyes were beginning to water, and my pupils felt sore. The figure never swayed. Finally, the thing seemed... unnerved. That amused me. What was it scared of? I do n't look too menacing, what with my skinny arms and flat cheekbones. Still, it seemed frightened of my staring. Like it thought I was a statue. 
 
 Finally, the creature departed, shuddering. I could n't understand it. Maybe it thought it could make me cry out before it killed me? I could n't tell. I stayed awake for hours after that, not moving a muscle, afraid of it coming back. But after a few hours of staring into the darkness, my eyes began to blink, and they fell into slumber. 
 
 *** 
 
 Max, the main reporter, asked me one more question. The skyline was beginning to dim. 
 
 `` I have one more question for the folks at home: how have you lived so long? What are your secrets?'' 
 
 I stared directly at the camera. I was skilled at keeping my eyes open for long periods now, after all these years. 
 
 `` It's simple Max: make sure Death is too afraid to come for you. Look Death in the eyes, and tell it: i'm not scared of you. That, is the most frightening thing to the undertaker.'' 
 
 *** 
 
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