[ WP ] Suddenly , everyone on Earth becomes immortal , free from physical injury or disease . Except for one person .

Walking out of the supermarket felt different now. Well, everything felt different now. Something about walking out of those store doors to that car pack, free from cars, still struck me as odd. None of chaos of traffic, none of the endless drone, just the inane chatter and slap of foot on pavement. Hell, of course it should still surprise me, it's only been three months since the turn for those counting. I smirked, many call me old fashioned keeping time, clinging to tradition. However, I'd given up a lot since the turn, so they call me whatever they please - the calendar and the watch are staying. 12:13, nearly time for lunch. I glance around, it's quite far to the city center, nearly three miles. In the old world I'd be fumbling for keys, checking petrol, worrying about getting home before the kids needed feeding. Time? We had plenty. Food? Just for pleasure. Cars? Outlawed! Since our all too mortal limits had been lifted walking was more than sufficient, at least the government thought so. Still it would be nice to drive again, feel the roar of power, the speed. I guess with seven billion people on Earth forever things had to change, at least until we leave for other planets. 
 
 I start strolling, a pleasant pace. This I would never tire from. So rare in the old world one could just stroll and examine the pleasures of the world. Gone were fleeting glances at society, now we could drown in its richness and complexity. I feel the thrill shiver through me, the smile stretch across my face. I ca n't help but think, how long? How long till this thrill fades? With infinite time surely anything, even something with as much depth as our Earth, could become fully understood? Would I one day find all things stale? I usher the thought from my brain, think not of these things. We all shared one common ground in this fear, but none had confronted it, discussed it. The new world was still young, for now we were young and we should enjoy it's new advantages. The possibilities still overwhelmed me. So much that I could do. So much that I could n't do. In a way, nothing really mattered anymore, I had time. Time to enjoy the simple pleasure of walking. 
 
 Even though, it was hard to relax. The throngs of people around almost shouted the emotion, the tension of worry filling the air. The mortal. The last bastion of the old world. It was not a question of if, but when. The worlds governments had mobilized their greatest resources to protect the last mortal, to no criticism. We all wanted the mortal to survive, to remind us of how it could be different. His weekly address was broadcast around the world in every language. It watched by everyone, it was almost criminal not to. The mortal had a worldly perspective that we could no longer appreciate, the pressure of time giving his life - and thus ours - focus. It was hard to think that he might be killed, but the radicals had risen from the murky depths of the human mind. There were those that still wished to do evil, and with no motivation to cause evil to immortal men, there was one last target. 
 
 The tense atmosphere had increased drastically recently. It was no longer radicals shouting from the street of their crazed tales but great armies of men and women alike. Rumors had spread like wildfire. In hushed whispers people spoke of the Legion, it's masses, it's infiltration of our security systems. The leaders and media boasted their triumphs over legion cells, but you could always tell a liar by the eyes. We were worried, the world powers were worried. The mounting radical threat was impossible to ignore, and yet impossible to combat. Their reach could not be measured, their capabilities unlimited. I tried to subdue my mind, the thoughts working a dark fever through my body. I slept, the day had groaned on and I had arrived at the house. It was a big day tomorrow. 
 
 4:13AM 
 Straight awake, shower and dress. The black bag was at the end of the bed. Total focus now, there can be no mistakes. The car is already waiting outside, matte black and intimidating. A quick glance let's me know it has the correct markings to not be troubled by traffic police. I open the door and sit in the back. 
 
 `` Is n't it odd that the purple flowers only flower next to the red?'' 
 `` Only when a dalmatian eats a cat.'' 
 `` Shall we buy some flowers?'' 
 `` Only if your brothers step-father is called Gregory'' 
 
 Correct answer. The car rumbles to life and jumps forward, it feels so unfamiliar now. We sail smoothly through the streets. 
 
 6:20AM 
 Gatwick airport. I get out and the car is already leaving as I swing the door shut. I walk into terminal one, feeling my palms begin to sweat. A security guard. His grey eyes are staring right into mine, I can already see that he knows. I can feel panic growing. He draws close, my back tenses. I shut my eyes, preparing. Something slides into my hand, the rough texture of an envelop. My fingers run over the bulky rectangular forms. The drop-off. I breath out, not an enemy. 
 
 7:00AM 
 I take my first-class seat on the plane, close to the front. The documents from the drop-off were fake in every way, my new identity to protect me, an extra safe guard. The staff member who had checked me through customs had given me a knowing nod, turning off the scanners while I proceeded. It was a long flight, I settled in for the journey. I played classical music over the in flight entertainment system. It felt like a cliche, but it kept my brain ticking over. I ran through the checklist in my mind, again and again. 
 
 2:34PM 
 Another black car outside of the airport. This time, no exchange, I knew the driver well. We drove fast, everything was on schedule. We had all the ID cards, all of the paperwork, checking through security point after security point. He pulled over in ring three, as close as we would get. 
 
 3:55PM 
 I crouch in the enclosed, dark and damp space. The sun casts long lines through the cracks above. I glance at my watch one more time, it was nearly time. 
 
 4:30PM 
 It started with footsteps. One by one I counted them, watched the shadow pass over me, heard the roar of applause. 21 steps exactly. The applause settled slowly, the hushed breaths. I could almost feel the audience leaning in, eager. I place the charge above my head and crawl back. 
 
 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... 
 
 The alarm was already ringing, the audience in unrest, the hushed breaths let out in one giant, collective gasp. I step on to the stage through the clearing smoke. I can see the audience in shock, the podium, the robed figure. He turns, our eyes meet, he knows. In a way I can see his struggle to understand die within him, he accepts what is about to happen. I pull the pistol from my thigh holster and hold it level. I push the safety off, and I take pressure. I can hear the pounding boots of the soldiers, time is short. I squeeze the trigger, let the report of the weapon ripple through me. I feel the warm spray of blood, watch as it defiles the white robes. 
 
 The mortal looks shocked, the anguish of pain, He drops to his knees, his eyes crying out at least in hope, the desire to live. I drop to my knees with him. The final moments that we can no longer have. I do not break the stare as the life dies in his eyes. I see his eyes fade. It looks familiar, a dull waxy look, as if all hope and passion had left him. He slumped to the ground. The mortal was the last human to die. We were already dead.
