Immortal

I was finally here. At long last, I have arrived. Many days had passed since I left home. Every sound that was heard made my heart stop for a few seconds. It felt like every single beast in the forest was awake, searching, hunting for their prey, me. But I will get it. I must. Or she dies. And without her, I cannot live.

...

   My wife died a few years back. She died in a car crash. On the way to buy milk. Now all I have is my daughter, Lina, an only child. The only one who gives me strength to push on every day of my life. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here. I would have joined my wife. She's only 7 this year and yet she had to go through so much. Most of her life without a mother. All I hope is that when she grows up she will be happy. Unlike the one that I can only offer.

   It was just 2 weeks ago when she was diagnosed with the Alobe disease, caused by a mutated virus originating from Canada but now spread to America. The Alobe outbreak started a week before that. She was expected to live only for a month. 

   So now here I am, in the heart of the Amazon looking for a myth long told by their tribes. It is said that there is an ancient Inca temple at the border of Peru, Brazil and Colombia. In here is a sacred goblet, when filled with the waters of the longest river in the world, the Nile River, and then drunk at exactly 11:11 p.m., the drinker will become immortal, able to overcome all kinds of disasters without a scratch on the body. Only thing that could kill the drinker was old age. And here I was, looking for that stupid fabled cup, but may prove to be the only way of survival for my daughter. 

   I trudged on into the damned temple, the ceiling looking like it would crumble with the slightest touch. It wasn't very big, about the size of a small terrace house. I was greeted by the sight of nothing. Just emptiness and a flight of stairs leading down into the basement, dungeon, torture chamber or whatever it used to be. Slowly and carefully I made my way down where it was darker and colder than my in-laws house. Thank God for the extra batteries that I brought for my torchlight. 

   I clicked the on button, only to see nothing in that chamber except another flight of stairs. How annoying. I made my way down that flight of stairs and flashed my torchlight around for a second time, hoping to be see anything but a flight of stairs. And then I saw it. In the middle of the room, a small goblet, looking very dull and dusty. Less than I expected. But nevertheless, it was still the goblet. Or at least I hoped it was. And more importantly, I hoped it worked. In my head, I imagined dreadful things to happen as soon as I removed the goblet from its rightful place. Probably watched too many Indiana Jones movies. Bracing for the worst, I walked to the goblet and snatched it from its spot. Immediately, a noise was heard. Looks like I just triggered a switch and all the amazing things done by Harrison Ford was real. And then… a fire ignited. How? I have no idea. But it still happened. With the light produced from it, you could just make out some Incan writing on the temple wall. Should be important. Taking out a notebook from my satchel, I copied the writing. And then I left. Just like that with no huge boulders trying to crush me or a pit full of snakes suddenly appearing. Nice. Off to Egypt then.

   Getting a bottle full of water from the Nile River was simple. Took me less than a day to get it. Just find out the location of the Nile River, walk towards it, open up your bottle and take the water. As simple as that. Back to the US I go. And I knew in my heart that this had to work. Because if it doesn’t, then nothing else will.

   At the hospital, 11:11p.m., taking out the goblet and filling it with the river water, I gave it to Lina to drink. And waited. Waited. But nothing happened. Not enough water maybe? Another goblet filled and emptied in her mouth. Still nothing. And then I remembered the writing. Immediately I went home and searched the Internet on how to interpret Incan writing. Found it. Time to interpret:

In the largest forest

There’s a goblet

Made from brass

Belonging to us

When filled with water

From the largest river

11:11

When it’s dark and tense

Drank ‘til empty

Immortal you’ll be

But drinker beware

You must take care

Only when blood is extinct

Can the blessing begin.