The Forgotten Date

In this world, you are born knowing the day you die. Marcus knew that he would die on October 14th, 2024. It was the day etched in his mind, and he knew it as deeply as he knew his name. It was as if there was an invisible string attached in his mind pulling him to this date. The certainty of it had shaped his life. 

Yes, indeed, he wasn't reckless, going around doing dangerous activities like speeding down highways and jumping off cliffs. But he wasn't overly cautious either. Why should one stress out about safety, when your fate is already written?

Today is October 14th, and this was Marcus's last day alive. He woke up like any other day, and the sense of death was creeping up on him just like a sunrise. 

He went through his typical schedule: breakfast, a walk in the park, and today, he decided to take an extra few quiet moments to think about his life. 

As hours after hours passed, Marcus's chest tightened up as he waited for the event…he didn't know what would happen next, because usually you don't even wake up on your last day alive. But there were always a few exceptions.

He watched TV throughout the night, but all alone. His parents' days of passing had gone by a long time ago, and he had never fallen in love to get married. He'll now die single.

Midnight was about to unfurl, but nothing had happened.

It was 1 AM now, and still nothing had happened.

And as midnight came and went, Marcus was still unnaturally alive. Confused, he stared at the clock as the 15th of October began to unfurl. He hadn't planned for this. He never knew it was possible to stay alive past the day of the death. People NEVER lived past their due date; yet he had done the impossible. Yet he was here, standing in a space that felt unreal like he'd crossed some invisible barrier into a world he wasn't supposed to live in.

As the days passed, Marcus felt quite literally illegal. There were no stories of anyone surviving past their death date, and this society had built itself around this certainty. No one had ever quesitoned this system, because it was always correct - -until now.

The world around him looked the same, but he felt different. He tried to tell his friends, but they just laughed, since they thought Marcus was lying. Some just said he had misinterpreted the date, but he knew he hadn't. He knew the truth: he wasn't supposed to be alive.

The freedom that came with surviving soon turned into an unrelenting burden. Every moment felt stolen, every breath an act of defiance against a fate he didn't understand. Was he meant to do something now? Was there a reason he was left behind while everyone else followed their path?

Well as Marcus had been drifting through the days, unsure of his purpose, something unexpected arrived at the door of his house. When he opened the door, there was no one there - just a single plain white envelope lying on the doormat.

Curious, he picked it up, with his name written in neat block letters on the front. There was no address, no stamp, no indication of where it had come from. Inside, there was a single sheet of paper, but the words on it made his blood run cold.

"Marcus,

Your survival is no accident. We have been watching you. We have prepared for this moment. The country is in a precarious situation, and only you can stop what's coming. 

Below are the coordinates of a target. 24 hours to eliminate it. There will be no second chances.

Failure would signify your death.

Welcome to the next phase.

-CIA/FBI Operations Command"

He blinked at the page, his mind racing. What the hell was this? A goofy prank? It had to be. But something about the note felt too calculated, too real, like it had been written by someone who knew everything about him- someone who knew he was living past his due date.

He flipped the page over. Coordinates were scribbled on the back, pointing to a location a long way away from where he lived. His heart was pounding as he tried to process it all. They knew. The CIA. The FBI. They knew he wasn't supposed to be alive - and now they were telling him he wasn't the only one.

He then folded the letter, with his heart steadying as a strange sense of purpose began to fill the empty void. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he actually had a purpose. This was...whatever it was…way bigger than him. Maybe his survival was no mistake at all.

He packed a bag, grabbed the letter, and locked the door behind him. He packed only the essentials. He knew it was time to abandon his house. He wouldn't stay in a particular place for too long anymore.

As he drove toward the coordinates, the uncertainty he had been living with was finally replaced with an undeniable truth: his life had a mission. And whatever that mission was, he was ready for it. He was no longer just a being who had outlived his due date. He was a part of the matrix… now a secret agent for the American CIA and FBI, caught in a web of conspiracy and destiny that was far beyond what he'd have ever imagined.