Cursed Presence (Trilogy of the Chosen Book 2)

by J. M. LeDuc

  “I’ve heard about you,” Susan said. “I was sorry I missed seeing you the other day when you brought Malcolm by for triage.”

  “Me, too,” Charlotte said and shook Susan’s hand. “Everyone speaks very highly of you.”

  “And I of them. Now, you’d better rejoin your brothers. We’ll talk later.”

  Arriving at HQ, Charlotte found the squad gathered around Maddie and the others. From her angle, she was unable to see who was in the middle. Then she heard Seven.

  “I’ve known the Colonel for a long time and I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. He’ll come out of this just like he does everything else, unscathed and a better person, if that’s humanly possible.”

  Then Charlotte heard Chloe crying. “I kn…kn…know in my head that he…he…he’s going to be fine, but my heart keeps breaking. I just can’t stop myself from thinking the worst.”

  “Maybe I can help?”

  Everyone in the room fell silent as the circle of loved ones opened up.

  “I’m sorry, Scarlet, we didn’t hear you walk in,” Seven said. “Please join us.”

  Scarlet walked into the middle of the group and looked into Chloe’s red, swollen eyes.

  “The Colonel said something to me the day he saved me from the Butcher, just before he lost consciousness,” she began. “I’ve never told anyone this before now. I was in such shock when he covered my body with his just before Jonas threw the oil.” She lowered her gaze. “I couldn’t fathom that someone would discard their own safety for someone they didn’t know.”

  Looking back at the group, she said, “But as flabbergasted as I was, it was his next action that I will never forget. He dragged himself up off the ground and placed my blouse over my shoulders to give me a slight sense of modesty. Through my histrionics, he grabbed me by my chin and told me that God didn’t bring us this far to let us die. He said that God had much bigger plans for both of us. We just had to believe.”

  She cradled Chloe’s head in her hands, much like Brent had done hers seven years earlier.

  “God’s not finished with him yet. There are so many people he is yet to touch and so many things he has left to do. Though my faith in God is weak at best, my faith in Colonel Venturi could not be stronger. If he said he would return to you, he will. Put your faith in God and in Brent and believe.”

  Chloe wrapped her arms around Charlotte and thanked her for her words. “It sounds to me that your faith in God may not be a little as you would like to believe.”

  As she spoke she heard another voice, an internal one. Everything is possible for him who believes. A peace swept over her like a warm blanket. She felt as though God cradled her in His arms.

  CHAPTER 54

  The satellite phone rang loudly just then, startling everyone. It was Brent’s phone.

  They hadn’t expected to hear from him so soon.

  “Brent, is that you?”

  “No, Miss Smith, it’s Father Jessup. I’m, um, in the tunnel, but I don’t know how to get out of here.”

  “Where’s Brent, Father? Why isn’t he with you? Why do you have his phone?”

  Maddie fired questions faster than he could answer.

  “It would be best if I could answer all your questions once we’re together.”

  “I’ll be right there. Just tell me if Brent is all right.” Maddie prayed silently for Brent’s safety even as she spoke.

  “He’s fine,” Father Jessup answered, hoping his voice didn’t give himself away.

  “Thank God,” she said. The smile on her face was enough to calm everyone in the room. “Tell me where you are, and I’ll…” Maddie caught Seven’s motions out of her peripheral vision. “Seven and I will come get you.”

  “I’m where you last saw me when you and Joan came down for Chloe.”

  “We’ll be right there. It should only take about twenty-five minutes to reach you, so stay put.”

  It’s not like I have a choice, he thought. “I’ll be here, waiting,” he said.

  Father Jessup placed the phone in his coat pocket and knelt to pray. After what he’d just witnessed inside the tabernacle, a scene he would never forget, Brent needed all the prayer he could muster.

  He gathered his thoughts, closed his eyes and extended his head back looking toward the heavens. He lifted up his arms, palms open wide and prayed out loud, “Heavenly Father, we read and we study and we learn. We think we understand, but we don’t. What I just witnessed, what You allowed me to witness, was so far beyond my comprehension. It was the most majestic, yet frightening thing I have ever seen, or may ever see again.

  “I pray that You keep Brent safe as he proceeds through the suffering that lies before him. I know that it was time to leave, but having glimpsed what he was going through, then having to leave, is so disheartening. How am I to look into his wife’s eyes, his loved ones’ faces, and tell them that he will be fine, when my heart feels something different? Please give me a sign so that I may know that he will emerge from the ‘hell’ he is now going through.”

  Father Jessup remained in his kneeling position, silently praying, until he heard footsteps. As the sound grew louder, he stopped, bowed his head and opened his eyes, expecting to see the shoes of a woman or a soldier. Instead, he saw sandals. He continued to kneel, staring at the feet, afraid to look up. He knew, in spirit, who stood before him.

  The reality was too implausible to absorb. His tears dripping onto the dirty, sandaled feet. Instinctively, he took his handkerchief from his pocket and started to wash the feet with his tears.

  “You asked for a sign. Considering how diligent you have been against all odds to seek the Enlightened One, I am delivering it to you Myself.”

  The voice was indescribable. It was at once tender, yet authoritative, soft, yet firm, sweet and calming to a child’s ear, yet foreboding and frightening to the ear of a sinner. It contained all the qualities and nuances of love, yet he knew if he crossed it, it could crush him with a single utterance. It was, simply, the voice of God.

  “I have come to tell you that Brent’s destiny had been preordained but because of free will, he could have refused to accept it when the time came. He has endured much suffering in his life, but his Father in Heaven has given him even more love and goodness to make up for it. He must face his fears and forgo his temptations if he has any chance of defeating The Dark One. This is what you witnessed, and what he still battles.”

  Stephen continued to weep and wipe the feet of his Lord, while listening to His words. “When you look at his wife and loved ones and tell them he will come back to them. You may do so with confidence.”

  Father Jessup then felt the hand of Christ on his head and he knew he had been touched by the hand of God. When he looked up to thank Him, the light was so blinding he had to quickly lower his head.

  “One day you will look into the eyes of the Lord. Your day has not yet come.”

  Before Stephen could say another word, He was gone. Stephen lowered his head to offer thanks and praise. Again the sound of the footsteps permeated his eardrums.

  This time when Father Jessup opened his eyes, he saw the shoes of a woman and the boots of a soldier. They helped him off his knees. All the while, Stephen wondered if what had just happened was real or if he’d imagined it. Then he saw the dirt and felt the wetness of his tears on his handkerchief.

  Happiness that began in his soul swept across his lips and could not be contained as he put the cloth back in his pocket.

  “You seem quite happy, Father,” Seven said.

  “I’m always happy after I’ve spent time in prayer,” he said. “You must be Seven.”

  Nodding, Seven shook the priest’s outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you. Come on, let’s get you topside and find out all you know.”

  “That’s easy,” Father Jessup said. He broke into a slight jog to keep up wit
h the couple’s quick pace. “Brent said to tell you that Jonas is on his way.”

  Maddie and Seven stopped dead in their tracks.

  “What else did he say?”

  “That you and the squad were to lead him to a place where we have an advantage.”

  Seven nodded, smiling a crooked smile. Walking at a slower pace, he asked, “I don’t suppose Brent told you where a place like that might be found, did he?”

  “No, but I’m assuming, since we are talking about Satan, that bringing him into a place of worship would tilt things slightly in our favor.”

  “I told you,” Maddie said.

  “Told him what?” Father Jessup asked.

  “She told me that I would like you,” Seven answered. “And she’s right.” He slapped Stephen across the back and added, “Let’s pick up the pace a little. We have a lot of work to do before the little demon shows his face in this town.”

  CHAPTER 55

  The threesome headed to the conference room at HQ to strategize and formulate a plan.

  “Father, tell us exactly what happened to you and Brent in the tunnel, and don’t leave anything out. Even a sigh from Colonel Venturi could be communication between the two of us,” Seven said.

  Still visibly hyped from the events of the past couple of hours, Father Jessup sipped from the glass of water. Looking around the large table, he made eye contact with each person. I don’t know if they are going to believe what I have to say. Lord, please put the right words on my tongue.

  He looked at Seven and then once more at each person sitting at the table. Before he could begin, they all heard a loud chirping noise coming from Joan’s computer.

  “Sorry, this must be important,” Joan said, getting to her feet. “It only chirps when there is an e-mail from President Dupree.”

  “Read it out loud, Joan.”

  “Yes, Madame Director.” Joan quickly logged onto her e-mail and read,

  “It is imperative that I speak to Colonel Venturi immediately. I will be waiting by the phone until I hear from him.”

  Maddie thought for a minute before she said, “Connect him to the speaker phone here in the conference room.” Joan was already placing the call.

  “Done. Just depress the blinking button and you’ll be connected to the president.”

  “Hello, Colonel, is that you?”

  “No, I’m afraid it’s not, Mr. President,” Maddie said. “The entire team and I are here in the conference room. Brent is out of communication right now.”

  “Where the hell is he? I need to speak to him directly! This is all his fault. I never should have listened to his cockamamie ideas.”

  “He’s deep undercover, doing the job you asked him to do, Mr. President. Tell us what’s going on. Collectively, we’ll try to help.”

  The president was past reasoning. He screamed even louder. Before he could finish his thought, Charlotte, the only person who could soothe him, said, “Dad, please don’t scream. These people are your greatest line of defense.”

  “Baby, is that you?”

  “Yes, Daddy, it’s me. Now, please tell Madame Director what this is all about.”

  “Thank God, you’re all right,” the president said. Just knowing that his daughter was unharmed had an immediate calming effect on him. He took a deep breath and explained the reason for his rant.

  “One hour ago, we received an anonymous 911 call that the vehicle that had been stolen from the Butcher’s last crime scene was spotted in the national forest about seventy miles from here. We immediately dispatched an FBI forensics team. They found the auto as well as evidence that Jonas had been there.

  “Further investigation found five bodies on the bottom of a river bed. They were all female and they had been weighted down with rocks, therefore, making them harder to spot.” The president paused to take a breath. “They also found the body of a six-year-old girl buried under dirt and leaves, right where the Butcher’s suspected campsite was found.

  “The bodies are being examined in the FBI lab for time of death. I don’t need to tell you that once the time of death is established, the whole world will know that I lied to them about the Butcher’s capture.” Everyone in the room heard a deep sigh from the President, then he added, “Oh God, what have I done?”

  Maddie spoke after a long silence that left everyone uncomfortable. She did so with authority. “John, no one is going to know a thing. Speak directly to Sam Norton, the FBI director. Tell him that nothing is to be leaked to the media, and if it is, let him know that I will personally see that the next position he holds will be one of unemployment, without pension; immediate and permanent unemployment.”

  “I’m in this so deep, why not dig my grave a little deeper. I’ll tell him.” He sounded defeated.

  “Dad,” Charlotte said. “Was the little girl hurt in any way?”

  Knowing what she was inferring, the president answered, “No, sweetheart, none of them were. He killed them all quickly by snapping their necks.”

  “Had she been reported missing?” Seven asked.

  “No, the only relative we’ve been able to find was also a victim.” Then the president spoke to everyone, “Please tell me this is almost over.”

  “If our intel is accurate, and we believe it’s the most accurate anywhere under the heavens, the situation will be contained by tomorrow, sir.”

  “Then until we speak tomorrow, Miss Smith, good luck and God bless.” When it was apparent that the connection had been broken by the president, Joan reached over and shut the phone off.

  “Where were we, Father? We’re running out of time.” Seven said.

  Father Jessup nodded and continued as if they hadn’t been interrupted. “After Maddie and Joan came for Chloe, Brent asked if I was sure I wanted to do this with him. It was my destiny, I told him, to accompany him into the tabernacle. Without another word, he placed his palm over the spot on the tunnel wall where we’d seen the light emanate from earlier. This was the first of many miracles I would see. The wall he touched shook so violently I thought the entire tunnel would collapse.” He looked at the girls. “You must have felt it as you were leaving. It wasn’t even a minute after you left.”

  Chloe looked confused and shook her head. “I felt nothing, Father.”

  “Neither did I,” Joan said.

  “Me, neither,” Maddie added.

  “It’s just like the beach this morning,” Lucille said.

  “Ha, what do you mean, Mrs. Conklin?”

  “I mean, Father, that only those who were directly involved saw and felt God’s power. It wasn’t present to anyone else.”

  Father Jessup lowered his head, trying to grasp the majesty of her statement.

  “Father, please,” Seven said. “Time is of the essence.”

  “Very well. I became so scared that I tried to pry his hand off the wall, to stop the shaking. With one hand he held me back. With the other, he firmly held his position. It felt like hours before the shaking stopped and the wall was gone. In its place was a purple curtain. Not just any purple curtain. It was the curtain spoken of in the Bible, the one which led into the Holy of Holies.

  “The Holy of Holies was a recessed portion of the great Temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem. It’s where the Ark of the Covenant was stored. Only high priests were allowed in the Holy of Holies. It was said that if anyone else tried to enter beyond the curtain, death was certain.

  “I was petrified to open the curtain, afraid of what might happen to us, although scared, I was excited at what we might find. Brent, calmly, bravely, put his hand on the curtain and pulled it back. The light coming from the room was so bright, I had to shade my eyes. He told me to go in before him, but I shook my head. I was more frightened than I have ever been in my life. He just smiled and said…”

  Father Jessup hesitated momentarily. “His voice
had an ethereal quality, one that gave me strength in a time of fear. He told me I had come before him to open the eyes of those who would listen and I was to go before him into the dwelling place of God. With his free hand on my shoulder he walked me into the tabernacle, and then followed me in. The curtain closed and I heard a rumble. When I turned to see what had happened, the curtain was gone and the stone wall had returned.

  “The room went dark. Slowly, a light illuminated the room and soon there was a holy glow all around us. We both fell to our knees and covered our eyes.

  “When I opened my eyes, I would have sworn I was in Jerusalem during the time of King Solomon. We were truly in the Holy of Holies, the tabernacle of the great temple. In front of me stood an altar. On the altar lay a sword. It was from the sword that the glow came. I remained on my knees, either not able to or afraid to rise. I stared at the sword. Brent stood and briefly placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. At first I didn’t realize he was standing beside me. When he squeezed harder, he drew my attention.

  “I took my eyes off the altar and looked up at him. He said to tell you that The Dark One is closer than we realize. He said you must be ready by nightfall.”

  Father Jessup rubbed his shoulder as he lifted his water glass for another sip. He looked around at the silent faces that waited for him to continue. “Brent put his hands on my shoulders and lifted me to my feet. He made eye contact with me again and said, I quote, ‘Tell the others that no matter what happens, they must believe with their hearts and not with their eyes.’”

  Tears slid down Father Jessup’s checks. Visibly choked with emotion, he continued. “He kissed me on both cheeks and told me it was time that I rejoin the others.

  He reminded me again to tell you what he said. He let go of me, turned his attention to the altar and the sword. When I looked again the sword was no longer lying on the altar, it was in the hands of an angel.”