by James Somers
“Fire and brimstone,” Jason whispered. To his surprise, he wasn’t afraid anymore. The likelihood of actually surviving was diminishing with every passing second, yet he could only think of Chloe and Solomon already gone. He smiled, looking forward to seeing them again.
“Sir,” Alfred said, “I’m picking up random electromagnetic pulses occurring across the city. “Electrical power will fail if—”
Jason looked at the robot sitting in the pilot’s seat. They had been hit by one of the pulses Alfred had been attempting to warn them about—all electrical power had been snuffed out. Alfred’s perceptor guise had failed, revealing his true form. The robot’s head had slumped to the side. He was silent and still. Jason felt a lump gathering in his throat. “Goodbye, old friend,” he said.
The instrumentation flashed then failed across the dashboard of the helicopter. The engine failed altogether, and the rotor blades lurched to a stop above. G-forces tried to push Jason and Hatter toward the roof of the helicopter as it plummeted toward the dying city below.
Hatter screamed behind Jason. “What’s happening?! I thought the Lord was going to save us!”
Jason choked back his fear one last time to answer. “He already has, Hatter. He already has.”
EPILOGUE
Absolute peace. Complete joy. That was Jason’s first impression. He didn’t remember the death of his mortal body, though it had not been long ago according to time. Indeed, the city of New Rome was still boiling like a cauldron, awash in fire below upon the Earth.
Sights and sounds filled senses Jason had never owned before. His clothing of pure white felt lighter than feathers, more comfortable than the costliest silk. Radiance gleamed from his new body.
Others were present—too many to number without careful inspection. He saw familiar faces at once—those who were there to greet him. Hatter stood by him, smiling. His old blind eyes had been replaced with those that saw much more than he ever could have before. Chloe and Solomon were near him. Their trials over the past few years in the Resistance not even worth mentioning in this glorified state.
He saw Sarah Cross as well. She had not revealed her beliefs to him before her death. Only through unfolding circumstances had he come to know her true faith. It shone on her face now much brighter than the pain she had endured when he last saw her lying in the streets of Jerusalem.
Beyond these brothers and sisters, Jason found his attention drawn to even greater sights. An army gathering. Riders and white horses assembled in a parade extending far into the distance. An innumerable host of angels in attendance. Beyond all these, he saw his king arrayed for a battle close at hand. His eyes were a flaming fire. On his head were many crowns. His name: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Novels by James Somers:
Hallowed Be Thy Name (Hallowed 1)
Hallowed Ground (Hallowed 2)
The Realm Shift (RS: Book 1)
The Order of Shaddai (RS: Book 2)
The Sword of Gideon (RS: Book 3)
A World Within (Wielder Trilogy 1)
Percival Strange and the Lonely Manor (Strange Tales 1)
The Serpent Kings (Serpent Kings 1)
The Wraith Dancer (Serpent Kings 2)
Fallen
The Chronicles of Soone: Warrior Rising
The Chronicles of Soone: Rebellion’s Fate
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