Contents
Title Page
Episode One
On the Island
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Free Offer
Author Bio
The Golden Key:
A Quest for Freedom
Episode Two
By Marvin Wilmes
Copyright 2016
Episode One
Welcome to Episode Two of The Golden Key: Quest for Freedom. If you have not yet read Episode One, you can get your copy on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents by clicking here.
There is also an opportunity to jump on the bandwagon and sign up to receive a free PDF copy of Episode Three at the end of this book so that you can complete the journey with Roger and his friends. You won’t want to miss it.
Episode Three is slated to be released June 12th, but a pre-release PDF is available now for a limited time.
On the Island
The waves gently crashed against the ragged shore near the country church on the island of Maui as a solitary figure made drawings in the sand.
The man looked so lonely, Zeke thought as he approached him from behind, careful not to interrupt his prayerful thoughts. He sat about 100 yards from him and folded his hands feigning meditation.
The man looked his way and then slowly got up and plodded over to sit by his side.
“It was a miracle.”
“Perhaps.”
“She came out of her coma at the exact moment he said he wanted her to live for life.”
“Does that surprise you?”
The man did not respond.
“Jack, ye of little faith, what is wrong?”
“I don’t understand how this is going to get my letter to its destination.”
“You feel you have to understand everything?”
“Yes, although since I’ve been given this opportunity to come back to assist I must say I much prefer where I was.”
“Being an angel is not easy.”
“No, I guess not.”
Zeke fell silent, there was no need to converse anymore. The doubts that assailed his rookie angel were not so new to him after all.
Everything had to begin with faith and it had to end with faith.
It was the only way.
Chapter One
Mark continued questioning the value of his presence at this celebration of Anita’s recovery from her coma.
He wasn’t sure he was up to facing Roger’s parents—or Anita’’s for that matter. However, as he approached Anita’s room and heard the chatter erupt, he became even more resolved to make an announcement.
He denied his strong emotions long enough. He even knew the exact moment he first felt a hint of love for his beloved. It was when Roger passed out at his going-away party.
Mark’s heart had saddened for Anita as he sensed her confusion and angst over Roger’s decision to leave. He remembered thinking how selfish Roger was being. And even though Mark knew his best friend well, he was left unnerved over Roger’’s decision to follow in his brother’s military footsteps after Mark had dangled that carrot in front of him.
He really hadn’t expected Roger to follow through. Something was evidently missing from his friend’s life that caused him to answer a stronger call far from the security of Blair.
He took a deep breath as he adjusted his belt buckle, then ran his fingers through his hair. He wanted to make a good impression.
“Hey, Mark, welcome.” Paul—Roger’s brother——embraced him. “Anita should be back at any time. They’re just doing some final checks on her. This is incredible news.”
“I want to thank you for coming,” Ed Wilson said with tension in his voice. “I’m glad you think enough of Roger to be his stand in.”
“Speaking of Roger…” Donna chimed in as Mark winced at Ed’s words. “I need to give him a call and let him know the good news.”
Mark knew there was more to her excuse than to call his best friend.
He took a deep breath to garner his courage. Sweat peppered his forehead and his heart surged in his chest. “I’m not here for Roger.”
Donna quickly exited, Paul cocked his eyebrow, and Ed seemed to dismiss the comment as he turned back to Steve Barlow.
“I’m here for Anita and I’m here for me. I think I need to clear up something while you’re all here today, before Anita gets back.”
“Mark, there’s nothing to clear up.” This was Paul’s signal that Mark better think long and hard before announcing anything.
“Yes there is. Look, I’m tired of denying my love for Anita. No one knows more than I do how Roger’s military adventures have disrupted our lives. I’’m happy for him, I truly am, but Mr. Barlow, Anita was traveling to Tennessee to break up with Roger in person.”
Steve Barlow focused his attention on Mark. His gaze made Mark feel like he was being sized up, as an enemy or a friend, it was too soon to tell.
“Why on earth was she doing that?” Steve asked. “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with her relationship with Roger.”
“As far as Roger knew, there wasn’t.”
Why was this so difficult on one hand, yet so liberating on the other?
“I think what Mark is trying to say is that he and Anita were seeing each other, and Anita had decided to break the engagement.” Hearing Paul intervene was an answer to his prayer.
Mark’s knees began to buckle, as Paul continued, “I only recently found out, and I guess…I had a lot to do with getting Mark here and ending this game of charades.””
“Oh my…” Roger’s mother, Barbara—who up until now had been looking on with curiosity—said, as she reached for Eve Barlow’s hand.
Eve began to sob. “Now I understand.”
Wait, Anita’s mother understood now? Had Anita confided in her? His mind was reeling with different scenarios, but only one kept coming to mind.
Roger renouncing their friendship.
This was the ultimate betrayal.
“I certainly hope someone has some honesty and decency left,” Ed Wilson chimed in. “You’ve been silent all this time?”
Mark realized the elder Wilson’s accusation was not directed at him, but at Paul.
“I suggest we back up and let Anita, Roger, and Mark sort all this out after she pulls through this crisis. After all, let’s not go down the rabbit trail of who did what, when Donna just left to call Roger and give him the news. I’’m sure he is going to want to hop on a plane and ask for some emergency leave or something.”
Somehow, Mark was not comforted by that thought.
In fact, he was terrified.
***
Donna was glad to be out of Anita’s hospital room where she could sort out her jumbled thoughts. She saw confrontation coming from a mile away. All this was getting out of hand and she wanted to let Roger know the good news.
After all, Anita had come out of her coma and that’s what everyone should be focusing on.
The process of calling Roger was long and drawn out as she had to go through the operator, then the base operator, and finally to the marine on duty.
“Hello, Private First Class Dave Alspeedy speaking. How can I help you?”
“Yes, thank you. I’m calling for Roger Wilson.”
“Roger.”
The enthusiasm expressed momentarily caught Donna off guard.
“There’s nothing wrong with his fiancée, I hope. She’s okay, isn’t she? Ah, I’m sorry ma’am. It’s just that Roger is a good friend of mine. I can pass a me
ssage along.”
“Sure, no…um…she’s perfectly fine. In fact, better than fine. She came out of her coma last night.”
“Holy buckets, you have got to be kidding me. Really, that’s such good news. Man, I can’t wait to give Roger the good news. He’’s been in such a funk over all this, man, when you see someone in love you got to know it. Someday for me, but not for a while.”
“Uh, yes…” Her heart sank and reality crashed into her world. Anita hadn’t finished what she had started when the accident occurred, and now Donna realized she’’d been unfair to Roger by participated in the betrayal.
“He’s not available right now, but I’m his roommate. This will definitely be a cause for celebration.”
“Good, have him call home when he gets a chance.”
“Will do. I’ll be. Imagine the odds of his roommate being on duty at the time of your call. I’m going to make sure I announce this in style. Thanks a lot.””
Donna imagined a young man totally immersed in his marine buddy’s good fortune and congratulating him with a victory salute. That was juxtaposed against the scene of Roger and Mark never speaking to each other again.
“Sure.” Donna tried to muster up some kind of cheery disposition currently lacking in her voice. “You have a good day.””
“Same to ya.”
As Donna hung up the phone, doubts about her good intentions as a nurse caring for battered bodies arose within her.
She evidently had no moral standards when it came to battered hearts.
She realized Roger was going to be suffering a secondary blow, which might be harder to handle than Anita’s accident.
***
The chaos of the morning only made Mark want to escape into solitude. He had managed to stay afloat long enough to see Anita return, and somehow, the anticipation of the moment was overshadowed by a dark cloud hanging over his disposition.
He would close his eyes, and abruptly, a black-clothed figure appeared, sneering and laughing. Mocking him for his weaknesses.
Adding to his distress was Anita’s inability to communicate due to her failing efforts to stay awake.
The nurses and doctor had advised the families to leave for the day and give Anita the chance to recuperate. This seemed a reasonable request, but Paul had only added to Mark’s frustration by inviting him over to his place for a “regroup”” session.
Mark had declined, a sense of hopelessness overshadowed his mood and feeling of well-being. He’d called in sick after all this had erupted in his life, and now he craved solitary time, definitely not needing to face an army of well-wishers and well-meaning souls.
He was concerned that he no longer felt in control of his life.
As he walked inside the house, an eerie fear settled on him as he felt a slight breeze blow past him.
All of a sudden, from the corner of his eye, he sensed that a person had fled from the dining room.
“Hello.” There was a tremble in his voice as he felt fear close in on him.
“Who’s…uh…who is there——anyone?” He cursed under his breath as his confidence seemed to abandon him.
You’re worthless.
He ignored the inner taunt and proceeded to walk deeper into the house. He was not worthless, he was the cowboy, the man in charge of his own destiny.
I’m a coward.
Yep, that was the word. He was a coward by all accounts. Who did he think he was? Just showing up at Anita’s bedside and declaring himself the man in her life to God and everyone else.
As he approached his bedroom, the door was ajar. He walked toward it…determined to overcome the fear rising within him.
He pushed open the door.
A stench assaulted his senses as the room began to sway…and Mark collapsed.
***
When Mark awoke, he realized he was in his grandfather’s basement. There were stacks of National Geographic in the corner and a butterfly flitted above his head as if to signal the revelation of something grand.
He arose to walk toward the steps and froze when he heard the voice.
“So many regrets, so much love.”
He turned to face its owner. “What is this?” His voice was squeaky as he tried to clear his throat.
“Suicide is not the answer.”
“What? Who said anything about suicide?”
“Abar is intent on bringing you down. If he succeeds, everything will be lost.”
“Who are you?”
The little man smiled. “Zeke. That’s all you need to know.”
“Who is Abar?”
“One of my enemies I am afraid. Mark, you are a vital link to all this. I know you are struggling with friendship issues with Roger, but I must ask, do you love Anita?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his answer.
“Then fight for her, and fight for Roger, and most definitely, fight for Paul. Do not give up. The rubber is now hitting the pavement. You must not fall.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Tsk, tsk, ye of little faith. I’m sorry to tell you, but no, your grandfather is not part of this. He failed to discover the truth.”
Mark’s grief grew to overwhelming proportions, the earth began to shake and the stack of magazines crashed to the ground.
The little man standing before him changed into a dark figure surrounded by the stench of oil-burned dust.
He understood what was happening. And in an instant, Mark knew what to do. He recalled his grandfather’s words just before he died.
“Mark, there are times in this life that you will want to give up, but never do that. Trust God, trust your heart, trust the universe, and most of all, trust me. Life is not easy, but God will help you find your way. Pray for guidance.”
Tears filled his eyes as he dug deeply into his soul to declare the words.
“God, help me.”
Mark glanced around, realizing the dark man was gone. He stared in disbelief as his grandfather stood before him, while the ground stopped quaking.
“It was all a lie? You are part of this? You did find the truth?”
“Yes, Grandson, now you must go back and believe in the truth. It is not your time yet, son, resist the urge to give in to self-destruction. Paul needs you.”
As darkness once again began to descend upon his consciousness, Mark could not discern why it was Paul, and not Roger or Anita, who needed him.
***
Roger opened his eyes and saw a seagull flying overhead. It was enough just to gaze up at the majestic bird against the backdrop of a clear blue sky.
As he scanned the area, Roger couldn’t remember where he was? He sat up and was bombarded with a huge hammer of a hangover.
“Oh God,” he groaned as he fell back into the sand.
“Yeah, right, Rog.” Wayne was running toward him from the beach. “I just took a run and feel fit as a fiddle. Might I add, you look like hell.””
Roger laughed at that.
“Falling asleep on a beach is not my idea of a comfortable night’s sleep.”
“Yeah, but you feel better today don’t you. I’m glad you shared all that about back home. It must be hard.”
Roger forced himself to sit upright as he mulled over a name that kept running in his head like a ticker tape.
Janet, Janet.
He did not know any Janet, nor why that name was haunting him right now.
“That earthquake was freaky.”
“Sure was, guessing we better get heading back to base. We gotta be in about an hour.”
“Ah, heck. Gunny’s going to have our hides if we’re late.”
“If we’re lucky. Hey, Rog.”
“Yeah.”
“It’ll be all right. She’ll live for life, not for you.”
“Oh yeah, forgot about that.” Roger jumped to his feet, then scrambled back to the car as his friend walked ahead of him.
Janet, Janet.
Who in the heck was Janet?
C
hapter Two
As Roger’s flight approached Omaha, he felt the knot in his stomach while his head spun from the rapid fire of events occurring in his topsy-turvy world. Everything was moving too fast for him to digest. He still didn’t feel right about leaving his car with Wayne while he was gone. He hardly knew his new friend, but did he really have any choice? Maybe it was time for him to trust someone. He hadn’t had time to make sense of his jumbled thoughts.
When Speed had shared with him that Anita had come out of her coma, he had cried tears of joy. Yet there was something he was feeling now that made him uneasy, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was bothering him.
There was a darkness descending upon his mind he couldn’t shake. He had been having fitful nightmares of falling down a rocky cliff and of a shadowy figure pushing him. He always awoke in a cold sweat, and as the memory arose again, he shuddered.
It took energy to ward off the vague feelings of helplessness, so he refocused his concentration on the matter at hand.
Even though he had no reason to doubt the validity of his reasons for going home, asking for the time off had seemed somewhat excessive.
He wasn’t by Anita’s side after the accident. Now he wasn’t there when she came out of her coma. It was all wrong somehow.
“Folks, we are beginning our approach to Omaha…” the pilot’s authoritative voice punctured his rambling thoughts.
Maybe, the trouble was their love had died on the vine long ago.
He would be finishing his El Toro tour in a month or so. He knew he should be knee deep in planning the wedding of Anita’s dreams, but the thought of tying himself down now wasn’t appealing. Yet, out of loyalty, he knew he had to make up for his absence these past few months.
As the plane landed he clutched the key. One question remained unanswered in his mind.
Why had Mark been the one so eager to put up the money for this trip? Wayne had been impressed by his friend’s concern, but Roger knew the cowboy too well.
There had to be some hidden motive besides friendship. Mark was predictable.
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