Infinite Testament

by Greg Ness

  “Of course.” Indeed, this vision of Jesus seems different from his other hallucinations. Perhaps it really is his son. “I came to tell you that I’m waiting for you. I told you I would always love you. And I want you to know it’s still true. I love you, Father. I will see you soon.”

  “Son!”

  Stephen emerges from a shroud of trees. “You wanted to talk to me?” From behind a batch of branches, Elpis hides and watches. But Moros knows she’s there.

  “I want to tell you I’m sorry. For everything I have done.”

  Stephen questions his sincerity. He walks closer and kneels next to him. As he looks into his eyes, he sees something surprising: they are full of light. The darkness that filled them earlier is gone.

  Stephen expresses something that Moros, for over two thousand years, could never bring himself to feel. “I forgive you,” Stephen says. Looking at the nails in Moros’s wrist, he starts to pull them out.

  “No,” Moros says. “Leave them.” Moros smiles at Stephen. “Bring your ear close to me.”

  Stephen complies. Elpis, through the trees, looks on with curiosity. Moros whispers something into Stephen’s ear. But she can’t hear it. She can only watch and wonder.

  Stephen is surprised as Moros whispers. When he finishes, Stephen utters, “Okay.” Stephen places his hand on the side of Moros’s face, bidding comfort and farewell to the remnants of a once good man.

  Stephen stands up and gives one last look to Moros. Stephen turns and walks toward Elpis, nodding to her. As he walks through the forest to join the others, Elpis rejoins Moros. She kneels next to him and whispers, “Pull the nails out. We’ll go somewhere. Anywhere. Stay with me.”

  “I can’t.”

  Elpis is overcome. Tearfully, she digs her face into his neck. “Please don’t leave me.”

  “After what I have done, I cannot stay. When I die, I will wait for you.”

  Elpis wraps her arms around him and squeezes. The thought of Moros dying fills her soul with sorrow.

  Moros closes his eyes and rests his head.

  “Please hug me, Moros. Like we used to… in the fields.”

  Moros opens his eyes and smiles at the memory. Growing up, they spent their entire lives together. They were inseparable. They would have been together forever. Moros and Elpis gaze into each other’s blue eyes. In his, clearly and beautifully, the light shines. Moros looks at his wrists and slowly pulls them off the wood. The nails come out and escape with his wrists. With his hands, he pulls on the knobs and removes the nails. Tosses them aside. And hugs Elpis.

  They embrace on the floor of the forest. The feel of their bodies against one another is something they have only dreamt of for centuries. “I’m sorry, Elpis.” He takes her hand and holds it. Grabbing her finger, he slides the E.M. ring into place. “I’m so sorry.”

  Elpis, full of tears, responds, “I forgive you. I will always love you, Moros. No matter what.”

  Moros squeezes her tightly. It’s all he needs to hear. He closes his eyes.

  Elpis, with her head on his chest, listens to the sound of his breathing, the sound of his beating heart. It slows down. Elpis leans her face toward Moros and kisses him. As she pulls away, she looks at his closed eyes and realizes:

  Moros, the love of her life, is gone.

  53

  “Happy We Stopped The End of The World Pool Party Day… Night!” Bruce stumbles through. Everyone is outside at the hotel pool. Other than the moon, the only light source provided to them is from the pool, which glitters light around.

  Bruce happily pours champagne into glasses and hands them out. “Here you go, Chad,” he says as he gives a glass to Chad, “You used to be a jackass! But now you’re an okay guy… I guess.”

  Sean confidently comes to his defense. “Is that the way you should be talking to your boss?”

  Bruce and Chad laugh. “Look at you, Sean! Don’t let this whole apostleship thing get to your head.” Bruce playfully taps him on the chest. “I like you. I’m glad you didn’t do anything stupid when I was holding a gun to your face.”

  “Charming,” Kristen interrupts. “Is this how you make friends, Bruce?”

  Bruce wraps his arm around his wife.

  Sean says, “She’s right, ya know. You’re kind of weird.”

  Bruce concedes, “Philosophy major.”

  At the other end of the pool, Mikey, Mr. Ixley, and Campbell lounge on beach chairs. Mikey proclaims, “That was a cool move in the forest, Ixley. You nailed him with that log!”

  Mr. Ixley, wearing a green glowstick around his neck, replies, “A little trick your father taught me. And I must insist you call me Mr. Ixley.”

  Campbell asks, “What were Stephen and Bruce like as students? Was Stephen picked on all the time?”

  Mr. Ixley laughs. “I wish. They made my life hell.”

  Mikey, wearing a backwards hat, laughs. “I don’t believe it, Ixley.”

  Mr. Ixley shakes his head at Mikey. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Mikey nods, pretending to care.

  Zeno stands with Elpis, who is weighted by Moros’s blue backpack resting on her back. She asks, “How did he handle the news?”

  “Like anyone who reunites with the father who abandoned him. A mix of anger, happiness, and relief. He’ll understand someday. I hope.”

  Elpis watches as Bruce paces by, away from the pool and toward the balcony. She asks Zeno, “What about his purpose?”

  Zeno responds, “It’s a lot to take in. All in time. I have faith in him.”

  Elpis glances at Bruce, who leans on the concrete balcony.

  Bruce looks out at the ocean, taking in the calmness and serenity of the waves. Amidst the joking and celebrating, he can’t help but feel unfulfilled. All he needs is time to clear his head.

  To his right, someone joins him in leaning against the balcony. She says, “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah,” he affirms.

  Expecting to see Elpis, he looks and instead sees… Sara Ixley. “Sara?”

  “Hi Bruce.”

  Bruce looks around, checking to see if anyone else notices her. “Don’t worry,” she says, “Only you can see me.”

  “I miss you,” Bruce says. Sara gently places her hand on Bruce’s. Despite that she isn’t alive, Bruce can feel her hand.

  “I miss you too,” Sara says.

  Bruce looks at her face. Her eyes, her flowing blonde hair, her thin lips. She’s just as he remembers.

  “I read your letter,” she says, “It made me really happy. Thank you for loving me, Bruce.”

  Bruce chuckles. “You don’t have to thank me. You’re easy to love. You’re perfect. Me, well, I still need some work.” It’s then that Bruce notices Sara’s bare wrists. There’s nothing on them. No cut, no scar, nothing. He looks in her eyes and says, “Thank you… for being a part of my life.”

  Sara smiles, gazes in his eyes, and puts her hand to his face. “Kiss me.”

  Bruce complies. He leans in and stares in her eyes. She does the same. As their lips touch, Bruce can feel her. She wraps her hands around his head and passionately kisses him. When their lips finally part, he asks, “If anyone is watching me right now, do I look like a complete idiot?”

  Sara giggles and nods her head. “Big idiot.” Sara holds his hand. “Promise me one thing. When you think of me, don’t be sad.” She points to his heart, “I know you’ll think it sounds dumb, but I’ll always be right here. And remember, I’ll be waiting for you.” Bruce and Sara stare into each other’s eyes and joyously smile, and for once, if just for a minute, they share the happiness they always dreamed of.

  A voice from behind Bruce says, “It’s beautiful.”

  Bruce turns. It’s Elpis. “Uhh… Oh. The ocean? Definitely.” Bruce leans against the concrete balcony and peers in Sara’s direction. She’s gone. But Bruce smiles, happy to have seen her again. He looks at Elpis. The uncanny resemblance between Elpis and Sara was always quite odd.

&n
bsp; Elpis says, “I’m sorry for the way things went down.”

  “What? You mean sending me on crazy missions to stop the end of the world? It was my pleasure.” Bruce laughs at himself and pauses. “Sorry I never told you about the ELPIS box.”

  “It’s okay, Bruce. I just can’t imagine how it ended up on that beach.”

  Bruce laughs. “We’ll never know.”

  “I know I had to be secretive, but your loyalty and heart really impressed me. And though it might not seem like it, your friendship truly means a lot to me.”

  Bruce smiles and glances around. Everyone seems busy and sheltered in distraction. Nobody could see them. Screw it, he figures. Bruce pulls Elpis toward him, puts his hands on her face, and kisses her. Elpis totally surprised, closes her eyes and goes with it. Their lips interlock. Bruce pulls his head back. “I’m just glad you’re with me.” Elpis grips his head and pulls him forward. And they kiss again.

  When their brief moment of passion ends, Elpis leans against the balcony. Bruce scoots close to her and asks, “Did we just break the record for biggest age gap between kissers? I mean, considering you’re a couple thousand years older than me…” Bruce pauses and seriously asks, “You’re sticking around, right?”

  Elpis laughs. “I won’t be disappearing anymore.”

  “Good.”

  Elpis removes the blue backpack from her shoulders. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

  Bruce looks with curiosity at the backpack. Elpis unzips it and pulls out a book. On the cover, it has an X with a circle around it. It looks old and torn up. As Bruce looks closer, he realizes it’s the same book Mr. Ixley had in his office in high school.

  “The first two chapters of this book are in English,” Elpis says. “But chapter three is different. I’ll explain all of it to you. And if you’re up for it… I’d like to ask you to help me… with another little mission.”

  Intrigued, Bruce smirks.

  Vince sits on a beach chair and holds Natalie, who leans against him. Together, they gaze at the stars sparkling in the night sky. As two great scientists, their minds can only begin to fathom the vastness of the Universe.

  Natalie ponders, “How many planets out there do you think have intelligent life?”

  “Well, there’s at least one.” Vince said, referring to Raqiya. “I suppose we could ask Zeno.”

  Natalie smirks. “I think I would rather not know.”

  Vince caresses her hand. “We may never know otherwise.” Vince hesitates to ask, but does anyway, “What does all this do for your faith? Ya know, that Jesus is actually… a spaceman?” Vince isn’t sure how she feels. Would it destroy her faith? Implant doubts in her mind? Enrich her love of God?

  Natalie simply responds, “It makes me happy.”

  Under the gaze of the stars, Vince and Natalie kiss.

  Stephen and Lisa stand in the corner of the balcony, far from the others.

  Lisa asks, “What’s it like now? Knowing how important you are?”

  “I don’t care. As long as I’m with you.” Stephen kisses Lisa. She rolls her eyes and pushes him away. “Seriously, Stephen. I’m asking you this.”

  Stephen sighs. “It’s… fine, I guess. I mean what do you want me to say? I know what I have to do. It’s not going to be easy. But I have 12 friends to help me do it. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be able to do this with me.” As Stephen finishes his sentence, water from the ocean in the distance shoots into the air, like a grand fountain, twirling and diving in fantastical patterns. Stephen smiles, amused with himself.

  “Stephen, you’re not supposed to do that kind of stuff.”

  The water stops spraying into the sky and falls down. “You’re right. See? I need you.”

  “The more important question is… are you moving to Los Angeles with me?”

  Stephen pauses. “I don’t know… I have a pretty nice place. There’s a lot of empty rooms.” He smiles jokingly at her. Stephen puts his hands on her waist and leans in to kiss her. “Of course I am. I don’t see what other choice I have,” he mumbles as he inches toward her.

  “Exactly,” Bruce’s unwanted voice enters. “How can you possibly have a choice when all this has already happened?”

  “Seriously, Bruce?” Stephen asks.

  Lisa offers her philosophical insight. “Does it matter? You don’t know what will happen. Just do what you can while you’re here and enjoy your life”

  Stephen and Bruce stare at each other. The simplicity of her statement catches them by surprise. All their discussions, all their arguing, and they never considered that. Bruce declares, “She’s brilliant.” He turns and leaves. “Carry on.”

  Lisa stares into his bright, angelic blue eyes. “This is going to be fun.”

  Stephen gazes into her eyes, emanating with extraordinary light. “I’ve waited my whole life for this.”

  Stephen leans in and kisses Lisa.

  Epilogue

  Three Months Later:

  Somewhere in Michigan, a man sweeps his store, swiping away at all the dust accumulated on the dirty floors. As he moves by, the sound of barking dogs fills his ears.

  “Quiet!” he insists to the dogs stuck in their cages. They ignore his requests and continue to howl. Frustrated, he tosses his broom aside. “Forget it! I won’t broom!”

  The chime of his door rings. A customer! The stranger enters and walks straight to the dogs. Examines them. The storeowner asks, “Something I can help you with?”

  “No, thank you. I’m okay,” the customer replies.

  As the storeowner examines him, he seems familiar. “Do I know you?”

  The customer ignores him. He is engrossed with the dogs. He kneels in front of one of them, a puppy, and stares at it. Before long, he starts whispering. Oh great, the storeowner thinks, another crazy guy.

  The little puppy lets out a high-pitched bark. The customer stands up with a bright smile on his face. “I’ll take him.”

  “You guys have a nice conversation?” the storeowner jokes.

  “Oh yes,” the customer replies seriously. “It’s always great to be reunited with a friend.”

  The storeowner glares at him. What a weird guy. Digressing, he strolls over and pulls the Shih Tzu puppy out of his cage. “You from around here?”

  “I live in L.A now. Used to live here. Just visiting”

  That explains it, the cashier thinks, he’s from California. Together, the storeowner and the customer head to the register. The customer asks, “How much do I owe you?”

  “Thirteen-hundred.”

  Matter-of-factly, the customer states, “Wow. That’s a lot.” He pulls out his wallet and starts to drop, one by one, several hundred-dollar bills onto the counter. The storeowner watches with surprise and asks, “So you and this guy are old friends, huh?”

  “Yes. We go way back,” the customer says, smirking. “By the way, the dogs don’t like when you sweep. Apparently, the dust gets in their cages and it makes a mess. They’d prefer it if you got a vacuum.” The customer smiles. “Just so you know.”

  Just then, the storeowner recognizes the customer. “Hey. Now I know who you are! You’re that guy! Yeah! That guy!”

  The customer smiles. “I think you have me confused with someone else. I am simply a man.” The customer, with his flashy blue eyes, winks at him.

  The storeowner frowns. This guy is crazy. “Anyway, what ya gonna name him?”

  The customer holds the Shih Tzu puppy in his arms and says, “He already has a name…

  “…Miles.”

 

 

 
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