I shook my head, smiling. “Nope.”
A loud popping noise echoed when Samuel patted Jared on his back. “I can only go as far as the outskirts of Jerusalem, but I’m going to join you, if you don’t mind.”
Jared laughed once. “Not at all.”
I joined him at the front of the aisle, wrapping my arms tightly around him. I sighed. “I admit it. I was scared to death.”
Jared shook his head. “I was ready to jump from a crashing airplane with my pregnant wife. I think I win this one.”
I agreed without pause. “Touché.”
Samuel walked back and forth along the aisle for a while. We all watched him quietly, but the fear and apprehension were gone. When Samuel would pass our seats, Jared would squeeze my hand. I kept trying to use my new and crude sensitivities to recognize a dark presence, but I either wasn’t doing it right, or Samuel had given them a severe enough warning.
Before long, Jared’s breathing evened out, and then his fingers relaxed around mine.
I fell asleep soon after. A tiny baby boy in my arms, swaddled in the softest blue cotton, smiling and content in the shade under our oak tree, saturated my dreams. He smiled, his bright blue-gray eyes glimmering in the summer sun. His pinky finger was no longer than my pinky nail, and I kept kissing his hands over and over, unable to feel his skin against my lips enough times.
Time passed quickly there. Before the end of the day, he was a toddler and then grade-school age. He didn’t appear older than he was, as Bex always had. He was perfectly human and yet flawlessly beautiful like his father. By the time the shadow under the oak had faded, my son was a man, as tall and distinguished as Jared. I watched all of this in awe but a little sad at the same time. It had gone by too fast. I wanted more time with him. I wanted to start over. A strange mixture of pride and sadness surged through me, and I remembered how just a few hours ago I was pregnant with him.
The shade now a shadow, my son walked over to me and held out his hand. He looked so much like his father. “It’s time,” he said with a small smile. My smile.
“Time for what?”
“The end.”
My eyes popped open. Jared had left his seat, and I could hear him conversing with Bex and Kim somewhere in the back of the plane. I rubbed my eyes and turned to my right. Samuel sat across from me, his massive frame nearly too large for the seat.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“I did, actually.”
He smiled. “I know. I was just being polite.”
“Oh, right.” I maneuvered my body out of my seat, stretching.
Jared’s eyes met mine, and he stood, moving to the side.
“Again?” Bex teased.
“Yes, Bex, I’m pregnant. When you have a full-grown infant doing a handstand on your bladder, I’ll keep track of how many bathroom breaks you take, mmk?” I waddled down the aisle, passing Ryan and Claire, who didn’t seem to notice my presence. I noticed that Ryan’s pinky was overlapping Claire’s however, and she wasn’t beating him to a bloody pulp for it. I smiled and made my way to the lavatory.
I opened the door and frowned. I felt like Winnie the Pooh trying to squeeze into the honey tree. I looked down the aisle, meeting the inquisitive eyes of my husband. “I always feel I’m going to get stuck in there.”
Jared laughed. “If you do, I’ll get you out.”
Bex held up a white bottle. “I have lotion. That should help.”
I rolled my eyes and made my first attempt to navigate the small space.
Without event—or lotion—I returned to my seat, but not without the irritating snickering of Kim and Bex.
“Shut it,” I grumbled, glaringly aware that my penguin walk only made their laughter more boisterous.
I turned my attention back to Jared. “I don’t suppose you’ve thought about the little things.”
“Such as?”
“Bathrooms? Sleeping arrangements? Privacy?”
“All luxuries that won’t be readily accessible.”
“Pardon?” I said, my eyebrows shooting up two inches. “I’m heavily pregnant, and there’s no bathroom?”
Jared shifted nervously. “Yes.”
I sighed with relief and looked to the ceiling. “Oh, thank God.”
“But . . . not like the facilities you’re used to.”
I peered over at him.
He shifted again. “It’s more like a . . . a . . . hole . . . in the ground. But there is running water below, so it’s not as bad as it sounds.”
My face screwed into disgust. “You expect me to balance this,” I said, pointing to my belly, “over a hole?”
“You have Claire and Kim to help.”
I crossed my arms and faced the wall. “Not funny.”
“It can’t be helped.”
I relaxed and covered my face. “I’m so sorry. I sound like a brat. It’s just . . .” Tears burned my eyes. “It’s not the way I imagined my pregnancy, you know. Not that I ever really imagined it, but living the last few weeks of my pregnancy in a damp, dark hole, with medieval accommodations and the birth . . .” I said with a faltering breath. “I’m scared. It’s going to be painful, and I trust you, but not being in a hospital or even having a midwife there, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it.”
Jared wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I understand that you’re worried, but Claire and I have researched it to death, talked to every medical professional we know, and brought every supply we’ll need.”
“I’m still scared,” I said. A tear fell down my cheek.
Jared rested his cheek on my hair, and his fingers pressed into my skin. “I’m going to love you through it.”
I nodded and pressed my face into his chest.
Claire tapped Jared on the shoulder. “We need to ready the weapons and check the supplies.”
Jared nodded and released me. Everyone looked to him, and he gestured to everyone. “We have a lot of gear to hike through the city. The most important packages are weapons, medical supplies, and rations. These will be carried by Claire, Bex, and me. Ryan, you’ll be extra eyes on the book, but stay close to Claire.”
Ryan nodded.
Jared continued, “Kim, stay close to Bex. If anyone gets separated, hold your position, and we’ll double back. Under no circumstances is anyone to go off alone. I don’t care if you’re in a panic or you see a better way to go. Fracturing the group puts us all at risk, so we stay together. Got it?”
Everyone agreed.
The pilot announced the beginning of our descent. Claire and Bex had already brought the supplies and weapons packs to the front, and we were prepared to scramble to the waiting vehicle.
Jared was clearly anxious, but Samuel didn’t seem fazed.
I nudged my husband. “Samuel said he would ride with us to the old city. Does that mean things will be calm until then?”
“I don’t know. We should be prepared for anything.”
I nodded and wiped my sweaty hands on my pants.
Claire and Ryan both had AK-47s slung around their shoulders, pistols in the pockets of their cargo pants, and communication devices in their ears. Claire passed two more to Bex and Jared, and they spoke quietly to each other, testing the clarity and to see if they worked correctly.
The more they rushed around to prepare to land, the more nervous I became.
Claire handed me a vest, and Jared encouraged me to put it on. I watched Claire hand the same vest to Kim, Bex, and Ryan, and I realized they were bulletproof. Mine was surprisingly light.
Jared bent down to ensure my laces were tied and secure.
“Really?” I said. “I’m not a toddler.”
“I’m just covering all the bases, sweetheart.”
Kim and Samuel sat back, barely noticing the activity around them.
“Ryan,” Claire barked. “Hand me the fifty-cal. The launcher is in pack two.”
Ryan nodded and rifled through one of the larger duffels. He handed her what looked like
a heavy backpack.
As the wheels touched the runway, Claire and Ryan put on their own dark sunglasses and stood by the door, assault rifles in hand. I unfastened my seat belt, and Jared took my hand. Kim and Nina were in the middle, Bex brought up the rear, and Claire and Ryan were on point.
At the door, Samuel closed his eyes, whispered something both beautiful and menacing, and then opened the door. He walked out and stood, his arms crossed on one side of the stairs.
“It’s quite safe, I assure you,” he said, his deep voice echoing. The tarmac was empty except for our waiting Humvee. It was borrowed, light tan, and gauging by the bullet holes, had already seen action in its lifetime.
Claire took off her sunglasses and looked up at Samuel in awe. “It’s going to be like this until we get to the old city?”
“If not, I’ll take care of it, but it would be a waste for them to attack any earlier.”
Claire elbowed him in the stomach, but he didn’t flinch. “You let me get all dressed up for nothing.”
Samuel smiled. “I thought you’d be happy. The Humvee matches your clothes.”
Claire looked down at her olive green tank top and light tan cargo pants and then feigned irritation. “Not good enough.”
Samuel’s hand swallowed Claire’s small shoulder. “Once you reach Jerusalem, I promise you’ll use your fancy vest more than you’d like.”
Claire and Jared traded glances.
“Sounds like a party,” Ryan said with a grin.
18. Sepulchre
Loading the Humvee only took a few minutes, and then we were barreling down the highway, weaving in and out of traffic. Bex drove, Claire sat in the passenger seat, and the rest of us piled in the back. Jared barked directions at Bex, securing packs and loading weapons at the same time. Knowing he was in protector mode until we were all safely tucked under the Sepulchre made me miss him, but I had to let him focus. The more miles Bex put behind us, the more my fear threatened to take over.
Kim scooted closer to me and grabbed my hand.
I looked over at her sheepishly. “Are you scared?”
“I’m about to piss my pants.”
I nodded quickly, glad that I wasn’t the only one not looking forward to a battle.
Ryan was humming along to a song inside his head, tapping his fingers to the beat against his assault rifle.
“You weren’t kidding” I said.
He looked up. “What?”
“About the party.”
He smiled. “What can I say? I miss it.”
Kim laughed once, incredulous. I couldn’t even manage a reaction.
“Oh c’mon,” he said. He gestured to us. “You two get to see me in action for the first time. How many people can say their friend has gone off to war and then they get to watch him work? No civilians, I guarantee it.”
“It’s going to get bad,” I said.
He shook his head and smiled. “I’m counting on it.”
As usual, Ryan’s casual demeanor made my anger boil just below the surface. “What if something happens to you? Do you know what that means for Claire?”
“This isn’t my first rodeo, kiddo.”
Kim leaned forward. “It’s not your moment to impress her, either. This is serious. Quit screwing around and focus before you get us all killed.”
While Ryan and Kim bickered, I leaned up to look out the window. The scenery didn’t look so different: retail stores, traffic, and pedestrians. The only things that seemed foreign were the sun and palm trees. We could have been in California. I settled back against my seat. For reasons I couldn’t explain, the familiar surroundings made me feel better.
The Humvee took a sharp turn, shoving me against Kim.
“Bex?” Jared called.
“They’re shelling, but they’re keeping their distance. I’m just trying not to get boxed in.”
“Patience,” Samuel said.
Jared nodded and then fastened an extra ammo belt around him. I crawled to the closest mirror and watched as civilian cars and pickup trucks crowded the sides and back of our Humvee.
Bex swerved to the right, nudging one of the cars off the road. Claire readied her weapon.
“Just wait,” Samuel said. His voice was even, creating a strange calming effect.
I watched him for a moment. “Why can’t you stay with us until the Sepulchre?”
“So that you may rise above your struggle,” he said. “And because that was the agreement. I will keep you safe throughout the flight and trip to Jerusalem. Then you must rise above your struggle. Only then will you appreciate your plight.” He shrugged. “It is the way of the humans. It has always been the way.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what he was getting at, but I didn’t want to question him more. He wasn’t as practiced as Eli at human relations, and I had a feeling that no matter how in depth he explained it I would only be more confused.
Kim leaned into my ear. “He means he can’t just give us a get-out-of-jail-free card because it behooves our character to struggle before success. God is all about being fair and not interfering.”
“And Hell is the opposite,” I groused.
Another swerve threw me into Kim. “I’m glad you’re here.” I said, righting myself.
One side of her mouth turned up. “I’m not.”
“Plan B,” Bex said. “I’m taking the next exit!”
Samuel held up his hand. “Stay the course. Think of them as an escort.”
“Not the good kind.”
As we approached the city, the cars and trucks around us became more uniform, and it was evident that everyone around us had shelled. I peeked out of the window to see the sedan running alongside us. It contained a woman in her mid-to-late twenties. An empty car seat was in the back.
I closed my eyes. When Samuel left us, they would attack, and we would have to kill them.
“Jared?”
“Yes?” he said, albeit distracted.
“That woman over there,” I said, nodding in her direction. “She has a baby.”
Jared barely glanced at her. “Yeah?”
“We can’t kill her.”
The woman looked at me, her eyes bulging and black.
Jared drew my attention away from her, gently turning my jaw to face him. “She can’t kill you, either. We’re going to make plenty of tough decisions between now and then. Let’s not dwell on the shells. We can’t.”
I nodded, but Ryan glanced at the woman in the car and was visibly unsettled.
Jared grabbed the barrel of Ryan’s weapon and jerked it. “Everyone can shell. Everyone is a threat. The demons are counting on you to see the human and hesitate. Hesitation will get you killed. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Five minutes!” Claire called.
Everyone tensed. Bex flew through traffic, trying to leave the shells building up around us behind, but every time he gained ground, the drivers of the cars ahead shelled. The stores and houses seemed to be almost on top of each other, covering the gentle hills. Many of the buildings—especially the older ones—were made of rectangular rocks and castle-like in shape. Trees peppered the landscape, unlike the vast desert I had expected.
The sun was blindingly bright, glaring off the road and buildings. Kim squeezed my hand when we passed two statues of knights on horses, flying flags and proclaiming victory over the land. It was dizzying to think of how many how many empires had tried to own this land and how much blood had been shed for a claim to it. We were going to be fighting a numberless battle in that holy city, not to own it, but survive it.
Jared looked at me. “Stay close. Never leave my side for any reason. Keep your eyes and ears open.”
I nodded. “I love you.”
He managed a small smile and shook his head. “I love you,” he said, pulling me to him. He planted a quick kiss on my lips, and then the Humvee stopped.
“Damascus Gate less than one klick!” Claire yelled.
Jared looked to Samuel for exp
lanation, but he was gone.
Bex turned, his face intense. “Shells coming over the hill!”
“That’s it! We’re on our own!” Jared yelled. He took the safety off his pistol and grabbed a fistful of my vest.
Claire and Ryan left the Humvee first, and Jared and I followed. The bullets were already flying, landing in the sand at my feet. We hunkered down in a small alley just inside a stone corridor until Kim and Bex joined us, and then Jared silently ordered us to move.
Claire pointed further inside the corridor. “Damascus Gate—markets and pedestrians—no good.”
Jared nodded once and then we moved out. Claire took to the street with cover fire, running at full speed to the next alley. People walking in the street would run and then suddenly stop to follow. Jared pulled me across the street, and a large man with military fatigues ran at us. Claire put a bullet in his head in less than a second. Jared didn’t bother to slow down. We jumped over the corpse and caught up.
Duck and cover seemed to be the plan of action for the next two streets. The old city was a series of narrow rock roads and corridors lined with trinkets and rugs for sale. We reached the end of one road to find ourselves at the beginning of a marketplace. Claire froze, and we stopped abruptly behind her. A hundred or so people stopped, slowly turning around. The eyes of men, women, and children were black as night and bulging from their sockets.
“Move,” Claire said, waving us back.
Jared turned on his heels, leading us to the next building and up a set of stairs. We climbed to the roof, with the mob just behind Bex and Kim. Jared took a few wide strides, and then we leapt from that roof to the next. He wanted to continue, but I refused, waiting for Kim. Once they breeched the top of the stairs, I saw hands clamoring over bodies, the shells trampling each other to get at us. Bex was focused, but Kim’s eyes bulged.
“Just hang on to him!” Claire called.
Bex, still running, hugged Kim to him, and when his feet left the roof, he cradled her to his side like a football. His landing was smooth, but Kim had to take a moment we didn’t have to get her bearings. The mob still came at us, most of them falling to the alley below when they tried to make the jump.
My hands flew to my mouth. Children were among those falling to their deaths.
The Providence Trilogy Bundle: Providence; Requiem; Eden Page 82