She reads it stating, “If you confess with your mouth
Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” I ask her to repeat the same prayer of repentance I said some time ago. She repeats after me: “Dear Jesus; I do believe you are God. And, I do
believe you came to save me. I believe you died and rose
again. Please come live in my heart and guide me. I believe
with all my heart that all my sin is now forgiven.” I give her a hug of congratulations and tell her she is saved.
Katie weeps with the knowledge she now has something wonderful to look forward to. I tell her, “The little Bible is yours to keep.” I explain how her children are under God’s gift of grace too. I begin showing her prophetic passages of what is still coming on the world, and when Jesus will return to set up His kingdom on this world.
After talking for quite a while, I peel back my watch’s Velcro cover and see it is getting to be late in the day. I explain briefly about “Project T.” She tells me that she and her babies’ have one day’s food ration left. She also alerts me about another couple that ran from the brand, living nearby. I promise Katie I will return in a day, or two, with food and another Bible for the couple. Katie tells me she will treasure her little Bible always, and she will tell the couple about Jesus and me. “I got to go before it gets dark!” I proclaim. Her face seems to glow with her new found comfort and strength. We hug as I leave Katie with a parting prayer, “God watch over Katie and her family.” She quickly opens the door and abruptly shuts it behind me. I rustle leaves up the stack of boxes trying to hide the door by making the surroundings look naturally desolate. I back away while fluffing up the path of leaves leading to the concealed entrance. Finally, I drag a rag behind me wiping the footprints I made out of existence, and sprinkle a handful of crumbled leave to replace the missing dust.
I exit the gas station trying to remember my return path. I immediately notice how dark it’s getting and see the sun set. I walk quickly and pray inside, “God help get me
home safely.” I decide to chance a shorter route than the one I
took to get here. I’ll need to walk down more streets chancing LD detection, but I should be able to get home before it turns pitch black. I know this is when the Demons come out in
force.
I turn a corner four blocks away and see a gruesome
sight. He looks like the large man the LD drug off. I can’t tell exactly, because of all the blood covering most of his body. He is tied to a telephone poll. I guess they left him for dead, and as a sign to scare other Irreverent brothers to convert. I press the side of his neck with my fingers and feel he has a slight pulse. It’s faint, but it’s steady. I whisper into his ear, “I am here to save you.” I untie the restraining prison of ropes freeing him. He falls into my hands as I realize his weight. I pray, “Jesus, give me the strength.” Somehow, I find the strength. It takes every ounce of my energy just to lean him on my back. I waddle away carrying him “piggyback,” struggling to cart this prisoner of war away. I rush to get as far away as possible before the Demons’ realize my victory.
After two alleyways I fall down face first dazed and confused, and in complete and utter exhaustion. Suddenly, I realize I am disoriented to which way home is. His warm blood drizzle down my face as he lay dead still on my back. I hear words begin to babble out of his torn lips. He quietly and slowly repeats, “Save my family, please save my family.” I whisper back, “They are safe and saved.” I force myself up and find some supernatural power to continue. It seems my words have comforted this large man enough to allow him to drift back into unconsciousness. Just as he does, I hear Flicker. I cannot see him, but I know his wonderful joyous beckoning song. I follow the melody ahead as it continuously leads us to another location.
I exit the gas station trying to remember my return path. I immediately notice how dark it’s getting and see the sun set. I walk quickly and pray inside, “God help get me then fall down in utter exhaustion. I wake sometime later peering
the dark and realize I pasted out. The cold of the night grips and slaps me, chilling the perspiration soaking me. I turn my head and see the large man is lying next to me with a small
pillar of steam percolating out his swollen mouth. This tells
me, at least he is alive. I force myself up and yank myself
over the top of the fence. I fall into my backyard loud enough to alert Dave with my thump, and the sound of all the air rushing out my lungs. I see the back door open slightly and hear Dave ask, “Joey?” I gasp back to him, “Yeah buddy; come give me a hand.” Dave swings the door open and quickly “low steps” across the dark backyard to help me.
“I thought they got you. I’m so glad to see you Joey.” Dave helps me by pulling me upwards off the ground. I lean over to brace my tired legs by clasping them with my exhausted arms’. “Dave, I’ve brought you a special gift. I need a hand getting it over the fence though.” A puzzled expression fills his face as he confusingly replies, “A gift?” I chuckle a sigh of relief and say, “It’s good to be home.”
Both of us jump over the fence as quietly as possible. Dave looks unbelievingly at the bloody mess of a human laying here. Dave whispers, “Is he alive?” I feel his neck again to check his pulse as he begins to become conscious. I whisper to him, “We need your help to get over this fence.” Dave grabs his other side as we heave up the large man. I lean into him and tell Dave, “Leap over the fence and I will push him up from this side.” I think about the insurmountable six foot height of my fence as I bend down under the large guy’s propped body. I pray for the super strength I’ll need while I leverage my shoulder under his rear, and push up. I strain lifting him as I tell the large guy, “Try and grab the fence and pull with everything you have left in you.”
I see him agonizingly strain to grab the top of the fence and pull himself over. Dave grabs his arms from his side of the fence, pulling him as hard as he can. The large guy’s bloody body greases the top of the fence aiding us in sliding
him up, and over. Dave has problems maintaining his grip,
because of the gummy mess, as I feel the immense weight of the guy increase. “Once more, ” I tell both of them. One last push up, and then he flops over the rest of the way onto the
backyard. He thumps on the hard ground as all the air rush
out of him. I know what he must be feeling. I quickly leap
over and grab his arm. Dave and I begin dragging him in the house as fast and as quietly as possible. Dave shuts the door behind us as I finish dragging him over to the kitchen wall.
“Dave; get the bucket from under the sink, and then fill it with water.” I scramble to get my sewing kit located in the bottom of my hutch. “Here’s the water,” Dave whispers. I tell Dave, “Now, go get several glow sticks and light them.” While Dave retrieves the sticks, I go get some worn towels and a warm blanket. I return to the glowing kitchen floor and begin dunking a towel into the clean water. I dab off the blood still slowly oozing out his many wounds. Immediately, his scabs stick to the towel. The pain from peeling the scabs off his body helps revive him. “Dave, help me drag his head onto my lap.” I whisper in the big guy’s ear, “You’re with friends and we’re taking care of you.” He shakes with fear, and possibly due to lack of blood, but it subsides in my embrace.
Tears start to come out his eyes as he regains his faculties. “My babies, my poor babies!” he cries out. He then flops around in his attempt to try and get up. “I got to get them before those Demons do.” I secretly whisper in his ear, “Do you have a wife named Katie, a son Jordan, and a daughter Hanna?” Every part of his body jumps to life. He grabs and tugs my sleeve while exclaiming, “You’ve seen them!” “Yes, and they’re just find. Lay back down and I tell you all about my meeting with them.” All the excitement causes him to pass out once again. But, he does it with a slight smile this time. I tell Dave to take over blotting the blood. “It’s
a good thing he passed out. I need to stitch close a lot of lacerations.” We spend a good two hours removing glass from his wounds and sewing closed numerous cuts over his entire body. I think, “He will need antiseptic and antibiotic medicine
if he’s going to make it.” We decide to leave him in place and cover him. I roll up a spare towel and slide it under his swollen head using it as a pillow. I dump the blood filled bucket down the sink and then store it. Dave grabs the glow
sticks from this room as we leave the battered man to rest.
We move to the opposing front room and sit up against the wall. Dave quietly asks, “What happen to him? Do you know him or something?” I reply, “I stole him from the hands of ‘Trinity.’ You won’t believe the miraculous day I had.” I fill Dave in on all today’s details as I begin to feel myself fighting to stay awake. After, I tell Dave to quietly fetch me a blanket and pillow from upstairs. He leaves and returns with the requested bedding supplies. I tell Dave, “take my bed for tonight. I’m going to stay here just in case Katie’s husband wakes up. I’m sure he’ll want to know immediately about his family.” Dave tells me, “Goodnight,” and then follows my instructions. I cover myself over as my stomach begins to ache. I think to myself, “Here are four more mouths to feed, but I’ll trust you God.” I begin to dose off with the comfort of knowing He listens to my prayers.
Chapter 4: The Strength of David
“Ohhh, helllp me!” comes crying out from my kitchen. I stretch consciousness into my jumbled mind as I yawn amidst the continuous moans waking me. I stagger to my feet snatching the wall for support as I whisper in the direction of the kitchen, “I’ll be there in a second.” I straddle the wall for a few paces as I wake up. Rays of sunshine lay a railroad track directly to the jostling lump on the kitchen floorboards. I ask myself along the way, “Is it morning already?” I find it is taking me longer than I thought it would, so I whisper again, “I’m coming.” I watch the blanket covering his face slowly slide off as his inflated cheeks flap a quiet, “Katie.” I squat down over him being careful not to press his swollen injures. I put my mouth to his ear as I speak, “It’s alright friend; everything will be okay.” I notice his blood filled eyes peeking through slithers of his bulging black flesh. I cannot help feeling some of the pain he is experiencing. “Katie, my babies” he strains out in agony. I tell him, “They’re fine. Don’t worry, and don’t try and talk. You need to be still and rest.” I proceed explaining all about my chance meeting with Katie. He defies his body’s will to rest as he hinges on my every word. “I’m going to bring your family some supplies tomorrow. I’ll tell them that you will be home soon. I’ll look after your family till then.” I inform him how Katie accepted God’s gift of eternal salvation. I assure him both Jesus and I were watching over his newly saved family. He reaches up as if to hug me, but he has no strength. The only power left in him is the, “Thank you” he repeats until his mind drifts once more away.
I stand in the morning light in more ways than one. The yellow of the streaming beams suggest it is midmorning. My watch divulges my assumption to be correct. I see its 9:33 am. I splash some cold water on my face at the kitchen sink as Dave greets me with a shallow, “How was your night?” Through my towel I muffle, “Morning buddy.” Dave inquires about the condition of Katie’s husband. I inform him, “He’ll
need medicine and lots of prayer to get better.” We both decide to lay our hands on the three of us and pray for healing, guidance, and continued supernatural protection; all while the big guy sleeps.
I tell Dave he needs to stay here while I go to “T” for food and medicine. “Sit near Katie’s husband, and keep him quiet. Keep him warm and attend to his needs. I’ll be back soon.” Dave replies he’s going up stairs to grab another blanket and his Bible. I grab the spare Bible from the secret supply chamber just in case God reveals another soul searching. I remove the back door barricade as Dave returns. I pan the backyard while Dave pats my back. I reply, “You too buddy,” as I exit. Dave quietly draws close and seals the door, as I bend, and then jog quickly to the backyard fence.
I listen quietly for any signs of life before jumping over the fence. My heighten senses give me the okay. I proceed up and over as subtly as possible. I land in a front leaning prone position while detecting for signs of LD. My peripheral vision notices the bloody message we left on this side of the fence last night. I grab some dirt and rub the red trails. My mind makes a mental note to clean it later today. I stand and march off towards my mission for today. I am no longer terrified walking alone, because I travel with the confidence of Christ.
A passage from the Bible fuels my conscience and strengthens me. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen.” The book of “Hebrews” is my morning breakfast, as my mind eats some of its stored passages.
This is something I’ve always had problems with-“faith.” Science does not accept this concept and ridicules those who do. I don’t know why it is so important to God we have faith, but I know it’s impossible to please Him without it. It goes against my logical nature, but I also believe in something else that can’t be proven scientifically-“love.” That is the very essences of God!
A scream off in the distance alerts me of possible LD
activity. Pressing forward, I rededicate my focus to audible and visual observation. More agonizing pain echoes from different distant clusters. It seems screams are coming from all around. I realize something is happening beyond the normal today. Commotion is raining down everywhere. “Yeah,” I confirm to myself, there’s never been this much LD activity before. I stay low and move fast towards “Project T.”
My little Flicker appears out of this pandemonium. His flame of hope lifts my spirit as he lands at the entrance of the far alleyway. I see him standing statuette on top a chain link fence. My mind asks him, “What, no pretty song for me today?” I maneuver towards my blue buddy at regular intervals of observing, ducking, and then covering. A strange tingle tickles the skin of my neck warning me somehow that something is wrong. I decide to take heed to its advice and obscure my existence. It proves to be a good decision.
One LD appears between the frameworks of fences lining the alleyway. She comes within reach of Flicker’s lifeless posture. She stops and stares at him. Her devoid emotional state seems to war with that part of her soul feeling compassion and beauty. Her face is painted with puzzlement while she peers at his petrified pose. Tenderly, her hand draws to his warm flame of hope. My spirit sorrowfully whispers, “Her soul awaits the fatal flames of Hell.” Sadness fills that void in her soul as she tries gently touching him. Flicker suddenly pricks a warning of the damnation and pain awaiting her. Anger of this revelation provokes her to swipe at him, but my Flicker flies off faster than her fury can retaliate. She retreats into her previous path of travel taking along the blood drop in her hand. I reflect, “Thanks little friend for the ‘heads up’ warning.”
The next alley is further away than it was just moments ago. I move to a secure point at the end of this alley and assume a prone position. My eyes locate her on the adjacent street as she unites with the LD precession marching away. My head slowly slides side to side pitying this dark army.
I use this diversion to crossover to the other side.
Remote shrieks far off follow me as I forage for cover. Perfect protection appears past a pile of debris. I remain on high alert to the surrounding screams, and possibility of LD, as I bend behind the pile. “Move out!” commands my mind; fighting my body’s desire to stay safely here and rest. “There’s no time to waste!” My mind keeps pushing me along from secure position to position. I finally realize there is one more block till I reach the hidden protection of “Project T.” I continue to methodically maneuver through the immediate mass of madness all around me.
A spiritual force of evil looms thick in this day’s air. I take every precaution in approaching “T”. My mind tells me this is not a good idea while circling the entra
nce way. My conscience reminds me of those deeply depending on my success. I race upright to the stone sacrificing its stealthy secret. “Time is of the essence” is the rationale favoring the odds of chance. I hastily perform the entrance ritual that slides the stone aside, and then leap into its light below. Quickly, I turn and grab the stone and slide it back in place. Sitting lifeless, I listen on the steps just under it. A faint frantic conversation fills the foyer as I fear the worse. The muffled words that I detect echoing are not from the outside, but rather from deep below. A “whew” of relief is forced out of my subconscious. This strikes me as very unusual; since no one should be here till tomorrow. Quickly, I go repent the secret entrance code to open the hidden chamber below. I realize during this ritual the revealing flaw to this fortress; the pastor did not make the lower chamber soundproof. The stone in the floor pops up. I slide open the chamber as five sets of dismal eyes stare quietly at me. Waves of hurrying hands yell at me to descend now. I scamper five steps down, then reach and slide this entrance stone shut. I warn my brothers’ about the sound traveling up and suggest we move further down in the chamber. We retreat to the chapel’s seclusion.
After we’re all securely inside the chapel, I ask, “Why
are you all here?” Each brother tries explaining their reason as they talk loudly over one another. It seems all out war has been declared on finding every Irreverent. My fellow brother Scotty gives an account of how his secret partner is captured by the LD. “I heard Joshua screaming as he was running towards my house. They grabbed Josh right before he tipped them off to where I live. I guess his fear of being caught got the best of him.” Scotty gives every terrifying detail as every brother intensely listens. Scotty cries in his hands suppressing his words: “The poor guy. I wanted to help Josh, but there was too many LD beating him. They promised he would take the brand or they’d cook him alive.” Every Irreverent brother here tells a similar story. Every accounting is about seeing someone they know being tore from their hiding place, or captured off the street. Brother Ken gives us the key reason for all the LD commotion.
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