by Wood, Rick
Cassy lifted her head upwards toward the bright-white void, the entry point to heaven where she was so pertinently denied.
“Gabrielle!” she bellowed. “Gabrielle!”
They had to let her in.
It was the only way.
They had to.
But she had killed. Two men had perished by her hand. She had done it to save Martin’s and Derek’s souls, and in turn had cursed her own.
God didn’t budge on his commandments.
Even if it meant giving hell their greatest weapon…
Was He really going to do this?
“Come on!” Cassy insisted. “After all I’ve done! And you still won’t let us in!”
The devil yanked Eddie teasingly, enjoying watching him being ripped away from his sister and her eternal, undying love.
She clung onto Eddie helplessly, wrapping her arms even tighter around his neck.
“No, you will not take him!” she resisted.
The devil grinned, exuding a slow chuckle.
“I’m taking him,” the devil announced. “Time to say goodbye.”
The devil yanked Eddie out of her arms and out of her reach.
Her arms dangled, helplessly grasping for him.
The devil paused mid-air, smiling a final taunt at Cassy.
“Come on, Gabrielle…” she whispered. “Please… After all I’ve done…”
“You did all that…” the devil cackled. “And still they won’t have you.”
The devil turned to take Eddie away, to soar into the blackness that consumed the beyond.
In a sudden burst of light, Gabrielle soared out of the passageway to heaven, firing toward the devil and wrapping her body around Eddie.
“Gabrielle?” Cassy asked hopefully.
Gabrielle lifted her head up.
“We still need your help!” she cried out, staring past Cassy at an emerging face.
Cassy turned over her shoulder.
The light parted, allowing a figure to appear. At first it was a magnificent silhouette. As it entered the light it turned into something far greater, something not of the human world.
Something transient.
Something powerful.
Something Godly.
The devil looked up, eyes full of fear.
The raise of an arm from their Godly apparition was enough to send the devil pummelling back into the pits below.
Gabrielle took hold of Eddie and swam through the air, placing him at the feet of the mysterious figure.
The figure knelt, placing a hand on Eddie’s face.
“You are forgiven,” He whispered.
It turned its holy face to Cassy.
“As are you.”
He took hold of Eddie and sank back into the light, disappearing.
Gabrielle turned back to Cassy, holding out her hand.
“Are you coming?” she asked.
Cassy smiled, took Gabrielle’s hand, and followed.
“For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
65
Eddie’s eyes opened.
His hand swung to his heart, clutching manically.
It was fine.
There was no wound.
In fact, there wasn’t even a heartbeat.
He sat up, looking over himself, astonished at his weightlessness. He held his hands out in front of him. They were clean and unblemished.
He looked up, surveying the magnificent surroundings, marvelling in amazement.
A bright sun beamed proudly down upon him, scorching him with its rays, yet causing not an ounce of sunburn. He sat in a budding field, lively trees and magnificent plant life surrounding him, springing out of the ground, and twisting into the air with grace. There was a clear, blue sky above, and trees full of life and colour fluttering in a perfect breeze.
He stood.
He was so light. He felt nothing inside.
He even tried pinching himself.
No pain. Nothing.
“You okay?” came a woman’s voice.
Eddie turned to his side.
Cassy.
She stood proudly beside him with a smile spread wide across her face. Her skin was smooth, her hair long and neat, her dress glowing with the white of an angel.
The stains of blood were gone. She appeared as a transient being, a magnificent figure of holy ascension.
He threw his arms around her. Her arms pressed back around his. They squeezed tightly, full of joy, full of hope, feeling nothing but love and happiness.
His tears fell like rain. But there was no rain. Just sunshine. An overwhelming sense of pure, unaltered happiness.
A feeling of resolution casting itself through his body.
A feeling of this being his glorious end.
“Cassy…” he sobbed.
“I know.”
Finally reunited.
After nearly twenty years. After saving her from a torturous demon. After battling and fighting and killing and dying and hating.
Finally.
He pulled back, looking her solidly in the eyes, full of adoration, full of relief, delight.
“Cassy, is this…?” he trailed off, unable to say the words.
He didn’t need to.
She nodded. Smiling tearfully, elated to be able to confirm.
They were there.
I’ve made it…
He hugged her once more, clutching on for dear life, never wanting to let her go. Years of suffering poured out into relief, into an eternity of love.
It was over.
It’s all over.
“Are you ready?” Cassy asked.
“Ready for what?” Eddie replied, turning his head inquisitively, unable to stop himself from beaming triumphantly.
“To see them.”
“See who?”
Cassy smiled.
“Kelly and Jenny. They are waiting for you.”
Eddie’s eyes widened. He practically glowed, his jaw dropping in amazement.
“You mean, they are…”
“Yes.” Cassy grinned. She couldn’t help it.
Eddie’s mouth stumbled in disbelief. Tears of ecstasy filled his eyes.
Finally.
Finally, I can be at peace…
“Yes! Yes, I am! Right away!”
Cassy turned, holding her hand out to him.
He took it, savouring the relationship robbed of him so long ago.
He could finally be a brother again.
And a friend.
And a boyfriend.
They were waiting for him, and he could not wait to see them.
“This way,” she spoke softly, leading him through into the garden and past the gates.
66
3 August 2003
Four months later
Derek gazed longingly at the picture set atop his desk. Him and Eddie, both looking so young. Not the aged man he was now.
He bowed his head, giving a faint smile and a solemn prayer, then packed the picture in his box.
He fetched the box out of his office and into the lecture theatre. He took a moment. Gazed upon the place where he had educated so many students.
Yet none of them would ever know the truth.
No one ever would.
The Church was good at covering its own back, and it did so efficiently. The mess was gone within hours, like it had never been. Bodies disposed of, blood washed away, cracks smoothed over, and buildings brought back to life.
It was strange, saying goodbye to this place.
But it wasn’t enough anymore.
He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t teach these people anymore. He couldn’t knowingly bring innocent people into this, knowing what the stakes were.
That’s why he intended to seek out the other people involved. Those with newly endowed powers. A new challenge lay ahead, and he was ready to leave this one behind.
Gabrielle had visited him. Told him heaven’s plans. Told him what they had done. Now his only task was to let Martin know of their mission.
Although, I think we could do with a holiday first…
He turned off the lights and walked leisurely down the corridor and into the car park, smiling at Martin, who leant casually against Derek’s car.
“Getting emotional?” Martin teased.
“Shut up,” Derek joked, smiling widely. He opened the boot and placed the box inside.
He turned and looked at the university. Despite Martin’s teasing, he couldn’t help but feel a sting of sadness. It had been so long since he had chosen this path.
Once, he had chosen to give up a fiancée for this life. At the time, he thought that was going to be his biggest sacrifice.
How little he knew.
“So, what did Gabrielle say?” Martin asked.
Derek raised his eyebrows.
“You knew I was going to ask,” Martin sighed.
“Yes. I did.”
Derek hesitated.
He remembered a time he was stood next to this car with Eddie, giving him guidance, not so long ago.
He was hesitant to do the same with Martin. His previous student had ended with…
But that’s when he told himself that he needed to have faith in Martin, just like he’d had to with Eddie.
“Heaven has made preparations in case of another attack.”
“How?”
“I’m afraid you’re no longer the only special one.”
“What do you mean?”
Derek sighed and leant against the car next to Martin.
“A number of years ago, when heaven learnt of what was inside Eddie, they created a backup plan. Knowing what was to come, they conceived many children in response to hell’s actions. Same way you were, but now… Well, now if hell was to try something, they would have a whole army of people with your powers.”
“Is that good?”
Derek shrugged.
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“So, what do we do?”
Derek straightened up his tie. Tucked his shirt in. Neatened his collar.
“We help them. Teach them about their gifts. Teach them about their sensitivity to the paranormal.”
“Sensitivity? Is that what we’re calling them? The Sensitives?”
Derek nodded, chuckling at the suggestion.
“I guess so.”
“So what are we doing first?” Martin asked. “Where’s the first sensitive? I want to meet these people who are stealing my thunder.”
Derek laughed, a response that was cut short by a wave of hesitance casting itself over Martin’s face.
Martin turned solemn, and Derek’s smile dropped as he returned the gaze.
They had been through so much. It felt strange to be laughing and joking about it.
“Do you think we’ll ever see them again?” Martin asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Eddie. Cassy. Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”
Derek grinned, joining Martin in gazing happily upwards at the clear sunny sky. It was a beautiful day, no doubt about it.
“No,” he answered. “I don’t think we will.”
Message from author:
Wow! Writing this book has taken me to all levels of intense. It went through far more rewrites than any other Edward King book, but hopefully that has paid off.
And you may have heard Martin mention The Sensitive in that last chapter…
Well, the first book of my new series The Sensitives is now available on Amazon!
And you can get a free novella about Derek by joining my Reader’s Group at www.rickwoodwriter.com/sign-up
I want to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your support in this series. I’m gutted to leave behind the character of Eddie, but am excited for what is to come.
Either way, this series would have been nothing without your reading it, and I am very grateful.
Happy Reading,
Rick
OUT NOW ON AMAZON
THE SENSITIVES
FREE AND EXCLUSIVE FOR JOINING THE READER’S GROUP AT www.rickwoodwriter.com/sign-up
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