Through the Fury to the Dawn (Action of Purpose Book 1)

by Stu Jones

  “Kane,” came the whispered voice next to the table. He turned to see Molly looking at him.

  “Molly,” Kane whispered back. “You’re going to be just fine.” He moved to her and scooped her up. Moving to the door, he stepped out onto the catwalk with his friend cradled against him. Taking each step as fast as he could, Kane hurried down the catwalk to the stairs. He looked into the courtyard below for his friend, but could not see anything through the thick smoke as he went.

  Hitting the courtyard in stride, he picked up the pace. Off to his right, a limping Courtland emerged from the smoke.

  “Are you okay?” Kane yelled across the courtyard.

  “It’s…it’s gone,” Courtland said, sounding bewildered.

  “Is it dead?”

  “No. It’s just gone.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be alright,” Courtland said, supporting his left knee and covering the puncture wounds in his shoulder.

  Kane looked at Molly as he moved. She was fading.

  “You’re going to be fine, Molly. We’re going to get you some help, okay?” He said as her blood poured over his arms and onto his clothes.

  “Kane,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, you’re going to be just fine, ‘cause we’re going to get you some help.”

  “Kane, stop.”

  Kane slowed and really looked at her for the first time. “What did you say?”

  “Stop.”

  “Molly, you’re talking to me,” he said with a sad smile.

  “Kane, listen to me. God told me something I have to tell you.”

  “We’ve got to get you help, Molly.”

  “No one here who can help me now. I need you to listen to me. Let’s sit down, okay?”

  Kane reluctantly lowered Molly to the ground and knelt next to her, supporting her body in his arms.

  “Okay, Molly, I’m listening to you,” he said as he gazed at her. She was ghostly pale now, only whispering.

  “Will you do it?”

  “Will I do what?” he asked as he put pressure on the massive wound through her midsection.

  “Let me go, Kane. You don’t have to save me anymore. You’ve done enough.” she whispered. “Please. I need to hear you say you will do it.”

  “Do what, Molly?”

  “Answer God’s calling for your life. It’s the most important decision you will ever make.” She gasped and clutched her arms to her body.

  “And what is that calling, Molly?”

  “You know it—you’re just afraid to come to terms with it. You must listen, trust, and obey, and take God’s light into the darkness, wherever it is. That thing inside Malak isn’t dead. It is the worst sort of evil. You have been chosen to stop it.”

  “But why? To what end?”

  “There are still others, Kane—your wife and children are among them. They all must hear the call and rally for our cause before this can be over. But know this: It will all get much worse before it gets better. The darkness will seek you as its mortal enemy if you choose this path.”

  “My family is…”

  “Alive, Kane. They’re alive.”

  Kane watched his friend as she continued to fade. “Even if I have to do it by myself, alone in this forsaken wasteland, I’ll do it, Molly,” he said as tears ran without restraint down his face and dripped onto her shirt. “Don’t you worry, okay? I’ll do it.”

  A large, bloodstained hand rested on Kane’s shoulder.

  “Not alone, brother,” Courtland’s deep voice resonated from behind him. “Never alone,” he said and nodded at Tynuk and Azolja as a small crowd began to develop around them.

  Kane hung his head. “I’m sorry, Molly,” he whispered as the weary tears dripped from his chin.

  “I’m not, Kane. Everything happens for a reason and I now know why He chose you.” She blinked and swallowed hard. “Never stop believing that our amazing God is sufficient. He will deliver us in the end. That’s a promise.” She smiled that brilliant smile as she stiffened and then relaxed, the last sparks of life slipping away.

  Kane leaned his head back and cried out in anguish, clutching Molly’s lifeless body against him.

  “I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever my God commands of me!”

  As he uttered these words, several rogue beams of morning sunlight tore through the clouds and shimmered across the courtyard. The small crowd remarked in whispered awe, and everyone raised their hands in response. Kane sat back, tears streaming from closed eyes as he let the beautiful rays of light soak into him and warm him down into the depths of his soul. And for the first time, deep within himself, he knew who he was and what it was that he was meant to do.

  Acknowledgments

  I want to thank my amazing God for everything that He has blessed me with, for His ultimate sacrifice, and His patience and love for me as a most imperfect man.

  My most amazing, loving, supportive wife, who has been my greatest cheerleader; she is more than I deserve. Without her, this work would have never been completed.

  My parents, who dared me to dream and never told me what my dreams should be.

  To David Mcbride and David Jones, for their necessary and thoughtful criticism. The changes that were made have enhanced this work beyond measure.

  Authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, whose tireless devotion to the art of excellent fiction inspired me to read for pleasure. Their masterful style and endless creativity imprinted upon me in more ways than one and inspired me to write. They are truly two of the best writers in publication today.

  Christian author James Byron Huggins, who showed me through his work that it’s not wrong for Christian fiction to be dark, gritty, and sometimes quite violent. He was kind enough to offer his help and guidance through some of the writing and publication process. He, too, is a master of his craft.

  TAKING A STAND AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  “We cannot simply bandage the wounds of victims

  beneath the wheels of injustice.

  We must drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

  —Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  One hundred percent of the profits from every physical and digital book sold in the Action of Purpose series will go toward combating the epidemic of sex trafficking in the United States.

  Buy a copy of Through the Fury to the Dawn, Into the Dark of the Day, or Against the Fading of the Light, and an equal contribution will be made to Blanket Fort Hope and/or The Wellhouse, two faith-based nonprofit organizations dedicated to stopping the sex trafficking of women and children and assisting in the recovery of those affected by this evil practice.

  Please also consider leaving a review of this book online on Amazon, Goodreads, or social media. Reviews increase exposure and help generate more profits for these incredible charities.

  For more information about other books in this series or future projects in the works, visit the series website at www.actionofpurpose.com or the author’s website www.stujonesfiction.com.