Light of the Last

by Chuck Black

  Drew huffed and laughed. “I guess that’s why you are where you are. Looks like I picked the right one.”

  Bryant offered a sheepish smile, then looked at Drew with different eyes. “Is there somebody special?”

  He smiled. “Yes, there is.”

  She nodded and shrugged. Drew wasn’t sure how to interpret that. “Well, she’s a lucky one. Tell her I said to take good care of you.”

  Drew shook his head. “Actually, I may have been given an opportunity to save the country, but she’s the one who saved me.”

  Sophia tilted her head and gazed at him with her dark brown eyes. “Then tell her thank you…from all of us.” She straightened her shoulders. “I’m told you have an escort downstairs waiting for you.”

  “I imagine so,” Drew said. “Thanks for believing me and for having the courage to see this through. The country owes you a great debt of gratitude too.”

  She smiled, then looked at the camera team. “We’re not done, boys. I want the next few minutes on camera.”

  Bryant and her camera crew walked with Drew to the door, where a host of armed FBI agents were waiting for him. Though they were there to protect him, they were also there to arrest him. He had broken many laws by leaking classified information to the press, and he would have to face the consequences.

  Bryant filmed it all as they respectfully handcuffed Drew and placed him in a black SUV.

  —

  The next few months were filled with congressional testimonies, hearings, and trials. When it was all over, Harden, Ward, and more than thirty additional high-ranking officials were in prison.

  Vice President Newman was cleared from all allegations and was sworn in as the new president. His first official act was to pardon Drew Carter of all charges against him, and he did so publicly.

  It was a moment the nation cheered. It was a moment that cauterized the people of America to return to the place they had come from, a place most eloquently spoken of by Abraham Lincoln: “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

  33

  LIGHT OF THE LAST

  Validus and his warriors stood outside Emmanuel Church in Chicago, which Carter and Carlyle had just entered. Validus was pleased with his men. They had each given their all over the last three and a half years, some with their lives. They had lost Sason in the suicide bombing in Chicago and Jayt in the assault against the terrorists in New York, but Crenshaw, Rake, Brumak, Tren, and Persimus survived, ready even now to carry on with their mission. But what was their mission?

  “You’ve done well, warriors, and now is a time of respite. We have protected Carter, and he is now a child of the King. The United States has survived and is a stronger ally with Israel than ever before.” Validus slowly nodded. “Yes, our mission is complete for now. Take a few days and recover. You all deserve it and need it.”

  “Are you sure, Commander? What about you?” Crenshaw asked.

  “My time will be later. Teriel is here at Reverend Branson’s church if anything should happen. But why would the Fallen attack now?”

  No one could think of any reason. And so one by one, they left for a time of rest and recovery. Tren and Persimus were the last to leave.

  “Go,” Validus said. He could see the hesitation still lingering in their eyes.

  They looked at the homeless and the unwanted making their way toward the church for a meal. A place for the least, a place for food, drink, clothing, and comfort, just as Jesus had commanded.

  Tren and Persimus turned and left.

  When Drew and Sydney entered the church, Reverend Ray was surrounded by a team of young people all working to prepare the evening’s meal. Ray looked up and smiled as big as Drew had ever seen. He hurried to greet them, hugging them both with exuberance. He stood back with one arm on Drew’s shoulder and one arm on Sydney’s for just a moment. His smile was uncontainable.

  “How good to see you!”

  “It’s so good to see you too, Reverend Ray,” Drew said.

  “I can see just by looking at the two of you that there is much more than just friendship between you, although I could always see that.”

  Sydney blushed as she leaned into Drew, and he wrapped an arm around her. “Yes, but now, it is with the blessing of God. I’m a believer in Jesus Christ, Reverend. And we came here to thank you for all you’ve done for us.”

  Drew didn’t think Reverend Ray’s smile could get any bigger, but it did. He reached for Drew and hugged him again, then Sydney. “Praise God! Our prayers were answered,” he said with eyes sparkling as he looked down at Sydney.

  Sydney nodded, her eyes welling up with tears.

  They spent a few more minutes catching up as the homeless entered and sat down, waiting for the meal.

  “What can we do, Reverend?” Drew asked.

  Drew and Sydney dove into the labor of meeting the needs of hundreds of Chicago’s castaways. Reverend Ray’s tireless ministry was at the heart of God, and Drew could feel it. He looked at Sydney talking and loving the people. His heart warmed for so many reasons.

  But then something inside Drew shivered. He stood up and turned around just in time to see the thing that always preceded tragedy.

  Validus found Teriel standing next to the wall at the front of the church, his ever-watchful gaze looking over the people who came to Emmanuel. He didn’t look very happy. Validus offered an arm of greeting, and the mighty angel took it.

  “How have you been, Teriel?” Validus asked.

  “Well, but”—he looked at Drew—“your charge always brings danger.” Then he looked at Validus. “And so do you.”

  Validus understood his concern. “I think the Fallen are through with him. There’s very little more he can do.”

  Teriel slowly shook his head. “Commander Validus, what Drew Carter can do has just begun.”

  A blackened, grisly sword pierced Teriel from behind, bursting through the wall. Shock and horror hit Validus like a tidal wave as he reached for Teriel, whose face was twisted in pain. Teriel fell forward and Validus tried to catch him, but he dissolved away before his body hit the floor.

  “No!” Validus shouted as Niturni materialized through the wall.

  Validus ducked and rolled away, just narrowly escaping the next crosscut that Niturni executed. Validus came up with sword drawn and vengeance boiling in his heart. He stood ready to take on an entire legion. He looked for more Fallen to collapse on him, but they did not come.

  Niturni began to laugh. “Don’t worry, Validus. I am the only one. I finally realized how to defeat you. Your divining angel always allowed you to be just ahead of my forces, so I decided that I would not use an army to destroy you. I would do it myself.”

  Niturni’s smile transformed to a loathsome scowl of hatred as he lunged toward Validus with both his long sword and his short sword drawn. Validus met his attack while simultaneously drawing his short sword just in time to thwart a slice to his abdomen.

  In the minutes that followed, the inside of the church became the arena for an epic duel between ancient friends turned enemies. They jumped from tables to walls, swords flashing faster than bullets could fly. The homeless people filling the tables were oblivious to the raging battle as both angel and demon passed through them in their brutal duel.

  Validus tapped into all his battle experience just to keep Niturni’s blades from piercing him. He fought against his feeling of inferiority because he was the last God had created and Niturni was of the One Hundred. Would he ever be free from that?

  Niturni fought with the ferocity of a dragon, relentless in his deviant skill. Out of the corner of his eye, Validus saw Carter watching in angst. Only now did Validus realize that Teriel was right. God was not through with Drew Carter.

  However the forces of the Fallen and the angels had misinterpreted Tinsalik Baro
b’s message, one thing was clear: Elohim had more in store for Carter than even saving the United States of America.

  The genius mind of Niturni must have figured it out as well, for this duel was for more than to satisfy a vendetta.

  Niturni seemed flawless in his attack, and his strength was unmatchable. Validus was retreating, and he knew from the experience of a thousand battles that such a thing was a prelude to defeat.

  The first wound came as the tip of Niturni’s short blade sliced across Validus’s chest, opening a three-inch gash that flowed with blood. The two warriors stared at each other. It was the first time that either of them had ever drawn blood on the other, and in spite of six millennia of enmity between them, Validus’s spilled blood seemed to cut them both much deeper than expected.

  Niturni swished his sword from side to side in defiance of the silent pain they both felt. “You are so predictable and pathetic,” he taunted. “You didn’t really think I could ever have stooped so low as to call you friend, did you?”

  “I admired you once, Niturni. I thought you an angel of courage. But Apollyon has turned you into nothing but one of his cowardly pawns of evil.”

  Niturni yelled and attacked with renewed vigor, and Validus did his best to counter against his fury, but he could feel the end drawing close.

  Carter could see it too. Just months earlier, the man would have drawn a weapon forged by the hands of men, but now…now he drew a weapon forged by the hands of God.

  Carter knelt and prayed just as another powerful slice came at Validus. The warrior recovered, just barely thwarting the crosscut from Niturni that would have severed his neck. But he was not done. The flames of Ruach Elohim began to fill the place, and Niturni felt it.

  “No!” he screamed, along with blasphemies against the Almighty.

  The power of God strengthened Validus, and he slowly turned the duel against his enemy. From one wall to the other, their battle continued with such violent intensity that neither realm had ever witnessed such a thing. Slowly Validus advanced until Niturni’s eyes filled with alarm.

  Validus continued his advance until at last, with one mighty cut, he slammed his gleaming sword against Niturni’s long blade, and it flew from his wearied hand. A table of unsuspecting homeless separated them. Niturni swung his hand up through the table, translating a tray of food and hot soup, but Validus was unfazed by the trickery of his nemesis. He swung his short sword across the elements and translated them back to nothingness while simultaneously preparing his final cut that would end Niturni’s life in the Middle Realm.

  Validus could see stark fear in Niturni’s eyes, and for just one brief moment, his gaze softened to the ancient kindness Validus had seen long ago while standing next to the Crystal Sea.

  “Friend,” Niturni pleaded.

  Validus had never felt the pain of sin so powerfully as he did in that moment, gazing into the eyes of his ancient friend whom he must now kill. He had told Persimus never to hesitate, and yet he did. With all his might, he tried to strike Niturni down, but his arms would not obey. He yelled, but still he could not strike. He shook his head and stepped back. Why couldn’t he finish him?

  His sword lowered just as a homeless man came to sit at the table between them, and then Validus’s nightmare became reality. The blackened eyes of the unforgiven demon returned to Niturni’s gaze, and he lunged at Validus with his short sword, but it never reached him.

  The homeless man translated and stood to take Niturni’s blade into his own chest, the very blade that would have pierced Validus through. Niturni’s eyes bulged as Persimus simultaneously plunged his own short blade into his chest.

  Validus screamed his horror to the world as he reached for Persimus. “No, Persimus—no!”

  Niturni dissolved away, and as he did, so did his blade. Validus caught his friend and laid him on the floor, tears filling his eyes.

  “No, Persimus…why?”

  Persimus grabbed Validus’s arm, struggling to speak his final words. “Because….he was going to kill my friend.”

  Validus shook his head, tears spilling from his eyes. “You came back. You shouldn’t have come back.”

  Persimus attempted a weak smile. “I realized that my respite has always been at your side. You are…my great friend.”

  “Stay with me, Persimus. I’m not so strong.”

  Drew Carter knelt beside Validus, and together their tears mingled in mourning for the fall of a great angel of God.

  “I’m so sorry,” Carter whispered.

  Persimus shook his head and looked into Validus’s eyes. “You are the last…just like Carter. Finish this, my valiant friend.”

  Persimus slowly closed his eyes and slipped away to the majestic essence of his beautiful soul, then lifted to heaven. Carter stayed beside Validus, his shoulders shaking with each heave of grief.

  Sydney knelt down beside Drew between the tables of homeless people and slipped her arm over his shoulder.

  “Drew, what is it?” she whispered.

  He lifted his head, unconcerned about the strange stares from the people watching him weep over empty ground. Unconcerned with a drunk man mumbling about how some guy just disappeared beside him.

  “I don’t know why, but I think perhaps God is not done with me, and the price of my understanding is great indeed.”

  Drew saw the sorrow etched permanently on the face of his protector, Validus, and it caused him no small measure of reflection. He prayed with all his heart that God would not let such great sacrifice be in vain.

  “Call me, God, and I will listen. Send me, Lord, and I will go,” he prayed.

  He didn’t understand why or how God would use him, but he did understand the severity of praying such a prayer. Many had fought and died on his behalf, but the sacrifice that motivated Drew beyond all others was that of the Son of God. It was time to fully serve the One who bled and died for him.

  —

  The next morning, Drew and Sydney attended Reverend Ray’s church and worshiped with the people of Emmanuel. When Ray stood up to deliver his sermon, he opened his Bible and read one verse, Isaiah 6:8.

  “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ ”

  Reverend Ray looked up from his Bible and gazed across the congregation. “Today I am compelled to set my prepared sermon aside and ask you”—Ray looked straight at Drew—“is He calling you? Drew, will you come and share what God has placed on your heart today?”

  Drew grabbed Sydney’s hand, and she squeezed back. Fear filled his heart. This was not something he had expected or was prepared for.

  Sydney leaned into him. “Just tell them the story of how God saved you. God will give you the words.”

  Ray waited while Drew tried to find the courage to stand. Slowly his shaking legs lifted him, and he walked forward. He would have rather faced five terrorists at once than stand up and speak before so many. Ray welcomed him to the pulpit and stood beside him for support.

  Drew looked out and saw the warm smiles of many believers, but he could also see into the hearts of many who were not filled with the Holy Spirit. He ached for their confusion and loneliness, and in that he found the courage to speak.

  “When I was twelve years old, my father died while serving our country. The pain of my father’s loss was etched in my heart forever.”

  Drew spoke for thirty minutes, mesmerizing the people of Emmanuel Church with the story of how God showed compassion for a hurting soul and saved him.

  When it was over, Reverend Ray put an arm around Drew and asked if any felt the call of God on their lives just as Drew had—some to a renewed walk with the Creator, some to salvation, some to deliverance from evil. And as the choir sang, the chairs of Emmanuel Church emptied to the front until no more could come. Drew watched in humbled amazement as the Spirit of God filled the congregation and drew the hearts of all to Him.

  Drew and Sydney spent the next two weeks i
n Rivercrest with Jake and his mother. One Monday afternoon, Reverend Ray asked Drew to come back to Chicago to meet someone. When he arrived, Ray introduced him to Dr. Worthington, the pastor of New Life Church, the largest evangelical church in Chicago, the church Sydney had invited him to years earlier. It had doubled in size since then because of the powerful biblical preaching of Pastor Worthington. It was Sydney who had connected the two churches, and ever since, New Life Church had been a supporter of Reverend Ray’s inner city ministry both financially and in labor support.

  “I would love for you to give your testimony at our church,” Pastor Worthington said.

  Drew’s first thought was of how many people he would have to stand in front of. But God would not let him ask the question.

  “I’m not a preacher or a teacher, sir, but I would be honored to share how God saved me.”

  Pastor Worthington and Reverend Ray smiled. Then Pastor Worthington looked at Drew as a mentor would.

  “What you have done for our nation, Drew, took great courage. You may have thought that you were working to save our country, but in reality you were fulfilling prophecy and saving two nations. The United States of America exists for two reasons—to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to protect Israel. When we quit fulfilling that purpose, it will be our end. Israel must continue to be at the heart of our purpose as a nation. The USA has been and will continue to be a key instrument in fulfilling the prophecies of the End of Days. You, Drew Carter, are part of that as well. And I think perhaps more so than anyone realizes.”

  —

  That week, Drew spoke at New Life Church, and the response from the people who heard him was the same. Hundreds of people came to accept Christ, and Drew was crushed by how God had chosen to use him.

  Other pastors began calling him, and Drew hesitantly said yes to everyone. Over the next few weeks, Sydney and Drew traveled throughout the country, giving testimony of what God had done in their lives.