by Summer Lee
“Never!” was his reply, as he focused his full attention on Achava. Just as he faced her, a geyser erupted from the mountain. Next, a column of water about three times the size came bursting forth from within it. Large chunks of rock spewed forth along the water pillar. With all of the carnage happening to the mountain, it was a true miracle that none of it affected the ark.
The ark reeled on the rolling waves.
Achava watched the ark, as the water level on the ground increased. For a quick instant, she looked at Sam and Khassima sitting on the top of the ark and wondered how she could join them. On the other hand, she thought there was a distinct possibility that she might have to give her life for them to be safe.
She averted her attention away from the Nephilim for an instant to see Anthea getting the better of her foe.
Achava turned back to face her giant and came to a realization. She thought too much. If she had just followed her instinct in all things, like she had done in this timeline earlier, maybe she wouldn’t have had the problems with Sam. Maybe she wouldn’t have had problems with the other two women either. ‘Maybes’ were a world away and she didn’t have that kind of time to ponder it anymore.
She would settle matters and take care of what she needed to, with both Sam and Anthea, when they got back to their own time zone. Yes, she would make amends. If they ever got back to their own time.
The ark started to move as the water level was almost deep enough to support the vessel.
Achava’s first priority was to get rid of the last giant.
While she was in deep thought, he approached her, grabbed her by the hair and threw her over the trees and into the forest with all his might.
Now she was angry. She was angry with herself for being so distracted with her own thoughts. She vowed not to do that again.
Achava leaped above the trees and soared uncontrollably along the treetops as she twisted and turned in the air. She brushed over several treetops, causing her to spin even more. She realized that her best decision was to wait until she came to a stop before doing anything else.
She slammed into the roof of one of the dwellings that had been Noah’s home. She hit the water after crashing through the roof and sank down into the water. She came up into the air again and began to float. As she did, she saw some of the locals running around and screaming for someone to save their lives. Pleading and crying, they looked up at her as if she was some kind of savior. He heart saddened and her eyes wept for them. I cannot go against my Lord. No matter how much this hurts.
“You had your chance,” she called out. “Noah preached to you for a hundred and twenty years. You thought he was crazy. You can blame no one but yourselves that he left you behind.”
She knew that is was too late for them. God closed the door Himself. They had been fairly judged and had been given every opportunity to turn to God. They were part of the cleansing that needed to be done to get rid of the unrighteous. She did not doubt God’s judgment. She once heard a message on the writings of Saint Peter. He wrote that after Jesus was crucified, and his body was three days in the grave, that in spirit, he went and preached to the souls of those who died in the flood.
That didn’t make it any easier to watch people dying in front of Achava now. People swarmed over toward her in a matter of seconds, like moths to the flame of life. They grabbed at her and pulled her down into the water, begging for her help.
Little did they realize that earlier when they wanted to kill her, she would be the one that would save them. People were basically evil. Some things would never change over the span of centuries.
Now, she was submerged into the rising water. Her arms were pinned under her, and she could not move them. Frustrated, she panicked, but could not free herself. She knew that she had to be there for her team. For Sam. For Khassima. For Anthea. For God’s future missions. Her work was far from over.
All of a sudden, Anthea’s battered frame emerged from underneath the water. Her body was swollen. She was gasping for breath. “Help me.”
Achava knew that it would be hard for her sister to hear her with the storm raging on. Anthea! I need you back in your original form in order to carry you!
Anthea smiled as Achava closed her eyes. Anthea’s body quickly reverted back to its natural size. Achava grabbed her arm, and said, “Breathe out.”
Anthea radiated power, as she obeyed. Once she was back to her normal size, Achava held her tight and pushed her out of the water. The golden aura surrounded Anthea as well, as the two clasped hands.
“I thought you were dead, Anthea!”
“I almost was. Thanks to you, I’m not!”
Achava used the thoughts of the missions she hadn’t accomplished yet as determination to help her sister. To survive, she allowed the golden glow to grow with her loving emotions, until the glow once again completely surrounded her. Anthea was free, and soon crawled on top of the ark to wait for Achava.
Chapter the Fourteenth
SAM COULD NOT COMPREHEND the majesty of what was happening around him, so he just stared at the events unfolding before his face. The events were indeed of Biblical proportions. He checked his backpack. Enoch’s books were intact and dry. If he can just make it home with them.
He looked at Anthea, who had beaten her foe and was trying to catch her balance, after climbing out of the rising water to the top of the ark.
The mountain beside them was now a plateau. Evening was coming.
Khassima was still beside him. He saw that she shared in his awe of the surroundings, even though she remained quiet through it all.
And Achava, who had been thrown into who knew where. Where was she?
The giant that tried to get rid of her, was the last one standing. Well, sort of standing. He, too, was trying to maintain his balance as the water level was up to his neck.
The rising water was anything but calm. The ark rocked back and forth with the constant motion and large waves. The torrential rain continued and made visibility almost non-existent. Sam knew storms are formed when a system of low pressure air is surrounded by a system of high pressure air. The two air systems create very high speed winds and form storm clouds that can cause heavy rains. Could such a disruption in the atmosphere keep Achava and Anthea from soul merging? If so, they could all die here.
Sam was thankful he could see what he did. He knew that no matter what else he could ever experience in his life, it would not match what he was witness to at that time.
It was a spectacular scene. He experienced a flood that would eventually cover the entire earth. A flood that would wipe out everyone, except for Noah and his family. It would wipe out the giants. He saw Nephilim die because of their rebellion. Outside of his tremendous concern for Achava’s welfare, he looked around him on the roof of the ark and wondered what the people inside were doing and thinking. Were they scared? Were they tending to the animals? What was it like inside with all of those animals?
Sam knew that his analytical mind had come up against a brick wall. He would normally use reason to solve problems. There was no reason that would explain his experience now. Why him? Was it because he was with Achava? Would she have gone through that timeline, if they had never met?
All he could do was be a bystander to one of the most prolific events in history. He was watching the ark float by treetops. This is really happening!
He thought he was going to be seasick. The motion of the ark was enough to keep his stomach churning, but it was more than that. In one visit to that timeline, Sam saw the awesome and complete power of God in the most amazing force.
To say he was humbled was an understatement. He understood what people meant when they said, God fearing.
The feeling was the same as when he was picked on in school. He felt helpless against a larger foe. He knew God wasn’t his foe, though. He was helpless again on top of what many people would swear didn’t exist. Amidst the crashing waves and the giant and Anthea trying to not fall back into the water, he d
idn’t move. He could not even see Achava.
It was small comfort that even though Khassima was actually part of Biblical history, she was just as moved as he was.
By the look on her face, she echoed his sense of being overwhelmed. She said nothing and seemed tense with riding out the storm, so to speak.
He could do nothing to help Anthea. He could do nothing to help Achava. He couldn’t even help himself.
He had a front row seat to give proof positive that God was real. He felt unworthy of being where he was. Even if he died, before he ever got back to his own time, he would feel that he had seen everything. He bowed his head and did the only thing he could think of.
He said a silent prayer.
God? I know You’re busy right now with the flood and all, but I have to say that this is a little too much for me to take in. Please make sure Achava is safe. I would love to see her again. Alive of course.
I guess I have no other decision, but to believe in Your omnipotence. It’s more than impressive. It’s downright scary.
Please help Khassima and Anthea through this as well. I know Khassima is having as hard a time of this as I am.
I am the only one here who is human. Or mortal. I assume that since we are not part of the genocide, or were part of it to begin with, that the four of us might be spared? I don’t know. I will say this, though. You’ve made me rethink my entire perspective on… well, everything.
I still don’t know what makes me so special. I think it’s special by association, actually. I know that although Professor Salinger would have loved the adventures I’ve been on since his death, he probably wouldn’t have survived any of them. He went out the way he wanted to go out.
I’m not ready to go out, God. Not like this and not like any other way. I’m not finished yet. Achava and I have more missions to complete for You. Together. Amen.
Chapter the Fifteenth
ACHAVA STRUGGLED to not only breathe, but gain her footing. With her golden glow surrounding her, she found that her breathing had slowed down considerably. This allowed her not to drown.
She had another problem at the moment, other than drowning. She felt sorry for the desperate natives of that time and didn’t want to hurt them, which was definitely a quandary, because she felt they were all destined to die in the flood for rejecting God.
If she did nothing, then she would die for nothing. Her basic need to spare life was greater than her sense of reason at that point.
She was torn. Perhaps it was because she had trouble taking in everything that happened in that time-line. She tried to be strong and set an example for everyone she worked with. She had assumed that showing her weaknesses wouldn’t help any situation.
Going in search of the ark was more difficult than she could ever have imagined. Under constant attack, the thing she learned most was that people were wicked. The wicked women had sex with wicked fallen angels and bore the Nephilim.
She tried to get out of the grasp of some of the locals, only to be grabbed by more. She tried so hard to make herself believe that she would be doing them no favors by saving their lives. But that was not true. They were responsible for their own actions.
Now she was dying. It was getting harder to hold her breath. She thought that she would breathe her last shortly.
She turned her thoughts to Sam. She had seen him grow from that timid sidekick of Professor Salinger, to a strong and capable equal partner in her missions for God.
She admitted to herself that she took him for granted on some occasions. There were people she had worked with before, who eventually walked out of her life, as easily as they had walked into it. She just assumed that was the way it would be with all of her partners.
Until Sam.
She didn’t think he would survive the mission to retrieve the staff of Moses. But he did. She was sure he would die when they got the sword of Peter. But he didn’t. He shouldn’t have gotten through to find the fleece of Gideon. But he did. He had to have failed when they went back in time for the crown of Christ. But he didn’t. Now he was carrying the books of Enoch into the future to have them published.
He excelled with each new mission. Where she thought he would fall, he stood tall. Where she thought he would fail, he succeeded. Sam fought until he passed out.
He had exceeded every one of her expectations of him. Along the way, she developed feelings for him. She wasn’t sure when or how, but she cared about Sam—a lot. Those were feelings she wasn’t used to dealing with. She knew he was safe. She knew he probably would get out alive, while she drowned because of her inner conflict.
Probably.
She always hated the big decisions. She always had to make them at the worst possible times. She decided to close her eyes and hopefully the right decision would come to her. Or death would.
They were all responsible for protecting the ark of Noah. She had spurts of energy, enough to lift her head out of the water for a breath of air. How long could she last?
Someone was calling her name.
With her eyes closed, she listened. When she heard the voice again, she thought at first it was God’s voice, but it wasn’t.
It was Sam. He was praying.
God? I know You’re busy right now with the flood and all, but I have to say that this is a little too much for me to take in. Please make sure Achava is safe. I would love to see her again. Alive of course.
I guess I have no other decision, but to believe in Your omnipotence. It’s more than impressive. It’s downright scary.
Please help Khassima and Anthea through this as well. I know Khassima is having as hard a time of this, as I am.
I am the only one here who is human. Or mortal. I assume that since we are not part of the genocide, or were part of it to begin with, that the four of us might be spared? I don’t know. I will say this though. You’ve made me rethink my entire perspective on… well, everything.
I still don’t know what makes me so special. I think it’s special by association, actually. I know that although Professor Salinger would have loved the adventures I’ve been on since his death, he probably wouldn’t have survived any of them. He went out the way he wanted to go out.
Then there is Achava. I pray for her return to us, and that she can take us home.
I’m not ready to go out, dear God. Not like this and not like any other way. I’m not finished yet. Achava and I have more missions to complete for You. Together.
Why was she hearing that? Why could she hear a prayer from Sam to God? Was it a trick of her mind? No. She knew it was actually a prayer from Sam to God.
Her heart raced, as her eyes popped open. Maybe he could communicate with her.
“Sam?”
The only person she had telepathy with was her relative, Anthea, but that was understandable. They were both descendants of Achsah. Anthea and Achava had yet to scratch the surface of their abilities, because of their Biblical lineage and anointing. Achava thought she had an edge on Anthea, because her father was a good man, while Anthea’s dad was sinful.
She waited for a response, feeling that it was impossible.
“Achava?”
She was amazed at how wonderful it was to share thoughts with Sam. One more thing to bring them closer.
Even though her heart sank at the devastation, she realized one important fact. That was not the world that she grew up in and it was not the world that she loved.
God’s will be done.
Once she reached the side of the ark, she attempted to climb up the side. She just slipped back into the water. Looking around, she could barely see through the rain. The waves were getting bigger. A lot was going on. It was all part of the water moving around and filling up the gaps in the earth as quickly as it was.
She clenched her fists and increased the golden glow around her. That not only assisted her in feeling stronger, but it would be a beacon to her group.
She smiled in her heart and felt an inner peace for the first time since coming to
Noah’s timeline. God would take care of her.
Her body started to spin incredibly fast. The spinning caused a water spout, lifting up all of the diabolical ones into it and spreading them out over the sea.
Once the evil ones were off of her, she floated out of the water, which was up to the treetops by now. As she soared, she didn’t see the ark at first. Most of the area was covered in water. She could see the water pillars still spewing forth the liquid death for the world. But that was it. She floated just above the water line to see if she could see anything like the ark. She would call for them.
“Anthea! Sam!”
No answer.
“Please don’t leave me.” Achava felt sad, as a small tear dripped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. “I would not leave without any of you. We are family, in one way or another. We do not leave family behind. Not ever.”
“I’m coming, Achava!” It was Anthea.
Achava inhaled deeply, as the wind blew her toward the location where the others stood on the ark. Anthea came to her rescue. She embraced Anthea and then she checked to see if she was hurt. She didn’t appear to be.
Achava and Anthea straightaway appeared right on top of the ark, where they found Sam and Khassima, water-drenched and shivering.
Achava immediately embraced Sam, while Anthea embraced Khassima. “I thought I lost you!” she called out over the roaring storm.
Achava clung to Sam He hugged and kissed her while shaking in the cold. “What do we do now? We missed our ride inside.”
Achava looked at Khassima. “Are you alright? Were you hurt?”
Khassima smiled. “Only my pride. We were thinking of staying.”
Achava looked shocked. “You do realize that the world will be under water soon, don’t you?”
“Just joking.” Khassima nodded. “I’m not sure there’s a place for me back in your time. Or any time. Whatever. Since I’ve been with you, I’ve come to terms with a lot of things. My life is apparently over.”