End of the Age: FinalDeception by Angela K - HTML preview

CHAPTER 14

Sometime during the night, a high-pitched beeping noise crept into Jesse’s consciousness before she heard Gabriel say, “Hello, Phillip?” She sat up in bed to see Gabriel walk out the door. Who would call in the middle of the night?

Pulling on her robe, she hurried quietly downstairs before hearing Gabriel’s voice coming from the kitchen. He sat at the table listening to his cell phone. “Is everyone okay?” he asked, sliding agitated fingers across his forehead.

Jesse slipped into a chair at the table to watch Gabriel’s face. She knew without being told that he was hearing bad news. At the end of the short conversation, he snapped his cell phone shut and sat back in his chair without speaking. His face was tense and Jesse stayed quiet, giving him time to come to terms with whatever he’d just heard. He stared ahead before his chair scraped back as he rose to his feet.

Turning in her chair, she watched him pace the floor. After a few minutes, he stopped to look at her. His controlled, quiet tone relayed his anger and frustration more than a raised voice ever could have. “That was Phillip Harbinger. The telecast has been destroyed along with the production company.”

Before she could ask, he said, “Fire.”

“Maybe the video wasn’t—”

“It was,” he said. “The building, contents, everything was lost.”

Gabriel was still pacing the floor when a movement at the kitchen door caught Jesse’s attention. She leaned sideways to see the Pastor’s head easing around the opening. When they saw each other, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

The Pastor watched Gabriel a few seconds before taking a seat without speaking.

After a few minutes, Gabriel stopped pacing and released a long, exasperated breath before turning to the Pastor. “There was a fire at the production company.”

“Was anyone hurt?” The Pastor asked.

“No,” Gabriel said.

“Thank God for that,” the Pastor said before confirming what he already knew. “The telecast has been destroyed.”

Jesse’s stomach tied in knots at the sound of a ringing cell phone. Answering, Gabriel listened a few seconds before his face darkened with anger. “What? What disc?” Jesse watched his face go pale before he stepped forward to place one hand on the table while holding the phone to his ear with the other. His stricken expression sent Jesse’s already quickened heartbeat to pounding against her ribcage.

She hurried to pull a chair out for him. “Gabriel, what’s wrong?”

He didn’t respond but spoke into the phone. “I’ll meet you at the worship center.” His voice was curt when he said, “No, the worship center.” Closing the phone, he stared at her in silence before sitting down slowly to look from her to the Pastor. “They want the disc of the telecast or the people at the shelter will be fired upon at sunrise.”

Stunned, Jesse fell into a chair. She knew the Pastor was speaking but his words didn’t register. “Jesse,” he repeated slowly, “please go wake up Florence and Olivia.” A few seconds passed before his words pierced her fog of disbelief. When it did, she moved quickly, racing up the stairs.

Pounding on Olivia’s door, she shouted, “Olivia, wake up!”

Olivia jerked the door open with a panicked look. “Where’s Jonas?”

“He’s okay. He wants you to come downstairs.” Without waiting for a response, Jesse hurried back downstairs to her grandmother’s room. “Grammy, wake up. It’s an emergency!” Her grandmother opened the door with her housecoat hanging off one arm.

Helping her get into her robe, Jesse quickly explained what happened before hurrying back to the kitchen where Gabriel sat bent over tying his shoes. She looked around before asking, “Where’s the Pastor?”

“Gone to get the disc.”

“Are they coming here?”

“No,” he said without looking up. “I’m meeting them at the worship center.”

Her eyes widened before dropping to her knees in front of him. “No, you can’t do that. They don’t want the disc. They want you. They want to kill you. They know the telecast can be remade.”

When he refused to look at her, she gripped his arms. “Gabriel, please, listen to me.” When he didn’t answer, her hands tightened on his forearms. “Talk to me,” she cried before her head fell to his knees to roll from side to side. “I’m begging. I’m begging you, please, don’t do this.”

His hand touched the back of her head. “The instructions were plain. I have to be the one to deliver the disc.”

“Please don’t,” she pleaded with him. “They want to murder you. You know that, Gabriel. Please, don’t leave me. Don’t do this.”

Watching her, his expression softened. “I’m sorry, Jesse, but those people at the shelter are under my protection.”

The voice coming from the doorway commanded attention. “Are they, Gabriel? Are they under your protection?”

Jesse looked back to see the Pastor standing in the doorway with Olivia and her grandmother behind him. Gabriel’s face stiffened with resolve as he stared straight ahead. “I will not allow innocent people to die.”

As the Pastor walked into the room, Jesse looked up to see Gabriel’s eyes harden with determination. Her hand came up to stifle a sob before running to her grandmother.

The Pastor walked into the room to face Gabriel. “Are the people at the shelter under your protection or are they under God’s protection, Gabriel?”

When Gabriel didn’t answer, the Pastor asked a different question. “Are the people demanding the disc the same people who kidnapped Jesse?”

“You know they are,” Gabriel snapped.

Tension mounted as the Pastor watched Gabriel in silence. His voice was quiet when he asked, “And when Jesse was kidnapped, what did you do? You stormed out of the house without seeking God’s guidance only to find that you were helpless and couldn’t save the woman you love.”

Springing to his feet, Gabriel’s fist crashed against the table. I would have torn them to pieces!” Trembling, Jesse clung to her grandmother. She had never seen Gabriel in such a rage.

The Pastor nodded slowly. “Yes, my friend, I do believe you would have. I know you would have.”

Gabriel straightened but his frame remained rigid. “When Jesse was kidnapped, I wasn’t thinking. I was out of my mind then, but this is different. I have to go.”

The Pastor tapped a forefinger against his lips, thinking. After a few seconds, he said, “I can see how you might think that, but this isn’t different. You have to decide. Who will you trust, yourself or God? Remember who saved Jesse. When you accepted your limitations as a man and submitted, the Lord heard your plea and intervened. Men fall short, but God never does. God saved Jesse.”

Tortured seconds ticked by before Gabriel slumped forward with his hands on the back of a chair. “God’s grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in my weakness. I will put my trust in the living God.”

“Yes,” the Pastor said, stepping forward to place a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “We will pray and seek God’s guidance.”

Gabriel’s regret was evident when he turned to see Jesse’s tear stained face. For a fleeting second, the fearless man became an uncertain teenager as he held out a hand to her. Without hesitating, she rushed into his arms to hear him whisper, “I’m sorry, Jesse.”

With six hours remaining before sunrise, they gathered in the Glory room. They had not been praying long when her grandmother rose to her feet. “Psalms 46, verse 10, the Lord says to stand still and know that I am God.” She turned to Gabriel. “Give the people the choice to leave, but there is no need to evacuate the shelter. Every adult must be humbled in prayer when we meet with these people.” She held up a hand as Gabriel started to protest. “Yes, Gabriel. I said, we. We must go together. Like the fingers of the hand, we each have our role, strengths and talents.” Turning, she met each person’s gaze before repeating, “We must go together.”

When her grandmother came to stand in front of her, Jesse watched her curiously.

Taking Jesse’s hands, she said, “Jesse, you exemplify love and mercy. You have a great compassion and love for others. Is love not the greatest virtue?” She smiled softly. “Jesse, God blesses you.”

Olivia looked down shyly when her grandmother took her hands. “Olivia, the pure of heart, the humble. In your innocence, you don’t know what it is to be mean or selfish. Blessed is the pure of heart for they shall see God.” She touched Olivia’s cheek. “Olivia, God blesses you.”

Smiling, she moved to take Gabriel’s hands. “Gabriel, the protector,” she said with a fond nod. “You embody strength and valor, strong in heart and virtue. You bow before no man and stand upright before God. Gabriel, God blesses you.”

Taking the Pastor’s hands, she studied his face. “Jonas, like King David, you are a man after God’s own heart. You are a seeker of truth and have been diligent in presenting yourself as an approved workman. God is no respecter of age or person and it has pleased God to reward your diligence with wisdom and insight into his Holy Word. Jonas, God blesses you.”

Turning, she looked at each of them before saying, “God loves each of you and I love you, too.”

As her grandmother moved to leave, Jesse said, “Grammy, wait. What about you?”

Her grandmother looked surprised but before she could answer, Gabriel said, “Florence, you’re the one that holds us all together.” Taking her hands, he said, “You’ve been the salt of the earth and a light in the world for many years. You’re a shining example to us all. You reflect the love of Christ, our Lord’s humility, His strength and wisdom, but the quality that most stands out is your faith. Florence, the faithful, God blesses you,” he said, kissing her cheek, “and we love you, too.”

Jesse nodded. Yes, faithful. Her grandmother was faithful.

Flustered by the strong emotion in the room, her grandmother went to open the door. “We have work to do,” she said, waving them out. Pulling Jesse aside, she said, “I need to talk to you.”

At the door, Gabriel turned to Jesse. “I’m going to the shelter and warn the people.”

Jesse stood in her grandmother’s room staring at the envelope she held out to her. “Jonas gave it to me in the kitchen before he went to talk to Gabriel. It’s the disc being demanded. God said you would know what to do with it.”

Jesse took the silver disc out of envelope to turn it over in her hand. “I don’t know what to—” She stopped and looked back at her grandmother. “I do know what I’m supposed to do.”

Less than an hour later, Jesse heard Gabriel calling her name. She hurried downstairs to give the disc back to her grandmother before going to meet the others. Inside the kitchen door, she hesitated. The Pastor, Olivia and Gabriel were waiting by the back door with grim faces. Releasing a slow breath, she steadied herself before crossing the room to take Gabriel’s hand.

Coming through the kitchen door, her grandmother called to Gabriel. “Did everyone understand the instructions?”

“Yes, Florence, I told them what’s going on and they understand, but none chose to leave. The children are inside the shelter and every adult is praying just like you said.”

Her grandmother nodded solemnly. “Everyone must be praying.”

They were about to leave when there was a loud knock at the front door. Jesse looked up to see Gabriel lift a finger to his lips, warning them to be silent before heading toward the living room. By the sound of Gabriel’s voice in the next room, they could tell he was talking to someone he knew.

Dressed in a black military type outfit, Matthew Sanders stood with his hands on his hips talking to Gabriel. As they entered the room, Jesse heard Gabriel say, “I told you at the shelter, I don’t want the security team involved.”

“You hired me to train a security team and that’s what I’ve done. You have men trained and equipped to deal with this situation.” Casting a glance at Jesse, he lowered his voice to say, “You know what that monster is capable of. That coward attacked a woman and then vanished, but I guarantee you he won’t get away this time.”

“Look, Matthew, I don’t like this any more than you do, but we have to meet them alone.”

Matthew shook his head, clearly agitated. “No sensible man would take women and children to a gun fight.”

The Pastor stepped forward. “Don’t worry, Matthew. God is going with us.”

Steely eyes swung on the Pastor. “You’re just a kid. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Gabriel stepped in front of Matthew, cutting him off. “You’re angry. Don’t say things you’ll regret.”

The two men faced each other. “Let me do my job, Gabriel. The man you’re going up against is vicious, the type of element I’m trained to deal with. You know I can take care of this. That’s why you hired me. I’m the best at what I do.”

Gabriel nodded his agreement. “You are the best, a true warrior. No man can match you in physical combat, but this battle isn’t against flesh and blood, it’s spiritual warfare. You say we don’t know what we’re dealing with, but we do. We’re going up against powers of darkness, evil forces from a different realm. Bullets are useless in this fight.

“You really want to go alone,” Matthew said, shaking his head.

“Yes. We have to go alone. God promised His protection and I choose to believe Him.”

Matthew stared at Gabriel a few seconds. “Alright, then. You’re the boss.”

Gabriel held out his hand to say, “I’m also your friend.”

“Yes, you are,” he said, taking Gabriel’s hand to pull him forward into a quick embrace.

At the back door, Gabriel handed the Pastor and her grandmother a flashlight. “They’ll be expecting me to pull up in a vehicle. If we take the path, we’ll have a better chance of getting inside the worship center without being stopped.”

Jesse wondered why it was important to get inside the worship center but she didn’t ask. She was too nervous to have any semblance of a rational conversation at that point.

At her grandmother’s insistence, they circled by the shelter. The walk was made in silence. As they neared the shelter, Jesse looked around at countless human forms bowed low to the ground. The only sounds heard were the soft whispering of prayers. As they made their way through the camp, not one person looked up or stopped praying.

Nearing the worship center, Jesse felt her stomach tense and her breaths came in shallow gasps. She tightened her grip on Gabriel’s hand, forcing herself to keep up with his quickened pace. Stepping from the tree line, she could see a group of men standing at the side of the worship center facing the road with their backs to them. Gabriel was right. They expected him to pull up in a vehicle.

Jesse focused on the light shining from the open door of the worship center as they walked quickly, quietly across the clearing. As they started up the steps of the worship center, a man’s voice called Gabriel’s name. Without slowing, they continued up the steps and into the building. Stopping in front of the cross, Jesse looked up at the purple fabric. “King of kings,” she whispered.

“Gabriel,” a voice called loudly behind them.

Turning, Jesse saw Mark Banner starting up the aisles with armed men filing in through the open door behind him. Walking slowly, he pulled his left hand across the top of each pew he passed. “I’m surprised at your lack of judgment, Mr. James. One might expect a genius Harvard graduate to be smart enough to keep his wife and friends tucked somewhere out of harm’s way. After all, you never know what evil lurks about on such a night as this.”

Jesse cast a quick glance at Gabriel before looking back to see a knowing smile curl Mr. Banner’s lips. “You give yourself away, dear. A woman trained to read body language should have more control of her own. Please dispel my curiosity, dear, Jesse. Are you just now hearing that your splendid Mr. James is a Harvard man or that he is touted as a genius?” He laughed softly. “Ah, you knew neither.” He continued to watch Jesse as his hands closed on the lapels of his dark suite. “My, my, Jesse, aren’t you the adventurous one, marrying a man you obviously know so little about.”

Dismissing Jesse, he stepped forward to stand in front of Gabriel. “Mr. James…Mr. James, what an anomaly you are, sir. You, Mr. James, present a case study that rather intrigues my very analytical mind. I have often asked myself why a man with such enviable wealth would bury himself in a hick town and keep such peculiar company.”

He began to pace slowly, as if pondering the question posed before his eyes darted back to Gabriel. “I hope you understand, Mr. James, my work is never personal. Unfortunately for you, some people in very high places have identified you as a threat. I’m told that your name comes up in some rather provocative Bible code matrixes.” His eyes rolled up, thinking, before saying, “Gabriel Michael James, your parents did you a great disservice with that name.”

He paused to study Gabriel with a mocking smile. “I could be offended, Mr. James. You don’t seem flattered by my presence. I’m rather high up the organizational ladder. And yet, here I am, just for you. I really don’t think you appreciate the effort that has gone into swaying you from this path.” His eyes snapped to Jesse before shaking his head slowly. “Oh, if I had only known about you sooner, Jesse. I could have saved myself a lot of time and trouble. The death of Gabriel’s parents didn’t break him, but your death, oh, now, that would have. I know that now.”

Jesse looked back at the vile man to see his lips protrude slightly. “Alas, such a tragedy, the death of Gabriel’s parents,” he said, mimicking sympathy before his eyes rounded innocently. “It should have ended there. One might have reasonably expected our Mr. James to lose faith, to veer from the course that has us standing here today. Any ordinary man might have turned to women, drink or drugs,” he said, licking his lips at the thought. “So many delightful vices to choose from, but Mr. James didn’t succumb. Not Mr. James,” he said, barely masking anger with a sneering smile. “No, not our reverent Mr. James. I must confess, sir. I am rather annoyed at being pulled to this hole in the wall. But I guess it’s true. If you want a job done right, sometimes you just have to do it yourself.”

With his focus moving to Jesse, Mr. Banner said, “I have traveled a long way, Mr. James. Surely, someone so generous would offer a man some refreshment.” He ran an index finger over his lower lip as his chiseled ice eyes moved slowly up Jesse’s body. “I am rather intrigued by your fascination with this woman. Do you find her refreshing, Mr. James? She is quite stunning.”

Jesse’s hand tightened around Gabriel’s opening fingers. She silently begged, please, no, before her grandmother called out. “Be still, Gabriel.”

Mr. Banner’s head tilted back with an amused chuckle. “Yes, Granny, do keep your pet lion on a leash.”

The woman striding through the door shouted angrily. “Mark, we don’t have time for this—” Seeing Jesse, she stopped in her tracks with a look of surprise before continuing up the aisle.

“What the—”

“Marissa!” Mr. Banner called before smiling slyly. “You wouldn’t dare in front of Granny.”

She shot him a caustic look. “Don’t tell me what I would or wouldn’t dare, Mark.”

Smiling, he turned to her grandmother. “She can be rather uncouth, Granny, but her combat training and total lack of conscience are real assets in my line of business.”

Ignoring the remark, Marissa scanned the group in front of her. “So, you managed to get the old woman and that little loud mouth preacher.” Noticing Olivia, she smiled. “Even the pet mouse showed up for the party.” She slid a sideways glance at Mr. Banner before grudgingly admitting, “I’m almost impressed, Mark.”

Mr. Banner crossed his arms to study Gabriel suspiciously. “As much as I crave your admiration, dear Marissa, I must confess, I didn’t do it. Our Mr. James here brought them without an invitation.”

“Maybe the Princess has another trick up her sleeve,” Marissa said, moving to stand in front of Jesse. “Tell me, Princess. How’d you manage to escape?” Jesse looked back at the woman without answering. Watching Jesse, her hands went to her hips. “You seem to have a real problem with questions, huh, princess. You ask questions when you shouldn’t. You don’t answer questions when you should.”

Holding the woman’s stare, Jesse straightened her shoulders. “Why don’t you ask your god? Doesn’t it see everything?”

Marissa’s face went slack with surprise for a split second before quickly contorting into a sneer. “Wrong answer,” she said, drawing back to step into a punch meant for Jesse’s face.

Before she knew what was happening, Jesse felt herself swept behind Gabriel as he caught Marissa’s fist in his hand. Jerking back from Gabriel’s grasp, Marissa eyed him cautiously. “Fast,” she said, a knife appearing from nowhere for each hand. Moving into a boxing pose, she flipped the knives to hold the blades outward in raised fists. “Let’s see just how fast you are,” she said, slicing forward with her left hand followed by the right.

The look of surprise was still on Marissa’s face when Gabriel spun her around with her hands pinned behind her back. The knives clanked against the floor before she was thrust forward. The foot flying through the air grazed Gabriel’s cheek as his upper body arched back to avoid the full blow. Even before her foot touched the ground, she spun around with a switchblade. Her eyes narrowed on Gabriel’s face as she prepared to attack.

“Enough!” The word exploded from Mr. Banner.

Marissa’s lips tightened without relaxing her stance. Stepping to her side, Mr. Banner growled at her ear. “I said, enough.”

Picking up the dropped knives, Marissa walked past Mr. Banner without making eye contact to fall onto the first pew.

Mr. Banner blew out a breath before turning to Marissa. “Sorry to ruin your fun, darling, but you know I hate the sight of blood.” He watched her stare broodingly at her fingertips before saying, “Ah, I see. You want the honor of killing the celebrated Christian hero.” Her averted gaze told him he was right. “Women,” he muttered under his breath, “such mysterious creatures.” His voice turned soothing. “Don’t be angry, darling. You can kill him right here and hang him on that big cross for all I care. I’m just suggesting the use of a bullet. Bullets are much more efficient.”

Gabriel stepped forward. “You dare insult the living God inside His house of worship.”

Mr. Banner’s eyes flashed with angry fire before icing over with cool contempt. “Understand this, Mr. James. I do not fear you and I do not fear your God.” His tone was mocking when he said, “Gabriel, the one who stands in the presence of God.”

Jesse moved to take Gabriel’s hand. “Don’t,” she whispered.

The scorn on Mr. Banner’s face relaxed into a smirk. “Your little show of courage was rather inspiring. In fact, I’m inspired to share a secret that may distress and disappoint you, Mr. James. The telecast you risked your life to film is useless. As we speak, Arakiel is warning leaders around the world that the Circle of Refaim is at risk of being destroyed, and rest assured, Mr. James, the explanation will be credible, even among scientists. A complex theory linking seismic waves, released energy, yada, yada,” he said, flicking his hand to show boredom with the topic. “The world will believe the explanation and Uronians will be invited to Earth.”

Starting to look impatient, Marissa rose to her feet. “Let’s just do this and go.”

Ignoring her, Mr. Banner kept talking. “Yes, it will be very convincing. Even if your dire prediction does come true and the monument is destroyed, Arakiel will persuade the world that the area in Israel is essential to Uronian use.” The corners of his mouth slithered up a fraction. “But, Marissa’s right. We should stop wasting time. We both know why I’m here. I’ve come to pluck the festering thorn from our side.” Like slow moving window shades, his eyelids fell, and when they opened, all emotion was gone. His voice was cold and lethally quiet. “I have come for you, Mr. James.”

Even in her state of terror, Jesse became aware of a change in the air, a light breeze. Her eyes closed as a calming presence began to fill her. When she opened her eyes, all fear was gone and she wasn’t surprised to see Olivia moving to stand in front of them.

Olivia’s words sailed across the room as if carried on supernatural waves. “My God is pure and holy. He came to Earth in human form as a man named Jesus. He humbled Himself as a servant to walk among us. In love, He sacrificed Himself for us. That is the God I serve, the Lord of hope and salvation, humble and pure.”

Taken by surprise, everyone in the room stood slack jawed as Olivia walked away to kneel in front of the cross.

Seconds later, the Pastor stepped in front of them. His voice resonated in the room. “My God is all-knowing. He is perfect and His Word is alive and active, sharper than any sword. Those who know the truth have been set free. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. Jesus, He is my God, the Lord of wisdom and understanding.”

Somehow, Jesse was not surprised to feel herself moving forward into the Pastor’s invisible footprints. Her mind was quiet, serene. On some level, she was aware that Mr. Banner was yelling instructions, but none of the men moved. With a sense of detachment, she watched them drop their weapons with a look of terror. Her words poured out in a voice she hardly recognized. “My God is love. He is kind and patient. His love and mercy are immeasurable, marvelous and endure forever. That is the God I serve, the Lord of love and mercy.”

Kneeling at the cross, Jesse heard Gabriel’s voice ring out. “My God is all-powerful, the sovereign ruler of the universe. He is the lion of the Tribe of Judah. His roar is like thunder, striking fear into the heart of His foe. To Jesus belong the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. That is the God I serve, the Lord of honor and power.”

Just as Gabriel knelt at her side, Jesse heard her grandmother proclaim, “My God is faithful, certain to keep His Word. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is long-suffering, not wanting any to perish, but He is coming. Heed the warning and repent.” The air swept through the room and Jesse felt her hair lifting as her grandmother’s voice rose to blend with the wind. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse and He that sat upon him is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. That is the God I serve, the Alpha and Omega, the Self Existing One.” Silence fell like a weight and her grandmother’s next words were spoken with frightful clarity. “Surely, He comes quickly.

When her grandmother joined them at the cross, they bowed their faces to the floor before a gust of wind ripped through the building. Jesse squeezed her eyes shut and began to pray. The power of God was all around them and she knew she was not to look up. This was the Lord’s battle.

As quickly as the wind came, it was gone. The building was silent. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she lifted her eyes to see Gabriel holding out a hand to help her up. She turned around in the room with a blank stare. Mark Banner, Marissa, the men, they were all gone. The pews, the podium, the equipment, nothing was out of place.

“Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” The Pastor’s shouts split the air before he began to dance and praise God.

Olivia stared at her husband before her face broke into a smile. She began to spin around laughing before asking, “Who is like our God?”

At the cross, Jesse reached out to touch the purple cloth. “Thank you, Jesus,” she whispered. She felt a hand touch her shoulder. Without taking her eyes off the cross, she asked, “Did you doubt, Gabriel?”

“I did, until Jonas reminded me of the lesson I learned. When you were kidnapped, I couldn’t save you. From the ashes of my broken pride, I cried out to God. He saved you. If not for that experience, I would have come here alone.”

Just before sunrise, they made their way back to the shelter. Unable to find the flashlights they had dropped earlier, they picked their way along the path following Gabriel who walked a few feet in front. Through the treetops, Jesse could see the sky beginning to turn orange in the twilight. She knew the rising Sun outlining the distant mountains would be a spectacular sight from the top of the ridge. When Gabriel neared the summit, he stopped. In the twilight, they could see his shadowy form standing motionless a little distance up the path. When he moved forward, they followed.

Reaching the top, Jesse stared in awe. Glowing forms stood along the ridge encircling the valley. They had the appearance of men, but were much taller. Their bodies glowed like polished metal radiating light and each held a flaming sword. Olivia’s voice was little more than a whisper. “God sent angels.” Speechless, Jesse nodded as clouds rolled together to form stairs lowering from the sky. The angels moved, gliding along the ridge toward the staircase before ascending into heaven. As the last two lifted out of sight, the staircase rolled up and disappeared.

Mist hung in the air over the mountains as a new morning dawned with them gazing up into the heavens. The Pastor’s voice pulled Jesse from her stupor. “They’re still praying,” he said, looking down into the valley. Jesse followed his gaze to see the people still bowed to the ground.

The Pastor’s voice echoed through the mountains when he shouted, “Praise God!”

Hearing the