Chapter 4 - Jeremiah Jones
“What’s going on?” Reverend Jones asked.
“We were having Sunday evening service when we began to hear a number of sirens from all kinds of emergency vehicles. Some cops and fire trucks. They were driving past the front door of the church. We heard the emergency siren. You know, the one that means it is time to go into the basement for a tornado or something?” Deacon Tasker said.
“The television said that there would be no planes traveling in or out of the airport,” Reverend Jones added. “But that is today, you mean things have been going on in Atlanta since yesterday? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Pastor, we were in the middle of a war zone. I don’t doubt that they are shutting down air travel. If you have seen what I have seen, you would shut down all forms of travel into Atlanta. And you would evacuate us all out of here. But, pastor, it looks like we are stuck here. And there is more...”
“More?”
“The cops came by and told us that we shouldn’t leave and that they wanted to turn the church into a temporary shelter.”
“Hold on, you have been there all night and haven’t left?”
“No, we couldn’t leave. I told the cop yes, go ahead and make the church a temporary shelter. You always said to help those who need help. I know it was the right thing to do.”
“Deacon, that was the right thing to do, but please continue.”
“When the cops showed up, about 30 or 40 members left to go home, against the wishes of the cops.”
“I pray they got home safely.”
“Prayer is necessary, but don’t pray for that. All of those members came back to the church, but they came back in a changed form. They came back as raving lunatics.”
“What? You mean everything we are seeing on television is true? It is reality?”
“It is the gospel truth pastor. The cops shot at them, but they kept coming back. There are now about 30 members here and about 100 community members, and we are holed up with about 10 cops protecting us. If you want to pray, pray that God will be with us. And Rev, if it isn’t too much trouble, pray for my daughter who’s away in the dorms at Spellman.”
“I think they may be all right.”
“It’s bad.”
“I’m coming back now. You need me there.”
“I don’t think that is a good idea. Hold on, the officer wants to talk to you.”
“Hello, this is your church?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” Reverend Jones answered.
“No, it is not a good idea for you to come into town. I encourage you to take cover wherever you are and listen to the emergency broadcasts.”
At that point there was a big boom in the background and the phone went dead. Reverend Jones attempted to call back and got nothing.
Reverend Jones realized that the mess going down was true and it was widespread throughout Atlanta. He heard a lot of shuffling of feet outside the room of his suite. He walked out of the door and saw five or six people rushing out of the hotel to their cars.
“Hey, where you going?” Reverend Jones said to one minister and his family. Reverend Jones could see the man’s wife clutching the hands of what looked like a 10 year old boy in one hand and a younger girl with the other hand.
“I assume you haven’t seen the television if you are asking me that,” he answered.
“But where are you going?” Reverend Jones asked.
“Home.”
The answer didn’t surprise Reverend Jones. The top two places we want to go when there is a big problem is home and the church. He thought that the church, no doubt, was filling up right now.
Reverend Jones walked out of the door of his complex and saw even more action going on. In fact, it looked like a ton of people were in a big hurry. A group of ten to fifteen men were rushing out of the A-wing sleeping quarters, and a big helicopter was running in the middle of an open field.
While the suites in Reverend Jones’ complex were nice, the A-Wing suites were extremely nice. The top preachers got to stay in those suites. Reverend Jones walked over to the helicopter where he saw three armed guards.
Reverend Jones talked to one of the armed guards and asked, “Are you going to evacuate us all?”
“This is not an evacuation. Bishop Meredith has a pressing engagement that he needs to attend, and he will be back tomorrow. Please go to the pavilion and prepare for the next service,” the armed guard answered.
Reverend Jones persisted. “What’s going on?”
“Reverend, please return to your room or head to the pavilion. Nothing is going on. This is not an evacuation and the Bishop will be back tomorrow morning.”
Reverend Jones stood there and a few other ministers congregated around.
The guard grabbed his rifle and was about to speak again when Bishop Meredith, the host of the meeting, rushed out with his wife and three kids.
“Bishop Meredith, what’s happening? Are you leaving?” Reverend Jones asked.
“I told him to go, and he refused. Do you want me to--,” the guard said to Bishop Meredith, who raised his hand, requesting that the guard stop talking.
“Just make sure my kids and my wife get on the helicopter. I will speak to the Reverend here.”
Bishop Meredith’s wife and young child rushed towards the helicopter, but Bishop Meredith stood there to talk.
“I need to take a short trip, but I will be back early tomorrow, Reverend,” Bishop Meredith said.
“It looks like you are taking all your luggage and your family. Why are you leaving? Are you leaving us here to fend for ourselves?”
“I’ll be back, don’t worry, trust me, and trust in God. Always put your trust in God,” The bishop said while pointing upwards.
One of the bishop’s assistants walked up and said, “Bishop, we have to go now.”
“OK, hold on,” Bishop Meredith said to the assistant. He turned to Reverend Jones and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Jones. Reverend Jeremiah Jones.”
“Well, Reverend Jones, until I get back, would you mind handling the next service this evening? It looks like they are already congregating over there.”
“Why I…uh…sure. Ok.” Reverend Jones stammered before accepting the assignment.
“I’m counting on you, Reverend,” Bishop Meredith said as he walked towards the helicopter. He turned around and waved at the small group that had congregated around Reverend Jones. The bishop boarded the helicopter, which flew away.
Reverend Jones was happy, but he wondered why. Even at the end of the world he still was happy to get a speaking engagement.
After watching the helicopter fly away, Reverend Jones looked and saw others in the A-Wing packing and getting into cars. People looked like they were leaving with kids and wives hanging onto them. He could hear people admonishing others to hurry up, along with babies crying.
“What are you going to do, Reverend?” said one of the ministers who came to see what Bishop Meredith was doing.
“Come with me.”
Reverend Jones walked over to the A-wing and attempted to stop a few who ran right by him. Doors were standing open and televisions were blaring in the deluxe rooms of the A-Wing.
Reverend Jones yelled towards one of Bishop Meredith’s high ranking assistants. “What are we going to do?”
Reverend Jones grabbed a lower ranked assistant who was walking past him. “Hold on, minister. Now, we came out here to your meeting, who is going to tell us what to do?”
“I don’t have any time, but look at a TV.” The man ripped Reverend Jones’ hand from him and ran off towards his car.
Reverend Jones walked into a still open suite in the A-wing. He saw the TV blasting about a “mysterious disease.”
It was larger than Atlanta. “We are receiving reports from all over the state that a mysterious disease is causing disorientation, turning those afflicted into maniacs. The governor has declared a state of emergency,” the news re
porter said on the television. “Hold on, the governor is about to speak.”
“Today, the state of Georgia is receiving various reports of a virus that causes extreme disorientation in those afflicted. Please stay in your homes and stay away from anyone afflicted. Be certain that we will let you know when this is under control, but as for now, we are asking all people to stay in their homes,” the governor said.
“Is this a mandatory order?” a reporter asked.
“Not right now, but be advised that the situation is fluid and could change at any time,” the governor responded.
Reverend Jones stood up, cut off the television and walked out of the hotel suite where about twenty people were now standing.
The twenty people had on their faces a look of, “What do we do?”
Reverend Jones said, “OK, let’s go to the front desk and see what they can tell us.”
Reverend Jones and 20 others began walking towards the front desk. As they walked, Reverend Jones could see a line of many cars attempting to leave the camp. In addition, the line of people behind Reverend Jones was growing with each step.
Chapter 5 - Carl
Zombie Resurrection: Episode 1 Page 4
