I shrug and look to my feet. “Well, it hardly matters now since we currently exist in two different worlds.”
“It is the same world just with different dimensions. Come; let us catch up to Jackson.”
We walk through the front entrance to the school, and I immediately see Kirra walk over to Jackson. She is surrounded by the same warm glow that Jackson is. There is a petite soul, with perfectly styled brunette hair and red lipstick trailing close to Kirra. She is wearing heels and a white halter dress with red polka dots on it. She looks like the perfect 1950’s housewife. Lucius nods his head in acknowledgement.
“Margret”
She nods back with a serene smile but says nothing. I find myself wondering how she died.
My musings quickly dissipate as I notice the worried look on Kirra’s face.
“Have you heard from Haven this morning?”
“Nope, should I have?”
“Hmm, that’s strange. She was supposed to call me last night, but she didn’t, and no one was home when I went to pick her up this morning.”
“Maybe they had a family emergency, and all left together.”
“Yeah maybe, I guess that makes sense. But I wish she would at least message me and tell me what’s going on. It’s just not like her”
“I’m sure everything is fine, don’t jump to conclusions.”
“You’re right. I’m probably worried over nothing.”
I look to Lucius about to comment on the irony of my friend’s exchange, when I see Fin walk in the school doors looking tired and disheveled. I notice immediately Fin doesn’t have a glow around him. I gasp slightly as I see faint trails of black smoke like evil tendrils trying to grab after him. I raise my hand and point towards them.
“What does that mean? Why is the darkness trailing Fin like that?”
“It means he is coming under attack. The darkness has targeted him because they think they can claim him. They know he is about to find out about your death. Evil will strike when he is at his lowest. It looks as though they have already been at work. He looks tired and it would seem his father has harmed him again.”
My head snaps over to inspect Fin more closely and I notice I red mark across his Jaw just barely beginning to turn purple. “Oh Fin, I’m so sorry.” I whisper to myself.
“Who or what is the darkness?”
“It is hard to say with any certainty. Possibly fallen angels cast out of heaven. I have often wondered if it is simply dark energy. An accumulation of all the sin and depravity on earth. It grows, and feeds off each evil act committed, infecting the world, and its inhabitants. Think about it like an oil spill in the gulf. It covers the water suffocating the purity of life. A pelican covered in it can survive, but it often requires someone to rescue it, to wash it clean.”
I can’t hide the look of devastation written across my face. Fin has no one to rescue him. Lucius bends down to look me in the eyes. “Just because they are attacking does not mean they will succeed. Fin has had a difficult life, but it has made him strong. He will not break easily.”
I nod my head and try to take comfort in Lucius’s words, but I am wracked with guilt for not being a better friend to him. I hate myself for not seeing that he needed me, even as he pushed me away. Fin is strong, but I can’t stand the thought of him suffering for my sake. Why would God let this happen to him...why won’t he rescue Fin?
“Careful now, your thoughts are growing dark.”
I look at him stunned. “How can you tell?”
“Your energy, the color is growing murky.”
“You can see that?”
“Yes, and soon you will be able to as well. You are still adjusting and have not fully gained perspective of your new domain.”
“I just wish I would have done something to help him, I shouldn’t have been so blind.”
“Haven, I haven’t been around Fin as much as you and Jackson because his house has been shrouded in darkness for many years. But I have watched him enough to know that no matter what you did, he would not have allowed you to be involved. He wanted to protect you from the ugliness that surrounded his life.”
I look down not wanting to see the disappointment, and judgement in Lucius’s face when I ask what I really want to know. “Where is God in all of this...why isn’t he helping Fin? Why has he let Fin’s dad hurt him all these years?” There is silence for a moment while I stare at the stained concrete of the breezeway, wishing answers would appear at my feet.
“Haven, look at me.”
I look up, but it’s not disappointment or judgement I see in the face of Lucius. It is compassion and understanding.
“We have all asked that question. It is hard to watch all the pain of this world. I do not have some magic answer for you. But we do have a promise from God. All of this will end. We will live in a time that is free from darkness, and free from all the suffering it brings. You just have to have faith and hold on.”
I give Lucius a sardonic smile, as I motion with my hands palm up, sweeping them away from my body.
“Obviously, faith has never been my strong suit.”
With his head slightly tilted and a knowing look in his eyes, he says.
“Do not worry, it will be. Come, we do not want to be late for school. I am certain of all the things life has to offer; Mr. Daxter is what you will miss the most.”
I laugh and nudge him without thinking. I expect a look of disapproval at the small explosion of color. Instead, I see a boyish grin on my spirit guides face. Just the sight of it relaxes me as we walk into school.
We sit through and uneventful morning and make our way to the lunchroom. About halfway through the thirty-minute break we see the faculty, stir to gather around principle Hebert. Lucius, leans in, “Brace yourself, they are about to be told.” I look at my closest friends Kirra, and Fin, my almost boyfriend Jackson, and all the people I have grown up around. Mr. Herbert moves to the front of the room and quiets the student body.
“Students, I have some tragic news.” His voice shakes slightly before he regains his composure. “Last night Haven Hollock, and her parents, Chris and Kelly Hollock, were killed in a traffic accident on Hwy 31. I know this is a devastating loss for you students and the community as a whole. There will be grief counselors available for the next week. If anyone feels they need support or help coping with this tragic situation, please feel free to go see the counselors at any time during school hours.”
I watch as the blood drains from Kirra’s face. Immediately, tears fill her eyes and begin streaming down her face, but it is as if she is rooted to the spot and can’t move. Fin, two tables over, has the exact opposite reaction. His face burns an angry shade of red and he bolts out of his seat. Within seconds he bursts through the doors to the hall, with a loud crash. I hear a loud bang and run after him. When I make it to the hall, Fin is nowhere in sight but there is a large dent in the side of the lockers closest to the cafeteria exit. I start down the hall to try and find him, but Lucius is in front of me and matching my pace walking backwards. He holds up both hands to halt me.
“Haven, you cannot follow him. It is not safe. He is not a child of the light.”
“Well, he’s certainly not a child of the darkness!” I shout angrily.
“No, he is not, but there is a battle being waged to claim him at this very moment. You cannot risk being near it. The light does not give up easily. They will fight for him, but in the end we all have free will. The decision lies in his hands. Please Haven, you must come back; we need to return to safety.”
I begrudgingly remember my promise to do what Lucius said, so I silently concede and turn towards the cafeteria. When I walk through the doors, I see Jackson with red rimmed eyes, trying to console Kirra. I look at all my other friends and not so friends- the whole room is sullen or weeping. Even Violet secretly wipes a tear from the corner of her eye before getting up to leave.
“I can’t believe it.” I say mostly to myself
“What?”
“Violet is crying over me; I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”
“Why is the fact that Violet is upset over your death so astounding to you?”
“She is just kind of an ice queen, and it’s not like we were friends.”
“I think you have incorrectly assessed, Violet Mathison.”
“I don’t think I have. We were not friends, mainly because she was evasive if not downright rude when I used to try to befriend her.”
“You are correct that she has not always been nice, but she is not a bad person. She has a difficult living situation, in some ways very similar to Fin’s.”
I can’t hide my complete surprise. “Are you sure, I have never seen Violet with a mark on her, not to mention she drives a brand-new sports car and wears all designer clothes.”
“Her parents are not frequently physically abusive, though, it does happen. They both have explosive tempers, but their cruelty is generally more psychological in nature. As far as her material gifts, those are a matter of status for her parents. Within the elite political and social circles that her parents are a part of, it is expected that every member of the family keeps up appearances. I can assure you; she does not have doting parents. I saw it firsthand when her parents found out that she was seeking counsel from the pastor at New Life Church. They were furious. None of the powerful political families attend church. It is considered a sign of ignorance and they were worried she had been seen. The ironic thing was she went to the church because she wanted advice on how to de-escalate situations at home which were becoming more frequently volatile. She feels loyalty to her parents but has become increasingly disenchanted by their ideology. They are elitists who believe only the highly educated and exceedingly wealthy should have the right to vote. They played a monumental part in getting the religious acts passed in North Carolina. It was considered a huge victory, because the state’s polls showed that forty five percent of its citizens were still perceived to have some sort of religious affiliation. After their success, the government transferred the family here to monitor and mitigate Louisiana’s transition to the new laws. They are basically publicists hired by the government to sway public opinion in the direction the government wants it to go. Right now, the government would like people to believe that the world’s problems are caused by religious extremists, and the only solution is to get rid of religion. They alter the content and timing of news releases to make their case in the media. It is not a new tactic. Misinformation and manipulation from Churches, governments, and the corporations funding them, has been going on for as long as government and religion have existed.”
“What are you talking about? You’re acting like Churches are just as bad as the government. I don’t get it. I thought you were a “believer." And also, the Acts haven’t removed religion from the country just from the government. People still have the right to belong to a church, look at my parents and Kirra’s and Jackson’s, they are all Christians.
He shakes his head at me, and I can’t tell if it is doubt or disgust. “Haven, it is bizarre to me how you can have such a curious and intuitive nature, but at the same time be so oblivious to the world around you. It’s like you have had blinders on. I guess in a sense you have. I never understood why your parents chose to shelter you in such a way. They may have been trying to protect you, but all they did was, leave you vulnerable to manipulation and lies. You have been left sheltered and ignorant. I will always tell you the truth as I know it. First it is dangerously naïve to think the religious acts were passed for anything other than the eradication of freedom of religion. Second, it is every bit as naïve to think that religion has not been used for centuries to manipulate and control people. Church can be a beautiful place of light, or a terrible place of darkness, and it has nothing to do with what religion resides within it.
My mouth drops opened. I am stunned by his frankness about religion. It is not what I would expect from someone who I would have pegged as a Jesus freak. His words also sting me. I have never thought of myself as ignorant or sheltered. But I can’t help but remember the conversation with Jackson’s family at dinner last night. Even Wilder, Jackson’s little brother, seemed more informed about current national policies. Am I so self-absorbed that I have completely ignored the world around me?
“I guess…maybe I didn’t want to know. I think maybe I just wanted life to stay happy and carefree so I convinced myself that if there was anything wrong in the world that it would all work out in the end.”
“It will all work out in the end, Haven. You do not have to worry about that, but the world will fall into broken pieces before it will be healed and made whole again.”
“Are you talking about Armageddon or something?”
“Or something”
“Is it about to happen soon? How much time do they have left?”
“First of all, it’s a “we” situation not a “they” situation. What happens will affect all of us. Every aspect of life and death and of darkness and light will be altered. Secondly, there is no way to know how soon it will take place. Throughout the centuries there have been dozens and dozens of times I thought, this must be it, but every time I was wrong. The atrocities of man across history have been so horrifying at times that the spirit world wails with the pain of knowing them. They have infiltrated the light places and we have lost souls because of it. Yet, still, the world has continued on. In each instance there was a turning point where the light that still existed in mankind overtook the dark. From the watcher's perspective, the world is certainly in a bleak time, but it is impossible to know. All we can do is watch and protect ourselves from the darkness here.”
I look around at all my friends and classmates. Most are just sitting around in shocked silence. Then I notice Kirra and Jackson stand up and I move closer to hear what they are saying. Jackson grabs Kirra and hugs her shaking body tightly as she sobs into his shoulder. I hear Jackson speaking quietly to her in a consoling tone.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?”
“No thank you, I messaged my dad. He should be here any minute. I just need to be in my church. I know she wasn’t a member, but I prayed for her so often there it’s like she is a part of the church. Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes. I mean I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. I…I don’t know how to process this right now and I don’t think I want to let it hit me while I’m at school. I may go home, I don’t know.”
I see Jackson tear up he clears his throat and puts his hand on Kirra’s back. “I’ll walk with you to the front. I think I am gonna check out and go home.”
Lucius and I follow behind Kirra and Jackson’s silent trek to the front office. They both sign out and walk towards the parking lot. As we are walking down the hall, Mr. Taylor comes into view and rushes to hug Kirra.
“Baby I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.” He looks up to Jackson who is holding back tears. “Thank you for walking with her, Jackson.”
Jackson clears his throat again and in a gruff voice I barely recognize says, “No problem sir, and please don’t hesitate to call on us for whatever the church needs for the service. I know my family will want to help. Do you think there will be a lot of family coming for the service?”
“No, Kelly’s mother is in an Alzheimer’s care facility and she had no other living relatives. Chris had a sister who takes care of their elderly father in Alabama. Janine was trying to contact her when I left. So, at most there will be three family members here for the funeral.”
“Well please let them know we want to help in any way we can.”
“Thank you, Jackson. Would you like me to drop you off at home?”
“No thanks.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to drive, while you’re upset.”
“I think I’m going to walk.”
“That’s got to be five miles Jackson.”
“It’s, 6.3 miles but I jog that distance or mo
re all the time. I just think some quiet time would do me good.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I am, but thanks anyway, Mr. Taylor.”
Jackson parts ways with a wave to Kirra and Mr. Taylor by the double doors leading to the parking lot. I look to Lucius. “Can we follow Kirra instead of Jackson?”
“We are supposed to be watching Jackson.”
“Please Lucius, she is my best friend her family is like my second family.”
I see him waiver and pounce on the opportunity. “She is going to her church and her whole family is believers. Surely we are safe there.”
He rubs his forehead with his fingers and sighs. “Alright, Haven, but don’t think our future missions will be so easily redirected.”
“Will we have future missions then?” I ask as we begin trailing Kirra and her dad to their car. Lucius shrugs then looks around before looking at me.
“Most watchers travel in groups of two or three. Time passes more easily when there is someone else around who can actually see and hear your presence. There is also safety in numbers when we go to collect the newly departed. That is the most dangerous part of our work.”
“Why is that?”
“The light that is with them is only temporary. It is the accumulation of virtue that is left with the spirit, like a residue that clings to the soul after death. However, it fades more quickly with some than others depending on what lies in their heart. When we go to them, we can never be certain how long it will last. Add to that the fact that many people are in a state of shock and disbelief when they realize they are no longer in the living world. It can be hard to convince people that have just died to follow a stranger. If there is someone among the watchers who knows them, they are the ones who go to collect them, it is easier that way.”
Half Dead World: Book One from the Apocalypse Tales Page 8
