by Summer Lee
“We know that,” said Sanderson.
“But you were distracted.”
“I wouldn’t call it a distraction,” Sanderson said defiantly.
“Brilliant minds are the easiest to distract,” Eric said profoundly. “I looked that up. Einstein was always distracted by something or other. Solomon, Andrea, and Professor Ingram are the smartest people I have ever known. After my sister, of course. It was really simple for dark forces to keep you all preoccupied while they were at work destroying the world around us.”
“We’re not as smart as we think.” Solomon had a spark of realization. “We interfered with God’s plans last time when we announced the end of days. We messed with something we did not know about. Dat’s why we were distracted dis time. We need a clear path to accuracy and knowledge of God’s will.”
“In a way that is true,” Eric said, showing he was nervous again. “The evil one thought that he was going to cause the end of days before it was supposed to happen, but there’s something even he didn’t know.”
Again, he looked at everyone, studying their reaction. Solomon gave him a knowing look. That time, Eric smiled, when Solomon gave him the exact reaction he expected.
“Okay. As you have probably heard, I have prophetic dreams,” he said. “I was attached to a dream machine. The thing is, there was someone who was trying to keep me using it so that I would be too loopy to tell anyone what was really going on. It’s like that thing I’ve heard people say about Satan being there when Christ was crucified. Satan did not know what was going to happen next. If he’d known Jesus was going to rise from the dead, he would have tried to stop the crucifixion. It could happen again when God’s plan is fulfilled.”
Solomon stood up and clasped Eric’s shoulder. “I agree.”
There was a hush of silence, and Eric looked confident. “I would like to share my last dream.”
“Please do.”
“I was dreaming about the dream machine and my sister. I was given a series of electrical shocks. There were sounds of pops and crackles, and then the dream machine sputtered and fizzled out. Sparks flew all over the laboratory. Then I saw two witnesses to the electronic breakdown duck for cover until all was clear.
“‘Did we get that? Tell me we got that!’ shouted the 54-year-old researcher.
“‘We got it! We got it!’” said his female partner. ‘We may have gotten it at the expense of my brother, but we got it!’” His voice cracked. “The voice was my sister, Sybil.”
“The man stood up and looked at her. ‘I know you love Eric, Sybil, but we needed to keep the machine on him until we had a dream that made sense to us. Ever since he became comatose after he became loopy, we’ve been getting clearer dreams from him. We’ve recorded everything!’
“Sybil Tania stood with a tear rolling down her cheek, as she looked at her comatose brother lying perfectly still on the table, wired into the machine. ‘I still don’t get it. He seems to have been fused with the machine. There’s no way we can turn it off without killing him, Seymour.’
“‘We have 42 variations of the same dream!’ Seymour shouted, victoriously. ‘All we have to do is piece each one together and we can predict the end of the world.’
“I felt her lean over my body and place her hands on my head. She said, ‘I’m so sorry, Eric. I know that the machine did this to you, but once I found out, I couldn’t pull you out. Please don’t have any dreams where I die. I’ve been writing down all the names of the people in your dreams and I’m going to look for them. Isabella and Solomon Dancer are the two most prominent ones so far. If your dreams are real, then we’ll need all the help we can get to set as many people free as possible—with the knowledge that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I want you to know that as many times as you’ve been saved in your dreams, it made me get more interested in reading the Bible. I’m saved now, Eric, but I still don’t like what we had to put you through. Seymour is saved too. I’ll always remember what you told me before you went under for the last time. You said, “Always remember, sis, if you really want to know what’s going on with God, watch for the signs of the times. There’s a lot to be learned from the stars and the planets.” You are helping us, Eric. Goodnight for now, my brother.’
“I watched as Seymour finished hooking up the recorded dreams to the uplink, even though the machine had fizzled out. I was on the sidelines all the time as I watched Dr. Seymour Caladasian and Sybil Tania operate the monitor.” Eric looked up. “I saw my most current dream being broadcasted to everyone who wanted to watch it.”
“What happened next?” asked Solomon.
“I saw that the world was in the first stages of the Apocalypse. My dreams were used to preach to those who wanted to know more about God. They blasted across the sky and reached millions of people. Many were saved who heard the message.
“Strangely, the message was being broadcast from a hidden bunker, so that the police wouldn’t shut it down and kill the two scientists.
“Sybil spoke. ‘I know it is a matter of time before I am found. I’ll do everything I can to send the message of the prophetic dreams out into the world. I hope my sacrifice will not be in vain.’ I watched her walk away from the broadcast with a tearful smile, as she opened the front door and looked at the night sky.
“I could tell that her heart was filled with hope that she would see me again. She whispered my name and said that she knew I was responsible for representing God to a Godless world.”
“And then my eyes popped open, I sat up wide awake, my heart beating rapidly.”
He smiled. “Remember, God is in control.”
“I’m sorry, Eric,” Ingram said. “This is all rather hard to swallow. I know that ties in with what Solomon and you worked on last year, but seriously. Is that all true?”
Eric looked at one of the groups in particular as Carl came running out from the desks. He was out of breath. “Guys. I tried to go out the back door and… wow. I wouldn’t leave the building if I was you.”
“What is it?” yelled Sanderson. “What’s going on?”
He shook his head, as tears started to roll down his cheeks. “The sky! It’s… all… copper colored.”
“Maybe the rapture is coming.” Solomon had a big grin. Sirens were blaring in the distance, even as he spoke.
“No!” Jennifer jumped out, enraged. She glared at Eric. “It’s not supposed to be now! Not now!”
Eric glared right back. “Even the angels in Heaven don’t know when that’s going to happen. How would you?”
Sanderson and Ingram were frozen in a state of shock, as they stared at Jennifer.
“Jennifer? Will you please explain?” Sanderson asked, with a timid voice. She looked blank as if she couldn’t comprehend any of what was being said.
Jennifer turned toward her mother with a knowing smile. “Mother. You being an atheist, gave me all the leeway in the world to take a different route as your daughter.” Her voice was soft.
Sanderson looked on in disbelief and said nothing.
Ingram stood nervously. “Now see here, young lad…!”
Eric stood beside her. “Let her speak her peace.”
Jennifer spoke firmly. “This was my backup plan in case my first one failed, which it did. Bringing Dancer into the middle was a stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. It was all so perfect.”
“Who are you?” Carl blurted. “How do you know so much?”
She glanced at him with a flirtatious smile. “I am here for all people. Unfortunately, the end is nigh.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
She smiled at him as if she knew something he didn’t. Then all of a sudden, tears flowed. The smile was still there but faded slowly. A pained look swept across her face, as she dropped to her knees and wept openly.
Eric squatted down beside her, putting his arm around her. “It’s all right.”
Solomon stood beside him. “Is she referring to the one who I tink she’s hinting around
about?” he whispered.
“Yes,” Eric replied.
“Without Jesus, I am nothing.” She smiled through her tears.
Sanderson and Ingram rushed to Jennifer. Sanderson put her arms around the girl. Jennifer peered over her shoulder at Eric and Solomon.
“I’m sorry, Jennifer,” Sanderson groaned. “I should have been more of a mother to you. I am so sorry that I treated you like a sidekick to my plans. You deserve better.”
“No, Mom,” Jennifer replied, in her demure female voice. “You did the best you could. You did the right thing.”
“Is there anything I can do,” Ingram added. “It’s obvious the girl has gone through a tremendous amount of stress. Perhaps, I could suggest some wonderful therapists.”
Jennifer embraced Ingram. “Thank you. I know I’ve been through a lot. All I need is for someone to believe in me and encourage me.”
“Wow,” Solomon said, as he looked at her.
Carl was sitting on a box with his head in his hands. Solomon approached him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “Carl. Are you going to be okay? Eric and I have some experience in what you might have seen outside. If you could describe it…”
Carl looked up in confusion. “Describe it? Seriously? It was like something out of my worst nightmare! There was an orange glow… everywhere! I mean, it was like looking through some kind of stained glass. There was also something else. You know when it’s like really hot out and you see those wiggly heat lines? That! I saw that!”
“That may be a sign,” said Eric.
Solomon looked at Eric with concern. “So is dis it?”
“When Jesus comes for his children, He will come like a thief in the night,” Eric replied. “If the two over there would have concentrated more on the sky, they would have seen the signs.” He pointed to Sanderson and Ingram.
“It was really me!” Solomon said sadly. “If I would have done my job right, I could have seen this coming!”
“Then what?” Eric returned. “What would you have done, if you’d known? Knowing and not knowing is the same thing. The only difference is that we were prepared the best we knew how. We believed the Bible. We’re saved by the cross of Christ. It’s not a last minute thing, Solomon. We knew that before. Now that we’re faced with it, it’s easy to say what we could have done or said, or who we could have been.”
Solomon nodded. “You’re right. It feels like the end to me. I know you feel it too, Eric. My heart is breaking for everyone else.”
Solomon turned back to Carl. “Carl. What you saw is a real wake-up call. Jesus is coming back in all of His glory to claim those who follow Him. It’s not too late for you. I know you’re scared, but Eric and I can help you. You need to make a decision. Will you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?”
Carl had a look of panic on his face. He looked at Solomon, then at Eric. He burst into tears. “Yes.”
“You have de power of choice,” said Solomon. “He doesn’t want ta be forced on anyone. We won’t force you.”
Carl nodded. “I’ll do it.”
“It is an amazing ting, Carl. He wants us to accept Him of our own free will.”
Carl forced a smile. “I have heard about God and Jesus. My mom’s real religious. I mean, did He really die for me?”
“Yes, He did,” said Eric.
Solomon responded with a smile. “Jesus died so dat each one of us could have a chance to spend eternity with our Father in Heaven. Do you believe dat?”
Carl laughed. “Yes. I do believe that.”
“Oh my gracious.” Solomon suddenly perked up and looked at Eric. “Eric! I need to call my mama!”
“Go ahead,” Eric said, calmly. “If you want privacy, I’ll stay with Carl.”
Solomon rushed to a private corner by the research room and pulled out his phone. He dialed his mother’s number as quickly as his fingers would allow him.
She picked up on the first ring.
“I was wondering when you were going to give your mama a call.” Her voice was shaky with an apparent nervousness.
Solomon’s heart was heavy, knowing that he might not see his mother again. “I know, Mama and I’m sorry. I’m sure you know by now dat there is a war going on here. The tings are very serious. It’s happening, Mama. It’s really happening.”
“I know, baby,” she replied. It was obvious that she was fighting back her tears. “God put you where you are because dat’s where you need to be. I know dat better than anybody. You’re still my baby though and I miss you somethin’ awful.”
“I miss you too, Mama. A lot. I fear dat dis is te beginning of the Apocalypse, Mama. I want to go home. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to get back to you. I want to go home and get a job in Portland. I’ll give it everyting I got! I might even bring a friend or two.”
“If you are able to make it back to Portland, you bring as many friends as you can carry,” she replied, with a forced laugh. “If you can’t, then I know I will see you again standing by the throne of God in heaven.”
He couldn’t contain his tears anymore. “Dis is bigger than you and me, but somehow I will see you again. God doesn’t want to keep us apart. You’ve been my strength and my rock all those years. Your prayers got me through some really bad times. Even when I didn’t turn to God dat much, you never pushed Him on me.”
“He doesn’t want to be pushed on anyone, baby. He wants us to come to Him of our own free will. Te only being who could possibly love His son more than me loving mine, is God Himself. Dat’s a lot of loving for one person. You were always a good boy. I didn’t have to raise you too much, because you were always facing the right path without too much nudging. I don’t know if I say it as much as I need to, but I am as proud of you as any mother could be of her son. Maybe more. I felt so loved when you were sitting in dat hospital room, waiting for me to get back to my ornery self.”
He laughed. “Yeah. I remember when you woke up out of your coma. You were hungry and noting I got for you satisfied you. Ha ha!”
“Baby,” she returned, as her tone became more serious. “I’m going to tell you again. You need to do God’s work and if dat’s staying dere, then it is what it is. Nobody can say no ta God! You know what te only unforgivable sin is. Don’t you?”
“How could I forget, Mama? You drilled it into my head for as long as I could remember. I appreciate dat, too. The only unforgivable sin is if God shows Himself to a person and they reject Him. I would never do dat. I already believe He is real. You can count on dat! I tink it’s okay to want to be with you during the end of days.”
“You know what I remember, Solomon.”
“What is it, Mama?”
“When I was first alone with you as a mere baby, I would spend the summer nights outside on the porch with you in my arms. Rocking you back and forth as I lost myself in the night sky. There was healing in those stars and dat sky. If I stared at it long enough, all the bad tings of te day would be wiped away. All dat was left in my heart was love. Love for you and for my God.”
“I’ve always believed dat, Mama.”
“Good boy. I knew you’d remember.”
“I have studied the constellations and found patterns within the stars dat are related to God and His creation. I remember when I first realized dat. I felt this healing chill all over my body. I still feel dat sometimes still, like now dat we’re talking about God and te stars.”
Loud explosions and screams were audible from outside, even down in the basement.
“What is that noise, Son?”
“It may be ISIS, Mama.” Solomon turned serious. “Mama. I have to go now. I pray to my Father in heaven dat we will see each other soon before the kingdom of heaven comes. Either way, I’ll see you soon, Mama.”
“I’ll see you soon, baby. God willing.”
After her last word, the phone went dead, followed by rapid beeps. He put his phone away in his pocket and slowly walked back to Eric and Carl.
He didn’t see
Jennifer, Sanderson, or Ingram anywhere. He did notice that Carl and Eric were frightened because their eyes were puffy and red.
“Where are te others?” Solomon asked, frantically.
Eric cleared his throat and looked like he was in some pain. “They’re gone, Solomon. Apparently, Jennifer was very convincing. They all left together. I prayed with Carl while you were gone.”
“Praise Jesus!” Carl called out, with conviction, and a wide smile. His eyes sparkled with rebirth.
Solomon gently slapped Carl’s shoulder. “Amen, brother! Great to have you aboard!”
“How’s your mom?” Eric asked, with concern. “Is everything okay?”
“She is fine,” Solomon returned, nonchalantly. “I told her about the bombs dropping here. She asked if it was da end of the world.” He sat down. “I want to go home.”
Eric turned to Carl. “What about you, Carl? Is there anyone you need to be with at this time?”
Carl shook his head. “Naw. I got no one. I’m an only child and I never talk to my cousins and people like that. My parents died some time ago in a plane crash. My dad was the pilot. Don’t get me wrong, he was the best pilot ever! They just flew into a freak storm. They were notified of it, right as he flew into it. Everyone I talked to since said there was nothing anyone could have done about it. My dad actually kept him and my mom in the air longer than anyone else would have. Small consolation, though. I’d rather have them here with me now. Especially now!”
“Would you like to take a little trip?” Eric grinned and looked at Solomon, then back at Carl. “Would you mind if we try to get Solomon back to Portland to see his mom one last time? It won’t be easy and it’s a long way from Seattle on foot.”
Carl looked wide-eyed and then started to laugh hysterically. “Yes.”
Eric and Solomon looked at each other with a confused look. “What?” said Solomon.
“Ha ha! That’s amazing!” Carl belted out. “You guys are not going to believe this, but I just so happen to have graduated to my pilot’s license of small aircraft and I also just so happen to have the keys to the plane I was trained on. I knew the instructor, personally. He’ll let me borrow it. I’ll take you home.”
