The rain was warm and appeared to be immediately absorbed by the skin. As Graham's clothes became wet, they seemed to dry almost instantaneously as his body took in the liquid. As he and his family walked further down the sidewalk, Graham could also see people peering out of windows, watching the revelers outside. One woman in particular caught his eye. She stood behind sheer curtains in what he imagined was her living room window. She seemed to be fighting the urge to go outside. To Graham, she appeared like a child not allowed joining her friends in play. Finally, she broke her resolve and disappeared from view. Next, Graham saw her open her front door and walk outside just as the mist vanished. Not a drop touched her.
As the rain stopped, cheers erupted from the city and tears fell in a uniform relief. The woman Graham watched appeared defeated. She hung her head and walked back inside her home. He saw her moments later reappear in the picture window, again uninvited to join to the enormous crowd outside and, perhaps, doomed as the voice had indicated previously. For the moment, though, she was still among the living.
Inside the lab, the team was already trying to identify the substance that had fallen from the sky. It was completely new; never before seen on Earth or in space. As the scientists' excitement reached a fever pitch, the yellow clouds began to quickly dissipate, giving way to a beautifully bright star laced night. The grass appeared greener. All colors were more vivid and those who had taken in the rain wore their glow, which appeared to be a permanent after-effect.
It was all extraordinary but the result most noticeable was the disappearance of the hum. The vibration that had hung in the air for so long vanished completely. The tear in the sky remained, however. It had been assumed that the vibration was somehow caused by the rip but now it would appear not. It would later become apparent that the vibration only left those who had been washed in the elemental rain. Those who had chosen to stay dry still felt it as strong as ever.
Graham also noticed a mental elation. He had experimented with enough illicit substances in his youth to be able to pinpoint the adrenaline rush he felt. It was not unlike a cocaine buzz. He felt great. Positive. Powerful and simply ecstatic. A feeling of well-being seemed to embrace all that the rain had touched. The air smelled fantastic. Kelly, Haley and everyone around him appeared more beautiful than ever before. It was invigorating. Kelly felt it too.
"Oh my God, I feel incredible!" she laughed.
"I don't think I've ever felt this focused," Graham agreed. "I don't think I've ever felt this good. Everything just feels... right." Haley giggled in the most joyful way and it warmed their hearts further. The entire world now appeared brand new. The men and women in the lab initially suspected that the rush of euphoria would pass but, much to everyone's delight, it did not. It felt like enlightenment and it felt as though it were here to stay.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Amber didn’t so much as wake up the next morning, rather she regained consciousness. Half a bottle of Jack Daniels and several beers later, she had somehow made it back to her modest modular home in the foothills of North Alabama. She could only assume that Tommy or some other good Samaritan had given her a ride back to her place. For the moment, her memory was hazy. The stereo in the house was screaming out a Drive-By Truckers song and Amber wondered how she could have ever slept so soundly.
Amber wrapped a bed sheet around her naked frame and shuffled down the hallway. In the fridge she found a cold diet Coke, she turned off the radio and then sank into the frayed couch in her living room. She located the remote under a week old pizza box on the end table. It was eleven A.M. Maybe she could find “The Price Is Right.” No such luck. The only thing on was the news.
“So far, Jim, there are nothing but positive reports coming in worldwide from those who were bathed in the elemental rain...”
“Huh,” Amber thought. “I slept through it.”
Panic hit her for a moment. While she had resolved to stay out of the rain while at the television studio, Amber did believe that she would have more time to weigh her options. Then, the haze of drink wearing thin, yesterday’s remnants began to rush back to her. All that she drank to forget was now brought back, front and center, in stunning color. Princess Sariana, Alicia and the killings. She wished she’d slept through that as well. Amber changed the channels to see if she could find something about the shootings.
“What we are seeing now is an attempt at mass migration, Sharon. As word spreads throughout the internet of the positive effects of the rain sent by the OWL-”
“- many Chinese, who were not afforded the opportunity-”
“- increased hostilities-”
“- word now that a number of nations, Jim, even those anti-elemental, were forward thinking enough to capture as much of the rain as possible. While this was done, in most cases, for research purposes, scientists are on the case to see if those who decided to seek shelter might still be able to be washed in the rain, thereby ensuring their salvation-”
Nothing. Amber opened her soda and took a drink. Suddenly, the trailer door burst open. Trevor stomped inside followed by Tommy. Amber wrapped her sheet tight.
“Trevor! What the fuck?!”
“What?”
“I ain’t got any clothes on,” she whispered.
“It’s just Tommy.”
“Hey, Amber,” Tommy said as he plopped down on the couch next to her. “You watching the news?”
Amber sighed. “Yes.”
“They say anything about reservoirs?”
“I just turned it on.”
“We heard rumors that there might be reservoirs of rain. I might can still get some of it.”
“I thought you weren’t gonna do it?”
“Fucking wife and kid did it. I told them not to but then she got all scared and shit and ran out in it last minute. I guess I gotta find some.”
“You won’t believe the high, dude,” Trevor assured him as he packed a bong.
“Yeah. I’m pretty stoked about that.”
“Was there anybody talking about that shooting yesterday?” Amber asked.
Trevor took a rip. “What shooting?” he exhaled.
“The one at the Dollar Store in Tuscumbia.”
“Ain’t that where you’re working?” Trevor asked and passed the bong to Tommy. “I thought you said it was a tv station now.”
“It is. Tommy, you didn’t think to mention that to him?”
“He’s your man, Amber. I thought y’all had discussed it.”
Trevor laughed. “We didn’t discuss much of nothing last night. Ain’t that right, baby? She was a goddamn horndog after you dropped her here.”
Amber didn’t remember any of this. Well, maybe bits and pieces. Amber must have passed out after Trevor left for work the night before... or wherever he went. That did explain how she’d arrived home, though.
“I didn’t hear nothing about it,” Tommy said as he inhaled his hit. “Sorry.”
“Anybody hurt?” Trevor asked.
Tommy began to pass the bong back to Trevor but Amber intercepted and lit it herself. “Fuck yes. Two people killed. Right in front of me.”
“Jesus Christ, honey, why didn’t you say nothin’?”
Amber exhaled a large cloud of smoke and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Trevor got up from the floor and hugged Amber on the couch. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
Amber began to cry. The outpouring was as sudden as it was overwhelming. “It was scary as shit,” she managed between the tears.
Trevor kissed her head. “It’s all right now. You ain’t going back to work there, I’ll tell you that much.”
Amber abruptly broke the embrace and quickly wiped away her tears. “I need to get dressed.”
She made her way to the bedroom, her sheet a train following in her wake. Amber quickly found some clean clothes and concluded that she could go without makeup. She loaded her pockets with car keys, loose change and her cell phone. Just as she was
ready to leave, she stopped and went back to her top dresser drawer. Under her important paperwork and panties, Amber found an orange prescription bottle and popped a Xanax. She chewed it up and maneuvered most of it under her tongue to dissolve. Amber shut the bedroom door and heard the boys talking in the next room.
“It’s like... a feeling of all-encompassing joy. You know what I mean?” Trevor was saying.
“I think so. Kind of like heroin?”
“Kind of. Yeah. It’s sort of like an opiate high. But it never wears off.” Trevor noticed Amber. “How would you describe it?”
“What?”
“The elemental high. From the rain.”
“I don’t know,” Amber shrugged. “I didn’t get in it.”
“Oh my God. Why?”
“I just...”
“When I left last night, you said you were going to leave the radio on-”
“I did.”
“And when they made the announcement, you were going to go outside. We talked about this.”
“I slept through it, Trevor! Okay?! I... slept through it.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Amber.”
“I know. Look, I don’t need you yelling at me right now.”
“It’s just... what are we going to do?”
Amber pulled her hair back into a pony tail and wrapped it tight with a rubber band. “I don’t know, Trevor. I need to think. I want to see if I can talk to Alicia.”
“Who’s Alicia?”
“The reporter I told you about.”
“Do you think she’ll know where a reservoir is?” Tommy asked.
Amber knew that Alicia would not but this was as good an out as any. “Well, she’s a reporter. So, maybe. Yeah.”
Trevor nodded. “Good thinkin’, babe.”
“Yeah,” Tommy concurred. “You’ll let me know what you find out?”
“Yes. I’ll let you know.” Amber opened the front door and the sunlight nearly blinded her. She reached into her purse and found her sunglasses. “I’ll be back later,” she shouted as she hurried to the car.
Milan gave a friendly smile to the overweight woman with whom he would be sharing his elevator ride. She didn’t smile back. His boxes were getting heavy. He shouldn’t have tried to carry it all in one trip. Still, Milan also didn’t want to spend any more time outside of his hotel room than he had to. The fat lady exited the lift two floors before his and he put the boxes down in her place, if only for a moment. Back in the room, the television and two radios broadcast the news; none of it good. Milan monitored it all.
“News now, Jim, that Kazakhstan is the latest nation to mobilize troops in search of elemental rain reserves. We’re hearing reports that sixteen hundred armored units have crossed the border into neighboring Kyrgyzstan. The United Nations has denounced all of the aggressive tactics we’ve been witnessing over the course of the past few hours but it is certainly falling on deaf ears...”
“And so what we’re seeing is most of Asia and Eastern Europe in a mad dash to accommodate its citizens’ demand for access to the elemental rain reserves, real or imagined. Now, all of this has happened so quickly, it’s difficult to keep track of the military movement. As you can see... we’re trying to update the map...”
Milan began stacking his boxes in the two small closets available in the adjoining rooms he had rented. He estimated that he had enough food and bottled water to last about two months. Depending on how things went, he would then have to venture out of the hotel for more. He didn’t know where. The economy had effectively collapsed.
It was strange, he thought. While most of the world was fixated on the seemingly inevitable military catastrophe, little focus had been given to the economic meltdown being felt worldwide. Sooner or later the grocery stores would be empty and there would be no one left to stock them. Most everyone was looking for a ticket out of this dimension. The General had been right, of course. The coming landscape would be one made only of anarchy.
“It looks as though the President has entered the briefing room, Jim, so let’s go to the floor if we could...”
Milan sat down on the edge of the bed and watched as a visibly overwrought Commander in Chief adjusted the microphone on the podium. Cameras clicked as the room mellowed to a hush and the President began to speak.
“The United States, condemns in the strongest terms, any infringement of borders as the world struggles with these complex issues. I have been in conference with other world leaders and we are aggressively seeking a solution with regards to the planet’s elemental reserves. We urge calm. Those nations that do not comply and show restraint will be subject to sanctions-”
“What good will that do?!”
It was the first time Milan had ever heard a reporter interrupt a sitting President’s speech.
“If you’ll just let me finish...”
That interjection, however, sent the entire press conference into a frenzy.
“What is the U.S. doing to prevent our own reserves from being pilfered?!”
“Most of our cities are without law enforcement. Will you enact Marshall Law?!”
“When will the reserves be available for public use?!”
“Where are these reserves?!”
At this point, the Press Secretary tried to take control of the situation. “Folks, if you’ll just settle down, the President and I will be happy to address all of these questions...”
“Where is the OWL?! Why haven’t we heard from the OWL?!”
“We don’t know...”
“What’s going to happen next?!”
“The President doesn’t know any more about that than...”
“Why aren’t you doing anything?!”
“I can assure you that there are countless measures currently in place...”
“Be specific!!”
“Well, what would you like to know... specifically?”
“Why aren’t you answering our questions?! Now is not the time for doublespeak!”
“This... this isn’t doublespeak...”
An aide whispered something in the President’s ear. He nodded and was quickly escorted away. The Press Secretary appeared surprised by this.
“Where is he going?!” a reporter shouted.
“Um...”
“Why is he leaving?!”
“I don’t... uh...”
“The people need answers!! He doesn’t get to just walk away!”
“It seems that... the President has been called away...”
The fuse had been lit. All at once, the room descended into pandemonium. Reporters and cameramen rushed the hallway in an effort to follow the President. The Secret Service attempted to hold them back. Shots were fired. Things were only going to get worse.
As Amber sped down the highway, she tried to find some music on the radio.
“Does science know how much of the rain is necessary for enlightenment? In other words, do we know how much of these elements must be absorbed in order for, say, a two hundred pound man-”
She changed the station.
“-clinics in all of the major cities in Great Britain have been established for those who missed their initial opportunity to stand in the elemental rain. Doctors are injecting what is believed to be a significant-”
Preset number three.
“In the days of Noah, when the doors were closed, those who were left outside perished. There are people who believe that when Jesus returns, some will be taken and, for those left behind, there will be a second chance. But this is not how it was in the days of Noah. When Jesus comes, the door will be closed and those who are not ready... they will perish. There will be no ‘second chance’. Are you ready? Are you in the Ark? Do you know Jesus? Have you lived in utter obedience to him in utter holiness? Because no sinners will go into his Kingdom. Jesus is coming. Are you ready?”
“This message brought to you by the First United Pentecostal Church of Sheffield, Alabama.”
“ANY TRADE! ANY TRADE GOES! Listen up Northwest Alabama! The all new Thompson Toyota needs your trade! And we’ll give you five thousand dollars minimum-”
Amber shut off the radio and fumbled for her phone. She scrolled to her playlist and Red Fang engulfed the car with noise enough to drown out her every racing thought. Amber pressed the accelerator harder. It wasn’t likely that she’d get a ticket.
The little city of Tuscumbia was a mess. Most of the out-of-towners remained and, from what Amber could gather, they were responsible for most of the looting. She didn’t recognize the people walking out of the Foodland with carts full of soda and cigarettes. All of the ATMs had signs on them indicating that they were empty and someone had spray painted something illegible on the front doors of city hall.
Inside the Colbert County jail, it was remarkably quiet. In fact, it was empty. There were no police officers, no guards and no one at the front desk. Amber waited for a few moments but no one arrived to answer her query. She looked for a bell or a buzzer to ring but found nothing.
“Hello?!” she shouted. Amber heard nothing in return but the reverberation of her own call. She was hesitant to tour the facility unaccompanied but she had questions. Alicia, she thought, might have the answers. Just who was Sariana? Had she inadvertently made the right decision by passing out and disregarding her invitation to the rapture? “Anybody here?!” Amber yelled.
Finally, a shadow emerged and as it limped ever closer, she saw an older woman appear in the harsh fluorescent light. She ambled slowly toward the front desk.
“What do you need?”
“I’m here to see a prisoner. I mean, I think she’s here.”
“And who would that be?”
“Alicia...” Amber paused. She didn’t know the reporter’s last name despite having heard it probably a hundred times.
“Alicia who?”
“She’s the news reporter lady. The one that shot that man in the Dollar Store.”
“Are you kin?”
“I’m a... co-worker.”
Suddenly, the entrance doors burst open. A huge, bearded and tattooed man with a gun began shouting, “Where the fuck are the reserves?!”
Ascension: Invocation Page 23
