by Ric Nero
I smirk. “They weren’t always that way?” I ask him still trying to sort things out.
“Not tha’ I recawwl.” It’s hard to pick up on his accent but once I figured it out, it became just as comical as his statements. “Names Smith,” he tells me, looking down at me waiting for me to reply back.
“I’m Thomas.”
“Well, Thomas, I owe you,” he says, grabbing my shoulders and staring me in the eye. “I reckon’ all dis’ crayniss’ going on we might as well stick together. Let a man repay tha favor,” he says.
I pay his last statement no attention. I knew I was the vessel that was being worked through by God. I always believed in miracles and the power of healing, but I never thought that I’d be the one to do it. The others crowd around me. Sparks and Julie stand side by side at the forefront just staring at the man then to me speechless.
“I do believe we came here for a reason,” Auron says aloud, diffusing all attention from us. “Food, gas, and rest, right?” He begins to call off a short list of things and uses his fingers to count them one by one. “Ahem! So shall we get to it?” He asks everyone and they disburse. Shane goes behind the register to program the pump while Bazz filled up the trucks and extra tanks. The girls and twins begin to pack food and fluids. Jefferey unloads the cots while Smith washed what was left of his clothes in the bathroom sink in the back of the gas station.
After everyone finished their tasks and majority of the food and drink was loaded up into the rear of the S.W.A.T. truck, I pushed the two long shelves side by side blocking the window front of the store so no one could see us sleep in here. Now it’s just an open floor for everyone to pitch a cot. After everyone had eaten and were in their own cot, a conversation starts up.
“Auron,” Dana calls out from the opposite end of where Auron lays.
“Yes,” he answers.
“I understand this is supposed to be the end of days and it’s a lot going on right now but don’t you think scavenging supplies has been pretty easy for the most part.”
“Yes it has. But why do I detect the sound disappointment in your tone?”
“It’s not that at all, I just thought it would be a lot harder, I guess,” Dana says in her cot directly in front of the cash register.
“For now, yes, I agree. But I assure you things will change drastically over the course of the next few weeks, things may even switch in a day or two. But what I know and believe from the book of Revelations has taught me is that the world will become more corrupt, the human heart will grow cold, and an evil more devastating than we can imagine…will consume the Earth.” Auron’s words, whether they’re positive or negative, always struck our hearts hard. But this time, I think he even took the impact of his words himself. Shortly afterwards, a silence falls over the room followed by a snore or two here and there, courtesy of Shane and Bazz. I guess the two biggest guys would have to be the snorers in the group. But even with everyone in their cots I still catch some of the others glimpse at me still. No one has spoken to me about it, but I knew they still had questions they want to ask or things they wanted to say about what just happened here. But they keep their thoughts and concerns to themselves out of respect I guess, I don’t know. Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to tell them actually besides, “God did it, I am just a vessel.” Just a vessel, now that I think about it, I can see the irony. I focused so hard on exposing the so-called superior American government. I so hated being a tool, a glorified pawn that’s seen as expendable for a lying and corrupt government. That’s the true equivalence of the American soldier. But, that word, “Vessel,” makes me feel different inside. That being used by God is useful, like it’s a feeling of completion almost that consumes you. God, I know it is just something about being a part of His call that makes all the difference. I know and truly believe that he loves his children and not one of them is considered expendable in his eyes.
Growing tired of uncomfortably tossing and turning in my cot, I finally turn on my right side just to see Sparks wide awake staring at me. Concerned as to what seems to be such an interest in my direction I ask, “You can’t sleep either, huh?”
She remains quiet which drives me curiously to ask a question that may allow her to relieve whatever may be on her mind. “What’s up?” “What was that back there?” she asks me. “That man was a victim of radiation poisoning and was more than likely a breath away from dying when we found him. And you put your hand on his head and he’s miraculously cured?” She continues on with another question.
“Yeah, trust me I’m just as shocked as you.” I tell her. “I’m trying to figure out why me, but I’m more worried about what’ll happen next, ya know?”
“Next like what?” Sparks asks.
I prop my right elbow up as a kickstand to use my shoulder to hold my head as I continue this conversation with Sparks. “I mean, if God has me healing… what’s my role, my outcome in the end? Everything is dying and decaying around us. I mean, am I supposed to heal the world?” I say to her trying to express my thoughts of curiosity. “That’s honestly what’s been going through my head.” I tell her.
Swinging her legs to the floor Sparks sits up, indicating how badly she wants to understand the events taking place. “So… you’re saying God… did that… through you?” she asks with a squinted face trying to get a better grasp the incident.
“Believe it or not, yes.” I answer her. “Is it really that hard to believe with all that’s going on?” I ask her, but knowing it isn’t really that easy for me to swallow and I’ve seen more I try to elude further questions she may have that I too desire to know. But I simply didn’t have the thorough detailed answers to debrief her about the faith that has recently become the new topic of focus. It’s too much to explain. I mean, why would anyone take the time out to hear my truths of recently? But I still believe, without a shadow of a doubt I still choose to believe. Maybe it will be the same decision for her. Still looking at me with a puzzled look, I sit up as well and take the time to explain to her. “You missed a lot because you just now tagged along, but whether you believe it or not, God exists. I don’t fully understand it either, but he’s… working with me. I mean, like revealing new things to me.” I try to explain but she still looks at me amazed. “I guess it sounds like I’m just rambling on and on to you. I mean, I’m not good at explaining this. Auron usually does the initiating so I’ll be sure to send him your way before we head out,” I tell Sparks.
“No, you’re doing fine, Thomas. Just take me from the beginning.”
“Ha ha.” I laugh at the term, “Beginning,” Sparks so calmly uses. Should I start from the T.O.C or when I first met the man who impersonated John Todd? “Well, it gets more than confusing if I go too far back so I’ll start from where things went wrong In Miami,” I explain to her.
“As a group we have come to certain situations are or were predestined from ancient biblical times. Like the unexplained disappearances that the media portrays to be part of some hoax from the fourteenth century called Croatoa, well, we know it was the Rapture. God came back for his disciples and those that are left have a final chance to get their acts together.” I look at her searching for a facial expression or gesture that may say she doesn’t believe or understand. But she sat there remaining attentive as if I should explain more. It’s more than just peculiar to me that I just shed light on something that almost drove me crazy when I found out but she remains calm. “Wait, you believed it all along too, haven’t you?” I ask her.
“I always believed in a greater being, I was raised in a Pentecostal church as a child. But as I grew older and joined the military I grew curious. You know what it’s like meeting new people making new friends. Good friends and people with big hearts from all over the world with so many different religions but similar beliefs,” she says with a trembling lip as her eyes begin to water. She uses both hands to wipe her eyes unaware of smeared tears she drops her hands in her lap. I knew what she was getting at. A close friend can seem just
as pure as water, but in the end it’s only one true God. And placing friendship over discipleship brings will only hardship. Kind of seems like something Auron would say.
“So, in a way you became a Unitarian, trying to make sense of combining all religions. Cover all roads and hope they lead to Damascus kind of thing, huh?” I ask her.
Was I so wrong?” she asks me. That question brings forth more tears on her face. “Who really had the right words to say that made their religion stand above the other?” Sparks asks. “How was I supposed to know, Thomas, huh? How was I supposed to know?” She asks me the same question again conveying how uncertain she’s been in the past.
I wrap my arms around her and cradle her head in my shoulder as I console my old friend. “Shhh.” I try to calm her down as we slightly sway side to side. “All that matters is that you know and believe now.”
“I do. But what do I do now, Thomas?” she asks me.
“All I can tell you is to accept God and follow his guidance.”
“You mean become saved don’t you?” she asks. I’m surprised, not that she knew what she had to do, but only that she was like me. Had the answers the whole time but we both fell just a little short. But not now, no, not anymore our decision was clear. And failing is not an option for us any longer.
“Do you believe now in the one true God that sent His son to give us life through his sacrificial death?” I ask her.
“Yes,” Sparks answered.
“Do you believe that Jesus died and rose again only to return to the right hand of his father, where he sits in glory?”
“I do,” she responds.
“Will you allow yourself to live for God, die in the flesh to live for an eternity in His kingdom?”
“Yes,” she answers.
“Dear father, we come unto you…” I began to pray with Sparks asking God to forgive her and to save her. To guide her and build her and make her strong. The whole while, I see Auron watch us with half closed eyes disguising himself to be asleep. Time went on and Sparks went to sleep while I lay down, but remained awake thinking about where I came from and went through. What I would call my accomplishments and successes in life. And where I planned for me to go but it doesn’t matter because in the end I see it’s God’s show. And we’re either supporting actors that get remembered by name, or extras that are meaningless and unknown.
Night skies cover us with twinkling stars as its decorations. We’ve must have been on the road now for almost a day’s time. Sparks and I take turns behind the wheel, riding and driving in this hellenistic world. Nothing feels the same anymore as we continue looking for answers to questions that seem almost meaningless now. Why did we get bombed? Why cooperate in the destruction of mankind? What’s the plan for the Bermuda Triangle, and so on? At times it gets to be hard to even remember the questions. But we push on like Auron says and keep an eye out for strays; people that desire to find the “Way”. I’m starting to wonder how I stayed up for so long. I’m so tired that I’m beginning to feel numb. I’m starting to believe I’m a zombie, aware of what’s going on around me but can’t feel my body. The only thing I actually do feel is my eyelids weighing down like thirty pound dumbbells. At this point, saying I’m exhausted is an understatement. What happened back there at the gas station kept me up all night, thinking and trying to understand better. I’m having dreams and performing miracles but the more I think about it, I start thanking God that I’m able to do that. Things I was never capable to do before that I wished I could to save so many that died before me, especially Green. True, I stopped blaming myself fo her, but that didn’t mean I don’t wish she would’ve survived. Then I remember what’s going on now. And just let the thought of her having to face this just brings me back to the belief and realization that she’s in a better place.
Crunch! Smack Smack! I look at Sparks to my right, who is still very much awake, munching and smacking on Dorito’s. Nacho cheese flavored from the smell of it. The nosey twins, or curious I guess you could say, sleep peacefully side by side in the middle space between the two of us.
“Thomas, do you read me, over!” A voice asks through the radio. It sounds like Bazz.
“Can you get that?” I ask Sparks.
Grabbing the radio off the dash she answers him. “This is Sparks, we read you.” I look ahead and see the lights of a city. They’re so bright even from this distance, kind of remind me of the city lights at night back home in Chicago. I try not to think about home at all after seeing what happened to Texas and Shane.
“The lights, you see it don’t you?” Bazz asks.
“Yeah, we see them,” Sparks replies.
“We’re just about twenty klicks out from Las Vegas.” That Haitian accent echoes through the radio. I feel a small hand tap my right thigh. I look to my right side and see Jessie.
“What’s up, man?” I ask him.
“What’s a klick?” Jessie asks.
“It’s a military term short for kilometer,” I explain to him.
“Oh, so Bazz was saying we’re twenty klicks away from the city means we’re about….” Jessie pauses as he calculates in his head. “Just shy of twelve and a half miles, right!?” he asks, excited that he may be correct. I pause and look at him for a second through those wire framed glasses into a pair of brown innocent like eyes. These kids are highly intelligent, I mean, even now they’re learning new things. Why are they still here? It has to be a reason more than what they’re telling. The two are so eager to learn, so ready for something new to be brought to their attention so they can digest it into their minds.
“Why these two God?” I ask myself. Maybe they have a role to play. I read and studied the book of Revelations back at the parking garage, and I remember reading about two prophets of God who performed miracles. Maybe, just maybe, it’s these two.
“Hmph!” A noise comes from Sparks grasping my attention.
“What is it?” I ask since she makes it clear she has something to say. A brief pause is given while she chooses the right words to express her thoughts.
“New York and D.C. were the first two cities in America to get bombed, afterwards, just about every other major city. So it kind of feels like we’re playing with fire. Well, to me at least,” she says.
“What do you mean?” I ask her, trying to get a clear understanding.
“I mean, I barely, just barely, escaped the catastrophe in Texas. What makes this city any different from the rest that were destroyed over the last few days?” she asks me, not looking for an answer at all, but rather implying how uneasy she feels about walking into a potential targeted area. She had a point but I couldn’t let her ride into this city with a negative outlook on it.
“Well, we were in Miami a few days before we ran into you. Nothing happened there.” I explain to her.
“For all you know you all could have just missed it.” She was right nothing is to be for certain at all in these times and safety definitely was nothing more than something we hoped and prayed for.
Shortly after we finally arrive on Las Vegas Boulevard, where the strip of the city is so packed we have to drive at speeds at least twenty below the limit to avoid hitting pedestrians. Men and women walk and laugh together in this city. Prostitutes walk through the night. Bright casinos and strip lights dazzle throughout the town hypnotizing the wealthy to hand over their money as well as the poor who dream of becoming wealthy. The unusual shouts and yells of excitement serenade the city as people go in the Riviera, MGM, J. W. Marriot and other various hotels and casinos all up and down the strip. I see the taunting lights and crowds go on for blocks and blocks in distance. Then the Tahoe hits its breaks abruptly before us causing me to stomp the breaks. We all jerk hard, but if I wasn’t paying attention whoever was in the third seat of the Tahoe would be more than just hurt. We sit with mere inches of distance between us as we all await the cause and reason for the abrupt halt. Auron steps out of the driver’s side door and walks to the front of the Tahoe. I see doors open up a
nd everyone gets out, so I get out and walk towards the front of the Tahoe where everyone congregates around Auron.
Walking from one truck to the next, I take a look at my surroundings. There is so much traffic in the streets the flow of traffic is at a complete stop. Some people are even getting out of their cars and leaving them in the middle of the street as if the boulevard is their personalized parking space. I notice each person is walking either into a casino or something that requires spending money for entertainment. Everything’s beginning to feel so familiar. The congested streets, the numerous buildings and designs. Everyone seems to have a one track mind here. It’s like de’ja vu, but I don’t understand why, I’ve never been to Vegas.
“Thomas!” Auron shouts catching my attention. He walks beside me as we walk through the crowds of the congested sidewalk. “We did good to come here,” Auron says.
“Why do you say that?” I ask him. And just as I asked him that, a man with a blue short sleeve shirt and white skirt walks right in between us. The dark brown hair of the wig covers his eyes as I look at him rudely walk in between us. Auron stops in his tracks.
“Have you not noticed?” he asks me hoping I would catch on.
“This is Sin City, these people need to be made aware they can surpass this.” He tells me helping me to understand. I notice a small group stops in front of a small storefront family owned business. The tiny white store stands out, the construction design is bland to say the least, compared to the other businesses here it doesn’t really seem like something that screams out Vegas. I re-route my course towards the small crowd before the tiny store, separating from Auron. If something stopped them from going inside a club or casino then it had to be interesting at the least. I look at the others in the group catching Auron’s eye and I point to the televisions in front of the mob of people that surround the glass window that separates them. The closer I get, I start to see a set of small televisions, no bigger than thirty two inches hanging from the ceiling inside the store. Standing outside makes all sound inaudible, but a news channel seems to be speaking on current events. It shows short snippets of piles of clothes in the streets of Oregon, crashed cars with no one in the driver’s seat and unexplained airplane crashes. I read the bottom headline on the screen and it says, “Croatoan Theory.” They show black areas briefly, I guess they hold an interview with the survivors, but what was said is still inaudible.
