“Okay, everyone. We are going to get started,” says a man who is standing in the center of the small stage at the front of the church auditorium.
The woman that was standing at the entrance of the auditorium walks next to the man.
“For those who don’t know us. I am Mr. Bishop, and this is Miss Anderson,” says Mr. Bishop.
“Thank you all for joining us today, we are excited to have you. We can always use the help,” says Miss Anderson.
Three men and two women join Mr. Bishop and Miss Anderson on stage.
“Today is a good day, and I’m thankful for today!” shouts Miss Anderson.
The people sitting in the auditorium seats shout, “Today is a good day, and I’m thankful for today!”
Kat and Deb are startled by the shouting from the people.
“Pastor Cower requested me to deliver a message and see if the following people were here today. If I call your name, please join us on stage, Pastor Cower wants to see you,” says Miss Anderson.
“Melissa Davidson, Kevin Ober, Steven Owens, Carmen Elks, and Daryl Washington,” says Miss Anderson.
All five people are at the meeting and meet Miss Anderson on stage.
Kat notices something strange with each of the people Miss Anderson just called up on stage but isn’t sure what to make of it.
Several people that were on stage with Miss Anderson and Mr. Bishop take the five people, that Miss Anderson just called up on stage, through an open door at the back of the stage.
“Wonder what is going on with them?” asks Kat to Deb.
SHHH!
The woman with the scars on her face looks at Kat and shouts, “SHHH!”
Kat is shocked by the rudeness of the woman.
“We will be having another meeting after our next church service. I believe our next service will be in a week, please check the service calendar in the main lobby,” says Mr. Bishop.
Miss Anderson shouts, “If today was your first time in this meeting, I ask that you come up here and meet with us after we conclude today!”
About thirty minutes go by and Mr. Bishop and Miss Anderson finish up the meeting.
Kat looks at Deb and isn’t sure if they should meet with Miss Anderson, since it’s their first time at this meeting.
Deb stands up and Kat is still sitting.
“Make sure you go see Miss Anderson,” says the woman with the scars on her face.
Kat looks at the woman and says, “Thank you.”
Kat looks at Deb.
Deb stretches her back while standing.
A few people are meeting with Miss Anderson and Mr. Bishop.
“Well, aren’t you going to meet with Miss Anderson now?” asks the woman with the scars on her face.
Kat starts to get annoyed at the woman and says, “Thank you, but we are leaving.”
Kat looks at Deb and starts to walk to the center aisle.
“We got first timers here! They need to see you Miss Anderson!” shouts the woman with the scars on her face.
Kat and Deb start to walk down the center aisle and towards the exit of the auditorium.
Deb sees a guard stand in front of the exit door.
Kat stops walking, looks at the guard, and asks, “We are trying to leave, what’s the problem?”
The guard doesn’t say anything.
Kat and Deb don’t know what to do. They feel a sense of awkwardness and that everyone is watching them.
“You two, please come here!” shouts Miss Anderson to Kat and Deb.
“They need to learn! They need to learn!” shouts the woman with the scars on her face.
Kat and Deb nervously walk towards the stage and over to Miss Anderson.
“What are your names?” asks Miss Anderson.
“Kat and Deb,” answers Kat.
“Nice to meet you Kat and Deb,” says Miss Anderson.
“We aren’t going to hurt you,” says Mr. Bishop.
“Did you enjoy today’s service and meeting?” asks Miss Anderson.
“Yes, thank you,” answers Kat.
“Would you like to meet the pastor?” asks Miss Anderson.
Before Kat or Deb can reply to Miss Anderson, several men behind Miss Anderson and Mr. Bishop escort Kat and Deb to the back of the stage and down a hallway towards Pastor Cower’s office.
“We didn’t do anything wrong, why are you taking us here?” shouts Kat.
Deb and Kat are scared and not sure what to make of all this.
A man knocks on Pastor Cower’s office door as two men are holding Kat and Deb’s arms.
“Come in!” shouts Pastor Cower from inside his office.
Kat and Deb are escorted inside Pastor Cower’s office.
Pastor Cower is standing near a closed door at the back of his office.
Pastor Cower turns and looks at Kat and Deb.
“Let them go! No need to man handle them!” shouts Pastor Cower.
The men release their grip on Kat and Deb.
“I’m sorry about that, my people can be a little rough sometimes,” says Pastor Cower.
Kat and Deb stare at Pastor Cower.
“Leave us, shut the door,” says Pastor Cower to the three men that escorted Kat and Deb into his office.
Deb and Kat look at Pastor Cower, his office, and his closed office door.
“Please sit down, ladies,” says Pastor Cower as he walks to his desk chair.
Kat and Deb are afraid to sit, so they remain standing.
“Sit! Sit down now!” shouts Pastor Cower.
Deb and Kat each sit in a chair in front of Pastor Cower’s desk.
“Now, I have never seen you before. Are you two new here?” asks Pastor Cower.
“Yes, we are both new here,” says Kat.
Pastor Cower looks at Kat and Deb.
Deb and Kat look at Pastor Cower’s white dress shirt, his thin black tie, and his thinning brown hair.
Deb says, “I am new here. Today is my first day.”
Pastor Cower unbuttons his white dress shirt sleeves and rolls his sleeves up to his forearms.
“Good, Good. Nice to have you both here,” says Pastor Cower.
“We didn’t mean any harm. We would like to leave now,” says Kat.
Pastor Cower asks, “Are you afraid?”
Deb replies, “Well, you did yell at us.”
“I’m sorry about that. I don’t do well with insubordination and disobedience,” replies Pastor Cower.
“We meant none of that,” says Kat.
“Sometimes, actions speak louder than words,” says Pastor Cower.
“I agree, and your actions are showing me that we may not be safe here,” says Kat.
Pastor Cower stands up from behind his desk and looks at Kat.
“Where are you ladies from?” asks Pastor Cower.
“We are from The Grove,” answers Kat.
“The Grove, I have heard about that place. Are you doctors?” asks Pastor Cower.
“We are nurses,” answers Kat.
“I’m just an assistant there, but I have learned a lot from Kat and the other workers,” says Deb.
Pastor Cower looks at a crucifix on his office wall.
“Are you helping people at The Grove?” asks Pastor Cower.
Kat nods her head.
“Well, we are helping people here. We are trying to build a better world with better people in it. Our lord made this apocalypse for a reason, and I think I know what it is,” says Pastor Cower.
Kat and Deb aren’t sure what to say.
“We are here to cleanse the world. To rid it of the horrible things that have been brought upon it by humanity,” says Pastor Cower.
Kat and Deb just stare at Pastor Cower.
“Do you agree?” asks Pastor Cower.
Kat asks, “What do you mean by cleanse the world?”
Pastor Cower senses some disagreement from Kat and shouts, “I mean, it’s my purpose and the purpose of my people to right the wrongs, to pay the
price, to wash away the sins of humanity!”
Kat becomes frightened at the tone and message of Pastor Cower.
Deb is terrified but putting on a face of contentment.
“Do you agree with my purpose? Will you help me, this church, and my people?” shouts Pastor Cower.
Kat and Deb don’t know what to say and are flabbergasted.
“Either you are with us or you are against us!” shouts Pastor Cower as he looks directly at Kat and Deb.
“Today is a good day, and I’m thankful for today!” shouts Deb.
Pastor Cower looks at Deb.
Pastor Cower smiles and says, “Today is a good day, and I’m thankful for today.”
Kat looks at Deb.
Deb smiles and looks at Kat.
“Today is a good day, and I’m thankful for today!” shouts Kat.
“That’s the spirit!” shouts Pastor Cower.
Kat and Deb nervously smile at Pastor Cower.
“Now ladies, can I trust you?” asks Pastor Cower.
Deb and Kat both nod their heads and say, “Yes.”
Pastor Cower says, “I’m not so sure that I can, but only time will tell.”
Kat says, “Actions speak louder than words.”
Pastor Cower says, “Yes, they do. I hope your actions going forward will show me and my people that you are on board with us.”
“We are on board, and we will show you that,” says Deb.
Pastor Cower steps towards Deb and says, “I hope so.”
Deb is very nervous on the inside, but she is still putting on a good poker face.
“We will be back next time for your church service, and we will show you,” says Kat.
Pastor Cower says, “Good, I hope so. I hope I see you ladies again.”
Pastor Cower looks at the closed door that is at the back of his office.
Kat notices Pastor Cower looking at the door but doesn’t say anything.
“Are we free to leave now?” asks Kat.
Pastor Cower stops looking at the closed door, walks to his desk, and sits in his desk chair.
“You are free to leave, but please don’t cause anymore trouble around here. We are doing the lord’s work and we can’t be disturbed around here,” says Pastor Cower.
A loud scream is heard from behind the closed door that is in the back of Pastor Cower’s office.
AHHHH!
Kat and Deb look back at the closed door.
Pastor Cower opens his office door and says, “Time to go ladies. Please to meet you.”
Three guards come into Pastor Cower’s office.
Kat and Deb stand up from their chairs.
Deb exits Pastor Cower’s office.
Kat stares at the closed door where the scream came from and exits Pastor Cower’s office.
The guards escort Kat and Deb out the main entrance of the church.
Deb and Kat make it to Kat’s car.
Kat feels like everyone is watching them as they get in her car.
Kat starts up her car and speeds away from the church.
Deb is trying to process what just happened.
“Did that happen before?” asks Deb.
“No. Before I just went to the service, said a prayer for my husband, and left,” says Kat.
“That place is weird. I’m definitely not going back there,” says Deb.
“Me either, I’m just worried about those people that were taken away and that scream we heard in Pastor Cower’s office,” says Kat.
“What was that? What do you think was going on there?” asks Deb.
“I don’t know but part of me wants to find out,” answers Kat.
“That Steven kid, reminded me of my youngest son. I hope my sons are alright,” says Deb.
Deb looks out the car window, as Kat drives away from the church, and thinks about her sons.
“The kid that was called up by Miss Anderson?” asks Kat.
“Yeah, he had the same haircut and style,” answers Deb.
“How many sons do you have? Are they okay?” asks Kat.
Deb replies, “I have three sons. I hope they are okay. I haven’t seen them since the world fell apart.”
Kat speeds down the street away from the church and towards The Grove.
“I hope they are okay as well. If they are anything like their mom, they’ll be just fine,” says Kat.
CHAPTER 16
I HAVE TO WALK
It’s mid-afternoon, and I’m putting on my sneakers as I sit on the edge of my bed.
“Where are you going?” asks Lauren as she walks into our master bedroom.
“For a walk.”
“No way, you need to rest,” says Lauren.
“I need to move. I have to walk around. I have to get out of this house.”
I stand up from the edge of my bed.
Lauren sees me wobble a little bit and is concerned.
“You can barely stand,” says Lauren.
“I’m fine, I just need to get moving and stretch my legs a little bit. The wound is healing nicely, and my quad is in good shape. I want to prevent any more muscle atrophy.”
I exit my master bedroom and walk into the kitchen.
Lauren follows me into the kitchen.
“You need to rest,” says Lauren.
I look at Lauren and say, “I’m not going on a run, I’m taking a nice easy walk around the neighborhood. How about you come with me?”
Lauren doesn’t know what to say.
“I could fall. I could use some company as well.”
Lauren visibly lets her guard down and says, “Okay. We are only taking a little walk though. You need to rest that leg when we get back.”
“I will sweetie.”
I look at the closed door to Fran and Keith’s bedroom.
“Are your parents okay? Where are they?”
Lauren replies, “They are okay. I haven’t seen my dad, but my mom was outside in the backyard.”
I walk out to my backyard with Lauren and see Fran sitting in the shade tending to the vegetable garden.
My left thigh feels tight and very sore as I’m putting weight on it. It doesn’t hurt, but it feels stiff when I move it.
“What are you doing up?” asks Fran.
“I had to get moving. I can’t stay in bed all day anymore.”
“It wasn’t even two days,” says Lauren.
Fran is sitting on a folding chair, tending to our vegetables, and enjoying the nice cool breeze in the shade.
“How are things looking here Fran?”
“Pretty good, no real problems right now. The crops are coming along,” says Fran.
“Where is dad?” asks Lauren to Fran.
Fran answers, “In bed still. He has not been feeling well the past couple days.”
“Anything serious?”
Fran answers, “I don’t know. He was coughing a lot and barely eating.”
“Should I go check him out?”
Fran replies, “He needs his rest, maybe later.”
Lauren says, “We will check him out later tonight. We will be back, mom.”
Lauren and I walk out of our backyard and over to Bobby G’s driveway.
Bobby G is looking at his SUV engine with Phil and Shaun.
“I think you need a new gasket. It’s probably not worth the trouble though,” says Phil.
“I hate to get rid of my SUV, it was my retirement present to myself,” says Bobby G.
“We’ll get you another one. There has to be an abandoned car lot around here. We will get you a top of the line overpriced SUV.”
Bobby G smiles and says, “I like that.”
Shaun closes Bobby G’s SUV hood.
Phil looks at me and says, “Good to see you up.”
“How’s the leg?” asks Shaun.
I look down at my leg and say, “It’s pretty good. The wound looks good. I just had to get up and start moving again. I can feel my left quad atrophy from the bed rest.”
“It
’s been like two days bro,” says Shaun.
“Atrophy can start happening without 24 hours, bro. Especially with muscle swelling and blood loss. I gotta keep my leg strength.”
“Good, you may need it. We got some good news about Jacob,” says Phil.
“What’s up?”
“We know where Jacob lives. We are working with William to take that asshole down,” says Phil.
“And that asshole DK. He is going to pay for stabbing you,” says Shaun.
I think about what Shaun and Phil just said, and I look at Lauren.
Lauren looks back at me with a disapproving stern look.
“No. You aren’t going,” says Lauren.
I look at Lauren and then look at my left thigh.
My left thigh is still recovering from the knife wound, and I shouldn’t test it just yet.
I look at Lauren and say, “You are right, I’ll let them handle it.”
“Good,” says Lauren.
“I’m going with them,” says Bobby G.
I laugh and joke, “I’m better than you Bob, even with one leg.”
Bobby G smirks and shakes his head.
“Always with the wisecracks. Even in a weakened state,” says Bobby G to me.
Phil says, “We can handle this. We will take Matt, Jon, Shaun, Bobby G, and William’s group.”
“How do you know where he lives?”
Shaun replies, “Bruce’s men followed Jacob and DK when they left the resort.”
“That drone was awesome though,” says Phil.
“Drone?” asks Lauren.
“Yeah, they had one of those military drones. Blew the restaurant to shit,” says Shaun.
Lauren gets a concerned look on her face.
“It was fine sweetie, we made it out alive.”
“Barely,” says Lauren.
“I’ve been thinking about what happened with Jacob and the meeting at the resort. DK told me that he can help us take Jacob down.”
“The guy that stabbed you?” asks Bobby G.
“Yeah, he could have killed us multiple times. He had his rifle on Shaun’s forehead, but he had the safety on.”
“Guess he’s not a total badass killer after all,” says Phil.
“Maybe, or maybe he wasn’t trying to kill us. Maybe he wants Jacob gone as well.”
“What are you saying?” asks Shaun.
“I don’t know what to make of DK. Maybe we can trust him.”
“You want us to trust the guy that stabbed you?” asks Phil.
Fight 4 Us (Book 7): Weaponize Page 16
