Darkness Risen, Richard Shekari [best ereader for textbooks .txt] 📗

them. This is so because…The spirit of God has parted from this wicked world, finally. The thing is, there’s no stopping them, and there is no stopping what is to come either.”

“Wow!” She said.

“How many did you see?” asked the old man.

“We encountered only one though,” Jeffery said.

“Only one,” she replied. “The military claimed we have one of the best facilities for testing so they brought it some days ago, for examination!”

“More will come!” said the old man. “Almost or probably half the population of the people in this world or even more!”

“I don’t get it!” She added.

“Well, you see,” said the old man. “They are not some out-of-this-world entities. They are human beings. What you witnessed was a sheer manifestation of evil and pure hatred from those who turned their backs against the son of man, separating themselves both in spirit, soul and body from Christ thereby, desperately seeking ways to torture, punish and try to kill those who still align themselves with the messiah, before his second return!”

“I still don’t get it,” Karen said. “It doesn’t make any sense. There’s a logical explanation to virtually every phenomenon. Why do you people always bring gods or God into this, who are a product of man’s imagination out of greed and the need for power in order to oppress and control the masses into believing something that can be…Something that can be…”

“Something that can be what?” asked the old man. “Go on. We’re listening!”

Karen paused and gently walked to the corner of the room, sitting down on the floor she burst into tears.

“I’m no fan of religion myself,” said Timothy. “But at my age, if I don’t know the truth by now then I must be the biggest fool that ever walked the surface of the earth. Men have rejected the only way to peace. The world has turned its back on the innocent. The blood of the innocent that sank down has weakened the earth, and the blood cries out to the One above.” He sighed, “Know one thing; where love resideth not, hatred dwelleth! The horrors are yet to begin. The problem is, even Death would be nowhere to be found.”

“What are you saying?” She asked.

“During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them!” said Jeffery.

“What?” She asked again.

“Revelation 9:6.” The old man said, “Who would’ve thought I’d witness it. I used to think God punished me by taking my wife and three kids in that flood. But, I guess it’s better to find myself in this dreadful situation alone than watch my own family stuck in this terrible events! How does one protect one’s loved ones from these dark times?”

“The worst is yet to come!” Jeffery said.

“We’re in a time when God would shut down his mind. He will blot out the memory of our existence so he doesn’t get to think of us. This way, his mercy would not reach down to us! His love would depart from us. And you know…God is love. So, wherever His love dwelleth not, His presence inhabiteth not!” He coughed, “One of the ways to conquer the world is to be in it but not be of it, son! I wish I’m as strong and able as you, I would’ve probably done greater things. But, even my cussed heart knows I’ve had my chances!”

“If these times you guys are talking about is to come,” She asked. “I mean, well, what is the way out?”

“Well, there’s only but one way,” said the old man, “First you have to look at who or what has given the world a good account of what the world is facing or would face, then you should also know that the way out could only be found from whom or whatever it is that best describes what is to come or what had already come. My best bet so far, even though this may sound a bit silly, is Jesus…especially to you young lady.” He clenched his fist, “It is said that those who have accepted Him as the way, the truth and the life would escape eternal condemnation. But when these dark times spoken of is to come, men would seek and call unto He that they rejected but He will lend them His ears NOT! However, some believes would also face such ordeal. For they too, must glorify the name of the Lord whom they so boast of.  Before and during the darkest hours and beyond, and must pass the torch of hope to those who still look up to the day Jehovah would remember His children! At this age, I’ve figured that this is a fact! Look at the world right now! Innocent children slaughtered for no just cause and so on. The earth is being fed with more blood by men than rain from the clouds!”

“So, would the uh…Children of God who’d find themselves in the darkest days experience the suffering too?” She asked.

“Somehow, yes! If you find yourself in such a time and see yourself as the child of God, yes!” He said, “But something would be left inside of them who still believe, which shall keep the torch of hope burning.” Clearing his throat, “You see, they that trust in Him even in the absence of the light must persevere, and when the Day of Judgment cometh, they shall be spared for holding on to their faith in He that saved the world. And in their hearts keep the commandment of He that created all. In order words, to get out of this whole mess you’ve gotta set your eyes on the cross before you, and leave the world behind you!”

“This is not happening.” Karen said, “I know that being old means being filled with wisdom. But you can’t always be right, right?”

“You’re right!” responded the old man, “I’m never always right. If I am, my family would still be alive today!”

The room went dead silent.

“Now, if it’s true God is out there and that He loves us. What have I done wrong to be part of this?” She said, “I’ve never asked to be born. My mum and I had to run away from my father because he was abusive.” Karen paused, “I was only six when we ran away to a different state but she died the day I turned nine. Practically raised myself because I spent a few years at the orphanage then when I got older I ran from the orphanage to go looking for my father, you know. Luckily I met this old couple who took me in, put me in school. They took care of me. They passed away and I had to move on so I went back in search of my dad, and after years and years of searching, I found him…but he passed away too in his sleep, six months just when life was beginning to make sense.” She forced a laughter out, “Okay if that’s not enough. I’ve worked my butts in an agency for years and just when I finally got promoted, well, we all know what happened hours ago! And you telling me God cares?” She sighed, “Come on!”

Jeffery stood up and began walking towards her.

“I want to be left alone for now!” She sobbed.

“Let her be, son!” said the old man, “Not all tears you stop from falling. Some tears fall to heal. Rain makes the land fertile, and so does tears to our lives, most of the times!”

Jeffery sighed, he walked back and picked the tea cup from the old wooden table.

“Hey, son!” Timothy said, “The light shines brightest in the darkest places!”

“Thanks!” Jeffery said, “Well, um…you go ahead and get some rest. We can’t stay here. We need to move to a much safer place.” Walking out of the living room, he added, “Timothy, it’ll be a lot better and safer if you’d come with us.”

“Son, I think I’ve reached that time when I can confidently say; I’m tired of living in this miserable filthy world.” He coughed, “A man can’t spend his entire life running. Sometimes you have to turn and go head on at ya foes!” The old man turned to Karen, “Hey beautiful. You don’t sound like someone who hates God. You look like someone who wish God would prove Himself more in your life. The thing about Him is; when you challenge him to show Himself or use you as a vessel, you better get ready for what’s coming to ya!” He giggled, “I’ve lived long enough to know that just because one is good and have nothing against anybody doesn’t mean life would be fair to one! Everything happens for a reason!”

Karen wiped the tears from her eyes, nodding her head she heaved heavily.

“What do you know about him?” He said, “Jeffery Bopson?”

“We’re colleagues,” she said in a soft tone. “We’ve known each other for a couple of years!”

“In the biblical sense?” He asked, “Not that I mean to poke my nose in ya biz.” He smiled.

“No!” She giggled, “I’ve always like him though!”

“Mmm!” exclaimed the old man, “Funny, he always talks about the girl from his working place; emphasises about your dimple and beautiful smile all the time.”

Karen smiled in a modest way, “But he never asked me out!”

“Is that so?” The old man teased, “Maybe he doesn’t want to get attached to anything that would deeply hurt him when he loses it, or maybe he doesn’t want you to be hurt when his work is done!”

“What do you mean?” She said.

“So he never told you about the revelations; his dreams, and some of the visions he had about…you and him?” The old man added, “Did he tell you about his parents, about his wife and son? His past?”

“No! He doesn’t talk much.” She replied, in disbelief, “We never got to um…”

“He’s a good kid,” old Timothy accentuated. “He just had a rough sail through the boisterous winds and waves of life, that’s all. But time heals all wounds. Look at the gold bars and sparkling diamonds…Ever wondered what those stuff go through before they are made to shine?” He coughed again, “In case you feel exhausted you can go upstairs; there’s another lamp on the shelf, even though I won’t advise having lights shining through the windows from up there. The first door to your right’s mine, pick any of the other rooms. Okay, beautiful?”

Karen nodded, “Okay! Thank you.” She said, “Can you tell me a little bit about him?”

“You’re going to have to dig that out yourself.” He smiled, “Just ask him, in a polite manner!”

Karen nodded again, “Okay!” standing up.

The wooden staircase creaked as she made her way up.

The old man heaved a deep sigh and puffed his pipe, flipping through Jeffery’s diary.

Jeffery gently sat down on the porch swing chair outside. As he sipped more from the cup, he sensed the presence of something alien in the woods. Standing up, he noticed a flame in human form running in great speed towards the house.

“Karen! Timothy! Run!!!” He cried. But before he could take a step, the beast had crushed the door and into the house.

Karen was already screaming from upstairs by the time Jeffery had entered the living room. The old man was still on his rocking chair, with smoke coming out of his mouth. His arms spread on the armrest; the beast had sank its hand into the old man’s chest, it turned and stared at Jeffery, who was frozen. Its feet had burnt holes on the floor, setting the wooden floor on fire. The old man was laughing and coughing out blood.

“See, I told ya!” snorted the old man in pain, “I’ve got a strong and precious heart!” He placed his smoking pipe back into his mouth and made an attempt to inhale some smoke, but coughed out blood again.

On noticing a poker by the fireplace, Jeffery rushed for it, and with it he delivered a sharp blow on the