Church by Renee Miller

Author:Renee Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unnerving
Published: 2021-02-21T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“What are you?” Darius asked.

“I am Zabian,” Thomas said. He knelt on the cement floor in the basement of the old farmhouse. Cole and Sam stood on either side of him, ready to act should he suddenly regain his pride.

“And you are nothing,” he reminded him.

“Nothing.”

“Thomas, I have bad news.”

Thomas lifted his head. His face was thin, cheeks hollowed from malnourishment, skin pale from lack of sunlight. His eyes, though, had the light of dementia that indicated his mind was gone.

“What?” Thomas asked.

“The girl, Monique?”

“She is no one.”

“Old attachments are hard to shake. It’s okay if you yearn for her a little.”

“She is nothing,” he said.

“I sent Cole to check on her, because she was so distraught when you wouldn’t see her.” Darius watched his face, but Thomas gave nothing that indicated the mention of his girlfriend troubled him.

“It seems there was a fire. She perished.”

Thomas stared straight ahead, but his jaw twitched. There it is.

He swallowed and lifted his gaze to Darius. “Are you sure?”

Darius nodded. “I’m sorry, Thomas.”

His body changed. While he had submitted, there was a stiffness to Thomas’ back, a slight tilt to his head that said some of his dignity and hope still remained. Slowly, that stiffness relaxed. Thomas’ head bowed, and he let out a long breath.

“Chal came to me last night,” Darius continued. “He mentioned you.”

“I am nothing.”

“Which is why he has called you home.”

Thomas stiffened for just a fraction of a second. “I’m not worthy.”

“Chal disagrees. It is time to rid yourself of this world’s chains and prepare to take the plunge. You do wish to go home, don’t you?”

Thomas nodded. “What do I have to do?”

“Cole?”

Cole held out his hand. In his palm were two white tablets.

Hallucinogens. Darius wasn’t sure what they were. Cole procured them. All that mattered to Darius was that they worked, and they did.

Very well.

Thomas took the tablets, put them on his tongue and then swallowed.

“You will speak to Chal soon and he will tell you what to do.”

Thomas nodded.

“Sam,” Darius said, “leave us. And Cole, I need you to see to Carol. Finish her purification, but nothing too severe.”

They bowed slightly and walked toward the stairs. Darius waited until the door closed before kneeling in front of Thomas. He peered into his eyes, waiting.

“You’re blue,” Thomas said. “Why are you blue?”

Darius smiled. “I am Chal, speaking through the Prophet.”

Thomas frowned. “I am nothing. Chal doesn’t speak to me.”

“But you are wrong. You are everything. I see you. I love you.”

“No.”

“Yes. It is time.”

“I’m not worthy,” Thomas said. He hiccupped, and then his chin quivered. Large tears ran down his cheeks. “I’m too human.”

“Ah, but you are special. Don’t you see?”

Thomas shook his head.

Darius embraced his shoulders, put his hand on Thomas’ head, and then began to rock him gently. Thomas sobbed.

“I know it’s been a trial. You’ve endured much to get to this place, to be ready, but I see greatness in your heart.”

“I am nothing.” Thomas sniffed.

“Which means you are pure Zabian and it’s time to come home.

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