The Chapel

Chapter 7: The Chapel (2)

His eyes followed me as I sat down. "My name is Jesus," the man said. "Welcome to my house!" he said, extending his arms. "Well, not really my house, but..."

Now, I should've picked up what he was saying. Instead, I didn't understand a word he was saying. "So why am I here in this chapel?" I asked him.

"I believe the Father sent you here, Maxwell. Same thing happened to Ally, same thing will happen to the third, the fourth..."

I ignored the comment about the Father and asked, "What does that mean? You called me 'the second'?"

"Oh. Well, I want you to build this chapel back to what it used to be," Jesus said simply.

I laughed. "I'm not religious, why would I?"

Jesus turned in his seat to face me. "Who do you think has been speaking to you?"

I locked eyes with him. "How do you know about that?"

He turned to face the front. "I have my ways."

I hesitated. "You're joking. All of this is a joke. Billy must've set this up to mess with me. Throw me off course."

"The voice only you are hearing, Maxwell? The one only you know about? How would that be set up?"

"You know about it!" I yelled. "So obviously someone is playing a joke on me! So, who is it? Billy? One of my teachers? No, that's stupid. Who?"

Jesus hesitated before speaking and put a hand on my shoulder, "Maxwell, this is no joke. Four will be chosen to fix up this chapel. It is what God wants."

"You've lost your mind. There is no God."

"No?"

"No."

"Hmmm. I wonder how I got here, then."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Jesus? You don't recognize that name?" He smiled softly, waiting for an answer.

I looked at him. He removed his hand from my shoulder.

"You don't know theology too well then," Jesus laughed. "Jesus... What about God's son? Savior of the world? Ever hear of that guy? Ill admit I'm not as big as I would like to be, but I thought I would have some significance." He smiled as he said all this, so I don't think he was too disappointed I didn't know who he was.

"You're saying you're the guy in the..." I trailed off; my eyes stuck to the paintings of the supposed savior.

"I'm him," Jesus said, his eyes examining the walls with mine.

"That's impossible. I told you God is not real."

"Why's that?"

"Well, for starters its illogical, impossible, insane—"

"Sure, sure..."

"—and if he was and he really wanted this chapel to be fixed up, wouldn't he just do it himself?" I said, standing up. "Not that, that matters because there is no God."

"Well, he wanted to use the four of you. Ally, you, and the two others." Jesus said. "If did it himself—well, I'll admit, it would probably be easier, but he wanted to use you, Maxwell."

I laughed. "Yeah, okay. So, what's your plan for me, huh? Kill my dad, put my mom in hospice, give me a drunk aunt? That's it?" I stopped pacing the middle of the isle and wouldn't face Jesus. That wasn't meant to come out. Not to this random homeless man.

Jesus sighed and stood with me, placed a hand on my shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry."

I said nothing. He said nothing. It was silent except for the water leaking towards the front of the chapel.

"You are to be the speaker—the preacher, whatever you want to call it. Only if you should take the job though. Whether or not you chose to do so is up to you." Jesus said this to me.

"You're not God."

"What do I need to do to prove it to you Maxwell?"

Heal my mother.

I didn't say that though. Still, I thought Jesus' grip on my shoulder became a little tighter.

"Nothing. I'm not wasting time on this." I pushed through his hand and made my way to the exit where Ally was waiting her friend to take him to Denny's.

"Maxwell." I heard Jesus calling me.

"Maxwell." The voice in my head spoke.

"Maxwell," they both spoke in unison. I stopped to open the door.

"Maxwell, you are ignoring the miracle right in front of you." Jesus said.

I hesitated and turned to face him. "What the hell does that mean?" I yelled. The edginess in my voice had spiked.

Jesus had tears running down his face. "Maxwell," he whispered. "What would you have done had I not called you here tonight?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice shaking.

"What would you have done?" His voice broke.

I refused to speak. Refused to meet his eyes.

"Maxwell, you would have shot yourself." Jesus said softly, his voice shaking.

I stared at the ground for what seemed like an eternity. "How? How did you know that?"

Jesus walked forward and embraced me. I let him.

"You know the truth, Maxwell. Why won't you accept it?" Jesus asked even though I was sure he already knew.

"Why won't you let me die?" I whispered underneath my breath. "I've attempted twice, and I just can't die." I began to sob. "You won't let me die."

A wave of love overcame me. The voice spoke, "I have too much in store for you, Maxwell."

Jesus looked to the sky for a moment. I finally found the courage to meet his eyes. "He loves you; you know?" He spoke. "We have so much in store for you, but know the choice is now yours. You have a choice. I'm not interested in slaves." He softly smiled.