The Chapel

Chapter 11: The Third

The next day of school was hell.

Billy gave me one of the worst beatings I'd ever received that morning that I yelped. Literally yelped as he pushed me to the ground, his buddies gaining up on me. After 10 minutes of this, class began, and the group ran inside.

I limped back to the entrance of the high school hoping to find Jesus there. He wasn't there.

I went to the nurse.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Look who finally showed up. I told you 3:45, idiot." Ally said. Then she saw the shape I was in. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

"Fine," I grumbled.

Jesus sat by me and placed a hand on my aching shoulder. I sharply inhaled.

"Billy did this?" Ally asked.

"He had help today," I said.

Jesus said nothing. After I had some ice on my aching body and had taken some painkillers, Jesus finally spoke.

"Max, you need to invite Billy to this chapel," he said with no emotion whatsoever.

I stared at him. "What?"

"He is the third."

"What?"

Ally said nothing.

"I know this will be hard for you—"

"'Hard for me'? Really? 'Hard for me'?"

"It must be done. He is the third."

"He beats the crap out of me every day! Why would I bring him here?"

"Because," Jesus said softly as he sat down on the pew next to me. "He needs me as much as you and Ally do."

"He hates you. He's not ashamed of how much he hates you."

Jesus solemnly nodded.

"You don't see that as a problem? Or the fact that he will never listen to me because he hates me?"

"He will listen, Maxwell. Trust me. You will learn how to do that more in time," Jesus said in response.

"Why can't Ally do it? She already knows more about you than I do! She could be the speaker!"

"I agree," Ally said. "I mean, I could do it a thousand times better than this piece of rubbish."

"Enough." Jesus silenced the idea with a wave of his hand. "You are to do this, Max. Enough."

"Then what?" I asked him.

"Bring him here. You will see a victory." Jesus said.

He exited the chapel.

"Good luck," Ally said as she followed him out the door.

I grimaced.