Together

After the Storm

"Rani?" I called out as I walked up the hill to where Rani was...still at the foot of Jesus' cross. I knelt to see if the girl was alright and gently roused her. "Rani, I'm back..."

No answer from the sweet girl.

"Rani?!" I called again, worried.

Still no answer from Rani.

I was in a frenzy now. I panicked now, fearing the worst. Could Rani be unconscious...or dare I dread it--dead?!

"RANI!!" I screamed out, worried. "HELP!! SHE'S NOT MOVING!! HELP!! SOMEONE!! ANYBODY!!"

"Rani!" I heard Mei's voice as she ran up towards the hill where I was. The other children were at her heels. She was worried as well. "Sweeney, what happened?" My little sweet asked nervously.

"She's not moving! I don't know what's going on!" I worriedly explained.

Mei and the other children tried waking Rani but the poor dear wouldn't budge.

"Ra?!" Mei called out frantically.

"Rani!" Kim, Skye, Paul, Scarlett, and Alia called out.

"Wake up!" Krishna shouted.

"Girl, wake up!" Davonte yowled.

"RANI, THIS IS NOT FUNNY!! WAKE UP!!" Krishna shouted when shaking her youngest triplet sister up.

"Rani...love, can you hear me?" I asked softly in Rani's ear.

"Okay, everyone calm down. Let me check her heartbeat." Stephen came over to where we were and felt Rani's pulse.

"Rani?" Little J was worried about what was happening. I placed a hand on the little lad's shoulder in reassurance.

"Give Rani some room there, son." I gently reminded.

"She's okay." Stephen replied, reassuringly. "I felt her pulse."

We all breathed a sigh of relief for Rani.

"She seems to be in some kind of deep sleep." The sorcerer observed.

As for Jesus, He was as dead as a doornail. And Alex tried to wake Him up.

"Jesus? Jesus, wake up..." Alex called out softly.

No answer. She was getting worried now.

"Jesus...?!" Alex called out louder.

Still no answer from Jesus.

"JESUS!! WAKE UP!! WAKE UP!!" Alex shouted frantically.

Joshua went over to Alex's side.

"Alex...Alex, He can't move, he's..." He gently told her while wiping away his tears.

"HELP!! HE'S NOT MOVING!!! HE'S NOT...!" Alex shouted, scared.

"I know, sweetheart..."Joshua comforted Alex.

"Lexie...come here, love...shhh..." I came over to Alex and hugged her cradling her head on my shoulder. She wept in my arms. It had dawned on her that Jesus is dead. "Shhh..."

A while later, it was raining, and we all helped the others take Jesus down from the cross and on Mother Mary's lap. We were all grieving. One of the disciples took off the crown of thorns on His head. Tamar picked up Jesus' limp hand and buried her face in it. With a white linen cloth, they covered Jesus' face and prepared Him for burial. After Jesus had died, Joseph of Arimathea had talked with Pilate on where to bury Jesus and it was in a nearby tomb, close to where He was crucified. After we had laid Jesus in the tomb, two men rolled the stone in front of the entrance. While that was happening, Stephen carried Rani to the upper room so that she could rest.