Hereafter

Hereafter: Part II Graduation Day, Chapter 29

29

AS ANTICIPATED, OUR CELL PHONES were full of frantic posts from other survivors of the Raftalgar Square massacre, desperate for somewhere to go. They were being hunted like animals. A curfew was imposed, so anyone caught out on the streets was shot on site. One at a time we sent reply posts with directions to the caves. All through the long night the deadly echo of gunfire and the screams of the slain reverberated through the city, even carrying into the caves channeled in from the well openings. It wasn’t long before the first few of our band of rebellious brothers found their way to the designated wells where we were hidden.

Thankfully, none were followed. The stories they told were chilling. The SMPs were out in force with orders to track down everyone who participated in the demonstration. Surveillance cameras captured every face. They were identified, with addresses noted along with other relevant information such as known associations and places they would frequent. The SMPs were brutally efficient because it was well known that in their ranks failure was not tolerated. Should they not accomplish their task, every 10th man in the detachment would be executed.

For that reason we heard stories of demonstrators being tortured on the spot for information and dying painfully during the interrogation. For the most part they were needless deaths. Although the demonstration was planned, there was no blueprint for what to do if things went wrong and so there was little useful information to extract from those they captured. Within 24 hours of the massacre, only 50 of the 1,000 present at the demonstration survived, evaded capture, and found their way to the caves. For the next few days we nursed the wounded and helped everyone settle into our new lives as hidden hunted insurgents.

Soon the group was ready for our first full gathering to give thanks and plan our strategy for sharing the Sacred Words we’d been given with a world in need. We told them our stories of the wound healing, and raising Zarusal from the dead, so that they would more easily accept the notion of a Creator and the possibility of life after death. Most were receptive, especially with Zarusal walking among us, still thriving. I knew, however, that it was important for the new arrivals to participate in a miracle and receive the anointing of the Heart of Flame to infuse them with the same passion to pass on our message.

While praying about this, Gloriana instructed me to prepare the large tables, one with the scraps of food we had left, and the other with casks of water. When all was ready, I addressed those assembled. 

“Dear friends, comrades, brothers and sisters dedicated to our movement to overwhelm greed and selfishness with a tidal wave of Love, I welcome you to a special ceremony in the name of our Creator, the Spirit Being we have told you about, the One who waits to welcome you on the other side of the death of our bodies. You have seen with your own eyes the healed wound on our sister’s arm. You have embraced Zarusal knowing that for over 24 hours his heart stopped beating, his body grew cold and stiff, and yet by the grace of the Creator he is once again among the living. Now, it is your turn to experience this glory. Please, now gather around these two tables, extend your arms, reach out and touch the table with your right hand.”

With my original disciples standing back along the wall while the new recruits reverently followed my instructions, I paused to give silent thanks for what was about to happen. I wasn’t sure what Gloriana had in mind, but I believed something miraculous would occur, spectacular enough to bring into our midst the power of the Creator’s Spirit and the Guides who execute the Creator’s Will. When everyone was in position, I began the ceremony.

“We are gathered here to honor our Creator and in the Creator’s name I ask for a sign to help us all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a power and a world beyond the senses, that members of this spirit realm exist who care about the affairs of those of us who inhabit Calidari, and that if you can find it in your hearts to believe in this unseen world a new world of eternal opportunity to continue growing and living awaits. Everyone, please repeat after me: Oh divine Creator send a blessing into our midst that we might know something of your nature and power. We will wait now, in faith, for an answer to our prayer.”