The Crossroads Baptist Church had a packed sanctuary despite the cold dismal January weather. Pastor Alan Gareth had a faithful congregation that was on fire for God. The fall revival had done his church some good, unlike other revivals this one hadn't worn off. The little town of Ellsworth, Maine was starting to change! his congregation had swelled to 150 with more visitors coming every week. Pastor Gareth felt the Holy Spirit guiding him as he started his sermon to the packed church.
Five year old Elizabeth Warner was sitting beside her mother intensely focused on her new princess coloring book. Pastor Gareth was a nice man and she liked him, but he was very boring on Sundays and always talked to long. She preferred to color pictures of Jasmine, her favorite Disney Princess. She wished her daddy would come to church with them, he always played tic-tac-toe with her. But he hadn't come in awhile.
On the steps in front of the church a man in a black trench coat stood silently staring at the church. He didn't like his given name, and decided at this point he would introduce himself as Saul. But his story would come out a little differently. He smiled as he white pillow case over his head and adjusted the eye and mouth holes. His black cowboy boots and hat completed the ensemble along with his off brand black tee. He was excited and a little nervous as he quickly climbed up the last few stairs and entered Crossroads Church.
"Submit to God, Resist the devil..." CRASH Pastor Gareth stopped midsentence and followed the rest of his congregations in staring at the twin doors that had just crashed open. a man dressed in full black calmly strolled forward down the aisle. God help us all he prayed.
Elizabeth was just as startled as everybody else and dropped her favorite pink crayon. A tall man dressed in black stopped at the end of her pew and started talking loudly. " And he will flee from you. James:7. that was my favorite verse growing up pastor, until I learned that it didn't work. Good morning Crossroads! I humbly apologize at interrupting yall's worship, but I promise to be quick" only blank shocked stares answered him. Little Elizabeth climbed into her mother's lap, slightly uncomfortable by the stranger.
Saul went on as he realized nobody was going to greet him, but he hadn't really expected a response" My name is Saul, and I wanted to let yall know that I'm the new traveling preacher in town! I've come to open your eyes and show you things yall've never seen before!" he produced a large magnum 360 revolver from under his coat which brought the cries of protest and screams from the crowd. and as Pastor Gareth was in the middle of "that's not necessary" the gun bucked in Saul's hand and filled the room with a bright loud flash.
Elizabeth, whose head was now buried in her mother's white blouse jumped and yelped at the loud explosion. She felt her mom go limp, and something warm and wet flow down her head.
"I'll be back!" Saul exclaimed over the cries of outrage and terror that now resonated off the walls of the church. He walked at a brisk pace towards the exit and blindly emptied his gun behind his back, only to fill his ears with more bloodcurdling screams. Mental note, bring earplugs.
Authors Note- I made changes, enjoy!
Mark Warner had just woken up and put some coffee that his wife Marina had made earlier into the microwave when he looked at the clock. wow, 12 already, I slept late today. His wife and cute little daughter Elizabeth had failed to drag him out of bed that morning to go to church, they should be back shortly, he thought to himself. Mark grabbed his steaming cup of coffee and walked into their living room and plopped himself down into his favorite worn leather recliner and turned his 66' inch plasma T.V. to ESPN. Marina wouldn't be happy that he hadn't got any of the dishes put away or vacuuming done, but that was a women's job anyway. He felt the heat from the coffee rise against his lips and gently blew on it, in vain attempt to take the edge off is first sip. he liked his coffee black, for some reason he had always liked the bitterness as it went brushed past his taste buds. Right as he tilted the Mickey Mouse mug back the doorbell rang. startled, his hand jerked and a gush of the scorching coffee filled his mouth blistering his tongue. Cursing he leaped out of his chair spewing coffee all over the laminate flooring. he angrily set his cup down on the side table and turned into the entryway. He opened the door was surprised to see two police officers standing with solemn faces.
"Are you Mark Warner?" asked the officer on the right
"Yes sir, what's this about" his stomach tightened and he dreaded the worst.
"Sir, your daughters alright, but there was a shooting at Crossroads Church, and your wife is" he cleared his throat not quite knowing which words to use, "dead, I'm so sorry"
Mark collapsed forwards into the arms of the officers and let out an unearthly wail. This couldn't be! he felt like a part of him had died. Tears swelled and his mind went to his daughter, he needed her in his arms. through his sobs he somehow got out " Where's my daughter? is she okay?"
"She's at the church with your Pastor" were going to take you her and then the hospital.
Mark couldn't get his head straight, he was incoherent as the police helped him lock the door and get into the cruiser. He stared out the window, overwhelmed with grief. His body shook from the force of his sobs and tears flowing freely down his face. He felt like someone had driven a knife through his heart, slowly twisting it, and ripping out everything he loved. Marina, his Marina was gone. His life, his desire to live, best friend, gone. and he would never see her again. But he had to live, for Elizabeth, his precious Elizabeth, who was a spitting image of his wife. Who was gone forever.
A deep guttural snarl escaped his lips, he gritted his teeth and yelled "get me to my daughter!" to the officers. He hid his head in his hands as the police siren wailed and he felt the cruiser speed up.
