The Last Day

The Last Day

Part I

 

            "They're here! They're here!" a young boy warned as he ran breathless into the sanctuary.

            "Catch your breath David and then tell us who is here," Elder Steve stated in a soothing voice. Steve, whose full name was Steve Harding and had once been the owner of a successful chain of burger joints, resembled a tall, lanky, bird of prey with his hawkish nose and icy blue eyes. But while his visage suggested a cruel man Steve was quite the opposite and had become like a grandfather to the children of Hope. 

            "Sarah," Steve addressed a waif of a girl who was absently sweeping the floor of the room while she tried to eavesdrop on David's words. "Fetch David a glass of water if you would please."

            "Yes Elder Steve," Sarah leaned her straw bristled broom against the wall and with a last curious look towards David, ran from the hall.

            The elder rose from behind the desk where he had been going over the numbers for the season's harvest. He had been comparing them with the village stores to see how close they were to being prepared for the coming winter months. The numbers weren't encouraging and he was glad to take a break from the dreary task. The sanctuary served a double purpose in Hope; it was where the village gathered to worship the Lord and his Son on the Seventh Day. It also served as Elder Steve's home and office where he prepared his sermons for his growing flock and tended to the everyday tasks of caring for the village's wellbeing.

            Hope, the secret haven that had become a community for the Lord's remaining followers had been an answer to their prayers. In the later days after Christ took his first flock to Heaven and Lucifer and his Fallen had free reign upon Earth, the new, fledgling Christians were harried and persecuted across the land. In small groups and in secrecy they fled, praying that the Lord would see them safe and keep the Enemy and his minions from finding them.

            Steve, his wife and daughter along with four other families had nearly been caught by Lucifer's hunters, a group of soulless men and women led by a demon lieutenant, until two men appeared and lead them to Hope. Since then Abe and Joseph had rescued several individuals and families and brought them home to the growing village. 

            "Okay, David? Good, now who has come that has caused you to rush in here?" Steve asked after the boy nodded his head.

            "Satan! Satan and his army are coming!" David's already high voice rose an octave as his fear took it over. Sky blue eyes were stretched to their limits and his slender hands trembled as they clutched desperately to a worn ball cap at the boys waist while stared helplessly at the adult before him.

            Fire and ice rolled in Steve's stomach as fear battled anxiety for domination. Satan and his forces were here at Hope; he knew this day would come but secretly had hoped it was a long way off. Thick, heavily calloused hands plowed rows of worry through the elder's silver widow-peaked mane while he surrendered a heavy sigh. He felt a tremor in his leg and feared his body had already succumbed to fear until he realized someone was shaking his leg and calling his name.

            "Elder Steve! Elder Steve, what are we going to do? Elder Steve can you hear me? Elder Steve!" David's voice became more frantic with each repetition along with the urgent shaking of the Elder's knee.

            The boys fear brought Steve sharply back in control and he silently prayed before addressing the trembling boy. "Lord, I need your strength and wisdom now to guide your people." A mantle of calmness slowly settled on Steve's slender shoulders. Gently he placed a solid hand on each of the boy's shoulders and then looked David in the eye.