The Burden on Her Shoulders

The Rise

Yin and yang. Good and evil. Creation and destruction. Night and day.

Equal and opposite. Balanced, as all things should be.

~

The darkness in the world is rising. I feel it as I awake from my slumber. I get up, making my bed, before going to my altar.

I discard my gown, then use a single blessed match to light candles for my father.

I kneel before the crucifix hanging on the wall and ask my father for guidance.

"Father, my Lord, God. I sense the darkness rising in the world. I believe the time comes to call the believers home. But I cannot do so without your blessing. His power strengthens. And the end is coming."

I breathe deep as I await a sign. My focus wavers, the temptation to derive from my path is strong. My brother did not succumb to temptation, and neither will I.

Lightheadedness comes over me, and I allow myself to slowly lie down as the voice of my father sounds in my ears.

"Yes, Daughter. The darkness is near its peak. Gather the believers. Bless them. I shall call them home. Be swift. It will be here in days. You have my blessing. Use your power to gather them. See that they believe before you grace them with your presence. Only those that believe in us without seeing will be called home to me."

My eyes open; a tear runs down my face. I have lived my entire life here, and now I must witness the end of it.

"Yes, Father. I will do as you say with your blessing. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give me my daily bread, and help me to resist temptation, so that I may prove myself worthy of your love."

I rise slowly, careful not to disturb the atmosphere as I dress. In the next room, I hear rustling. 'There goes the chance for a calm morning.'

I move to the kitchen, where I make a small breakfast for myself and my sisters. I finish plating the food as the two of them join me. "Sisters." We have no names. We were sent to save the good people; those worthy of surviving in Heaven.

We each get one egg, an apple, some yogurt, and a glass of milk for breakfast. We take no more than we need. We want for nothing. We sleep only when needed. We obey our father's rules as much as we can. It is vital to ensuring we help those that need our help. If anyone of us should happen to break one of our father's rules, we repent heavily. Three days spent fasting and praying for forgiveness.

We are currently in Birmingham, Alabama, residing near St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Our father gives us locations to go to, and we stay there until he says to go.

We meet with the priest in the nave of the church. "Sisters." He greets. "May I ask the reason behind our meeting?"

We share a look before I respond. "The day is coming. It is nearly time for the believers to be called home."

A shocked look graces his features. "Shall I call for an emergency congregation?"

"That is advisable. Call for one in two days. My sisters and I must inform others of what is coming. Do not inform anyone of the nature of the meeting. We need all reactions to be genuine."

"Of course. We would not want to cause panic." He looks between the three of us nervously. "When will you leave?"

"I am staying for now while my sisters begin spreading the message." The two walk away, seeming to fade before the priest's eyes as the main girl stays. "I do not have a have name in the eyes of my father. But my birth parents called me Rosalyn."

"And are the other girls your sisters?" He asks.

"Yes and no." She responds. "In the eyes of the father we are all siblings. But biologically, they are not. They are angels sent to protect and assist me in my mission. But I see them as my equals, as no one spirit is truly superior to another. It is reason why we insist upon not being treated as though we are higher beings to you."

Rosalyn looks up to cross at the front of the room, "I have to go now. Remember your orders: say nothing of what's coming and call for a meeting in two days. And I advise not watching the news. You may see some not so good things."

~

A TV shows an anchorman on the news. "Tensions rise as the latest meeting between the world's leaders ends in conflict. More on this later. In other news, churches all over the globe have called for emergency meetings. Could these events be related in some way? Find out tomorrow at 10 AM Central. Until next time, this is Global News on Channel 1, signing off."

Rosalyn turns off the TV and faces the congregation in St. Francis Xavier Church. "These events are related, I'm sad to say. I'd like for everyone to open the envelope that you received at the door." There is rustling as the people follow her command. "If your card is green, you may go. Those with red cards, please remain sitting."

Rosalyn and the priest watch as almost all of the people leave. As the doors shut, the locks click into place.

"I'd like to announce that the cards were reversed. Those of you with red cards are the true believers of God. The souls that will live on in Heaven. The conflict between the world leaders is the result of the antichrist's meddling. I and my sisters were sent to escort those worthy home to our father.

"At this time, world leaders are preparing for war. A war that will end in despair. But the believers will not witness this war. If you remain here tonight, you believe in God with all your heart and soul. And because of that belief, you will be blessed and called home by God. Please remove a vial of the blessed mixture from the basket that is going around."

She watches while people of all ages take a vial. Children, the elderly, teens. No one will survive the fire, so every believer must be saved. "Please remove the cap and pour the oil onto your forehead. Now, you may find a place in this room to rest, pray, enjoy the presence of your loved ones if they are here. Find peace in the knowledge that you will pass painlessly."

She turns to look at the priest, who has the anointed oil running down his face. "Go, be with them. Ease the children to sleep. I must go; I have to speak with my father."

She silently walks to the altar, leaning down to kiss it gently, before leaving.

The priest goes into the remains of the congregation and does as ordered. He watches tiredly as the people around him lie down on either the pews or the floor. The young girl in his arms closes her eyes. She's gone in seconds. There isn't a single sign of pain on her face. He knows the woman told the truth; their deaths would be painless. And so he cradles the girl's body tighter to his chest as he sits in a pew. His eyes look over the statues, altar, and crucifix at the front of the nave. And with a laugh, a tear rolls his cheek, and he closes his eyes.