Shannon got up early hoping to start reading one of the many books Sam had brought back from the pastor’s house. She walked to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee and found Linda sitting at the table reading the Bible and drinking a cup of coffee. “Thanks for making coffee, I was really needing a cup,” she told her.
“You are welcome. I couldn’t sleep for thinking about everything Sam read to us last night. My mind is in overdrive wanting to read and study God’s word.”
Shannon nodded in agreement. “Kerri and I were raised in the church, met each other at a youth rally, married and went to a Bible college. Going to church doesn’t save you. Accepting the truth and Christ is the only way. We heard all sorts of things at college and Kerri had one professor that was determined to disprove the Bible. Kerri never understood how the man kept his job or why the college allowed him to teach. At one point, both our parents started questioning whether the college was the right place for us to learn. Things were changing in the church and some were teaching the replacement theory. We bought some of the story and didn’t attend a church that was preaching God’s word……the truth about His son and what He did for us. Christ came to earth to tell us the truth and He died so that we might have life. We missed the message. What about you, Linda?”
“Like you, I had Christian parents and went to church every Sunday and Wednesday nights. As a teenager I was a little rebellious at times and refused to go then I met Bill. He was good looking and a great athlete. We married right out of high school. Things were pretty good until Christina was born. I decided she should be raised going to church and Bill didn’t want me doing anything that didn’t involve him and he would never set foot in a church. I took her any way. She would come bouncing into the house singing “Jesus Loves Me” and Bill would go ballistic. He eventually forbade us to go, but we went when he was hunting or too hung over to care where we were or what we were doing. I had to ask Christina to curb her enthusiasm over the Bible story she had just learned or a new song she was eager to share. One Sunday when she was ten, she came home singing a particular song that she really liked and Bill went crazy. He started slapping her and screaming for her to stop. Christina did what I would never do and that was stand up to him. She told him he was going to hell for how he treated us. The mental and physical abuse had to stop and that he was evil. He hit her so hard she flew across the room hitting the wall and fell into a heap on the floor. She lay there not making any sound or movement and Bill left the house. I took her to the emergency room to be checked and she had a slight concussion and bruises. She would be alright, but Bill didn’t come home. The next day I reported him missing and the police found him in a local motel with a bullet in his head. Guess he thought he had killed Christina and couldn’t live with what he had done. The two of us struggled for the next 12 years and then we found this new church that was preaching things that made us feel good…..it was the wrong message. The youth minister took over after the preacher left and he at least was trying to do something different. After the rapture, we all knew we had followed a false religion. That’s why we ended up at the camp and then you know what happened there.” Linda let out a sigh and Shannon grabbed her hand and they both cried out to Jesus thanking Him for saving them.
Sam and Tom looked at the two women sitting at the table holding hands and crying and joined them in saying a prayer of thanksgiving for all the many blessings God had bestowed upon them in the last few days. Shannon stood up and said, “Anyone hungry for some breakfast?
In unison Sam and Tom said, “You bet, we’re starved.”
Slowly the rest of the group joined them in the kitchen. They sat around the table eating their breakfast and giving their testimonies. Sam said, “While we are thankful that we have all been given a second chance to know Christ as our Savior, there is a lot more work to be done in His name. It would be a good idea to see if we can find this place the pastor and his congregation prepared for us. We need to be preparing for the time when it will no longer be safe for us to be about God’s business. We saw on the news what’s happening worldwide and then there’s that guy Argyros and his plans for all of us. He has to be the one the Bible talks about…..the Anti-Christ. Guys, the work has just begun for all of us.”
Bud and his bad boy persona kicked into high gear, “We will fight in God’s army against Argyros. Maybe that is why He didn’t take me when those idiots were killing everyone at the camp. God needs me to fight for Him.”
Sam looked at Tom and let out a little chuckle, “You are on to something, Bud. God does want us to be part of His army. We have much to do before Christ appears again. Shannon, do you think you can get on the internet and find that website you were telling us about?”
“Yes, I’ll do it right after we clean up the kitchen. I will also see if there are any new sites that will direct us to more new Christians.”
Bud smiled at them, “Appreciate the good breakfast ladies. Sam, think we should get started looking for that place and securing our future.”
“Well, let’s get started.” Sam picked up the instructions to the cave and the men got into the van to search for their new destination.
- P4H
______________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in Oklahoma
Tori and Nathan walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Kristen looked from where she was sitting on the floor. She had been writting her name over and over. It was facinating to her to see letters form her own name. With Tori's help over the last few days, she had first learned the letters of the alphabet and now was putting letters together to make words. The first thing Tori had shown her was how to write her name. Kristen grinned at Tori and handed her the paper.
"Nice. Your letters look perfect." Tori smiled back. She handed the paper to Nathan and he looked at it and with a nod of approval lay the paper on the coffee table.
"Kristen," Nathan began. "I'm gonna teach Tori how to defend herself. I want to teach you too. I want both of you to be able to defend yourselves if somebody comes at you."
Kristen looked at Tori and then back at Nathan. She was uncertain if she could do it. For as long as she could remember, fighting back meant worse punishment. Tori had confided what had happened to her on the way to the ranch, and Kristen had felt a bond with the older girl. Tori had looked so broken while she told her the things that the man had said, and how dirty she had felt after Nathan had pulled the man away from her.
"I think this something we both need to do." Tori said. She looked in Kristens eyes. "I refuse to be caught unaware with no way to defend myself again. Nathan can teach us every dirty trick he knows to help us if somebody tries to hurt either one of us again. What happened to me doesn't even come close to what you've been through, and I almost gave up. You're strong, brave and you can do this. You've survived things most people have never even thought of and that shows an inner strength that I admire. I want to be brave like you, so I'm gonna learn to defend myself. You can do this Kristen. I know you can."
Kristen was surprised. She had never thought of herself as strong or brave. She had always thought of herself as a coward. When faced with Mikey and his friends, she had just shut down and retreated into her own mind. She had just let Mikey and his friends abuse her because if she tried to fight she always ended up the loser anyway. She had learned to be passive because they all seemed to enjoy hurting her more if she fought them.
"You're not a victim anymore Kristen. You're a surviver. You're the strongest person I've ever met. You're a fighter." Nathan told her.
Kristen chewed on her lip. She absently ran her fingers over the letters of her name. She finally looked up at Nathan. "OK."
Tori and Nathan walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Kristen looked from where she was sitting on the floor. She had been writting her name over and over. It was facinating to her to see letters form her own name. With Tori's help over the last few days, she had first learned the letters of the alphabet and now was putting letters together to make words. The first thing Tori had shown her was how to write her name. Kristen grinned at Tori and handed her the paper.
"Nice. Your letters look perfect." Tori smiled back. She handed the paper to Nathan and he looked at it and with a nod of approval lay the paper on the coffee table.
"Kristen," Nathan began. "I'm gonna teach Tori how to defend herself. I want to teach you too. I want both of you to be able to defend yourselves if somebody comes at you."
Kristen looked at Tori and then back at Nathan. She was uncertain if she could do it. For as long as she could remember, fighting back meant worse punishment. Tori had confided what had happened to her on the way to the ranch, and Kristen had felt a bond with the older girl. Tori had looked so broken while she told her the things that the man had said, and how dirty she had felt after Nathan had pulled the man away from her.
"I think this something we both need to do." Tori said. She looked in Kristens eyes. "I refuse to be caught unaware with no way to defend myself again. Nathan can teach us every dirty trick he knows to help us if somebody tries to hurt either one of us again. What happened to me doesn't even come close to what you've been through, and I almost gave up. You're strong, brave and you can do this. You've survived things most people have never even thought of and that shows an inner strength that I admire. I want to be brave like you, so I'm gonna learn to defend myself. You can do this Kristen. I know you can."
Kristen was surprised. She had never thought of herself as strong or brave. She had always thought of herself as a coward. When faced with Mikey and his friends, she had just shut down and retreated into her own mind. She had just let Mikey and his friends abuse her because if she tried to fight she always ended up the loser anyway. She had learned to be passive because they all seemed to enjoy hurting her more if she fought them.
"You're not a victim anymore Kristen. You're a surviver. You're the strongest person I've ever met. You're a fighter." Nathan told her.
Kristen chewed on her lip. She absently ran her fingers over the letters of her name. She finally looked up at Nathan. "OK."
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in Oklahoma
Nathan was proud of the way his sister and Kristen were doing. At first he had been unsure how to teach Kristen, but all he had to do was show her and she did exactly as he instructed. He had notice that when she made a fist, she tucked her thumb inside and had moved to correct it. She had jerked away from his touch, and looked at him with suspicion. Zoe had joined in on the lesson and saw what happened. Her eyes had been filled with compassion for them both. Nathan had held up his hand and shown Kristen how to hold her fist.
"Like this. If you tuck your thumb in like that, when you land a solid punch you could break it." he had explained gently.
Kristen's face had been red. She had been embarrassed by her own reaction.
"I'm sorry." she had apologized looking at the ground.
"It's ok. If I make you uncomfortable in any way tell me. I would rather you tell me than have you not trust me. I need for you to be comfortable with me to be able to teach you." Nathan had told her.
Kristen had looked at Nathan and seen the sincerity in his eyes. With a nod and a lift of her chin she had clenched her fist with her thumb on the outside, just like he had shown her.
The rest of the lesson had gone well, and Nathan was impressed with all the girls.
They were leaving the barn, when Kristen suddenly went pale, and stopped in her tracks. She ducked back into the barn her body trembling and her breathing rapid. With wild eyes she looked around for a place to hide.
- Zags
_____________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Earl Myers had lifted his hand to knock on the door when he heard someone call his name.
"Mr. Myers?"
He turned his head and say Matt Cooper walking towards him.
"Matt." he stepped off the porch and held out his hand.
Matt caught it and gave it a vigorous shake.
"I can't believe you're still here." Matt told him.
Zoe, Nathan, and Tori came around the side of the house and saw Matt with the man.
"Matt. Who's your friend?" Zoe asked.
"This is my favorite teacher, Mr. Myers." Matt told Zoe. He introduced him to his cousins and headed for the door. "Come inside. My parents are here." He looked around. "Is Kristen still in the barn?" he asked.
Nathan, Zoe and Tori looked around. "She must be. I'll go get her." Zoe said. Zoe headed back to the barn.
Matt and Nathan headed for the door and Mr. Myers looked at Tori. "Ladies first." he drawled.
Tori hesitated and then raced past the man and into the house.
Shade and Maddie looked up and saw their guest.
"Earl." Shade said standing up and shaking the man's hand. "Have a seat. We were just getting ready to eat. You're more than welcome to join us."
"Thank's. I think I will." Earl agreed easily. He looked around the room. "Are Steffi and Gabe here?"
"No. They were raptured." Maddie said.
Trevor walked in the room. Earl introduced himself, and Trevor asked, "Where are Zoe and Kristen?"
Nathan told him they were in the barn, and Tori volunteered to go get them. She rushed out the door and ran to the barn.
Earl Myers had lifted his hand to knock on the door when he heard someone call his name.
"Mr. Myers?"
He turned his head and say Matt Cooper walking towards him.
"Matt." he stepped off the porch and held out his hand.
Matt caught it and gave it a vigorous shake.
"I can't believe you're still here." Matt told him.
Zoe, Nathan, and Tori came around the side of the house and saw Matt with the man.
"Matt. Who's your friend?" Zoe asked.
"This is my favorite teacher, Mr. Myers." Matt told Zoe. He introduced him to his cousins and headed for the door. "Come inside. My parents are here." He looked around. "Is Kristen still in the barn?" he asked.
Nathan, Zoe and Tori looked around. "She must be. I'll go get her." Zoe said. Zoe headed back to the barn.
Matt and Nathan headed for the door and Mr. Myers looked at Tori. "Ladies first." he drawled.
Tori hesitated and then raced past the man and into the house.
Shade and Maddie looked up and saw their guest.
"Earl." Shade said standing up and shaking the man's hand. "Have a seat. We were just getting ready to eat. You're more than welcome to join us."
"Thank's. I think I will." Earl agreed easily. He looked around the room. "Are Steffi and Gabe here?"
"No. They were raptured." Maddie said.
Trevor walked in the room. Earl introduced himself, and Trevor asked, "Where are Zoe and Kristen?"
Nathan told him they were in the barn, and Tori volunteered to go get them. She rushed out the door and ran to the barn.
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Zoe looked was looking for Kristen in the barn when Tori came rushing in.
"I can't find her. You don't think she ran away, do you." Zoe looked at Tori.
Tori had a strange look on her face. "No. I don't think so." Tori looked around and called out to Kristen.
"I thought she was right behind us when we headed to the house." Zoe said. "Kristen!!"
Tori had climbed the ladder and was looking in the hay loft. Her mind racing. Kristen had in fact been right behind them. She had disappeared when Earl had turned at Matt's call.
Tori saw Kristen hiding behind a bale of hay. The girl was trembling and had tears running down her face.
Tori waved and caught Zoe's attention. Zoe headed for the ladder, and Tori cautiously approached Kristen.
"Kristen. Are you ok?" Tori knelt next to the girl.
Zoe walked over, and also knelt down. "Kristen, what's wrong?"
Kristen began to rock back and forth. Her eyes looked wild. She violently shook her head.
Zoe and Tori looked at each other. Zoe was confused. What had happened?
Zoe looked was looking for Kristen in the barn when Tori came rushing in.
"I can't find her. You don't think she ran away, do you." Zoe looked at Tori.
Tori had a strange look on her face. "No. I don't think so." Tori looked around and called out to Kristen.
"I thought she was right behind us when we headed to the house." Zoe said. "Kristen!!"
Tori had climbed the ladder and was looking in the hay loft. Her mind racing. Kristen had in fact been right behind them. She had disappeared when Earl had turned at Matt's call.
Tori saw Kristen hiding behind a bale of hay. The girl was trembling and had tears running down her face.
Tori waved and caught Zoe's attention. Zoe headed for the ladder, and Tori cautiously approached Kristen.
"Kristen. Are you ok?" Tori knelt next to the girl.
Zoe walked over, and also knelt down. "Kristen, what's wrong?"
Kristen began to rock back and forth. Her eyes looked wild. She violently shook her head.
Zoe and Tori looked at each other. Zoe was confused. What had happened?
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Trevor was sitting at the table, listening to Shade explain to Earl that the only thing that explained the disapperances was the rapture. Earl had been convinced by the media that it was alien abductions.
"That's ridiculous Shade. If God took all the Christians, I'd be gone. I went to church every Sunday. I was a decon in my church." Earl laughed. "You've known me for years. I give to several charites, I'm tolerant of other peoples beliefs and lifestyles. I'm a nice guy. If God took all the Christians, I would have been the first one in this community to go." he said arrogantly.
Trevor shook his head. It was obvious that the man had never truely been a Christian. It was all I's with him. I did this. I did that. Trevor got up from the table.
"I'm gonna go see what's keeping Zoe, Tori and Kristen."
Trevor was sitting at the table, listening to Shade explain to Earl that the only thing that explained the disapperances was the rapture. Earl had been convinced by the media that it was alien abductions.
"That's ridiculous Shade. If God took all the Christians, I'd be gone. I went to church every Sunday. I was a decon in my church." Earl laughed. "You've known me for years. I give to several charites, I'm tolerant of other peoples beliefs and lifestyles. I'm a nice guy. If God took all the Christians, I would have been the first one in this community to go." he said arrogantly.
Trevor shook his head. It was obvious that the man had never truely been a Christian. It was all I's with him. I did this. I did that. Trevor got up from the table.
"I'm gonna go see what's keeping Zoe, Tori and Kristen."
- Zags
__________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Trevor walked into the barn and didn't see the girls.
"Zoe?! Tori? Kristen?! You girls in here?" he shouted.
Zoe appeared at the top of the ladder. "Up here."
Trevor walked to the ladder and climbed up.
"What's going on?" he asked. He looked over and saw Kristen rocking back and forth. He looked at Tori. She had tears running down her face. "What happened?" he took a couple of steps toward Kristen and the girls eyes shot to him. She began to whimper. Trevor stopped. He looked at Zoe, and saw the same confusion in her eyes that he felt. "Is she hurt?" Trevor asked.
Tori shook her head.
Trevor knelt down a few feet away from Kristen. His heart felt heavy and his gut was beginning to knot. Something was seriously wrong.
Zoe knelt next to Kristen. She didn't dare touch the girl. She looked at Tori and gave her a nod. She had noticed that the two younger girls had formed a bond, and decided that maybe Kristen would talk to Tori.
"Kristen. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." Tori said gently.
Kristen shook her head.
"Please, Kristen. Please, talk to me. What happened?"
Kristen let out a sound that was somewhere between a moan and a scream.
"Is it that man?" Tori asked.
Kristen stopped rocking. she looked in Tori's eyes.
Zoe sat back, her mind beginning to put the pieces together.
"Is he one of Mikey's friends?" Tori asked.
"Don't let him hurt me." Kristen whispered. Her eyes wide with fear. "Please make him go away."
Zoe gasped and heard Trevor growl.
Trevor jumped up and Kristen let out a scream. Trevor ignored her and rushed down the ladder. He ran to the house and almost ripped the door off the hinges. He walked up behind Earl, caught him by the arm and jerked him out of the chair. He began punching him in the face and Shade stood up and raced around the table and pulled Trevor off the man.
Zoe came rushing into the room. With a scream of rage she began to kick the man laying on the floor.
"What's going on?!!" Matt shouted as he rushed into the room. He saw Zoe kicking Earl and his dad had Trevor pinned to the floor. He grabbed Zoe from behind and pulled her away from Earl. She threw her head back and hit Matt in the nose with the back of her head. He dropped her and fell back holding his bleeding nose.
Nathan had entered the room and stood there in shock. He looked at Maddie who was knealing down next to Earl, trying to help the man. "What in the world is going on?" He went to pull Zoe back as she began to kick Earl again.
"LET ZOE GO!!" Tori shouted from the door.
Everyone stopped.
Kristen stood behind Tori, her face streaked with tears. She looked at Shade and Trevor, both of them frozen on the floor. Then she looked at Matt with blood dripping down his chin. She saw Nathan with his mouth hanging open. She saw Maddie knelt on the floor next to Earl, her eyes wide in shock. Zoe had a mean smile on her face.
What held everyone suspended, was the rifle that Tori held pointed at Earl.
"Everyone get back." Tori said calmly. "Get up." she said to Earl.
He looked at the girl holding the rifle. Then his eyes widen in recognition when he saw the girl standing behind her. "Runt."
Shade's head jerked around to Earl.
Maddie jerked back, her concern for the man evaporating at hearing him call Kristen Runt.
Matt's eyes darted back and forth between Kristen and Earl.
Nathan saw the look on Tori's face change from calm to rage. He stepped against the wall.
"GET UP!!" Tori shouted.
Shade got off the floor and helped Trevor up.
Matt looked around the room. Realization dawned. He felt like he was going to throw up.
Earl had gotten up and looked at the faces of the people surrounding him. He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat closed with fear. He turned and ran for the back door, shoving Maddie out of his way. He ran around the house expecting to feel a bullet tear into his back. He got to his car and dove in starting it before he shut the door and tore out of the driveway.
Trevor walked into the barn and didn't see the girls.
"Zoe?! Tori? Kristen?! You girls in here?" he shouted.
Zoe appeared at the top of the ladder. "Up here."
Trevor walked to the ladder and climbed up.
"What's going on?" he asked. He looked over and saw Kristen rocking back and forth. He looked at Tori. She had tears running down her face. "What happened?" he took a couple of steps toward Kristen and the girls eyes shot to him. She began to whimper. Trevor stopped. He looked at Zoe, and saw the same confusion in her eyes that he felt. "Is she hurt?" Trevor asked.
Tori shook her head.
Trevor knelt down a few feet away from Kristen. His heart felt heavy and his gut was beginning to knot. Something was seriously wrong.
Zoe knelt next to Kristen. She didn't dare touch the girl. She looked at Tori and gave her a nod. She had noticed that the two younger girls had formed a bond, and decided that maybe Kristen would talk to Tori.
"Kristen. Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." Tori said gently.
Kristen shook her head.
"Please, Kristen. Please, talk to me. What happened?"
Kristen let out a sound that was somewhere between a moan and a scream.
"Is it that man?" Tori asked.
Kristen stopped rocking. she looked in Tori's eyes.
Zoe sat back, her mind beginning to put the pieces together.
"Is he one of Mikey's friends?" Tori asked.
"Don't let him hurt me." Kristen whispered. Her eyes wide with fear. "Please make him go away."
Zoe gasped and heard Trevor growl.
Trevor jumped up and Kristen let out a scream. Trevor ignored her and rushed down the ladder. He ran to the house and almost ripped the door off the hinges. He walked up behind Earl, caught him by the arm and jerked him out of the chair. He began punching him in the face and Shade stood up and raced around the table and pulled Trevor off the man.
Zoe came rushing into the room. With a scream of rage she began to kick the man laying on the floor.
"What's going on?!!" Matt shouted as he rushed into the room. He saw Zoe kicking Earl and his dad had Trevor pinned to the floor. He grabbed Zoe from behind and pulled her away from Earl. She threw her head back and hit Matt in the nose with the back of her head. He dropped her and fell back holding his bleeding nose.
Nathan had entered the room and stood there in shock. He looked at Maddie who was knealing down next to Earl, trying to help the man. "What in the world is going on?" He went to pull Zoe back as she began to kick Earl again.
"LET ZOE GO!!" Tori shouted from the door.
Everyone stopped.
Kristen stood behind Tori, her face streaked with tears. She looked at Shade and Trevor, both of them frozen on the floor. Then she looked at Matt with blood dripping down his chin. She saw Nathan with his mouth hanging open. She saw Maddie knelt on the floor next to Earl, her eyes wide in shock. Zoe had a mean smile on her face.
What held everyone suspended, was the rifle that Tori held pointed at Earl.
"Everyone get back." Tori said calmly. "Get up." she said to Earl.
He looked at the girl holding the rifle. Then his eyes widen in recognition when he saw the girl standing behind her. "Runt."
Shade's head jerked around to Earl.
Maddie jerked back, her concern for the man evaporating at hearing him call Kristen Runt.
Matt's eyes darted back and forth between Kristen and Earl.
Nathan saw the look on Tori's face change from calm to rage. He stepped against the wall.
"GET UP!!" Tori shouted.
Shade got off the floor and helped Trevor up.
Matt looked around the room. Realization dawned. He felt like he was going to throw up.
Earl had gotten up and looked at the faces of the people surrounding him. He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat closed with fear. He turned and ran for the back door, shoving Maddie out of his way. He ran around the house expecting to feel a bullet tear into his back. He got to his car and dove in starting it before he shut the door and tore out of the driveway.
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Trevor snapped Matt's nose back into place. Matt's eyes watered and blood began to trickle out of his nose again. Trevor handed him a kleenex and Matt gingerly pressed it to his nose.
"Lean your head back and hold the kleenex in place." Trevor told him.
Maddie walked into the kitchen. "Let me see your hand Trevor."
Trevor obediantly let Maddie see to his hand. It was cut on his knuckles and was swollen a bit. "It's not broken." Maddie said. She didn't warn Trevor as she poured alcohol over the scrapes.
Trevor sucked in his breath. The alcohol burned. He looked over at Zoe. She had taken off her shoe and was gingerly taking off her sock. "You ok?" Trevor gritted out from between his teeth.
"I think I broke my toe." She answered.
Maddie bandaged up Trevor's hand and then moved to look at Zoe's toe.
Tori had taken Kristen upstairs, and was staying with her.
Nathan sat at the table and would shake his head every few minutes. "I can't believe it. I thought for sure Tori was gonna kill that guy. I've never seen her look like that." He shook his head again.
"I can't believe it either. And Mr. Myers is a pedophile." Matt looked at his dad out of the corner of his eye.
"I never suspected." Shade said. He got up and let Grumpy in. The dog had been forgotten outside throughout the whole episode. He ran through the kitchen and Shade heard the dog running up the stairs.
"It's not broken, just jammed. It should be ok in a few days." Maddie told Zoe.
Trevor looked at Shade. "You couldn't have known. It's not like pedophiles announce what they are to people. Last year, a pediatrician was arrested at the hospital where I worked. Nobody had a clue. We were all shocked."
"A pediatrician!!" Maddie said outraged.
"Yeah." Trevor said with disgust. "One of his patients said something and by the time the investigation was over he had 56 counts against him. He got 7 life sentances with no chance for parole. I heard he was stabbed to death last month while he was in the showers. Apparently even criminals have their standards." he finished wryly.
"Ask me, the guy had in coming." Nathan said.
"Nathan!!" Maddie said.
"I heard that pedophiles are kept away from the general population because they are considered scum, even by rapists." Matt said.
"Matt!!" Maddie admonished him.
"Well it's true." Matt told his mother.
"I'm sorry I broke your nose." Zoe apologized to Matt.
"It's ok."
"I taught her that this afternoon." Nathan said proudly.
"Thanks alot." Matt said wryly.
"How's Kristen?" Trevor asked Tori as she entered the room.
"Asleep. Grumpy's with her. I think he knows she's upset. He crawled up on the bed and lay down right next to her. It's like he's trying to comfort her."
Tori looked at Matt. "You ok?" She knew from visiting last summer that Matt had admired his favorite teacher Mr. Myers. Tori had actually looked forward to meeting the man. But upon meeting him he had reminded her of the man who had assulted her. Just something about the way he had looked at her had given her the creeps.
"I still can't believe I didn't pick up on it. You'd think that somehow I would have known." Matt shook his head. "I admired him, and he was abusing Kristen." He let out a sound of disgust.
Maddie sat next to her son. "Like Trevor said, pedophiles don't announce what they are. They hide it. You can't blame yourself."
"So what do we do now? Can we turn him in?" Zoe asked.
"To who?" Nathan said. "The police are busy with all the murders, fires, looting, lack of personel and everything else going on."
"Yeah. And all the police around here are gone." Matt added.
"We keep an eye out. If anybody see's Earl Myers on the ranch, fire a warning shot at him." Shade said. "I don't think he'll be back, but I want everyone that knows how to use a gun to carry one or have one close by. It's up to us to protect ourselves."
- Zags
_____________________________________________________________________
lying in a drug induced coma like state...barely alive on his living room floor...Coughing up blood..his heart rate extremely low as Bart fallen back from his chair....his eyes blurred ...overwhelmed with an all out demonic attack...he knows he has made a fatal mistake...even an eternally damning one....Bart cries....Not audibly ..he is too far gone...He cries from within..."JESUS ...if there is anyway possible that you could forgive me...please forgive me for everything I have ever done" "he begins to convulse..foaming at the mouth"......
- STA
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Having taken Tim's words to heart....Anthony has found himself unable to shake those words ..."to seek and to save the lost'"
over and over those words have been reverberating in his mind to the point he had to get alone and spend time with God ...opening the bible he is led to Isaiah Chapter six and begins to read about how a young man had entered the presence of God and the Lord had asked a question..."whom shall I send?" and the young man replied..."here am I Lord" "send me"....Anthony closes the bible ...a tear trickles down his cheek..."Yes Lord, I hear you"
- STA
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It had been a long ride in the ambulance...her mind still reeling from the thoughts of her raptured daughter. Lisa has taken no thought of the beating her husband has put on her...the fact they are taking her to a hospital for a psyche evaluation due to last 96 hours or of what is ahead...all she can think of is those now haunting words of her daughter "I believe in Jesus mom!"
For so many years her daughter had been like her. Neither had been immune to his rage...walking on eggshells was just the way life was being married to him...and being his daughter was no less intimidating...especially those nights he drank too much. He was a violent drunk..no doubt. Lisa had lived in such a closed off existence for so long...always defending him at every turn to her "Mom...why do we put up with this?" "why don't we leave?" "Now you hush with that talk...he's your dad and he just has alot on his plate..he don't mean anything by it" "MOM HE HITS YOU ..THAT ISN'T RIGHT?" "How long til he kills you OR ME?"
It all changed when her daughter started jr high...new friends with new beliefs..."Jesus this and Jesus that" "don't you talk that stuff around your dad..please I'm beggin you" "BUT MOM, JESUS CAN CHANGE HIM" she had pleaded .....and bless her heart did she try and tell him ...but just as her mom had warned..it led to some bad nights "I TOLD YOU ..DON'T YOU PREACH THAT CRAP AROUND HERE" 'NOT IN THIS HOUSE ..YOU HEAR ME?" she submitted alright but she never walked on eggshells again......she had something Lisa only wish she understood...a peace that passed normal understanding.."how can she be so joyful?" her mom had wondered.."honey ..what is so different?" "It's Jesus mom..He's changed me ..says I don't have to ever be scared again"
THE AMBULANCE DOORS FLY OPEN..."This way mam" ....The EMT workers takes her by hand...and then instructs her husband..you'll need to sign her in at the foyer.
- STA
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Both Sonar Tec’s from each vessels announced at the same time that the missile had a lock. The difference was the Israel Tec had the better training and experience. He knew where it was going, the Oman sailor only hoped. Both men followed the missile track into its target, one took his headphones off just seconds before it hit where the other wanted to hear his first sub kill.
When Daniel saw his Tec taking the phones off he knew what was about to happen. Even though it was 2000 yards away, when the missile hit the boat and the explosion was felt inside the sub.
“Conn run us out 15 miles at flank speed; drop us back down to 120 feet then secure from general quarters. I want all Department Heads in the mess area in 15 minutes.” Daniel said leaving the control room.
- Alex
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“What happen, how did a small patrol ship detect us?” Daniel asked in a voice that each man setting in the room knew he was more then upset; he was mad. “We were almost killed today! And I don’t mean in a practice war game gentlemen. Who ever fired that missile was figuring on killing each one of you. So someone please tell me how an un-matched gun boat pings us when we were running silent dead in the water?”
“Sir, I think I have your answer.” The Chief Engineer (Cheng) replied while standing up.
“Well I am sure glad someone does because if it’s not the answer we need then you can rest assure that we will walk, climb and crawl every inch of this boat looking for whatever made a sound that they picked up.”
The Chief Engineer cleared his throat then began. “While in running silent, one of my enlisted men in his rack was playing music with his headset on. He claims that when he moved his mistakenly pulled the plug out blasting his music throughout the compartment and I am sure through the skin of the ship. Right after that is when we went to GQ.”
Daniel eyes grew big and his hand started to shake. Each man in the room saw this and inched down in their seat a little more. The Cheng just stood there awaiting the blunt force of his anger. “Who was it, which man of my crew decided to place his enjoyment over the lives of his shipmates?”
“Sir, I have spoken with him and assure you this will not happen again.”
“You have spoken to him, well Cheng, I would like to speak with him and I am sure it will get out and each member of this crew will want to speak with him. I want him here asap!”
“Yes sir” The Cheng left the room in search of the young man who hopefully will understand what he had done.
“Now for the rest of you, I want every tape player, CD box, radio anything that will make noise that is not apart of this boat locked up. If I hear of find one item I will hold you personally responsible. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes Sir” The all sounded together.
“Dismissed”
Each man could not get off the mess deck fast enough, they knew what had happen and they were going to be the next person on the end of his anger. For the next three hours, each locker and spaces was searched and anything not IDF issued was locked up. Some of the sailors wanted to complain but when told that they could tell the Captain in person, they quickly turned over their personal gear.
Engineman Gabi stood at attention outside the Captain cabin. Standing next to him was his Department Head and Leading Enlisted. This was Gabi second tour so he should have known better. Daniel sat at his desk trying to calm down, how could someone take a regulation like this and just toss it out and run the chance of endangering himself and each crew member. As much as Daniel wanted to surface, place Gabi in a raft than send him to shore he couldn’t. No he had to deal with him and in a way that the rest of the crew understood the serious of this action.
- Alex
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