“Peter hasn’t even returned yet. How do you know he’ll have anything?” Derek’s voice reverberated into the living room.
“He is bringing three rabbits,” Joseph continued. “It won’t be much, but it’ll be enough. God never promised we would have an over-abundance of food. But we will have enough.”
Sarah heard Derek sigh. He always challenged Joseph. She thought, when will he learn? At least Derek cares. To bad he’s 30… She looked back in the direction of the kitchen.
There was a long silence, “…and a wolf.” Joseph came hobbling back into the living room, his eyes glossed over in deep thought. He grabbed up his satchel, hurried over to the back door and then outside. Sarah looked through the window and watched him make his way towards the sheep barn just across the gravel drive.
“A wolf? What does he mean,” she muttered. Her mind flooded with concern which reflected in her eyes. A moment later she gathered her things into her backpack, slung it over a shoulder and headed out to see if he was okay.
“Hey Sarah, hold the door would you?” Carl was carrying a load of wood into the house. Of the three fireplaces, only two were used and only during the day. Then Jamie called for her to help bring in a few pitchers of water. Thankfully the old hand pump still worked.
Sufficiently delayed and slightly dismayed, almost 20 minutes later she finally made her way to the sheep barn. Just as she was about to knock, “Thanks Sarah, but I need some alone time with Abba right now. I’ll see you at supper time.” There weren’t any windows on this side of the barn, yet he knew she was there. That didn’t surprise her - Joseph seemed to know things somehow.
On her way back she saw Peter emerge from the woods with three rabbits and a new person. The guest stood near six foot tall, had trimmed dark brown hair with bangs, and grey eyes. He wore a blue jean jacket with a hoodie, washed denim jeans and heavy work boots. The fact that the jeans looked washed amazed her.
The ladies of the house carried on about how difficult it had become to keep clothes washed. Sarah only wished there was a way to wash up - some of the guys’ hygiene were in dire need of attention.
In the end, something seemed odd concerning him though. “Sarah,” Peter called, “meet Daniel.” She nodded politely then looked away when their eyes met.
A wolf, her thoughts continued from earlier. She walked off towards the west side of the house and did not greet them.
“Don’t mind her,” Peter spoke to Daniel, “she’s shy. Spends most of her time reading her tablet or talking with Joseph.”
She wandered off to a swing that hung from the branch of an old oak tree. It was near the overgrown gravel drive. She sat down, dropped her bag on the ground and it clanked. Funny how my life is all squeezed into one bag. Sarah began to reminisce of a time, not long ago, when she and her parents lived in townhouse in upstate New York. And now she lived in Ohio. She looked around to make sure no one was watching her. She saw Peter’s back as he ducked into the house and shut the door.
“Father, please be with Joseph. I don’t know what’s bothering him. Please be with our people here. We need you Abba. Jessica has a bad blister on her foot; would you help us figure out how to heal that? And help Meredith as she studies the medical books that were left behind here. Thank you for the house. Keep us safe, Lord. Amen.”
***
Everyone was gathered in the living room and it was packed. Joseph stood there staring at the newcomer. Sarah examined him as well, she attempted to discern what kind of man he was.
“I shot my last rabbit and then Daniel came up out of a thicket. He looked like he’d just woken up. There was like drool running down the corner of his mouth.” Peter stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth. “We spoke for a bit. He seemed cool, so I invited him to follow me back here.” Peter recanted their encounter and all that they had spoken of on the way back.
“Daniel, during your time here, and until we feel we can trust you, someone will remain with you at all times. Peter, he’s your responsibility. Look after him well,” Joseph instructed.
He’s mad, Sarah mused, he’s normally happy when someone new arrives.
Joseph blessed the food and released everyone to eat.
Someone asked, “What are we having?”
“Three rabbit stew,” Jamie smiled. Everyone murmured their approval. Sarah loved her cooking.
Sarah let the room clear and spoke with Joseph. “You ok?”
“Yes and no. How’s your study of Matthew 6:33 coming along?”
“Oh I forgot. We got busy preparing for supper after you wandered off. Daniel was paraded around, I’ve heard that story now 5 times. I don’t know if I trust him.”
“I wouldn’t,” Joseph dismissed himself with a nod and a brief smile.
***
After supper everyone headed down to the basement. It was dry and cool. They gathered into a semi-circle on the floor around Joseph, who sat on a wood dining chair.
“Friends, Brothers and Sisters. We’ve come to that time of the month again when we celebrate our Lord’s Supper.” He nodded to Jamie who started passing a plate of crackers.
“Speaking of Jesus,” Joseph stood with a copy of the Word in his hands, he opened it and turned. “Luke chapter 22, versus 17 through 22. ’And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
“Eat everyone.” He waited and then ate his cracker.
“And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.””
“Please drink.” He paused again. And then continued, “But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”” He looked directly at Daniel. Sarah’s blood ran cold.
Joseph waited a minute, the air became thick. Joseph nodded in Sarah’s direction, “Sarah, fire up that tablet of yours and give us a song!” Then a smile spread across his face. Everyone joined in chorus to a worship playlist.
***
Sarah awoke with a start. “Mattithyahu,” she whispered. The dream she awoke from was fading fast, a man had tied a woven ring around her wedding finger. She had smiled at him, they kissed and she said, “I love you… Mattithyahu.” She’d never met a man with that name and was perplexed. Then it felt as though someone was sitting staring at her.
Everyone slept close, there was barely enough room to move in the cramped basement. They were piled down on blankets, scattered around, wherever they’d fallen. She thumbed on her USB light which she’d taken out of her pocket. Joseph! “Oh you gave me a start,” she whispered.
“Sarah, you must find him. I don’t know where he is or how you’ll get there; but you must seek God and seek Mattithyahu out. Only God can lead you to him.”
“But, I don’t want to leave you…”
“Here girl, take this, there isn’t much time.” He passed her a note. “Read it later. Now follow me.”
He led her across the basement to the old coal chute. They boarded it up to keep the cold winter out. He pried one of the boards loose with his bare hands. “Get in there and go up to the top my child. But don’t go out. Wait.”
“Wait a minute, I don’t understand…”
“Just go, there isn’t any time!”
Reluctantly she went into the chute. He closed the board back up behind her. She peered out through the boards at him. “Go on and get up there and turn the light off. No matter what you hear, don’t come back down!”
Someone snorted and then murmured back to sleep. She found some footholds and made her way up the chute until she found a board that was jutted out just enough to sit on. In front of he
r was the outside door. A cold breeze blew through the cracks.
She turned off her light and the darkness drew her in immediately. Outside she could see the play of flashlights against the brown lawn. Then both front and back doors crashed in and she heard shoes scuffling all over the first floor.
“They’re down in the basement!” She thought that sounded like Daniel. She heard her friends voices from down below! They sounded confused and then there was more yelling as the sound of many people ran down the stairs. Below her she could see lights searching throughout the basement. “There should be 20!” There was a lot of scuffling sounds, yelling, grunts, and crunches of broken bones. Then crying and sobbing.
“I count 19! Shut up! Where’s the 20th one?” Asked a hoarse voice.
“The girl with a ball cap,” Daniel advised. “She must be outside somewhere.”
It must be Daniel! She thought.
“Go search! You three stay here, we have work to do.” There was a long pause then Hoarse Voice continued. “Will you bow down to our lord?”
“No!” Derek spoke, “We will not bow down to that abomination!”
“I didn’t ask you!” She thought she heard the wind get knocked out of Derek.
Sarah wanted to go down there, but she was too scared to. Joseph told me to stay up here no matter what, the thought ran through her mind. It competed with, my friends, I must help them... She began to sob and then tried hard to stop. They were out there looking for her. Perhaps she should run. She pushed at the chute door, it moved freely. Suddenly a light shone over in her direction and she froze.
“Are you going to bow down to our lord!?”
“No,” the response was sheepish, it was Jessica.
“Kneel!”
“No!”
She heard metal sing through the night, then the most disgusting sound imaginable, repeated over and over. She heard scuffling and a chorus of sobs, mostly from the women.
“That is enough!” Joseph’s soft voice commanded. “We will not bow down to you or your false ways!”
“I’m so sorry Joseph, please forgive me,” Peter pleaded.
“Forgiven my brother, I’ll see you in heaven soon.”
“Enough! Have at them boys. The old man, though, he’s mine!”
***
It took less than 15 minutes for the yelling to finish and another 15 for them to leave the house. An hour later, after the lights faded off into the distance, she eased herself down. It felt like the nightmare had lasted an eternity. All of her muscles were sore, her eyes stung, and throat burned. She kicked open the board, stepped out and slipped. Her light illuminated the scene, she found the floor covered in red. Where is Joseph?
She found his body, his head sat a foot away facing upwards, eyes vacant. Others were martyred as well. Fresh tears sprang forth as she sobbed. She ran from the basement, slipping up the staircase and out of the house. She didn’t make it to the swing before she fell on her knees and got sick. Not a single star twinkled in the night. All manner of thoughts ran through her mind. All those people she loved were killed! Murdered! She couldn’t drive the sounds out of her mind. She imagined the slash of swords and the disgusting sound of heads rolling away from their bodies. Sarah brought her hands up to her ears and screamed.
“Oh Father!” She wept. “How could you? How could you allow them to be killed? None of them deserved this!”
Run! She had to leave the house. Her bag? Where was it? She found it dropped a few feet back in the dead lawn. She gathered it up and stumbled off into the night. Her eyes stung, she had to get away. Her mind filled with the faces of all of those in the house, then it was crowded out by the remembrance of the sounds.
“Oh Father, Abba, take this from me.” Her voice cried out into the dark in rasps, “I hate you!”
She panted, driven forward by something. Deep into the thorn infested fields and onto a path that seemed familiar, but the night made everything eerie. A cold breeze snapped at her neck and she zipped her jacket up all the way and re-adjusted her cap. She hugged herself and continued on, stumbling, running in to the night. Tripping.
“How could you? How could you? How could you? I loved Joseph! He was like a father to me.” Sarah remembered some of their discussions, she loved picking his mind, extracting God’s wisdom from him. He’d shown her the grandfatherly love she’d never known before.
She stumbled on in the dark and didn’t dare turn on her USB light. Two hours later she wandered upon an unkempt lawn. She turned on the light and shined it on the house and remembered that she’d visited this house countless times in the past to find solitude. At those times she needed the solace, but now she needed the noise of her friends.
Sarah made her way over to the back side of the house where she left a basement window slightly ajar. She wedged her fingers in and pried up, it opened with a creak and she slipped into the house. She pulled the window closed behind her. The modestly furnished home was nothing fancy. Thankfully it wasn’t ransacked after the first hail storm and it had survived the earthquake.
Over in the corner she’d taken a mattress from upstairs and laid it out with a quilt on it. She ran over in a fresh fit of sobs and collapsed on the bed and slept.
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