I’m sorry I don’t know who to address this to, since I did not learn your name, but thank you for your hospitality. The food was great too. I’m sure you’ll be none too pleased to learn you helped a Fanatic, but I must tell you about Jesus. You see, He died on the cross for you, to take your place, so you don’t have to go to Hell. Everyone was headed for Hell because we are all sinners. We all do bad things. But, God looked down at us and knew He had to do something for us because He loves us so much. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to be born of a virgin and live a sinless life, which only He can do since He is God. He then allowed wicked men to crucify Him, but it wasn’t only their fault that Jesus was put on that cross. It was our fault too. Your and my sin put Him on that cross. His love for you and me held Him there. He died there for us. He was placed in a tomb, and then three days later He came back to life! He can do that, because He is God! If you believe that you do bad things, any of which will send you to Hell, believe Jesus died and rose again so you can go to Heaven, and ask Him to take you there, you can go to Heaven too. Won’t you please accept Him? Just pray, “Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I know You died for me. I know You rose again. I cannot get to Heaven without You. Please save me and take me to Heaven when I die. In Jesus name, A-men.” I hope you decide to believe on Jesus. If not, do not bother to look for me. I am long gone.
God Bless,
Jonathon Zoner
Chapter 7
“Finally,” Kellie said to herself, “people!” She saw a scant pillar of smoke off in the distance and headed toward it. “Maybe they have seen Jon.” Slowly she made her way through yet more briars. Would it ever end? When this was all done and over with, she would be happy if she never saw or heard about another tree for the rest of her life! Even during her nap, she dreamt about trees! “Nap… whoever heard of a seven hour nap!” she huffed. She had slept a lot longer than she planned on. When she woke up and saw that the sun had already started its downward descent in the sky, she panicked, but not for long. She quickly realized that with the long rain last night it would be near impossible for anyone to find her, never mind Jon. She did feel rested, but she was still hungry. That had not gone away. “I guess sleep doesn’t cure everything,” she thought.
“Jon better appreciate what I am doing for him,” she growled. “I must be a mess by now.” She looked down at herself in disgust. Her long black dress pants and new red satin blouse were covered with dirt. Her normal peaches and cream scent was gone, and in its place was a smell of… ugh, she did not dare go there. She had not forgotten that her hair was a rat’s nest of leaves and sticks, and to top it all off, she was sure she still had that welt and maybe even a black eye! Who knew, these people might just laugh at her and send her on thinking she had escaped from the looney bin or something! As she emerged from the woods, she heard a beautiful voice singing, but she could not quite make out the words. The tune sounded somewhat familiar, but she could not place where she had heard it before. The singing woman was busy hanging clothes on a line, unaware that anyone was watching her.
As Kellie drew closer, she could hear the words more plainly, “ ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”
“Oh, great,” thought Kellie sarcastically. “Fanatics. If Jon did stumble on these people, at least he’ll be with his own kind.” She did not exactly think they were animals like Grandpa Bob did, but she definitely was prejudice.
"How can you be so happy when all you know has been ripped away from you, and you have to run for your life?” she quipped toward the singing girl, whose back was turned toward her.
Grace froze. The plain yellow dress she was about to hang on the clothesline fell forgotten to the thick grassy floor of her backyard. So, they HAD been found. Their worst fears had come to realization, and yet, somehow, there was a strange peace. Grace slowly turned around to face the mob of police officers that were undoubtedly behind her to find an all too familiar face. Grace had dreamt of her face every night since that dreadful day so many years ago. True, Kellie was much older now, but she had not really changed that much, and… she looked just like Momma. Grace hesitantly took a small step forward. “Kellie,” she breathed in a faint whisper. “Oh, Kellie.”
Kellie stared back at her, almost too scared to move. Who was this small figure of a person who stood before her? How did she know her name? Why did this woman’s presence affect her the way it did, giving her an odd sense of comfort and warmth? Who was this woman? Kellie stumbled backwards, tripping over a small boy behind her and falling awkwardly to the ground. Almost immediately, people were there to help her to her feet. She felt lightheaded and faint. She had not had anything to eat for so many hours—yes, that must be it; she was faint from hunger. Still, something about this lady before her was too familiar, almost frightening. Kellie took in a slow, deep breath to slow her heart and to get her wild imagination under control. When she trusted herself to speak, she said, “Look lady, I don’t know who you are or who you think I am…” Kellie stopped short as the woman reached out her hand to gently trace her jaw line with her long index finger.
“Kellie, it’s me,” the woman said lovingly. “I’m your sister, Grace.”
Kellie could feel all the color drain from her face. “No,” she whispered, “it’s not true.” She backed away in shocked disbelief. “I don’t know who you are or what kind of sick joke you think you are playing… my sister died almost 22 years ago…”
“But, Kellie, it is me. Remember you always called me ‘Rae-rae’. You started when you were just learning to talk and it stuck. I called you ‘Kells’. Then there was Jonny-boy.”
Jonny-boy? Kellie had not heard that name in years! Rae-rae? Kells? How could this woman know all this? It could not be… And yet… Kellie’s world started to spin. She tried to stay on her feet, but it was futile.
The next thing she remembered she was lying on the soft grass with the warm sun beating down on her tired body. The cool washcloth on her forehead felt good. Where was she? That’s right. Grace was telling her… Grace! Kellie sat up so fast she nearly fainted again.
“Easy there, Sis,” came the sweet voice she had been conversing with earlier, the voice of Grace… her sister.
“But how… how did you… everyone thought you were dead.” Kellie choked out the words as she tried to hold back a torrent of tears. She secretly cried over the loss of her sister, her best friend, at least once a week. Grandfather would never approve of such childlike behavior. “We had a memorial service. We couldn’t find you. We looked for three weeks. They said you didn’t survive the woods, that no five year old could ever survive the woods alone… not for that long.” Kellie slowly looked around her at the small group of concerned people who had gathered around her. “… But then… you weren’t alone… were you.” It was more of a statement of awe than a question, but Grace felt it needed, deserved, an answer.
“Poppa, Jack Sanders, was out hunting when he found me stumbling through the woods. I was crying so hard I could barely see. I walked right into his back, scared him to death. He said he nearly used the bathroom on himself,” she said with a chuckle. Wiping a tear from her cheek, she looked up toward the bright blue sky as she pondered how good God was to lead her to that very spot. If she had not literally bumped into Jack that day, she may have died, pure and simple. “He took me in as his own. I didn’t talk for months after it all happened,” she said quietly, shaking her head. Finally he was able to drag the story out of me, piece by piece, until he had all the facts about that horrible day.” She sighed deeply, and then continued, “I have lived here ever since.”
Kellie stared at her with an empty stare. What was she talking about? It? Horrible day? What scared her so badly that she would not utter so much as a syllable for months? “Grace? What are you talking about? Did Mom and Dad’s arrest really scare you that badly? They were defectors. Besides, Grandpa said they’ll probably get
out soon. They are very close to renouncing, you know. He said they have finally decided that keeping up this Jesus nonsense was not worth their freedom. Well, I say it’s about time,” she spat in anger. “I think they have definitely kept us waiting long enough. Didn’t care very much about us to let us grow up without them, did they?”
Kellie looked up at Grace to see tears fill her eyes and spill down her pale cheeks again. Did she not know the truth? Grace turned and ran toward the nearest farmhouse. Kellie sighed deeply and dropped her head in shame. Of course she did not know. She had been here for twenty-one years. How would she know? She had probably made up her own fantasy about Mom and Dad, one that ended more in her favor… who could blame her? Now, Kellie had found her sister and scared her off—emotionally anyway, in one day. What a great day it turned out to be. Just perfect.
Kellie heard quick footsteps padding the ground as they came closer to her… probably Grace’s husband coming to shoo her away. She looked up, knowingly, but was taken aback when it was Grace herself, peering down at her with pity. In her trembling hand she held a yellowing newspaper. Slowly, gently, she handed it to Kellie. She looked down at the page that was folded back, “September 22, 2020.” That was the date it all had happened, so Grace did know the truth, she just refused to accept it. But… why would she bring a newspaper that proved what Kellie had to say? She read the headline,
“FANATICS CAPTURED…
Late last night, the Tennessee State Police received a tip from Police Sergeant Bob Parker concerning the whereabouts of yet another family of what the force has termed Fanatics. ‘This dangerous sect must be stopped at all costs,’ stated Parker. He certainly lives what he teaches, as last night’s Fanatics were his own son-in-law and daughter, Clyde and Lydia Zoner.”
No, that could not be true. Grandpa Bob loved her and Jon. Why would he turn their parents in? He always said it was a shame they had been turned in at all, that he believed children needed their parents. He said that he was sorry for them, that he was angry with the person who separated their family! And it had been him all along? Kellie read on:
“Clyde Zoner offered resistance at the arrest, attempting to aid in the escape of other guilty parties and necessitated deadly force to be stopped.” Deadly force? “His wife, Lydia Zoner, will be tried Monday, September 25. If found guilty, she will face execution the following day.” Execution! “Two of their three children, Jonathon, 2 ½ years old, and Kellie, 4 years old, have been placed with their grandfather, Bob Parker. The third child, Grace Zoner, 5 ½ years old, has run off into the woods and has not yet been located. Police Sergeant Bob Parker stated that he is sure the search will turn up little Grace by tomorrow evening.”
Kellie dropped the paper into her lap. It suddenly felt so heavy she could not lift it. Could this be true? Had Grandpa been lying to her all this time? Had he caused the death of her dear family? Had he been the cause of all the unspeakable grief she had suffered? Yes, it had to be true. The papers did not lie. Suddenly she was filled with so much hate she thought she might explode. She would kill him! She would kill him if it were the last thing she did!
Chapter 8
Grace was glad one of the other ladies had offered to care for the mysterious stranger in police clothes today. If she had to check in on him every few minutes and cook his meals too, she would not have gotten her house work done early, and she would not have had any time to spend with her dear sister. “Praise God! He knows everything in advance. He knows how the day is going to go. He knows what needs done so it all falls into place. What a great God we serve!” Still, she should probably check in on the man. She felt embarrassed that she did not know his name, but she was not willing to offer hers and felt it would be an unfair exchange to ask for his. Besides, he had never offered his name either. Strange. She would ask Kellie if she wanted to go see him with her. She hated missing spending any more time with her sister than she had to. Her sister. That had a nice sound to it.
What was it that she had come for anyway? She had seemed so alone and lost. She was quite a sight too, covered in dirt, damp clothes, and a red face. Did she even say? No, but it did not matter anymore. Kellie had come to her. The two sisters were united! She would have to ask her about Jon. How was he? Grace knew he had undoubtedly grown up a lot. She probably would not recognize him if she bumped into him in the street. No, he was only two years old when she saw him last. And was he ever cute! He had pudgy, pink cheeks, bright blue eyes, a head full of bushy black hair, and antics to beat the band. Yes, he was quite the character! Some of the things he would say and do in pure innocence would send any sane person into fits of “roll on the floor” laughter. Such a cutie. Grace sighed in reminiscence. Those were the days, and that was what she missed the most about not being with her sister and brother as they grew up… seeing them grow up. She had missed them so very much. They had a lot of catching up to do! Grace hoped Kellie would live with them, that she would not return home… wherever that was. She had missed out on so much with her already. Surely she felt the same way. But then, there was that unmistakable hatred that had filled her eyes when she had read the newspaper clipping. Something about that scared Grace. She had not known Kellie since she was four years old. That small, innocent, loving child could have changed so much in that time. She had changed. The Kellie she knew did not know anything of hate. She could not remember Kellie ever getting saved, and that is what scared Grace the most. Momma had never pushed that on any of her children. She wanted them to come to the realization of needing a Savior on their own so they would not have any doubts in the future. If Kellie were still unsaved, which her prior words and actions had suggested, that would certainly account for the unmasked hatred seen in her eyes. Grace had to find out about her sister’s soul. She had to witness to her… even at the risk of running her off. She could not bear anyone going to Hell for eternity, and definitely not her very own Kellie. She had to tell her… now. Of course, maybe seeing the injured man could be a good jumping board for telling Kellie about Jesus. Yes, that would be great! Grace hurried to finish carefully tucking the aged newspaper clipping into her black chest in her bedroom and rushed downstairs to where Kellie waited for her on the front porch of her Poppa’s house.
Kellie sat perched on the very edge of the porch swing. She was biting her lip, and her brow was furrowed in deep thought. She looked kind of cute like that, but Grace needed to break the reverie. “So, can a nosy sister know what it is that you are thinking so hard about?”
Kellie jumped. “Oh, sorry,” she said, “I didn’t hear you coming. You startled me a bit.”
“So…” Grace dug, “What’s the big secret?”
“I’m looking for my brother… our brother,” she caught herself and looked up in apology.
Grace’s dainty mouth fell open a little as she crinkled her brow and shook her head in unbelief. Surely she had not heard her sister right. She did not know where their brother was? The newspaper clipping said they were both placed with Bob Parker. Surely he would not be cold hearted enough to separate the two siblings… or would he?
Quickly noting Grace’s response, Kellie hurried to explain, “He announced to the world in a town meeting dealing with the rise of Fana…” Kellie looked up apologetically.
“Fanatics. It’s okay. You can say it,” Grace laughed. She knew that was what they were called and she expected no less from Kellie since she was part of that world.
“I’m sorry,” she stumbled. “It’s just that… out there,” she made a sweeping motion with her hand, “that is considered an insult.”
“Well, not here. We are honored to be known to go all out for our God.” Grace’s eyes showed that she meant every word she said.
Kellie cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and continued. “He told everyone that he’s, uh, one of you kind of people, and they are after him. They shot at him when he ran out the door, and I think…” she paused to clear her throat again. It was tight with anxiety. “…I think they got him.
” She started to cry then, deep, heart-rending sobs. “And… I don’t… I don’t know if… if he’s… okay…” She buried her head in her hands and rocked herself back and forth as she had done so many times to self-soothe. Grandpa Bob said she gave in to her emotions much too easily, but he just did not understand. How could he? How could anyone that had never been through as much as she had? Now, to think that she might have lost her brother, that he might be out there dying… or dead, was too much to bear. What would she ever do without him? He had been her entire life since she was forced to grow up so quickly so many years ago. Grandpa Bob provided food and shelter for them, but there was no emotional support, no bond. She had to provide that to Jon even when she felt so empty inside herself, and at four years old, that is a lot to ask! She felt she had every right to cry now. He was her everything!
She had not even noticed that Grace had moved to kneel in front of her. Placing a tender hand on her head, she softly tried to caress away all the hurt, but there was so much. Only Jesus could ever heal this much hurt. Only Jesus can heal anyone. “Kellie, honey. I know right now you feel like no one cares. You feel like no one understands, but there is Someone Who knows and understands everything you are going through, everything you have ever gone through.”