“Sara!” Anne’s shrill cry had me quickly getting dressed. Bastian already had his pants on and was buttoning up his shirt. He opened the door and Anne rushed inside.
She didn’t ask what we were doing or where we had been. The look on her face filled me with dread. Her skin was ashen white. Her eyes so puffy from crying they appeared swollen.
She was gasping for breath. I took her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Anne, what is it?”
My best friend began to sob. She covered her face with her hands. “It’s David. My god, it’s David.”
Bastian was there in an instant.
“What happened to my brother?” Bastian demanded. I looked at the man who only a few minutes before had been inside me. Now his face was hard. His eyes flashing fiercely.
Anne began wailing. It was the most awful noise I had ever heard. Like some wild animal caught in a trap. Her eyes were wide and feral as she looked at me. “Pastor Carter said The Awakening has begun.”
I felt a chill, cold as ice, creep down my spine. “The Awakening?”
Anne lunged for Bastian’s hand. “You have to go get him, Bastian. Now!”
“Baz—!” I screamed as he took off running.
Anne continued to sob beside me. I grabbed her arm. “What’s happening, Anne? Tell me!”
“David was so down. Depressed. Pastor Carter said it was time for him to go home. That David would only find peace once he was with God. He called everyone together. Your mother said we were going to witness something incredible. Something divine.” Anne shuddered. “I knew something was wrong when I walked into The Sun Sanctuary and David was there already. With Pastor.”
Tears dripped down her face. “Pastor said God was calling David home. That we were all there to watch him ascend,” she whispered before collapsing onto the floor.
I knew then what was happening.
This was my fault. This was because I had defied Pastor.
And then I was running.
After Bastian.
Towards the end of the world as we knew it.
The Sun Sanctuary was dark except for the flickering glow of candles that could be seen through the windows.
The silence was eerie. Not comforting as I normally found it.
“Bastian!” I cried out. I could see him ahead of me. He wouldn’t slow down. I had a stitch in my side but I kept going, trying to catch up with him.
“Bastian!”
He got to the door, pulling it open and going inside.
No. No. No.
I got to the door a few seconds later and pulled on the handle. It was locked. Barring me entry.
I pulled and pulled but it didn’t give.
I pounded on the thick wood, the palms of my hands tingling and red from the assault.
No one would let me inside.
I ran around the side, trying the windows, but they were all firmly latched. I peered through the panes of glass, trying to make out what was going on.
I could see shadows. Movement. Figures gathered in a circle. The incandescent light of the dozen candles made it difficult to see anything.
