“We watch.” Arithem grabbed the pommel of his light blade. “We keep the hordes at bay. We wait for a command to battle and send this fiend to the abyss. Either from the Commander or your ward, this daughter of Eve.” His eyes landed on Tori as she approached the beast.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Chapter 15
Following her nose and the flicker of light in the distance, Tori made her way through the abandoned building that must have once been a medical facility. Doctors’ names and credentials decorated open doors that led to waiting and examination rooms beyond. Not much furniture remained, nor computers, instruments, or drugs. Not much of anything remained but the stink that always permeated doctors’ offices—a mixture of bleach, filtered air, and sickness. Broken glass littered the floor, along with patient files scattered about like so many bad memories.
Finally, entering one particular office, Tori made her way to the farthest examination room. An older man sat on the floor, cooking over an old camping stove. He spotted her, shoved a knife out before him, and struggled to rise.
“What do you want? Leave me alone!”
Tori held up her hands. “We come in peace, mister. We are here to help.”
“Help yourself to my food, more like it.” Gray hair crowned his head, while his face was lined with age and gaunt from hunger. His body was, too. His shoulders bent forward, his clothing hung in rags, and he leaned on one foot.
“No.” She shook her head and gestured to the man’s right foot, which hung shriveled beside the other. “To help with that.”
For a moment, confusion crept across his dark eyes. He stared at his injured foot and then back at her.
“And let him who thirsts, come,” she said, taking a chance he was a believer. Who else would be hiding from the authorities instead of accepting free housing, food, and drugs from the NWU?
The man smiled. “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
She knew it! The Lord had led her here to help this man. He was one of them.
Lowering the knife, he began to cry. “I thought you were here to kill me and take my food. But you’re an answer to prayer.”
Tori gestured for Thomas, Sara, Brianna and her girls to come closer. “It’s all right. The Lord wants to heal this man, and then maybe he would be so kind to share some of his food.”
“Of course. I’m happy to share what I have with my brothers and sisters.” Wiping his face, the man smiled, revealing a few missing teeth. “Come in. Make yourselves comfy.” He glanced at the room that contained only a stripped examination table and several empty cupboards. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you any chairs.”
Brianna and her girls slipped inside, followed by Thomas, holding Sara up as she hobbled along.
“Ah, little ones!” The man’s face brightened, and he gestured for Carla to come forward, but she shook her head and clung to her mother instead. Odd. She wasn’t usually shy.
Something appeared in the man’s eyes…a flash, a flicker of a shadow. It passed so fast, Tori couldn’t be sure. No doubt her hunger and exhaustion were playing tricks on her. “Please sit…. Mr.—”
“Aaron. Aaron Rivas.” Limping, he struggled to sit back down, then picked up a spoon and stirred a pot on the stove.
Tori made all the introductions, and Aaron seemed overjoyed to meet them all.
Even so, a shiver etched across her shoulders. Hugging herself, she scanned the room from floor to ceiling.
“What is it, Tori?” Brianna asked as she lowered to sit on a piece of cardboard, gathering her children in her lap.
“Not sure.” It felt like a strong demonic presence, but whenever she had sensed an evil force in the past, she’d been able to see it…them. “I’m probably just tired.”
Approaching Aaron, she knelt. “Can I pray for you?” Not that she normally had the gift of healing, but whenever she saw someone with a debilitating disease or condition, whether they were saved or not, she wanted the Lord to heal them. It’s what the apostles did in the Book of Acts, and it was a great witness to the power in the name of Jesus.
“Yes, please.” Setting the spoon down, he stretched out his shriveled foot.
“I bet it’s been hard for you to get around with this.”
He sighed and fingered his scraggly gray beard. “You have no idea.” He glanced over the group as tears filled his eyes again. “I’m so happy to have company.”
