Standing, Kyle asked for the latest report from the spy, not that it would do any good. But Jura shifted his feet and looked away, finally saying, “He is no longer in play.”
“Then how—”
“I am making other plans,” Jura said.
After nodding and exiting the room, Kyle took the elevator to the floors above.Yeah, well, I’m making plans of my own.
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew 17:20
Chapter 25
Thomas had no time to absorb what had just happened, not the freakish vision of Aaron turning into some devilish monster, nor the gleaming bright blades hefted by shimmering men fighting him off, and especially not the moment he disappeared, leaving behind a puff of sulfurous smoke.
He had no time because the fire moved quickly toward them, filling the air with smoke and searing their skin with the heat.
Tori spun around and dashed for the chasm, then glanced back at the fire. “We’re trapped.”
Hoisting Carla in his arms, he moved to stand beside her as Brianna came up on his left.
He glanced below. No cliffs, no rock jettisons they could lower down onto. Nothing but sheer rock as smooth as butter.
He hugged Carla close and looked back at the fire. There was no way out. They were all going to burn alive.
???
Mind, soul, andspiritstill buzzing after rebuking and casting Aaron away, or whoever he was, Tori once again felt her heart sink to the depths at their present predicament.Lord? Please, Lord?She pleaded with the Almighty for an answer. Anything. After all they’d been through, all they’d endured, this could not be God’s will.
“Carla?” She moved a lock of curls from the little girl’s face as Thomas held her close. “Where are the angels now?”
Lifting her head from Thomas's shoulders, she glanced about and coughed. “They are here. Onafiel smiled at me.”
“Did he say anything?”
She shook her head, plopped her thumb back in her mouth and leaned back on Thomas's shoulder.
Nothing. Could the mighty warriors not help them? It made no sense.
Closing her eyes, she lowered her head.What do I do? What do I do, Lord?
A vision of the drone attack appeared, followed by the tsunami, then the tornado, and finally the fire.Why are you showing me this, Lord?Yet… all those tragedies had happened when Aaron was with them. Had he conjured them up like she assumed? Spiritual events, not physical. And if that were true, then she must battle in the spirit and not in the flesh.
Emboldened, she faced the fire and stretched forth her hand. “Be gone in the name of Jesus!” she shouted over the crackling flames. After everything that had occurred, she fully expected them to dissipate, even disappear completely.
But the blazing fire remained. Bright orange and yellow flames leapt for the dark sky higher and higher and getting closer and closer.
Coughing, Tori covered her mouth and backed away.
Thomas shouted something to her, but she couldn’t hear over the roar of the fire. The heat seared her skin. Callie screamed.
Spinning around, she faced the canyon once again, heart in her throat. This doesn’t make sense.It doesn’t make sense. Lord!
Wait. Perhaps the fire was natural, instigated by Aaron, yes, but started from an actual lightning strike.
That would mean…thatmustmean that the canyon was not real.
Walk, my precious one.
