???
Thomas had resolved in his mind that he and his friends would burn to death. He only hoped that the smoke knocked them all out before the flames struck. At least they would go in peace and not in agonizing pain. On his right, Brianna held a screaming Callie close, trying to console her, while he clung tightly to Carla, who wasn’t making a sound, not a whimper or cry. In fact, her body was not tight with fright at all.
To his right, Tori smiled at him. Smiled? No, he was probably seeing things through the smoky haze.
But what happened next, he knew was real.
She touched his arm, gave him a squeeze, and nodded at him in a way that said everything would be all right.
Then she squared her shoulders and stepped into thin air over the canyon.
“No!” Thomas screamed. Had she chosen falling to her death over being burned alive?
He reached for her, but his hand struck air. Slamming his eyes shut, he refused to watch the woman he loved fall to her death.
But there was no scream. No cry of despair from Brianna. Nothing. He opened his eyes.
Tori stood a yard from the edge of the cliff on nothing but air.
It was the fire, the terror. It was all driving him mad. There was no other explanation.
Smoke enveloped him, and he coughed it away, staring at the strange sight, but not believing his eyes.
Tori took another step and turned. A wide smile brightened her face. Cupping her hands, she yelled something, but Thomas couldn’t make it out. He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.
“It’s not real!” He finally heard her shout.
She held out a hand and gestured for him and Brianna to follow her.
Laughing beside him, Brianna took a tentative first step, then another and another until she stood beside Tori.
Flames scorched Thomas's back. He only had minutes before he and Carla would burn alive. Death at his back. Death at his front. What did it matter? He’d take a freefall over being burnt to a crisp.
Here goes nothing…and everything.
Sucking in as much air as he could, he stepped over the cliff’s edge.
And the air transformed into dirt, solid and strong, beneath their feet.
???
“She passed! She did it. Did you see that?” Zarall asked his friends as he leapt up and down for joy.
Arithem gripped his shoulder and smiled. “Indeed, my friend. She has passed the Father’s tests. ’Tis great news!”
Onafiel hovered in the air over the children. “And they are all safe!”
Anahel nodded. “The beast is gone, and they soon will be at UnderHisWings.”
Then why did sorrow weigh upon Arithem? He studied Thomas as he followed Tori down the dirt road. “Alas, even after all he has seen, he still has not submitted to the Commander.”
Zarall sighed. “He is in shock. Give him time.”
“He doesn’t have much time.” Arithem frowned. “Soon the Father will allow his biggest temptation, and in truth, I am not sure what this son of Adam will choose.”
???
Thomas barely noticed the dramatic change in landscape as they entered what used to be called the Chattahoochee National Forest, according to Tori. They went from a flat country road surrounded by dry fields to a hilly landscape thick with trees. Or rather what used to be trees. Most were nothing but charred trunks devoid of leaves, although there were patches of green springing up here and there, a testimony to the stubbornness of life.
