Years ago,
in the weeks preceding Grandpa leaving home to live in Azrael’s compound, Grandma
Beaulah and Grandpa stayed up late every night with Yahweh’s Book. Grandpa had
volunteered his to be the one locked away. He knew Azrael was repulsed by “the
Book”, so they counted on it simply being locked up, without ever being opened.
Night after night they read through, highlighted important verses, made notes and
left clues, hoping one day someone would find it and be able to make sense of the
“treasure map” left in the pages.
Andrew
looked at his timepiece. Strange, it seemed no time had passed in what felt
like an hour of effort traipsing through the entangled web of branches, roots
and overgrowth. Finally, he reached where the light was brightest, and at the
same time, the darkest part of the woods. He encroached upon what seemed like a
building of some sort. Vines and overgrowth overwhelmed the dwelling, and yet
this close, there was no doubt he had happened upon something. He walked around
looking for some evidence of it being more than a massive box, plopped down in
the middle of the woods. He grew restless and anxious, knowing his time was
short. His heart was racing. It was so dark in this part of the woods that he
couldn’t see anything to note. He circled it again, carefully using his hands
to grope for anything of particular interest. Unexpectedly, his hands landed on
a door or window. Although small, it did appear that a person could fit through
the opening. Now, to just find a handle or lock… Abruptly, fear gripped his
heart and he looked at his timepiece. He had just enough time to get back, he
hoped.
Once again,
he uttered a “prayer” into the unknown. It did seem that there was an outside
force guiding him. In fact, he was certain that time stood still for a moment
there. “Help me find this place quickly tomorrow and help me find a way to see
what’s inside.” He gazed upwards. “And if there’s someone there, I need to get
home in time. I also need more time tomorrow. There’s something important here.
I can’t figure out what exactly, but I am sure there is something I need
to know about this place and whatever is in it.”
Eleanor
crested a small hill and the light illuminated some impasse a hundred yards
ahead of her. Her eyes caught something scurrying to her left. It was almost
the same distance away, as the impasse. She couldn’t be sure, but it appeared
to be a person. She wanted to call out, but she was in dangerous territory. She
knew she must be near Azrael’s compound. Instead of stretching to see what it
was and where it was going, she made herself small and laid low until it
appeared the creature or person was out of viewing range. The light was getting
low, so she knew she had limited time to explore, but still… She was so close
to something.
