|
|
|
|
"Opened Eyes" (Part 5) by Joseph Linhardt, ©2003 (From Part 4...) Peter pried his eyes away from the ravine top. “Wait a minute,” he said,
standing. “What’s going on here? Who are you and what in the world was that
thing?” “There is no time to answer you here,” said the white being earnestly.
“We must go. Now.” ... “Why should I trust you?” demanded Peter, annoyed. Surprisingly, the
white man did not get angry. “Don’t trust me,” he said, as if Peter’s question was completely ridiculous. “Trust the One who sent me.” These words made no sense to Peter, but he did
not sense the immense darkness he had felt in the other creature. And if he
stayed, Peter was certain the black thing would return. “All right,” Peter said reluctantly. “But who are you?” “Malachi,” replied the man. He beckoned
Peter forward. “Come.” He left no more time for questions. He hurried
up the steep slope as if it were nothing more than a flat plain. His feet
scarcely seemed to touch the ground. In moments, he was waiting patiently at the
top for Peter. When Peter arrived, he fell to his knees, breathing heavily. “Come!” said Malachi urgently. He pulled
Peter to his feet. “There is no time to rest, yet.” Peter sucked in a deep breath and followed his
strange guide. To Peter’s complete surprise, the mysterious man led him out of
the woods and back toward the school. There was no hesitation in his stride. He seems to know his way around,
thought Peter. “This way,” said Malachi when they reached
the wide, busy main street. Peter followed wordlessly. He wondered what the
passers by would think of him walking with this white, radiant man, but no one
paid the least bit of attention to them. It was as if they could not see
Malachi. “Here,” said Malachi at last. He turned
down a narrow, two-lane rode that lead to a small, brick church. A cross stood
in the center of the church’s small grounds. “What are we doing here?” Peter asked,
surprised. The white clothed man stopped on the front steps of the church. “Don’t you know?” asked Malachi. “They
cannot come here.” “Who are they and why can’t they come here?” asked Peter, completely at a
loss. “Tell me what’s going on!” The man sighed. “Yes, it is time. You must
know.” Malachi looked Peter in the eye. A heavy tone came over his voice.
“Listen well, Peter. You have been given something special, something rarely
ever given to humans, something…extraordinary, as you would call it.”
Malachi paused, eyeing Peter carefully. “You have been given the ability to
see angels and demons.” Peter’s mouth fell open and he took a faltering step back. “W—What?!” “Peter,” continued Malachi, his voice soft. “The ‘thing’ you
saw in the ravine…it was a demon.” “N…no,” Peter stuttered. He sank down
onto the grass. “This…this isn’t real. This can’t be real!” “It’s true,” corrected Malachi. “This is real. Peter, you are seeing
angels and demons. They
do exist, thousands of them.” Malachi sighed heavily. “And few
humans realize the danger of them.” Peter gazed up at Malachi, disbelief on his
face. “Then…then you are...!” Malachi nodded. “Yes. I am an angel, sent to
help you.” Peter’s head sank into his hands. “I
can’t believe this. I gotta be dreaming!” The white man kneeled beside him. “Peter, you
are not the first to see. Your friend also fell into the ravine and was
permitted to see us.” “How?” demanded Peter. “Why?” The angel shrugged. “The ways of our Lord are
His own. He has His own purpose for allowing you to see us.” Peter started at the ground. “No…no, I have to be dreaming! This
can’t be real!” It was as if some, unknown voice heard his
statement. That’s right, it said, like a voice inside Peter’s head. You
fell into the ravine, hit your head and you’re having a fevered dream. This is
nonsense. The angel’s face turned sad. “Your friend
said the same thing.” Peter stood, suddenly angry. “Where is he?
What happened to Bryan?” “He was taken,” said Malachi sadly. “Into a stronghold of the demons.
He would not listen. They
were able to conquer him because of that.” That’s ridiculous, Peter! You know better than that! Peter shook his head violently. “No way! This
can’t be true!” He began to walk backwards, away from the white angel that
stood before him. “Peter, no!” warned Malachi. “They
are already trying to conquer you!” Peter continued moving away from
the white being. “Forget it!” shouted Peter “This is just
some dream! I fell into the ravine. I must have hit my head…that’s it!” he
ranted. “Peter…stop! You must listen!” But Peter did not listen. He turned and ran as
fast as he could, away from Malachi. *
*
* This isn’t right, thought Peter angrily as he walked the busy
streets, toward the school. This can’t be right! The voice inside his head answered his
thoughts. You know it, don’t you? You’re just dreaming. Peter shook his head and kept walking. Though
he was a Christian, he could not bring himself to believe what was happening to
him. “The last thing I did,” he said to himself,
“was fall in the ravine. So maybe, if I go back there I can wake up!” The words of the angel Malachi trickled through
his mind. They're already trying to conquer you! “Forget it!” muttered Peter under his
breath. “Humans can’t see demons and angels!” A dark shadow suddenly flickered to his left,
but when Peter looked, it was gone. He shuddered involuntarily. Just the sun making shadows, he thought. He turned a corner and arrived at
his high school. “Okay…here are the woods! Ha, I bet I wake
up with Jenny splashing cold water on my face!” he said to himself, trying to
laugh. His forced chuckle died on the air. The woods loomed black and large before him.
They seemed dark, and threatening in a way they had never been before. Peter
swallowed. All of a sudden, he began having second thoughts. “Maybe it is
true,” he said, hesitating. “Maybe I can
see angels.” The memory of what had happened to him in the ravine only
moments ago surfaced. The voice in his head answered him. Are you crazy? You’re tired and you hit your head. You’re just
dreaming. Get in there. You’ll wake up. All dreams end sometime. “Right,” answered Peter uncertainly. Still, it was the only thing he could do. He swallowed hard and plunged into the woods. Want to comment on this article? Please click here for a comments/suggestions form. |
|
|