Salvation | Book 1 | Salvation Page 13

  “Build this?” Abe’s face went blank. “I didn’t build this. I found some company online and hired them to do it.”

  “Oh.” Dinesh’s arms dropped to his sides. “Doesn’t that create a paper trail though?”

  Abraham placed his hand on Dinesh’s shoulder. “Not when you know how to erase the trail. There is nothing online or in the company’s files about this transaction.”

  “Are you two nerds done yet?” Amelia sassed. “I want to go inside. I’m starving and my feet permanently hurt from sleeping in boots for two nights.”

  “I wouldn’t mind resting, peacefully,” Mrs. Jones emphasized.

  “Well, just let yourselves in. I truthfully didn’t bother to lock the doors. I didn’t think anyone would stumble in.” Mr. Jones walked up to Amelia and picked up her supplies. “Go inside. I got this for you.” He turned to face the group. “Levi, you and your mother can go inside too. I need to speak with Dinesh, Jay, and Clementine.”

  Mrs. Jones promptly headed inside, kissing her husband’s cheek on the way. Levi took one step and froze. He looked his father up and down and then back at Clementine. She locked eyes with him and gave him a half smile. Levi could tell she wanted to show more. Clementine gestured for Levi to head inside.

  “I want to make something very clear. I had this place constructed for me and my family. I did not build this for guests and trespassers.” Abraham stood with his arms crossed. He attempted to make as much eye contact with Dinesh, Jay, and Clementine as possible. “For now, you can stay, but understand this.” He took a moment before he continued to speak. “If my family is ever hungry, you don’t eat. If my family is thirsty, you don’t drink.” Abe’s voice rose. “If there are a bunch of vicious killers outside and you’re running to make it inside, even if I have time to let you in, if my family is already inside, I will close the door on you.” He placed his finger on his gun. “I will never be threatened by you. I will never be intimidated by you. I will never be unsure of your intentions. I will not treat you the same as my family because you are not my family. I will ask more of you, and you will do more. I will treat you worse than my family regardless of your increased responsibilities and contributions. If I choose to make up a new rule at any time, I hold the right to do so. Now, when I ask, if you understand, the appropriate response is to nod and say ‘Yes, I understand.’”

  The three of them planted their feet on the ground and didn’t even contemplate interrupting Mr. Jones.

  “Do you understand?”

  Dinesh, Jay, and Clementine nodded and spoke at the same time. “Yes, I understand.”

  “Wonderful.” Abraham smiled, and his voice returned to its normal charming and friendly tone. “As long as we all respect each other’s boundaries, I think we may, possibly, be able to make this work.” Abe gave a subtle wink. “Now, go make yourselves at home.”

  Abe let the three young adults enter and then followed just behind them, closing the wooden door as he entered. The walls of the home were rounded, and the high ceilings gave it an open and spacious feel. Circular light fixtures were placed on the ceiling and were accompanied by skylights. “During the day, we won’t need these lights. This place fills with natural lighting.” The house entered into the living room, which connected to the kitchen and dining area.

  “Is this where you were coming every time you left?” Levi inspected the home and placed his rifle and bag on the dining room table. The room was large and open; however, it held the appearance of three smaller rooms being connected together.

  “Sadly, not.” Abe drew closer to Levi and placed his belongings, along with Amelia’s, on the dining room table as well. “I actually was traveling to various locations. I couldn’t tell you how many cities I have been to.”

  “What did you need to do there?” Amelia probed as she plopped onto the living room couch.

  “I had to recruit people.” Abe sat on a barstool in the kitchen next to Mrs. Jones. “In order to make this happen. And for the next steps to happen. We needed to have people all over the country.”

  “You couldn’t do that online? I wouldn’t have pictured computer hackers as being extroverts.” Levi and Clementine sat on the couch with Amelia. Levi fogged up his glasses with his breath and cleaned them off with his undershirt. “And what do you mean, next steps?”

  Dinesh and Jay pulled bags of dehydrated foods and nonperishables out of the cabinets. They snagged assorted spices and laid out several pots and pans. “I assume no one has any protest to us getting some food going?”

  “Dinesh and I actually did almost all the cooking back home.” Jay took off his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair. He ran his fingers over the spice rack like an old woman searching through her Rolodex.

  “Dinesh!” Amelia kicked off her shoes and propped her feet up on the coffee table. “First the Jeep and now you’re Rachael Ray, aren’t you just full of surprises.”

  “Oh, I’m just the sous-chef.” Dinesh snickered. “It’ll be little Jay bird here who you’ll all be thanking.” He hugged his younger brother in a headlock and gave him a playful noogie.

  “The kids and I will go out hunting early tomorrow morning. Give you some proper ingredients to cook with,” Mr. Jones declared. “There are also some beets, carrots, and a couple of other crops growing. They may be ready to harvest too.”

  “Who the hell are the kids?” Amelia shrieked. “Me and Levi?”

  Abe looked around the room. “Well, yeah. Of course that’s who I meant. Who else would I be talking about? We know Dinesh can’t hunt.”

  “I will note, I am not even offended by that,” Dinesh squeezed in.

  “Hell no.” Amelia threw her head back and laughed. She took a moment to catch her breath and make eye contact with her father, only to then again laugh in his face.

  “I will go with you and Levi tomorrow.” Clementine’s big lashes swept up and she blinked. “My father and older brothers actually took me hunting quite a few times.”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Levi hurried to agree.

  “Me too!” Abraham shouted while making direct eye contact with Amelia.

  Amelia sprang out of her seat, pushing the coffee table back with her shins. “Where are the rooms? I’m tired.”

  “Down, just past the kitchen. On the right and left there are wings of the house with bedrooms.” Abe pointed. “Take whichever one you want, besides the master.”

  “I’ll talk to you snowflakes tomorrow.” Amelia stomped off, leaving tracks of mud from her boots throughout the house. “I’d better wake up to the smell of fresh venison.”

  Dinesh raised his hand as if he were in class. “Wait, I have possibly the most important question of the day.”

  “What is it, Dinesh?” Abraham spoke through his teeth with clear restraint.

  Dinesh clapped his hands and ankles together at the same time. “Is there by any chance a shower on the premises?”

  “Yeah, there actually is.” Mr. Jones inhaled deeply with his eyes closed. “It’s in the bathroom near the bedrooms. Towels are on the rack and under the sink.”

  “Amazing!” Dinesh cheered. “One more question.” He pointed his fingers at Mr. Jones while keeping them folding. “Is there hot water?”

  Abe glared.

  “Yep, too greedy. Had a feeling.” Dinesh nodded and walked toward the bathroom, avoiding eye contact with Abraham.

  West Pines, Washington

  9:15 p.m.

  Amanda: I was a little worried about this. I was keeping my fingers crossed, but the fact that the tracker wasn’t moving wasn’t the best sign.

  Brandon: I was trying to stay hopeful too.

  Cheltenham groaned and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Alvin’s head hovered over his shoulder, zoned in on the computer monitor. Mr. C leaned forward and typed profusely.

  Cheltenham: Not really helping, guys. In all honesty I think we should let this one go and just try to hack into the grid ourselves to see what is goi
ng on. We can most likely assume that he and his little pals broke in and installed some sort of malware. It’s what any of us would have done.

  Cheltenham: By the way, I am here with Alvin.

  Jake: Hi, Alvin!

  Brandon: Howdy, Alvin.

  Amanda: I am sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to cause any alarm. In fact, I came with somewhat optimistic news! I think I may have found something quite significant.

  Cheltenham: What are you waiting on?

  Amanda: Well, I’ve been running searches of contractors and home construction companies. Home builders of any type, in all honesty. I searched specifically in the surrounding areas of West Pines. I figured if he has a bugout location nearby, then he either constructed a home on some family-owned land, or purchased land himself and built something himself.

  Jake: What’d you find?

  Brandon: Were you able to find anything?

  Amanda: I didn’t find an Abraham Jones anywhere. What was interesting is I found a news article about a group of contractors and builders who all went missing out on a job in Washington State.

  Amanda: I’ll link you guys the article.

  Amanda: I scanned the website of the contractors and found the owner. Got into all his shit and found records of every contract the company signed on for. These were all scanned copies of original contracts. So even if a contract was later terminated, the owner still most likely uploaded it here when the contract was initially drafted. And guess who bought a home from them?

  Cheltenham: Abraham Jones…

  Amanda: Yep, and of course. None of the sales records are online, just in this company owner’s personal files. Not only that, they were working on his house when they all went missing. Allegedly they never even made it to Mr. Jones’ property.

  Brandon: I’m assuming this is what kept him in the clear for the most part from police investigation.

  Amanda: It may be worth checking out. I actually have the coordinates of the property. It looks like you may have to hike in. I don’t see any major roads on the map.

  Ezra turned Amadeus’ desk chair and placed his hands on his shoulders. “You know we have to go there tonight, right?”

  Cheltenham’s eyes circled around, avoiding all contact with Ezra. He looked at his bunk bed and the kitchen cabinets stuffed with food. “I don’t understand why we can’t at least wait until morning. Everything will be better when we are well rested.”

  Ezra straightened up his posture and cleared his throat. “I count four beds. There are a total of ten of us. I’m not sure exactly how camping out for the night is going to work.”

  “Amazing idea.” Cheltenham nudged past Ezra and popped open a storage closet door. “I have a few tents. More than enough room for all your buddies to sleep for the night.” Amadeus fumbled and dropped the tent bags onto the floor, trying to tug them out of the closet. “They can use their jackets as pillows or something.”

  “And you plan on feeding everyone?” Ezra scratched his beard.

  Mr. C looked at his kitchen cabinets and tapped his foot. “Yes. Fine. I’ll feed everyone tonight. But you have to sleep outside with them.” Amadeus walked back to his desk chair and flopped into it. “I want some peace and quiet tonight. I’ve had uninvited guests constantly since this stupid thing started.”

  Ezra patted Cheltenham on the back. “Absolutely, old friend.”

  Cheltenham took a long blink, reminiscing about the days when he felt safe inside his own home. He proceeded to type on his keyboard.

  Cheltenham: Thanks, Amanda. Go ahead and shoot over the coordinates.

  Amanda: Sure thing! Please check back in when you return.

  Cheltenham: Will do.

  6

  DAY 4

  Unknown Location, Washington

  12:34 a.m.

  Gideon held an electronic tablet in his hands, with a Messenger tab open. A message from Ezra, with Abraham’s coordinates, was displayed on the screen. Gideon turned off the tablet screen and placed it inside a drawer within his wardrobe. He dropped his robes and stood in just his briefs, admiring his old wrinkly body in the mirror. He took a deep breath and rolled his head back with his eyes shut. He was in a plain, all wooden room. It contained just a bed, wardrobe, and desk. Gideon swung open his wardrobe doors and reached for a camo jacket. Mixed with red, gold, and white robes were various articles of camouflage clothing as well as hiking gear. He slipped on a pair of cargo pants along with thick socks warm enough to protect him in the snow. He pulled on a thermal shirt and covered it with a hefty camouflage jacket. Unfitting to his outfit, he slipped on a pair of white adidas tennis shoes.

  A knock on the door sounded in the room; the door flung open. “Sorry for the intrusion, sir.” Aaron bowed his head with his eyes closed.

  “I assume it is important.” Gideon leaned forward and rifled through the back of his wardrobe. His clothes pressed against his face as he dug through the detached closet. “You know I hate being interrupted before addressing my people. I don’t like thinking about anything other than my last conversation with the Lord before delivering his message.”

  “Of course, sir.” Aaron stepped into the room and closed the door. “But I think you need to know that now both Jacob and Gad have gone missing, and we have great reason to believe they’re dead.”

  “This is important.” Gideon pulled an M4 out of his closet, knocking a few coats off their hangers in the process. “Both were last reported pursuing Abraham.”

  “Do you think it is still wise for us to go after him?” Aaron asked. “What is done is done. How many more lives are worth capturing one?”

  “It is not whether I think it is wise or not.” Gideon closed up his wardrobe and made his way to the bedroom door. “I am only a messenger of the Lord. And right now, the Lord wants us to retrieve his lost prophet. And so, that is what must be done.” Gideon stepped out of his room and was greeted by the meadow that grew underground. His room was in the middle and off to the side of the main campus. The old man slung his assault rifle over his shoulder and marched up the platform steps and looked out over his people. The Sons of Salvation, who normally wore robes, were all clothed in hunting and hiking gear, each loaded with a personal firearm. “My children.” Gideon rejoiced.

  “Our father,” his people declared.

  Gideon folded his hands and relaxed his shoulders. “On the fourth day, God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.’ Then God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” Gideon stepped down and walked through the masses of people. The men parted for him, creating a pathway wherever he chose to walk. “God created these stars and lights for us to track time so that we may separate day from night and live the lives that he intended. Day and night have been reborn on this day. And now we can walk the surface once again. But!” Gideon cried out and circled in place. “But the rules have not changed. The devil walks at night, and the land of the Lord has been stripped from us. The Lord commands that we still do not leave after midnight or after his tenth hour. For only the daytime is ours.” Gideon sat on the grass and crossed his legs; his people copied him. “Day and night are once again, but the Earth is not the same as you once remembered. The sun is gone, and the moon rules all hours. The light of the Lord has vanished.”

  A mumbling broke out amongst the Sons of Salvation. Many spoke like they were talking to friends at school, and others trembled in fear, keeping to themselves. Alone and isolated were each of the new recruits—Ezekiel no different.

  Dinesh’s father wanted to stand up and speak out against the madness but could not manage the courage. He knew it could not be dark outside; however, he wanted to see it for himself. Ezekiel’s sense of time had disappeared, with not a window or clock in sight. He craved the fresh air.

  “It is only the tenth hour, but when you step outside, you will see nothing but
darkness,” Gideon continued. “The world is new, but do not be afraid, cast all your anxiety on the Lord because he cares for you. He cares for you more than anything and wants you to be loved. I want you to be loved.” As Gideon rose to his feet, he signaled for his people to remain seated. “A version of time as been restored, and the Earth turns once again for us. But why, why has God asked for us to return to the surface when we have heaven on Earth here?”

  The old man dragged his feet through the grass. He let his people ponder as he sluggishly stepped back onto the main platform. “The Lord requests his lost prophet. Behold!” Gideon stomped his foot on the wooden platform, sending an echo throughout the underground forest. “The day of the Lord is coming on the eighth day. Cruel, with fury and burning anger.” Spit flew from his mouth. “To make the land a desolation. To exterminate all of its sinners.” He took a deep breath and calmed his voice. “And he needs his prophet Abraham to be here, with us, before he will arrive. So we must roam the lands of the sinners once more. To retrieve our lost prophet and his wife, Sarah.” Gideon turned the safety off on his rifle, and for dramatic effect cocked it, despite it already being loaded. “We will roam these lands together. And you will have nothing to fear, for I am with you. Gideon, the commander of God’s army. I led an army of three hundred once before, and today, I do it once more. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” Gideon placed his hand over his chest. “Do not let anything stand in your way. My heart is with you.”

  The Sons of Salvation kissed their fingers and pressed them against the heart-shaped tattoo under their eyes. Unbeknown to him, Ezekiel felt predisposed to place his fingers under his eye, but withheld only due to the fact that Gideon’s heart was not tattooed under his eye. A lightbulb went off in Ezekiel’s head; he struggled to get his thoughts in order. His heart raced. It can’t be Abraham and Sarah Jones, he thought.