Fiction - Week 23 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

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Deep in the makeshift bunker at an archaeological site beneath the Old City of Jerusalem, Gaius Caligula was pacing up and down while Elijah, the false prophet, sat at the head of the table, accompanied by a group of top generals. His anger and frustration were obvious to everyone in the room. The roasting heat outside, the rest of the population loyal to him were suffering pain and death, and the helplessness he felt. Elijah did his best to calm him and to keep him informed. However, his distress was not compassion or pity for those suffering. Rather, his anger stemmed from his lack of power to stem the scorching heat; hence his fear that those who claimed to be devoted to him would question, or even deny, his divinity.

Meanwhile, the radio delivered more news. The scorching heat was beginning to dry up the two rivers: the Euphrates and the Tigris. Rumours, and so far, just rumours, are that the Chinese Chairman Lok Kin Mao has his beady eyes on the Middle East, and Jerusalem in particular. If he could dislodge Caligula from his throne, he could snatch the title as World Leader.

The Euphrates River began to dry up.

Elijah advised Caligula, who took his place at the other end of the table.

Gaius, we have no idea how long this stifling heat will continue, but sooner or later it must end. Once it is safe to step outside, we must be prepared should any threat arise from the Far East. I advise you, when it's safe, to muster troops from Europe and the Middle East. Also, have troops from the Americas transported here.

You are right, of course. Caligula agreed. But at this moment, we must wait. The Euphrates isn't dry yet. Only its water level is falling. However, will we have enough? Considering the large proportion of Haters still alive. Lately, there were two men at the Western Wall turning their listeners away from me. 

Are they turning the population to believe in the Biblical God? One of the generals asked.

I AM GOD! Caligula shouted, as if the officer was still unclear of his master's identity. The same officer then thought to himself, Then why can't he control the environment if he's the Omnipotent God? However, he was too frightened to ask him.

Caligula then banged his fist hard on the table. At the right moment, I will kill those two myself! And you, General Jenkins, don't you dare question my divinity, ever! Next time I'll send you to the gallows!

Jenkins stood there, shocked. Can this man read his deepest thoughts, too? Not even his silence could protect his privacy.

                                                                        14.

Two thousand miles away, at the London police station, Peter, the two officers Bill and Gregory, and I couldn't see outside. A plywood panel covered the only opening to the outside: a barred prison window. Voices stirred within another cell. It was ten in the morning. Gus, the third officer, emerged from Cell 7 and went to the lounge. It was getting dark outside. He rushed to Cell 8 to inform his two colleagues.

It's only ten in the morning, and it's getting dark! Could it be a solar eclipse? Normally, an eclipse, especially a full one, is announced days in advance, or even weeks. But this is unexpected.

Peter opened his Bible to Revelation 16:10. 

Yes, it says here that the fifth angel poured out his bowl, and darkness fell on Antichrist's kingdom. If it's ten here, then, in Jerusalem, it's already midday. We believe that the Beast has his throne in Jerusalem.

Gus then leapt forward towards Peter. Is that a Bible? Give me that! Cali would kill us all if he saw this!  But Bill intervened.

Hey! Gus, let him keep it. With this heat, neither he nor any of his officers would reach us.

Did the sun switch off like a lightbulb? Gregory asked.

No. Peter answered. It's more likely that a dense dust cloud has been travelling through space for thousands of years. Yet, at this instance, I believe it is passing between the orbits of Venus and ours, blocking out the sunlight. If the Sun were to "turn itself off", as we understand it, all the planets would fly off into space on their own tangents, since the Sun's gravity would fade with the light.

Then I chipped in. If there is universal darkness, then the air will cool. I believe it's God's way of restoring this planet in readiness for Christ's Kingdom...

ENOUGH! Bill shouted. Or I'll tear that book into shreds!

We both remained silent. Any further provocation would lead us into trouble. And more than having our Bible confiscated and destroyed, we most likely face execution. At least for now, the three officers are reluctant to carry out more killings, but that could change in an instant. We submit without compromising our faith.

Across town, all those sheltering on the platforms of Waterloo Underground station were unaware of the darkness outside. Tom noticed a slight drop in temperature. He read his thermometer. The reading dropped from 40 to 35 degrees Celsius. But that didn't stop the sweat from soaking their clothes.

After Phil's anger suddenly erupted upon hearing the words, Let us pray, Tom reminded his friend of the horrific pain felt by Jesus Christ while nailed to the cross. Phil realised that the pain of his childhood memories didn't hold a candle to the agony Christ suffered. Phil agreed to pray, and the two became devoted, calling on God for mercy and to spare this planet and all life on it.

Outside, it was approaching midday, according to the clock, but it was totally dark. The sky was pitch black with not a single star shining. The moon was also invisible. And it was in the gibbous phase, which is short of full. The air was rapidly cooling. Anyone out on the streets not only began to feel cold, but their exposed skin was scorched by the heat, causing intense pain. Without any light, those without a battery-powered torch groped along, feeling for anything in their way, as all the street lights were off.

All the buildings were still warm to the touch, but this deterred anyone shivering from seeking warmth. Rather, the heat radiating from the masonry intensified the burning pain on their tenderised skin.

Even those who sheltered in cellars barely underground didn't escape the heat entirely. True, they weren't as severely burnt as those fully exposed, but they still suffered some discomfort. Panic gripped the affected population. Many realised that this was the wrath of God. But instead of humbling themselves and falling on his mercy, they swore at him and cursed. On the Continent, especially around the Alpine area of Europe, they cried to the mountains to protect them from the heat.

At the police station, no daylight streamed through the lounge windows. There was also no power to keep the lights on. Fortunately, some candles were stored away in the stockroom. They were useful during previous power cuts. Bill groped his way to the closet and found some candles. He used two or three to illuminate Cell 8, where Peter and I were confined.

Only candles kept the station lit.

It's been dark for a while. Greg said. Solar eclipses only last a few minutes. This is weird. What could possibly be causing this darkness?

As I said already, I believe it's a dust cloud blocking the sun. Peter answered.

Suddenly, the main entrance doors burst open, and several officers marched into the station. One of them called out, Any staff members here?

Oh heck! Bill exclaimed. The senior officers. They are Cali's Special Agents. We have neglected our duty to execute the Haters under our custody. Now, they are seeking us out!

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 22 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

The atmospheric heat continued for some hours. Many died, literally roasted to death. Others found shelter in underground cellars, especially in London, where most Victorian townhouses had a cellar. Many had more than one cellar. Off the tiny kitchen, once in the basement servants' quarters, was a coal bunker. At the rear of the house, a row of basement wine cellars lay below street level. All these provided adequate shelter from the heat. A typical London residential street, such as St Georges Square in Pimlico, accommodated many people. Thousands more crammed the underground platforms in tube stations sprinkled around the capital, including the Bakerloo and Jubilee Line platforms at Waterloo.

The blistering heat wasn't confined to the UK, but was global, with the daylight half of the planet bearing the brunt. This included Europe, most of Asia, and also the Americas. However, in the Middle East, the heat was less intense, especially around Petra. Here, Jewish believers in Christ who refused to take the Mark hid in the Treasury itself, along with many caves and catacombs in sandstone cliffs and crags, dug by the Nabataeans around the time of Christ.

The Treasury, Petra. A place to shelter inside.

In Jerusalem, Gaius Caligula and his officials sheltered in a war bunker. Despite his claims to divinity, he was completely helpless. He had no power to deal with the heat or attempt to save the lives of those caught in it. Even the famous Hezekiah's Tunnel, a water channel dug through solid limestone around 700 BC and located in the Kidron Valley south of the Temple Mount, was crowded with people sheltering from the heat. Meanwhile, vast areas of forests and fields with crops were also scorched, and all marine life and wildlife died.

And so, all this was in the news report Peter and I heard on the radio, which crackled back to life. We were safe in our cell, with the window opening sealed with a plywood panel. Police officers Bill and Greg were with us, and they had a radio. We listened to the latest news. Yet, the broadcast wasn't pristine. With the transmitter placed under a temporary shelter, the voice was accompanied by a whistling hum and crackling interference. But we still understood the message.

With the ongoing natural crisis, we had to move away from the outer-facing wall, as it was heating up. Worse, masonry retained its heat far longer than air. The Romans took advantage of this and built their walls with an underground hypocaust heating chamber, from which heat rose in flues built into the walls and heated the surrounding brickwork. Hence, the Laconicum, the dry sauna featured in many ancient bathhouses, was the source of the warmth.

I then asked Peter, Is it true that after this heat crisis, there will be universal darkness?

Peter took out the Bible we had with us, the same one I took from Padula's bedroom the day after the Rapture. I looked up to the officers. With the Clover-Leaf mark on their hands, I was expecting hostility and the book to be confiscated. But the two just sat there, as if they couldn't care less to take any action. Perhaps they didn't want Caligula to rule over every moment of their lives. However, were they aware that the tiny chip implanted under their skin sent a signal to Central Intelligence? That means senior officials could arrive at any time.

Peter opened the Bible to Revelation.

Yes, it says in Revelation 16:8-11 that the fourth angel pours out his bowl and the Earth is scorched. Then the fifth angel pours out his bowl, and darkness covers the Antichrist's kingdom. I try to explain it from a scientific angle. A solar gas cloud has hit us, and many were scorched alive by the heat. Everything, including all masonry and streets, is warming up. Rivers are beginning to dry up too, except at the estuaries where the sea flows in.

The Bible says that after this heating up, a darkness will follow. This is necessary to cool all the elements. But I don't believe that the sun will switch off like a light bulb, as some imagined. If that were to happen, then its gravitational force, which keeps all its planets in their orbits, would fade with the light, and all the planets would fly along their tangents into space.

To our surprise, it was Officer Gregory's curiosity that was aroused, and he asked, How could this be? The only cause for darkness to fall during the daytime is a solar eclipse, a very rare occasion around here. Besides, the moon is either full or gibbous. A solar eclipse can't happen now.

That is a good point. Peter answered. He was thinking about how he could answer in a scientific vein rather than quote Bible verses. Then he said, This is only a guess, but the possibility of a dense gas or particle cloud could pass between Venus and Earth. The cloud would have a very low gravitational pull, but dense enough to temporarily block out the Sun. As for Antichrist's kingdom, it is worldwide. However, the text indicates that the darkness will occur around midday. That's when the Sun is closest to being directly overhead over Jerusalem.

It's a good theory. Greg responded without showing any hostility. Bill sat next to him and said nothing. Could he too begin to see the light of the Scriptures?

But neither he nor Greg suggested executing us. The sadness over the recent death of Emily affected even the officers, even though Bill, Clive, and Ted were preparing to execute her. As I was thinking, Ted is now dead, shot by Clive for defending Emily. Clive is suspended. Now we have these two: Gregory, who was sitting next to Bill, and Gus, who is in another cell nearby, protected from the heat outside.

Across town, at Waterloo Underground station, Phil and Tom watched as more people, all in a state of panic, arrived and began to fill the platform. Phil wondered whether some would step off the platform to sit on the tracks. But nobody did. Although there were no trains running, the central rail could still be live. Even a slight touch would not only electrocute the victim, but fry him too. Even if the line was shut down, it could be turned back on without notice.

This is getting serious! Tom exclaimed. It wouldn't surprise me that not only are all the other platforms filling up, but the same is happening on all stations underground across the city. Even in this heat.

Tom checked his thermometer. The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. Less than half the strength of a sauna, but hot enough to soak our clothing with sweat. Both Tom and Phil watched as others poured in and took up any space left on the long platform. He looked at the crowd. The vast majority were adults of both genders. The few children who were younger than five didn't have the Mark, as it was agreed among the medical world that carrying the chip under their tender skin would make them ill. However, Phil noticed a complete absence of young people averaging between six and sixteen years of age.

However, among the newcomers, some fell unconscious, and a few even died. All those who passed on had the Mark, as if their immune systems and bodily resistance were weakened by the presence of the microchip under their skin. Others, both alive and those who died, had a festering sore around the Clover Leaf mark, with pus leaking from the wound. The sight was quite horrendous. Yet, their deaths brought distress among all, believers and non-believers alike.

It wasn't long before teams were formed to carry the bodies out of the platform area. Not knowing where to put them, they piled them in the connecting corridors and near the escalators. Perhaps they thought that the sight of these bodies would deter others from coming in and overcrowding the platforms. Everyone was soaked with their own sweat as they worked, but each managed to pour some water over themselves. But even this tapered off, as the warm air was heating the bottled water.

How long will this go on? Phil asked in a panicking tone.

Come, let's pray. God is on our side if we believe in Jesus. Tom reassured.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE I AM SAVED! Phil shouted, attracting attention from those who were near. And you want to pray? Look at us. The world is on fire; we are stifling; the water is running out, and I have this mark. People are dying, left, right, and centre, and you ask me to PRAY? Phil emphasised the last word.

He felt an urge of anger pass through his emotions as he remembered his cruel uncle. He too had this "Let us pray" mantra, especially at the dinner table.

Tom turned to his friend with compassion and understanding. He remembered hearing Phil's story of his youth. He tightened his hand around Phil's wrist and spoke in a pleading tone.

Philip, please. Tom begged. I understand what you went through in your younger days. Your Uncle will stand before God and give an account. But for his eternal destiny, it's not for us to say or judge. But remember, Christ hung on that cross for six hours, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon, according to Mark's Gospel.

Imagine being nailed to a wooden cross, your hands and feet screaming in pain. Yet you can't soothe your wounds, as you are immobile. Below, there is hardly a word of sympathy or consolation. Instead, the crowd looks up at you, shouting, mocking, teasing. Six hours! And you can't move a muscle to bring relief from the intense pain.

The Agony of the Cross.

That was the sacrifice Jesus made for you. On the cross, he took all your sins upon himself and was punished as if HE committed those sins. In return, he gave you a receipt: eternal life. 

At three in the afternoon, he cried his final word: TETELESTAI! It is finished. The payment for your sin is complete. We can now go free. No more condemnation!

Phil sat for a moment in silence, looking at the ground in front of him while Tom sat still and waited. Eventually, Phil said, Tom, you are right. Our sufferings are mild compared to Christ's. We'll pray together.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 21 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and have no bearing on any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

In Cell 8 at an unspecified London police station, both Peter and I jumped in surprise when we saw Emily escorted back to our cell. She didn't look relieved. But we were. After she was escorted out by the three officers, we heard a gunshot echo through the building. Like the previous victim, autistic Robert Jones, we thought that Emily, too, faced the same fate.

I then asked, We heard a gunshot. We both believed that you were the victim, as Robert was. We are so relieved that you're still with us. What happened? Who was shot?

One of the officers, the one they called Ted, was shot. He was killed by Clive as revenge for defending me. Emily answered, brushing a tear from her cheek.

Can you explain? Peter asked, drying his own eyes after weeping intensely.

Emily answered, I was meant to be executed. And it would have gone ahead had not Clive behaved appallingly.

Go on. I urged.

Emily continued, When the four of us arrived in that room, the officer named Clive began making monkey noises and mimicked its gesticulation. He then explained that black people like me should be sent to the African jungle to rejoin my family of apes.

Ted was furious with Clive and punched him. He went sprawling across the floor. But he got up and would have gone for Ted had the third one not intervened. After Clive relented, he crept to a drawer, took out a handgun, aimed at Ted and fired. It was Ted who died instead of me.

As Ted lay on the floor, lifeless, the third one, Bill, suspended Clive, pending an investigation. I believe Clive's career as a police officer is over, and possibly Bill's too.

A weapon such as this was used to kill Ted.

Peter shook his head. His university studies in theology included the debate about Creationism and Evolution. He offers a possible explanation for Clive's bad attitude.

The idea of a gradual evolutionary process predates Charles Darwin. Even the ancient Greeks believed in something very similar. But Darwin made the concept official. However, Darwin had a disciple, his cousin Francis Dalton, the father of eugenics. It was the work of Dalton that inspired Hitler to launch the Holocaust, using Dalton's philosophy that the white man is of a superior race, and all dark-skinned people should be eugenised to halt population growth. Clive was simply expounding Dalton's worldview.

The three then sat in silence in their holding cell, each thinking. Then Emily looked up towards the ceiling, then lifted her finger to point to something she could see but we couldn't.

I could see the Lord Jesus rising from his throne and smiling, as if he were about to receive me! Emily exclaimed. His throne is next to his Father's. Oh! How glorious! She then slumped, her body falling face down on the floor.

Our glance was to the grim ceiling. We knew. Emily's passing was very similar to that of the first martyr, Stephen, in Acts 7, but without the stoning. I called for the officers, and soon, Bill and a couple of others we hadn't seen before opened the door, saw Emily's lifeless body, and ordered a stretcher. One was brought in, and she was taken to a mortuary to lie next to Ted's and Robert's bodies, awaiting the Coroner, followed by cremation.

The reality of Emily's passing hit Peter hard. After the body was carried out and the cell door closed, Peter burst into fresh tears. He wept so hard that all I could do was put my arms around him and allow his head to rest on my chest. My own tears rolled down my cheeks. So much for the "British stiff upper lip"! There is always a right time for a grown man to cry.

                                                                      13.

The fiery solar gas hurtled through space towards Earth. Fortunately for Mercury and Venus, the two planets inside Earth's orbit were elsewhere; hence the cloud travelled towards us without obstruction. Even the Moon was full, or nearly so, thus on the far side of our planet from the Sun.

When the cloud reached our atmosphere, the Ozone layer, which protected the Earth from harmful solar rays, rolled back, forming a hole that let the cloud into the air. Instantly, the air around us heated up. Screams of panic were heard outside as people ran for shelter.

Heat from the small barred window began to fill the cell. I called the officers. All three appeared to be panicking. With the screams, the window glass panes shattered, many of them explosively, throwing shards across the street and into the rooms.

Quick! I shouted at the officers. Find sheets of plywood, cardboard or anything to cover these openings! Make sure that each cell has one. These walls are thick. They will keep the heat out.

Bill returned with a sheet of plywood. He reached up and placed the panel over the opening. He secured it with duct tape. The other two officers dealt with the other cells along the corridor until the interior temperature was under control. The three officers then took shelter in our cell, as Bill, who was in charge, knew us better than the rest of the prisoners.

Bill then asked, I believe you're going to say this is another form of Divine retribution. You will never convince us of this "Christ" you profess. Gaius Caligula will find a way to solve this NATURAL PHENOMENON! Bill emphasised the last two words. 

Another officer, Gregory, pointed to the panel fixed over the small window opening. He then said, I once read about the sole survivor of an entire city destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Although I don't remember the name of the person, he was the sole prisoner at San Pierre in Martinique when Mt. Pelée erupted and destroyed a city of 30,000 people.

His name was Ludger Sylbaris. Peter replied. And the eruption took place in 1902. Yes, this was one of the subjects we learned at school.

It looks like a specialised subject. Greg replied. Were you a public schoolboy?

Not a public schoolboy. I attended a grammar school. Peter said.

Another area where the air stayed at a reasonable temperature while many were scorched to death outside was at the northbound platform of the Northern Underground Line under Waterloo Station. Here, Phil Banks sat next to Tom Lawrence. Both had eaten, since Tom shared his food with his new friend.

Phil was no longer a sworn atheist but a believer, thanks to Tom's testimony and a lesson in theology, which impacted Phil's worldview on salvation. When Phil admitted to Tom that he felt like a wedding guest but had no idea what it was about, Tom explained.

The Church was the Body of Christ. This was the most intimate relationship. For example, you are born with your arms and legs already attached. You don't ask them to marry you!

Phil laughed. What's your point?

The Bible talks about the Bride of Christ. Tom answered. The Bride is the restored nation of Israel after his return. In the Old Testament, especially in the Prophets, God is often referred to as Israel's husband. However, at his return, which will be very soon, an elaborate wedding will take place in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ, as the Bridegroom, and the Jews, all of them redeemed believers, will be the glorious Bride. You and I, among thousands of other non-Jews, will be guests at the wedding, and we will live forever, death having been defeated when Christ rose from the dead that Easter morning.

Would all this be in Heaven? Phil asked.

No, this will be an earthly Kingdom, with Christ reigning on the throne of his ancient father, David.  Glorious as this will be, it will still be short of heavenly glory. However, this earthly Kingdom will last only for a thousand years. After that, Heaven will merge with Earth, and everyone will have glorious bodies. We will never suffer from sin, pain, hunger, thirst, boredom or tiredness, but live forever in God's glorious presence.

Christ the Groom, Israel will be the Bride.

A while elapsed. Then Phil said, Listen! Doesn't this sound like people screaming?

Yes, I can hear it too. Tom answered as the rest in the underground station began to murmur.

It's getting warmer. Phil said, wiping his brow. 

The scorching heat, judgment! Tom exclaimed. I hope we will be safe here. He reached into his bag and took out a thermometer. He looked; he saw the temperature was creeping up towards 40 degrees Celsius. Yet the people out on the streets were roasting to death!

We are several metres below ground. Tom said. It shouldn't get too hot here. I believe the heat is coming from the air vents leading to street level. I pray we will see through this without much harm.

Fortunately, there was plenty of bottled water available for the taking. Phil and Tom each took a bottle, drank some, and poured some water over their heads.

The temperature reading on Tom's thermometer slowly reached 45 degrees Celsius, about half the strength of a sauna, and hovered at that level. It was a while before a gradual drop was noticed. Meanwhile, Phil, Tom, and the others at the station kept themselves cool by drenching themselves with cool, refreshing water.

Outside, the ground was getting hot. So were the buildings. Window panes shattered. People who were out on the streets were screaming as the heat scorched their bodies. Many jumped into the River Thames, although the water was warming up. The walls of the buildings were also warming up, including the walls housing the police station. Everyone was terrified, both believers and unbelievers alike. Many were roasted alive; others made their way downstairs into the cellars, a feature in most Victorian townhouses. Underground, there is a greater chance of survival.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 20 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

On the platform at Waterloo Underground station, Philip Banks gasped as the wound on his right hand bled after he flicked away his microchip, which bled out from beneath his skin. The chip was 5 mm square, the standard size that fitted well under the skin of either his hand or forehead. Not that the chip came out entirely on its own. Rather, it came out from constant scratching to ease the itch.

Phil's new friend, Tom Lawrence, who was cooking some food over his camping stove, reached into his bag and pulled out a wad of cotton wool. From it, he tore a portion and gave it to Phil, who placed it over his wound to soak up the blood until congealment stopped the bleeding.

Tom Lawrence's camping stove looked like this.

After asking whether there was any chance of reconciliation with God after everything he had done, he watched for Tom's reaction after showing him the Mark on his right hand. There was no hostility. Instead, he smiled and welcomed the student's offer of friendship.

Then Tom said, I have never believed in Cali since he appeared soon after the Rapture. This was the right decision when I invited a couple of Jews from the 144,000 who were spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom across the land. I was converted to Christ, but wished that I had known Him before the Rapture. Right now, I would have enjoyed being in his presence in Heaven, rather than squatting here.

But is there any chance for me? Phil asked.

According to the Bible, there is no more hope of redemption if you accepted the Mark of the Beast, that is, the Mark of loyalty to Gaius Caligula. But God is merciful. Just now, you have lost your microchip. That tiny device not only activated scanners and opened barriers, but also sent a signal to Central Intelligence. With such implementation, our Peacemaker-So-Called kept his eye on you, ensuring that you remain loyal to him and never stray. But all you have now is a tattoo. Although it's now only a skin decoration, I can't say whether God will save you. But I can be sure of this: God knows the heart.

Phil then replied, I grew up under the tutelage that I must confess to a priest and do penance before taking communion. I also heard preachers say that I must repent of my sins to be saved. Both indicate that I must clean myself up before Christ will accept me. With the premature death of my sister, the only one who was kind and gentle in the family, I harboured a deep hatred of God, and I turned to atheism. What do you think?

Did you succeed in cleaning yourself up? Tom asked.

Huh! The very opposite! My inability to clean myself up has placed a rift between me and anything spiritual. 

Tom looked at Phil with deep compassion, and Phil saw his gaze and was reminded of Emily.

There was a time I was racist. Phil declared. Look! 

Phil bared his arm to show him the tattoo of the growling bulldog surrounded by the colours of the Union Jack.

I used to have a prejudice against non-whites. There was this black middle-aged woman named Emily. She was living with a group of believers in a disused church in Egham. At first sight, I felt disdain. But gradually, my love for her grew. Other than my late sister, she was the only person who showed real interest and showered me with such motherly love. Then I betrayed her and the rest of the group to the authorities. Thanks to me, she is now held in a cell, probably awaiting execution. If there is a loving God, he shone through Emily. I'm so ashamed of myself. How I regretted my loyalty to Cali, which led to the betrayal.

Tom answered, Phil, listen to me. Throughout your life, you were exposed to soul-damning heresies. Doing penance and repenting of your sins would never reconcile you to God. You admitted to yourself that these teachings only brought hostility toward God. Self-cleaning to be saved is impossible, as once you have broken the law, the transgression remains and a penalty must be paid. But God's love for you, Phil, was revealed in Jesus Christ crucified. When he suffered and died on the cross, he paid for all your sins, past, present and future. He was then buried, sealed in a rock-cut tomb. Three days later, he rose from the dead. By his resurrection, he gives eternal life as a free gift to everyone who believes. That is the love of God!

Phil looked hard at Tom; a tear rolled down his cheek, perhaps for the first time since childhood.

Tom, thank you. And you too, Emily, if you can hear me. I have a feeling that I have received an invitation to a wedding feast. I have no idea what this is about. But I believe everything you have said. I believe that his death, burial, and resurrection are the key to my salvation. 

Meanwhile, at the police station, the three officers, Bill, Clive, and Ted, sat around the table, drinking bottled water and using other bottles from the crate to cook food, at least to keep their hunger at bay rather than fill their stomachs. All three were moody and felt that executing another prisoner for Caligula's glory would lift their spirits.

Do you have anyone in mind? Bill asked.

Clive answered, How about that black woman in Cell 8?

Emily? Ted asked.

Yeah, that's her. We can send her back to the African jungle! Clive sneered, not noticing Ted's stern look. Yet he held his tongue.

The three walked through the corridor to Cell 8 and entered. Reluctantly, Ted took hold of Emily's arm while Clive grabbed her other arm more aggressively. The three led her to the lounge.

Bill then asked, Will you bow to our God and Saviour, Gaius Caligula?

Emily looked determined. First of all, he is not God nor the Saviour. He is a wicked man who has deceived you. There is only one true God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was crucified and died on the cross so we could live! Jesus Christ would never force us to take a mark of loyalty under a threat of the death penalty. Your leader might have promised world peace. Instead, he ushered in slavery and mind control for every citizen.

Look, madam. Ted said. Your companion, Robert Jones, had a chance to renounce his faith, embrace our world leader, and walk free. Please, don't be a fool like he was. You can walk free from here if you simply renounce your faith. Your mate, in his stubbornness, was executed by a gunshot right here in this room.

Well, at least he's in a much better place! Emily replied. If you want to send me to Kingdom Come and be reunited with my son Richard, then go ahead, kill me! But I swear, I will never, never renounce my faith in Jesus Christ for Caligula!

Emily acknowledged the risen Christ.

Clive, who couldn't gainsay her, began to mock her by mimicking a hysterical primate.

OO! OO! OO! WAAH! Clive shouted, beating his chest with both his hands. You came from the African jungle; we will send you back to join your brood of apes! Ha! Ha!

Ted could no longer tolerate such a vicious insult to a poor woman. Drawing back, he punched Clive in the chin, and he went sprawling across the floor. Clive shot up and would have dived for Ted, but Bill leapt forward for Clive, and in a contest of adrenaline-enhanced brute strength, the two men wrestled until Clive gave in. The two men stood side by side, gasping for breath, while remaining undecided about what to do with Emily, who was taken aback by the spectacle. 

Ted then suggested, Take her back to her cell, and we will treat her kindly.

However, Clive slipped to a nearby drawer and drew out a handgun. Discreetly, he pointed it at the back of Ted's head and fired. He watched his colleague fall to the floor as a jet of blood spurted from the bullet wound and formed a puddle of blood on the floor.

Bill stood, paralysed with shock. But Clive defended his actions.

After we executed that Jones weirdo, I overheard Ted concurring with her and the others, and then returned to the lounge. The way it went, it sounded as if he was about to be converted.

Clive! Bill retorted. I have to suspend you for misconduct. We are authorised to execute anyone who refuses loyalty to Caligula. But not to fight or even kill each other. You are suspended pending further enquiries, although I'm convinced you will face charges and face prison yourself. Go home. 

After Clive left the station, Bill was alone in his department. Indeed, others were in the building, in different departments, engaged in their specific duties. This included the superintendent, to whom he would have to report the incident, risking losing his job too.

After sending Emily back to her cell, Bill sat alone in the lounge. The silence in the lounge disturbed him. He was used to the camaraderie of his two colleagues, Clive and Ted. But one was now dead, the other suspended, and he sat alone, contemplating his future.

Back at Cell 8, we heard the gunshot, and Peter broke into tears, in his belief that Emily was no more. Peter wept copiously, his tears forming puddles on the floor. So how taken aback was he when Bill opened the cell door and ushered Emily in, alive and well?

Far away, heading from the Sun, a huge fiery cloud was heading straight for our planet. Another judgment on our natural environment?

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 19 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

At a police station in Central London, the officers stood in fear around the lounge table. Clive, the officer who at first laughed at Robert Jones' autism from the cell viewing slot, then suffered a horrible taste in his mouth after turning on the tap, spoke up.

The water tasted ghastly, and its toxicity is certainly fatal. How could a meteorite that struck the Euphrates, thousands of miles away, affect our supplies so effectively?

I think it could be supernatural. Ted replied. There is no physical connection between a river in the Middle East and here in Britain, not to mention the English Channel in between. Yet, our supplies are affected.

Supernatural? Hah! Bill exclaimed, banging his fist on the table. If old Cali hears you talking like that, he'll have us all thrown into the fiery furnace! 

We are all doomed! Ted replied. With no drinkable freshwater available, we can't drink, cook, or wash ourselves. Its only use is to flush the toilet.

I have an idea. Clive chipped in. Why not go out and buy some bottled water? After all. A bottle is a sealed container. How could the contamination affect them?

You're the one with the brains! Bill responded. Anyone up for it?

Clive and Ted left the lounge and exited the station with a couple of sacks. Along the street, they saw a grocery store which was still in business despite the street being thin on traffic and pedestrians. However, they saw nobody inside. But as they approached the scanner at the door, it read the tiny chips each officer had, and the barriers opened.

The two officers rummaged through the shelves, and on one of them was some bottled water. Clive then entered the storage room at the back of the shop. There were several crates of bottled water and some unspoilt food. The two police officers disregarded the law and began to fill their sacks. Then they took a crate of water and hauled everything back to the station. They wondered where the shop owner was. Unknown to them, upstairs in the living room, a lifeless body lay on the sofa. A glass half full of water stood nearby, and flies began to buzz around his forehead, which bore the Clover Leaf mark.

The officers found some bottled water.

We brought back some stuff! Ted announced. Not only to feed us but the prisoners too.

Stuff the prisoners! Bill exclaimed. Why feed them and let ourselves go hungry? I tell you what. The bottled water. Pour out a cup and make them drink. If any drop dead, at least we don't have to execute them.

A great idea. Clive replied. Why not start at cell 8? That arrogant student and his black girlfriend. I'd love to hear her squeal! Are there four in that cell?

No, just three. It was from that cell we killed our first victim. Ted answered.

A bottle was removed from the crate, and three glasses were filled. Then they went to Cell 8 and offered a glass of water to each of us.

Drink! And that's an order! Bill commanded.

As we looked and hesitated, Bill shouted all the louder. DRINK!

We all sipped. Then the sipping turned into full drinking. The water's fine. I said.

Bill and Clive left, but Ted remained behind. Of all the officers, Ted was the least hostile to the prisoners and more inquisitive.

Why do you think all the water from the main supply is toxic while the bottled water remains unaffected? After all, the meteorite struck the Euphrates, thousands of miles away. We are an island nation separated from the Continent. Oddly, our supplies are toxic, but these bottles are drinkable.

Peter answered, I believe that every dark cloud has a silver lining. God in Heaven is now judging this planet, yet amidst the devastation, there is a hint of his mercy. As Peter wrote in his letter, the Lord is patient, not willing that anyone perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hence, God has allowed some water to remain sweet, so your lives are spared.

Repentance. Ted repeated the word. Does that mean feeling sorry for sin or turning from sin to be saved?

No. Peter answered. Repentance in this context means to change your mind from honouring Caligula to believing in Jesus Christ, his Death, Burial, and his Resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion, for your salvation. During these days of tribulation, God is still offering mercy between his judgments.

TED! Bill's voice echoed through the corridor.

The officer lowered his voice and said, I will pretend I never heard that. If my mates find out that I have been concurring with you, I'll be in big trouble, possibly costing my life. I must go.

                                                                 12.

Waterloo Station is not only the terminus of the lines serving the southwest region of England, but a hub of several lines. Waterloo East is a through station on the Southeast main line out of Charing Cross terminus on the North Bank, and it serves mainly Kent. On the Underground, three lines pass through: the Northern, Bakerloo, and Jubilee lines, all linking the South Bank areas to the central city, north of the Thames. 

But since the recent disaster in our oceans and on our freshwater supplies, all the trains have stopped running. With no drinkable water, many are suffering from hunger and thirst, while others have died after swallowing a mouthful of toxic water. Lately, London has become infested with looters who, at first, ignored the plentiful supply of bottled water, believing it could be fatal if consumed.

I, George Bolton, will continue to narrate about my old college mate, Phil Banks, who is now stranded in London. He has taken refuge deep underground on the Northern Line platform. Here, he wasn't alone. He saw others who had the same idea. He also saw that these people weren't followers of Gaius Caligula. None of them bore the Mark, and all spoke of their faith in Jesus Christ. Stacked along the platform were crates of bottled water and food. How they managed to get these supplies down here is anyone's guess.

Phil found refuge at Waterloo Underground station.

But Phil's loyalty to Caligula has waned. The main contributor to his change of mind was Emily, whom he knew was imprisoned with Peter, George, and (as he thought), Robert in a holding cell at an undisclosed police station somewhere in London. While he lived with the group in Egham, Emily showed him a motherly love nobody in his own family ever showed. He knew that she was grieving over her lost son, Richard. In place of her son, her affection was poured out on him, a student of Politics at Royal Holloway, whose childhood was a victim of bullying from a relative, his mother's brother, who was an icon of religious hypocrisy and sadism. Contrary to his own belief, his loyalty to Caligula was more of a kick in his uncle's teeth than any real political conviction.

A young man, about Phil's age, sat with a cooking pot heated by a camping stove in front of him. As Phil approached, he looked up and invited Phil to join him.

My name is Tom. He said. Tom Lawrence. I'm from the University of London. I was staying at my apartment until an earthquake hit London some time ago. Our apartment building was damaged, and I believe it's now condemned. Homeless, I settled here.

Phil asked, What has happened to you? Do you have the Mark?

Can you see any mark on me? Tom asked.

Er, no. Phil answered, looking at his hand and his forehead.

Phil flushed as he felt his own hand itch under the glove. He had found a new friend, and he no longer wanted to hide under deception. He wanted to test to make sure.

Tom, please don't be offended, but I was a sworn atheist, and I really thought that Cali would bring world peace. He was assassinated in Rome, and after he regained his life, we all wondered about him. I really thought that he would bring peace and prosperity. So far, he has failed, and failed badly. I accepted his mark. I am now regretting making that mistake.

Phil peeled off his glove from his right hand and showed the Clover Leaf tattoo. He felt it itching, and he started to scratch. Suddenly, something came out of his skin in the middle, and he subconsciously flicked it away. The wound began to bleed.

Phil realised that the tiny microchip had surfaced. As he swiped it away, it flew across the platform and onto the railway tracks below, and he lost it forever.

That was the microchip! Phil exclaimed. It's gone. Gone forever. Everyone who receives the Mark remains condemned. But I have felt deluded by Cali's string of failures, and I don't feel loyal to him anymore. Tom! Is there any hope I could still be reconciled to God after everything I have done?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 18 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

 All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

The noise of the gunshot in the interrogation room vibrated through the entire police station. Emily shrieked, knowing full well that the autistic marine biology student, with a special fascination for coral reefs, was no longer with us. He was shot dead. Shot dead for refusing to take the Mark of Gaius Caligula. All the remaining saints envied the deceased Robert Jones. He is now in Heaven, receiving special glory from the Lord enthroned, and reunited with his family in a place too glorious to imagine. For a while, Emily wept, tears rolling down her cheeks and dripping off her chin. 

Robert, oh Robert, our poor beloved brother! Rest in peace!  Emily muttered as she dried her cheeks.

While Emily continued her grief, everyone in the holding cells knew their fate. A choice between walking out of here into freedom or facing execution. Robert's execution was by gunshot, although we don't know where he was shot. Yet, in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, a prophecy foretelling that the saints in this time of human history will be beheaded. In modern language, it means decapitated. I turned to Peter.

Where does it say we are likely to face decapitation? I asked.

While still at the church in Egham, Peter packed the group's Bible into his shoulder bag as he was led out to the waiting military van. As such, he turned to it as he sat in our cell.

It's in Revelation 20:4, which reads, "Then I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

Emily, after her sobbing had subsided and she had regained control, asked, This glory which you described so well, do you think Robert is now enjoying it? And do you believe that we too will partake in it?

Yes, most certainly, on both questions. Peter answered. It doesn't matter how we die, as long as we persist in our refusal to take the Mark. We could die as Robert did, or we could face a firing squad, or even a literal guillotine installed. The last two would most likely happen in the central courtyard found in many of these public facilities.  

A guillotine like this one may be erected in London.

I began to feel anger build. My attention turned from Robert to Phil, my former college mate. I then realised that I hadn't seen him anywhere around the police station. Then I remembered him walking away as we were all led into the station cells. I thought that he might head straight back to Egham. But I later learned that he spent a couple of nights at a hotel before arriving at Waterloo, after hearing of a sudden disruption on the railways caused by the two meteorites. 

However, when he left, he didn't look that happy either. Rather, I wondered whether he was reluctant to betray us. Emily became dear to him because her motherly attitude led him to question the divinity of Gaius Caligula and wonder whether the Gospel was true, as he remained with the rest of the group in Egham.

While I was thinking of Phil, he was already making his way on foot across London. However, because of the judgments falling on the planet, he found the city deserted. The streets were quiet, with little traffic flow. He passed a grocery store which had closed down. Looters had already smashed the front window and raided the shelves. However, there was a crate of bottled water that was left untouched. At first, he wondered why the bottles remained intact. Then he remembered hearing about the meteorite smashing into the Euphrates River and turning all freshwater bitter. As Peter, Emily and I were aware, many had died after drinking to quench their thirst.

Phil held a full bottle in his gloved hand and opened it. Surely, a meteorite falling thousands of miles away couldn't affect water in a sealed bottle, where no contamination could reach it. He lifted it to his mouth and took a small sip. It tasted normal. Relieved, he drank the whole bottle empty. Was the UK exempt from the judgment? He wasn't sure.

There was some food left behind by previous looters, and he helped himself with what he could find. He looked at the scanner and the closed barrier just inside the door. He smirked. So this was Caligula's method of exerting world control! At the end of the day, his bright idea couldn't keep the looters out, and even if his own Clover's Leaf activated the scanner and opened the barriers. The mechanism had lost its purpose.

He remained in the derelict shop for a while. He took off his glove and looked at the intertwining three sixes on the back of his hand. This world leader who promised world peace and prosperity! How successful was his global program? True, he performed a fascinating miracle while he was in Rome by coming back to life after he was assassinated. Most of the world wondered about the miracle. But bringing world peace? Indeed, he had success for the first three years. Then Russia's President, along with his Arab allies, shattered the peace program with his attempted invasion of Jerusalem. One reason was to rebuild Russia's failing economy. The other was to avenge the Jews for approving the destruction of their sacred Dome of the Rock.

Afterwards, Caligula couldn't restore world peace. His "fishbone in his throat" was the 860,000 Jews who fled Jerusalem and its surrounding Judean towns to seek refuge in the area of Petra in southern Jordan. Furthermore, the earth literally opened up to swallow the entire army as they drew close to executing those Jews. Now, this world leader is pacing around his Jerusalem headquarters like a headless chicken. 

As Phil sat in the shop and meditated, he saw that both the Jews, who, according to Peter's studies, could be as many as eight million, a third of world Jewry, refused to believe in Caligula or accept his Mark. Then there were "the Haters". The mission carried out by the 144,000 Jews across the globe has produced millions of converts. All these people, both Jews and non-Jews, are a bane to Gaius Caligula. See how catastrophic a failure he already is; he has set his armies to hunt down and execute anyone who isn't bearing his Mark. So much for his peace program!

Hence, his own betrayal of his new friends. The motherly Emily, the knowledgeable Peter, and his college mate George. He also remembered the brilliant but autistic marine life student, Robert Jones. Phil wondered how he was doing at that police station.

Phil raided and sat, meditating in a derelict London shop.

With his devotion to Gaius Caligula already wavering, and more doubt about his divinity growing, Phil arrived at Waterloo Station. It was quiet and almost deserted, except for a couple of looters smashing the front window of the Tesco Express grocery store and entering to pillage anything of value from the shelves.

He kept himself distant from the looters. However, he quickly saw why the station was otherwise so quiet. A few days earlier, trains were still running. But since the devastation, no trains were running. Indeed, trains were standing at some platforms. But all looked abandoned, with no sign of any departure announcements. The entrance to the underground was partly open, as if the gate was suddenly abandoned while in the process of opening or closing. Access to the underground could be advantageous. Phil knew that he was stranded in London. He couldn't return to Egham to collect his laptop from the abandoned church, nor return to his college apartment. He didn't trust anyone at the police station to drive him home either.

Phil approached the entrance to the underground, or "the tube", as affectionately known. There were three tube lines: the Northern, the Bakerloo, and the Jubilee. He remembered Peter during one of his Bible studies. The judgment on the oceans and freshwater had already occurred with devastating results. He remembered two more catastrophes still to come: searing heat and universal darkness. The searing heat from the sun was the more terrifying. It might be this disaster when people will cry to the caves and mountains, Fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb! Not that anyone would address God as a lamb, but its significance was enough. Jesus, the little lamb taught to the first-graders, meek and mild, has metamorphosed into a roaring lion.

Literally, everyone out and about who is caught in the searing heat will be roasted to death! This is where the underground platform would be useful. He has a better chance of survival several metres underground.

The escalator, which was no longer moving, became stairs into the ticket office below. Amazingly, the microchip in his right hand activated the barrier, giving him access to the platforms. When he saw that the Northern Line ran beneath the other two, he decided to make the northbound platform his temporary home.

He arrived at the platform. To his surprise, he saw other people squatting there. Phil looked at them casually without making any attempt to examine them too obviously. None of them had the Mark either on their foreheads or on their right hand, even if the latter was difficult to see, as some hid their hands in their pockets. Phil has stumbled upon another group of "Haters". With doubts about Caligula already festering in his mind, he greeted the group with friendliness rather than showing hostility. However, he made sure that his own Mark, which he was beginning to regret, was well hidden by the antiseptic glove.

Back at the police station, the prisoners rested in their cells. After the execution of Robert Jones, there was no more drama for now. In the staff lounge, one of the officers went to the kitchen to make tea for the rest of the crew. He turned on the tap and allowed a drop of water onto his palm. He then licked it, then immediately spat into the sink. The burning bitterness caused him to cough and spit in panic. There was no other source of water he could use to rinse his mouth. Instead, he had to bear the discomfort and warn the others.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 17 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

                                                                11

Robert Jones mulled through his thoughts as he, along with the rest of the group who hid away at St John the Baptist Church in Egham, settled in the military van that would escort them all to an interrogation unit somewhere in London.

He was the eldest of four siblings. The other two brothers and a sister were still at school when they vanished with their parents. To me, the whole family was similar to the Padula family. With them, both the parents and their only child, Roger, were taken to Heaven. But with the Joneses, Robert wasn't committed to believing in Jesus Christ by the time he entered Oxford University to study Marine Biology. Instead, he took a gap year after leaving school with a stack of A* Levels that made him eligible for a place at Oxford. Like the rest of us, Robert, whose family home was in the neighbouring town of Staines, was welcomed into our group a couple of weeks after the Rapture.

As I sat directly opposite him, I could almost read his thoughts. Most likely, he was reminiscing about his gap year. This was the topic of his testimony before he finally believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to take away his sins, after listening to the three Jewish witnesses of the 144,000 who stayed with us for a short while.

He always insisted on being addressed by his proper name, as he hated the name Bob. Apparently, he has Asperger's Syndrome, nowadays known as "on the spectrum". This high-end form of autism is often found among those with a high IQ and who hold high educational qualifications. I knew him to be a loner, and before joining us, he had very few friends, if any.

But he told us all about his travels as a lone backpacker long before the Rapture. He visited only one country, Australia, and volunteered on the Great Barrier Reef. This tied in well with his academic career at Oxford. He was enthusiastic about coral conservation, as ocean warming has caused many corals to bleach and die, and the Great Barrier Reef has been affected.

Robert Jones loved the Great Barrier Reef.

I tried to reassure him. Robert, hang on to your faith. We need to endure. But if we win the victory through faith in Christ, we will be in a much better place than even the healthiest coral reef. You will be reunited with the rest of your family. Their joy will be beyond words!

Robert looked up, but his eyes didn't meet mine. How did you know what I was thinking? He asked.

I know you well enough. I answered.

I looked around the van. I was among good people, all of them believers in Christ. Although we were all handcuffed, the army guards weren't. Instead, each displayed a clover-leaf-shaped mark on their foreheads. However, some were puffed up and sore, and I could see how uncomfortable they felt. This made me wonder whether they were really devoted to Gaius Caligula, or whether they took the Mark merely to save their own skins.

As for Robert Jones, I felt that it was unfair to lump Asperger's with Autism; many of the latter often have learning disabilities. During my studies of genetics, I have found that Asperger's is quite different to autism in the more severe sense. Asperger's affects mostly men; many are highly intelligent and well-educated. Some, like Robert here, know how to communicate to the outside world like any student with brains. But they tend to remain silent in a social setting, such as in a pub or restaurant, unless the group conversation turns to a subject of his special interest. In Robert's case, it's marine life, with coral reefs a speciality. If someone mentions coral reefs, he would talk for hours if left unchecked.

But as the van journeyed on, I saw that the most infuriating person on this trip was Phil Banks, a former college mate, and one with whom we shared many things. He was the modern-day Judas Iscariot who mixed freely with us at Egham, even letting us use his laptop, while all along, he was sucking up to his paymasters, Caligula's officials.

However, he didn't celebrate his betrayal. Instead, there was a level of reluctance. There was even a hint that his full-hearted devotion to the world leader was beginning to waver. But there was no turning back, and he knew it. The Mark on his right hand, covered by an antiseptic glove, sealed his fate.

Once in town, the van drew up outside a police station. The whole group was then assigned a cell. But to some relief, no single occupancy. Instead, in a row of eight, there were three remaining vacant cells, each ready to accommodate four inmates. I will be sharing ours with Peter, Emily, and Robert. However, the voices I was hearing indicated that our group weren't alone in the station. There were more prisoners, most likely Christian believers who also refused to take the Mark.

Robert's autism was confirmed not by any confession but by rocking back and forth while he was sitting on the bench. He began to recite, Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. Caligula is not God, over and over again. I was astonished at how this highly intelligent, well-educated person could be reduced to such a state when under distress. I felt my heart go out to him, and I watched Emily approach to sit next to him and try to calm him.

An official peered through the door's viewing slot and, seeing Robert in that state, walked away laughing to himself. Peter then pulled out a mobile phone tablet, which he had charged at the church shortly before his arrest. A text displayed the latest news. It read,

Two massive meteors, possibly asteroids, crashed onto our planet. One fell into the Indian Ocean, and it looks like all marine life was wiped out by the impact. The other fell into the River Euphrates, making all the freshwater across Asia undrinkable. This will cause a worldwide panic. Not only will people die of thirst but of hunger too. Without drinking water, cooking food will become an impossibility. Reports are coming in that the impact has caused the water to taste a burning bitterness. Furthermore, the bitter taste in our freshwater sources appears to spread outside Asia into Europe, and America is also concerned.

Peter read the news aloud, and when Robert heard about the destruction of all marine life, his face began to crumple as tears were shed.

Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, he recited as he rocked back and forth. Emily placed her arm around him, and he rested his head on her chest.

We weren't the only ones who read about the two judgments. The news spread like wildfire through the station. In the boardroom, panic was felt among the suited officers. One of them got up and began to pace back and forth along the length of the room.

These disasters are caused by those who refuse to bow to Caligula and take his mark! He said loudly.

All agreed. Then another said, Indeed, these are so-called 'Christians', better known as Haters for not accepting Caligula's world peace program. These haters must no longer impede progress! We will give each one here a choice. Take the Mark or be killed on the spot. There will be no middle ground. Look! The earth is being destroyed by one catastrophe after another. If these haters of World Peace survive, then the rest of us won't.

Who will be the first? Another asked.

Another replied, A short while ago, while I was checking each cell, in cell 8, there was this lad, rocking back and forth. I think he was weeping over the demise of marine life. I'm pretty sure he's autistic. He looks to be the easiest one to persuade. Let's do him first. If he accepts the Mark, he will go free. If not...

Three of the officers made their way to cell 8, where Robert, Peter, Emily and I were confined. The door opened, and Robert was seized. They led him into the interrogation room. In it was a table with some chairs. On the table, as if deliberately placed in full view, was a shotgun and a pair of pliers.

The group were led into police cells.

The officer then spoke. Mr Robert Jones, autistic but with a sound, intelligent mind and body. Will you now accept the Clover Leaf, the symbol of loyalty to our God and saviour, Gaius Caligula, who has promised world peace and prosperity, and who will deliver our planet from the catastrophes inflicting it?

NO, NEVER! Robert exclaimed. Jesus Christ, who was crucified for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day, is the only one who will give eternal life. Jesus Christ is the true God, the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity who created the heavens, the earth and all life. To Jesus I will believe. No! Caligula is not God, and I will never, never be loyal to him!

In a panic, Robert began to run around the room like a frightened domestic cat before one of the officers caught him and held him under restraint.

While Robert was held under restraint, the officer replied, Listen, if you take the Mark, either on your forehead or right hand, we will set you free. You will walk out of here, and every scanner at the door of every shop will pass you through, and you can buy and eat to your heart's content. What do you think? Be wise, take the Mark, and walk free. 

No, never! Robert insisted.

Are you sure you don't want the Mark and your freedom? The interrogator asked.

Absolutely sure! Robert answered as his face began to look angelic. This startled the officer, who picked up the pliers and crushed one of Robert's fingers.

AARGH! Robert yelled. 

Will you take the Mark of Gaius Caligula and go free?

(Gasp) No, not ever!

This is your last chance! Take the Mark! The officer ordered.

No, I won't!

Well, you've asked for it. The officer said. This is your final, last chance.

Jesus is my Saviour, Lord and King! He lives forever! Just wait and see. Caligula will get his comeuppance from the Lord himself when he returns. I'll never take Caligula's Mark.

The interrogator shook his head with some regret. He then turned to his companion and whispered something. His companion nodded. The interrogator picked up the shotgun and held it in front of Robert's eyes.

Will you take the Mark?

Shoot me dead if you want. I'll go to be with the Lord and my family. But you will never change my mind. The student stood firm.

The officer placed the barrel of the shotgun on Robert's temple and fired. His head exploded as the bullet passed through, and his body slumped.

Among the twelve who hid away at the Church of John the Baptist in Egham for the last 3.5 years, the system has claimed its first martyr.

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To be Continued.