Part 20 (1/2)
”No.” Wesley bounded up to me, pried my fingers from the rails. ”He's too late.”
My body swayed, my arms flailed. I latched on to Wesley.
”Do it. Jump. Make him watch. See if he can survive it again,” Wesley pushed me. I grappled for the railing.
”Mackenzie! Don't jump!” Isaac stood below me now on the bridge.
”I can't get down. He won't let me go, Isaac!”
”Call on Jesus. Rebuke him. It's the only way.”
”No!” Wesley clutched his head with his hands.
In his momentary distraction I was able to grab hold of the rail and hold myself steady.
”Do it, Kenzie. Call on Jesus. Only He can save you.”
I thought of all the things Wesley said. I remembered the Bible verses, the preacher's message at church, and Sandy's words. She knew Wesley was trying to destroy me, and she told me I couldn't fight him on my own. Was Jesus the one person who could save me?
Wesley regained composure and reached out to shove me.
I didn't want to die. Please Jesus, save me.
”Jesus!” I hollered at the top of my lungs, my battle cry.
Wesley's screams pierced the air. He cowered, his head in his hands.
”Rebuke him! Say it! Say, I rebuke you in Jesus name.” Isaac instructed me.
”I rebuke you in Jesus name!” I yelled.
Wesley's screams intensified. So loud it burned my eardrums. In a plume of smoke, Wesley disintegrated into thin air. Just as he did, my feet slipped.
”Isaac!” I lost my balance, swayed back and forth. Thrusting my arm out, I reached for the railing but it was too late. I fell.
”No!” I heard Isaac's voice as I plummeted to the water.
I closed my eyes. ”Jesus,” I prayed. ”I believe. I believe.”
Just when I braced myself for the cold water my body was propelled upward as if I was being carried. I opened my eyes, squinted against a harsh light. The arms of a man held me. I looked into the most beautiful, loving eyes I'd ever seen. The intensity in them was overwhelming and I found it hard to keep looking. My head swirled and spun. I leaned my head against the stranger's shoulder and darkness enveloped me.
I was cradled in someone's arms, rocked back and forth like an infant. I felt fingers in my hair, lips brushed against my forehead. The scent of the lake, flowers and night air filled my senses. The rush of the water rumbled beneath me and I felt the scratchiness of the bridge under my legs. Memories of how I got there returned and fear surfaced.
My eyelids popped open. I was in Isaac's arms. His face was ravaged with pain and tears stained his cheeks.
”Oh, thank G.o.d you're okay.” He pulled me to him, wept into my hair. ”I thought I lost you, just like I lost him.”
”Who?”
”My brother.”
”Oh, I'm sorry. This reminded you of that, huh? Because he drowned?”
”Kenzie, he didn't just drown. He jumped off a bridge just like you almost did tonight.”
I felt sick.
”You wanna know why I have such a problem with Rhiannon? It's because witchcraft is what killed my brother. He got involved in the occult and ended up killing himself.”
I recalled Wesley's words. Do it. Jump. Make him watch. See if he can survive it again.
”He knew. That's why he wanted me to do it in front of you. Then it would destroy both of us. Oh, Isaac I'm so sorry.” A noise startled me. My gaze darted around. ”Wesley?”
”It's okay. He's gone. He can't hurt you now.”
”How did you find me?”
”I followed you.”
I furrowed my brow, confused.
”I was watching you. I knew he'd come back to kill you and I couldn't let that happen. When he took you last night I got in my car and followed.”
”Isaac, I'm sorry about everything. I made such a mess of things.”
”Shhh. It's alright. We all make mistakes but it's over now.”
”How can you say that? I'm an evil, awful person.”
”We were all evil sinners before we believed. But you're a new creation now. You called on the greatest power of all tonight. You believed, Kenzie.”
I remembered the man carrying me. ”Isaac, I saw an angel. He saved me.”
Isaac smiled. ”I know. It's pretty incredible, isn't it?”
It's amazing.”
”You know what else is amazing?”
”What?”
”You.”
My heart leapt in my chest.
”I love you, Mackenzie.”