Part 19 (1/2)

The tremor tapered off, and Mr. Pomeroy hurried through to the front of the bakery and swung the door wide. Although the sounds were m.u.f.fled by thickly-falling snow, they could hear dogs barking, car alarms blaring, and the distant wail of sirens. ”That was weird,” said Ransom.

”It was.” With a deep frown, Jayce announced, ”I should call home, check on everyone.”

”Okay,” the teen replied. ”Guess I'll put back all the stuff that shook loose.”

They were halfway through the swinging door to the kitchen when a heavy knock sounded behind them. Mr. Pomeroy turned back in surprise, then wheeled to unlock for Harken, who stood on the front step. ”Afternoon, Jayce,” he greeted.

”Harken! Everything okay at your place?”

”Oh, there's nothing to fear,” the old shopkeeper replied, waving off any concerns. ”I just needed to bring a message.”

”From ...?”

Harken smoothly interjected, ”The highway will be closed within half an hour, and you're needed at home. You should leave now.”

Mr. Pomeroy hesitated only a moment. ”Ransom, we're closing up! Everything else will keep until next year.”

The teen drifted over. ”Are you sure? I don't mind sticking around to finish up.”

”Nope. If it's getting as bad as Harken says, I want to drop you home first,” Jayce countered. ”I should still be able to... .”

”Allow me,” Harken interrupted. ”I'll make sure the boy gets home safe and sound. You should go.”

Mr. Pomeroy glanced at Ransom. ”Okay with you?”

”Yeah, sure.”

”Fair enough,” Jayce acknowledged, then slung an arm around the teen's shoulders. ”Though I hate to rush off like this. Harken, this young man has given me an early Christmas present, the best I've received in many a year!”

”Oh?” the shopkeeper inquired.

Ransom smirked. ”I'm pretty sure I was the one that got the gift.” Nodding politely to Harken, he explained, ”I'm a Christian, sir. Newly minted.”

A broad smile graced Harken's face, and in a deep voice, he declared, ”I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of G.o.d over one sinner who repents.” Offering his hand to Ransom, he added, ”I'm sure that the heavens are ringing right now, child of G.o.d.”

15.

THE.

WHISPERED.

PRAYER.

Prissie opened her eyes to nothingness and gasped in dismay. Darkness pressed around her, and somehow, she knew she wasn't alone. Too afraid to call out, she curled in on herself, ears straining.

”h.e.l.lo?” came a fragile voice.

”Wh-who's there?”

There was a soft rustle, and the voice murmured, ”Calm your heart, Precious. There is nothing for you to fear here.”

”Where am I?”

”With me,” the voice replied. ”I never expected to find you in dreams.”

”Y-you know who I am?”

”Yes, Prissie. I know you,” he replied.

She could hear the smile in his tone, but she wasn't ready to trust. ”Do I know you?” she asked nervously.

”No,” he sighed. ”We have never met, but you are Koji's precious friend. He often speaks of you.”

Prissie had no idea how she knew, but the epiphany was dazzling. Stretching out her hand, she tentatively whispered, ”Ephron?”

Prissie woke with a jolt, but this time she didn't feel as if she were falling. Instead, she was sure she'd been carried away from someplace she wasn't ready to leave. ”Wait!” she muttered, reaching desperately toward the ceiling, trying to hold onto the dream. Staring at her upraised hand, which looked pale and gray in the predawn light, she struggled to recall details. This was something important. She knew that much.

Spreading her fingers wide, stretching hard, she found it was just out of reach, disintegrating like mist before the rising sun. Stubbornly, she curled her fingers into a fist, unwilling to let go, not when everything inside her was begging her to heed G.o.d's message-trust, listen, remember. ”I can't remember,” she whispered. ”I tried, but I just can't remember. If it's so important ... help?”

It wasn't much of a prayer, at least, not by her standards, but when she closed her eyes in frustration, a fragment of a memory seemed to answer her plea. ”Calm your heart, Precious.”

”Ephron!” she gasped. He'd sounded weak, but his words had been kind. He'd known her name and allayed her fears, even though he was the one in danger. Prissie's chin trembled, for in a sudden rush, she remembered something else. ”Koji asked me... .”

Hot shame washed over her, and she hid under her blankets, not wanting anyone-visible or invisible-to see how selfish she'd been. Koji asked for very little, yet she'd withheld something: a prayer for Ephron. The dream had given her a glimpse of his nightmare, and her neglect suddenly felt like a broken promise. Prissie recalled those tunnels, and how terrified she'd been during the brief time she'd been lost in their darkness. Ephron was an angel who longed for the light, yet he'd been hidden from it for months. ”I'm sorry,” she whimpered. ”I'm sorry I forgot!”

Her next prayer came easily, for her brief connection with the captured Observer filled her with urgency. Caring and concern welled up from deep within her soul, and she confessed it all to her Father in heaven. It was embarra.s.sing to admit her failure, even when He knew all her secrets anyhow. Yet she continued until, biting her lip, she muttered a soft, ”Amen.”

Like a sigh, the worry that had been hanging over her head for weeks whispered away into nothing. Limp with relief, Prissie curled up under her quilts and hoped for the best. If anyone could save Ephron, it was G.o.d. She'd done the right thing ... finally.

Dozing lightly, she was startled by a quick tap on her door. Before she could answer, Koji slipped into the room, softly closing the door behind him. He all but flung himself onto the bed. Her surprise quickly turned to alarm, for his cheeks were streaked with tears. Folding her arms around his slender shoulders, she begged, ”What's wrong? What's happened?”

The young angel held on tightly, hiding his face as he trembled, but when he finally lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes were s.h.i.+ning with joy. ”They have been Sent!” he whispered urgently.

”Who has?” she asked, mystified.

”We have!” he replied, smiling through his tears. ”Jedrick, Tamaes, and Milo have been Sent!”

”Where have they gone?”