Harmony and Arrow had finally found their lead back to the portal at New Life Rehab— but as they did so, they noticed the gathering of Preston, Pat, and an unknown woman. As they got closer, they realized what was happening. Once they dragged Pat unwillingly to the portal, Harmony passed through first but lost her footing as she tried to slow down. She fell forward and caught herself with her hands. Before she had time to warn Arrow, he came tumbling through behind her carrying an unwilling Pat. They collapsed on top of her back in the safety of Zion’s place. A quick look around and Harmony recognized that they were in the downstairs lab she had cleaned. Zion and Rachel leaned over the trio in concern.
“We were so worried.” Rachel said.
“We’re okay.” Arrow reassured her as he stood up.
Harmony stood as well and dusted herself off. Even though they had bad news, it was comforting to be in a familiar place that was well-lit.
“Pat, buddy.” Arrow said, looking down at the young man still curled up on the floor.
He reached out for Pat, but he shoved Arrow’s hand away. Faster than Harmony had ever seen Pat move, he stood on his own. There was something odd about how he looked. His eyes were dark and the lines on his face pronounced. His head was cocked slightly to the side and he was sneering at them all. A sneer was not an unfamiliar sight on Pat’s face, but it was usually paired with a sparkle in his eyes to signify he was being sarcastic or teasing. This time, no shard of light could be found in his eyes.
“Pat?” Zion reached out, his fingertips barely touching his shoulder.
Pat recoiled as if he had been burned and said, “Get away.”
“I’m sorry. Did you get hurt?” Zion asked, still standing near to Pat.
Rachel then approached and was behind her husband, concern in her eyes. “Something is wrong, Zi.” Rachel whispered to her husband. “That isn’t Pat speaking.”
Zion muttered a quick prayer and Pat suddenly laughed. “He will not hear you.”
“He who?” Zion asked.
“Elohim.” Pat hissed.
Harmony felt shivers run down her spine. She didn’t know who Elohim was, but his name commanded attention. She glanced over at Arrow and she could tell that he knew who Elohim was. His eyebrows were weighing heavily over his eyes and his lips were in a firm line.
“Who are you?” Zion’s voice was steady, but he shook.
“Tumultus, the author of confusion.” Pat’s face sneered again. Experimenting with this body he was now in, he stretched out his arms and wiggled his fingers.
“Are you a demon?” Zion continued to question this being like they were at a networking event. Harmony’s heart was beating out of her chest and she marveled at how calm The Jones’ were.
“How uncharitable a description.” Tumultus said dryly.
“But not inaccurate?” Zion ventured. Tumultus didn’t answer. “The only author of my existence is Elohim and he is not the author of confusion.”
“I feel sorry for you. Elohim is exclusive, authoritarian, and a hypocrite.” This voice was beginning to weasel its way into Harmony’s brain and she found herself paying closer attention to what he was saying.
Zion’s voice increased in volume as he said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“Lies!” Tumultus recoiled.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” Zion screamed. “The Lord partners with us and is not a dictator over us!”
“Shut up!”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!”
Pat’s face that the demon had borrowed twisted grotesquely and he ripped a knife off one of the laboratory tables. Zion backed up a few paces, raising his arms protectively in front of Harmony and Rachel. Arrow grasped Harmony’s shoulder and moved her behind him.
“Pat, don’t let this creature overtake you. You are stronger than this.” Arrow said.
The demon used Pat’s eyes to get a better look at Arrow, “You are already mine.” He hissed. “I am not concerned about you.”
Arrow blinked several times in surprise but did not respond.
“Lord, please free Pat from this demon. Give him an opportunity to know your love!”
Suddenly, Pat got very quiet and his eyes began to return to their normal color. His sick grin faded to confusion. “Where am I?” He asked breathlessly.
“You’re back with us. You’re safe now.” Zion said reassuringly. Turning his eyes to the ceiling he said, “Lord, you are good.”
Zion and Rachel came near Pat, but before they could take the knife from his hand, he swung around and slashed Rachel’s neck. She had no time to scream but collapsed on the floor gasping for breath. The blood was deep crimson and spilled onto the floor at an alarming rate. Arrow took his shirt off and rushed to Zion’s side to staunch the bleeding but it couldn’t be stopped. Harmony didn’t think that Rachel could be any paler, but she was quickly becoming the color of death.
“Rach…Rach…” Zion sobbed and held her close to his chest. His lips kissed her over and over. “Call 911!” He screamed.
Harmony was frozen to the spot but her eyes caught movement and she looked up to see Pat slipping through the door to the supply cabinet and disappearing. Anger burned in her belly as the murderer escaped, but she obeyed Zion’s wishes by rushing to a desk where Zion’s cell phone sat. As she gave the dispatcher information on the situation, Rachel took her last breath. Harmony could feel her soul leaving the space like warmth escaping out of an open door on a winter’s day. Arrow crouched over Zion and Rachel like a fallen angel with his angel wing tattoos standing out strongly. Zion continued to pray as he sobbed into Rachel’s neck.
Harmony couldn’t handle the grief so she turned and left the room. She ran upstairs and down the hallways until she finally found herself outside in the dried-up gardens where the wind was picking up and angry purple clouds gathered on the horizon. She didn’t feel like crying. She was battling things in her heart. Zion believed in a loving God who decided to allow a demon to murder his wife in front of him. Rachel believed in that same God and died tragically at the hands of somebody she was trying to help. If what Harmony had seen in the other realm was true, Rachel had watched as her dad recklessly killed her brother who struggled with addiction.
Harmony couldn’t understand why anybody would believe in God if he didn’t relieve the pain. Why would anybody go to that trouble for a God that didn’t care? Rachel was the best of humanity. She had been murdered by the worst of humanity.
“Sicko.” Harmony grieved best through her anger. She didn’t want to cry.
Harmony then saw an ambulance pull up through the front gate and shortly behind it were a couple of police cars. Realizing that this had now become much more serious, Harmony quickly made her way back inside and down to the lab. Arrow was now standing close to the sink by the window, but Zion was still holding Rachel and sobbing.
“Emergency services is here.” Harmony whispered to Arrow when she was level with him.
