“Only because I allow it.” The man stood and rays of light began to pierce the shadows of the demon, which caused Tumultus to back up slightly.
The demon’s eyes now showed fear. “I humbly request to have this man and I will not ask for anything else.”
“You will not have him. For I have heard the prayers of My church and am here to intercede.”
The man pulled from his side a glowing sword that Pat hadn’t previously seen. The demon still looked afraid but did not back down. All of the sharp black points on his body grew and the limbs on his fingers turned into blades. With a shriek, the demon lunged for the man and Pat braced himself for the impact, but in one swing, the sword sliced the creature in half and clattered to the ground.
EPILOGUE
UP AND DOWN the riverbanks the bare trees creaked in the chilly breeze and the dark blue waters lapped against the hard ground that had stopped growing things to prepare for winter hibernation. Animals ceased all noise as the skies threatened to send down a blizzard any day now. A few brave fishermen sat in the middle of their boats waiting for a bite on the line to make their efforts worthwhile. Near the docks, a happy couple made their way towards the boat called Straight as an Arrow. The man stumbled a few times as he tried to carry his bride across the threshold and they could be heard laughing loudly in the stillness of the landscape.
“You don’t have to carry me.” Harmony insisted as Arrow grunted trying to sidle into the houseboat with both arms occupied.
“It’s tradition. I want to do this right because I didn’t do it right the first time around.” He said through labored breaths.
Once inside the shabby houseboat, Arrow gently laid his bride on the fuzzy brown couch and shut the door behind them. She was smiling up at him and dressed in layers of white chiffon fabric covered in beading that was toned down significantly by the winter jacket she was wearing. Arrow was more dressed up than usual in a nice pair of jeans, a black belt, a white button-up shirt, and a thin black tie. However, he still looked rough around the edges. His eyes sparkled though as he bent down beside her.
“I love you.” He said as he leaned in and kissed her softly.
“I love you, too.”
“I’m sorry for the man I was.” His eyebrows knitted together in concern. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“I told you, I forgive you. How can I not when I am equally to blame?” Harmony sat up and reached her hands out to cradle his newly clean-shaven face. There were more lines around his eyes and his mouth than there had been when she was Heidi, but he was no less handsome in her book.
“It’ll take a lifetime for me to accept that forgiveness.” Arrow said sadly.
“Remember what Zion said? God has already taken all that sin and pain and suffering on himself. We have both been forgiven.” She insisted.
After all they had been through together and what they had seen, they had sought out answers from Zion. He had been very patient with them and walked them through the process of becoming Christians. While it was still an uphill battle to overcome who they had been and what they had done, Harmony immediately felt the difference and knew she was a different woman. She had seen this change in Arrow, too. He had already been 3 months sober.
Despite the changes in their hearts, Harmony still felt a twinge of shame every time she thought of Haven. Even though the girl they saw in Oblivion was a figment of her imagination, it still made her decision to terminate the pregnancy more real. She knew her daughter was with the Lord, but the loss of what could have been would always be something she would battle.
“Are you thinking about Haven?” Arrow asked as Harmony’s hands fell from his face.
She nodded sadly and automatically reached a hand around her stomach. Arrow placed his rough hand over hers and squeezed. He didn’t have to say anything, but she knew that he had forgiven her.
“We’ll see her again.” He said.
The tears filled her eyes too fast for her to stop them and she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. She sniffed into his shoulder and whispered a garbled “thank you”, which he returned by pressing the side of his head against hers.
Moments passed in this embrace and Harmony could slowly feel the pieces of her heart mending enough to be able to stop crying.
She pulled away and Arrow said, “Now, this is our honeymoon and we can do what we want, but I don’t want you feeling sad if I can help it.” His eyes crinkled up in a smile.
“I’m not sad now.” She said honestly.
And she wasn’t sad. Despite the things they had lost and the wasted time, she knew that her new life as a born-again Christian would be filled with more joy than she had ever had. Perfection wasn’t the goal, but her life had much more meaning now. She and Arrow were going to grow together in their faith and build a life worth living. It was going to be different, and different was good.
She was also considering getting blond dreadlocks again.
***
Since Preston had disappeared and his employees had disbanded, the microchip installation initiative had paused for the time being. Unfortunately, those who had been receiving treatment were asked to stop immediately and use alternative solutions such as medicine, therapy, and exercise/diet until the technology could be more refined.
Healing Touch Hospital was under fire for promoting Dr. Shepherd because they had found out that he had been taking advantage of some of the nurses on his floor and several allegations of sexual harassment were being charged against him at breakneck speed. Clive knew that Tonya would have her work cut out for her defending the hospital from such bad press and found himself grinning as he read the news stories. He knew it was not the Christian response to be so gleeful at someone else’s despair, but it felt validating to know that his past employer was struggling so much without him.
He put his phone down as the coffee pot beeped loudly and stuttered as the last remaining liquid dripped into the carafe. He padded barefoot across his kitchen where he had escaped police capture months ago. The charges against him had been officially dropped since it turned out Preston had been the one to press them. While Clive was not privy to the details of those charges, he was under the impression it had something to do with claims that he had been mining private patient data into his own secure database since getting fired. Preston must have wanted Clive completely out of the picture so he didn’t ruin any of his plans.
When Pat had finally become himself again and things had settled down, he reluctantly filled everybody in on what Preston had told him. Clive would have given anything to get to examine Preston’s mind but was more relieved the man was gone for good. He truly was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Once Clive had poured the coffee, filled the plates with breakfast, and buttered the toast, he loaded everything on a tray and took it back to the bedroom. He quietly pushed open the cracked door with his forearm and tip-toed into the room where morning light trickled in around the curtains. Mayre was in the center of their bed propped up on several pillows and her eyes closed.
To the left of the bed was a hospital table he had borrowed months ago. The wheels rolled under the bed while the top fit directly over Mayre in the bed. He unlocked the wheels on the table with his foot and set the tray of food on the tabletop. Clicking on the side table light he was able to roll the table into position over her.
Her eyes fluttered open and she took in the breakfast, her husband, and the dimly lit room. Her eyes were blank.
“Good morning, Mayre.” Clive said gently. “I made you some breakfast.”
For months he had been working with another hospital in town to treat Mayre. They were more than willing to allow him to use their equipment and resources due to his stellar reputation and experience. He also knew some of the staff from his church and they loved Mayre. The treatment he had been using had been largely experimental, but he was hopeful that he would start to make inroads soon. Clive also used his influence to get Ophelia transferred under his care and get Sirona working as her nurse.
Preparing to spoon-feed his love, he wasn’t looking directly at her and nearly missed a smile that spread across her face unlike it had in months. He froze and looked directly at his wife’s smiling face.
“Hello, Clive.”
Her hand reached out and her fingertips grazed his arm. His opposite hand flew up to his mouth as he choked back a sob.
“Oh, the merciful hand of God, I am undeserving of your grace.” Clive whispered as he embraced his wife and she embraced him back.
