He hadn’t noticed the sculptured lions at the entrance to the car park before. Last time, he’d had a different mindset. Now he told the lions to lift their game in guarding this car park.

They got out of the car. Aaron put his arm over Mackenzie’s shoulder.

Aaron pointed “That’s where my dad’s body was found.”

Mackenzie squeezed his arm.

Aaron looked over towards the bush where the track went. He wasn’t going to tell Mackenzie about the animals. There was still some scaffolding up around the building, but most of the fire damage had been repaired. They headed down to the building’s main entrance where a cross and some fresh flowers sat. Aaron took an envelope out of his pocket.

“What’s that, Aaron?”

Looking at the envelope, Aaron turned to Mackenzie, “Around the time of Dad’s death, there was a fire here, Kenz. Two young men lost their lives. I encountered a grieving couple when I first came here. They believed the fire wasn’t an accident, and it turned out they were right. I told them that I would do what I could to help. I’ve written a letter to tell them that new information has come to light—the suggestion of an explosive device and the suspect being hunted down.” Aaron placed the envelope under the flowers.

“They may already know, but I wanted to make sure. I also wanted to thank the man, because he trusted me with information that helped track Lucas down.”

They walked back to the car. “I spoke to the Rev yesterday,” Mackenzie said. “He told me that after Lucas and Tag were ‘brought out of hibernation’—as the secular experts put it—he has been busy but hoped the government media campaign to curb the panic will work. The government wants people to know that the deceased cannot be brought back from the dead. The experts stressed that the hibernation was caused by the technology, and that these people didn’t die, so they weren’t brought back to life. People can’t be brought back from the dead, they say.”

They stopped at the car, Aaron looked back. “I suppose the Rev would be happy with that. It takes the pressure off him. People don’t want loved ones to die. God has a plan though, doesn’t he, Kenz?”

“He does, Aaron, and we just need to make sure we’re part of it.”

They drove out of the car park and headed towards the motorway.

<°)))><

Windsor sat on his bunk. It was good of the Reverend to visit him.

He had a lot of time to think in here.

The Prison Ministry had asked Windsor to speak at a Bible study class recently.

“Evil lives in all of us,” he told them. “It’s waiting to strike. Stress and emotions lift the boom gate, and evil sprints through. It’s what happens to those affected by drink and drugs—the boom gate gets lifted, and those pesky things get in there and run amok.”

“What are the pesky things?” someone asked.

“Demons.” Windsor told him. “Demons . . . those pesky things are demons. They do a lot of damage.” And he wondered what the statistics were in relation to crimes being committed while under demonic influence. “I’ve met a lot of people in here who have told me they were not in their right mind when they committed their crimes, and they believe they were influenced by something.”

A few of the men had nodded in agreement.

“Things unseen can do a lot of damage. Let’s ask the Lord to open our eyes.”

Windsor lay down on his bunk. He told the Lord he was sorry.

Chapter 37

AARON SAT UP ABRUPTLY. He sensed a presence.

A slight breeze fluttered the curtains. City lights filtered in, providing night shadows. He looked around his bedroom. He was alone. Lifting the bed covers, he got up, walked over to the window and stared across the city lights towards the intersection. It was peaceful and quiet.

He looked up to the illuminated night sky with the artificial lights blocking the light of the stars. I miss you, Dad, and you too, Jack. He now believed in the reality of God, heaven—and the other place. Yes, Mackenzie, I believe everything you have told me. We are stained because of sin and cannot enter God’s presence because of that. Yes, God, I am stained, but what do I do?

A heaviness came upon Aaron. He hadn’t thought about it before, but his past had displeased God. The heaviness sat in his heart. He felt burdened and dirty. A light caught his attention in the distance. It was a large cross that sat atop one of the old church buildings. He stared at the glowing cross. He has come to set the captives free. And then it all became clear: he understood what Jesus had done.

He went and sat on the bed. One of the Bible verses Mackenzie gave him spoke to his heart.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

<°)))><

The smell of eucalyptus floated through the air. A parrot flew past, its mate calling from behind. As the parrots veered left the sun reflected off their rainbow plumage, their red chests glistened. The pair flew and settled in a large eucalyptus tree. Their call echoed through the Koala Park’s woodland.

Aaron had watched the flighted spectacle. He returned his gaze to the cross that sat under another large eucalyptus tree. Mackenzie was leaning down, placing some flowers near it. Aaron watched as she stood up and wiped some tears from her cheek.

She came over to Aaron. He placed his arm on her shoulder.

“I miss him, Aaron.”

“I know you do, Kenz.”

Light drizzle filtered through the woodlands, enhancing the smell of the eucalyptus trees and melaleuca shrubs and trees. The drizzle had the parrots singing. Aaron and Mackenzie walked over to a sheltered area where they sat on one of the picnic tables.

“I had a fun day yesterday, Kenz. I went to the Bible study that Churchie now runs for the homeless under the guidance of the Rev.  Wally was there. They’re all doing well and send their love. They’d like you to attend one.”

“Did you learn anything, Aaron?”

“I did, Kenz. Last night, I asked Jesus into my heart, to get rid of the heaviness that sat in there.”

Aaron looked at Mackenzie. Her eyes were watery.

“Things became clear to me, Kenz. It was like something was lifted from my eyes. I saw that we all follow in Adam’s footsteps. He put himself before God, and we all do the same thing. It’s us first, not him.”

“That’s right, Aaron. It’s called self-centredness.”

Aaron nodded. “I was told that the gate and the road that leads to life is narrow, and only a few find it. I decided to walk through that gate because I believe there is a God and He made me. I just need to understand why, and I’m sure that will become clearer in time. But Kenz, I do believe now. It all makes perfect sense when one gives it the attention it deserves—if you explore and think, you find the truth. And all this stuff that’s been happening, it’s all good background to build my faith on. So there ya go, I’m a believer now.”

Mackenzie’s arms were wrapped around Aaron in a flash. “Yes, it all becomes clearer . . . much clearer.”

They heard a flutter. They turned to see a white pigeon had landed in front of them. The pigeon wandered around looking for seeds and then flew off.

Mackenzie smiled and looked at Aaron. “There ya go, Aaron. God likes to entertain us with his nature. He’s given you a confirmation.”

Aaron watched the pigeon flying off. He thought of God. He thought of the mighty angels, the unseen angels, in their presence.

Mackenzie stood up and put out her hand to Aaron. “Well, my friend, let the journey begin.”

About The Unseen Series

Thank you for reading Dead Man's Journey - the first book in a series exploring the supernatural. Other books in the series include: