The Gatherers For Christ
Year One
Episode #8
The Deception (Part 1)
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Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions
and offences contrary to the doctrine
which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple.
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.
I am glad therefore on your behalf:
but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good,
and simple concerning evil.
-- Romans 16:17 - 19
Be not deceived:
evil communications corrupt good manners.
-- I Corinthians 15:33
For this ye know,
that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
hath any inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words:
for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
-- Ephesians 5:5 - 7
“There is something going on here
that will shake the very foundation of those who have the notion
that the vanishings occurred of a divine nature.
They believe it happened by the hand of God.
We know what really happened."
- Ed Carr, Director of Justice
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Prologue
Allentown, Population - 500
“Talk to me,” she pleaded. “You can’t just ignore everything I’m saying.” She paused as she watched her husband, his back to her as he continued to glare out the window of their living room. She could tell he was angry. It was in his posture and it was also evident by the fist he kept making with his left hand. “Andrew! Say something!”
“Get out.”
Danielle Marie Anderson blinked. She stared at her husband’s back, wondering if she had actually heard what she thought she had heard. “What?” she asked softly.
This time, Andrew Anderson turned around and focused his anger directly at her. “I said get out!”
Danielle froze. She was finding it difficult to believe that this was even happening. “Andy…you-you can’t mean that.”
“Are you insane?” he demanded harshly. “You’ve taken everything we’ve ever believed in, turned it into a joke and embraced some crazy religion based on some guy who hasn’t been around for 2,000 years!”
She hesitated. “That guy you’re referring to is my Lord.”
“Your Lord? Do you even hear yourself?” Anderson shook his head in disbelief, putting his hands on his head as if he were in a great deal of pain. “There is no God! We’ve always believed that the only gods there are are the ones we create because we are god. We go out and create things. We go out into the world and make it what it is. We work. We build. We do everything.” He looked at her and sighed. “We’re the ones who are gods. There is no one super, powerful being who made us. You believed that once!”
“But that’s crazy? Did we make all of those people who vanished disappear?” She shook her head. “No. God took them.”
“God didn’t take anyone because He doesn’t exist!”
“God created--”
“I am not getting into this debate with you again. I told you. If you want to go and pursue this kind of brain washing, you go and do it out of my house.”
Danielle fought hard to keep the tears from appearing. “This is my house, too.”
He pointed at her angrily. “You owned this house as my wife, but we have this house and everything in it because of my profession. My place in the firm and as a senior partner has placed me as the primary caregiver in this household. Not you. Everything here is mine. You are no longer a part of it.”
She shook her head. “You can’t…What are you saying? That you’re just going to kick me out of my home? It’s as much mine as it is yours.”
“It isn’t yours at all. And as long as you’re going to turn your back on everything we once held dear, you’re not going to be welcome here.”
“That’s insane. I’m your wife.”
“Forsake these delusional beliefs of yours and seek help. If you do, you’ll remain as my wife.”
Danielle looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “I’m not forsaking anything! I can’t believe you refuse to see the truth when it’s right there in front of you. The Bible tells us--”
He sighed. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Oh, come on! You won’t even let me tell you about the truth. How can I--?”
“You’re believing a lie!” He pointed at her accusingly. “You are! Not me. I know what you want to say. That God is going to bring this world to an end. That in a few years, the so-called Antichrist will usher us all towards a one world government and eventually to Armageddon. Now how crazy is that?”
“Well, look at what’s happened already! No one can even use cell phones or computers unless they’re employed by the government or have authorization. That sounds a little like Big Brother to me.”
“I have a cell phone. I have a computer. I’m authorized to use them. Anyway, I happen to think it’s a good idea. Common citizens don’t need to be using them. Besides, it will be an excellent deterrent against terrorism.”
Danielle shook her head. “I don’t think--”
“No,” Anderson agreed. “I don’t believe you do. I’ve heard enough from you. Are you going to drop this nonsense or not?”
“No. I’m not dropping this.”
“Then, get out of my house. And start using your own name. Frankly, I’m embarrassed to be associated with someone who abandons the ideas and philosophies which we’ve held onto for years in exchange for some old time foolish religion. A religion that is more of a crutch than anything else.” He held up a hand to prevent her from speaking. “I’m not interested in what you have to say. Just leave me an address where I can send you the papers for divorce. I’ll handle this as quickly as possible.”
Danielle swallowed. “Andy…”
Anderson abruptly turned and headed for the door. He stopped to get his coat from out of the closet. He put it on, picked up his briefcase and opened the front door. Without even turning to look at her, he said, “By the time I return home, Miss Dozois, I expect you to be gone.” He slammed the door shut on his way out.
Stunned, Danielle stood there for a moment, trying to grasp the reality of what had just occurred. When it sank in, she fell to her knees and cried to the Lord. For a while, there was nothing but grief. Then, an urgency came over her and whether it came from her need to leave or from the Lord Himself, she decided to heed it. She grabbed an overnight bag, stuffed it with some clothes and other necessities, grabbed her purse and headed out to the garage.
Her silver Beetle Sedan was a wonderful sight as she tossed her bag into the passenger seat with her purse. She climbed in and started her car. She began to drive out into the driveway but stopped when she saw her husbands prized Kawasaki ZX-14 still in the garage. Her eyes narrowed as she remembered wondering if Anderson had loved that motorcycle more than her.
Now she knew the truth.
She put her Beetle in reverse and stepped on the gas. Her car went backwards, slamming into the motorcycle and knocking it down onto the concrete floor in the garage. Feeling somewhat satisfied, Danielle put her car back into drive and left as quickly as she could without getting into an accident.
Danielle could have called her friends for help, but she was too upset to reach for her cell phone in her purse. In her dilemma, she forgot that even if she did try to make a call on her cell phone, there would be no signal for her to connect with. Only government officials or authorized people were now able to utilize cell phones and computers. Anyone else could no longer do so. All non essential individuals who had cell phones and computers were blocked out of the network indefinitely.
Danielle had no other course before her but to simply drive on…and so she did. As she drove, she prayed and asked God to help her. She drove and prayed for hours. She had no destination in mind. She had no thought of where she was going. All she knew was that she wanted to be as far from where she had lived with her husband of seven years as she possibly could.
At some point in her travels, she realized she was on a deserted road with no traffic on it. She passed a sign that said;
20 miles
Ten miles later, Danielle brought her Beetle to a halt and stared in wonder out her window. For a split second, she thought she had seen a bright flash ahead and heard a loud popping sound. Then, miles ahead of her on the road, something seemed to be moving toward her. Whatever it was, it was moving fast.
Puzzled, she climbed out of her car, took a few steps forward and tried to make sense of what she was seeing. The only way she could describe it was that the air itself seemed to be moving. Like a mirage moving across the land. Whatever it was, it was moving directly toward her.
Not knowing what it was, she decided to turn around and go back the way she had come. But it was too late. She never even made it to the door of her car as a wave of heat struck her. Within seconds, her Beetle was without power and she was laying on the ground beside her car unconscious.
Almost twenty minutes later, several vehicles began to drive past her. Two of them stopped. They were white vans and several figures wearing bio-hazard gear climbed out. They approached Danielle’s unconscious form, placed her onto a stretcher, and placed her into one of the vans. Others of the mysterious figures hooked the Beetle up to a tow in the rear of one of the vans. When they were done, they returned to the vans and then, a short time later, they were gone.
It was as if no one had been on the road at all.
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