Abduction: A Free Short Story.

 

Abduction

I rushed out onto the street, frantically trying to make sense of it all. I'd been scrolling YouTube and TikTok for the last couple of hours, but it hadn't helped. The screams, curses, and wailing of those left behind rang through my head and almost drove me insane.

I'd tried to call a few friends, but no one had answered. Perhaps they were too numb.

I ran across the road to the supermarket. A crowd had gathered in the store, but no one was shopping. They were all watching a screen, open-mouthed and dazed.

A news anchor was speaking. Oddly, she looked as though she'd just stepped out of the salon, and her voice somehow remained calm.

"The official statement of the Prime Minister, is that aliens are responsible for the abduction of what would seem to be millions of people from the planet."

Aliens? Jeff, and Manda? Leo, and Kaylin abducted? If so, what would    the aliens do to them? What horrific experiments would be carried out on them? Would they; could they; survive?

My head pounded, and my heart clenched with grief. Then, turning away from the crowd, and the smooth sounding voice, I walked as quickly as I could towards Jeff's apartment. A tiny glimmer of hope calmed my heart. Perhaps I'd find some answers there.

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I jogged and weaved through knots of grave-faced people as well as gangs of crazy looters. Yes, the businesses of the abducted were already being targeted. As much as I wanted to yell my anger at them, I knew it wouldn't help. And I needed to get to Jeff's.

The door was unlocked, as it so often was. Jeff was, is, the most hospitable person I know. My tears were in my throat as I entered the familiar room.

I think I started loving Jeff a few  lectures into our shared English course. It was hard not to. Jeff was, is, special: goofy, but wise, gentle, but human too. I'd so badly wanted us to go from friends to a serious relationship, but Jeff had so sweetly told me no. Not yet. He needed to focus on his relationship with God, and on his studies. "But we'll see what the future holds, Bea. You never know." He bopped the tip of my nose and grinned comically. "Coming to my place again on Friday?"

I'd nodded, although his rejection stabbed at me. Friday's Bible study was something I'd been going to for a while. Mostly so as I could spend more time with Jeff, but I'd started to enjoy the easy going, clean fellowship of the gang, as I called them. And, my heart had begun to stir and soften as they spoke of the Bible. And of Jesus.

But now, the gang was gone. Abducted; or so they said. I'd been hearing about aliens for ages. It was the only likely explanation, I guessed. Or was it?

I paced around the small lounge for some time, working up the courage I needed to look through Jeff's things. It felt weird to be doing this. It was as though Jeff had died. But I pushed my shoulders back. I had to know what had happened to Jeff and the others.

Jeff's well read Bible seemed to call to me from its place on the only comfortable chair in the room. I cradled it for a long time as I let my tears fall. They threatened to soak the Bible. That wouldn't do. I sank into the creaky recliner, and opened the Bible to what I thought was a random place. But it wasn't. It was the part Jeff had read at the last Bible study:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

I read quickly, then read the words again, but slower this time. "Caught up together with them in the clouds."

It was then that I noticed the tiny notes Jeff had written in the margin: "harpazo," "rapture," "snatching away." 

A neon green sticky note bore a smiley face and the word, "hallelujah" in capital letters.

The sirens and shouts in the street stilled as I held Jeff's Bible. He'd known. He'd known. And so had the others.

I swiped at my eyes, then read on about how Jesus would return like a thief in the night when everyone was talking about peace and safety. All lies, I realized now. But Jeff and the gang had known the truth, and they were with Jesus now.

Clutching Jeff's Bible like a life line, I locked the apartment behind me and pocketed the key.

A bit slower this time, I headed back to my own apartment. I needed to prepare myself for the world's next crazy chapter. As I hugged Jeff's precious book, I felt like he was hugging me too.

**1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/1th.4.13-18.ESV**

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Story copyright: pencil in His Hand.

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