Souls - XXXV

The sound of the gunshot made me jump. It didn’t make me jump back or jump for cover, it made me jump for the door. My first and only thought was of Emily, that poor little girl who had done nothing to deserve this.

As I exit I see Alan and Darcy on their knees, right past the gate entrance. Their hands are up above their heads, without context it looks like they are praising Jesus; who knows maybe they are. Emily is on all fours behind them, looking confused more than anything, trying to understand any of this. I jolt towards her.

I am only a half-step away from them when Alan’s head explodes. A bullet has found its mark. The red mist evaporates as pieces of his brain and skull fly backwards. 

I feel some of it hit my cheek. 

Darcy is frozen, she looks to me then to Emily, then to the trailer. She turns back to us and smiles. She stands slowly, “Love you bumpkin.” 

Emily is looking up, her eyes not bored anymore, instead filled with desperation and fear.

The organs inside Darcy’s chest burst outwards in a mist. A bullet speeds through, taking her lungs with it. I do the only thing I can think to do, I shield Emily with my body. I hold her at my midsection, spooning up against her hard. We look like a living diagram of a pregnant mother with child. The gunshots stop. I don’t move.

I hear footsteps come down the makeshift driveway, gravel and sand mostly.

They stop.

“Get the fuck off my property.”

I don’t move, I am petrified. I feel Emily shuddering against my skin.

“Get the fuck off my property before you join your friends there.”

My head manages to tilt up to look towards the voice. My heart beats faster.

It’s him. I know it instantly. It’s Jesus.

He has long brown hair pulled up into a man-bun, a beard that’s more of a result of forgetting to shave for a couple of weeks than any real attempt at facial hair. A stained, brown tank top sits on his boney shoulders, Bermuda shorts stopping at his knobby knees. He pulls down his sunglasses that would make Elvis proud and peers at me.

I can’t speak, under all the grime he is beautiful. His skin nearly translucent, his eyes piercing. This is the son of God.

“Oh fuck, it’s you. I’m sorry.”

He walks towards me quickly, throwing his gun over his shoulder via the strap, and extending his hand.

“I had the gate open for you, but these goddam parasites keep coming around. You understand.”

He notices Emily shivering in my arms, then the fear in my eyes. 

“Oh. Oh fuck no. I don’t kill kids. I wasn’t gonna shoot the fuckin’ kid. Come on. Look,” He points to a rusted out crooked sign on the fence, “I got the goddam sign, it says it right there. No soliciting, reserve the right to bear arms, yada yada yada. I warn these people. But they keep comin’.”

He pushes his hand out again, more aggressively this time.

“Come on, come inside. You got something for me. I got something for you. Even Steven,”

I rub Emily’s back letting her know I’m going to move but I’m not going to desert her. She bristles but allows it. I move to all fours, then push myself to a wobbly attempt at standing. 

I’m taller than Jesus, I’m looking down on the crown of Christ’s head. I can see the scars from the crown of thorns.

He smiles, “Come on, nobody gonna get hurt for the rest of the day. I can promise that.”

I lean down to Emily, “We have to get up now okay?”

Emily nods limply and lets me help her up. She grasps onto my hand as it’s the last thing she has left. Maybe it is.

Jesus kneels down and smiles at the child, pulling off his sunglasses completely. He looks her straight in the eye.

“It’s all gonna be okay, alright hun? I promise you that. No harm will come to you”

The words aren’t all that inspiring, but the messenger makes the message. I can see Emily relax immediately, looking straight into the eyes of a deity. She nods. She believes him. And so do I.

Jesus stands, taking hold of Emily’s other hand. “Good, now let’s get inside.”

Then he looks at me with those holy eyes and smiles, saying something that I never expected to hear; not now, not ever.

“Your daughter’s inside making supper.”