Hearken the Final Bell: Chapter 3 – Great Divide

Chapter 3 – Great Divide

It becomes clear as time goes by that the end is coming to a close. There are more dead than before and those who are holy are settling into the lands to make a home for themselves. Meanwhile, the weather has become more unnatural with there being no stars nor sun in the sky, which is dark. A light with seemingly no source shines on certain places on the land while other places are shrouded by a cold darkness that no light can brighten. Lewis and Carol find themselves between the light and the dark as they continue to do penance for their sins.

On their travels, they come across a convey that’s recently been attacked. Bodies, blood, and various valuable supplies litter the ground. Among the carnage, is an injured boy who the couple tries to help.

Lewis tries to bandage him up while saying, “Are you okay? Wake up and stay with us.”

“Who are you?” the boy groggily says as he wakes up from being unconscious.

“My name is Lewis.”

“My name is Carol. What happened here?”

“We were fleeing our attackers but couldn’t get away fast enough because of the stuff we decided to take with us.”

“Where are your parents?” Carol asks.

“They-they’re supposed to be meeting me up ahead on top of that hill with the grape tree on it. They should be there soon.”

“Nevermind meeting your parents. We should take you to a doctor. Where would one be?”

“There are no more doctors like how there are no more priests. Why should we take medicine when our souls can’t be healed? Even if there are doctors out there, they’re as fake as the fake priests. Please, just take me to the hill.”

Lewis and Carol do as the boy asks since there’s nothing they can think of to do for him. Noticing that Lewis is carrying a violin, the boy asks him to play music for him while they wait for his parents. Lewis agrees to do so while Carols sings. After two songs, besides noticing that the boy is happy, the two notice that he is also paler and struggling to keep himself sitting upright against the tree.

“Are you okay?” Lewis asks as he drops the violin and goes to hold up the boy.

“Ye-yes, I’m fine. You sound like you two practice a lot.”

“It’s all natural. We used to play for our children when…when we last were with them. Are you absolutely certain that your parents are going to be here?”

“Yes. In fact, I can see them in the distance.”

Both Lewis and Carol look for anyone approaching and don’t see anyone.

“I don’t see anyone. Were you lying to us?” Carol asks.

“Not exactly though I have been a liar. My clan was attacked because we were raiders like the people who attacked us. It was revenge for what we did to them. Also, my parents have been dead for a little while. I come here to talk to them and they told me that I would meet them here one day. They’re coming even closer to me, ready to give me a hug.”

“Hold on, stay with us! Hey!” Lewis says as he tries to keep the boy awake.

“You two are very nice people, unlike the people my parents worked with. I’m sure you’re the best parents just like mine…”

“Hey, stay with us!”

“Hey!”

The couple tries to get the boy to wake back up, but they know he’s long gone. They bury him near the tree and plant a cross to mark the grave.

“Do you think he went to Heaven?” Carol asks.

“I hope so. He saw his parents after all,” Lewis says.

“But we can never know for sure, can we?”

“The one thing I do know for sure is that we’ll soon know for certain whether he went to Heaven or Hell.”

After saying their prayers for the soul of the boy, Lewis and Carol leave the hill. They make their way to a close settlement that’s said to have a spiritual leader from before the end, so there’s the possibility that he could be legitimate, however, when they go further into the settlement, they find people who have gone mad as they burn and give away everything they have including their clothes as an act of penance with some even killing themselves in the hopes of redemption. Lewis and Carol are unable to leave this horrid sight as several of the people there physically push them towards their spiritual leader while trying to convince them to do the same as they are doing.

“I sense the Divine Flame of Cognizance within both of you though it is faint. Your black flame is still in a state of grace despite your past actions,” the spiritual director says, “You two are truly blessed by God unlike some here. Therefore, we must stir up that flame within you. Prove your virtue. We will burn these people alive with black flames of our own if you do not sacrifice yourselves for them. Through this, you will obtain your salvation.”

Neither Lewis nor Carol think that this will wash them of their sins, but they still choose to sacrifice themselves for the innocent family. They are stripped of their clothes, tied to a tree as they are made to burn in a bonfire that is set alight by black flames.

“Lewis…I’m afraid,” Carol says as she holds onto his hand.

“I’m afraid too, but I’m with you Carol. I said that I’d always will you when we married, and I’m making good on that promise.”

Lewis and Carol are strengthened by their love for one another as the black flames consume them, but they aren’t killed by them. Their bodies aren’t even singed by the dark flames. They aren’t even hurt, in fact, they just feel as if they’re in oppressively humid summer weather rather than being burned alive. The sky turns completely black along with the rest of the planet with the only light coming from those who have the Divine Light of Cognizance within them. Soon after that, the black flame that was “burning” Lewis and Carol goes out.  A few moments of uneasiness pass until select people are taken up into the sky.

Those still on the ground who don’t have the Light of Cognizance shining from them beg for mercy before they are taken up and a multitude of voices say, “It is too late to beg, stranger.”

On the other hand, those whose flames are in a state of grace are unafraid to their own surprise. The people with darkened flames try to cling to Lewis and Carol, but they are taken up are unable to hold on to them and people like them. After everyone with a darkened flame is taken up into the dark sky, they are quickly thrown back down like falling stars. They burn all the way down and sink into the earth where they live, burn, and are eaten by maggots while their souls suffer the same fate.

“The traitors are dead and dead again!” voices say from the sky as light and life return to the world, “You, who endured and repented before the end, you, who are faithful and my own, take what is yours. Inherit what was created for you from the beginning of time and prosper!”

More people come down to the earth, however, these people float down and appear to be heavenly just like those already on the ground. Among these people are those that a lot of people didn’t expect to be saved while also seeing a lack of people they thought would be saved. Lewis and Carol even see the tyrant that put their family through so much come down like an angel. This sight doesn’t make them angry or any kind of disappointment. In fact, they are happy for those who managed to be saved since their souls have been completely cleaned and now see everyone how God sees them, but most of all, they are happy to be reunited with their children and that they will live forever in the grace of God.

 

The End