Free Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson Page B

others will hate you and spurn your offer of help but that is your cross to bear.”
    “And I won’t get to see Hikari or Aimi again? How can that be fair? What have I done to deserve this?”
    “It’s not what you’ve done, Sam. It’s who you are. You are destined for greater things because of who you are. Destined to fight and suffer for the cause of righteousness while the rest of us enjoy paradise. I know this sounds awful but you must hold onto your faith. As I said, God has a plan for you. Do you really think your sacrifice will go unnoticed?”
    Sam shook Hikari’s and Aimi’s hands off him. He was shouting now but he didn’t care. “Do you think this matters to me? What about what I want?”
    “I understand …” Father Rainey brought his hands up, placating him. “But I have one more thing to tell you, Samael. Something that is more important than what any of us want. Listen to me. The last thing Gabriel told me is that during the Tribulation, you will have a mission.”
    Despite himself, Sam found himself listening.
    Father Rainey took a deep breath. “She wants you to kill someone. To kill the Antichrist that has risen in your stead.”
    It was too much for Sam to take. Without a backward glance, he fled through the backdoor and out into the night.

5
THE ROCKIES
6 WEEKS SINCE THE RAPTURE
    “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
1 Corinthians 15:50
    They had been walking for hours since leaving the airport. Without a break. It was now early afternoon, and still they walked. Sam’s feet were starting to hurt. His sneakers, while great for running, weren’t really cut out for trekking through the Rockies. Ahead of him, Gabriel strolled on, unconcerned. Her steady gait had never once faltered and she set a pace that even he, with his almost limitless stamina, was struggling to match.
    The terrain was steep here and dangerous in parts. The heavy ashfalls made footing treacherous. Sam would often put his foot in what he thought was solid ground only to find his ankle and upper calf disappear into the ash. Dust completely covered the juniper trees and sagebrush like heavy snow, the uniform gray colour blending in with the clouds above.
    Sam had trekked up into these mountains many times before and was pretty sure they must be in the Boulder Mountains. Then again, he couldn’t be sure. Everything had changed – the climate, the terrain and especially the vegetation. But what got him was the absence of any sound. He was used to it in the town but the contrast between now and the last time he had ventured into these mountains was huge. Previously, the forest had rung with the sound of various native birds. He had glimpsed peregrine falcons and even the occasional bald eagle. The forest was normally full of mule deer, bighorn sheep, and the odd coyote which preyed on the numerous cottontail rabbits. Once, he had even seen an elk.
    Two trips previously, he had run into a cougar during the night. The great predator had eyed him as if sizing him up as a potential meal. Sam hadn’t moved as the giant cat stalked towards him. As it got nearer, they locked gazes. The cat froze, immobile but for one shaking paw. Then, it simply darted away. Sam remembered the look on the cat’s face well. Fear. To him, it had appeared terrified.
    There were no cougars now, though. In fact, Sam hadn’t seen any animals. The Rapture and subsequent Tribulation had hit them hard. With the ash covering the vegetation, their food sources must be almost depleted. A thought struck him that if animals were struggling to survive, how could humans do much better? Of course, there was tinned and preserved food but how long would that last? The Tribulation was meant to last for seven years. The remaining humans were going to have to think of other food sources if they were to survive.
    Sam’s stomach rumbled. He realized he hadn’t eaten for over