Dimensions of Genesis (27 page)

“Okay Daddy.” She agreed readily, turning to
run towards the house. Halfway to the house, however, she stopped
and turned around. “Daddy? If Mommy isn't an angel, why was she
wearing that long white dress? It was pretty, it had long sleeves
and ribbons on the back?” She said as she twirled once, spinning
like Cinderella in a long gown, then skipped to the front door.

Lily turned to look at Gabe just in time to
watch him pale. Standing beside him, she heard him utter under his
breath, his voice shaky. “But...that sounds like Lily’s wedding
dress. How could Hope know what it looked like? I never showed
her.”

The Gathering

“Let's travel quickly then. Evangeline, will
you bring David?” Michael asked of her.

“Of course.” She agreed, quickly extending
her hand to David. “We'll travel by the speed of thought, it's much
quicker.”

“Okay.” David answered, though feeling
apprehensive about where they were going and what his new quest was
to be.

Holding Evangeline's hand, he felt his aura
quiver as she sped up their vibration. Similar to the travel he'd
experienced with his mother when he first arrived in Heaven,
Evangeline moved them faster than the speed of light into the
centre of the crystalline city.

Michael was already standing there, waiting
for them when they arrived. Considering how fast he and Evangeline
travelled, it astounded him that Michael appeared to travel even
faster.

“Let's go.” Michael stated as he walked
towards a large building in the centre of the square.

The building had the most unique architecture
David had ever seen. Enormous, to say the least, the structure sat
upon twelve large Corinthian columns. The building it supported was
surely as large as the Parthenon on Earth, if not bigger. The walls
appeared to be made of quartz, mirroring the ocean blue skies in
its reflection.

The three approached the entrance. Like the
tunnels that had brought David and Michael to Earth, the doorway to
this building was a miniature version. Stepping into the mouth of
the passageway, they were transported into the building.

Inside, David was overwhelmed. A cathedral
ceiling stretched overhead, so tall it made Michael look
average.

Entering a grand doorway, David was surprised
to now see sky above him. The building was designed like an
enormous stadium, open to the heavens.

He could see thousands of beings encircling
the sky overhead. Shining golden, they hovered as though waiting
for an ethereal concert to begin. Spiralling upwards, as far as the
eye could see; David was apprehensive as he was placed in front of
this army of angels.

Evangeline and Michael sat themselves within
the ring of beings, close to David.

“Welcome. We are the Council of Light.” The
beings spoke in unison.

“Um...hi there.” David said, using his voice,
rather than telepathy, for the first time since he'd arrived in
Heaven. He sincerely wished he could think of something meaningful
and wise to say.

“The level ten being has been located on
Earth,” they began, “We need you to rescue her, David.”

“Me?” He responded, bewildered as to why he
would be the one to help the lost level ten.

After a few moments of silent soul searching,
David finally asked the question that had burned inside him since
he'd arrived in Heaven.

“Why me?”

“David,” Their voices patient, “while many
beings have had many reincarnations, only a precious few have ever
carried out the same purpose in every lifetime.”

David looked nervously at Evangeline and
Michael, who both beamed with confidence at him.

“You, David, have been a healer in every
life.” The Council spoke reverently. “You have lived over six
hundred lives, each for the sole purpose of healing others. Your
dedication to humanity is exemplary. Having given so much of
yourself to others, your power to heal and protect is incomparable.
Thank you.”

A sensation of immense pride washed over
David as the entire Council blessed him with their feelings of
gratitude.

“Um...you're welcome.” David responded
sheepishly, grinning at Evangeline and Michael who nodded their
thanks to him.

David still didn't understand why someone as
strong as Michael couldn't return to rescue her.

Sensing his question, the Council explained,
“Angels are bound by different laws than humans. They are strictly
forbidden to engage in warfare on human territory.”

“I see.” replied David, thinking back to the
terrifying event he and Michael had endured on their field
trip.

“Will you help us?” The Council asked
respectfully.

Bowing his head, the gravity of the situation
sunk into his system. He considered everything he'd learned and
experienced since he'd been in Heaven. The prospect of facing the
dark energies again frightened him, but he knew he must try.

“Of course.” David held his head high,
feeling noble and confident. For the first time in his life, or
death, he believed in his purpose and in something bigger than
himself.

As he answered, the entire Council stood and
applauded. The sound might have been deafening on Earth, but here
in Heaven; it was glorious. Like a thousand drums beating in
rhythm; all for David.

Grave Thoughts

Paranoid, she kept a watchful eye on the
bushes near the car. As Lily walked, following behind Gabe and
Hope, she thought she saw the leaves rustling. Freezing on the
spot, Lily waited.

Come on you snaky jerk! Lily thought to
herself, daring the creature to come forward, Come and get me if
you're there!

Hope and Gabe were already inside the car and
putting on their seat belts. Lily moved stealthily passed the bush,
praying she was just being irrational. Edging her way along the
side of the car, she passed through the side door and sat herself
next to Gabe. Hope chattered in the back seat non-stop about a
movie she'd watched about mermaids.

Breathing a sigh of relief as Gabe put the
car into gear and drove away, Lily watched as her childhood home
faded from view. It felt good to be in the car, driving around like
a normal, living, human being.

Lily closed her eyes and pretended they were
all going to a family picnic together. She imagined singing songs
and playing eye spy to pass the time until they reached the park.
Taking long walks together beside a glimmering pond, playing hide
and go seek in the trees, and eating ice cream cones while watching
the baby ducks waddle behind their mother—all things they would
have done as a family on a picnic.

Sad, Lily watched the world fly past the car
window and wondered if the sins she committed were really as bad as
the punishment.

I wonder which graveyard I'm buried in. She
thought suddenly, The one on Berry Hill is truly beautiful. I hope
it's that one.

“Daddy?” Hope suddenly piped up from the back
seat, “Do you think Mommy still remembers who we are?”

“Of course sweetheart!” Gabe answered,
obviously startled by the question, “Why wouldn’t she?”

Hope looked down at her lap and fidgeted with
the hem of her sundress. “I don't know. It's just that...” she
paused.

“What honey?” Gabe asked, concerned. Lily
smiled at his handsome face, thinking what a wonderful father he
was.

“Well, the other night, when Mommy came to
visit me, she didn't know my name.” Hope pushed out her lip a
little.

Sighing, Gabe looked wounded and tried to
explain, “Sweetie, it was just a dream. Don't worry, I'm sure Mommy
knows who you are.” he soothed.

Lily sighed as she watched the world flash
by, Why did I have to die? Was it...just my time? Morbid thoughts
of her death then invaded her mind. Grimacing, she wondered how
hard this moment was going to be, seeing the place where her body
lie just under a shallow mound of dirt, decaying.

She wondered how she was dressed, lying in
the coffin, at her funeral. Did they do her hair fancy? She wasn't
trying to be vain; it's just one of those things she was curious
about. The last thing she wanted was to appear grotesque the last
time everyone was going to lay eyes on her.

Shuddering, she closed her eyes and focused
on Hope's cheerful voice emanating from the back seat.

It was then the car turned into a parking
lot.

Lessons

“See him? Over there, in the corner?” Michael
asked with his voice hushed.

“Yes.” David replied, already regretting this
latest field trip. While he was grateful for another Earth
excursion to practice his healing, his stomach churned with anxiety
as he watched three dark serpents bully an old ghost.

After searching only two homes on a busy
street, Michael and David discovered this wayward soul within a
suburban bi-level. An elderly woman dwelt there; unaware her late
husband was still haunting the premises.

As David admired the couples' family photos
adhered to the walls, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of
homesickness. He'd been avoiding thinking of Ellen and Tiffany
since he died; the sadness of being away from them was
disheartening. It was just easier to forget about them, or at
least, try to.

He wondered what life might’ve been like if
he hadn't died. It didn't take him long to realize that nothing
would’ve changed; he would’ve lived out the rest of his days
trapped in unhappiness.

This makes me happy, he thought proudly,
helping people, healing people. I never thought being dead could be
so rewarding.

Returning his attention to the scene, David
watched as the old man shook with fear when the snakes hissed at
him. Vapours of precious energy wafted from the man, flowing
mercilessly toward the serpents. Anger swelled in his chest as he
watched the evil beings torture the lost soul.

“Okay, what you're gonna want to do is sneak
up behind them, surprise attack. Okay?” Michael coached.

“Alright.” David replied, still uncertain,
but determined to try. He knew that if was going to help the level
ten, he was going to need to master his powers, and quickly.

“Good luck buddy.” Michael whispered.

Nodding in thanks, David ventured out of the
bedroom they were hiding in. Creeping down the hallway, he began
centring himself, preparing to use his powers. A warm rush of
energy flooded his heart. Pleased that it came to him so easily
this time, his confidence went up a couple notches.

The old man wailed as the creatures sucked
life out him. A pang of sadness coursed through David, causing the
power in chest to subside a little.

“Note to self, feeling sad drains my energy.”
David thought as he closed his eyes and focused again on his power
of protection. Feeling the energy pulsate through his body, he
positioned himself behind the creatures. From his vantage point, he
was looking directly at the old man, but the ghost didn't appear to
see David. The ghost just wailed and cried as the snakes bullied
him.

David allowed the surging energy in his
system to pulse harder and faster until he felt the peak
approaching. Streams of light swam around his body as he raised his
arms, preparing for the release. The energy whirring around him
reminded him of a centrifuge.

Before he could release his weapon, however,
the shadow snakes sensed his presence and spun their lithe bodies
around quickly. They screeched as they lunged forward to attack
David.

Remaining calm, he felt his energy spike.
Seeing the three snakes slithering quickly at him, David thrust his
hands forward, sending an ocean of white energy crashing into the
beasts. The wave of light descended rapidly onto the snakes,
throwing them in three different directions, slamming them into the
walls. Two of the snakes transformed into light before David's
eyes, while the remaining serpent lie still upon the floor.

Shaking off his excitement for his success,
David quickly approached the ghost man; careful to manoeuvre
himself around the dark snake lying on the floor. Still unaware of
David's presence, the old man continued to whimper in the
corner.

Drawing strength from his joy in defeating
the creatures, David created healing energy quickly. Surrounding
the old man with white light, he felt the veil of amnesia lift from
the old man's spirit.

“Wha...what happened?” The old man asked as
he looked around the room.

“Um, well, you were lost and I...found you.”
David stammered, hoping he was saying the right thing.

“Where am I?”

“I believe all will be explained later.”
David improvised. “Would you like to go to a better place?”

The old man seemed to contemplate every word
David said seriously. Though his face still showed signs of
confusion, he replied. “Yes, yes I would.”

As they walked slowly down the hall, however,
the last of the shadow snakes suddenly leapt from the floor and
lunged at them. The old man screamed as the snake snarled. David
instinctively shielded the old man with his body, his power of
protect forming instantly. The moment the shield touched the snake,
it evaporated into the air with a flash of light.

The old man, cowering behind David, huddled
himself into a little ball on the floor. Badly shaken, David
quickly led him to the bedroom where Michael had already summoned a
light tunnel for the three to go home in.

“Wow! David! That was awesome!” Michael
gushed as they ascended the tunnel.

“Thanks.” David grinned, feeling pretty
pleased with himself.

The old ghost simply stood and stared at
Michael, examining his wings and tattoos. Upon arriving in Heaven,
the old ghost was led gently away to the Hall of Healing.

“You did great.” Michael complimented as the
two walked back the city.

“I should have watched that one snake though;
I shouldn't have assumed he was...dead, or whatever.” David kicked
himself a little.