Demon Gate: Beyond the 9th Circle: The Rapture Was Just The Beginning. (32 page)

“NO!” Vince shouted. “Not again.”
Vince was referring to the events of his personal
hell. He knelt at Jessie’s side.
“It’ll be okay, Vince.” Jessie assured.
“Just know that I love you, but I would rather die
than turn into something that could free Lucifer.”
Jessie meant her confession to give strength to
Vince, but it just made things more difficult.
“Do you want me to do it?” Spencer
asked.
“No…” Vince said wiping an abundance
of tears from his face, “I’ll do it.” Vince said
before leaning over to give Jessie a kiss, which
both relished. Jessie smiled and Vince stood and
readied the sword, there was only another minute
before the change took full effect.
Jessie closed her eyes; she was at peace
and ready to die.
“I’m so sorry, Jessie.” Vince said.
Vince hesitated and then reeled back as a light
more brilliant than a thousand suns filled the
darkest corners of hell.
Spencer’s eye quickly adjusted to the
light, it was not just beautiful, it was radiating
joy. The light came from what looked like a
tunnel, and exiting the tunnel was a familiar man
dressed in an off-white cloak.
“Michael!” Spencer called.
Michael approached and knelt at Jessie’s side and
examined her.
“Is there anything you can do for her?”
Vince asked fighting despair with hopeful
optimism. Michael looked at Vince.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing that
I
can do.”
Michael said. “Help me; we need to get you out
of here.”
Michael helped Vince stand Jessie up and
escort her to the tunnel. As they entered the
tunnel the doorway to hell closed and the light
began to grow.
They continued to move toward an
increasing light at the end of the tunnel even
though they remained motionless.
“Where are we going?” Vince asked.
“Some place where the progression of
Satan’s curse will be slowed.” Michael
explained.
“Where is that?” Spencer asked.
“You’ll see.” Michael said. Vince and
Spencer clung to Jessie while they watched
anxiously as the light grew brighter and closer
until it was all around them. The tunnel closed
behind them as the light rested.
Spencer looked around to see brightness
and glory that defy all description, all around him
Spencer felt joy that he couldn’t explain, he
examined all around. The scene in the
background was that of a valley of green trees
and grass.
A waterfall of the purest water
plummeted from high on the valley wall
and
cascaded down to the valley floor below, the
waterfall reflected the glorious light of the sun.
Perched atop a hill beneath the towering valley
walls was a mansion that glowed with such light,
glory and splendor.
In the foreground there was a gate that
appeared to be made of solid gold which
stood in front of them and glowed with the most
radiant light.
“Michael,” Spencer began, “I don’t
understand, where are we?”
“Before you, stand the gates of Heaven,
which you and your friends defended at
great risk to yourselves.” Michael said.
“Why are we here?” Vince asked.
“In hell I told you there was nothing that I
could do for Jessie.” Michael reminded.
“Something can be done?” Vince asked.
Michael nodded.
“Who could possibly help her?” Vince
asked.
Michael said nothing, he merely pointed at the
gate which parted and fully opened.
A light that dwarfed all others filled the
square. The lights warm glow cloaked a man
with a voice like thunder.
“Welcome, my children,” the voice
called, “Well done, thou good and faithful
servants.”
It was nothing less than the voice of God.
Spencer dropped to his knees in surprise
and reverence as did Vince and Jessie, Michael
got down on one knee as a trusted and devoted
knight knelt before his King.
“Much sorrow, have you overcome. Pain
beyond that of any mortal man have you endured.
I wish now to heal you of your pain and sorrow.
A man emerged from the light followed
by a woman. Spencer recognized both of them.
“Mom? Dad?” Spencer asked.
“Spencer, you have been so brave and
strong, and we are so proud of the man you have
become.” Mrs. Garza said.
“My son, you have brought honor to the
family and to God.” Mr. Garza added.
Another man emerged from the light.
“Stewart!” Vince said as tears resumed
streaming down his face.
“Vince, you were not just by brother, you
were my best friend, I know that you have carried
guilt over my passing from the mortal world, but
the test is over, you need not carry it any longer,
you are my brother, and I love you.” Stewart
explained, pain started to leave Vince’s heart as
his tears of pain turned to tears of relief.
Finally a young woman appeared, smiling
at the ailing Jessie.
Jessie’s lip started to tremble as she looked into
the woman’s eyes. The hurt Jessie had been
harboring most of her life leaked out of her tear
ducts and down her cheeks. Without saying a
word, Jessie knew who it was.
Pain and regret began to well up and fill
the hole in her heart.
“Mom, I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt
you.” Jessie bawled.
The woman just smiled and spoke with a voice
full of love.
“I died because my mission in mortality
was over, it was not because of anything you
said, or did. I know that you have suffered
because your last words to me in life were uttered
in anger. But as your mother, my love for you is
unconditional; it is time to stop blaming yourself.
I love you, Jessie Monroe.” Jessie’s mother said,
Jessie’s suffering had ended, and she was feeling
peace for the first time in thirty years.
“Is that all?” Vince asked, “Is Jessie
going to revert to her former self?”
Michael approached.
“Do you remember when I told you that
bringing Jessie here would slow the curse’s
progression?” Michael asked.
Vince nodded.
“Lucifer spoke the truth, the only way to
undo the change was to leave mortality before it
was complete. Bringing Jessie here and helping
you all to let go of your pain has only slowed the
process.” Michael explained.
“Then, what…?” Vince asked.
“Judgment day has come and gone, and I
am preparing to start anew with Gretchen bearing
the seed of a renewed mankind, you have all
earned an honored place in My Kingdom.” The
thunderous voice of God proclaimed.
“We can all stay here?” Jessie asked.
“And I won’t be a demon if I do?”
Michael nodded. “That is correct. You all have,
unless you chose to return to Earth.”
Jessie stared into Vince’s eyes “you can go back,
but if I want to have my heart devoted to the One
God that I have worshipped all my life, I have to
take this opportunity.” Jessie said regretfully.
Vince pondered the offer and weighed it
against never seeing Jessie again.
“I love you, Jessie.” Vince confessed
staring into Jessie’s eyes which were one of
Jessie’s remaining feature that remained
unchanged; he paused for only a brief second.
“I thought that I would have a family with
you, but if you have to stay, so I’m staying too!”
Vince declared. “I can’t imagine living without
you.”
Vince held Jessie close, anticipating what
was next.
Michael noticed Spencer having a fit of
indecision.
“What is wrong, Spencer?” Michael
asked.
“What about Gretchen?” Spencer asked.
“What do you mean?” Michael asked.
“Who will be there to watch over her?”
Spencer asked.
“We will create someone her.” Michael
replied.
Spencer looked at Vince and Jessie, then at his
parents who nodded, they knew what he was
thinking, and they approved.
“Why not send me?” Spencer suggested.
Michael looked perplexed.
“We would be sending you back to a
world that you do not know. Nothing will be as
you remember.” Michael warned.
“Would Gretchen be there with me?”
Spencer asked.
“Yes, she would.” Michael confirmed.
Spencer paused for a brief second.
“That’s good enough for me.” Spencer
said.
Michael glanced back to the gate where the voice
of God spoke; as yet a face still was not visible.
“Very well, Spencer, you will be the
husband of Gretchen and the father of many
generations.” The voice of God proclaimed, the
vision he caught in the eternity blade flashed in
his mind, a vision of all the successive
generations that would follow him.
“Go to, take care of her and your children,
we will allow you to retain the memories you
have gained as a reminder to not allow your kin
to succumb to temptation. Now go, she will soon
awaken.” God commanded.
Spencer nodded and was directed to a
portal to his right, before he stepped through he
turned to Vince and Jessie, even with all God
could do, she had very little time.
“You drop in on us from time to time, you
hear?” Spencer requested.
“I’ll do that.” Vince said with a nod
before giving Spencer a bear hug.
“Get going, Jessie doesn’t have much
time left.” Spencer suggested.
Vince nodded and walked Jessie toward
the gate; they paused and looked back at Spencer
before joining with their families and entering
into Heaven.
Spencer stepped into the portal.
The portal let Spencer out at the base of a
mountain that ran along the coast, which was
only a half-mile distant. One a hundred feet away
Spencer saw a tent, and emerging from the tent
was a very pregnant woman whose red hair
swayed in the breeze.

More than two decades had passed since
Satan had been bound and conquered. Nine
children ranging in age from two to nineteen sat
around a large fire with their parents. They were
having a sort of family bonding ceremony, the
sun had almost vanished.

“Mom.” The oldest child began; he was a
handsome looking young man, with a large
stature. “Tell us the story of the world before the
change.”

“Not tonight, we have a lot of work to do
in the fields at first light.” Gretchen replied.
“Your father wants to have another field plowed
so we can have more food for the coming winter.

The second youngest, a girl of almost four
left to follow her father who had left only
seconds earlier toward a large tent. Inside several
books sat on a beautifully crafted table along the
back, one was larger than the others and lay
open, the book was open to a page with a
diagram with nine circles and then Spencer
turned to a page near the back where there were
several paragraphs scrolled in black, it told of a
warning about how Lucifer was bound.

The little girl noticed that her father
seemed worried.
“Are you alright daddy?” the girl asked.
“I’m fine.” Spencer lied.
“Still looking at that book?” the oldest
son asked as he entered drawing his father’s full
attention.
“Yes, Daniel.” Spencer replied. “What
can I do for you?”
“Why are you still so interested in that
book?” Daniel asked. “I though you and mom
defeated Satan.”
Spencer knew he had to explain, the
situation was quite serious.
“Do you remember the story your mother
and I tell you every year?” Spencer asked as he
closed the book.
“The one I was just asking mother to tell
us?” Daniel asked.
Spencer nodded.
“I really like that story.” Daniel admitted.
“When we bound Satan, he told us that he
had a way out and his incarceration wouldn’t last
forever.” Spencer explained.
“What’s wrong, father?” Daniel asked.
Spencer paused as he revealed the most
disturbing fact, “He could be loosed any day, and
when he is, he will have a score to settle with us
all.”
“Nobody will be safe.”