The Fallen (Angelic Redemption) (15 page)

Joaquin drove past the church twice, searching
for possible threats. He finally pulled into a vacant spot he believed to be
the parking lot. Turning off the engine, he glanced at a sleeping Heidi as his
chest swelled with fear.

They were lost in a violent country without an
exit plan or safe harbor. The bad guys, not usually the sharpest bunch,
thwarted his every plan. Frustration would be a step up from what Joaquin felt
as he sat in a family’s minivan with only Heidi’s restless breathing and the
angry winds to keep him company. An especially brutal gust shook the van,
waking Heidi from her distressed slumber.

“Where are we?” Heidi said, sitting up in the
seat.

“I’m not sure this place has a name. If it does,
it’s not on the map.”

“Is that a church?”

Joaquin nodded, sensing this destination pleased
her.

“Are we going inside?”

“Not yet.”

Rubbing her eyes, Heidi yawned. When minutes
passed without Joaquin making a move to leave the car, she opened her door and
stepped out. Joaquin followed suit, rushing to stop her from impulsively
trusting these people just because they were in a church.

“We shouldn’t go inside.”

“Why did you come here then?”

Frowning, Joaquin only stared at her while Heidi
smiled patiently.

“Do you think something bad will happen if you
enter the Lord’s house?”

Joaquin peered back at the church. “Do you really
believe God visits this horrid little church or considers it His house?”

“Of course, Joaquin. God’s not an elitist,” Heidi
said, taking his hand and pulling him along. “God will bring us an answer.
Trust me.”

Joaquin allowed her to tug him toward the front
doors of the church, as the memory of holding a gun to her lingered in his
thoughts.

No matter his denials, some part of Joaquin did
fear entering the church. He was a bad man and this place was holy. While it
seemed unlikely lightning would strike him down, Joaquin didn’t doubt another
awful outcome might ensue.

When they arrived at the front steps, Heidi let
go of his hand and instead slipped her arm through his. Leaning against him,
she smiled.

“This is fun, isn’t it?”

“Eternally,” Joaquin said, his stomach aching at
the thought of entering this broken but hallowed place.

The doors opened with a painful whine, alerting
all those within to their arrival. Next to the altar, a few children stopped
playing their games at the sight of strangers. Heidi smiled at them, forever
friendly, even as she now had to yank Joaquin forward.

Sitting in one of the few intact pews, Heidi and Joaquin
stared at the crucifix at the front of the church.

“Joaquin, He died for sinners. People like you
and me. You don’t have to be afraid of Him. He won’t reject you.”

“He should.”

“You know better, huh?”

“Stop babying me.”

“I take my orders from Him, not you.”

Joaquin gave Heidi a dismissive glance, but he
couldn’t deny enjoying the feel of her pressing against him. Even with her
tenderness, the church felt too cold or maybe too hot. He couldn’t tell which.

“I’m going to pray,” Heidi said, letting go of
him.

Clasping her hands, she lowered her head and
closed her eyes. As if she was silly to believe in such things, Joaquin could
only frown. Yet, for those few moments of silence as she prayed, Joaquin felt
enormous fear in his chest.

The desire to leave increased with every moment.
The only way he kept himself seated was to study Heidi - her every freckle, the
wayward strands of her blonde hair, her honey colored skin. To his relief, she
finished and looked at him with a casual smile.

“I asked Him for guidance.”

Joaquin nodded, only hoping for a few more
minutes with Heidi before the end came. He took her hand and held it snuggly in
his which caused her to give him an odd look.

“Do you want to pray?” she asked finally.

“No.”

Heidi frowned at him and he readied himself for a
lecture. She only returned her gaze to the crucifix.

Feeling a man approaching them, Joaquin moved one
of his hands from Heidi to the gun in his shirt.

“Hello, travelers,” the priest said in Spanish.
“I’m Father Francisco.”

“I’m Heidi,” she said, shaking his hand.

Joaquin sized up the man and nodded his hello.
“We are just looking for a place to rest. We’ll be gone soon.”

“Do you need guidance, my son?”

“No.”

Heidi frowned at Joaquin’s tone then regained her
smile for the priest. “We’ve asked the Lord for guidance. It’ll come soon.”

The priest nodded, studying them. “Are you two in
trouble?”

“No,” Joaquin said quickly.

Having already considered and rejected the idea
of this church as a sanctuary for Heidi, Joaquin needed to get rid of Father
Francisco before she said too much.

“Thank you for your kindness, but we are waiting
for a sign from God. Then we’ll be on our way,” Heidi said.

The priest nodded, smiling at Heidi, while
avoiding Joaquin’s gaze.

“Good luck,” he said, before walking towards the
children in the front.

Heidi stared at Joaquin with a peculiar
expression. He felt her eyes on him, but refused to meet her gaze much like the
priest did his. She suddenly leaned forward and gently kissed his cheek.

“You’re afraid of God’s forgiveness. You wouldn’t
be afraid, if you didn’t believe. Trust that He will help us if you ask.”

“I asked for His guidance in the motel and all I
received was a mission I can’t complete. Why would I ask for more when I cannot
bear what He’s already given me?”

Heidi sighed, leaning her head against his
shoulder.

“He’ll tell us what to do.”

“I’m in no hurry,” Joaquin said, glancing at the crucifix.
“Being lost is what I do.”

“You’re not lost. You just refuse to admit you
know your path. You’re stubborn is all, but God will lead us to our destination
and you’ll be unable to deny it any longer.”

“I wish it were that simple.”

“You must save the women,” a voice called out from
behind them.

Startled, Joaquin and Heidi turned to find a boy
of five or six with a thick mop of black hair and big round eyes. His pants
were a size too large while his shirt appeared a size too small. He wore
flip-flops on his dirty feet. Watching them, he smiled a partially toothless
grin.

“Hello, I’m Heidi.”

“I know. I’m Maximo. Did you know that?”

Smiling, Heidi shook her head. “Do you know who he
is?”

“He is a killer. He’ll be your husband, if you
don’t die first.”

Heidi’s smile grew and she moved around the pew to
sit next to Maximo.

“God shows you things?”

“Yes. Does he show you things?”

“A little. Not as much as you though. He showed
you my friends?”

Maximo nodded. “You need to save them and kill the
bad men. You should go now.”

Heidi glanced at Joaquin who watched the exchange
in disbelief. His mind reeled with explanations that defied the one Heidi
latched onto immediately. She waited for him to respond, but he refused to
accept any plan that led Heidi to the slaughter.

“It’s a trick,” Joaquin finally said in English
when Heidi’s hopeful gaze became too much.

Heidi frowned at Joaquin a moment then smiled at
the boy. “Did God tell you to come here?”

“No. Father Francisco lets me stay here since my
parents died.”

“You’re an orphan?”

Realizing that at the rate things were going,
Heidi would want to adopt the kid, Joaquin stood to leave.

“We need to go.”

“Yes,” Maximo said. “The women are in danger. Go
now. It’s God’s will.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Joaquin said, pulling
Heidi away.

“Good luck and God bless,” Maximo said, waving
goodbye.

Heidi waved as Joaquin hurried her out of the
church. Feeling a sense of relief upon exiting, Joaquin knew from the
expression on Heidi’s face his problems were far from over.

“I’m going back to save my friends.”

“They are not your friends, Heidi. You barely know
them. Do you really believe they would risk their lives to save you? Are you
really that naïve?”

Heidi scowled at him darkly, clearly ready to lose
her temper. Uncomfortable with her staring at him in such a manner, Joaquin
decided logic might be a good way to soothe her anger.

“You don’t even know where they are.”

“At the old prison near Hoyo,” Maximo said,
exiting the church behind them.

“Go away, kid.”

“She wants me to stay.”

Heidi reached out and caressed Maximo’s head.
“He’s right. I do want him to stay.”

“I don’t care what you want,” Joaquin said,
yanking her towards the van.

“That’s not true. You’re just scared to save my
friends because you worry about me. It’s going to be okay though. God is
watching over us and He wants us to do this.”

“I don’t care what He wants. I will not let you
die just to make Him happy.”

Heidi dropped to the ground, forcing Joaquin to
let go of her wrist.

“You’re like a spoiled brat when you do that.”

Heidi stared at him dismissively. “I’m aware.”

“Listen to me,” he said in English as he crouched
down to look her in the eyes. “This boy sees things, but how can we know who
shows it to him? If you believe God is working here, you must also see the
devil’s hand in our situation. How can you be so sure who is behind his
visions?”

“Because I have faith. Things are much clearer for
me.”

Shaking his head angrily, Joaquin felt Heidi take
his hands.

“You believe you’re unworthy of His forgiveness
because you’ve done bad things. I understand you feeling that way. You made a
choice to do those bad things though. Now, all you have to do is make a choice
to do good things. I see the hope in your eyes. I know you can feel how things
are different now. We’re different now. Joaquin, please give into that hope and
help me save my friends.”

Joaquin looked away from her and noticed Maximo
nodding his head, even though he couldn’t possibly understand what they were
saying. The boy appeared convinced Heidi would win this argument and Joaquin
was beginning to feel the same way.

“I will save those women, but you must stay
behind.”

“No,” Maximo said, wagging his finger. “She goes
too. I see you both there. Not one, but two. She goes too.”

Joaquin frowned deeply, not understanding how the
boy knew what they were saying.

“You speak English?”

Maximo shook his head. “I saw this in a dream,
but my dream was in Spanish. You will take Heidi. I saw that too. You should go
now.”

Heidi stood up. “Yes, we should go now.”

Sighing, Joaquin watched her with despair. “How
can I fight them all when I have to protect you?”

“Many of the men are gone,” Maximo said. “They
search for you. The prison has only a few men, but you need to go before more
men come. Go now.”

Heidi reached down and hugged the boy, whispering
in his ear. When she released him, she turned to Joaquin.

“You heard him. We need to go.”

A frowning Joaquin studied Maximo who frowned
back at him. Heidi walked to the car and waited, but Joaquin could only stare
at the all-knowing boy.

“How did your parents die?” Joaquin asked.

“Monsters killed them. How about yours?”

Wishing he hadn’t asked, Joaquin sighed. “I’m
going now.”

“I know.”

“You should go inside with the priest.”

“The bad men have monsters helping them,” Maximo
said.

“Okay. Anything else?”

“She loves you. God loves you too, but only one
of them will forgive you if you fail.”

Walking away, Joaquin made a mental note not to
talk to the boy anymore. Reaching the car, he found Heidi waiting with her arms
crossed and a big smile on her lovely face.

“We’re going to save my friends,” she cried,
clapping her hands.

“Yes, I know,” Joaquin said, opening the car
door.

Starting the engine, he eyed Heidi who waved at
Maximo, big smiles on both of their faces. Joaquin’s mind was already on the
mess awaiting them as he drove away from the church.

As they headed in the direction of Hoyo, Heidi
sighed. “I think God wants us to get married at that church. Wouldn’t that be
just perfect?”