It was like an invisible hand pulled back the woods from around Corey. The trees and park were like wrapping paper being ripped away to reveal a gift underneath. The world Corey knew was gone. Molly and his mother just disappeared.
What happened next would be something Corey could never explain. For when the woods were pulled back, an entirely different scene took their place.
In a blink of an eye, the ground underneath Corey’s feet changed from leaves, twigs, and branches to gravel. He looked down and saw that he was standing on the side of a hill. The sky here in this new place was crystal clear, and a brilliant yellow-orange sun lit up the land.
Corey turned around, trying to find where his mother and Molly went. What just happened?
“Mom? MOLLY?”
Corey couldn’t run through the trees to find his mother because there were none. He turned around in a complete circle. His mother had vanished. Wherever Corey was now, it wasn’t in the Texas park. Tendrils of panic began to creep their way through Corey’s brain. How was he going to find his mother?
He didn’t have time to worry for long. When Corey turned in a circle a second time, he saw a lion standing in front of him. A real, huge lion. The last time Corey was this close to a wild animal was at the Fort Worth Zoo, and there was a thick glass barrier between them.
The majestic beast considered Corey and padded closer.
Corey turned to run but found a second lion staring at him! This one didn’t have the flowing mane. Female. She inched closer, her dark eyes fixed on her prey.
Corey was trapped between two vicious beasts. He didn’t want to die out here. Wherever “here” was. Corey closed his eyes and asked God for mercy as he waited to be devoured.
“They won’t hurt you.”
Corey opened his eyes and saw a man with brown skin and a thick black beard standing next to the male lion. He wore a robe like Obi-Wan Kenobi. He held a shepherd’s staff in his right hand and a long leather strap in the other.
“He’s gentle.”
Corey felt fur rub against his leg. He tried to scream, but his mouth wouldn’t open. He looked down and saw the male lion was now rubbing his side against Corey’s leg, like a child seeking affection.
“See, I told you. They’re harmless,” the stranger said. “As long as I hold this staff, the animals obey.”
Corey had to get out of here and find his mother. “Do you know where my mom is? She has brown hair that comes down to her shoulders. She’s wearing a pink shirt and jeans.”
“No, but my name is Shem. And you are?”
“Corey. Corey Max. Where are we? How come the lions aren’t eating us?”
“Coreymax, things are different here.”
“Uh, just Corey. Just call me Core-y.”
The man with the odd name considered his request. “Okay, Core-y. Will you help me get these two creatures onto my father’s ark?” Shem pointed toward the horizon.
Unreal.
The hill they were on ran down into a wide-open plain where a massive wooden boat loomed over the landscape. The wooden structure had to be at least two football fields long and at least five stories tall.
“That looks like Noah’s ark,” Corey said.
“It is Noah’s ark. Do you know my father?” Shem asked.
“Yes. Well, no not really. I know of him.”
Shem just smiled like this was the first time he had heard what Corey said. “Okay, here. Take this and help me get these lions onto the ark.” The man handed Corey the leather strap. It turned out to be a primitive leash that resembled a belt. “Loop it around her neck.”
Corey wrapped the strap around the female lion’s neck. He was blown away that the wild cat didn’t move or resist. Corey also realized he wasn’t afraid anymore. He missed his mother and Molly. He wanted to know they were okay, but something about the man named Shem and the lions made Corey feel strangely peaceful.
“Come on, Corey.” Shem was using his staff to nudge the male lion along.
As they made their way down the rocky outcropping, Corey couldn’t believe the lions followed them without resisting. They obeyed like this was the way things were supposed to be.
After a handful of minutes passed, Corey and Shem reached the valley floor. The ark seemed to grow and become even more colossal. From the east, more animals approached. Now Corey could make out two elephants and two horses.
This was just like the story of Noah and the flood from the Bible. But that wasn’t possible, because that happened four thousand years ago.
“Shem?”
“Yes, Corey.” The man stopped and so did the male lion. “What troubles you?”
“Where are we going with the lions? And how come there are elephants and horses over there?”
Shem smiled. “Come here, Corey.”
Corey led his lion over to Shem. The four stood side by side.
“Not too long ago, the Lord commanded my father to build that boat because soon, raging waters are going to cover this land.”
Corey shook his head. How was he here? How was this happening?
Shem continued, “The Lord also commanded that we gather the animals so that they will be saved from the coming flood.”
The great flood? Noah’s ark? Impossible!
Corey looked over and saw two men walking with the elephants and horses. “Are those your brothers?”
“Yes. Ham is the one with the elephants, and Japheth is the man leading the horses. Come! We need to hurry. The Nephilim will surely try to stop us.” Shem took off again toward the ark.
Corey started walking, and his lion dutifully followed. He tried to recall what the Nephilim were.
He didn’t have to wonder much longer. They hadn’t gone twenty paces when Corey saw them. To the west, towering forms lumbered in their direction.
The men had to be at least ten feet tall. Corey counted three men total, with powerful muscles greater than any gym could produce. Huge hands the size of his mother’s frying pans. The giants looked like the Hulk minus the green skin. One of the superhumans held some kind of sword that gleamed in the sunlight. The thing looked like a silver surfboard.
He broke from the pack and started running straight for Corey.