Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah walked across the field toward their father. He waved to them from a distance and then turned to continue talking with the group of people beside him.
“So you’re really back, Jonah?” Jeremiah asked.
“I’m back,” Jonah said, trying to be as patient as he could with the question he’d heard for at least the hundredth time from his brother, sister, father, and friends. He knew they’d probably need to hear his answer more than once, though, before they really would believe him. “I’m done running, or at least I hope I am. I guess in a way, I don’t regret it, because my journey brought me back to you guys at just the right time. That’s the way Elohim is. But I don’t plan to ever leave you again.”
There wasn’t an hour that passed that he didn’t think about being trapped in that bus, alone and in the dark, and then turning back to Elohim, feeling His love and forgiveness once again.
He didn’t ever want to lose that feeling.
Jeremiah began to run toward their dad, who grabbed his son and swung him around and around.
“I think Dad’s doing well,” Eliza said, looking back up at Jonah.
He nodded, smiling. “I think we’re all doing pretty well, E.”
They stepped up to the outside of the small circle of people. Benjamin was talking to them earnestly.
“Jonah brought to my attention the darkness hovering over this place,” he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder to the building. “So I thought it would be a good idea if we held a prayer walk here today. It’s a chance for us to join Elohim in the battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the precious kids who attend Peacefield High. Are you with me?”
He grinned as the members of his congregation cheered.
“Well then, let’s get started!”
“Dad, I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back soon,” said Jonah.
“Me too!” said Jeremiah.
Eliza shrugged, smiling slyly at her father. “I guess I’ll head that way too and keep an eye on these guys.”
As the three rounded the back corner of the school building, they silently prayed, entering the hidden realm.
“Nice of you to join us,” a voice called out.
Frederick was standing ahead, smiling broadly, with his angelblade raised. David, Julia, and the rest of the quarterlings stood beside him.
“I was thinking the same thing,” came a voice from above. It was Henry, their old guardian angel, who was waiting with a squadron of warrior angels, hard-nosed and ready for battle.
“Henry!” Jeremiah said, high-fiving his angel friend.
“It’s about time you guys showed up,” said Eliza, but even she couldn’t help but crack a smile.
Jonah clapped his hands. “All right, my dad has the prayer team surrounding this building. What do you say we head inside and see what kind of bad guys we can find?”
“We’ll see you inside then,” Henry said, signaling to the angels, who snapped their wings and zoomed up the side of the building and out of sight.
Jonah pulled out his angelblade and led the quarterlings through an open door in the side of the building.
As they entered, white tendrils of light were beginning to form around the school from those lifting up the school’s students and teachers, declaring the love of Elohim to them and to the heavens.