Pt 2-One

Part Two: Peace in Chaos

1

He opened his eyes, awaking to the sound of what seemed like a gentle, peaceful and calm meadow stream. Blue sky greeted him and he could feel grass beneath him as he sat up. He was in some sort of forest; a small brook was beside him, he could see various different types of fish swimming around. Some were just swimming in circles and others were swimming upstream against the gentle current. He could feel a sense of peace and security in this place and he realized he could stay here forever. Just as he was about to lay back down into the grass is when he sensed something behind him. He turned around slowly and was startled by what he saw there not knowing whether to panic or embrace it.

A lion was sitting on the edge of some trees beyond the brook watching him curiously. The man stood up quickly trying not to show fear so that the beast would not attack, but he knew that if the animal had wanted him dead he would be torn into a thousand pieces already. He was going over a plan in his head deciding what to do when a small voice interrupted his thoughts.

“It’s okay he won’t bite,” the man turned around. A boy probably somewhere between ten or twelve years of age was kneeling at the brook. He looked back at the grown man with clear blue eyes that seemed to pierce the soul, “he knows you’re with me.”

The man felt a gentle breeze brush against his face as the boy stood up to come over to him. He had seen this boy before, only once many years ago which had been one of the most important days of his life and now here he was again when it seemed like nothing was going to change. He felt nothing but love emanating from the child; he jumped slightly as he felt something nudge him from behind. The lion that had been only watching earlier was nudging him with its nose begging for some attention.

“He likes you,” the boy said smiling, “he’s a good judge of character.”

The man put his hand on the lions head and began to pet it gently, the lion began to purr.

“Am I dreaming?” The man asked the boy.

“Yes and no. You are sleeping in your physical body but you are truly here with me and our feline friend here. I wanted to see you and give you some encouragement it has been quite awhile since the last time we saw each other.”

The man nodded as a tear started to fall down his cheek. He had felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love the moment he had awoken in this place and had been trying to fight it but now standing here with the Savior of his life he could no longer contain himself he broke down falling to his knees tears pouring from his eyes and he crawled and wrapped himself around the boys legs.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you again it had been so long.” The man bawled.

“Shhhhh, it’s alright child,” the boy said as he placed a hand on the man’s head. He could feel energy enter his body at the touch of the Master’s hand, “I have not forgotten you or forsaken you. My timing is beyond mortal understanding. I am never late or early I arrive precisely when I am needed. Things in the world may not be the same but I am never changing.”

The man looked up with tear stained eyes into eyes of love and understanding and felt a resolve like no other he had felt. He stood up to his feet and walked over to the brook cleansing his face with the water. It felt like all his cares and worries washed away with his tears into the calm gentle stream. The man looked over to the boy.

“What would you have me do? I have been walking a long time, I have always felt you there by my side leading me to where I need to go, but I haven’t come any closer to finding what I am looking for. If I knew what it was I am looking for it would be easier.”

The boy walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“All in good time my child; soon many questions will be answered. The Great Devourer anxiously plans his next move and soon, very soon the world will be plunged into a time of great peril. True things now are bad for you here in this land, the sickness has yet to spread to anywhere else in the world but hardship awaits the rest of them. But as for you, I have an important task for you.”

The man nodded as he dried his face of the last of the water.

“Of course anything you need.”

The boy looked up at him with a somber look on his face; the man could tell that this was really important.

“You will continue to go in the direction you are going. Do not change course, do not change roads stay on the path. Tomorrow afternoon you will come to a small structure, there will be men in front of it, they are not sick they are normal men. They will try to kill you; you must do what you do best. Inside the structure is a woman,” the boy paused, “she is one of the keys that you seek. Beware, the evil one influences her but you will be protected I will be with you as I always have been.” The boy embraced the man as he finished, the man began to weep again.

“Will it ever end?” the man asked, “It seems like there is only chaos and that peace is dead.”

“Oh my son,” the boy said as he kissed the man on his forehead he could feel a warmth spread through his whole body and the boy smiled as he finished his sentence, “I am peace in chaos when it seems like all is lost I am always there and I will never leave.”

***********

The traveler awoke. He felt cramped and tight but he felt peace from his dream. He was beginning to feel like he was going to walk forever until he died and that there was no format to what he was doing. But, the one he served was faithful and would always provide a way even when it seemed like all hope was lost. He sat up in the seat of the minivan stretching out his arms he felt his elbows pop as they did every day during his morning stretch. He grabbed his twelve gauge from the other seat, tossed on his backpack, opened the side door and greeted the wonderful sunny morning and almost stepped into one of the piles of gore from his encounter the day before. Almost forgot about that, he thought to himself.

He searched the bodies of the zombies he had killed looking for anything that he might find useful on his quest. The girl had a lighter in one of her pockets that might come in useful later; you never knew when you might need to light something on fire. One of the other zombies had a sweet Leatherman knife that would definitely come in handy. After he had searched the remains and was assured that he would find nothing else useful he set his eyes to the road ahead. He had a long day ahead of him and tomorrow he would find one of the pieces to the puzzle he was trying to solve.

Do not fear, he heard the voice of the boy and with it the soft breeze against his face, I am here with you always. The traveler made some last adjustments to his equipment securing his machete and shotgun securely beneath his coat and then started walking up the road, closer to his destiny then ever before.