Page 17 of Hidden Ascent

“What about staying with Jemi?”

“I won’t be long.”

“The ocean is a couple hours’ drive.”

“But you’re here.”

“And you expect someone will magically be there when you arrive?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that I need to go.”

“This is crazy.”

“You said.”

“Well, when you meet the little old lady walking her dog and tell her that God told you she’s been ordained to help me stop a conspiracy, can you let her know I said ‘hi’? Then tell her she should run away from you as fast as she can.”

“Funny. But I don’t know what you’re so worried about. If this is all some crazy idea like you think it is, then what can it hurt? If nothing happens and no one’s there, I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“I guess I’ll see you in a few hours then. On your own.”

“You promise you’ll still be here?”

“Sure. You’ve piqued my interest. I can’t wait to say ‘I told you so’ when you turn up empty-handed.”

“I can live with that. See you soon.”

Isla sat at the counter while she waited for the water to boil. The reason she’d come here was because she knew she could trust Peter. He had a way about him that she didn’t see in many people. Both he and Jemi trusted God in a way that was completely foreign to her. They had a relationship with Him that wasn’t available to her.

So, even though her mind knew without any doubt that Peter wouldn’t find anyone at the shore, a place in her heart still wondered if God really would bring her help in the form of a stranger. He might do it for Peter, but would he do it for her?

Chapter5

Jay’s muscles were fatiguing,but the weight of everything that had happened that night dissipated. He let all of his emotions go as he pushed his body to its limits.

He was near exhaustion when he started treading water to catch his breath.

The water was cold, and his lungs were tight. He turned and counted the lights that dotted the shore. It was an impossible distance away.

When he’d set out, his thoughts had only been on release. Any concern about making it back to land when he was finished had remained buried in the fog of his hurt. But now, he was a long way out, struggling to keep his arms and legs in motion. He’d drained himself, but now that he’d settled, he was ready to head back to shore. An impossibility.

His head dipped under the water, and he kicked to push himself to the surface to take another breath before going under again.

He hadn’t come out here to die, but that’s what would happen.

Fear of death sent a shock of adrenaline through his body, and he broke the surface again.

“I don’t want to die,” he said, teeth clenched in cold. But even shivering was hard in his exhaustion.

He laid on his back to attempt a back stroke, but it was too late. Even if he could get his cramping muscles to cooperate, he’d end up dying of hypothermia before reaching the beach.

His head dipped below the water again, and he thrashed to get back to the surface. Panic stole what was left of his strength, and he sank into the dark depths.

A voice in his mind told him to give in to his fate. He wasn’t leaving anything or anyone behind, and nothing about his life was worth remembering. Him remaining on the earth was wasted space. He didn’t deserve to live.

But as he gave in, his thoughts filtered back to when he was a boy roaming the city. He was like Benny, a punk kid who lived on the streets. Jay had joined up with a gang to feel strong and find a sense of identity, but all it had done was pull him into a life he regretted.

A vision filled his mind of a time when the gang had set upon a local street preacher who’d turned up on the corner once a month spouting warnings of the end times. He would beg each person who passed by to turn to Jesus.

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