The Judgement
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“It’s a shame, really. I would have liked to see what you could do with your powers.”
I was in the back of an ambulance on my way home from work when they called me about this latest development. It had been another busy day at the hospital and I’d gotten off around six o’clock. My wife picked up our daughter while I got changed into some casual clothes before heading out for dinner.
The call came as we were sitting down to eat. “They’re bringing him here,” she said over her cell phone.
She didn’t sound upset or worried but rather resigned. She knew how things worked these days so it wasn’t like anything new. Still, I felt bad that he wouldn’t get his chance after all. He might not be able to use his abilities anymore if any of them survived the surgery.
And even then there would still be problems because most people who tried to manifest their power ended up getting arrested by one agency or another. They couldn’t just let anyone run rampant through town without repercussions.
My mind wandered as we drove home. What kind of person did someone need to be to survive in today’s world? How long until a kid like him grew old enough where no one cared whether he lived or died? Would he end up homeless somewhere? Or maybe he would find something else to do with himself.
Maybe he’d become a street performer or start working in some other field that required magic skills. No matter what happened though, I doubted he ever thought he’d die young.
We pulled onto our block and parked across the street from our house. We walked inside together holding hands. Our daughter ran past us into the living room yelling, “Daddy!” When she saw me her face lit up. Her eyes went wide and she squealed happily. I scooped her up in my arms and gave her a big hug. “Hi, sweetie! Did you miss Daddy?”
Her little head nodded rapidly against mine. She buried her nose in my neck and took a deep breath. I held her close. This was good; better than I expected actually. After everything that had gone wrong lately, it was nice to feel normal again. I kissed the top of her head gently and set her down on the floor next to my chair. Then I sat down myself and turned toward my wife.
“How are you doing?” she asked. There was concern in her voice but also a hint of relief too. Things hadn’t exactly been going well between us recently. But now that we weren’t under pressure anymore, maybe we could make things right again.
I smiled at her. “You know, I’m okay. A lot better than I’ve felt in months.”
She looked surprised for a moment. “Really? You don’t seem…”
I shook my head. “No, I mean it. I think I finally understand why I can’t control my power. Now that I know what’s happening, I should be able to figure out how to fix it.”
She frowned. “That doesn’t sound very promising. If you’re having trouble controlling it already, how will you learn to stop using it entirely?”
I shrugged. “Well… I guess I’ll just have to try harder. That’s all there is to it. At least I won’t be alone in trying to deal with this. I hope he makes it through the surgery alright. Even if nothing changes, knowing there’s someone else out there dealing with similar issues helps put things in perspective.”
She sighed softly and leaned forward to kiss me. “Yeah. Me too. Let’s go upstairs and talk about it some more. I want to hear all the details.”
I stood up slowly and followed her into the bedroom. Once we were both undressed I lay down beside her and wrapped my arm around her waist. She snuggled closer and placed her hand on my chest. “So tell me what happened today,” she said quietly.
“What do you mean?”
“After you left for work. Tell me what happened while you were there.”
I told her about the patient and the conversation I’d overheard. She listened intently as I spoke. When I finished she raised herself up on her elbow and stared down at me. “There’s something strange about that guy isn’t there? Something weird about his story. Why would he lie to you about being attacked by demons?”
I considered the question carefully. “Maybe he’s lying. I doubt it though. Not unless he has some reason to protect whoever did attack him. In which case I probably shouldn’t trust him either.”
She rolled away from me and started putting her clothes back on. “He lied to you. So basically, your powers are useless. It sounds like they never really existed anyway. Which means you’re stuck here forever. Unless…”
The words hung in the air between us. Neither of us wanted to say them aloud. But eventually, I forced the truth out. “Unless what?”
“It’s obvious. Your only option is to leave. Go live somewhere else. Somewhere safer.”
I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my fists. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not leaving my family behind. They depend on me. And besides, I wouldn’t even know where to begin looking for another job. I barely got any experience before this whole thing started.”
She reached over and touched my cheek. “But you still have options. You can always move to a different city. Start fresh somewhere new. Wherever you choose to go, it won’t matter because you’ll be far away from us. Away from everyone who cares about you.”
I opened my eyes and met hers. The fear and frustration in her gaze made me cringe inwardly. How many times had I seen those same emotions reflected in her own expression since I came home? All these years later and I couldn’t help feeling guilty every time I thought about it.
“Look honey, I appreciate the offer. Really I do. But I love my life here. I’m happy with my kids and my wife. I don’t want to leave them. Especially after everything we’ve been through together. I’ve given up enough already. I refuse to give up anything else too.”
My wife didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she continued staring at me. Finally, she gave an awkward smile. “Okay then. We can stay here. For now. Maybe someday you’ll change your mind.” Her tone suggested she wasn’t convinced she’d ever see such a day come true.
We spent the rest of the night talking about other things instead. By morning we’d agreed to keep our discussion about moving private until I knew for sure whether or not it was possible. As much as I hated the idea, I understood why she insisted on keeping it secret. This way no one would get their hopes up prematurely.
***
By Saturday evening I’d managed to convince myself that staying in town might actually be the best course of action. After all, I wasn’t completely powerless yet. I could still use my abilities without triggering a full-blown episode. Hell, I used them several times during the week to help people in need.
What difference would it make if I moved elsewhere? I’d still be able to save lives. Would it really be so bad if I lived somewhere less dangerous than Detroit?
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. I needed to focus on the positive aspects of remaining in Michigan. There were plenty of good reasons to stick around. My children were growing up healthy and strong. Their mother loved them dearly. And I’d finally found a career I enjoyed.
These were all important factors when considering the future. Unfortunately, none of them helped ease the anxiety I felt inside.
As soon as I walked through the front door I went straight to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. Then I sat down next to my wife and waited patiently for her to finish preparing dinner. She smiled at me and patted me gently on the shoulder. “How was your day?”
“Fine. Busy. Very busy.”
Her brow wrinkled slightly. “That doesn’t sound very promising.”
I shrugged. “Just how it goes sometimes.”
She looked worried but decided against pressing further. That was fine with me. I preferred to let her believe whatever she wanted. If she believed I worked hard all day long then that meant more to me than the truth. I appreciated the support she showed me whenever I returned home. Even if she didn’t understand exactly what I faced each day.
While we ate our meal I kept quiet most of the time. Occasionally I’d ask my daughter a question about school or tell my son to clear his plate off the table. Otherwise, I just watched them eat quietly and listened attentively. The kids seemed genuinely pleased to see me again.
They laughed and joked easily while they talked about their days. At least until I asked them about the homework assignments I’d assigned earlier.
Then the conversation turned serious. Both of my boys groaned loudly. “Dad!”
They both complained about having to study math. “Why does it have to be so boring?”
I sighed heavily and leaned forward in my chair. “Because there’s nothing else to learn. Math isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”
Both of them rolled their eyes and shook their heads. “No kidding. Why did you assign us this stuff anyway?”
I grinned. “You’re welcome.”
The kids exchanged glances and giggled. It was nice to see them getting along like normal. They weren’t arguing or fighting anymore. Not since I’d healed their wounds back in January. Now they were friends once more. Friends who shared common interests and goals. Life hadn’t been easy for either of them lately, but somehow we’d managed to pull through.
After dinner, I sent my sons upstairs to clean up their rooms before bedtime. When they left the room I headed downstairs to check on my wife. She was sitting on the couch watching TV. A few minutes later I joined her and we cuddled close together as we relaxed and unwound from the stress of the day.
It was late by the time I finished brushing my teeth and changing into my pajamas. I kissed my wife goodbye and promised to return early tomorrow morning. Then I climbed the stairs and closed the bedroom door behind me. Once I reached my own room I stripped out of my clothes and crawled under the covers. I pulled the blankets over my head and stared at the ceiling.
What am I doing?
Before I fell asleep I thought about everything I had to do in order to move away from Detroit. First I’d have to find another job. Since I couldn’t afford to leave my current position right now, that meant finding something part-time. Which wouldn’t be too difficult.
In fact, I already knew someone who ran a small business nearby. He always hired extra help during the summer months. Maybe he’d take pity on me and offer me some work.
Second, I’d also need to sell my house. We bought the place nearly ten years ago because it was cheap and located near downtown. But after living here for almost half my life I realized it wasn’t the ideal location. Sure, the neighborhood was safe enough and the neighbors were friendly.
However, I’d grown tired of being surrounded by strangers. I craved a quieter lifestyle where I could relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
Finally, I’d have to pack up all my belongings and store them somewhere. After that, I’d rent an apartment in the city. I planned to stay there temporarily until I saved enough money to buy a new home elsewhere. It would probably take several months to accomplish these tasks. Plenty of time to prepare for the big change ahead.
But why can’t I stop worrying?
***
My alarm clock woke me at six o’clock in the morning. By seven thirty I was dressed and ready to go. My wife greeted me when I came downstairs. Her face lit up brightly as she hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear. “Good luck today! I’ll miss you.”
I nodded and told her not to worry. Everything would turn out okay. Then I grabbed my briefcase and headed outside. As usual, I took the bus to work instead of driving my car. On the way there I tried to think positive thoughts. I reminded myself that I was making progress toward achieving my goal. And I’d never given up hope no matter how many times things got tough.
By eight forty-five I arrived at the office building. I parked my vehicle and walked inside. Once I reached the receptionist’s desk I handed her my badge and ID card. Moments later I stepped into the elevator and rode up to the seventeenth floor. There I entered my office and locked the door behind me.
“Hey, boss,” one of my coworkers said as he approached my desk. “How are you feeling today?”
I smiled and replied, “Better every minute. Thanks for asking.”
He chuckled and asked, “So what’s our first task of the day?”
I glanced down at my wristwatch and explained, “We’ve only got five hours left to finish this project. So let’s get started immediately.”
My coworker nodded and stood next to me while I went online and accessed the company network. The moment I logged onto the system I received a message telling me I needed to update my password. Instead of taking care of it right then, I decided to wait until later. I didn’t want to waste any more time than necessary.
As soon as I completed my assigned tasks I called my supervisor to report that I was done. Then I disconnected from the computer and returned to my desk. Before long my coworker appeared beside me again. “Okay, so what do you say we grab lunch together?”
I looked around and noticed others were busy working on their computers. No one seemed interested in eating with us at the moment. So I shrugged and answered, “Sure. Why not?”
The two of us spent most of the afternoon enjoying each other’s company. At one point I excused myself to use the restroom. When I exited the stall I saw a woman standing just outside the bathroom door. She was holding a clipboard and staring directly at me.
When I turned around she quickly lowered her eyes and hurriedly made her exit. I waited for a second longer but she still hadn’t reappeared. Curious, I peeked through the crack between the doors and watched as she rushed past me. Seconds later I heard her footsteps running away.
After finishing my business I washed my hands and dried them off. Then I moved closer to the mirror above the sink. A few seconds later I spotted a tiny red dot crawling across my cheek. I wiped it clean and examined the spot closely. Just like before, there was nothing unusual about its appearance or color. Yet somehow I sensed it was important.
I brushed aside the strange sensation and finished washing my face. When I opened the door to return to my seat I found my coworker waiting patiently for me. He gave me another smile and said, “Ready to eat now?”
This time I agreed without hesitation. We both enjoyed a quick meal in the cafeteria. Afterward we returned to our desks and resumed working. Around four o’clock my coworker announced his departure. “See ya tomorrow!” he shouted over his shoulder as he departed.
A couple minutes later I packed up my laptop and prepared to leave too. Once I secured everything in my briefcase I took the elevator back to the lobby. I thanked the security guard who had directed me here earlier. Then I stepped outside into the bright sunlight.
Once I crossed the street I stopped by a nearby coffee shop and ordered a cup of tea. While sipping the hot beverage I checked my watch and realized I wasn’t late yet. But I also knew I wouldn’t be able to make it if I kept drinking. So I paid for my drink and left the establishment.
Just as I was walking away I felt someone tap my arm. Turning around I discovered the same woman from the restroom. This time she stared straight into my eyes and spoke. “You’re welcome.”
She lifted her hand and pointed to the red dot on my cheek. “That’s your mark. It means you belong to me.”
Her words caused me to shudder. I couldn’t help wondering what kind of creature possessed such a bizarre ability. And where did she come from anyway?
Before I could respond the woman vanished once again. My heart raced wildly as my mind struggled to comprehend what I’d seen. Was I really seeing things? Or maybe I imagined all of this because I wanted to believe something supernatural existed after all. After several moments passed I convinced myself none of this was real.
But even though I tried to convince myself otherwise the image of the woman remained burned into my memory. I wondered how many people had already been marked by her. What would happen when they encountered an enemy who recognized their status as a member of the Covenant? Would those enemies know exactly which ones to attack first?
The End