(1)-A Bitter/Sweet Reunion.

At that time, two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left-(Matthew 24:41)

/

Chicago, Illinois

Time since leaving California: 29 hours and 7 minutes.

Clare was driving through the city of Chicago in her station wagon after fleeing from Los Angeles, California, after the disappearances happened. She had left L.A. that same night the vanishings had happened and was now heading for Mount Prospect Heights to check on Irene, Rayford and their two kids, Chloe and Raymie, then Jackie soon after. She had no idea what she was going to do after that. She couldn't go home, because she was a fugitive. The cops would probably arrest her if they learned she was back in town. The fact that she was even back here in Chicago was risky. But due to all the world-wide crimes and accidents resulting in the disappearances, as well as the disappearances themselves, they pobably wouldn't even notice that she was here.

Clare soon arrived in Mount Prospect and later arrived in the suburban neighborhood and drove through the area until she came across the Steele residence, drove up to the house, turned her car off, and got out and closed the door. She walked up to the front door and knocked a few times. She waited a few minutes, but no one answered. She knocked again, but there was still no reply. When she knocked again and got no response, she decided to use her key Irene had given her to the house in case of an emergancy.

Clare opened the door and entered inside the house, closing the door behind her, and then putting her keys back in her pocket.

"Irene? Raymie? Rayford?" Clare called...but there was no answer. She then heard the sound of the TV coming from in the livingroom. "Irene?! Raymie?!" She said as she rushed into the livingroom, only to find Rayford sitting on the sofa, watching a VHS home-movie of Raymie's 12th Birthday Party, with Irene, Ryan and several other kids gathered around Raymie at a table as he happily opened his presents.

"Rayford?" Clare said.

Rayford took his eyes off the TV and saw Clare standing in the livingroom.

Clare rushed over to where Rayford was and they both embraced each other. They then ended the hug.

"What are you doing back here? You shouldn't have come back. You're wanted by the police for kidnapping." Said Rayford.

"I know...but i just wanted to stop by and make sure you, Irene, Raymie and Chloe were alright. Speaking of which, where are they? Irene?! Chloe?! Raymie?! Are you guys home?! It's me, Clare! What's wrong? Why aren't they answering me?"

"Clare...sit down, i...need to talk to you." Said Rayford sadly.

"I don't wanna hear this." Clare said. She could tell by the sad tone in Rayford's voice that what he had to say wasn't good.

"It's...just me and Chloe now, Clare. Just...me and Chloe." Rayford admitted.

Tears filled Clare's eyes, knowing what Rayford meant when he said it was just him and Chloe. Irene and Raymie were gone, just like Tommy and millions of other people. Her worst fears...had come true.
...

As they sat on the sofa, Rayford shared his story with Clare. Rayford had been assigned to fly to UK London, England, and during the flight, some of the passengers and crew members had disappeared, leaving behind their clothes, shoes and anything that wasn't attached to their bodies. He soon learned from other pilots that the disappearances had happened all over the world. He and his co-pilot, Christopher Smith, then turned the plane around and headed back to Chicago. When he got back home, he found Irene and Raymie's pajama on their beads, indicating that they were among those who disappeared. He also informed her of officer Chris Smith's suicide after finding out that his wife had perished in a car accident and that his two sons were among those who had vanished. Rayford also revealed that Chloe was away at college in California, but was on her way back here as they spoke.

"And that's what happened." Said Rayford as he finished telling Clare his story from start to finish.

"Wow, i...ican't believe it. I mean, how can Irene, Raymie and Tommy be...gone?" Said Clare.

"I...i don't know." Said Rayford.

"Does Chloe know? About Irene and Raymie, i mean." Clare said.

"No. She doesn't know. But i'm gonna tell her when she gets here." Said Rayford.

"You know...when i was in L.A. at the police station, i...i called one of the adopted families of one of the kids i had been put in charge of placing in a good home two years ago. Their 16-year old daughter, Emily, answered the phone. I asked her to go check on Grady and she did. And...well, i guess he was among those who had vanished, because the next thing i knew, Emily was screaming her lungs out." Said Clare.

"How old was the boy?" Rayford asked.

"Grady? He was 12 years old." Clare answered.

"Of course. All children under 13 missing seems be going around a lot these days." Said Rayford.

"Ray...is it alright if i see Irene and Raymie's bedrooms?" Clare asked.

"Sure. Go right ahead." Said Rayford.

"Thanks." Said Clare before getting up off the sofa and heading upstairs.

Clare went into Irene's bedroom and saw her friend's night-gown lying on her bed. She walked over to the bed and examined the night-gown. Irene had most likely been asleep when the disappearances happened. She never knew what was coming. As Clare looked at the night-gown, she thought back to another time Irene had tried to minister to her again about God last year on the night that Tommy ended up in the hospital.
####################################################

Chicago Hospital-(1994)

Clare and Irene stood outside the hospital in the middle of the night, debating about Irene's faith.

"Okay, we're outside. What did you wanna talk with me about?" Clare asked.

"Well...i wanna talk to you about-"

"Stop right there." Said Clare, putting a hand up. "I know where you're going and i know what you have to offer, but that's not what Tommy needs right now. I know that this religious stuff is important to you...but that doesn't mean it's the answer to everything. Tommy had a dangerous operation tonight. And he needed a doctor, not a priest."

"How do you know what he needs when you haven't even heard what he has to say?" Irene asked.

"Because anybody that starts a sentence with UFOs, ET, aliens or Jesus Christ, i don't have to listen to the rest. 'Cause i know what's coming." Said Clare.

"If you would just let one person finish one sentence once, you might learn something! And you might change just a little!" Said Irene.

"Change?! Change my what, Irene?! My life?! My mind?! If you could just sit down someday and listen to what you tell these people to believe!" Said Clare.

"Clare, just because you don't believe in God does not mean that other people don't have to!" Said Irene.

"No, no, no, no, no! NO! I never said i didn't believe in God!" Said Clare.

"Oh. Well...do you believe in God? Huh?" Irene asked.

"That's a complex question." Said Clare.

"It is not a complex question. When was the last time you opened a Bible?" Said Irene.

"You don't have to open a Bible to believe in God! That's your problem. You believe all that stuff is real. It's not." Said Clare.

"You're wrong, Clare. It is real, all of it is real." Said Irene.

"Yeah, what about Noah and the ark? What about that guy that lived in the belly of a whale for a week? That guy named, uh..."

"Jonah." Said Irene, cutting Clare off.

"Jonah. It's time for you to get a grip on reality. That's a children's book, not a history book." Said Clare.

"How would you know? You haven't even read it. Huh? You haven't given God a chance." Said Irene.

"Listen...it's been a long night. And, uh...i apologize for beeing to agressive with you. I'm just spent from this...situation with Tommy. Let's pretend we never had this conversation. The next Sunday, you, Tommy, Raymie and i will go to that new church of your's together." Said Clare.

A wide toothy smile appeared on Irene's face. "You promise?"

"I promise." Said Clare.

"Oh, thank God." Said Irene.

"And you get on the phone to that God of your's...and tell him i'm gonna be there. New Hope Village church Sunday night. And tell him to have some of his best stories ready...because your best friend, Clare, is coming to church for herself for the first time in her life." Said Clare.

"And?" Irene said.

"You promise me that if i sit there with you a whole hour and listen...with my eyes open...you'll get off my back about this." Said Clare.

"Okay. Deal." Said Irene before grinning. "Shake." She said, offering a hand.

Clare and Irene then shook hands...sealing the deal.
####################################################

Tears ran down Clare's face as she looked at Irene's night-gown on the bed, thinking about her promise she made to Irene that she would go to church with her, Raymie and Tommy. A promise that she ended up breaking due to her running away with Tommy. How she wished she had stuck around now. If only she had gone to church with Irene, Raymie...she might have got to see them one last time before the disappearances happened. The same could be said about Tommy. If only she had slept in the attic bedroom with Tommy...she might have got to see him one last time. But she didn't. She didn't do either one of those things. And now her friends were gone. There was no question on weather or not Jackie was gone, since she was a close friend of Irene's.

Clare then exited Irene's bedroom and went into Raymie's, where she saw his pajamas lying on his bed, just like his mother's night-gown. This brought back the horrible reminder of Tommy's disappearance, and Clare let out a loud scream, placed her hands over her face, and started sobbing.

Rayford rushed to the open doorway of Raymie's room. "What's wrong, are you alright? Why did you scream?"

Clare turned to face Rayford. "I'm sorry, Ray. It's just...when i came in here and saw Raymie's pajamas lying on his bed...it brought back bad memories, and i...i miss Tommy so much." She said cryingly.

Rayford walked in the room and embraced a crying Clare. "I'm sorry." He said, apologizing for letting her come up here to see the bedrooms where Irene and Raymie had disappeared.

"I tried the police in Los Angeles and they couldn't do anything to help find Tommy." Said Clare, crying.

"You should try the church." Said Rayford.

"Ray..." Clare began before ending the hug with Rayford. "don't start." She said as she turned away from Ray.

"Well, if Irene was right, nobody will be there anyway, huh?" Said Rayford.

"Don't make fun of her, not now." Said Clare.

"I'm not making fun of her...but think about it. Where did she spend most of her time, where was she the happiest?" Said Rayford asked.

Clare sighed and turned to face Rayford. "She was happiest when you were home."

"Clare, the things that Irene believed in, the things that she talked about, what if they were true?" Rayford asked.

"Tue? Here's what true, Ray: Tommy, a boy who i loved and admired...a boy who i had grown attached to and devoted my life to helping is gone, along with Irene, Raymie and millions of other people. And you and i are still here. That's what's true." Said Clare.

"Clare, this isn't about you or me...it's about the truth. We need to focus on the truth." Said Rayford.

"The truth, Ray? Are you serious?" Clare asked.

"Yes." Said Rayford.

"Alright. You wanna talk about truth? Fine! Let's talk about truth. Where were you all those times when Tommy and i were spending time with Irene, Chloe and Raymie? Huh? Where were you? And please don't use that pilot job of your's as an excuse, because it's not gonna fly with me." Said Clare.

"You're right. You deserve to know the truth. Clare, the truth is i-"

"The truth is you've been having an affair with one of your flight attendants named Hattie Durhem, is that correct?" Clare said, cutting Rayford off.

Rayford looked stunned. "What? Wait, how did you-"

"Know? Oh, i've known since last year. I just didn't saying anything to you or Irene because i didn't wanna cause anymore friction in your marriage than you were already having." Said Clare.

"How did you find out?" Rayford asked.

"I was a passenger on one of your flights heading back to Chicago from New York last year. I was coming back from a CPS Convention. During the flight, i got up to go to the bathroom to put lipstick on. That was when i saw you with Hattie, talking about your home-life with Irene...and how you were unhappy. And that was when i put two and two together. But back to my question. Is Hattie why you never had time for your family?" Said Clare.

"No, that's not it at all." Said Rayford.

"Then why don't you tell me what it is?" Clare said.

"Honestly...i'm not sure if i know. My career. Maybe the morgueage. And sometimes you just get so wrapped up in life that you...well, one day you wake up and realize that you've missed it. You've missed all the important things in life. Love is what we had, Clare. Irene loved me, Chloe, and you more than i ever realized. I hated her saying stuff to people who would come over, i resented her for that. Not because i didn't understand it, but because i didn't want her to need anything more than she needed me. Irene had the answers. All she wanted to do was share them with us. She was willing to suffer through the jokes and the patranizing, and the coldness from me...just to help us. If i could just go back before all this happened, if i could just...if i could just take the clock and turn back a few more minutes a day, i would." Said Rayford.

"Are you're telling me that they're dead? That they're not coming back?" Clare asked, referring to Irene, Raymie and Tommy.

"They're not coming back, Clare." Rayford answered. "Listen, Irene loved us with the truth. That there's something more, there's a greater love. She found that. And if she were here right now, that's what she would be telling you."

"Are you sure this isn't just you feeling guilty because of your affair?" Clare asked.

"It's not about guilt. I can't-i won't live without faith anymore, i won't." Said Rayford.

"Why? Because God will send you to HeLL? Yeah, nice God. You get HeLL on Earth and then you get HeLL after." Said Clare.

"Listen to me, sweet-heart, it's not about HeLL either. We were given a gift, Clare. We were given a gift and we blew it, it's not his fault." Said Rayford.

"You know...you are really unpredictable, you know that? First you cheat on Irene because of her Bible-related faith...and now you're asking me to find God because she and Raymie have disappeared along with millions of other people. I really thought that you werestronger than that." Said Clare.

"Clare...please, Clare-"

"I gotta go." Said Clare, cutting Rayford off as she walked passed him.

"Wait, Clare." Said Rayford as he turned to see Clare exiting the room.

She headed downstairs, exited the house, got in her car, and drove off.
####################################################

Please review.