Disclaimer: I don't own "This Road," Jars of Clay does. I would also like
to apologize for how depressing this entire fic is.
This Road
Chapter 1
Rome, 129 AD
1 All heavy laden
Acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow
Carry us home
Food, everywhere. I grabbed a chicken leg and began gulping down the meat without chewing. I ate long after I was no longer hungry, just to enjoy the feel of eating. I reached for some bread…
…And felt myself shaken awake. "Dinah, come, wake up. It's almost time." I looked up into the face of my older sister, Rebekah. She smiled at me through the bruises on her face.
"I don't think I can walk," I replied. The hunger was back, though not so sharply. I had a vague notion that that was bad, that when you've not eaten in so long you no longer feel hungry, you're in trouble. But for the moment I was simply glad it's going away.
"Come then, I'll carry you." She lifts me up, taking my weight on her own slight frame, so thin. Her bones poke into me as I clutch her, and she winces a bit from the bruises where the guards gripped her. She walks, swaying a bit, but with perfect dignity and peace, out of the cell. The guards leer as we and the others pass. There must be fifty of us in all. The strongest men were taken to be gladiators, though I know they'll refuse. Jacob will refuse, anyway. My brother might be strong, but he has always been the one to tell me never to harm others, even the ones who persecute us.
We walk out into the blinding sunlight of the arena. The crowd screams their pleasure. I gulp and hug Rebekah closer. "I'm scared," I whisper.
"Don't fear, little one. The Lord is taking care of us. He's waiting for us, to welcome us home," she whispers back. The guards close the gate behind us. At the far end of the arena, a door opens. I don't see what comes out, but I hear the lions' roaring. The guards drive the animals away from the walls with whips; I hear them coming closer. Some of the people around us now are screaming; some run, others simply sit down. A little boy behind my sister is crying. She holds my head to her shoulder, not letting me see what's coming.
The screams grow louder, more intense. Some of them are from pain, not fear, and I know it's started. I start crying into her shoulder. Rebekah sings softly into my ear,
Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart and let the healer set me free
I start to sing with her.
I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing of when Your love came down.
Some of the others sing around us as well.
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
2 I could sing of Your love forever
She kneels on the ground, and I kneel with her. She smiles down at me, the sweetest, saddest smile I've ever seen, but joy is in her eyes. "Jesus, forgive them, and bring us home," we pray. As I clutch her hand, I feel teeth close on my neck.
This Road
Chapter 1
Rome, 129 AD
1 All heavy laden
Acquainted with sorrow
May Christ in our marrow
Carry us home
Food, everywhere. I grabbed a chicken leg and began gulping down the meat without chewing. I ate long after I was no longer hungry, just to enjoy the feel of eating. I reached for some bread…
…And felt myself shaken awake. "Dinah, come, wake up. It's almost time." I looked up into the face of my older sister, Rebekah. She smiled at me through the bruises on her face.
"I don't think I can walk," I replied. The hunger was back, though not so sharply. I had a vague notion that that was bad, that when you've not eaten in so long you no longer feel hungry, you're in trouble. But for the moment I was simply glad it's going away.
"Come then, I'll carry you." She lifts me up, taking my weight on her own slight frame, so thin. Her bones poke into me as I clutch her, and she winces a bit from the bruises where the guards gripped her. She walks, swaying a bit, but with perfect dignity and peace, out of the cell. The guards leer as we and the others pass. There must be fifty of us in all. The strongest men were taken to be gladiators, though I know they'll refuse. Jacob will refuse, anyway. My brother might be strong, but he has always been the one to tell me never to harm others, even the ones who persecute us.
We walk out into the blinding sunlight of the arena. The crowd screams their pleasure. I gulp and hug Rebekah closer. "I'm scared," I whisper.
"Don't fear, little one. The Lord is taking care of us. He's waiting for us, to welcome us home," she whispers back. The guards close the gate behind us. At the far end of the arena, a door opens. I don't see what comes out, but I hear the lions' roaring. The guards drive the animals away from the walls with whips; I hear them coming closer. Some of the people around us now are screaming; some run, others simply sit down. A little boy behind my sister is crying. She holds my head to her shoulder, not letting me see what's coming.
The screams grow louder, more intense. Some of them are from pain, not fear, and I know it's started. I start crying into her shoulder. Rebekah sings softly into my ear,
Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart and let the healer set me free
I start to sing with her.
I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing of when Your love came down.
Some of the others sing around us as well.
I could sing of Your love forever
I could sing of Your love forever
2 I could sing of Your love forever
She kneels on the ground, and I kneel with her. She smiles down at me, the sweetest, saddest smile I've ever seen, but joy is in her eyes. "Jesus, forgive them, and bring us home," we pray. As I clutch her hand, I feel teeth close on my neck.