The Cross Files


The Truth is out there!

I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.--Psalm 118:5-7

Galilee had cried herself into a stupor over the death of her parents. It felt as if she was fighting a battle with herself. She wouldn't allow her faith in God to dwindle simply because Satan had taken her parents away. Although at the moment, God was the easiest one to blame. She rose from the couch, paying no attention to the VCR clock which glowed green with the time--3:13 am. She needed to feel close to her Creator. There was only one way for her to do that.

She wrapped a jacket around her shoulders and left the sanctuary of her home through an alley entrance. Within moments, she was walking down the sidewalk in front of her apartment building. Galilee had grown up in Africa. The trees, the open sky, these were the things which made her feel close to God. After all, He created them. Tonight, she needed to feel close to her Father. The gentle night breeze carressed her cheeks with an almost loving touch. To Galilee, it was the equivalent of a Heavenly Hug. The burden of her sorrow slowly lifted from her heart. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat, humming a hymn as she walked.

Unnoticed, a dark figure slipped from the shadows and followed her. His stride matched hers. He made no noise. No footsteps. No breaths. There were no sounds save that of the wind in the trees and the traffic on the interstate a half mile away.

Galilee felt his presence before she saw or heard him. It was a strange chill which crept up her spine and settled into the base of her brain. From there, the freezing sensation spread out along her sensory neurons to every cell of her body. A shiver could not correctly manifest the cold which overcame her. Something was wrong.

Her shadow picked up his pace. He seemed to know that Galilee was on the verge of confronting him. He would get to her first.

Galilee's right hand flew to the shoulder holster which should have been housed under her jacket. It wasn't there! She'd been forced to turn it in with her badge. She had no time to think. It was too late.

The man's arm encircled her neck like a vice. She couldn't find breath enough to scream. In retaliation, she kicked her leg out behind her--straight into his groin. Her assailant didn't react to the blinding pain which should have been overcoming him. Instead, the man delivered a knee to her backbone. The blow forced Galilee to go limp in his arms. He threw her to the pavement and continued the attack. Swift, strong punches were delivered to her ribs and face while all the time he held her still so she could not struggle against him. No matter how hard Galilee squinted into the darkness, she never saw anything more than a shadow.

"Jesus help me!" At the precise moment that her prayer was croaked out, the streetlight above her came on. She did not recognize the man's face or physical appearance...but there was no mistaking the emotion in his gaze. He was surprised enough by the light to ease his attack. Galilee pushed herself up on one arm, trying to level her eyes at his. What she saw there was terrifying. She was looking into the eyes of Evil Himself.

"Galilee!" Jordan screamed the name as he sat straight up in his bed. Galilee was in danger. He didn't know how he knew, but he did.

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Since the fall of the Angel of Light, there has been an ongoing battle between Good and Evil raging in our world. We are not the warriors in this battle, but the prize. Each and every day our souls are pulled both in the direction of God and the direction of Satan. It is ultimately our decision as to where and how we proceed. But, we are not helpless in this war. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are given the power to overcome the legions of Satan, and his legions are everywhere.

We are a small, but powerful organization created to aid humanity in the war against Satan. Our directive is clear, defy the Wicked One through our testimony and the power of our faith. Our adventures are strange ones, wrought with what some might call 'paranormal' activity. However, we know better. There is nothing supernatural about Satan, or the Cross Files.

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Jordan was awake and getting dressed before the full meaning of his dream struck him. Was he crazy? Since when did he assume that his dreams were anything more than dreams? "Since I met Galilee." He muttered to himself with a glance in the mirror.

Galilee Gilchrist. Now, there was a woman unlike any he had met before. She was beautiful beyond compare. Her ebony hair fell in natural waves to the middle of her back like a midnight waterfall. She had eyes such a deep brown that they appeared black. He could lose himself in that abyss if he weren't careful. Full mauve lips shaped like a Cupid's bow, high chiseled cheekbones, a copper skin tone that accented her fall complexion, she was a beauty and didn't even know it. Even in an oppressive black business suit the generous curves of her figure were evident. He had to push her image from his mind as he climbed behind the wheel of his car. Jordan had seen many beautiful women before, although none were quite as breathtaking as that masterpiece. In all honesty, it wasn't her appearance which had him running in circles. It was her personality. Her faith. He'd never given Christianity a serious thought until meeting Galilee a few hours ago. Now, he couldn't keep her hearfelt testimony from his mind.

He was abruptly drawn from his thoughts as the street around him began to resemble the one in his dream. There. Below a darkened streetlamp was a blot on the cement. It sickened him to think that Galilee could be that 'blot'. He jumped from the car without turning it off. "Galilee?"

The blot moved. "Get thee behind me, Satan." It whispered in a barely audible tone.

Jordan bit back a moan. It was Galilee. Or, at least, it sounded like her. Her clothes were torn and tattered, soaked through with what he could only assume was her blood. Her eyes were already beginning to swell shut. Tenderly, he lifted the petite Jewish woman into his arms and carried her to his car. He laid her along the back seat gently. "It's all right, Lee. Everything's fine. I'm going to get you to a hospital."

"No!" The force of the refusal shocked him. He'd thought she was almost unconscious. Apparently, she was still quite coherent. "Just take me home, Jordan. I want to go home."

"All right." He conceded as he fastened himself in the driver's seat and shifted the car back into drive. "But, we're calling the police."

"No!" Another strong refusal. "I'm sorry, Jordan, but we can't. They would never find the thing that did this."

Jordan glanced in his review mirror. "Thing?"

"Satan."

That one word contained such hatred that Jordan shivered in his seat. "Galilee, are you telling me the devil beat you up?" He asked skeptically. Perhaps she wasn't as coherent as he'd thought.

"Don't mock me!" She commanded. "I know what I saw. He can assume many pleasing shapes. He can make himself look like a man...but there's no hiding the evil in his eyes. You can think I'm crazy if you like, but Satan attacked me tonight. I know he did."

Jordan pulled off in front of her apartment building and moved around the car to pick her up again. She seemed uncomfortable with the situation, but allowed him to carry her up the stairs and into the living room of her apartment. "I'm going to get you some ice for your eyes." He called as he disappeared into her kitchen.

Galilee laid her head back against a couch cushion, biting her lower lip to hold back the sobs of pain. "Jordan? How did you find me?"

He poked his head out the kitchen door. "Just drivin' by."

"You're lying. You weren't 'just drivin' by' at three in the morning."

Jordan emerged with two homemade ice packs. "Got me there." He admitted. The shadow of a smile passed over his face as he continued. "I had a dream about you, Lee. I couldn't live another moment without seeing your beautiful face."

Even through the bruises and the blood he could see her blush. "I think you'll have to go quite a while before you see it again...if you ever do." She whispered, wincing as she held the ice packs to her eyes.

Jordan hesitantly brushed a few stray hairs away from her face. "Those bruises aren't going to scar. They'll be a distant memory in a week or two. I've had my fair share of them." He paused. "And, just so you know, I'm not going to go away empty-handed. Turns out your even more beautiful inside than you are out."

"I'm going to throw up on your Dockers." She warned with a groan. "You have horrible timing, Mr. Thomas. Today, I lost my job, found out my parents were murdered, and was beaten to a bloody pulp by Satan. Do you really think this is the appropriate time to be hitting on me?"

Jordan grinned. "You need a pick-me-up, just so happens that I'm good at that job."

"An answer to prayer?" Galilee suggested. Her split and swollen lips curved upward in a smile despite the pain it involved.

He didn't protest as quickly as she'd thought he would. Instead, he sat beside her in silence. She was about to change the subject when he replied. "Quite possibly."

Galilee's eyebrows rose in amusement. "He's tugging at your heart, isn't He? I can tell."

"I don't know. Maybe. I just...I don't have the clarity that you do." He fastened his eyes upon his shoes. The humor in his past few statements was gone. Jesus wasn't the only one tugging at his heart.

"Soon you will." Galilee stated confidently. "Soon, all will be revealed." She winced at the pain from her wounds.

Jordan noticed that wave of pain and was up again before she could hold out a hand to stop him. "Where's your Tylenol?"

"Medicine cabinet in the bathroom." Galilee called back.

Jordan came back with a glass of ice water and two Tylenol PM tablets. "Take these. The pain is bad, but you need to try to get some sleep tonight. Go to your bedroom and lay down. I'll be in here on the couch if you need me." Galilee opened her mouth to protest, but Jordan closed her jaw with a tap to her chin. "No arguements. You were just attacked outside your apartment. If you're right and Satan is after you, that locked door isn't going to stop him. You shouldn't be alone right now. I'm staying. That's final."

She smiled, leaning forward to press a kiss to his cheek. She pulled in a little closer so that her mouth was near his ear. "God Bless you, Jordan" She whispered.

When she was closed off safely in her bedroom, Jordan prepared the couch for an overnight. What had gotten into him? He barely knew this woman. "Face it, Jordan. Whether you want to admit or not, you've got it bad."

Outside the apartment building a shaking hand picked up his cell phone and again pressed speed dial. "Sir? There's been a development....She snuck out...Alley exit, we weren't watching it....Well, Sir, we believe that the Adversary may have taken advantage of our absence...No, we don't believe she was seriously hurt. Someone else intervened...We've identified him as an employee of the United Nations, one Mr. Jordan Thomas...He appears to be clean as far as criminal records go, but I believe the Father's got quite a long list of sins on His records...No, Sir, he's not Saved. Not yet anyway...Possibly, it might be worth considering. They work well together....Yes, Sir. I will be making contact shortly. I'll be touching base with you again in the morning. Good Evening, Sir."

Jordan awoke to the customized ring of his cell phone. He groaned and muttered a few curses before he managed to fumble the flip phone open. "Thomas, what do you want?"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave the zealot to her own devices."

The tone of the man's voice was so low that it caused a chill to travel down the length of his spine. "Listen, Buddy, I don't know who this is..."

"A friend with similar interests. Gilchrist is ours. If you don't leave her alone, we won't be responsible for the consequences. You are bringing this upon yourself. She's a zealot. You want nothing to do with her or her religious nonsense."

Jordan stiffened. "Did you just threaten me? Are you the one who attacked her last night?! What kind of monster leaves a woman in that condition? You're one sick puppy. You can save your warnings and your threats for someone who gives a fig. I don't. If you have a fight with her, you've got a fight with me. Period!" He slammed the phone shut and threw it onto the couch beside him. It was only then that he noticed the silohuette in the bedroom doorway. "Uh, Good morning, Lee. How much of that did you hear?"

"Good morning, Jordan....enough to know that I owe God a debt of gratitude for sending me a friend like you. Thank you for last night. You didn't have to stay. I would have been fine." It was only then that she stepped out into the light. Jordan flinched before he could stop himself. Both of her eyes were ringed in deep purple bruises. Her nose, although not broken, had swollen to match the size and condition of her lips.

"Oh, Galilee! I wish I'd gotten there sooner." He moaned, standing up to better examine her wounds. "That guy really worked you over. You sure you don't want to go to a doctor?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Really." Galilee insisted, falling back into an easy chair. "Like you said last night, they'll go away in a week or two. And, stop blaming yourself before I get mad. You didn't need to get there sooner. God was with me. He sent you there when you were needed and not a minute sooner."

Jordan was about to protest when he was interrupted by a knock at the door. He grabbed Galilee's arm before she could get up from her chair. With a quick shake of his head, he held her in place. He didn't want her getting hurt again, FBI agent or not. "Yeah, buddy, what can I do for you?" He requested of the man standing on the opposite side of Galilee's front door.

Her visitor was an African American man who towered above Jordan's 6' 1" frame. "Mr. Thomas, I would like to come in and speak to Miss Gilchrist."

Jordan blocked the door with his body. "No way. Nobody's getting in to see Galilee until I know what's going on."

"All will be revealed. I assure you, Mr. Thomas, I mean you and Miss Gilchrist no harm. I am merely a messenger...a guardian if you will."

Jordan felt a slight pressure on his shoulder and turned to see Galilee at his side. "It's all right, Jordan. Let him in."

"You know him?"

"No, but I know he can be trusted." She whispered as she gestured to the cross necklace around his neck. "He's a believer."

Jordan moved aside and followed the large man into Galilee's living room. Lee gestured to the armchair before taking a seat on the couch. After a moment's hesitation, Jordan sat down beside her. Something about this situation was making him nervous. "Who are you?" He demanded.

"You may call me Malachi, for that is the only name I shall ever give you."

"Malachi?" Lee breathed. "You're the one who left me the note."

He turned his attention toward Galilee. "I must apologize for your condition, Miss Gilchrist. I was sent to protect you from the Enemy's advances. I was lax. You slipped out a back entrance. Had it not been for Mr. Thomas's miraculous appearance, I fear your state would be far worse."

"Who are you?" Galilee asked carefully. "What does this have to do with me...and the Enemy?"

"It has everything to do with you and the Adversary." Malachi explained. "As it would seem, Mr. Thomas, it has much to do with you as well."

"Me?" Jordan asked in disbelief.

"You have been chosen to enter into a battle of mythic proportions. A spiritual war which began with Original Sin and shall not end until Satan is cast into a pit of fire. It is a battle for the souls of man. A battle for the world in which we live. A battle for Jesus. A battle against Satan. I make no false promises. It will be treacherous. The encounters you have had in the past twenty-four hours are just the beginning. You have free will. It is your choice. Will you do service for your King, Jordan? God has called you to action, Galilee. Will you answer Him?"


To be continued....

Coming Soon!

Episode 3
Galilee and Jordan must make a decision which will change the rest of their lives. Will they join the shadowy organization which claims to work on behalf of Christ, or will they turn down the opportunity of a lifetime?

Feel free to email me with any comments you might have!
Bethany--Ottiga@aol.com