The Cross Files


The Truth is out there!

O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?--Acts 13:10

State Senator Gary Fielding paced nervously in front of his big screen projection television. He was an average looking fellow. His hair was sprinkled with more salt than pepper. His eyes were a pale gray, his skin sickly white, a receding hair line dominating his forehead, and the tell tale signs of stress showing around the corner of his eyes and mouth. There was nothing about Gary Fielding that warranted a second look when passing him on the street. And yet, the man had been a successful politician since graduating from William and Mary nearly three decades before. "Are you sure about this?" He asked in a voice quivering with excitement.

The question was directed at the only other person in the Senator's office, his 'advisor' Elymas Paphos. Elymas ran a hand across his short, white beard. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life. You will be the next Governor of Virgina."

"Are you sure?" He asked with a sidelong glance at the news anchor and his 'up-to-the-minute election projections.'

"Gary, calm down." The older man soothed as he slipped from his chair and crossed the room to put a reassuring arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "You've done everything required of you. You've voted correctly on every bill. The Master has a great deal in store for you. You've given him what he requires, and he will give you what you most desire."

"So you've said." The politician muttered with a sigh. "I just can't help but wonder..." The man's conscience was nagging at him again. He hadn't voted 'correctly.' He hadn't voted the way he wanted, or even along party lines. He'd voted the way Elymas advised him. He should have disposed of the man long ago, but ever since his first election for a town councelor twenty eight years ago, he'd been afraid to leave him. Elymas had a way about him. He knew things he shouldn't know. Lots of things. He always predicted the outcome of every political campaign perfectly. Elymas always knew what the people at the rallies most wanted to hear. It was amazing. The man *must* have a close relationship with this 'Master' of his. It was the only explanation.

"This just in...WNN is now willing to predict a winner in the Virginia State Governor race. According to our latest projections, State Senator Gary Fielding will win by a 20% majority."

Gary stumbled backwards into his chair. "I don't believe it!"

"Believe it." Elymas whispered.

"Thank God." Gary hung his head in his hands with relief. He missed the look of hatred in the old man's eyes.

Elymas held back a snarl. " *God* had nothing to do with your win, Gary. You owe your success to me." ..and my master.

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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 Thomas here. If you aren't a gorgeous brunette with Friday night free you might as well hang up now."

Galilee smiled into her phone. "Jordan, you idiot." She laughed. It had been a month since they had first met under terrible circumstances. Her bruises had long since healed. Jordan had been right, not one had marred her beautiful face with a scar. He was more than a little thankful for that. The two of them had become fast friends. Few days passed when they didn't find some reason to get together. Neither one of them was sure if their constant companionship was due to a mutual attraction, loneliness, or simply an anxiety over their first 'case.' Jordan had turned in his resignation at the United Nations. Galilee had finished her final paperwork at the FBI. Now, it was a waiting game. "I know you have Caller ID, Jordan. You're not fooling me."

"Hey! You didn't hang up! So, my dear, where are we going Friday night?"

"The Governor's Inaugeral Ball."

"Darlin', let it never be said that you're a predictable date."

"This isn't a date, you nimrod! I received a case file today." Galilee informed him in a hushed voice.

"You what? I'll be right there."

The phone line went dead in her hand. "Oh, Jordan!" She sighed with a smile. "Never a dull moment." Before she even realized what she was doing, Galilee found herself in the bathroom brushing out her hair and reapplying a little makeup. She paused, her powder puff hanging in the air in front of her face. "Galilee, what are you doing? This is Jordan. He's seen you look your absolute worst. You could walk out there in curlers and a mud mask while wearing an old, ratty bathrobe and still look better than you did after the attack. Pull yourself together. He's your partner. You don't get involved with your partners...and more importantly, he's not a Christian. You never, never get involved with men who aren't Christians. No negotiations. That's the rule." Resolutely, she put away her make-up and wandered back into her living room.

No sooner had she ensconced herself on her sofa, than she heard the sound of her apartment door opening with a clamor. "Honey, I'm home." A familiar voice echoed through the foyer and into the living room.

"Stop fooling around, Jordy. I'm not in the mood. We've actually got some work to do for a change." She responded with a frown of disapproval. Jordan slouched in the doorway. His expression was that of a little boy who had just watched his helium balloon drift into the great unknown. Galilee sighed. "Jordan, I'm sorry. I'm just a little crabby because I can't understand what this is all about."

Jordan perked up again as he plopped onto the couch beside her. "So, what's got the great Sherlock Gilchrist confused?"

"This." She handed the file over to him and peered over his shoulder as he examined the contents. "It's all about former State Senator Gary Fielding."

"The Governor elect of Virginia. I voted for him." Jordan mused as he flipped through the pages of information. "He gave some really great speeches. You live in Arlington, did you vote for him?"

Galilee frowned and shook her head. "Sorry, but no. I didn't find his platform to be very...Christian."

"You let your religion dictate how you vote?" Jordan seemed disgusted by the thought.

"Christianity is not a religion, Jordan. It's more than that. It's having a personal relationship with God through Christ. And, yes, Christianity dictates everything about my life...either directly or indirectly. I won't apologize for that, because I know I'm right."

"And, I'm wrong?" Jordan rolled his eyes. "Let's not get into the Salavation discussion again, okay? I need time."

Galilee hesitated but finally nodded. "There's only one thing about this guy that bothers me."

"Do I really want to know?"

"He's never lost an election. Not one. In twenty-eight years of politics, no less. Doesn't that seem...strange to you?"

He shrugged. "The guy just knows what the people want to hear."

"My point exactly. People joke about politicians selling their souls to get elected...what if Gary did just that?"

"You're kidding, right?" Jordan asked as he melted into laughter. "Galilee, people don't actually sell their souls to Satan. That's Hollywood! This guy did not sell his soul. No one would be that stupid."

"Maybe he didn't know he was doing it at the time." She observed softly. "He isn't called the Father of All Liars and the Deceiver for nothing." Galilee saw Jordan open his mouth to interrupt. "Regardless, we've received two invitations to the Governor's Inaugral Ball. Are you going to come with me, or do I need to find a date?"

Jordan flinched. Why couldn't he be her date? That question stung, but he managed a nod. "Sure, Sweet Thing, I'll be there with bells on."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was very difficult for Jordan not gawk at Galilee when she emerged from her bedroom Friday night. She wore a pale silver gown of satin organza which clung modestly to ever curve and contour of her figure. Her thick black hair had been allowed to dry into its natural tight curls. She was breath-taking, and it took a great deal of self control to restrain himself from kissing right there.

"Well, how do I look?" She asked uncertainly, turning in a small circle to display the whole dress.

Jordan swallowed hard. "Galilee...you look incredible. Although, I don't think the Governor elect will like it."

"Why?"

"Because its his inagural ball, and in that dress you're going to steal the show."

Galilee turned three shades of red before she managed to laugh the compliment away. "Let's go. The Fellowship isn't paying us to stand around here all night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Um, Lee? This may seem like a really stupid question...but what exactly are we going to be doing here anyway?" Jordan whispered as he offered her his arm and escorted her into the Hilton's luxurious ballroom. "I mean...you can't actually go up to this guy and ask him if he's made a bargain with Beezelbul now can you?"

Galilee laughed lightly. "I have a plan, Jordy. Just help me get close to the man...and I'll do the rest."

Jordan's eyebrow shot up. She had a plan. Why did that phrase bother him so much? I just hope her God is around to protect her tonight.

It would be three hours before Jordan worked the two into a position near the new Virginia Governor. The moment Galilee crossed his line of vision, the unattractive little man removed his attention from the man speaking to the beauty standing so near his side. Jordan saw the look in Gary's eyes and immediately felt himself prickle.

"Do I know you, Miss?"

Galilee shook her head, her ebony curls bouncing around her head as she did so. "No, suh, I do not believe we have had the pleasura." She soothed in a thick Southern drawl. The sudden change in accents made Jordan blink in surprise. How had she gone from her patchwork quilt of dialects to a dead-on Scarlett O'Hara?

Galilee extended one dainty hand. "I am Lily Gilchrist, and I must say that this is an hona. I do not know if I have eva been this close to a future president before." Her words were as sweet as honey and dripped from her tongue with practised ease. Apparently, Gary Fielding was enjoying every minute of it.

Gary took the proffered hand and shook it lightly. His eyes never left Lee. "Future president? 'Mam, you may be shooting just a little too high. At the moment, I'm focusing my attention on serving the good people of Virginia for the next four years. I'm not sure if I'd ever be ready for the presidency."

Gailee's lower lip trembled in a pout. "I *am* sorry you feel that way. My superior will be very displeased to hear it."

"Your superior?" Gary's eyes flitted to Jordan.

She merely laughed. "Not him, Silly! My superior doesn't make personal appearances often. You see, suh, I represent an individual with quite a bit of powa and prestige who is always lookin' for another....convert, I suppose you might say."

"Really? Well, I certainly hope you and your superior won't write me off as a lost cause too quickly." Gary interrupted. "I would hate to think I'd missed an oppurtunity."

"Oh!" Galilee laughed again. "Don't you worry, suh. We're known for givin' people a second chance. Sometimes even a third or fourth. I think it would be safe to say that my superior is a very forgivin' man."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Galilee! Or should I call you 'Lily'? What was *that* all about?" Jordan demanded as they drove away from the Hilton later that night.

Galilee waved it off with her hand. "I worked undercover a lot for the Bureau. I don't know why you're so upset. I didn't lie. Lily could easily be a nickname for Galilee, and my superior is a forgiving man of great power and prestige."

"Malachi?" Jordan asked with a frown.

"Jesus, you nimrod!" She sighed in frustration. "When are you going to learn that God is the only one to whom I answer? Not you. Not the FBI. Not Malachi. God."

"Gosh! Calm down, already. Sorry, I brought it up. Am I going to be allowed to accompany you to your meeting with him tomorrow?"

Galilee sat back against the car seat. "I would rather you didn't. You don't have God's protection. But, I really don't see how I can hold you back."

"You're right. You can't. Where you go, I go."

She glanced up at him with a shy smile. " 'Whither thou goest, I shall go.' " She whispered.

Jordan quirked an eyebrow. "Right. That's what I said."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Gary kicked off his uncomfortable dress shoes and loosened his bow tie. "Elymas? You around anywhere?" He called as he sank into an easy chair with a grateful sigh.

"Of course."

Gary's glance shifted to the doorway. "That was a most interesting evening."

"Really? How so?" Elymas asked with interest as he joined the new Governor in the sitting room.

"I think I may have gotten my first bid for the presidency."

Elymas did not allow his surprise to show on his face. Instead, he took a seat and leaned forward to watch the man's reaction. "What sort of bid?"

Gary closed his eye, leaning his head back against the chair with his eyes closed to relive the memory. "This knockout came up to me at the ball and started tell me about her boss. He's apparently some guy with money to burn who thinks I'd be a good president."

"Tell me more about this 'knockout.' " Elymas inquired.

"Um...maybe five and a half feet, 115 pounds, black hair, copper skin, dark eyes, an hourglass figure. She looks like an Arabian princess. Gorgeous."

Elymas pondered the description for a moment. She was Arabic? Perhaps there was nothign to worry about. Still... "I want to be there when you meet with her."

"I don't know if that would be wise. I couldn't really explain your presence..." Gary backpedalled quickly.

"Relax, Gary. They won't see me. You and I both know that I don't *have* to be seen." Elymas soothed. "We'll just do what we've done at all of your rallies and press confrences, yes?"

The governor relaxed only slightly. "I...I suppose. If you think you need to be there."

"I do."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Galilee gazed at her reflection in the revolving glass door. She had dressed conservatively, while still trying to maintain 'Lily's' appeal. She certainly hoped she'd achieved that. Jordan kept casting wary glances in her direction. If she was interpretting that correctly, he thought she had succeeded.

"Miss Gilchrist?" A charming, middle-aged woman stood to greet them as they entered the Governor's offices. "Governor Fielding has been expecting you. If you'll just follow me." The receptionist led them through a labyrinth of corridors and into a spacious office.

"Ah, Miss Gilchrist!" Gary seemed excited by her arrival. Although, his excitement was subdued when he noticed her partner beside her.

"Please, call me Lily." Galilee started right where she'd left off the night before, playing her improvised Scarlett O'Hara. "I do believe I forgot to introduce you to my associate Dan Thomas."

"It's a pleasure." Gary stated congenially as he shook Jordan's hand. Jordan forced a smile and mumbled a similar comment. "Please, please have a seat and let's get down to business."

Once Galilee and Jordan were comfortably seated, Gary allowed himself to speak his thoughts allowed. "Last night you mentioned this superior of yours. What exactly am I going to have to do to get his support?"

Galilee opened her mouth to answer and stopped. Instead, she turned around to gaze at something behind her chair. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend, Governor Fielding?"

Gary blanched. "My...my friend?" He croaked. He could see Elymas. But, he had never thought for a moment that anyone else could. They'd never been able to before. Not at the rallies. Not at the speeches. Never.

The shock was also reflected on Elymas's aged, hard visage. He held Galilee's gaze in a cold stare as if trying to bore into her soul. She merely smiled, knowing exactly what he would find there.

Jordan turned in his seat and stared at the empty room behind them. "Uh..Lily, there's..."

"Shh." Galilee commanded, never breaking away from Elymas's gaze. "Just because you can't see him, doesn't mean he isn't here."

Elymas grinned wickedly and advanced on Galilee. "I am a friend of Gary's, Miss Gilchrist. That is really all that is important."

Galilee never batted an eyelash. She knew more about this man than he thought she did. Enough. She spun back towards Gary Fielding. "Gary, you have to listen to me." She dropped the Southern accent, instead allowing her musical, yet unidentifiable lilt to color her speech. "You are being deceived. Lied to. Fooled. My superior, the one to whom I have been refering is so much more than a man. He is the Son of God. The Savior of mankind. He came here to Earth, took on this mortal coil so that we all might see the Glory of God. This...this creature you've been catering to for the past twenty-eight years is not of God. Or...he hasn't been for a very long time. His 'master' is Satan. Whether or not you were fully aware, you have been serving the devil these past few decades."

Elymas grabbed Galilee by the shoulders and jerked her from her chair. "You are the deceiver! You are the liar!" He hissed as he wrapped one hand around her throat.

Jordan was on his feet immediately. He had been unable to see the man until he laid a hand on Galilee. Then, Elymas was visable. "Get off her!" He shouted, attacking the man with all of his might. His punches found purchase in soft flesh, but the blows didn't seem to bother Elymas in the least.

Gary sat frozen to his seat. Galilee's words and the scene he was now witnessing were slowly sinking in to his clouded mind. "Stop, Elymas." Gary commanded. "I want to hear her out."

Elymas dropped Galilee to the floor. "You mustn't listen to her, Gary. She doesn't know what she's talking about. She's one of those stupid religious nuts we laugh about. She's crazy..."

"I want to hear her out." Gary repeated.

"No!" Elymas hissed. "You will *not* hear her out! I won't allow it!"

Gary paled as his 'advisor' pulled something from beneath his shirt and clutched it in his hands. The words he uttered were unrecognizable to many. Although, Galilee understood every word.

Despite the pain inflicted by that monster, she was up and racing across the office in seconds. She managed to position herself between Elymas and Gary just as a ray of darkness flashed from Elymas's clench hands towards the governor. It hovered in the air above Galilee, frozen in position. Elymas's eyes widened in shock.

"You can't hurt me, Elymas." She whispered, using the name he had never given her. "You're powers are nothing compared to the power of God. You are nothing." The dark beam shimmered and dissolved in front of her. "You are a sorcerer, a child of Satan and enemy of all that is good and pure in this world. You are a deceiver and a liar. You have twisted God's ways to your evil purpose and for that you will be punished. By pledging your allegiance to Lucifer, you have made an enemy of the Lord, Elymas. For that, I must pity you." Galilee paused, her eyes glassing over for a moment before she continued. "You blinded this man to the Truth by your wicked ways. Our God is just. And as a just God, He shall strike you blind for a time. You shall not see the light of the sun again until you realize your evil ways and turn from them, Elymas of Paphos."

Even before she finished her sentence, a mist enveloped the room and the lights flashed off. When the electricity once again illuminated the room, Elymas was covering his eyes with both his hands. His lips curled up in a growl as he pulled his hands away. "You won't get away this, Galilee. If you think you can pick a fight with the Legion and win, you're wrong. You may have won this battle, but the war is far from over."

Galilee laughed. "We'll just see about that, won't we? Go back to Gehenna and tell your little demonic friends all about the power of God. After all, you have *seen* it first hand."

The demon cursed her as he disappeared in a flash of darkness. Both Jordan and Gary stared at the scene in complete shock. "What...what just happened?" Gasped the governor.

Galilee pulled her chair closer to him before seating herself again. "It's a long story, Governor Fielding. Why don't you let me start at the beginning. You see, it all began in the Garden of Eden with Adam, Eve, a serpent and the original sin...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Galilee turned off her television set. Governor Fielding had just made his anouncement. He'd proclaimed on Virginia's news channel that he was now a Christian. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face. It was only one victory, but what a victory! Slowly, she lowered herself from the sofa to her knees on the carpetted floor. "Thank You, Father. Thank You for letting me be a part of this...Fellowship. I'm honored that You have such faith in my abilities. I will try very hard never to let You down. Thank You for giving me the oppurtunity to witness to Governor Fielding. After what he's been through, I think he'll be a humble and dedicated Christian for the rest of his life. I just...I'm just worried about Jordan. He saw what we saw, and he still refuses to acknowledge Your existense. I'm worried about him. Without Your protection, he's vulnerable to Satan and his minions. Please, give me the words to convince him of Your love. In Jesus's name, Amen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Jordan lay awake in bed staring at the ceiling. How exactly could he explain what happened in the governor's office? It had all happened so fast. Still, how could he deny it? "God, just let me sleep on it, okay?" He asked, rolling over onto his side. After an hour of tossing and turning, he drifted off to sleep...and dreams of Galilee.

To be continued....

Coming Soon!

Episode 5
A mysterious disease begins to strike the population of a small town in the midwest. What is causing it...and more importantly, why does the Fellowship consider it a Cross File?

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



Authors Note: This episode was based upon an event which occurs in Acts. Saul (called Paul) and Barnabus travel to Paphos where they encounter a sorcerer bent on keeping them from preaching the Gospel to the country's deputy. During the confrontation, Paul is used by the Holy Ghost to blind Elymas, the sorcerer, for his wicked deeds. To further understand this episode, I encourage you to read Acts 13: 6-12. God Bless!