"Hey, girl, wake up, they're coming," a small voice called. Sydney struggled to open her sleepy eyes. She sat up and yawned. The girl across the room was waving at her impatiently and worriedly. "They're going to…"
"Megan Doe," the guard called in a demanding voice. "That's enough!" Megan frowned.
"Yes, sir," she said in a sarcastic tone. "Didn't mean to wake the neighbors."
"Sydney Burns, your second trial will begin in fifteen-minutes. We got you a lawyer from out of town. He's…"
"That's not fair!" the teenager yelled! "I want someone I know!"
"And who would that be?" the guard asked, crossing his arms?
"How about…well…" her voice trailed off and she let out a gulp.
"See, there you have it! You don't know anybody!" the guard called back with a laugh. "Teenagers these days. They think they can get there way all of the time." With that, the officer flung open the barred door and grabbed Sydney's wrists. She winced at the cold, tight metal that gripped her wrists.
"Good morning, sleepy head. Rise and shine. You've got work today," Andrew called. He scanned a very tired Monica who gently stirred. She fluttered her brown eyes open and moaned.
"Already? But it's only six o' clock in the morning," she whined after glancing at the bright red numbers on the digital clock.
"And you have to be at work by seven-thirty, honey," Andrew reminded her, running his hand through her hair. "And I have to be at work around eight."
"You got everything straightened out with the firehall, then?" the Irish angel asked, her lilt not the cheery sound that it usually was.
"All taken care of," he replied with a sigh. "They sounded excited to have me back. Now what do you want for breakfast?"
"I'll make it," Monica groaned, sleep still coloring her voice.
"No, you won't," he said with a laugh. "I would like my pancakes without coffee in the batter this time," he joked.
"Actually, to be honest with you, I was going to try waffles with a wee bit of mocha…"
"In that case, I think I just might get something from McDonalds!" he exclaimed, rushing to open the shades. Andrew rolled his eyes and he heard her complain about the sun shining in. She put her arm over her eyes and squinted. "I'll be downstairs," he announced, quickly laying a quick kiss on her forehead and leaving the room.
Tess' eyes concentrated on the scene before her. She had no clue, whatsoever, to do. For some reason, God had left her for the moment; He wasn't giving her the help she wanted. And even though she knew it was true, she didn't want to admit that the reason might be because her anger was in the way.
"Now what are you going to do, Angel of God?" Jim asked in a sarcastic tone. Tess glared at him, but found that she was overdone for the moment.
"Come on, Miss Tess, tell us," Ryan added. He winked at her.
"Father," Tess began her tone scared and shaky. "I need You…I truly do. Oh, Almighty God, please help me. Forgive me for I have sinned. I have let my anger get out of hand and now I look so unclean to You." Ryan and Jim rolled their red eyes. "Father…" Tess prayed, trying to make her voice heard over the screaming flames.
Suddenly a bright light filled the building, shining out the windows, and piercing the darkness with hope and love. It encircled Tess and a dove lighted on her shoulder. The two men fell to the ground, for the beam batted at their shoulders and set pain about them. They covered their eyes and let out shouts.
"Thank you, God," Tess whispered, realizing that love had just won that battle. But who would win the next was up to God.
She walked over Ryan and Jim and towards the little boy who stared awestricken at Tess. He wasn't afraid when she opened her arms for him to enter in. He just wrapped his arms around her neck and let her carry him out.
"Sam," Bobby said. "I don't want to give myself up to them. I'm afraid to know what will happen." He ran his fingers through his jet-black hair and shivered in the cold.
"Sometimes you just have to do what is right, no matter what the consequence is. If you pray for God to help you through this journey, He will. If you ask Him to send His angels to protect you, He will and already has. Just like I said before, Bobby Parmeter, God loves you and cares for you."
"But I can…I mean…I killed her! She was my own mom and I killed her…oh, God! I killed her…" his words trailed off into the darkness in sobs. "I love her!"
"I know you did and so does God. You still do, don't you?" Sam asked in a comforting tone. Bobby nodded.
"Yeah…yeah I do."
"Bobby, you can't spend your whole life hiding from the police, from what you did. Running from the truth isn't going to change anything. And the thing about running from the truth is that it always catches up to you, sooner or later. And running from the truth is like running from God. And you know what? Wherever you're going, God is already there. You can't hide from Him."
"Then what do I do, Sam? I'm ready to do whatever it will take," Bobby said sincerely. Sam kneeled down next to him and pointed behind his broad shoulders.
"You need to surrender…and not just to the police. Most importantly, you need to surrender to God. Give your life up to Him--whatever is left of it. Who knows, you could die in thirty seconds…only God knows for sure."
"And how do I give up my life to Him?" Bobby asked, sniffing.
"Pray to Him. He'll tell you," Sam answered. Bobby nodded and lowered his head. He hesitantly looked back up and to his surprise, Sam was gone. Now, all that filled his view was a bright light.
"Bobby Parmeter, you're under arrest for murdering Jane Parmeter and for stealing from the fast food restaurant on Highway 55," a women's voice told him. He looked up into the eyes if a young lady. "Stand up and put your hands over your head!" she ordered. Seeing Sam behind her nodding, Bobby did what he was instructed and found himself being handcuffed and led into a squad car.
"God," he prayed on the way to the car, "Please help me."
"Monica?" Andrew asked. He poked his head into the bedroom. "Monica…oh!" he let out a sigh and put his hands on his hips. He rolled his emerald green eyes and laughed. There, snuggled tightly under the covers, was Monica sound asleep. He tiptoed over to the bed and sat on the edge, trying not to sink down for fear of disturbing her.
"Five more minutes," she mumbled in her sleep.
"I don't think so, honey," he laughed and reached down and tickled on the sides. She jumped up and shrieked. "Time to wake up," he said jokingly. She stared at him her brown eyes wide open.
"Am I late for work?" she asked.
"No, but one angel slept in ten minutes," Andrew said with a smile. Monica instantly slumped back down and closed her eyes.
"Can't you just call the company and tell them that I'm sick?" she moaned.
"No."
"Why not?" she whined in a dreary Irish lilt.
"Because you're not sick and breakfast is waiting." He reached down and slid his arm behind her back and propped her up. "Come on big girl," he told her. "I know you're tired, but maybe if you wouldn't of staid up so late last night."
"I'm coming…just five more minutes," she pleaded tiredly.
"Okay, you win, baby girl. Five more minutes, but then that's it, okay?" But Monica was already back to sleep, snoring. Andrew laughed and shook his head. He started back down the steps to tend to the French toast he had made.
