Forgotten Commitments




A/N: Again, I have not read the last four books, although I have gotten some spoilers from other fics. I do not know if they are true, but I'll use them anyway! Also, this is what I believe what happens when you die. (I might have stretched some parts a little to fit in with the story and things I don't really know about. *I'm burning* :) ) This story is an attempt to keep me from becoming homicidal against Miss Applegate. (Who goes by K. A.?)


Rachel


The Ellimist told me his story and left. He left me for dead. I tell you what, he is a stupid-so-called-non-interfering-bastard! He's tricked us. He's betrayed us. Worst of all, he used us. I am dead because it didn't suit his purpose to keep me alive. Who said we had to rescue the Iskroot? They were cousins to the Yeerks for goodness sake! He wasn't someone with any authority that's for sure. Just because he had a good light show we assumed we had to help him.

Oh, Lord. That was so long ago, it seemed. It used to be so simple to sneak away in the middle of the night to fight. We would go down to the pool. I know I liked it too much at times. Sometimes, liking it made the real horror go away. It got so much more complicated when I had to tell my mom. It was downright painful to drag my family into the forest and into this mess. We were dragged out of house and home into the woods. Even there we weren't really safe.

I remember the special moments with Tobias. I remember our one kiss. It was my first. I'm sure it was his. I had kind of laughed about it later. It was kind of awkward because I didn't know how to go about it. In the end I just went for it, knowing that he needed it. Maybe, I needed it too, because it felt so right. I never told him how much I cared for him. Sure, it was implied. We knew we loved each other, but we never came out and said, "I love you." I would give anything to see his beautiful face once more.

Wait a minute. I'm supposed to be dead! I can't be dead, I'm still thinking! Maybe the Ellimist decided to help me after all. Maybe, I'm still alive! I vaguely remembered where I was, and discovered I wasn't there anymore. I noticed I was sitting up with my knees drawn to my chest. My arms were clasped around them, and my head was nestled in the little hole it made. I opened my eyes, mainly because I realized I could, and looked around.

Suddenly, I realized the pain was gone. There were no blood or guts. I was in one piece. I saw I was in a room. This room had the whitest walls I had ever seen. I looked down and saw that I wasn't wearing my morphing outfit, but was clothed in a white dress. This dress fit beautifully, it fit into every corner of my body. Like the walls, this dress was incredibly white. It stopped right at my ankles. I was feeling around my body for any wounds and didn't find any. However, when I got to my stomach, I felt I had no belly button! I also noticed I was taller, stronger, and older. I felt 25!

As I became more aware of my surroundings, I noticed that one wall wasn't really a wall! There was a light source pouring with light and made the illusion of a wall. I looked toward the light source and instantly forgot why I was scared and angry. Well, I didn't exactly forget what happened. I just forgot why it made me so scared and angry. I looked toward it and was drawn into its source. I just started walking.

I was so light on my feet, I felt like I was gliding through the air. I didn't even know if there was a walkway under my feet. It seemed when I looked into the source I felt more sure of my steps. I was gradually slanting upwards along what seemed a very straight narrow path. In what seemed like minutes, I found the source.

You can't even imagine what He looked like! He was pure light, yet pure human. He knew the deepest human sorrows and yet He was so above it. His face wasn't remarkable, but you couldn't ignore it. His face was pure love and righteousness.

Do you know who I am? He asked. He had that strange telepathic ability. It was as if He was speaking to my soul and not to me.

I scrambled through my mind of possible explanations. There was only one conclusion to be made. Nobody on Earth would believe me if I told them!

"Are you God?" I asked in my normal human voice. I instantly felt humbled. I was on my knees in a second. My voice was barely audible through the ringing of his previous question.

Yes. He said. I was immediately prostrate on the ground. (I realized I was on ground not a floor.) I realized that the Ellimist didn't save me after all. I was dead, for sure.

Do you know what you are about to go through? He asked

"No." I squeaked.

You are about to be judged. In fact, this is part of it. Do you know what you have to do to have a guaranteed place in heaven?

I struggled to think. I didn't do anything worth getting into heaven that's for sure. Maybe I helped save the world, but I did so much damage along the way. I was so ruthless. Even before I became an Animorph, I wasn't the best person. I've hardly ever so much as looked at the Bible in my lifetime. Wait a minute! What happens if I don't get in here? If I don't go to heaven, then I go to hell!

I started crying, "Please, let me in here! I can't go into hell!" I was sobbing. My tears were different though. They were icy cold and reminded me of Earth that was so far away.

Hush, hush. Your judgement isn't over yet. Wait a minute, maybe He was insinuating something.

This is what has to happen before you can go to heaven. First you need to know why it is so hard to come here. That is because 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'. That is Romans 3:23. If you sinned even once, you are doomed to hell.

I let that sink in a bit. Was this another Ellimist trick? I was doomed.

But 'for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.' That is John 3:16. Last but not least, Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now, you see? Everyone sins. I had to send my son to die on a cross, a most painful and embarrassing death to buy you back from those sins. He carried our sins on the cross to pay for them. But since I created free will, I could not be sure that everybody would take this gift. That is why you have to choose for yourself if you want to come here . . . while you are alive. There you have it. If you called upon my name and acknowledged your sins and received my spirit, while you were alive, you are granted access.

My face went as white as my dress. I don't remember calling on the name of the Lord. If I had known, I would have taken the offer in an instant. Well, maybe. Would I have believed such a claim? Would I believe I was going to hell, when it wasn't so apparent as right now? I was busy with the Animorphs. I was trying to save the world. I dealt with Life and Death every day from that trip in the construction site. I could have cared less about heaven and hell. But, all have sinned . . . he said. Nothing I said would cut it.

He mentioned free will. I remember the mission with the Yeerk experiment to take away free will for more voluntary controllers. The guy couldn't do it. Everything he tried failed. I realized that this was the key - choice. God created free will, and loved us so much that he couldn't take it away. After hearing that, I realized that this was an amazing, awesome God! He loved us so much to sacrifice his son. His sacrifice was so much more than mine. It was more than Jake, my cousin, ordering me to my death, which probably wouldn't mean much in saving people. It was a father telling his only son to die to save the world. So what if the Animorphs win the war! Billions of people would probably be doomed to hell, even if they were free from the Yeerks.

I could see this playing out in my head: The night before the crucifixion, Jesus Christ was so scared, he was thinking of backing out. He didn't. His best friend betrayed him to the authorities. It kind of reminded me of my own story, but I didn't come near as close to saving the world than he did. It doesn't end there! When He died, He went down to hell, because He carried our sins with him. The fix was he had to get out. He did. 3 days he was dead and then he woke up. He conquered death, and so becomes our savior! Imagine! All we have to do is ask!

Now I see this and think how awesome, but it doesn't help that I know now. I should have known back then . . .

Ultimately, my fate came down to did I make a simple choice.


To be continued . . .


A/N: A nifty little cliffhanger. . . Just letting you know, It's not over yet!