Chapter Three: The Meetings
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17
Jessica sat outside the office of Stonagal and Cothran in downtown London. Her foot tapped to the beat of the song playing softly from the secretary's desk. She recognized it as the music her dad played and kept buying her, although she always returned them for her favorite bands.
The door to the office opened and two men walked out, coats in hand.
"Ah, Miss Hansen" one of the men said pleasantly and walked over to shake hands. "I am Mr. Stonagal and this is my partner and friend Mr. Cothran. We have a lunch meeting with an associate of ours, sorry about the inconvenience. However, we would be very pleased if you would join us."
Jessica accepted and picked up her briefcase. She followed them out of the building to a stretch limo waiting out front. During the ride to the restaurant, they talked business. Jessica learned that they wished to recall some loans that would most likely cause a large dispute. They wanted her as their representative to the United Nations.
"If I may ask, why do you wish to recall these loans at this time?"
"We do not wish to seem like we are bankrupting the U.N, but the matter is of business as usual."
Jessica tried to press for more information but the meeting was cut short as they entered the restaurant. However, there was a knot of doubt growing within her stomach. What were these men up to?
They came to a table in a private corner of the classy restaurant.
"Ah, Nicolae!"
Jessica turned from admiring the restaurant and saw her clients embracing the young man from television. Intrigued, she made her way over to introduce herself.
"And who is this lovely lady?" Nicolae asked in his thick accent.
"She is a lawyer who will hopefully be representing us in some minor business dealings."
"I am Jessica Hansen, Mr. Carpathia." She stretched out her hand and was surprised when he took hers in both of his hands.
"American, no? I detect perhaps a Midwestern American accent?"
"Err, yes. Chicago to be precise. You have quite a talent there, Mr. Carpathia."
"Please, call me Nicolae, and while you do seem to have the accent I pinpointed, I have also heard of you through many businessmen even here in Europe. You have quite the reputation."
"Thank you."
While they chatted and ate, Jessica learned much about her new acquaintance. She couldn't help but be impressed with his views and plans for the future. It seemed he didn't even want the position as Romanian president but wasn't allowed to refuse.
"Yes, and it seems as our dear Nicolae will have a similar situation with the position as Secretary-General of the U.N."
"Really? Now that is impressive, Nicolae." Jessica said with a smile in his direction. "You have strong vision for the future. My father has always been concerned about humankind and the relationship we have with each other. I'm sure he would be ecstatic at your own vision."
"What does your father do, Ms. Hansen?" Stonagal inquired.
"He is a pastor at a small church near Chicago."
"Interesting, and how is it growing up as a pastor's child?"
Jessica paused, thinking for a moment. "Let's just say that I rely on myself to plan the future because I know what I want and fight to get it."
The men laughed and echoed their similar views.
As they were leaving, a ruckus started within the restaurant.
"Have you seen my baby?"
"Where's my husband?"
"Someone please help!"
Rushing over to the crowd, Jessica saw a sight that would seem to change her life. People were missing with only clothes left behind. A hand on her shoulder caused her to turned and she met Nicolae's concern filled gaze.
"Come, Ms. Hansen. Follow me." Jessica turned and followed Nicolae out of the restaurant.
…………………
"At Lakeshore Christian we'll be having a…"
Peggy sat in shock as the man at her door had disappeared. He was from the local church and came to invite her and the rest of the community to some fundraiser they were holding. What that fundraiser was, she didn't know because as he started to explain, he disappeared leaving his clothes.
With a shriek, she slammed the door and bolted it shut. What was happening? Peggy hurried to the television and turned it on, hoping to find some answers, and oh boy were there answers! It seemed that people all over the world had experienced everything she just saw. While she sat in shock and watched the chaos forming around the world, she gripped her calming crystal tightly in her hand, waiting for their powers to work.
………………….
Mark had been on the phone while making a dinner for himself. He was talking to his best friend, who he had met in college and was also a youth pastor. When the line went dead, he figured they had lost connection. After redialing and receiving the answering machine, he hung up and sat in front of the television to finish his meal. He was just getting into the movie as a special report interrupted.
"It has come to our attention that millions of people around the world have vanished." The reporter said with a look of panic across her face.
"What the…?" Mark cried out, sitting forward as his food fell to the floor unnoticed.
"All young children seem to have been the first victims along with seemingly random adults, young and old. No one yet has definite answers, but many are claiming that this is the end of the world." The reporter proceeded to instruct people to stay in their homes and that airports were closed temporarily.
Mark sat in shock because he knew what happened. God was no longer dead to him. "Oh God" he whispered in a pained cry. He knew that he was alone now because the rest of his family were believers, as were most of his friends. Ignoring the reporter's instructions of staying home, he ran out to his car and sped out towards the church. Perhaps there he would find his answers.