Chapter 1: Painful Memories

Three Years Later

Jack slammed his hoe into the darkened earth. Dirt flew into his face, but he ignored it. He brought the tool back up and down until kicking up more dirt.

After a few more cycles of this, he dropped the hoe onto the ground and brought a handkerchief up to his face and wiped the sweat off his brow.

"Man… this heat wave is getting to me! I could use a break!" He brought his fingers to his lips and was about to call Thunder, his horse, when a loud MOO interrupted him.

Jack sighed and turned to face his prize-winning cow. "Hey, Karen! I guess I should milk you first, huh?"

Karen mooed in reply and Jack smiled. He bent down, grabbed the cow's udders, and milked the cow for all she was worth.

Jack rose with a pale full of milk and a grin on his face. "Good girl." He patted Karen on the back and walked over to the nearby shipping bin, deposited the milk in it, and whistled for Thunder.

While waiting for Thunder to reach him, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rumpled piece of paper. It was ripped in many places, and was only being held together by tape.

He read it quietly like he did many times every day. He could recite it from memory in three different languages if he wanted, but just to see her handwriting…

Jack,

By the time you read this, I'll already be on the ferry or maybe even in the city.

I'm sorry that it had to come to this, Jack. I love you, I really do, but I just couldn't be with you any longer. It hurt too much.

I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me. When I sprained my ankle, you were there. When my father abused me, you were there. When our friends, one by one, decided to trust in your God, you were there the whole time. Even when you yourself decided to put your trust in God, you were there for ME. You will never know how much that means to me.

But you've given me something that outweighs everything else. You gave me love. In the midst of my attitudes and times of frustration, you never flinched. You were always willing to press forward and be my friend, no matter what.

Please know this. I will always love you. My love for you will never end. If fate has her way, maybe we'll see each other again. If not than I'll die single.

Jack winced, but continued.

I wish you a good luck with your new life. You sound happy with your God.

Please don't follow me. I need to do this on my own, and I'll never be able to do it if you are there trying to get me to come back the whole time.

Love,

Karen

"Sara! Are you up yet?" A voice awakened a young woman about the age of twenty-four and she rose from her bed. "I'll be right down, Aunt Patrice!" she called before undressing from her sleeping clothes.

While hastily dressing, Sara Dickens looked out of her window and into the streets of New York City and sighed.

She lived on the fifteenth floor of a large apartment complex off of a busy street that was currently packed with many cars.

Directly across from her building was another one just like it.

Three years before, Sara was involved in an accident that wiped out her memories. The doctors called it amnesia. Sara called it hell.

To top it all off, her aunt Patrice had adamantly refused to tell her much of anything about her past, other than the fact that her parents had died in the accident, a car wreck. She said that her parents' names were Gwen and John Slone.

Patrice said that she wouldn't tell Sara much because she was trying to protect her. Sara didn't buy it though.

The doctors had said that telling Sara more about her past may dredge up forgotten memories and help her regain her past life. Patrice said that she loved her, but Sara really thought that she was hiding something. Something important.

Sara walked over to her mirror and started combing through her black hair and green bangs.

After doing that, she placed the brush down on her dresser and just stared into her reflection in the mirror in hopes of finding something, anything, from her past.

She had done this every morning for the last three years. It had become a bitter ritual that had not gotten her anything but more heartache and desperation for her memories.

After three years, she still knew virtually nothing about her past. She didn't know where she lived or who her friends were. She didn't know about any other family other than her aunt and her deceased parents.

No, Patrice had done a good job of hiding that from her.

And now… now Sara was a lonely girl without a past and, as it looked, without a future. She had little education that she remembered. She had to be re-taught many of the basics through the advanced. Patrice had once been a teacher, so she taught Sara to the best of her abilities.

She didn't know enough to get into collage and even if she did, she didn't have her high school records so it would prove useless to even try.

"Sara! Hurry up or we'll miss our plane!" Patrice yelled while banging on her bedroom door.

Patrice was going on a trip to London for the weekend on business and decided that Sara should take some time away from New York to join her. Although Sara didn't really want to go, her aunt wouldn't let her out of it.

Sara sighed and yelled back, "It's a charter! He won't leave without us!" There was a silence until Patrice groaned. "It doesn't matter! We don't want to be late!"

Sara shook her head and grabbed her suitcase and handbag, stuffed the brush into the bag, and opened the door.

If she had known better, she would have grabbed some extra clothes. It was going to be a long trip…

They got into a cab and began the long drive out of the city and to the private airstrip where the pilot of the airplane awaited.

Jack nearly cursed when he saw what time it was. He couldn't believe he had wasted so much time that day!

He quickly got dressed in his black suit and ran outside his house.

He whistled for Thunder and when the horse got to him, he climbed onto his back and sped down the road and in the direction of the mountain.

He rode Thunder through the meadow and didn't even slow as he reached the trail that lead up the mountain. He took the sharp turns at such speed that would make the most experienced horseback rider wince in fear. But, Thunder wasn't the overall winner of the Flowerbud Horse Race three times in a row for nothing!

The horse's hoofs made a sound like thunder as they slammed onto the bridge that led across the large gap and onto the other side of the mountain. The church was now in view.

Cliff watched in annoyance as Jack burst in through the double doors of the newly renovated church and into the sanctuary, where every head turned to look at him.

Jack merely smiled sheepishly and walked down the aisle in a dignified fashion.

When he reached where Cliff and Ann stood, along with the various bridesmaids and groomsmen, Cliff quietly hissed to Jack, "If it wasn't my wedding…" Jack smiled sheepishly once more and took his place behind Cliff as the best man.

The pastor of the church, an older man that had arrived at Flowerbud just a few months before named John Carter, cleared his throat. "Well, seeing how everybody is here, we may continue." He winked at Jack before looking back at Cliff and Ann.

"Dearly beloved…" The pastor started.

Sara groaned as another businessman's son kissed her hand. Come on, people! Haven't you ever seen a lady before?! She wanted to scream. She was sick of the royal treatment she had been receiving and was almost ready to let her feeling known to all of London!

The way these slick men acted, it was as if she was a prize to be won! They treated her like she was a princess and they were her suitors!

The businessman's son introduced himself as Roy Charles and Sara did the same only with much less enthusiasm.

From there, Roy began talking about himself while Sara merely pretended to listen. In reality, she was looking for the quickest exit from the building she was in.

She found it seconds later.

A large woman entered the room from a nearby bathroom. She was large enough that she had to open the bathroom door all the way to exit. In doing so, Sara was able to see a single window in the bathroom. A tree was right next to it.

While Roy spoke about the large amounts of money he had made in the last year, Sara simply walked away without an explanation and into the bathroom, leaving a flabbergasted Roy behind.

Sara breathed a sigh of relief as she hopped down from the low tree branch and onto the grass below. She ignored the looks of confusion from the people around her as she walked out onto the sidewalk that lined many shops.

She walked along in wonder at the beautiful city. Well, she would have if she hadn't been on the constant lookout for some pervert to harass her. She kept her right hand hear her loose pants pocket where a small can of mace rested.

In New York, many a thief would try to mug her and sometimes even go so far as try to rape her, but that can of mace had always pulled through in the end. Nobody ever got Sara's money! Nobody!

She was also skilled in karate and other self-defense tactics. No, if someone tried to attack her, they would be in for the fight of their life!

Sara finally stopped walking and went into a clothing store. Inside she was pleased to see racks upon racks of British-made clothes.

Inside were a thin woman and a very tall and muscular man with a loud voice.

"So! What d'ya say we go out? I know some pretty good restaurants around town!" The man bellowed. The woman shook her head, "I told you—Zach, was it? —I already have a boyfriend!" Zach's shoulders sagged, "Yeah, yeah, okay then. I'll see you around."

Zach turned around and eyed Sara, who had just come in. "Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked. Sara smirked, "I don't think so. I don't even live in London!" Zach nodded slowly. "Neither do I. I just come here for my job. I actually live in a small island off the coast of New York. Flowerbud Island. I'm the shipper there." Sara raised an eyebrow. "Shipper?"

Zach shrugged. "It's a farming island. There's only one farm though… but anyway! I ship the produce that comes from the farm here. I usually don't travel to London, but I needed to check up on some things and try to smooth out a mistake I made last month."

Sara smiled politely, "Well, that sounds important so I'll just let you go on your—"

"Are you sure I don't know you from somewhere? Have you ever been to Flowerbud before?" Zach interrupted. Sara frowned. "No, I haven't. I've never even heard of it before." Zach shrugged and left without another word.

Sara frowned once more. "How rude can he get?" She wondered aloud, ignoring the stifled laugh from the small woman.

Jack sighed as he stepped into the large spa built into the mountain. Memories of the last three years flooded his mind as he soaked in the nearly uncomfortably hot water.

The first year without Karen had by far been the hardest. The pain was still very fresh. But his friends had greatly helped him through the initial pain. That and with the help of God Himself, Jack had been able to break through the early torture and set his life back on track.

That first year though was not only a year of mourning. It was also a year of joy as the Army gained seven new members. Not to mention the village had gained a few more members, three of which were already born again Christians.

That first year had also been a year of fear, mainly because there were some villagers who were becoming a little bit suspicious of the large gatherings Rick would have in his house.

It was until the second year though that the Army was exposed to the village.

The first few months after that event had been a little bit dangerous as Goddess fanatics would often try to get back at the 'traitors'. Jack's farm had been disfigured at least three times in those first few months.

But soon the hardened feelings smoothened out and the members of the Army were once again accepted.

By the end of the second year, many more villagers were converted to Christianity and a project to rebuild the Christian church on the mountainside was started.

By then, nearly half of the village was Christian while the other half still worshipped the Goddess.

The church was completed in the beginning of the third year with Karen. For a few weeks, the villagers would simply share whatever God put on their hearts until John Carter finally arrived at the village and took over the pastoral job.

Even more people were won to Christ during that year, taking the total number of Christians nineteen. The Goddess worshipers were the number of sixteen. Then there were also the 'neutrals' as they had become to be called. These were mostly made up of newer villagers that came to live in Flowerbud sometime in the last three years. There were about ten of these people.

Jack rose from the hot springs, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He got out of the hot water and walked over to where his clothes were hanging.

He quickly dressed himself, and unlocked the door to the hot spring and stepped out into the cool night air…

Only to nearly bump into a blonde-headed girl by the name of Erica. "Why, Jack! I didn't see you there!" She yelped.

Jack fought the urge to roll his eyes. Erica had come to the village earlier that year and had been trying to win over Jack's heart ever since. She was one of the neutrals and an obstinate one at that. Unlike most of the others, she refused to even listen.

She was a very nice girl though. In personality and looks. Any normal boy would be attracted to her, but Jack… Jack was in love with someone who died three years before.

Karen may have died, but Jack's heart refused to let go. Even after three years, he still loved her and even worse, his love was still growing. Every day away from her made his heart ache for her presence more and more.

"Jack?" Erica asked. Jack snapped out of his memory. "Hmm?" She smirked. "You weren't even listening, were you?" Jacks smiled sheepishly but didn't reply.

Erica sighed. "I was asking if you wanted to join me for a… dip." Jack nearly groaned aloud but he was able to keep inside for later use. "I just took a dip. I'm tired now and I'm going home."

He began the short trek home but Erica's voice stopped him. "She's never coming back, you know." Jack gritted his teeth and tried to keep his voice even. "What makes you think this is about… her?"

Jack could feel Erica's smirk from behind him. "She's gone, Jack. Why keep holding onto her? Why not just let her go?" Jack's fingers closed into a fist and it was so tight that his hand began shaking uncontrollably.

"I'm going… home, Erica. I'll see you later." Jack walked home stiffly, resisting the urge to scream out loud.

Erica stayed behind, her smirk melted away into a look of depression. "Jack… can't you see? Can't you see what she's doing to you? Why can't you just let go?"

She turned back to the hot spring and looked at it for a few moments before sighing and walking back down the mountain path. She no longer felt like a dip…