Chapter 7: Miracle

If the situation wasn't so serious, Jack would have slapped his forehead and let loose a loud groan of annoyance. Instead, he settled for the stare of disbelief that was written on his features.

However, his disbelief was nothing compared to Gotz's. No, Gotz looked ill. His skin was literally taken on a green tint to it and he looked ready to heave his lunch all over his once-thought dead daughter.

The most calm and collected person in this little group was Karen, but even she had disbelief on her features. Mainly because she couldn't believe what she had just said!

"It's just like you… to forget your own daughter." The words rang through Karen's head. The coldness and hatred evident in her voice was something she hadn't felt in years! It was something she had never wished to hear again.

Yet regardless of that, she said them without hindrance. And just like that, shattered any hope for a fixed relationship with her father.

For a few seconds, before her father had started coming toward them, she had thought about maybe trying to fix things between them. After all, that speech proved to her that he was no longer the drunkard she knew him as.

But when she realized that he didn't recognize her, something inside of her snapped. Anger and frustrations long forgotten surfaced and before she could even stop herself, she exploded like a bomb.

And from what she could see, Gotz felt the 'bomb' far more than she would have expected.

Karen's father never cried. In her entire lifetime, Karen had not seen him cry. Not even when his own mother died, Gotz always remained tough. Yet, Karen wasn't seeing that anymore. Instead, she was watching as her father, whom she knew as one of the strongest yet stupidest men on earth, was breaking down.

Tears rolled down his face and although he was holding back that actual crying, she could see that he couldn't hold back the deluge for long.

Then the first choking sob came. That one sob shattered Karen. Absolutely broke her. Already, she felt tears stinging her own eyes, but she fought her hardest to hold them back.

It's not possible. Gotz said to himself. It's just not! She's dead, Gotz! Long gone! Yet, there she was, his own daughter standing in front of him. Sure, she had changed a little bit. Her hair was died black and green, she had grown just a bit taller, her features had aged three years, and she had a thin scar on her forehead, but there was no doubting who she was.

He mentally kicked himself for not seeing it. He could easily see why she hated him; after all, it really does take a bad father to forget his own daughter.

"K-Karen?" He said quietly, almost a whisper. Karen didn't reply, it seemed that she was having as much trouble controlling her emotions as he was. Although, she's probably having trouble keeping herself from telling me how much she hates me… Gotz noted in his mind.

That's when reality set in. More than ever before. Karen had been dead to the world for three years and now, in a time when sadness was supposed to reign, she came back. She came back!

Gotz's tears flowed more freely now and the sobs began racking his body sporadically. She's alive! The sadness etched on his features melted away as it was replaced with joy. Karen's words were momentarily forgotten as Gotz enveloped his daughter—his daughter!—in a hug. It was quite possibly the first hug he had given her in the last fifteen years.

Karen blinked in surprise when her father embraced her. It's not possible. She said in her mind. My father doesn't do things like this! Her eyes locked onto Jack's eyes, which at the moment were twinkling with excitement.

She felt her father's tears splash on her shoulders and all of a sudden, she had trouble making out a single word. This can't be… Please, oh God, don't let this be my father… I can't… I can't forgive him…

Yet Karen knew it in her heart that she had already stepped onto the path of forgiveness. And she was afraid that there was no turning back.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't summon the bitterness that had directed her mouth seconds before. She tried to remember each and every time her father had insulted her or even the time when he beat her, yet each and every time, the images were replaced with her father as a broken man, weeping at the sight of her.

She felt the stinging tear flow down her own face and she cursed her own stupidity. I shouldn't have come here… Of course I'm not ready for this! I was ready to face down my old father, but I… I can't face down this one! I… can't…

She couldn't insult this man. She couldn't hate him. She couldn't hold back the tears. However, one thing she could hold back was the sobs… That's when a loud moan escaped from her mouth and then she sobbed loudly.

The tears and sobs flowed much more freely now. And during that time, the walls around Karen's heart began to crack and break. She knew that it was only a matter of time until the wall was gone all together.

"Oh, Karen… My daughter… I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…" She heard her father utter in between sobs. That was the worst. Now her father wasn't only crying, he was apologizing. Yet another thing he never did.

And it shattered Karen even further. Another loud wail escaped her mouth as more tears flooded her cheeks and clothes.

Jack watched the two, a grin plastered onto his face. "I can't believe this is actually happening…!" He exclaimed quietly.

"You can't believe what's happening?" He jumped at the voice behind him. Spinning around, he saw that Erica had walked up to them.

She had not noticed whom Gotz was hugging yet though. She had only seen Gotz hugging somebody.

"Um…" said Jack. "Well… it's, uh…"

"Spit it out!"

Jack looked at her and smiled slightly. "If you say so… It's a family reunion… between Gotz and…"

"Karen." Jack looked back at the person who had spoken. It was Karen. She had finally broken free of her father's grip and now was standing beside Jack.

Erica jumped back in surprise. "But you're… I thought you were…"

"Gone?" Karen finished, an amused smile on her face. Erica slowly nodded, causing Karen's smile to widen.

"No. You see, ever since last night, I've remembered. Everything. Not a memory is lost. And this morning… well, I just couldn't leave. Not again." Jack gave Karen's hand a squeeze, not noticing the waver of jealousy that flashed across Erica's face.

Erica was silent. She resisted the urge to slap Karen right there and then. You… you… She said silently. You… "Erica? Are you all right?" Jack's voice snapped Erica away from her thoughts.

"Yeah… just a little bit surprised… I guess you were right all these years, Jack. I guess your holding onto her like that really was for a reason…" she said barely above a whisper.

Jack let go of Karen's hand and walked over to her. He put a hand on her shoulder and caused her to look straight at him.

"You'll find someone soon, Erica. I promise. Anybody'd be lucky to have you." Jack said quietly, so that only she could hear. She didn't reply for a while, and when she did, Jack could scarcely understand her.

"But what if the one I want is… you?" Jack looked at her in sorrow and repeated, "You'll find someone."

Erica didn't answer and Jack let go of her shoulder. "I'm not the best, you know." He started. "You could do better."

Karen fought a scowl. She didn't like Erica. It was that simple. No, actually, it wasn't. In fact, Karen hated Erica's very guts! Everything about her grated on Karen's nerves just making her want to—

"Karen?" Jack's voice stopped her from finishing that thought. She looked at him quizzically.

"You sort of blanked out there. Anyway, Gotz and I are going up there for the viewing and to pay our last respects to Pastor Carter. Will you be okay staying here for a few minutes?"

Karen rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I'm a big girl, Jack. I survived three years without you; I can survive another few minutes." Jack grinned and walked towards the center of the square. Gotz looked at his daughter once more before following.

The line that went beside Carter's casket went by slowly and Cliff, who was at the back of the line, was fighting impatience. He knew he was being selfish by letting the wait bother him; after all, a person isn't to rush things like this, but still…

Popuri stood in front of him, dabbing at the tears that refused to stop flowing. Cliff put a comforting hand on her shoulder and said softly, "It's not 'good-bye'. It's a 'see you later'. We'll see him again."

Popuri didn't answer, but he could tell that she had relaxed a little bit. Smiling, he brought his hand back to his side and noted that the line had moved up a few spots.

A few people up, Cliff could see Jack and Gotz talking excitedly. Strange… what could they be talking about that overshadows this Sighing, he decided to ask them later. He had other things to worry about… like who was going to pastor the church and how he could prevent this from happening again.

The minutes passed and finally Cliff was at the casket. He looked down at Carter. They did a good job… he doesn't even look dead… He thought sadly.

Pray. Cliff stopped. He was sure he had just heard someone tell him to pray! Pray. He looked around in confusion. "Excuse me?" He said softly, ignoring the people who stared at him in bewilderment.

Pray. The voice was more urgent this time. It was at that moment that Cliff saw the person who spoke. He stood a head taller than anybody else in the square and he shone as bright as a star. He was clothed in a shining white robe that reached all the way down to his feet. Cliff recognized the man as Gabriel, the angel that had protected him against the Goddess years before.

Cliff noticed that no one else seemed to see Gabriel. Pray. Cliff once again heard the voice but noticed that Gabriel's mouth had not moved.

Cliff started to walk over to him, but the angel put a hand up to stop him. Then, he pointed at Carter's casket and once again told Cliff to pray.

Popuri felt it. It was the urgency for prayer; so strong now that it felt like someone's very life was on the line. She had just finished paying her last respects to Carter and was about to go over to Gray when she noticed that Cliff was staring out into the middle of the square.

"Cliff? What are you…" Cliff looked at her, his eyes wide. "Popuri… do you feel it?" She was about to ask him what he meant, but she realized what he was talking about.

"You mean the feeling of prayer?" Cliff nodded. Popuri sighed. "Yeah, I feel it. It's almost like…"

"Like someone's life depends on it." He finished. Popuri just nodded and Cliff looked back at Carter's casket. "I think someone's does."

Cliff looked down at Carter and tried to bite back the fear. I can't do this… I just… I can't! God, what you're asking me to do…

He felt a hand on his shoulder and noticed that Popuri was now standing behind him. Her hand was resting on his shoulder. "Go ahead." She whispered quietly.

He looked back at her, fear and uncertainty evident in his eyes. "I… I don't know if I can…" He looked into her eyes. Those eyes trusted him. Those eyes told him that she knew he could do this. Those eyes told him all he needed to know.

He took a deep breath and turned back to the silent casket. The entire square had quieted down by now. Many had left, although a few had stayed. Those that stayed mostly had their eyes on the young man who still hadn't finished, this of course being Cliff.

"God…" He began. Fear once again antagonized him and he tried unsuccessfully to repress it. "God, help me… I can't… I can't do this." Hr felt Popuri's hand come into contact with his shoulder again and he knew that she was praying for him as well.

Finally, after another few moments of hesitation, Cliff let out a shaky breath and began his prayer.

"God, John… he's still so young. He shouldn't have to die this way. Please… raise him from the dead. Bring him back to the living."

Nothing. Cliff noted with dismay. Not even a twitch! His eyes hardened. Why, God?! You go through all that trouble, and what happens in the end, God?! Nothing

Cliff felt empty. Just plain… empty. It wasn't a good feeling. Slowly a tear rolled down Cliff's face. "I'm sorry, John… I just… I couldn't do it…"

"Yes, you can." Popuri said from behind him. He whirled to face her. "Popuri! No, I can't! Didn't you see? I tried!"

"There's a wise proverb that I heard once. It's 'you either do or do not. There is no try.' You went into that prayer thinking that you'd try to do it. You didn't go into it with any faith whatsoever. You figured it was doomed from the beginning!" Popuri winked. "Now do it again. This time don't try; do."

Cliff didn't answer verbally. He didn't even answer in any way for a long time. He just stood there, processing everything he had just heard. Do? Can I actually do it? I… I don't…

"Cliff, why do you think God would put this on your heart if He didn't want you to do it? If he didn't know you could do it?" Popuri said when she saw the inner battle he was fighting.

He looked up at her, his eyes shining with a newfound confidence. He mouthed 'thank you' to her and turned back to Carter's casket.

"Okay, John. I'm sorry about last time. I must have sounded so pitiful." He chuckled softly. "But I'm ready this time. I promise." Cliff wasn't so sure how ready he was though. He felt confidence but he still wasn't sure if this would work. He knew he had to do it though. He had come so far and he couldn't back down now.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to believe. "Okay, God. I can't do this, but you sure can! You've done this so many times before. Countless times before! Do it again, God. Do it again…"

He closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth. After a few moments like that, he slowly opened his mouth and began speaking with a confidence he didn't know he had.

"In the Bible, Jesus said that we'd do greater things than He had. He went around healing people and touching hearts. From time to time, He even raised people from the dead!

"God, what I'm asking isn't greater. It's equal. Piece of cake for you, huh? Please, God. He doesn't deserve this. Bring him back, God! Bring him back…" Cliff's voice began rising and he felt something welling up inside of him. It started in the pit of his stomach and spread throughout his body. It was a strange warmth that gave him courage like never before. It was electric in the way it affected Cliff.

When the warmth found his lips, he said the next words with an extremely loud volume that caused every eye in the square look his way. "Jonathan Carter. Get up! Your place is not among the dead! Not yet!"

Cliff didn't want to do what he did next, but he did it anyway. He reached into the casket and grabbed Carter's hand. Immediately, he felt that warmth shoot from his body and into Carter's.

He kept his grip on Carter's hand for a while longer. At first, nothing happened but then Cliff was sure he felt a single heartbeat through Carter's veins.

Then he noticed Carter's skin was slowly gaining natural color again. His previously cold skin was becoming warm and even downright hot to the touch! Now Cliff could feel a steady pulse running through Carter's veins and his formerly serious and concentrated face melded into one of disbelief and joy.

He heard a sharp gasp be emitted from Carter's lips and he watched in amazement as the formerly lifeless chest began moving up and down in normal rhythm.

He felt Popuri's grip on his shoulder tighten to a painful point. Her knuckles were white and he could tell that she was holding her breath. He noted that he was holding his own.

A loud groan originating from the casket shook Cliff from those thoughts. "John!" Cliff exclaimed, unable to stop himself. By now, the square was in an uproar. People scrambled about, some racing towards Cliff and the casket and others racing out in blind terror.

And then… the next moment, Cliff would never forget. Everything went silent around him and he no longer had the ability to see anything but Carter's face.

He watched in silent amazement as Carter's eyes shot open and their eyes locked…