Chapter 3: Lionel Washington
Lionel Washington was walking through his old neighborhood in Mount Prospect, Illinois. It felt strange to come back there after being on the run from the Global Community for several years. Yet, Lionel wanted to return to his hometown and start renovating his old house, which had been destroyed during the Tribulation. Lionel's uncle wanted to stay with him.
The good news about Lionel's uncle surprised him the most. When the older man had been injured with a gunshot wound when his apartment had been set on fire, Lionel pleaded with his uncle, but was almost certain that it was too late for his uncle when he had died. Yet, Mr. Dupree had called out to God just moments before he died, perhaps before Judd and Lionel found him dying.
Lionel, of course, found great joy in seeing the eight fallen Young Tribulation Force members in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. He was so pleased to meet Natalie Bishop for the first time, as well as see Mark Eisman and John Preston receive their rewards. Lionel enjoyed witnessing Chaya Stein be rewarded in addition to the reunion Chaya had with her father. But what pleased Lionel the most was seeing his old friend Ryan Daley, who was now looking like a man in his mid-twenties because of his glorified body. So different from the small, frightened boy that he had met after the Rapture.
When Lionel had reunited with his family after the Rapture, they didn't seem disappointed that Lionel had been left behind. Lionel assumed that was because they were so thankful he had prayed to become a believer and that they were able to be with him again.
Lionel had never felt so giddy and joyful. His life had been shattered after the disappearances. Nothing had hurt him more than seeing the clothes of his family members on the morning of the disappearances. Not even the physical pain of having his arm trapped under a rock and later being forced to amputate it.
Lionel winced when he thought of the pain he had went through that night. Lionel had found it difficult at time to function with only one arm. He was fortunate to not have been caught and beheaded by the Global Community, as so many others had been. Lionel felt so unworthy to be among the few believers left alive during the aftermath of the Battle of Armageddon and the triumphant return of Christ.
As Lionel was processing his thoughts, he passed by the locations where Global Community Middle School and Nicolae Carpathia High School had used to be. The Young Tribulation Force had unanimously agreed via e-mail that both schools would be turned into training camps for the believers to be educated about the millennial kingdom and to handle any opposition that came their way.
Lionel was sure there wouldn't be much opposition. The worst of the worst had already taken place. Lionel was sure he and his friends could handle any extra tasks that were assigned to them.
Overall, Lionel was content, blessed, satisfied, and thankful. He only hoped that the other Young Tribulation Force members felt the same way.