life cycles three chapters

7/24/2019 Life Cycles Three Chapters

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February 27, 2015

Dear Publisher;

No one begged for his life as much as the black minister !hraim "ilson did that cold and rainy

night# $e is infatuated %ith a %hite college student named lisabeth &trong, and lured lisabethto his study in church to ha'e se(#

)n his many years as a !astor this middle*aged black man has only used his !osition to lure

%omen into the church study to ha'e se(# !hraim has finally !ushed +od to his limit, so hesends his angel to sto! this sacrilege#

t the last minute the ngel of +od sho%s mercy, but it comes %ith a !rice# !hraim is gi'en a

list of nine !eo!le that are located in different !arts of the country# $e has to find these !eo!leand get them to change from their life of sin, or !hraim %ill die# -here is a timeline ho%e'er;

he has nine months to com!lete the task#

-hese nine !eo!le come from all %alks of life, from a cross*dresser to a serial killer, !hraim is

shot at, arrested t%ice, and the only sur'i'or in a !lane crash, but he finds all but one of the nineindi'iduals#

!hraim "ilson searches e'ery%here but he can.t find the last !erson on the list# "ith only

hours left he reali/es it.s the baby he and his girlfriend created that night at the church# -he nameof this no'el is ife ycles and it %ill a!!eal to hristian as %ell as non*hristian readers#

) ha'e been %riting for nine years and ha'e self*!ublished three books, -he Forgotten an, &tillForgotten %hich are romance no'els, and the Peterson $ouse a ghost story# -here ha'e been

three books signings for -he Forgotten an, t%o of %hich %ere at 3arnes and Noble book

stores# "riting has become a !assion for me and ) ha'e com!leted ten other no'els#

+ilbert ollins

410 6ak -rail "ayeeds labama 450

205*1*0508

"ritingfromthesoul9hotmail#com"ord count 82,520

1
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Life Cycles From Birth to Death and what lies between

BY GILBERT COLLINS

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INTRODUCTION

akeland 3a!tist hurch, this is an old structure built in the late fifties, its si( floors and

old charm has hel!ed many a soul throughout the years# -his is !hraim.s church no% he has

been akeland.s !astor for fi'e years, and finally the members are res!ecting him# $e can here

%ith a :agged !ast %hich !hraim is trying to kee! a secret from his congregation# !hraim told

them he caught his %ife cheating %ith another man, and so far they belie'e him# 3ut there is one

thing the forty si( year old minister can.t hide or control, his lust for %omen#

!hraim "ilson %as an ambitious young black man %hose main concern %hile coming

u! in irginia %as to !ull as many ladies as !ossible, his good looks and smooth talk hel!ed him

to do :ust that# s he matured !hraim thought that getting married %ould hel! him settle do%n,

but it didn.t#

$is %ife caught him cheating se'eral times, finally after eight years of marriage she had

enough, and di'orced him# !hraim %orld %as turned u!side do%n, he ne'er thought Pam his

%ife %ould lea'e him, so he mo'ed to akeland Ne%


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study of the church %ith lisabeth &trong, a %hite t%enty one year old college student, +od sent

a messenger to !ay him a 'isit# !hraim ne'er begged for anything as much as he begged for his

life that stormy night# -he angel sent him on a :ourney to find nine different !eo!le that

des!erately needed +od in their li'es, they are located in different !laces in the country and time

%as limited#

First on the list is =ichard >ennings a cross*dresser %ho +od hel!ed to make a last minute

decision that sa'ed his life and soul# 3ryan a%rence %as ne(t, after losing a limb in iet Nam

he began selling drugs# $e carried such anger that the de'il took control of his life and he

couldn.t break free# =ita 'ens a beautiful atino %oman %ho a !rofessional dancer in as

egas, her fast life made it easy for demons to !ossess her# 3ut %ith the hel! from a catholic

!riest named Father $omes, she %as set free#

)t.s hard to forget someone that has sa'ed your life; itchum =eed %as a 'ery successful

contractor and %as there for !hraim %hen he really needed it# arry -aylor, the ne(t !erson on

the list he is a young %hite atheist, %ho has no use for +od or black !eo!le, he.s the youngest

board members of a large bank, and has so much !o%er there %as no need for +od# arry !ut

e'erything into his %ork and lost his soul# "hen !hraim encounters &usan Foster, a gang leader

in as ngles; he is really tested because she is beautiful and aggressi'e# uther iles !resented

the biggest challenge because he lost sight of reality causing him to go on a killing s!ree, %hich

included his sister Nancy#

-he eighth !erson on the list %as >ackie =ogers a young but gifted skydi'er# >ackie %as

like most of us too busy to hear the ord %hen he knocks on the door of our heart# &ometimes

+od has to remo'e his grace and mercy from us to get our attention, as he did %ith >ackie# -he

last !erson on the list only had the name of "ilson, !hraim searched e'ery%here looking for


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that s!ecial !erson, but his ho!e and time %as running out# =ight before the angel is about to

issue :udgment, it hits him; the last !erson on the list %as the baby he and lisabeth created that

night# -his :ourney not only changed !hraim.s life, but e'eryone he came in contact %ith#

ife ycles is a book that e'ery !astor, hristian and non*hristian needs to read because

it reminds us that the ?THE FATHER IS ALWAYS WATCHING.

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CHAPTER ONE

)t.s a cold rainy e'ening in the to%n of akeland, Ne%


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he mo'ed to akeland turning his life o'er to +od# -he forty si( year old man ga'e u! all of his

bad habits but one, his uncontrollable lust for se(#

)t.s "ednesday night, %hich is 3ible study night at his church# !hraim :ust had a

birthday yesterday, and he s!ent the morning 'isiting sick members, and the rest of the day

!hraim s!ent alone# $is children 3ryan eight, and "hitney three years old, are %ith his e(*%ife

in irginia, and they ha'en.t communicated %ith him since the di'orce# Pastor "ilson s!ent

most of his birthday reading and trying not to be de!ressed, so ha'ing this 3ible class on

"ednesday hel!s his %hole day from being so dismal# -he class consists of four females and

t%o males %ho are gathered around a large table in the basement of the church# nasty storm is

kicking u! outside, and the girls Aui'er e'ery time a loud lightning hits nearby# ?y

grandmother use to tell us to be still during a storm %hile he ord is %orking, but since %e.re in

the church e'eryone %ill be ok,B !hraim says sitting do%n in front of the grou!# -he youth

attendance at Pastor "ilson.s church has really increased in the !ast year, the young adults like

the %ay !hraim brings the message in stories they can understand, they think 'ery highly of

him# -here is this one young lady that has been trying to get his attention for months# $er name

is lisabeth &trong, and she :ust turned t%enty one, !lus she.s a straight ?B student at the local

college#

-oday has been an e(hausting day for !hraim because he started early 'isiting se'eral

sick members, trying to gi'e each one of them a generous !ortion of his time# No% he is sitting

in his 3ible class trying to stay a%ake# Pastor "ilson decides to let one of the youth run the

class to see if they read tonight.s lesson# ?"e.re going to start something ne% tonight, lisabeth )

%ant you to run the class# ?3ut !astor, ) am not comfortable getting u! in front of e'eryone,B she

com!lains# ?ome on you can do it :ust talk about tonight.s lesson, start by asking them

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Auestions#B "hen she gets u! and %alks to the front of the room the t%o males and !hraim

cannot hel! but notice her# -he young %oman.s dress is red and 'ery short# 3efore he kno%s it

Pastor "ilson is staring at lisabeth.s long se(y legs, he Auickly looks a%ay so no one %ill see

him# ll during the class she %ould !ur!osely dro! things on the floor so !hraim %ould look at

her, and he did# lisabeth caught him staring at her and she kne% her long bro%n hair and dee!

blue eyes ha'e finally ca!ti'ated him#

?lright e'eryone let.s gi'e s# &trong a hand for such a good class tonight,B !hraim

says as he stands u!# ?) think ).ll let the rest of you ha'e a turn at this, so study u! for ne(t

%eek.s lesson#B s e'eryone starts to lea'e lisabeth is standing at the table !acking u! her

things# ?


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!hraim Auickly o!ens the office door and before he kno%s it they are on the floor ha'ing

se(# lmost an hour later the young %oman and middle aged man fall aslee! until a bolt of

lightning %akes !hraim# No% he reali/es they are lying on the floor naked, so the !astor !ulls a

blanket from a small closet and uses it to co'er them# !hraim is e(hausted from the 'igorous

se( and he falls Auickly back to slee!, but he.s una%are that the thunderstorm outside is getting

%orse# &uddenly all the lights in the church go out, and lisabeth %akes u! and mo'es close to

him because she is afraid of the dark#

fe% minutes later %hat starts out as a bolt of lightning ends u! as a large beam of light

s%ee!ing through the room# -he bright glo%ing !resence %akes !hraim; he sits u! and %atches

the strange sight go back and forth through his office se'eral times# -his light is so bright that

%hen it comes to%ard him !hraim has to Auickly turn his head before it blinds him# -he

middle*aged black man.s heart is racing so fast his chest feels like it is going to e(!lode, and

suddenly !hraim feels he must get dressed, so he Auickly sli!s on his !ants# Baybe this is

something from another !lanet,B !hraim thinks as the menacing light circles the room and

comes right at him; knocking him back do%n# 6nce it reaches the center of the office this

strange illumination comes to rest, and a thick gray cloud comes from out of no%here, Auickly

consuming the %hole room# Pastor "ilson :ust stands there not kno%ing %hat to do; he %onders

if this is a dream# &lo%ly the cloud begins to lea'e the room and !hraim sees the faint image of

something that looks like a man# ?)t looks %ay too tall to be a man,B he thinks sAuinting to see#

t first it looks like some kind of creature, but as the smoke clears he can see it.s an angel

standing there looking right at him# -he angel has three sets of %ings, one small set on its head,

another small set on its feet, and t%o large %ings on his back# $is 'isitor :ust stands there %ith

its normal eyes closed, but on each small %ing there is one eye that is %atching !hraim.s e'ery


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mo'e# ?aybe he got lost in the thunderstorm,B the !astor thinks# ?an ) hel! you,B but the angel

does not res!ond# ?aybe he didn.t hear me#B ?an ) hel! youCB he asks again# 3ut there is still

no res!onse# ?)f you are lost or need some directions maybe ) can hel! you#B For the first time

the angel mo'es o!ening his huge back %ings %a'ing them together as if he is going to fly#

?)-.&


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D) 6N -$)= 3)=-$D


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blanket u! to co'er her naked body# !hraim is so frightened he becomes sick and runs to the

bathroom# ?!hraim are you alrightCB the young %oman yells, but he does not ans%er# lisabeth

starts to !ut on her clothes %ith a faint smile on her face; she really en:oyed their night together#

?re you alright babyCB she asks mo'ing close to !hraim as he emerges from the restroom# $e

has a %orried look on his face no%, and Auickly backs a%ay from her# ?


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%ind does %hen it %hi!s across a flag# )t takes a fe% minutes to calm himself do%n, and then he

notices that the last !erson on the list only has a the name, "ilson; also the !eo!le on the list are

located in all different !arts of the country# ?No% ho% in the %orld am ) going to get to all these

!laces; it.s going to take a lot of money#B

-he middle Iaged man immediately starts his letter of resignation to the church because

he kno%s this is going to take at least nine months# ?"ell it.s only me, ) don.t ha'e any family

here to %orry about %hen ) lea'e,B !hraim thinks as he %rites# $e remembers a fe% months ago

someone from the insurance com!any called about cashing in some of his insurance !olicy,

because he has had it so long# $e searches for their !hone number and gi'es them a call# fter

being transferred to se'eral different de!artments !hraim finally gets someone %ho kno%s %hat

he.s talking about# J


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akeland for a %hile#B lisabeth came in the room %ith a smile, but no% her %hole e(!ression

changes# -he young %oman !uts her head do%n to hide her tears and broken heart# ?3ut !hraim

%hy do you ha'e to lea'e right no%; ) really like you,B lisabeth says mo'ing close to him# 'en

though she is t%enty one and he is forty si(, !hraim is still attracted to her# Pastor "ilson

Auickly remembers %hat the angel said and backs a%ay# ?


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other night,B !hraim closes his desk dra%er# ?"hat did the angel say to youCB ?$e told me that

all those !eo!le on the list are going to die on their u!coming birthdays unless ) do something to

sa'e them#B ?Do something like %hatCB she asks sitting do%n# ?).'e got to find each !erson on

that list and con'ince them to come to the ord before their time runs out,B he e(!lains# ?3ut

ho% do you kno% that they %ill dieCB ?3ecause that.s %hat the ngel of +od said#B ?&o this

means you are really lea'ing usCB the young %oman asks %ith tears in her eyes# ?


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CHAPTER TO

-he ne(t day e'en though !hraim has seen the angel and talked to it, he still not

con'inced that this is not a cra/y dream# ?aybe this is some strange %ay the angel lets me look

into the future,B !hraim thinks as he sho%ers and dresses# "hile !hraim %as gro%ing u! in

irginia his grand!arents, es!ecially his grandmother told him stories and fables about !eo!le

dying on or around their birthday# &he could gi'e aunts and uncles names and dates to back u!

these stories, so as he gre% u! !hraim belie'ed them# $e decides to go to the local college

cam!us to see an old friend named >ohn %ho heads the science de!artment# >ohn "alker has his

P#$#D# in science, he and !hraim met fi'e years ago %hen he tried to get the !astor to come

back to school#

?$ey >ohn,B he says to his friend %ho.s %riting on the chalkboard in an em!ty classroom#

?"hat can ) do for you !astor; ha'e you changed you mind about school,B he says %ith a smile#

?No, but ) do ha'e a Auestion for you#B ?6k, %hat is itCB ?)s there any scientific !roof that a

large ma:ority of !eo!le die on or near their birthdayCB $e stares at !hraim for a minute#

?"hat.s this all aboutCB >ohn finally asks# ?6h it.s :ust a little !ro:ect ) am %orking on#B ?"ell

my friend there ha'e been a fe% studies on death, but none of them ha'e concluded that !eo!le

die on a s!ecific date,B >ohn e(!lains# ?&ome scientists ha'e e'en tried to link death to the /odiac

signs, but %ith limited !roof#B ?lright !hraim so %hat is this really aboutCB !hraim doesn.t

kno% %hat to say, so he :ust asks, ?Do you belie'e in angelsCB >ohn is a little sur!rised by the

Auestion# ?ohn !ulls t%o chairs

1@


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together so they can sit do%n# ?-o be honest my friend ) ne'er ga'e it much thought until a fe%

nights ago, %hen ) actually sa% one,B !hraim 'oice rises he is still shocked at %hat he seen and

heard# ?).'e heard the oth an stories %here an angel %as seen in "est irginia and

alifornia, to %arn !eo!le of a disaster that %as about to ha!!en; but ).'e ne'er seen one,B >ohn

looks at his friend and can see he.s stressed# ?&o you do admit that angels could e(istCB ?6h yes,

my field is science, but it can.t e(!lain e'erything# &o %hat.s this big !ro:ect you.re %orking

onCB he asks !hraim again# ?)f ) told you; you %ouldn.t belie'e it# et me do a little %ork on it

and ).ll get back to you; and thanks for e'erything,B !hraim says getting u! and Auickly

lea'ing#

!hraim has a hard time slee!ing that night %ith e'erything running through his mind#

"hat the angel said to him; ho% he.s going to find all those !eo!le on the list, !lus the many

mistakes he has made, this torments him all night# )t.s &unday morning no% and !hraim goes

o'er his sermon, ?-his is :ust a fancy %ay to a'oid telling the truth,B he thinks ri!!ing the !a!er

into !ieces# 6nce he gets to church Pastor !hraim "ilson decides to :ust tell them ho% he really

feels# -he young minister has !reached many times but he has ne'er been this ner'ous#

-he church is !acked like it usually is on &undays, but today its standing room only# $e

looks out in the cro%d and sees lisabeth and forces a smile# !hraim is u! in front of the

!odium %ith e'eryone %atching him; his heart is !ounding so hard he can feel it through his

clothes# ?"ell my brothers and sisters ) am sure you ha'e heard by no% that ) am lea'ing

akeland 3a!tist hurch,B he says taking a breath# ?et me set the record straight, ) am not :ust

lea'ing the church, ) am lea'ing the ministry all together,B Pastor "ilson looks on as the cro%d

becomes com!letely Auiet, each member looking at the other for ans%ers# ? lot of you ) ha'e

come to kno% !ersonally and ) %ill miss 'ery much,B he looks at lisabeth# -he young %oman

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has a smile on her face until he says, ?lso to further set the record straight; ) am not being run

off; ) am resigning 'oluntarily because ) ha'e failed as a !astor# )t %as only a fe% nights

agoB lisabeth holds her breath; as the !astor continues; ?that ) found out ho% badly ) ha'e

been doing,B !hraim says sto!!ing to look at lisabeth# ?-he ord o!ened my eyes to a lot of

things ) ha'en.t been doing, so no% ) am going to make these things right# ) ha'e gi'en the

church officers the name of a !erson %ho ) think %ould make a good re!lacement, and if you

sho% him the lo'e you ha'e sho%n me, you.ll do :ust fine# y lo'e %ill al%ays be %ith you, and

) %ish you all +od.s s!eedEB !hraim says taking his seat#

-he first !erson to :um! to her feet %as lisabeth, and e'eryone else follo%s# -hey gi'e

!hraim a standing o'ation# fter a large church dinner Pastor "ilson shakes a fe% more hands

and gi'es a fe% more hugs; then he starts to his car# akeland 3a!tist hurch has a 'ery good

membershi!# !hraim has ne'er used the church money to buy !ersonal things; that.s %hy the

car he dri'es is thirteen years old and barely running# ?) kno% you are not going to lea'e %ithout

saying good*bye to me,B lisabeth ta!s him on the shoulder# $e sto!s %alking and turns around#

?$ere is my cell !hone number in case you need to call for something,B lisabeth says handing

him a !iece of !a!er# -he young %oman !uts her arms around him and !hraim has to catch

himself because the lust for her is trying to come back# ?6k thanks for e'erything; ).ll call you

%hen ) reach my first sto!,B Auickly he lets go of her# -ears fill the young girl.s eyes as the man

she has fallen in lo'e %ith %alks a%ay#

!hraim "ilson is at the air!ort the follo%ing morning !icking u! an insurance agent so

they can finali/e his !olicy# %ell*dressed young man is %alking off the !lane looking for a

middle aged black !reacher, so !hraim fits the descri!tion# !hraim takes him to a nice

restaurant %here they ha'e lunch, and he gets a check for fifteen thousand dollars#

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-%o hours later the insurance agent is %aiting on his flight back home %hile !hraim runs

around trying to get ready for the :ourney of his life# $e does not %ant to carry a lot of cash so he

!uts all but a thousand dollars into his checking account# For the rest of the e'ening !hraim

studies the list trying to come u! %ith a %ay to get to all nine !eo!le before the time runs out# $e

sees that the only %ay to start this :ourney is %ork from east to %est so Norfolk irginia %ill be

his first sto!# -he !astor Auickly calls the air!ort to book a flight that %ill lea'e tomorro%

afternoon at si( o.clock# )ts 11K00 !#m# and !hraim is totally e(hausted, but he lies on the bed

and calls lisabeth, and they talk for a cou!le of hours before he bids her good night# !hraim.s

slee! is short and interru!ted, %orrying about getting to all those !eo!le on the list# Pastor

"ilson catches his flight on time and he gets to Norfolk air!ort by se'en o.clock the follo%ing

e'ening# "hile %alking through the air!ort looking for something to eat, but !hraim does not

reali/e that he is being follo%ed# $e !ulls out a large sum of money to !ay for his food and all

eyes are on him# =ight after finishing his sand%ich !hraim goes to the restroom to %ash his

hands, and t%o men follo% him to the door# -he first man comes in and acts like he.s using the

restroom ne(t to !hraim %hile the other man guards the door# >ust as !hraim mo'es o'er to

dry his hands the man !ulls out a knife and says, ?lright gi'e me all your money#B ?"hat

moneyCB ?6h so you %ant to be smart,B the man becomes angry grabbing the !astor and !utting

the shar! knife right u! to his throat !ressing it hard until blood starts# -he man standing outside

the door comes in to hel!# ?No% like ) said gi'e me your B &uddenly an e(tremely bright

light comes into the restroom causing the t%o men to fall to the floor# !hraim has to close his

eyes, but %hen he o!ens them and starts to lea'e the angel that %as in his study is standing there

staring at him# ?) >&- "N-D


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!ulls out a !iece of !a!er %ith an address on it# ?"here.s this !laceCB ?6h, that.s on the other

side of to%n, ).ll take you there if you like,B the dri'er hands him the !a!er back# ?-hat.s ok; :ust

take me to the closest hotel#B !hraim ho!es the !lace is clean# &ilence fills the ta(i as the dri'er

takes !hraim across the hesa!eake 3ay to his 'ery nice accommodations# $e !ays for the

room and a rental car and strikes u! a con'ersation %ith the beautiful %oman behind the desk#

6nce the car gets to the front of the hotel !hraim asks, ?$o% do ) get to this addressCB ?6h,

that.s on the north shore and it.s a good %ays from here#B s Pastor "ilson recei'es his

directions, a fe% miles a%ay in the air!ort restroom a stranger stumbles o'er %hat he thinks is

t%o dead men on the floor, he Auickly calls 11# 6nce they get into the ambulance one of the

men starts screaming about a bright light# "hen the other man %akes u! he says, ?6h my +od )

can.t see#B

s !hraim "ilson rides through the beautiful ocean to%n he %onders ho% he is going to

con'ince all these !eo!le to come to the ord# ?).ll :ust ha'e to find a %ay#B -he first name on

the list is =ichard >ennings, ?"ho li'es in !artment 3 at this com!le(,B !hraim thinks !ulling

u! in front of a large multi unit building# $e gets out and goes into the a!artment manager.s

office to see if there is any more information on r# >ennings# )t.s so late !hraim thought the

office %ould be closed, but the manager :ust ha!!ened to be there# ?$o% can ) hel! you,B the

hea'y set man asks# ?) am %orking for an attorney office in Ne% ennings#B ?ord !lease forgi'e me for lying,B he mumbles to himself# ?6h

yeah, he li'es in unit 107 around the corner,B the manager says# ?ould you gi'e me a brief

descri!tion of himCB ?&ure he.s a %hite male about fi'e foot ten inches tall, 1@0 !ounds, and

sandy bro%n hair#B ?-hank you,B !hraim %rites e'erything do%n# ?"here does he %orkCB ?$e

does not %ork he.s a student at the local college#B ?)f he doesn.t %ork ho% does he !ay his

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rentCB ?aybe he !ut in for a student loan; all ) kno% is he.s one of my best tenants#B s

!hraim starts back to his car the manager says, ?6h yeah one more thing he shares the

a!artment %ith a %oman; nice looking too#B ?6h really,B !hraim did not see a %oman.s name

on the list# ?"ell thanks again,B he %alks back to his car, but decides to s!end some time

%atching the a!artment, so he !arks about a block a%ay and %aits#

&e'eral hours ha'e !assed and it.s almost mid*night as !hraim "ilson continues to

%atch for some kind of mo'ement# $e has :ust about do/ed off to slee!, suddenly out of the

corner of his eye he sees a medium height %oman lea'ing the a!artment# !hraim Auickly starts

his car and follo%s her to a night club %here she disa!!ears inside# 6nce he !arks and gets to the

entrance a large body guard greets him# ?&orry old man this is a !ri'ate club,B he says grabbing

!hraim.s arm# ?lright you don.t ha'e to grab me,B he shouts# "hen the guard finally let.s go

he Auickly %alks a%ay# ?) %onder %hy the angel didn.t come to hel! meccording to the list

=ichard only has fi'e days to li'e; ).'e got to get into that a!artment,B the !astor thinks as he

!arks his car a fe% blocks from the a!artment com!le(#

$e %aits until 4 o.clock in the morning %hen e'erything is Auiet, and Auickly mo'es

unnoticed u! to =ichard.s a!artment# )t only takes a fe% minutes and he.s inside the a!artment

door# !hraim !ulls out an old credit and slides it do%n %here the lock is engaged, ?an )

ha'en.t lost the touch,B the black man thinks looking around the a!artment# -he !lace is

unusually clean for a single man; ?6h that.s right a %oman stays here %ith =ichardB he recalls#

!hraim sees a large !hoto album on a coffee table ne(t to the sofa# $e sits do%n and starts

turning !ages, %hen there is the sound of keys at the door# ?6h my +od it.s =ichard,B !hraim

thinks as he runs to hide in a nearby closet sAuee/ing behind some clothes# -he closet folding

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doors do not com!letely close so there is a small o!ening that he !ee!s through into the room#

$e sees =ichard.s girlfriend come in, but no sign of =ichard#

!hraim gets ner'ous %hen the young %oman begins to take off her clothes, before

closing his eyes he notices that the young girl does not ha'e much sha!e to her small body# >ust

as !hraim starts to turn his head the %oman takes off her %ig; it.s =ichardE "hile the black

man stares in disbelief =ichard takes off his dirty under%ear and thro%s them in the closet

almost hitting him in the face# 3efore he can mo'e =ichard thro%s the rest of dirty clothes in the

closet on !hraim# "ith his head turned and using only t%o fingers he !ulls the dirty under%ear

a%ay from his face, almost chocking from the smell# 6nce =ichard is in the sho%er !hraim

Auickly sli!s out the door to his car %here he slee!s for the rest of the night# $e %aits around

=ichard.s a!artment to see %hat ha!!ens ne(t# &ure enough %hen it.s almost time for school

=ichard lea'es the a!artment dressed normal# ?) need to s!eak %ith that landlord again,B

!hraim found a !ack of %et %i!es in the glo'e com!artment of the car; he %i!es his face as he

%alks u! the street to the manager.s office#

?(cuse me sir, may ) ask you a fe% more AuestionsCB !hraim ste!s into the man.s :unky

office# ?an you remember =ichard.s girlfriend.s nameCB ?No ) don.t think #B ?"ait a

minute; her name is =achel; she told me the other night %hen she %as lea'ing the com!le(#B

?


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some guys cheering and talking loud do%n the hall# &ome of the young girls gi'e !hraim the

eye as he %alks to the end of the long hall%ay, =ichard and se'eral young guys are in a serious

card game# !hraim %alks u! and says, ?$ey =ichard ha'e you seen =achelCB ?"ho in the hell

are youCB =ichard is the only one that res!onds# ?)t doesn.t matter %ho ) am; ) ha'e a message

for =achel, ha'e you seen herCB ?) don.t kno% anyone by that name,B =ichard tries to look

unconcerned# ?"hy sure you do; she said she %as in your a!artment last night,B !hraim can

sense the tension in the young man.s face# =ichard looks around at his friends, %ho really don.t

kno% %hat.s going on# ?(cuse me a minute guys,B =ichard gets u! from the table and %alks

%ith !hraim# ?6k, ho% do you kno% about =achel, and ho% much %ill it take to kee! you

AuietCB =ichard asks as he looks around ner'ously# ?ook all ) %ant is for you to go to a certain

!lace %ith me,B !hraim says# ?6h no %ay man; ) may be a cross dresser, but ) really don.t do

guys,B =ichard is not smiling# ?


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!hraim has already got a distance a%ay from him# =ichard :ust stands there %ith a frightened

look on his face#

3y the time he gets back across to%n !hraim "ilson reali/es that t%o days ha'e !assed

since he started the search for =ichard >ennings# ccording to the list =ichard only has three

more days to li'e# -he e(hausted e(*!astor takes a sho%er, and falls aslee! across the bed# fter

slee!ing about fi'e hours !hraim calls lisabeth# ?$ello,B the young 'oice says# ?$ey this is

!hraim#B J6h my +od ) ha'e been %orried sick about you; %here are you, and ho% are you

doingCB ?) am in Norfolk irginia, and ) am doing fine# -he first !erson on the list is a cross*

dresser,B ?


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=ichard a!!ears in the door%ay %ith tears in his eyes# $e %alks o'er and sits do%n# ?


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gets a lead# ?$ey !o!s aren.t you a little old to be hanging %ith these youngstersCB the guard at

the door of the ne(t club asks him# ?No, because ) am looking for a man named 3ryan a%rence;

ha'e you seen himCB ?an ) am not sure; ) am :ust filling in at this club tonight; %hy don.t you

ask inside,B the guard raises the orange colored ro!e and lets him in#

?) am looking for a guy named 3ryan a%rence; can you hel! meCB !hraim asks the

bartender# ?


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in mid*air and sAuee/es it; the man Auickly goes to his knees screaming in !ain# !hraim looks

u! to see the ngel of +od holding the man.s hand, but no one else can see the large creature#

-he other guard !ulls out a gun and !oints it right at him# 3ut :ust before he !ulls the trigger the

gun becomes red hot and the man has to dro! it#

?No% can ) talk to 3ryanCB !hraim asks %ith a smile# ?>ust go do%n the hall, and go

through the curtains,B the bartender gi'es !hraim a strange look# s the e(*!astor %alks do%n

the hall the bartender calls the back room# ?"hat do you mean he took out both guardsC


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but still nothing ha!!ens# !hraim %alks right u! to him %ith a smile on his face# ?No% that )

ha'e your attention, let.s talk,B the !astor sits do%n at the table %ith 3ryan# ?6k %hat.s so

im!ortant you %ant to talk aboutCB he asks lo%ering his 'oice# ?et.s talk about you and ho% )

can hel! sa'e your life#B ?-oday is "ednesday; if you don.t change your life by &aturday, %hich

is your birthday you %ill die#B 3ryan :ust stares at him# ?"hat are you some kind of !sychicCB

the cri!!led man asks# ?


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3ryan gi'es !hraim an angry look, turns and begins rolling himself do%n the hall%ay#

fter getting half%ay to%ard the front 3ryan turns and says, ?


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signed 3ryan# !hraim looks at his %atch and it.s already 7K40 !#m# and its 3ryan.s birthday# ?)

%onder has his time run out#B !hraim felt really good after finding the first !erson on the list,

but no% he is beginning to be de!ressed %ondering if this man has chosen death instead of life#

"hen !hraim gets back to the hotel he calls the air!ort and books his flight to as egas,

then he starts to !ack# $e reaches o'er and turns on the tele'ision %here the ne%s is in !rogress#

? tragic story :ust unfolded; a forty year old man %as found beaten to death tonight,B !hraim

sto!s and gi'es his attention to the -## ?-he sad !art of this story, the man %as found :ust a fe%

feet from his %heelchair,B the ne%s %oman says# ?NoEB !hraim shouts out loud bursting into

tears reali/ing that he has lost the battle for 3ryan and maybe for himself as %ell#

"hile the smooth riding :et s!eeds to%ard egas !hraim "ilson is feeling really do%n

since his last encounter# ?aybe ) should ha'e stayed in akeland and took my chances,B he

thinks# "hile in dee! thought he does not notice the man slee!ing in the seat ne(t to him# -he :et

liner hits some air !ockets and the man %akes u!# ?6h man ) %as slee!ing sound; ) ho!e ) did

not disturb you,B he says as he stretches# ?No not at all,B !hraim sees a tall clean cut man in a

black suit# ?


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>ust as the stranger closes the restroom door, !hraim slo%ly o!ens the briefcase, and

!ee!s inside# -here is only one !iece of !a!er inside folded together# )t says, ?


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on the stri!# 6n his %ay out the !hraim asks the nice looking >a!anese lady at the front desk for

directions, and rents a car#

-he address listed is a hotel called the tlantics and as !hraim dri'es do%n the stri! he is

ama/ed at all the fabulous !laces to stay# "hen he gets into the !arking lot of the tlantics,

!hraim sees the huge building is decorated %ith large !lates of gold and glass, and beautifully

colored fountains line the entrance# ars are !arked e'ery%here so he circles the !arking lot until

someone lea'es# "hen !hraim %alks in he sees slot machines e'ery%here, he finds the main

ball room but %hen he gets there the sho% has already started# ?$a'e you seen a %oman named

=ita 'ansCB he yells abo'e the loud music to a man behind the bar# ?6h =ita she.s already in

her dressing room; her sho% :ust finished#B ?)s there anything else ) can hel! you %ithCB he asks

gi'ing the black man a hard stare# ?


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im!ortant to tell you#B ?"hat.s so im!ortant that you couldn.t :ust call me on the !honeCB ?)

really don.t %ant to say this in the hall%ay; may ) come in for :ust a minuteCB !hraim ask

looking at her e(!osed breast# =ita Auickly closes her robe and says, ?lright :ust for a minute#

Pastor "ilson ste!s into an elaborately decorated !enthouse a!artment# ?6k %hat.s so im!ortant

that you ha'e to tell me in !ersonCB ?-his is hard to e(!lain, but ) belie'e your life is in danger,B

!hraim gi'es her a serious look# ?$o% do you kno%CB the short young %oman asks raising her

'oice# ?) ha'e my sources; :ust belie'e %hat ) am telling you#B -he !astor looks do%n into her

beautiful bro%n eyes# =ita 'ans is a 'ery successful egas !erformer; she.s about fi'e foot tall,

%ith a 'ery %ell !ro!ortioned body, and long black hair# "hile they are talking !hraim notices

that her eyes are e(tremely blood*shot# ?aybe she :ust o'er %orked,B he thinks# 3ut there is

something else 'ery strange about the beautiful %oman# "hen she %alks out of the dimly lit

room into the light her face is badly discolored, %ith dark 'eins coming out all o'er it# ?) don.t

think ) am %orried about anyone killing me in the near future, but thanks for the %arning,B =ita

Auickly sho%s !hraim to the door# ?"ell :ust be careful,B Pastor "ilson says on his %ay out#

?+ood*bye man of +od,B se'eral strange 'oices coming from =ita says; but her li!s didn.t mo'e#

$e turns to see the young %oman gi'e a laugh only a demon could make# !hraim is so shocked

he can.t mo'e# fter he reali/es %hat :ust ha!!ened he runs to the ele'ator frantically !ushing

the button and looking back# s the ele'ator slo%ly descends he begins to %onder, ?)f =ita is

!ossessed; ho% am ) going to deal %ith thatCB -he no% frightened e(*!astor hurries off the

ele'ator, and through the cro%d of !eo!le# ?$ey !astor did you find =itaCB the bartender asks#

?6h yes ) found her,B he says trying to hurry out the door# ?&he.s Auite a %oman isn.t sheCB the

stocky built bartender has a strange smile on his face# -he !astor does not ans%er, but %hen he

turns back he catches a glim!se of the man.s face, and it has the same dark 'eins :ust like =ita.s#

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6nce back in his hotel room !hraim sits on the side of the bed at a loss# ccording to the

list =ita only has three days to li'e, ?).'e got to do something soon#B "hen he reaches o'er to

turn on the -## !hraim sees a note stuck to the outside of the briefcase# ?$ey that %asn.t there

before,B he thinks %alking o'er and !ulling the !iece of !a!er# -he !a!er is folded in half, and

%hen he o!ens it the note says, ?66G )N&)D,B !hraim slo%ly o!ens the briefcase, a little

afraid of %hat he.ll find# -o his sur!rise another note says, ?+o to this address and ask for Father

$omes; he.ll gi'e you %hat you need#B

Pastor "ilson rides for about t%enty minutes until he finds a large atholic church located

:ust outside of to%n# $e %alks inside and sees se'eral !riests %alking through the hall%ay# ?an

) s!eak to a Father $omesCB he asks as they !ass him# ?&ure %e.ll take you to him; %e are

headed that %ay#B -hey %alk u! se'eral stairs and do%n a long hall%ay until !hraim is standing

in front of Father $ome.s office# ?ome on in son ).'e been e(!ecting you,B the older man says

as he o!ens the door# ?) understand you need someone e(orcised,B $omes says# !hraim is

shocked, but he tries to hide it# ?


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?No% !hraim ) ha'e done Auite a fe% e(orcisms in my time, but they seem harder to do

here at the church,B ?"hy is thatCB !hraim asks# ?3ecause the demons kno% immediately %hat

%e are trying to do, and resist e'en more#B ?$o%e'er ) ha'e a better !lan this time#


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Father "oods adds# ?) lo'e it %hen men tell me to take my clothes off,B =ita mumbles as she

%alks across the room# Finally the !hoto shoot begins, and =ita is told to mo'e into se'eral

different !ositions, as Father Flo%ers sna!s the camera# ?$e seems to be en:oying himself a little

too much,B Father $omes %his!ers to !hraim as they %atch from the back room# ?)f he doesn.t

say the %ord soon ).ll ha'e to go in there,B the older man says %ith a fro%n# ?No% this ne(t

feature %e.re going to get a little freaky, so lie do%n on your back,B Father Flo%ers says# ?


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?6h %e.re going to let you out of here alright,B Father $omes says as him and !hraim

come closer to the bed# Ne(t Father $omes !icks u! the $oly "ater, and the 3ible, s!reading the

blessed %ater all around =ita.s body, so the demons can.t get a%ay# s =ita t%ists and turns

trying to get a%ay from the $oly %ater she gets a clear 'ie% of !hraim# ?&o you.re behind all

this,B she shouts at !hraim# $e gi'es her a sad look and begins to stare# ?Don.t stare at her or

she.ll control your mind,B Father $omes shouts# ?) beseech you in the name of the Father, &on,

and $oly &!irit to come out of this %oman,B he shouts thro%ing $oly "ater on =ita.s body# s

soon as the %ater hits =ita.s skin the demons scream in se'eral different 'oices# ?Damn you man

of +od, this soul is ours and %e.re not coming out,B the demons scream so loud !hraim and the

other ministers ha'e to co'er their ears# ll of a sudden the lights start blinking off and on; e'ery

!icture on the %all turns u!side do%n and falls to the floor# 'en though its 12K00 noon the room

goes com!letely dark, and no% !hraim becomes frightened# -he darkness only last a fe%

minutes and %hen the lights come back on the floor is com!letely co'ered %ith !oisonous

snakes# Pastor "ilson Auickly :um!s in a chair, %hile Father "oods and Flo%ers remain on the

floor %alking right !ast the deadly creatures# For some reason one snake begins to climb u! the

leg of the chair he is standing on, mo'ing Auickly to%ard his foot# !hraim is terrified and

doesn.t kno% %hat to do# ?&tay calm son, and use the %ord,B Father $omes says# t first

!hraim has doubt that one name could sto! all of this; but he starts to think back on all the

things the ord has brought him through so far, and his confidence builds# >ust as the snake

dra%s back to bite !hraim on the foot he yells, ?)n the name of >esus lea'e this !lace#B t that

'ery moment all the snakes disa!!ear#

No% =ita.s once beautiful body starts to break out in sores, but Father $omes continues to

thro% $oly %ater on her# &he screams for mercy and !hraim begins to feel sorry for her# =ight

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before his eyes the demons change =ita.s scared and blistered body into the beautiful %oman he

has started to lo'e, lisabeth# ?Please hel! me !hraim; make them sto!,B the demons say#

Father Flo%ers laid the key to the handcuffs on the table %ith the eAui!ment, and !hraim

Auickly grabs it starting to release =ita# ?No,B Fathers "oods and $omes yell rushing to%ard

him# Father "oods grabs !hraim first, but he !ushes him into the small table %ith the tools on

it, knocking it o'er# ?!hraim "ilson look at %ho you are doing this for,B the older man says

!icking a gold cross off the floor and !lacing it on =ita.s head# $er demon !ossessed body

screams %ith !ain as the cross burns into the young %oman.s skin# =ita.s features come back as

she t%ists and turns from the !ain# Father $omes continues to thro% $oly "ater on =ita.s body

demanding the demons to lea'e, but instead she breaks out %ith 'ery large black sores# "hile

they %atch the sores begin mo'ing, then they burst releasing hundreds of black beetle looking

bugs# Fathers $omes, "oods, and Flo%ers are not bothered by the !est, but !hraim can.t stand

bugs, he no% sees that this can.t be lisabeth#

For almost three hours Father $omes thro%s $oly "ater on her demon !ossessed body

and =ita struggles to get free, suddenly the young %oman.s becomes com!letely still# ?lright

e'eryone she.s getting tired; stand back and turn your heads,B Father $omes kno%s they really

ha'e to careful no%# First =ita begins to curse at them; then a black slime comes s!e%ing out of

her mouth# ll four men duck as the black substance :ust misses them# ?"o% that %as close; that

slime %ill eat a hole in anything it touches,B Father $omes e(!lains#

-he agony of the e(orcism has taken its toll on =ita, her skin has turned from a beautifully

tanned color to almost black# -he scars on her arms and legs begin to bleed %here =ita has !ulled

so hard at the handcuffs# $er eyes ha'e changed from a se(y bro%n to mi(ture of black and red#

)f the ordeal is not finished soon the stress %ill kill her#

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$o%e'er %hile all this is going on the four ministers don.t kno% that the cleaning lady for

the building the studio is in, has started to !erform her daily tasks# -hey ha'e been at this for

almost four hours no%; =ita and the ministers are e(hausted# ?lright gentlemen ) think %e are

almost done; ok turn your heads,B Father $omes says thro%ing the last bit of $oly "ater on

=ita# ?)n the name of >esus ) command you to come out of this %oman#B s soon as the %ater

hits =ita.s body the cleaning lady o!ens the door and comes into the room# -he demons lea'e

=ita and Auickly enter the cleaning lady.s body knocking her to the floor# -he middle aged

%oman sits in the floor %ith a shocked look on her face at first# &uddenly the cleaning lady.s

%hole e(!ression change, her skin turns a blackish bro%n, and her eyes turn fire red# ean%hile

=ita falls into a dee! slee!, and all her features ha'e come back to normal#

?(cuse me but %e needB the cleaning lady Auickly gets u! and knocks Father

$omes against the %all, cursing and s%earing at e'eryone# !hraim :ust stands there totally in

shock# Fathers "oods and Flo%ers try to control the %oman, but she breaks free, finds a side

door that leads to a busy street# -he demon !ossessed %oman runs right out into the traffic; cars

begin slamming their breaks and blo%ing their horns# >ust as Father $omes stands u! there is the

sound of a tractor*trailer.s horn and loud sAueal of his tires trying to sto!# ?6h my +od,B Father

$omes says %hen he reali/es %hat is about to ha!!en, there is a loud s!lattering sound as the

lady e(!lodes into !ieces# Father $omes is almost in tears as he %atches the tragic e'ent unfold#

?) %as ho!ing no one %ould lose their life today#B

life cycles three chapters

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