Author: Jerry J. K. Rogers
Category: Thriller
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Chapter 8
The shining and flickering aura surrounding the robed body appeared fluid and translucent. He or she, no one could tell the gender, stood sternly in front of the casket and looked like a sentry with the semblance of a sword across its chest. The blade, barely distinguishable from the angel's body, danced with golden flames. Then there were the eyes, and for those who witnessed the previous visitations, this one’s eyes shone as if they were the deepest black onyx. Ever since the radiant figure appeared, some of those present at the funeral had glanced at their watches and saw that 15 minutes elapsed. No one spoke a word. Many were afraid, as time continued to pass, of a repeat of the previous week with only one survivor. For others, their fears subsided to boredom as they waited for something interesting to happen. Some tried to reach for their cameras only to feel the numbing sting of an electrostatic shock. Others tried to make phone calls but had no signal or dial tone. The angel met anyone who tried to leave his or her seat or go to an exit with an intense stare, its face presenting an unyielding, commanding look, its aura intensifying, which forced people to stay in their original places.
The angel stared directly at a 31-year-old black woman, professionally dressed, sitting toward the front of the congregation and spoke to her. “Rhonda, make your calls. Return. I will be waiting.” The rest of the people in the chapel only heard vague vocalizations composed of harmonic tonal sounds. Rhonda, frozen with fear for a few moments, methodically got up out of her seat and worked her way to the exit of the sanctuary. No one even attempted to follow.
The angel refocused its attention toward an older, distinguished-looking man, graying on the temples, smartly dressed in a custom-tailored suit, who then began to sweat. The longer the angel stared, the more perspiration blanketed the man’s forehead, the sheen reflecting the ambient room lights and radiance of the angel. The man developed the sensation of a fullness in his chest and knew he didn’t want to be there anymore.