Alhamdulillah!

Chapter Nine

A Kite In A Hurricane

I

How should we reward the greatest minds this world has ever known? Should their existence be without stimulation, with ease of challenge and obstacles, or should their life be an uphill battle with great opposition? Should peace be their goal; or should it be victory? Were they not created to advance and repair the universe as the world sheds the last of its primordial skin so evolution and the freshness of God’s immaculate design can illuminate through the darkness?

Strength must bloom through the cracks of the concrete – opposition and hardship is a tool to the damned, something they can use to sharpen the edges of their fiery sword. Once the dragon has been slain and two gold coins are placed upon the eyes of those who’ve sacrificed their lives for something worth living for, then the castle can be rebuilt so the king can sit upon his throne and mold a better life for his people.

Let the fire roar and burn hot, for in these times, we are gifted with our greatest accomplishments. Let the children dream of something better and reach for the impossible, for they are the ones that will eventually inherit this beautiful world, and we pass the dirt and water from our hands to them and the generations to come.

And as evil devours everything it can, those who have placed grace and love in their hearts will conquer the war. Every wound, scratch, and piece of the broken armor in the conqueror’s life will be used to heal and restore the afflicted.

Goodness will always overcome evil because even at its worst, it still manifests greatness.

Your dream was given to you for a reason. Your steps have been directed and organized to acquire the tools and relationships you need to achieve those dreams.

You are your dreams’ only wielder, so they must be protected and elevated to a place in your mind where their value can be seen constantly, like a rich technicolour film projected against the ivory screen.

You will fight, the road will be hard.

But you will be strong enough to conquer.

You must never give up on yourself. You must never let your doubts devour your youthful ambitions.

Look around you; you are exactly where you were always meant to be.

Is this the grandest and best version of yourself so far?

Or are you exhausted and in need of someone to hold onto and to kiss their lips with tenderness and passion under a hammock tied to a pair of riverside trees?

Sometimes we get so caught up on the temporary questions, we forget about the answers and how they are already a part of our permanent destiny.

You will have moments of battle and moments of peace. You will fail, but those failures are only there to prepare you for your fantastic successes.

So, keep beating on, and keep breathing.

We need you.

You are the one chosen to wear the crown.

So, close your eyes tonight as you lean into her sweet and plush lips, slowly shifting on the netted hammock, legs and bodies entwined and embraced, at one with each other, and never forget this small moment – for you both have a war ahead of you.

You both have a kingdom to build and a world to change.

II

Shiloh walked through the long hallway, leading a group of technicians and investors through her new laboratory and facility.

In the span of a few years, she had built one of the most state-of-the-art health technology companies in the country, constantly breaking boundaries and changing the way people looked at the human body.

It was nearing the end of the tour when Shiloh led her team and guests into the laboratory.

Before them were countless ice-chilled bottles of Blue Dream.

They all licked their lips and desired the drink heavily. With a smile, Shiloh waved for everyone to drink and be merry, telling them to have as many to their heart’s content.

After the mountain of chilled bottles had been consumed, Shiloh stood before them and held a vial of red liquid.

Then she poured a bottle of Blue Dream inside the red liquid and placed it inside of a glass box.

Someone made a joke about wasting the drink and everyone laughed.

Shiloh stood by the glass case with a straight face without saying a word or acknowledging the joke.

After a few moments, when the crowd began to quiet down, the liquid began to morph and split, solidifying and evaporating.

“What…. what is happening?” a woman asked.

Shiloh spoke stark and to the people, “Right now the symbionts are clinging to each other, as well as rejecting. The chemicals and ingredients of Blue Dream are incredibly complex – making the person who ingests the drink, become completely devoted to it.”

The glass vial shattered as the liquid began to expand and jellify. It began peeling and screaming as it morphed and clung to the edges of the glass case.

The crowd stood from their seats, horrified at what was before them.

The interaction of the mixture became to be more and more violent. Shiloh stood above the case and held it as she wore her scratched owl ring.

“You’ve been poisoned, all of you. Blue Dream is a living poison, and you are now a victim to its whims. The red liquid is the antidote that we have created, and as you can tell, it’s reaction to it is deadly.”

“What are we supposed to do?” a man in a suit responded.

Shiloh smiled. “I will show you.”

She then stepped back, walked over to the nearest sink, and filled a plastic cup with water.

She poured the water upon the morphing liquid, it subsided peacefully.

“Water,” she laughed. “All the antidote needed was water. We have been working on this for months and we finally found the right amount of solution.”

The crowd began to clap and took their seats once again, seeing the once chaotic mixture evaporate to nonexistence.

III

Shiloh wore an emerald dress and sipped from a tall glass of white wine when he kissed her on her forehead and sat across from her.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Joel said. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

She smiled. “It’s okay. I am simply happy you are here. I missed you.”

Joel saw a glass of untouched wine on his side of the table and lifted it with a smile. “I missed you too, Shiloh. More than you could ever possibly know. We both are just so busy right now, but please don’t take that as a sign that I have lost any interest in you, especially when you’re the only thing on my mind – behind every single thought I have and decision I make,” he said as the glass glistened under the dim dining room table’s light.

Shiloh’s cheeks reddened with flattery. She lifted her glass to him and remarked, “Thank you, Joel. That is exactly what I needed to hear. I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart,,” Joel replied as their two wine glasses clinked and they began their dinner.

They had built companies and a life together. They lived in a beautiful house and were placed in a position where they could have everything they ever desired. When Joel saw Shiloh, he could feel the warmth of the sunshine upon him. When Shiloh held Joel into her arms, she felt protected from the perils of the universe.

They completed each other; their opposites attracted them, and they felt an utter connection and peace towards their similarities.

Just being near each other seemed to fulfill their lives in a way they never could have without. It wasn’t just joy or calmness; it was a sense of purpose. They were each other’s person. They knew they were designed for each other before the universe ever came into formation.

That the diamond formed inside of the volcano, placed inside of Shiloh’s magnificent wedding ring was always meant to be placed upon her finger, as well as the gold wrapped around his.

It took some time for her to be transparent with him, for her to tell him where she was from and the mission designed for her life. It took even longer for Yahweh to speak to Joel as He would speak with Shiloh. But, when Joel came into realization of the magnitude of her being, he couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest man in the world.

That someone so powerful, beautiful, caring, and sweet as her would love him – let alone notice him.

But he was ready to take everything thrown at them in stride, and he couldn’t dream of existing another moment without her in his life.

IV

The farmhouse was quaint and small. Rain banged against the shudders and windows as Shiloh and Joel slammed their bodies against the screen door, their arms filled with luggage.

As they placed their wet bags upon the sun-faded couch and took off their overcoats, Joel kissed her upon the lips, and they began to laugh.

They had finally acquired the farmhouse.

Hosea’s farmhouse.

Like all aspects in life, their possession of the home was only granted to them by the elders of Moriah once they had full understanding of their destiny and responsibility to succeed at whatever may come.

Now was the time.

But first… It was their date night.

Their feet moved slowly over the tiled floor as their entangled bodies reverberated the soft music, taking ahold of their souls and hearts alike.

Drift away, young lovers. Embrace each other as you have never dared before. Let there be no games played or barriers holding you back. Let the music intertwine you as every song enraptures you. Experience something no person in existence has ever thought possible, for this is divinely orchestrated. Nothing above and nothing below will hold you back, the weight of something this spectacular will only be placed upon your shoulders – something both of you will bear with ease and excitement. Your past mistakes and times you have fallen short could never diminish the purity of your connection. Demons, witches, heathens, and potholes dare not to be in your path for the headlights are too bright – the darkness cannot exist on the same plane of existence as their light. What you reap you shall surely sow upon your travels. To spare your last seeds will bear only the finest vegetables and luscious fruits, with their nectars dripping from your smiling crimson lips. This is a time for abundance and prosperity; this is a moment that shall never be forgotten in the mind of the Father Time. Dance the night away young lovers! Drink the sweet rosé wine, eat the thinly oiled and salted potatoes, the steak seared upon the flesh, and grilled asparagus – let the music sway you to a higher level of existence, elevate you above the stars to the outer edges of the universe. Maybe into another, through Heaven’s Celestial Gates, pass the idyllic golden statues, leading to the thrones of the Trinity.

The relationship that breaks generational curses, seamlessly corrects humanity’s flaws, and delves deeper than the endless abyss of the human soul. A love that walks through the deepest circle of Hell, bears witness to the world’s destruction but only witnessing how her earrings flicker upon the dimly lit flame of a candle.

Unconditional love – where the tallest tower or hottest volcano could not hold a match to keep the two of you separated.

This is the time; this is the place.

Kiss her.

V

The next morning, the two arose, Shiloh drank her coffee and Joel drank his cola. They were habitual drinks that gave life to their morning. The sun had yet to rise above the riverbed trees surrounding the farmhouse as the two dressed for the obstacles that surrounded their day. Both were anxious and filled with a sense of nervousness at the uncertainty with the hours that lay ahead of them.

Yahweh landed upon Shiloh’s shoulder as she dabbed her face with foundation, and He spoke softly. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m afraid to see what is on the other side,” she said, placing her makeup brush down, followed by loose powder to keep everything she had applied in place.

Joel walked into the bathroom, tightening his belt, and Yahweh turned His head to him. “What about you?”

“I suppose I am just uneasy about seeing the gears on the other side of the clock.”

“Ah, yes. The spiritual realm is nothing to take lightly. It messes with your mind and makes you see things in ways you could never imagine. But you two have trained for this moment! Before Salome ever began the painting, without her ever knowing her brushstrokes contained the exact movements to opening the portal between the physical and spiritual, you two were meant to enter through the image and get her back.”

Joel slowly creaked open the attic door and the three of them made their way up the steps. Under a dusty tarp, off in the corner was a canvas.

The canvas Hosea had purchased from Salome on a rainy Saturday many years before – forgotten in time, ready to emerge from the darkness.

Graced for this moment everlasting.

Its top layer was thickened with a dusty covering, the image barely exposed through the haze. It was of an island, one that reminded Shiloh of Moriah.

She sat on her knees and wiped her hand across the dusty layer.

Joel looked at Shiloh and Yahweh then said, “Let’s take it downstairs.”

And there it sat, looking brand new upon the armrests of a wooden rocking chair.

The cool grey day brought in a strong wind that clashed the farmhouse’s shudders against its windows. A fire crackled in the white brick fireplace.

Shiloh and Joel stared at it, sipping a glass of sangria and smoking a cigarette.

Their nerves were tightly wound below their wool sweaters.

Shiloh’s thick curly hair was up in a bun.

She was still so young, with the weight of the world upon her shoulders. She had built a company – which had gone farther than she ever thought possible. Joel had found his own success. Their marriage was strong, they had a nice house, with nice clothes and cars. They had everything a child would dream about; they maintained a lifestyle that was picturesque like something that would be portrayed on the cover of a luxurious magazine.

Youth, beauty, riches, and honor; but they were only the rewards of their impact – the mental fatigue of knowing how powerful their dreams were. Joel and Shiloh knew that higher was waiting for them, they dashed through the challenges and worked as a team to achieve their goals. But the challenges always became harder, the next step taller and wider.

Their relationship was a kite that always seemed to fly higher and higher, but on the other side of the canvas, all their demons would arise every accomplishment. The smoothness of the sea will harshen, and the waves will crash upon the frayed fabric of their beautiful kite.

They sipped the remainder of their bottle of sangria and smoked another cigarette.

“Are you ready?” she asked, drowning the cigarette’s burning ember inside of the thin puddle of red wine at the bottom of her glass.

“Let’s do this, sweetheart. Even though we are walking through the flames, I know we will not get burned,” Joel replied, standing up and adjusting his sweater.

Yahweh stretched out His wing and spoke, “Remember Shiloh, your ring will gain its power in the spiritual realm.”

She looked down at the golden barn owl ring she had been wearing for so many years, almost forgetting she had retrieved it at the end of time.

“What will it do?” she asked Yahweh.

“That my child, is the greatest surprise of all!”

The two of them held hands and slowly walked over to the canvas, slowly shifting back and forth on the rocking chair.

“Open,” Yahweh spoke to the canvas.

Then Joel and Shiloh placed their hands on the dried acrylics where they could feel the sunshine upon them and the saltwater splash against their hands.

“Deeper,” Yahweh spoke.

Their arms fell further into the canvas, feeling a strong wind upon their skin.

“Now…. go,” Yahweh demanded.

Shiloh and Joel breathed in and fell deep into the canvas – a universe away from home.

VI

The grey wind blew hard against their faces as they took their preliminary steps inside of the canvas.

They stood before a stone palace, an effigy of splendor and destruction.

“Why are we here if the painting is of an island?” Joel asked Yahweh.

“This is the entrance of Limbo, my son, not Moriah. Salome found the key to this place without ever knowing it,” the holy owl replied.

“What is Limbo?” Joel asked, looking upon Yahweh as the owl rested upon a bronze dragon’s head at the end of the stone palace’s steps.

The owl looked to His children and saw the shining in their eyes. “It’s the edge of Hell,” he replied and stared into Shiloh’s eyes. “This is the only realm of the afterlife people can resurrect from. Every soul is created to make a difference, if any of my children meet their end before their greatest testament has been told, they come here before they are called back to Earth. Salome gave herself to the end before she was meant to meet it. That is the greatest asset of an artist, when they create, they leave traces of their soul among their artworks. Death cannot even kill them. You and Joel were always designed to bring her back. But you must know that this is not like your home – the same rules do not apply, for Limbo is a metaphysical realm, not subject to your humanitarian limits.”

Shiloh reached out and intertwined her fingers inside of Joel’s hand.

The two slowly began to walk up the steps of the stone palace, a large water fountain splashing water amongst its brim behind them. When they made it to the top, all they could see were trees. Trees everywhere. Tall trees. The sky could barely break through their branches as they looked above with the strong wind still hitting their bodies upon the top step of the palace.

They turned and Yahweh landed upon Shiloh’s shoulder before they made their way to the large entrance stone door of the palace, engraved with the words, “After Here, Darkness Falls.”

Joel looked at his beautiful wife and chewed the insides of his cheeks. “Whatever lies ahead, we will make it through.”

“I know we will,” Shiloh responded and kissed Joel’s cheek. “Everything changes after we walk through that door.”

The stone door opened before them.

They walked through.

VII

Shiloh sat at the dinner table of their home when Joel walked through the backdoor.

She was agitated with him. She wore her fanciest emerald dress, opened her finest bottle of white wine, and cooked a delicious meal, and he returned the favor by being incredibly late.

He kissed a dry lipped kiss upon her forehead. “Sorry, I’m late,” he said. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

A very thin smile began to lift from her lips but suddenly transformed into a harsh frown. “You know what, Joel, I’m absolutely sick of it.”

“What are you talking about Shiloh?” Joel replied, sitting into his dining room chair and swiftly reaching for the glass of untouched wine near his plate.

“I’m talking about how you always make up excuses for the benefit of yourself!” Shiloh replied harshly.

Joel lifted his hands into the air, giving up, and said, “You know how life has been, Shiloh! It isn’t my fault everything has gone to hell ever since we had to claim bankruptcy. If it wasn’t for your stupid “water” idea and “antidote to destroy the mystical powers” of a freaking soda pop, I wouldn’t have to work night and day to pay for our bills!”

Shiloh’s head fell and she said softly, “You know exactly why I did that.”

Joel put down his wine glass, tired, exhausted from the fights with his wife. “Look, Shiloh. I am sorry. I just want to come home after a long day at work and enjoy myself.”

Shiloh looked at Joel and chewed on a grilled carrot. “Let's just get through a meal without fighting, please?”

They ate in silence, wishing to respect each other’s wishes. For a moment, the creditors were not calling. For a glimpse of time, they did not have to worry about their cars being repossessed or the power being shut off. But none of the Hell they were living compared to the inevitable divorce.

Joel was given his paycheck. It wasn’t much, and truth be told, most– if not all, would be placed into paying their outgoing bills. As they laid in bed that night, in the few short moments remaining in the day, Joel mustered up the courage and softly whispered to Shiloh, “I think we should go to the mall tomorrow and buy you a new bottle of perfume.”

It wasn’t much, but it was an effort for them. In a short moment of trying to converse with her husband that morning, Shiloh had spoken about how she had finished off her bottle. It was a process for her every morning, to spray a little on her wrists and neck after putting on her makeup.

In the darkness, Shiloh gave a small grin, knowing that this was Joel giving their relationship one last chance.

“Thank you,” she whispered with her back to him.

Joel chewed the inside of his cheek as he moved the edge of the bed and fell asleep.

The next morning, they got into their tan station wagon and made their way to the mall. The car had its engine light on, an expired registration tag, and a burnt-out taillight.

They stopped at a fast-food chain restaurant and ordered breakfast from the drive-thru menu. Shiloh sipped her orange juice as they pulled into the mall parking lot. It wasn’t much but she was grateful her husband thought of her in such a way. She loved the perfume and even without having the chance to spray it this morning gave her a mild panic attack. Her rhythm had been broken and her superstitions were starting to brush their way to the foreground.

She would find herself briefly smelling her wrists, hoping the slightest hint of the perfume would be there.

But it wasn’t.

She felt naked and unbeautiful. There was no elegance in her corduroy jeans or plaid shirt. Her curly hair was knotted and the cigarette smoke from Joel’s smoking soaking into her skin made her feel like white trash.

Shiloh had always dreamed of more. But she settled with her high school crush, neglected her desires, and ended up losing everything in the process.

Now, all she wanted was her perfume.

Something sweet and delicate to place onto her body so she could feel less of a failure.

After Joel placed the station wagon into park, the two both stood from the car and made their way into the mall.

It was heavily busy. People everywhere.

Shiloh and Joel pushed their way through the thick crowd to the perfume store.

When the cashier handed the small black bag with an unsealed box of perfume over to Shiloh, she felt over the moon.

She felt like she may be one of the luckiest women in the world.

Joel gave a thin grin and put his hand around hers.

Shiloh looked up to him, feeling a small dedicated rush of emotion towards her husband.

They could really make it work – she felt.

She knew he cared about her and she cared about him.

It is just money issues, she thought, the love is still there.

A band was playing as they walked from the perfume store. They sat at a table beside the stage and listened to them for a while.

Then a woman garnished in exuberant clothes and jewelry, looking pale and horrified, walked up to the stage and took the microphone from the singer.

Joel stood up, finding the moment curious, when she spoke into the stolen microphone. “Hosea is a monster,” she spoke before dropping the microphone.

She pulled out a revolver and it shined under the bright stage lights.

When Joel saw the gun, he quickly ran over to the woman and tackled her to the ground.

Shiloh followed, retrieving the fallen pistol from the woman.

The woman screamed with profuse tears coming from her eyes, “Oh, God! Please! Why did you stop me?! Oh, God! Why?!”

“You’re fine, ma’am. You are fine. Calm down, ma’am, please calm down,” Joel spoke to the woman.

The crowd started to hover over the scene, Shiloh emptied the revolver of its bullets – only one fell upon the ground.

After the bullet dropped from the chamber, she placed her arms around the chaotic woman, holding her alongside her husband.

She began calming her down, knowing the right words to speak to her.

The woman began to calm down, her body red from her emotional state.

Then the owl ring on Shiloh’s finger began to shine.

Her ring had never done it before – in any plane of existence, and Joel, the woman, and her looked at the glowing ring in awe.

Shiloh lifted the ring to her lips and kissed it then the three of them vanished.

VIII

The three fell before the stone palace’s entrance.

Yahweh stood on the edge of the stairwell. “Good. You got her.”

The three stood up and Shiloh asked, “What in the heck was that?”

“That was the darkest part of all your lives, my child – all strung together in the spiritual realm. It was a place where your marriage, that you hold so dear, was falling apart, and you – Salome, my dear, dear child, where you found no point in living. It was a place where all three of you were each other’s salvation. A place where you could all see your strengths.”

Salome looked above her, the grey wind harshly hitting against her face. She no longer could feel the emotional pull from Dark Hosea haunting her or the kidnapping of her daughter. She felt a small glimmer of hope.

Yahweh looked at her and breathed clarity into her mind.

She turned and saw a young curly-haired girl.

“You’re Shiloh?” she asked with deep happiness in her soul.

“You’re my mother?” Shiloh asked, feeling the same deepness in hers.

They both collapsed into each other’s arms, knowing they would never be separated again.

Joel and Yahweh both smiled as they witnessed the two women fall in love together and fill the empty hollow holes of their hearts.

It was a time of victory. The first battle of the impending war had been won.