SIXTY YEARS AGO

Cassius was deeply asleep when he was rocked back awake with a slap on his foot.

“Rise up, Benton. Rise up!”

He woke up, senses still scrambling, and saw the assistant headmaster, Reverend Jack, staring at him with a not-so-friendly face.

“Did you know anything about this?”

Cassius was still trying to find his bearings when Jack slapped his foot again.

“Quicken, boy! Did you know anything about this?”

Cassius looked at him, eyes still trying to adjust to the assault of the light from outside. “Reverend, I am not sure what you are referring to.”

“He constantly accused you of heresy. He punished you and punished you and punished you, yet you persisted in defying him. And now, two weeks after he threw you in here and threatened you with an extended stay, he’s dead. Answer me truthfully, boy, did you know anything about Reverend Tumi’s death?”

Cassius slowly sat up, disbelief coloring his face as he took in the information he’d just received. “Reverend Tumi is dead?”

“Murdered on the altar in the house of prayer. His blood is still fresh. Did you have a part in it?”

Cassius immediately remembered Aurelius’ visit. He’d put the letter next to the wall for later reading. He immediately shifted to block it, hoping to God that Jack had not noticed it before.

“Reverend, as God is my witness, this is the first I am hearing of this.”

Reverend Jack stared him in the face for a bit, then shook his head.

“We will be observing a period of mourning for him while we investigate this. You better hope we find nothing that traces back to you. I have been wanting to show the students what it was like when they burned witches at the stake in old times. I cannot think of a better person to use as the example. Now, get up and go back to your dorm.”

Reverend Jack left the door open and walked away. Cassius thanked his God and quickly hid the letter in his pocket.

******

PRESENT DAY

Kane was asleep when the phone rang. He turned away from it but it did not stop ringing. At the third time of calling, he picked up.

“Mr. G. I am pleased to inform you that we have secured what you need to gain back control over your empire. We have also put everything in place for the next phase of the operation.”

Still sleepy, a happy Kane responded, “Thank you, Wini. That is indeed wonderful news to receive. I can finally resume my life after all this time.”

“Yes. It was our understanding that you wanted to have a face-to-face before the signing. Is that still your wish?”

“It is.”

“Very well. Arrangements will be made for a rendezvous. I will be in contact again to inform you of your pickup time.”

“Wonderful. Your work is top notch, Wini.”

“Thank you, Mr. G. I’ll be in touch.”

The call was ended. Glazer immediately went over to his suitcase and pulled out a phone from one of the pockets. He sent a text.

“Amber. Amber. Prepare to move.”

*****

SIXTY YEARS AGO

Cassius walked out of the headmaster’s office and sat in the lobby. He breathed a sigh of relief, looking down as he tied his shoelaces and silently prayed. It had been a few months since Reverend Tumi was murdered, and the investigation had yielded nothing. Cassius had been questioned over and over, sometimes with slaps and whips, and nothing had come of it. Still, the leadership of the school believed that the heretic had to have had a role in the demise of the pillar of righteousness.

He saw someone approaching and looked up to see Marcus taking a seat beside him.

“Marcus, I asked you to wait for me outside the building.”

“My patience refused to accept that message. What’s the verdict?”

Cassius continued to tie his shoelaces, saying nothing. Marcus looked at him eagerly.

“Come on, Cassius, tell me what they said. I swear to God if they tried to frame you, it will get-”

Cassius looked up at him with an intense face, which made him back down. Once he was done tying his laces, he waved to Marcus for them to walk out.

“Making threats right outside the office where the leaders can hear you is never a smart choice, Marcus. You know better.”

“You’re right, Cassius. I am simply anxious to know whether you’ve been exonerated or not.”

They were now outside the administration building. “They couldn’t find any evidence linking me to the murder, so they have chosen, reluctantly, to leave me alone for now.”

Marcus punched the air. “That is great news, Cassius. You can resume your work now.”

“My work? Marcus, a man is dead. The man whose words the entire leadership and staff have hung onto for decades is dead. Do you really believe that they will leave me alone forever? Their leader saw me as a heretic, and it will be the same with them. I cannot possibly continue organizing meetings.”

Marcus stopped in front of him. “You’re right. You cannot hold meetings in front of them. Not on campus, anyway.”

Cassius furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“You cannot hold meetings where the unbelievers rule. And the unbelievers rule on campus.”

Cassius stood there for a second, brow still furrowed. Then it hit him.

“Marcus, are you suggesting that I somehow sneak off campus and hold meetings outside?”

“It is not an impossible task. Daunting maybe, but not impossible.”

Cassius stepped to the side and continued walking. “I will not go off-campus, Marcus.”

Marcus followed after him. “Why not?”

“I am not ready for that. God will not support me.”

“So if I find you a place to hold a meeting on campus, away from the eyes of the leaders, will you consider it?”

“I do not see how that’s possible.”

****

PRESENT DAY

Katherine was in her secret prayer room at the chapel. It was midnight and she’d wanted to be home, but something inside of her had kept her in church after the evening service. All she’d been able to do was pray for the last three hours but she did not feel a desire to stop. She’d tried to conclude a few times, but her spirit would not let her.

She continued to pace back and forth in prayer. Her body felt worn down, but she still felt buckets of energy coursing through her. She fell on her knees and continued to pray when she suddenly stopped moving. She sat on her knees and began to rock back and forth in silence, humming a tune. Her eyes widened and the rocking back and forth intensified as a vision began to open up.

As it continued, she smiled, still humming the tune. It went on for a while and then it ended. Then she no longer felt like praying, although a massive resolve filled her like it was injected into her veins.

She stood on her feet and looked up. “Double agents. Hmm. Did they truly think You would say nothing? This ought to be interesting. Thank You, Lord.”

Double agents are at work? This gets juicier by the minute. And why am I not surprised that Aurelius killed the reverend? (not that I’m sad for him)