Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: THE UGLY TOURIST (07/09/15)
-
TITLE: ESCAPED | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dixie Koch
07/16/15 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The day he left, Kevin had put on a tattered pair of blue jeans. He did not give a two-week notice. It didn't matter if he worked for the government, people were getting by with murder there. He prayed they would not find him.
He had been traveling many hours, breaking seldom. Dusk was sneaking in like a creature of the night, but he was almost there.
Kevin wiped a tear streaking from the corner of his eye. “Gramma, I don't know how you knew I would be needing to escape. I wish you were still alive so I could tell you what's happening. I am scared. ”
He stared hard at the paper. “Take Pine drive. About four miles, as the road curves, watch for a little logging road. It is called 'Trail's End.' There is another sign. It says, 'This road is not maintained. Private property. Stay off.'”
He swallowed hard. There had always been something mysterious about his grandmother. A year ago, when she had sent him this letter, she had explained about a hidden cabin, first owned by his great-grandfather, located deep in the forest.
Kevin reread her words, “It is the Lord who has directed me to send you the keys to this cabin. Times are increasingly evil. I fear you may be in some kind of danger, and will need a hiding place. Please, give your life to Jesus. I write this with urgency. I love you and am praying always for you.”
The long twisted logger's road finally curved into a weeded over path. “Apparently nobody's been here in a long time.” He breathed out deeply.
“There it is,” he managed a half smile. “More like a rickety shack buried by brush. But, I'll take it.”
The door squeaked like in agony as he opened it.
“Hello Kevin.” .
His spine prickled. He dropped his bag, trying to squint into the dimly lit interior. “Who are you?”
“I'm Grace, your grandmother's friend. I'm vacationing here. You must be hungry. Like fish?”
Kevin's mouth hinged open. He stared at the old woman. She had to be a hundred years old. So stooped over and what an ugly tourist, he thought.
“I don't recall gramma saying anything about a friend. You've been fishing? How did you get here anyway? Nobody has driven on this path lately, until I did just now!”
“A couple friends dropped me off and I walked the path. Walking is good,” the smile made her wrinkles look like a scrunched up accordion.
Kevin winced. He wasn't accustomed to entertaining such an unsightly old woman. But, just the same, he was strangely thankful she was there.
He awoke refreshed. The cot, despite broken springs, had been comfortable. Delicious aroma of bacon wafted past his nose. He sat up strait, his eyes bulged.
“Bacon and eggs? Is there a grocery store nearby?”
“Our Heavenly Father provides all things,” she said with raised eyebrows.
He noticed her eyes were a heavenly blue as she talked. “You are even more mysterious than my grandmother.”
He sensed them coming before he heard the car doors slam! Fear grabbed his heart.
“Stay out of sight,” she warned.
Kevin's heart drummed as the elderly woman pulled out an assault weapon from behind the door and faced them head on.
He tried to watch from between the curtains. His boss Malcom and his co-worker Haden, all dressed proudly, were accompanied by a dozen armed officers.
They hesitated, backed up in fact. They looked stunned, fearful!
Of Grace? he wondered. His heart almost stopped too when he turned to look at her. Grace had morphed into a humongous man, muscled beyond human.
Malcolm was holding up his hand. “Don't shoot. You are harboring a man who murdered his co-worker.”
“No,” the grizzly voice shot back. “You and Haden had Martin murdered because he was a committed Christian. And, because he knew too much. I have a video tape to prove that. You all going to leave, or do I start shooting?”
“I must be dreaming,” Kevin said, his whole body shaking. “You were a huge warrior of some kind a minute ago. But now you are once again an old woman.”
“I am a warrior. Your grandmother prayed you would be protected and escape danger.”
Kevin's eyes widened.
“She also prayed for you to be committed to Jesus. That is something only you can choose.”
He blinked back a tear and she was gone.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Red Ink: From what I read, ugly tourist means a person who behaves badly in a foreign country. It doesn't refer to physical characteristics. I'm not sure if it fits the topic, but I really enjoyed reading it.
Well done.
God bless~