Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Escape (01/02/06)
-
TITLE: No Chance For Escape | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lori Braswell
01/04/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Hot, arid, sulfurous air enveloped her. It burned her nostrils and parched her lips. Her tongue stuck thickly to the roof of her mouth as she breathed out and slowly back in, choking and coughing at the sizzling acrid taste of the air.
She moved her head from side to side and again she moaned; no sound came forth. Her eyes flew open. Total darkness. Her eyes painfully throbbed, straining to see even one miniscule amount of light.
Terror gripped her. She sat up, screamed, and when no sound vocalized, she screamed again and again in horror. Her hands shakily grasped for her throat. Fingers fluttered coming to land upon her lips as she moaned once again, feeling the vibration of sound but still not hearing.
Trying to calm herself, she hugged herself, hands squeezing arms in a rhythmic pulse. She fought to remember what had happened to her. Fuzzy images flashed before her. She had been walking in her room toward the door when a blinding pain had pierced her chest and shot down her arm. Pain had sliced through her head as she stumbled and fell, hitting the edge of the door and crumpling to the floor.
Then, nothing.
She rocked back and forth continuing her rhythmical hug. Why am I here? She cried out in soundless desperation. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her hands flew up to wipe them quickly away, sputtering and screaming in quiet as blisters formed beneath her fingers on her cheeks and hands. Her tears scalded her skin as if boiling water.
Panting as the air scorched her lungs, Tamara slid her hands down to the ground. She moved her hands out and began to crawl slowly, as she chanted, Why am I here? The ground felt hard and rough, almost scaly. She reached out with one hand and found a wall. Bracing herself against it, she labored to her feet. WHY AM I HERE? She screamed.
Suddenly a thunderous crack filled the air. The ground shook powerfully and Tamara fell to her knees. A booming voice spoke, “DEPART FROM ME! I NEVER KNEW YOU!” Like sonic waves it crashed into Tamara again and again, resonating through her entire being. Memories flooded her: she and her children going to church, singing in the church choir, feeding people at the community shelter.
“NO! WAIT! I WAS GOOD!” As she cried out, Tamara struggled to her feet and began running. She called out to the voice, God's voice, “I DID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS! I WENT TO CHURCH! I WAS A GOOD PERSON!” Her foot jammed and she was catapulted through the air. She landed on something sharp and felt the flesh of her arm tear. Boiling blood spilled on her body. She screamed in pain and fright, “PLEASE! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE!”
Again the roaring voice boomed, “DEPART FROM ME! I NEVER KNEW YOU!”
Tamara sucked in great choking gulps of fiery air as she realized that it did not matter that she had been good or that she had done all the right things. Scenes played in her mind: as a little girl sitting in Vacation Bible School hearing her teacher ask if any would give their hearts to Jesus, the pastor calling out for those who would follow Him, the many times the familiar pricking of her heart was ignored. And now, it was too late.
Blisters formed as tears coursed down her cheeks, but Tamara hardly noticed as God’s voice thundered, “DEPART FROM ME! I NEVER KNEW YOU!” Those words pierced her heart like daggers as the searing knowledge of what was to be her eternity penetrated her very core.
She would never get another chance to escape.
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.
