Savannah's Only Zombie (Book 2): A New Darkness by Josh Vasquez Page A

something pushing
them forward. Something that said “everything is gonna be okay.”
    They had hope.
    “And Father,” Pops continued. “We thank you for
the time we had with Hailey. Lord, we love her so much and we know that she is
with you now. Take good care of her for us and we’ll see her again whenever
you’re ready.”
    The sniffles began almost immediately. They
started as small, quiet whimpers. But they quickly grew into sobs. Jeremy
looked around to see tears streaming from all of their faces. Chris’s was most heart
breaking. The tears rolled down his red cheeks, a wide smile across his face.
It looked forced, the corners of his lips wanting to fall. Jeremy felt his own
face twitch.
    How can they keep on going?
    His mother was gone. Gone to wherever their
Hailey went. The first tear slid down his cheek.
    Here they are, trying to worship God, when their
little girl was ripped away from them so violently. Where are you God? You seem
so near to them, but whenever I call out to you, you’re silent? Why? My mother
was a good woman and she loved you, for whatever reason! Yet you took her from
me! You did this! Why don’t you stop all this!
    Pops ended his prayer, interrupting Jeremy’s
interrogation. Chris stood and gave Pops a tight hug, before the older man
returned to his seat. His wife gave his knee a tight squeeze. Chris wiped his
eyes and cleared his throat.
    “I, um, I haven’t really anything to say. I
tried to think of something, but I, I just can’t yet. So, I’m just going to
read from the passage of scripture that’s been keeping me going these past couple
weeks. It’s in Hebrews 12.”
    Chris paused, and took a breath before reading.
     
    “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings
so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking
to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right
hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility
against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your
struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your
blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
    “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of
the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
    For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
    It is for discipline that you have to endure.
God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not
discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated,
then you are illegitimate children and not sons. If you are left without
discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children
and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and
we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits
and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them,
but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the
moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields
the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
     
    Jeremy listened as Chris read, but found it hard
to focus on what the man was saying. He also felt slightly guilty for his
earlier rant against God. He was just frustrated.
    “See that you do not refuse him who is
speaking?” Is that your way of talking to me God? Okay, I’m listening.
    There was silence as Chris nodded to Josh. He
stood up and grabbed his guitar. He strummed through a couple of measures
before he began singing. Jeremy was surprised by what came out. Despite being
somewhat goofy, Josh had a decent voice. Jeremy didn’t recognize the song, but
it sounded like everything was on key. The