A rapid knock interrupted Stace from her reading. The library closed forty minutes ago, who could possibly want in?
Whatever. Stace shook her head and turned back to her book The Nation of Robots by Claudia Bostraeu, which was the best selling book of 2050.
The knock resounded through the quiet building once again.
Now, who in the world expected to get in at this late hour?
Stace tiptoed to the door and peeked through the peep-hole. Jen? She quickly opened the door for her friend.
Jen rushed through the door the moment it opened as if the night were hunting her. She breathed heavily and helped Stace shut the door and lock the bolt.
“Are you okay?” Stace eyed her friend’s ragged state.
Jen’s wild eyes locked on Stace. “Sorry, I had to talk to someone and I knew how much you loved books. I hope now’s a good time.”
“Of course, I was just reading—”
“I know. That’s why I came to find you here rather than at your tent.” Jen surveyed the dark library. “Are you alone?”
“Yes? Jen, you are starting to freak me out.”
Jen laughed. “Already? Just wait.”
Stace frowned. “Can you please tell me what this is all about?”
Jen checked once more to make sure no one was present then leaned toward Stace and whispered, “Is your library bugged?”
“Of course. In order to operate, all public buildings and businesses must be according to the Homeland Security Act of 2033.”
“Oh.” Jen looked deflated.
“But, I might have something that would help you.” Stace smiled. She led her friend back to Study Room #4. Once she shut the door to the room, she turned to Jen. “Tragically, this study room had an isolated water incident that ruined the bug.” Stace winked. “I put in a request to have the bug fixed, but the letter blew away from the stack of mail I was sending and flew into a trashcan without me knowing. I still have no idea that the letter was never sent, nor do I know where it went.”
Jen released a huge sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“So what’s this about?”
“First, I need you to promise not to tell anyone about this.”
“Jen, you know you can trust me.”
“No, Stace, this is different. I need you to promise. I came here because I do trust you, but now I need to trust you on a much deeper level, so I need to know that you won’t ever tell anyone else about this even if it costs you your life.”
Stace leaned back in her chair and eyed her old friend. She was serious, no doubt. Her eyes looked wild with life, and yet . . . happy? Did she really want to get into whatever this was?
She trusted Jen. Ever since Jen kept her from going to a strange guy’s house after an evening at the bar. Too intoxicated to properly read the situation, Stace would’ve gone, but Jen saw the clues, to know this man couldn’t be trusted. Sure enough, two days later, the State Soldiers locked him away for three dozen crimes, including kidnapping women.
Stace took a deep breath and folded her hands on the table. “Very well, I promise.”
Jen’s eyes lit up. “Good, because I found something dangerous.” Out from under her coat, Jen pulled an old purple book. She set it on the table.
Though the cover was worn and the ink had long since rubbed off, the imprint of the title was unmistakable: The Holy Bible.
Stace gasped. “Jen, you can’t be serious! Do you know how dangerous—”
“Of course I know it’s a dangerous book. But it found me. You know the Christian they killed last week?”
Stace’s heart pounded. Oh, she knew—everyone knew—and she didn’t want to end up like him.
“I heard him speak. Stace, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.” Jen leaned forward. Her eyes blazing with energy. “It’s like he was speaking straight to my heart and reading my mind!”
“Jen, quiet!” Stace looked back toward the door, then continued in a whisper. “This room might not have a working bug, but the other rooms do, and these walls aren’t soundproof.”
“Sorry, but I just can’t help it. Something within me longed for more of his words, so when he dropped this book, I couldn’t resist. I can hardly stop reading it.” Jen opened it and stared at it like a hungry dog eyeing a piece of meat. “I don’t understand half of it, but the parts I do understand are like a cup of cold water on a hot day. In fact, it even says something like that.”
Jen flipped through a few pages. “Right here in the chapter of John after the big seven and the little thirty-seven, this man named Jesus says ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ That’s exactly how I feel!”
Stace reached over and touched Jen’s hands to catch her attention. “Jen, are you saying you believe this book?”
“I . . .” Jen hesitated for a second. “Stace, I have to. I can’t prove that this book is speaking the truth, especially since so much of it is impossible to understand. But it speaks to me in a way I’ve never experienced before. Somehow it understands me. This Jesus guy that the Christian spoke of and died for, really existed. And, somehow, though I can’t figure out how it’s possible, I believe that he’s some sort of god and that he really did die and come back to life.”
“Jen, this is crazy! The US is hunting this book and killing its followers because it speaks against freedom. How can this book be good? Why else would our country try and destroy it unless it was actually bad.”
Jen looked down and shook her head. “I don’t know, nor do I have any answers, but I thought the same as you a week ago before I started reading it. I can’t understand why or how, but what if the States are trying hide something? And what if they are wrong?”
Stace took a deep breath but quickly tried to hide it. She’d wondered the same thing. Years ago in her grandmother’s attic, she found an old history book. As a librarian, she knew the rule. Though history books weren’t “illegal” they might as well be. Because of the Accurate Education bill, all physical history books must be turned in and exchanged for a free code to digitally download the newest and latest—and often updated—history books approved by the States.
History morphed and adapted all the time as people made new discoveries. It made sense to have a history book that could reflect these adaptations, but she always found the mandate with the law to be a bit odd. They weren’t just told to upgrade their books, they were also commanded to report in anyone who didn’t or who still had a physical history book.
Stace kept her grandma’s book to protect her, but after reading it she grew suspicious of the States’ motives. Perhaps Jen was right. Could the States be hiding something?
“I need your help, Stace. I know this book is true, and that there’s some reason the States are trying to destroy it. They say it speaks hate, but the Christian man put his life at risk because he believed we needed to hear what this book said. Not to guilt us or accuse us, but—from what I saw—, he seemed to genuinely care. He didn’t just risk his life to help complete strangers, he died to help us. And even crazier, he died to help the very people he knew likely wanted to kill him. Why would he do this unless he was absolutely certain this book spoke the truth and held the answers we needed?”
Stace twirled her hair around her finger. Jen’s words made sense. Her passion also added weight to the argument. “Why do you need me?”
Jen straightened up. “I can’t understand half the words and half the meanings, but you know more about books than anyone I know. If we work together I’m sure we’ll find the truth.”
Stace nodded. The offer did intrigue her. Discovering some ancient truth that had been hidden and forgotten felt like a treasure hunt.
“But I thought you already believed this book?”
“Oh, I do believe it.” Jen couldn’t hold back her smile. “I just don’t yet know what I believe.”
“That sounds a bit reckless.” But still, something was off. How could such a dangerous book bring her such life?
“Not if you experienced what I did. This Jesus is alive to this day. I know it. He spoke to me in my heart. I felt him lift the burden of all my selfish acts—which he calls sins—off my back after I asked him to forgive me. I’m free now in a way I never before thought possible. I have peace now that I’ve only ever dreamed of. And I have a joy that’s greater than anything I’ve experienced even after all my searching and experimenting. But, best of all, he came into my life, I know him and he knows me. Like sheep.”
“Like sheep?” Stace raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, that’s one of the parts I don’t understand. But he’s my friend now, and he says he’ll never leave me.”
Jen stood up and leaned onto the table. Her green eyes blazed like fire despite the dim light. “This book is true, Stace, and I want it, or him, to set you free just like it did me.”
“So that’s why you’re here.”
Jen gave a friendly smile and winked. “That’s another reason.”
To Be Continued
I hope you enjoyed this short story just as much as I enjoyed writing it. I wrote this story because I want us all to remember the precious gift we hold. Who knows how many have died for the sake of passing on the good news of the gospel? How many people dedicated their lives to make sure we’d still have accurate Bibles to this day? And why did they do this?
Because this message brings freedom. This message brings hope that our world can’t even come close to touching. This message brings life and a true and love-filled relationship with our creator. What a beautiful truth that is!
I also wrote this story to show that it doesn’t matter how well you know the Bible (though it’s always good to do our research), nor does it matter whether or not you can answer every question. If you have the hope and life of Christ within you, you can share this amazing message with others. Don’t let fear stop you.
This right here, is how we live wilder.
If you enjoyed this short story and would like that be notified when the next part comes out, please consider subscribing to my email list here.
If you’d like to read the prequel to this story, you can do so here: The First Christian
