David watched as the robed man gestured to something off in the distance. The police nodded vigorously and entered their cruiser. The officer who had shot the robed man now opened the front passenger door for him before climbing into the back seat. The vehicle lurched forward, a cloud of dust rising up behind them. The helicopter began following them and after a couple of minutes the cruiser came to a stop in front of a stately church building just at the edge of the circle of destruction. All five individuals exited the vehicle and the robed man climbed the steps. He paused before the great double doors and nodded gently before turning around and speaking to the officers following him. Immediately they were talking excitedly on their radios as the robed man stood, head bowed and hands folded in front of him.
Additional police cruisers began driving into the circle of destruction, great clouds of dust filling the air behind them. Crossing the empty void where towering buildings once stood took only a few minutes. The police formed a semi-circle in front of the stately church, some with guns drawn. The four officers who stood by the robed man seemed to be shouting and gesturing excitedly, signaling for their comrades to lower their weapons. Half a dozen police began to advance towards them. One of the robed man’s companions raised his weapon. David held his breath, expecting a shootout to begin at any moment.
The robed man placed a hand on the officer’s shoulder, who then lowered his weapon slowly and placed it back in its holster. The robed man took a step forward and raised his hands slowly and began speaking to the assembly before him. He was speaking and raised his gaze towards the sky. The police began advancing on him again, the four officers on top of the staircase took a step back, hands raised and shaking their heads slowly.
The police stopped and began looking around wildly, some falling to their hands and knees. The dust began to rise into the air like a thick mist, enshrouding the police and their vehicles.
“We are receiving word from our crew on the ground that it appears as though there’s an earthquake.” The reporter said. A tall office building on the edge of the circle fell forward, sending a great plume of dust and smoke into the air. “The quake appears to be minor but some of the buildings weakened by the explosion have collapsed as a result.”
The dust was settling now. The police on the ground were visible once again, their officers’ uniforms coated with grey dust as they coughed and wiped their faces. The robed man began to speak again. David jumped as a brilliant flash of light filled his screen. The stone cross atop the steeple of the church was now wreathed in flames. The robed man lower his face and looked at the shocked police in front of him and spoke. David could see several nodding, others looking around nervously. He felt a growing sense of unease in the pit of his stomach.
“We are now receiving word from the police that this man is claiming to be Jesus, and he is asking for the press so he can address the world.”
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