Part 1
The pain was unbearable. Heat scorched his eyes, his skin, his teeth. When he could take no more, Marco took a breath, knowing he was going to die. But the breath he took was not painful; it was fluid, smooth, and cool. Marco opened his eyes, and stared at the floor for many long seconds, not daring to move. His eyes didn’t melt, much to his amazement, no skin had fallen away, all of his teeth were still in place.
Slowly, Marco stood up, and looked around. Immediately surrounding him, the grass was green, soft, and cool. Further away, the ground was black, scorched, dead. His house was gone. His car, gone. Everything was gone, as far as he could see. For a while, he stood there, confused, not knowing what he should do. Then, he decided he should walk. He wasn’t sure where, but something in his mind told him that east was the best direction.
When he reached the riverbed hours later, he stopped. The river was gone, the bedrock was bare. Not even algae remained. Marco was confused. What had happened? What kind of thing could kill grass and destroy buildings, make millions of gallons of water disappear, but leave him in pristine condition, without injury?
“Maybe, the Rapture”, he thought out loud. ”But why leave me? I’m a good Christian! I go to church every Sunday, help out with the Youth Program, even sing in the choir! Why am I still here? I should be sitting with Jesus, in heaven!” he screamed angrily.
