Page 98 of Still Afraid

“I screwed up, sis. Maybe it’s better if I die right now.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

“I’m trying to face reality. Will you forgive me?”

With the hand that wasn’t holding pressure on his leg, she wiped his unruly hair away from his eyes like she had when he was a little boy. “Of course I forgive you. I’ll always forgive you. But I’m not the one you need forgiveness from.”

He didn’t look away like she expected. Instead, sorrow filled his eyes. “I want to believe Jesus will forgive me still … but … I don’t know. I think I’m too far gone.”

“No one is beyond His grace. All you have to do is surrender to Him. That’s it, Aaron. His grace and forgiveness are already extended to you.”

Tears streamed down his face.

Jesus, please reveal your mercy to Aaron. Draw him to Yourself!

“Jesus went to the cross for you. He died because you stole. He died to pay for the sin of scaring me half to death by kidnapping me. He died for the murderous thoughts you’ve had toward that man.” She nodded her head back toward Richard. “Jesus paid the price to wipe your guilty verdict clean. There’s nothing you can do to make it right. But He makes it right when you accept His sacrifice for you.”

Aaron gripped her hand. “Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent. And that’s only half the good news. He beat death, conquered it. We get to live in fellowship with Him, not only for eternity, but right now too. He loves you, Aaron.”

Tears continued to pour from her brother’s eyes, yet he didn’t say anything more.

If rock bottom didn’t bring her brother to Christ, would anything?

Jesus, I just don’t understand. Please have him turn to You! I’m still afraid he’ll never put his faith in You. I entrust You with his heart. It’s not mine anyway. Please bring Aaron to a saving faith in You.

Sirens sounded in the distance. Maybe there was hope they’d get out of here sooner rather than later. But since none of the stores in this shopping center had been open when the tornado hit, would they come here to look?

Chapter Forty

Josh drummed his hand on the armrest in Lance’s SUV. As soon as Gabe called to tell him one of Richard Montego’s properties was hit by the tornado, Josh and Lance, along with Poirot, had jumped in the car and driven the five miles to the shopping center.

No one was prepared for the massive destruction. The parking lot was a mangled mess, streetlights ripped from the asphalt and laid on their sides. The blacktop itself was even torn up in spots. A car sat on its nose against a decimated storefront.

The damage path cut straight through the building, annihilating two stores. Both of the larger stores that anchored each end of the shopping center looked relatively untouched. Despite all he had seen, it still astounded Josh that a tornado could cut such a clean line of destruction.

They got as close as they could in the parking lot, but they didn’t even know where to start. It made the most sense for them, with their SAR training, to focus on the destroyed area. The police needed to sweep through the untouched stores.

They got out of Lance’s vehicle. Josh secured Poirot’s vest and grabbed his pack. It included a first aid kit along with other supplies that could be needed in this kind of search.

Headlamps in place, including a red light on Poirot to help them keep track of him, they ventured toward the rubble. They needed to find anyone who might be trapped inside, especially Chloe and Aaron.

First they checked the car. Thankfully, it was empty and must have been parked in the lot. Next they ventured into the stores. Poirot barked.

A shrill whistle followed.

Josh froze. He knew that whistle. His pulse picked up.

Poirot barked in response. He recognized it too. He bounded through the rubble and rounded an overturned car in the middle of where the store had once been. Josh couldn’t even tell what the store once was. It was a disaster of drywall, ceiling materials, and random unidentifiable debris.

He moved as fast as he could through it, but it was slow-going.

Poirot ran back to him, grabbed the hanging piece of the adjustable strap from his pack, then turned, letting the strap slide out of his mouth, and ran away.

He’d found someone. Chloe.

Josh followed Poirot’s path. His heart pounded out of his chest. He couldn’t get there fast enough. A moment later, he passed into what might have been the back room of the store and spotted Chloe and Aaron. Relief, excitement, and a whole host of other emotions flooded Josh’s being.