The End of the Beginning

The camp was quiet now, the fire crackling softly as the last embers of the battle faded into the night. The demons, their twisted forms now nothing more than fading echoes in the wind, had retreated, leaving behind the aftermath of their brutal assault. The survivors were gathered around the fire, tending to their wounds, their faces marked with exhaustion and relief. The golden lamp still glowed softly in Annabeth’s hands, its light flickering in the growing darkness.

Emmalyn sat apart from the group, her sword resting beside her as she cleaned the blood from her mechanical arm. The tension from the fight still lingered in the air, but there was something more now—a quiet sense of realization that weighed heavily on her. She glanced up at the stars, knowing that somewhere beyond them, the world had already started to crumble.

Wheels sat nearby, his wheelchair positioned close to the fire, his brown eyes scanning the group as he listened to the murmurs of conversation. He had always been a man of few words, but tonight, the silence between them felt different. It felt like the calm before the storm, as if the real battle was only just beginning.

Kelli approached, sitting beside him and resting her hand briefly on his shoulder. Noah was helping the younger survivors, making sure everyone had what they needed. The camp was in good hands, but there was still a heaviness that lingered, a weight that even the most resilient among them couldn’t shake.

Wheels cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "I know we’ve just come out of one hell of a fight," he said, his voice low but steady. "But I need to tell you all something. Something you’ve probably already figured out for yourselves."

Annabeth, her brow furrowing, leaned in a little closer, sensing the shift in the air. Emmalyn looked up, her expression unreadable. The camp seemed to hold its breath as they all turned toward him.

“We’ve been in the end times for a while now," Wheels continued, his voice firm, though there was an undercurrent of grief. "The world’s been dying for years. And those demons... they’re not just random monsters. They’re part of something bigger. Something we’ve been warned about for a long time.”

Annabeth’s eyes narrowed, but she remained quiet, listening intently. Emmalyn leaned forward, her heart beginning to race as she sensed the gravity of his words.

"The signs are all around us," Wheels said, his eyes distant, as if seeing something beyond the campfire’s glow. "The wars. The storms. The chaos. It’s all part of God’s prophecy. We’re living through the end, the final days before Christ returns. The demons—the fallen ones—they’ve been sent to usher in the darkness. They’re here to destroy everything, to take as many souls as they can before it’s all over.”

Annabeth’s breath caught, and Emmalyn felt a chill run down her spine. She had suspected something was wrong with the world, but hearing it from Wheels—hearing it confirmed—felt different. It was one thing to live through the aftermath of a broken world. It was another to realize that everything they had been fighting for, all the years of survival, had been leading to this moment.

"But why us? Why this?” Annabeth asked, her voice trembling slightly. "We’re just... survivors. How are we supposed to stop this?"

Wheels let out a slow breath. "We’re not supposed to stop it, Annabeth. We’re supposed to bring people to Christ. We’re meant to be vessels for His light in this darkness. Our mission, no matter how impossible it seems, is to lead people to the truth of the gospel before it’s too late. To share Christ’s love, His grace, and His salvation—because in the end, that’s the only thing that will save anyone.”

Emmalyn’s chest tightened, the weight of his words sinking deep into her. Her mind raced—was this what they were really doing? Not just surviving, but fighting for something far greater than they had ever imagined?

She looked at Wheels, seeing the strength in his eyes, the man who had already walked through so much darkness and still held on to faith. She saw something else too—a hope that had burned in him despite everything. He had been through the worst of it, and yet, here he was, still standing, still guiding them toward something beyond the chaos.

"And the lamp?" Annabeth asked quietly, glancing at the golden light in her hands. "What does this have to do with it?"

Wheels’ gaze shifted to the lamp, and for a moment, his expression softened. “The lamp is a symbol,” he said, his voice thick with meaning. "It represents the light of Christ, the only true light that can drive out the darkness. We’re not just holding it. We’re supposed to share it—spread that light, show others the way. That’s our mission. And right now, in this broken world, that’s our only hope."

Emmalyn was quiet, processing his words, her heart heavy with the weight of it all. She had always been a fighter, someone who relied on her strength, her blade, her resolve. But now, she felt something new stirring within her. A calling. A purpose beyond just surviving.

"You think there’s still time for that?" Emmalyn asked, her voice hoarse. "For people to turn back? For anyone to hear us?"

Wheels met her gaze, and for the first time, she saw the full depth of his belief. “There’s always time for those who choose to hear,” he said quietly. “Christ’s grace is infinite. The demons may think they’ve won, but they haven’t. There’s still time. And as long as we’re here, as long as we’re breathing, it’s our job to keep the light burning.”

Annabeth nodded slowly, her grip tightening around the lamp. She could feel its warmth, its power—a promise that there was still a chance, even in the darkest of times.

“We’re not alone,” she said softly. “We have this light. We have each other. And we have Christ.”

Wheels’ face softened, his eyes filled with a quiet gratitude. “That’s right. We’re a family, and we have a purpose. We’ll keep fighting, even when it seems impossible. Because the light... the light will lead us through.”

The camp fell silent as everyone reflected on his words. The fire crackled softly, and the lamp’s golden glow continued to burn brightly, casting long shadows on the faces around it. For the first time in a long while, Emmalyn felt something beyond the weight of survival. She felt the weight of their mission—something bigger, something that could bring salvation even in the darkest hour.

The demons might have been driven back for now. But the true battle was just beginning. And as long as the light burned, they would not face it alone.