Diary of The Returned

Final Entry:

All I wanted was a normal life. I did not get that. I was an outcast by the third grade. When my family picked up and moved away, it was supposed to be a new beginning, but it turned out to be the end. We were never the same, and I barely made it through high school. The moment graduation came and went, I ran away, seeking a better life, but I did not get that. Instead, I fell into the hands of cruel men, and the last one would be my end.

But when I Returned, he was the one to pay that price. I got my second chance. I got to live again. I just didn't know how, and then everything changed. The world changed, and I was targeted for what I was not who I was. I was imprisoned, sentenced to death, and then by a twist of fate, I met Jenny. And she saved me, leading me to a strange place called Arcadia, where I then met Jacob and those that followed him. Then, Preacher James came, and there was something about him, something that I couldn't explain. But the connection was there, and he felt it too. But our enemy was now on approach, and there was no running away. No escape. I had to fight, but I was scared. I just wanted a normal life, but I did not get that.

Chaos. Absolute chaos. I thought I was dead. I really did, wishing that I had a moment, just one moment to live and maybe, just maybe to love. When he held me, I felt it. When he touched my hand, I felt it. I never thought that I would survive. I never thought that I could hurt Nathaniel. I was waiting for him to kill me, kill me for good, but then I wounded him. And Marty finished him off, so now what? What happens next, and why did a long ago dream of some strange key become real? What did this key open, and why did it materialize through me?

"You give me that key, preacher, and you will see. You will all see."

Realizing that he had no choice, the preacher conceded the key to the blind woman. She gently took it from his hand, but she stared at me the whole time. Her pale, delicate fingers curled around it. "Let's go," she said as the others now gathered around us. "Let's return from where we left," and another blinding light flashed before my eyes, followed by that crash of thunder.

Everything was so still. Everything was so quiet. The Returned that had survived had subdued their eight attackers. They were tied up in the family room, and they all just waited like they knew that we would return. And we did, but nobody said anything. We just all stared at the blind woman, knowing that the next move was hers.

"Listen to me now," she began. "This is a one-time opportunity for all the Returned. With this key," and she held it up for all to see. It was white and humming some beautiful, low hymn, and I almost melted to it. But the preacher laid a hand on my shoulder, bringing me back to him. "With this key, I can unlock a door and send all of you home."

"What door," Marty asked as he stood in-between Jacob and Jenny. "I don't see a door."

"Close your eyes. All of you," she said. "Close your eyes," and we did. "Now, open them," and we did. A white door dressed with gold appeared behind her. "Do you see the door," she asked, and we did. "With this key, you can all go home, or you can stay here in this world."

"If we stay here," Marty asked, "what happens to us?"

"You join the living."

"What do you mean by that," Jacob asked.

"You live." She stared at him. "You age." She looked at Marty. "You die." She looked at me. "This is a one-time opportunity, and you must decide now. Come with me, or stay here."

"What about the others," Preacher James asked. "There are so many Returned left out there in the world. What about them?"

"You know me, preacher. They too right now are being giving this chance. Like you, they need to decide. Now. Who stays, and who goes?"

"I want to go," Margaret said. Her gaze met Jacob's. "I want to go," she said.

"I'll take her."

"Jacob," Marty said. "Are you sure?"

"Will I see my parents again?"

"Yes, Jacob. You will," the blind woman answered.

"Then, I want to go," but he looked at Marty when he said that.

"Okay." Marty looked sad but still nodded. "Okay. Jenny?"

"I'm staying. You?"

"I'm staying," Marty responded. "I want to see Maggie. I want to see my children."

"I'm going." Marty looked surprised at the preacher's comment. "I'm going. I doubt that you will miss me, Robert. Marty."

"I won't," he responded. Then, he surprised the preacher by holding out his hand to him. "Preacher."

"Marty," and he shook his hand.

Some of the Returned turned down the offer. They didn't want to leave. Like me, they were looking for a second chance. They wanted to get that. Maybe, they would. I knew different. I would not get that, and I never did feel at home here. What lied on the other side of that door? Was it a place that I could finally call home, and what of the preacher? I did not want to lose him, so if he was willing to take that chance, that journey to the other side, then I would go with him no matter what. I wanted to be with him.

Until he pulled me closer, I did not realize how badly I was shaking. I wasn't scared. Well, actually, I was, and he held me to him as she took that strange key that came from me and unlocked the door. I held my breath as the door slowly opened and bathed us in brilliant, warm, white light. She gestured, and those that wanted to leave stepped forward. One by one, they disappeared inside. Jacob turned toward Marty and Jenny and waved with a sad smile before leading Margaret away into the light. The preacher surprised me by taking my hand and leading me toward the door.

"Ready?" I slowly nodded. "Good. I did not want to leave you behind. I like you."

"I like you," I said.

"I know," and we disappeared a moment later.

Realizing that the trip through the door was over in a heartbeat, I uncovered my eyes. The preacher laughed at my reaction. I was dumbfounded. We were outside Jacob's house, but then I looked down at Jacob. He was just a child. An eight-year-old child. Why?

"Because he died at that age," the blind woman said as she stood behind me.

Returned moved away from us, amazing at their regression. The preacher was unfazed, so was I. I did not age as drastically as some others. I looked down at my arm, almost expecting to find that tattoo there, but it wasn't. The key was nowhere to be seen.

"It served its purpose," the blind woman said. "Thank you for keeping it safe."

"Did I have a choice?"

"No."

"How did that key become real? It was just a tattoo."

"It was, and it wasn't. When you died and came back, it became something so much more."

Everyone was now looking at something. I didn't realize it at first, but there were people walking, running toward us. They were embracing those that had returned here. There were cries and laughter for everyone, everyone except for me and the preacher.

"Mom! Dad!" Jacob raced toward his parents, and they embraced each other, bringing tears to my eyes.

Cautiously, the preacher approached a man holding a newborn baby. He gingerly touched the baby's head. He scanned his face before looking up at the man standing before him. "How is this possible," the preacher asked.

"Because Nathaniel is not evil here," he replied.

"Pastor Tom." Jacob raced over to him and hugged him tightly. "Is that Nathaniel? The real Nathaniel?"

"It is," he replied.

"I don't understand," I said.

"Sin."

"What?" I looked over at the blind woman. "What does that mean?"

"Nathaniel died, and when Rachel returned, it created an opportunity in the void. You see, when you die, you release your sins, and they stay inside the void. Rachel gave them a chance to escape in one vessel, so Nathaniel in the other world was not Death. He was Sin, and all your sins together created the powerful enemy that you faced. But there was one thing that he was not counting on from you."

"What was that," I asked.

"Faith," she responded. "Deep down inside of you, you carried Faith, which empowered the key."

"We will be seeing Rachel shortly," Pastor Tom said. "I can feel her. She's coming home."

This was too much. It was overwhelming, and I should feel happy, safe. The nightmare was over. I was home, but I was sad. I was alone, but then the preacher stood beside me. We looked at each other, and he didn't have to say it. I was wrong. I wasn't alone. I had him, and he had me. And in response, he placed his arm around my shoulders and kissed the side of my face.

"Don't be sad," he whispered into my ear. "It's over." I burst into tears, and he pulled me closer, embracing me tightly. "It's over. Your struggle is over," and I continued to cry.

If only I could let go. If only I could be at rest. My life was such a burden. Argumentative. Struggle. Constant struggle. Then, survival. War. Now, this. The end. This was the end, but no. I'm wrong again. Death is only the beginning, and Love is no longer a dream. This is my second chance.

Over this period of time, this was where I was supposed to be.

Now, I know why you were so important, and as I give this journal to the blind woman will she return it back to where I had left. I hope that my story finds you, so that you will know all that has happened, so that you will know me.

Forever,

Reed