The church had just concluded another day of prophecies and healing. I had left my father behind. As usual, he was pridefully boasting about the gift that was bestowed upon me. I, on the other hand, had had enough of being confined in the hot and stuffy walls of the church. A day of prophesying makes one tired. I told myself that as soon as I was done there, I was going to take a walk around the town.

A multitude of sounds surrounded me as I wandered around the streets. Amapiano music was blaring from the speakers set outside of the stores. Street vendors and hawkers were either shouting out prices to entice buyers, or engrossed in conversation with each other. Compared to the church hymns and preaching, I loved the chaotic energy. It gave me a sense of joy.

“Great session up there”, I heard a familiar voice shout. I turned to look behind me. Simon waved his hand to me, as he came up to me. He was accompanied by someone older.

“Come for another prophecy, is it?”, I kidded.

“Yes…but only a good prophecy this time”. We both laughed.

I stuck my hand out to greet his companion. “The older brother, I presume?”

He looked at Simon briefly, then said, “Wow, he’s good”. We laughed again. “Heard that you helped my brother out of his nightmare problem. I am truly thankful that you could”.

“It wasn’t much trouble, really”, I answered.

“So modest”, Simon sounded, “seriously though, I’m grateful for what you’ve done, Zion. You’ve given me my life back”.

“I’m happy to see you this way”, I said with a smile. “Meeting at church same time next week?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world” he replied and proceeded to turn around. He and his brother entered a restaurant.

As I was walking down the sidewalk, my mind waded into thoughts about Simon. It had been two weeks since we last met, and I can’t help but think how much he’s changed since then. He looks a lot less miserable, and he wasn’t as sluggish as before. He was beaming with happiness.

I was still lost in thought when suddenly, a car came screeching towards me. People around me screamed and scrambled around to dodge it. I was frozen in place, unable to move. Whether I was gripped with fear or still trying to recollect my thoughts, I don’t know. All I know was, at that moment, my body chose the worst way to protect itself by bringing up its arms in front. I closed my eyes, and braced myself for incoming impact.

I heard a crash and a bang, and felt my body being shoved onto the asphalt road. Slowly, I opened my eyes.

A hooded, tall, muscular man stood in front of me, holding the car back with just his right hand, his face concealed from the world.

I was shivering from shock. The car that was inches from ending my life, was behind held mid-air by a hooded stranger. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He looked at me. I couldn’t see his face, but his eyes…there was something familiar about his eyes. They stared at me with an intense orange glow. The same glow my eyes Simon had when I used my powers on him. The same glow that my eyes would have. It was unmistakable. He must have a stone embedded in his chest, just like me.

*To be continued*