Chapter 7: Part 2

The next day I woke up with my muscles sore and my skin stinging from the various cuts across my body.

Around breakfast time, I gathered our little group and told them the situation. I asked for any suggestions on what we should do. One person had the great idea for a few of us to scout the area and see if there was a town near this big body of water where we'd be able to find more food. I agreed that it was a good idea and took Aaron and two other individuals to help us with the search.

Half the day went by, and there was still nothing as far as we could see. It was either more hot sand to our left or a big body of water with no way for us to cross on our right. I could sense that morale within our scouting party was getting low, so I had us turn around and get back to our makeshift campsite.

Once there, I broke the news and told everyone that we were unable to find any sign of civilization and that tomorrow we'd try again bright and early.

This was bad. We only had one more day before we'd run out of supplies completely. There had to be a way out of this.

I reached my hand instinctively to my shirt pocket and grazed the leather book.

Of course. The Book. Why didn't I think of that sooner?

I walked a little ways away from the campsite and sat down on the warm desert sand. The sun was setting over the horizon, and as its rays hit the body of water in front of me, I couldn't help but think of how beautiful it was.

Sometimes, taking the time to just stop and breathe can really do wonders for your mental health.

I opened the Book of Light and began to read some of the passages. It had been so long since I'd actually read the stories that were in there.

One of the stories I read was how the First Prophet liberated his people and brought them to the edge of the sea. They were surrounded on every side—mountains to their left and right, their chasers coming up from behind, and nothing but water as far as the eye could see in front of them.

Finally, the First Prophet said a prayer, lifted his staff, and struck the waters. They parted in two.

The people were saved, and they worshipped the Great Light.

Growing up, this story was my favorite. I would always beg my father to read it to me every night. He would say, "Son, whenever you are in trouble, just call on the Great Light and He will come through."

For so long, I thought I could do this life by myself. That if I knew what I wanted and just went out and did it, it would all come together for me. I silently laughed at myself, reminiscing on all that had gone wrong since I left my home willingly.

Now I was way in over my head. I had these kids to look out for. These people.

If we were going to make it out alive, we would need some serious help.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths slowly. In and out. In and out.

The cadence of my father's words came back to me as I began to meditate.

Great Light, if you can hear me, I need your help. It seems that the way forward is impossible, but I have read in your book that you've performed many miracles before. So I ask now that you perform another one. Get us out of this situation. Please.

I kept breathing slowly, allowing my mind to be filled with the silence around me. The world was completely gone. It was just me.

I waited there in silence for what felt like hours but I knew were only mere minutes. I heard nothing, but instead felt a sense of overwhelming peace.

And the words I'd heard days earlier came back into my head.

Trust me.

I opened my eyes and looked down to where the camp had come together for a meal. My stomach rumbled with hunger, and I stood up and walked over to where everyone was.

I saw Aaron walking off to the side by himself out of the corner of my eye. The look he'd given earlier flashed through my mind, and I wanted to know why he'd asked me that question—and why he didn't seem to like my answer.

I started walking over to where he was and touched his shoulder gently to get his attention.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am. Why?" he replied, as if he was bothered by something.

"Well, to be honest, it feels like you've been avoiding me ever since you asked me that question."

Aaron turned and looked at me as if peering into the depths of my soul.

"You know, Jasper, I want to have hope again. I really do. But I just can't."

"Hope again? Were you also a Light Keeper?"

Aaron snorted. "You're just now figuring it out? I'm surprised it took you so long, since I told you my name and all."

He was right. It was tradition within our culture that once a Light Keeper was born, they were given a name found within the Book of Light. It had been so long I'd almost forgotten.

"If I'm being honest, I don't really have all of the answers for this hope thing myself. I mean, a minute ago I was meditating and praying—something I haven't done in years. But I could tell it changed something in me."

"Yeah?" Aaron seemed more curious than skeptical when he spoke.

I pulled the Book out of my pocket and showed it to him.

"Where's yours? You should also have one, right?"

Aaron's eyes turned downward toward the ground before he spoke up again.

"My grandfather lost it when our home was raided. It was the greatest shame our family had faced. Since then, we passed down the stories from the Book of Light orally."

Aaron spoke with a smile growing across his face. He pointed to his temple. "It's all right here. Every last one."

I responded in admiration. "That's impressive. But yet you still couldn't find the New Promised Land?"

"That's right. The way to find the New Promised Land is not just written in the Book of Light, but the Book also says there will come a time where there will be a new prophet—a guide who will lead our people to the place that has been promised to us."

The idea of a new prophet was not a concept that was foreign to me. I shook the thought from my mind and hesitantly responded.

"Yeah, you're… you're right. Maybe we can make it to the New Promised Land without the prophet."

"Mayhaps," Aaron responded. I could tell the gears within his mind were turning. "But if that were true, wouldn't we have found it by now?"

"I honestly don't know, but that shouldn't discourage us from trying."

We both paused for a moment and embraced the silence that came out of it.

Talking with Aaron was nice, I'll admit. He had a level of wisdom that I could appreciate. Maybe I should get closer to him.

"Well, I honestly have no idea how this is going to work, but I have this unnerving feeling that I should just trust you."

Aaron spoke with this newfound confidence that I had yet to see in him. I gave him a smile and replied.

"I genuinely have no idea what I'm doing, and this journey is about to get really difficult. But I'll try my best. Will you help me?"

Aaron wrapped his arm around my neck and, without a moment's hesitation, responded.

"Yeah, I got your back."

I shook my head and smirked.

"Well, then I know what we have to do."