New Beginnings

By Elora Wilson

Chaos, civil war, the brink of destruction. These are the things Christianity faces as a secretive organization hunts down their kind one by one. Rogue agents Matthew and Peter must fight for their very survival as one of the most notorious killers in the world finds them in her crosshairs. Survival is their only option to keep Christianity alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329661431

Book preview

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

By: Elora Rederick

Special thanks to: Mission Community church, my spiritual home.

"In the beginning God created the

Heavens and the Earth" Genesis l: l

Chapter 1

This story is not about excess... it is about survival during a dark time in America...

Lena sat at her scope, hunched over her sniper rifle as she watched and waited. She was a rather attractive woman with an athletic build, golden hair, and crystal blue eyes. But at the moment, she looked more formidable than approachable. She looked downright dangerous.

Lena was a killer, pure and simple. She was trained in martial arts and jiu-jitsu to achieve maximum talent for her government. She had a plethora of creative moves, as well, in her inventory, from firsthand experience. She had gone straight from high school to the Marines, and later, the Navy Seals, and had been lethal ever since. The United States Government, under the private sector of the SKC or the Silent Killers of Christianity, had hired her.

How did the government allow such a group to exist, you ask? They sanctioned it after Christianity became illegal in the United States a year ago. Ever since 2025, the government had been cracking down on the foolish Christians in the world. Now, the SKC had strict orders to begin killing popular, celebrity Christians. Her target, Ben Smith, and her kill, were one and the same. This was what she lived for…the hunt.

Ben Smith had created a video suspicious of the government’s censorship on Christians and had almost exposed their secretive organization. He needed to be silenced. Many Americans were unaware of the war on Christians, and the government did not want them to reach self-awareness.

Lena waited in anticipation as adrenaline raced through her and she felt her trigger finger grow itchy. The problem with Lena was, she had gorgeous hair and eyes, but they were attached to dead flesh. The only thing that could make her feel in this cold, dead world was her husband, Keith. Otherwise Lena lived in a cold, dark world of violence and pain.

At that moment, Lena sniffed the air to detect HIS cologne and her dead body became alive with a brilliant, rare, smile that could out do any toothpaste commercials effortlessly. Lena grinned and wagged her backside back and forth to tease him.

All of a sudden she spotted him! There! Lena felt everything freeze and stand still in time as she focused. Lena let all her troubles and worries vanish as she single-mindedly focused on this one task. She breathed in slowly and pulled the trigger with deadly accuracy. One down…many more to go as Lena planned to continue hunting Christians.

Many humans would feel remorse at the act of splattering heads on a sidewalk but Lena was so used to killing it was nearly arbitrary. She didn't even stop to see her results or her victim.

Hey baby. Keith spoke to his wife and ignored the shrieks and cries of terror over the movie theatre.

The agony of death bounced over Lena routinely as if it didn't matter. All that she cared about was HIM. He had a body rippling with muscles, not too many muscles, but just enough to be a hunk! He had spiked raven hair and sky blue eyes. He smiled in response to Lena as she turned around and embraced him.

Their lips molded together and she smiled that one, rare, genuine smile once again.

I thought you were going to save some for me, He frowned.

You were too slow. She teased.

We should probably go. I bet police will be on their way. He warned.

Your move first officer.

You have the right to remain silent. He chuckled and kissed her passionately.

They had an exotic, rich life together full of danger, excitement, and passion. But it was a marriage that worked due to luxury and similar tastes. Though they were passionate and young, their marriage was one held together by promises of pretty gifts and a mansion of a house. Love was not the true backing of this couple, but they didn’t know that right now.

They used a grappling hook to drop from the building, racing each other, and hopped into a limo provided by the agency.

Sometimes the best way to move through a crowd was by being so obvious you didn't fall under suspicion.

To us. Keith toasted with their complimentary

Champagne.

To us. she smiled and clinked their glasses together.

Their ride was quick; once they evaded the chaotic scene they had left behind. Lena smiled and leaned against Keith the entire drive back to base.

The front of their organization was made to look like a bank in a large, glass complex of over 30 floors. Some areas were banks, but many were not, and were only accessible if one used the right code and form of identification.

Lena and Keith Peterson to the 30th floor. Keith spoke to the secretary and handed her his ID, as did Lena.

2nd elevator. The secretary nodded and used a key to flip the out of order sign on the elevator away and reveal what was actually a perfectly working elevator.

The director is going to be pleased with us. Keith praised. Nice shot. The best, as usual from you my sweet, tasty wife. He kissed her hand.

We're partners. All of our missions are logged in together.

Nevertheless... today it was all you.

A fingerprint scanner popped up on the elevator as they arrived at the 30th floor. They both scanned their prints as if this were a typical occurrence.

Director Vick was there to meet them, waiting at the elevator. He was the one in charge of their entire corporation.

Congratulations on the Ben case. He shook both their hands enthusiastically. We have a new threat to discuss in the briefing room when you're both ready.

We're ready now. Keith asserted himself.

Upon their entrance into the briefing room there was an abrupt pause. Anticipation mounted from all the people in the room as Lena and Keith sat down at the circular conference table and the doors clicked shut.

Vick was haggard and exhausted today, a quality that didn't suit him. This brash, unrelenting, tough African American had battled his way through the ghetto in Detroit to end up here after enlisting in the Navy. This was not likely to be an easy mission, if he was worried.

There's a new threat. A man leading a group linked the liberation of Christians has surfaced as a threat to us. The leader is Luke Reynolds, a former preacher we failed to apprehend. Lena gasped at the familiar name. He is rumored to be meeting with two other names on our list: Peter and Matthew, former agents of ours. We have a chance to rid ourselves of these Christian menaces all at once.

Sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Keith nodded.

Sam will be your backup. Vick motioned.

Sam Johnson was a ghost. Trained in the navy Seals he knew how to hack, pick locks, and clear a room without being detected. He was an excellent marksman and was sent directly from the CIA by the

President himself to help carry out their missions.

He nodded at them in his tight, Kevlar vest with his muscular arms the size of a cannon. He almost looked more lethal than ghost. His dark mustache and close-cropped raven hair added to his no-nonsense demeanor. He pursed his lips as he was handed a file.

Study these tonight and prepare for tomorrow. Vick handed Keith and Lena a folder too. That is all. This mission is top priority, he finished, and left the room.

This will be fun, Keith bragged.

Just stay focused! Sam reprimanded then he lit a cigar, and left.

Lena said nothing as she silently screamed inside at the names of her old partners. Peter and Matthew had once been part of this organization until they'd wanted to get out. She had disobeyed protocol, erased their memories, and let them escape. They were the ones that had gotten away and their agency never knew why.

She was silent as Keith drove them away in their new, red corvette. He didn't seem to notice her uneasiness as they sped off to their enormous mansion of a house.

They lived in Soho, New York, and the agency had paid for the best for them. There was a pool, garage, and space almost unheard of in New York. Lena popped open an expensive bottle of wine and Keith glanced at her.

We need to take this mission seriously. He warned.

And I need to relax.

They sat down and silently memorized all the details of the mission. They took extra time and care going over the details. Lena tried not to worry. The last time she'd tried to kill Matthew, she'd frozen. She never froze. There was something about the man that confused her.

Matthew had some kind of a hold on her. She never would have taken the risk of being labeled as a terrorist for any other person she’d encountered. Before Keith, there was Peter and Matthew, her two partners in crime. If anyone found out what she had done she would be considered a rogue agent and would rot in jail for the rest of her life. She was too ashamed to even speak to Keith about these dirty details in her past. He had no idea what this mission meant to her.

I have some important mission details here. Keith quipped and kissed Lena passionately.

I hope I'm getting overtime for this. She smiled and kissed him back with equal fervor as her concerns over tomorrow melted away...

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1-Peter 4:19

Chapter 2

Matthew Bradford shook his head in disgust at the newspaper reporting about more killings as if they were nothing. Another Christian was dead at a movie theatre, no probable cause and no suspects. He doubted if there would even be any investigation into this matter.

In truth, Matthew knew barely anything about himself besides his name and his faith in God. All he knew was that Christianity was forced to be hidden and discreet now, and that made his stomach churn. The papers and the media had shown him how easy it was to turn on people.

First, God was removed off of everything in America, dollar bills and in the pledge; next, Christians were blamed for the nation's economy to protect political leaders that were mucking things up. Then, Christians weren't allowed to vote or even exist. Now, they were slaughtered and tortured left and right.

The Intelligent Design theory had launched a campaign against them that there was no recovery from.

Matthew set down the paper and cringed as his headaches returned. He was plagued with constant migraines and no memory of his life before he woke up confused and dazed in his bed years ago. But now there was hope. He'd found a man named Peter Woods, who claimed to know of him from his past. He had similar symptoms of memory loss but had seen Matthew at a Christian support meeting and it had jarred his memory and he remembered a little.

There was no way to describe a life that you couldn’t remember. Matthew woke with constant headaches, dreams he could barely grasp, with hints about his past but no answers. He’d just woken up in his bed, a new man with a clean slate. He remembered gunfire, fighting, and horrendous killings that made him question what he had been in his past. Did he even really want to know?

Now, new liberation of  the Christian movement had surfaced with the help of Peter, and now Matthew finally had a place to go. He'd tried to return to his life before, as an accountant at a bank, but each time he tried to fit into society, something happened to expose him.

At his last bank, he'd become paranoid about a customer and punched him when he reached into his pocket. There was no weapon, only his ID. He’d been fired, as was typical for any of his job endeavors.

Matthew glared at his mirror and punched it, instantly regretting the stinging in his hand. He had short, ginger hair that flipped to the right; a matching colored goatee, and piercing sapphire eyes all thrown upon a firm and skinny face. He was well built, muscular, and seemed to be a man used to pain.

The cracking in the mirror sent lines of disturbance through the mirror and made an eerie effect on Matthew’s reflection. This was a more accurate depiction of himself. He bandaged his hand angrily.

I can't make sense of any of this! He grumbled. Who am I?

Matthew sighed at his predicament as he entered his car and drove to an abandoned mall at the scheduled time. He kept his eyes peeled, scanned the rooftops, and checked for tails before leaving the safety of his car.

Normal people aren't this paranoid. He murmured. I was something strange in my past life...

Luke and Peter were both criminals, technically. He might have been a criminal in his past life... but it just didn't fit. He stretched and inconspicuously walked to the mall. He only knew so much of his life that he was grasping at straws, hoping and praying that these two had some insight into his life.

His amnesia left him with only two memories: his name and his love for Jesus Christ. That was why he was here risking his life to expose some truth to his past. Matthew began smoking... even though he didn't smoke...he needed cover. All of a sudden he was seized and thrown against a pillar!

As he prepared to shove the lit cigarette into his attacker he breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized the man. It was Peter! Peter was of Middle Eastern descent. Today he looked as if he hadn't shaved in weeks. He was ragged, unclean, with an unkempt, ebony beard. His dark hair went past his ears and it made him seem savage and dangerous. His shrewd eyes were dark and speculating, untrusting.

Is it him? A voice came from the shadows.

Yes.

Then let's go inside.

Luke appeared inside the mall, the second person Matthew was meeting. His hair was well kept in a close crop in contrast to Peter. He was a redhead with emerald eyes and looked like a military man. Their appearances were polar opposites. He extended his hand.

I am Luke.

Matthew.

Peter. He brashly stuck out his hand.

You know about my past? Matthew turned to Peter.

We once worked together. He paused. But I warn you... what I might help to uncover could be potentially painful to you.

I want to know.

Before anything could be revealed chaos broke lose as there were shots fired throughout the mall. It was time to get out of there! Their position had been compromised!

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 4

Chapter 3

Peter and Matt had been like her brothers. They were her partners for years, and Peter had even fought as a Marine with her. It had been a reckless and inexplicably dangerous choice for Lena to help Matt escape the program and erase his memory. She'd hoped he would never come back to haunt her, since they'd always been nearly evenly matched in skill and abilities.

Matt had been a Navy Seal at an early age when he had decided to leave his supportive family to serve his country as his father had. His mother was hesitant, due to his father’s death overseas, but proud. His sister was his strongest supporter. Soon Matt rose through the ranks to join her and that was where they had met.

Lena experienced deja vu as she glared at Matt through her binoculars. He had met with Peter and Luke already and their lookouts hadn't caught a whiff of her or Keith.

This is Sam, I'm in position.