Apogee: Abandoned

By Danielle Rodriguez

God is real. The Bible is real. This is really happening.

In this first book if the Apogee series, we follow a small group of new believers after the Rapture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329554405

Book preview

Apogee: Abandoned

Apogee: Abandoned

Copyright

© 2015 by Danielle Rodriguez

Beacon, New York

ISBN: 978-1-329-55405-4

Acknowledgements

Thanks go out first to Jesus, my Lord and Savior, for making this book possible and for allowing me to write it. I would also like to thank my husband, who dealt with me staying up all night many times to write. Thank you to my children, for sharing their time with this book. Thank you to my pastor, who is a true man of God and has fostered such a love for prophecy in me. Thank you to my parents, who have always been a godly example and a tower of strength, and who I am honored to have as both parents and friends. Thank you to my sisters, without whose encouragement and love I could not keep on. Special thanks to Erica and Tracy for all of your tireless research and for listening to me as I sounded ideas off of you. I love you all, and this book would not have been a possibility without your help.

To My Readers -

While a ton of research went into this book, I’m surely no Bible scholar. The events that take place here, in the order that they take place here, are just my understanding of the Tribulation Period through the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation, as well as what I have found from many teachers and scholars far wiser than I.

While I will tell you that these are Bible prophecy and will definitely happen, I cannot say that they will happen exactly as I have written them.

Thank you.

- Danielle Rodriguez

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:37-43: But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12: And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Chapter 1

Rod walked into his apartment. I’m home! he called, removing his jacket and hanging it on the hook by the door.

His wife, Ginny, hopped into the room on one foot, trying to put her other shoe on. She was all dressed for work in her nurse’s scrubs. What took you so long? she asked, grabbing onto his arm for support. I’m late for work.

He rolled his eyes and pulled his arm away, looking at her as if she were disgusting to him. Really, Gin? That’s the hello I get?

Well, what do you expect, Rod? You know I…

Daddy! Their daughter Gwynn came running into the room and nearly knocked her father over before he could even put his briefcase down.

He laughed, catching himself on the doorframe. Hey, Gwynnie Bear! Did you miss me?

Yes, Daddy. We prayed for you today.

You did? He looked up at his wife disapprovingly. Daddy doesn’t need prayer. He made a silly face at the child. Do I look like I need prayer?

Gwynn laughed. You look silly, Daddy!

Go say goodbye to Mommy and get ready for bed, he told her, laughing.

Gwynn and Ginny hugged. Love you, Mommy!

Aww, I love you too, Princess. Listen to your Daddy and be a good girl tonight.

Mommy, I know that. Gwynn looked very serious. Honor my Daddy so he goes well with me.

Ginny laughed. "So it goes well with you, Gwynnie. Very good!"

The two hugged and Gwynn ran off to get ready for bed.

Ginny walked over to the door. I love you, Rod. I’m not going to stop praying for you.

Rod rolled his eyes and glared at his wife, hands on his hips. I really wish you would, Gin. You know I hate that stuff. You may have gone off the deep end, but you don’t have to drag Gwynn into it. She doesn’t even understand all that garbage. She just does it for you.

I don’t believe that.

He opened the apartment door for her, and motioned toward the hallway. Go to work, Ginny.

She leaned in to kiss him. He stepped away. Just go.

She looked back at him, tears welling up in her eyes at being rejected by him yet again. Goodnight.

He shut the door.

He hated this whole Bible thing she was into. When he had married her, she was wild. She partied all the time. She had no respect for authority. He had absolutely loved that about her.

Then her father had died, and it broke her. Her father had been a pastor. He was always going on about Jesus and how everyone who didn’t believe in Him was going to hell. On his deathbed, he had begged Ginny to get right with God.

She started reading the Bible and learning scripture. She stopped partying with Rod. She stopped all drugs and drinking and started acting like her father.

The worst part, in Rod’s mind, was that she told all this Bible stuff to Gwynn. Gwynn was three when her grandfather died. For three years now, Ginny had been corrupting her with this nonsense.

Rod was done with all of it. He had filed for divorce. Ginny would be served tonight at work. His plan was to take Gwynnie and move in with his girlfriend, Linda. He couldn’t wait.

He turned into the apartment to see Gwynn looking very cute in her pink footie pajamas, her brown hair back in a braid her mother had done. Her face, however, looked very sad. A sudden feeling of guilt came over him. He quickly pushed it away.

What’s wrong, Sweetie? he asked his daughter.

Daddy, do you love Mommy?

Oh, sure I do, but Mommy is sick. She needs help. Sometimes, the best way we can help someone is by giving them a little space. Can we do that for Mommy, Gwynnie?

She nodded.

Good girl. Go pack a bag. We’re going to Linda’s house.

In my jammas? she asked, wide-eyed.

He laughed. Yes, Gwynnie Bear, in your ‘jammas.’

Within an hour, they were ready to go to the East village to Linda’s brownstone. Daddy? Gwynn asked. Why do we have to leave? Can’t Mommy just take medicine?

No, Gwynnie. Mommy has some problems. She is what they call ‘religiously abusive’ and the treatment for that is not easy. He stopped himself, realizing that she couldn’t understand all of that yet.Don’t worry. She’ll be okay.

Can I pray for her, Daddy?

Rod sighed, opening the rear car door. No, Gwynnie. You don’t have to pray anymore. Now hop in.

She jumped into her booster seat, and he buckled her in, kissing her cute little forehead. Then he got into the front. He looked up into the rearview mirror. His daughter sat there, big gray bubble jacket over her pajamas and a penguin Laplander hat, crying. Oh, don’t cry, Gwynnie. This will be better for everyone. You’ll see.

He pulled out into traffic.

Suddenly, Gwynn gasped. Da..

Her word was never even finished. She was gone.

Rod forgot he was driving and turned around in his seat. Where was she? She had just disappeared! Gwynnie! he screamed.

He turned toward the road, just in time to see an airplane crash down somewhere nearby. He didn’t see it land, but he did see flames fly up over the buildings. The last thing he saw was a car speeding right at him, a screaming young boy in the passenger seat trying desperately to get it under control. In one big crash, everything went black.

***

Jackie Wynters was exhausted. Where was Ginny? She was so sick of leaving late because people didn’t show up on time. Christian, my foot, she mumbled under her breath. That woman has no work ethic! I can’t even get home and feed my kids because of her!

Just then, Ginny came running in. I’m so sorry I’m late! she said nervously.

Jackie shoved a pile of charts into her hand. I don’t want to hear it; I don’t really care why you’re late, Ginny. The lady in room three forty two can’t get her baby to nurse. You have to go in there every two hours and help. They’re sending a lactation consultant in tomorrow. Room three forty three is gonna pop any second. She says she doesn’t need any pain medicine. Good luck with that. I’m going home.

Just as she thought the charts were safely in Ginny’s hands, they hit the floor. She looked up from them to ask Ginny what her problem was, but Ginny was gone. Jackie screamed.

Having absolutely no idea where Ginny had disappeared to, or how she’d gotten away that quickly, Jackie ran into the nearest room. The woman inside was frantically screaming.

Ma’am, you need to calm down, Jackie told her. What’s wrong?

My baby! the woman screamed. My baby and my husband are… they… I don’t… the woman suddenly lost consciousness and fell to the floor.

Jackie half-carried, half-dragged the woman back to her bed. She had no idea what was going on here, but it was strange. There were screams coming from all over the hospital, and she thought she’d heard a loud crash outside. Suddenly, all the lights went out.

By the time the generator kicked in, Jackie was in another room. The woman in there sat rocking herself on her bed, blood covering her hands. We missed it! she screamed.

Jackie sat down next to the woman, no idea what to say. She had no answer for what was going on. She felt as if she had just stepped into some kind of science fiction movie. She put her hands on the bleeding woman’s shoulders. Ma’am, what happened?

The woman stared at her blankly.

"Ma’am, now I am here to help, but I can’t help you unless