The Second Darkness

By Brock A. Alcorn

Jordan Spencer, an acclaimed archaeologist and agnostic, has lived through an event that forever has changed him. Jordan has placed himself in a specialized facility to heal from terrible nightmares and night terrors that threaten his very well-being. His associate and interest, Tonya Clark, now leads an archaeological expedition in Mexico that uncovers a large humanlike skeleton unlike the world has ever witnessed. With the discovery, Jordan decides to leave the doctor's care and help Tonya navigate dangerous obstacles that face her and the team. At the same time, a former faith healer and charlatan Paul Jacobs, who produced miracles of healing, now reeling from the truth of who he was and the consequences of his decisions, now faces decisions that will shape his life. The world has been shaken by an event that saw millions of people and all children vanish into thin air. Behind the scenes exists a mysterious, powerful group of wealthy men and women who have dedicated their lives to discovering alien beings and expedite their return to earth. The group believes these beings ruled in ancient times and now see evidence that their return is imminent. Strange visual signs from space and the threat of a catastrophic natural event throw the world into an epic moment where the reveal of the ancient rulers is at hand. The truth is far from what the world understands and in reality is a demonic attack to usher in their allotted time to start what is known as the tribulation. Jordan, Tonya, and Paul's life will intersect as the world's clock has crossed the final hour.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891122277

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue

A Day Soon to Be Revealed

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue

About the Author

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The Second Darkness

Brock A. Alcorn

ISBN 979-8-89112-226-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89112-227-7 (Digital)

Copyright © 2024 Brock A. Alcorn

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

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Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Prologue

Genesis chapter 6: When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.' 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.' 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Mathew chapter 24: 36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

A Day Soon to Be Revealed

The days of men were fleeting like the wind that whisps through the air. The heart of man grew wicked, as in the days of Noah, as it has been since the fall of man. Men and women were lovers of self, and their material ambitions and carnal desires led them apart from God. The final epoch was now at hand, and the evil darkness once again spread upon the earth.

Dallas

Paul Jacobs looked down at his congregation, all the props set in place, all the actors ready to play their roles. He looked upon the cameras as the live stream of the service was being broadcast to the world. He firmly grasps the crisp new Bible up in front of him, looking down at a weak pathetic man in a wheelchair. He feigns an expression of angst and suddenly and forcefully points his index finger at the man. Believer, arise!

The man showing a small amount of doubt, slowly shakes his head as if he cannot. His hands start shaking against the edge of the wheelchair's arm.

I said arise, your faith will make you whole!

The man produces a small tear in his eye as the cameras capture it slowly falling down his face.

I said arise! focused directly upon the man, Paul shouts in a loud voice.

The man struggles as he pushes up on the handlebars of the wheelchair. He painfully starts to move upward. He falls back down and looks up to Paul and raises his hand for help.

I said arise! Use your faith and arise! Paul once again dramatically says in a loud powerful voice.

The man, once again, pushes upward, this time moving more than before. The struggle is captured for all to see. Finally, he stands wobbly to his feet. He looks very unsteady as some anonymous helper comes to stabilize him. Paul looks at the helper and in a soft but authoritative voice commands, No! He can do this on his own. Let him be.

The helper moves back a few steps as the man turns toward the crowd of onlookers. The man produces a small but subtle smile as he slowly faces the engrossed crowd. Once he is fully standing, the audience gasps as the man takes a small step forward. The man looks as if he is in disbelief, but his appearance of joy was more pronounced. He took another step forward, hands visibly trembling. The man then dramatically looks at the crowd and raises his fist in the air. The crowd erupts in thunderous applause. Many in the crowd raised their hands in praise and cheered wildly.

Paul, on the platform above them all, raises his hands to the crowd and slowly signals for them to be seated. With a wry smile on his face, he says cheerfully, You have witnessed a faith, a faith that produced a miracle before your very eyes! This man believed with his heart that he was healed, and you see the evidence before you and before the world!

The crowd erupted with a thunderous Amen!

Now you too can be healed of whatever ails you. Just believe and have faith. Paul then preached a sermon on how they too can have faith and see miracles in their lives. It was the same show every week, with a slightly different version each time. In the end, he emphasizes how sending the church money was the single most important aspect of showing their faith. It was their sacrifice and penitence they should display and act on to receive their miracle.

Once the service was complete, Paul headed to the back as the singing was still going on. He went to the lavishly decorated room where he always went after a service. His elders were waiting on him, counting the donations that were given from within the church and online.

One elder spoke, Well, it looks like we had a good amount come in today! I count over twenty thousand coming in through the online donations and a fair amount here in the church itself.

Great news! Paul exclaimed. We need to use some of it this time on the sound system. It is in need of an overhaul. Paul was excited about the amount coming in today, knowing that more would flow in throughout the week as people were paid and their troubles grew. Paul was happy that everything was fairly routine now. He always paid the actor of the week well, ensuring they would never tell the secret. It was ironclad in the contract.

Paul left the service after everyone had departed and looked back at the large building that was his church. He had a sense of pride to that which he and a few others had built. Yes, everything was looking good in his life now. The money was pouring in, and his name was growing in popularity. He had just been on a tour of several daytime talk shows and even a couple of the nighttime comedy shows that wanted him on. This only increased his presence on the world stage, he thought. Yes, it was the time of his life. If only his wife and son would see it his way and not the growing morality they seemed to be gaining as time went on. The legacy he built here was only strong if they played their part and did not interfere. He had growing concern especially with his wife who seemed to be trying in her subtle way to change him. He was going to build this empire, and he was going to bring them a great life if only they stayed the course. He would convince her, he knew, but had to be careful as she seemed more interested in what the Bible had to say than on the money that was pouring in. He would convince her that this ministry was not built on lies, but instead a way of bringing hope to people. Yes, he used falsehoods and put on a show, but in the end, he would show her that it did bring hope to people. If this hope also brought them a wealthy lifestyle, then that was just an added benefit. He would convince her of this, and he knew in doing so, he might have to put on the greatest performance of his life.

Excavation site, New Mexico

Tonya, please make sure that the crew does not treat the artifacts as if they were some playthings! Jordan Spencer exclaimed as he held a piece of pottery in his hands. There were a few nicks on it from the workers handling it roughly.

I will talk to them again. I think they just get a little excited sometimes. It took a few weeks even getting to them as you well know, Tonya Clark said as she looked at Jordan.

I know, but they are professionals, and they need to act like it. Jordan glanced at Tonya as he put the pottery back into the crate. He knew he should not take it out on her, and he was just acting stressed about the funding issues that were awaiting him. You know, this heat is getting to me, I think.

I think it is getting to everyone, Tonya said with a smile. Do you want to grab some lunch in town?

No, I have to get with Burt on some financial issues. I heard some rumors that the investors may want to meet soon.

Oh, that means you may have to travel. I hate it when you are gone, Jordan, Tonya said with a manufactured frown on her face. In reality, she was very sad about this but always tried to hide it with a joke, in a way that would not point to her true feelings.

Well, I do not think it will be for a few weeks anyway. I hope not, as we are finally starting to see some results out there, Jordan said as he gazed at a few of the items the team had dug up recently.

Tonya then made her way out of the tent office they had set up, leaving Jordan to himself. He was lonely, and he knew it. He had wished more than anything he could take Tonya out to lunch, and much more if he were to admit to himself, but she was his coworker, and he did not have time for any romance at this stage of his life. He was far too busy and far too involved with his work at this dig site. It was important to the university that they obtain a good number of artifacts this time.

His life was not bad at all, just very tedious work that sometimes he got lost in. He had lately been feeling very irritable and uneasy. Something did not feel right, but he could not understand why. Yes, the world was more in chaos now than ever before, but was that anything out of the ordinary? No, something else ate away at him. He had been having some sort of nightmares in his sleep as well. He could not remember any of them but had awoken many nights sweating and suddenly feeling sick. He worried maybe his health was starting to fail him. No, he was not that old at all, and he tried to keep as fit as possible. It was something else bothering him, but he did not know what it was.

Just as he was about to close for the night, Burt burst into the tent.

Burt, what is going on? Jordan said as he was looking at the perplexed expression on the man.

Jordan, I am not sure, but the investors and the university want to hold a meeting in California in a few weeks. I will arrange the details, but I am concerned there may be issues with the financing.

There are always issues with the financing, Burt, that never changes, and you know it.

Well, I get a sense that things are different this time. Money is not flowing as much as it used to. As you know, the markets have been sliding well over 20 percent with the war talk in the Middle East.

Yes, that region is costing everyone a lot of money in the markets. I wish those people would just get along for once.

Me too, but that will never be in the cards, I think. The hate has been going on for centuries now, unfortunately.

Religion, Burt, it always leads to strife and conflict. One reason I do not concern myself with it.

I feel the same as you, I do not see the appeal at all, Burt said in agreement.

Well, I understand that people are hurting, and I guess the belief in something higher helps them. I just do not want to fall into the trappings of it. Jordan then glanced over at the door.

What? Burt asked.

Oh, nothing. I think Tonya really gets something out of it though. She always talks about watching this Paul Jacobs on some TV program.

I have heard her talk about that before but never really paid any attention to it, Burt said.

Jordan let out a small laugh. Well, that is not of our concern, I guess. Anyway, set up the meeting, and let me know where and when. I will go and do the dog and pony show. Let's try to make it a few weeks out though, as we are finding some things out here now, and it would be nice to have something to show for all this time spent.

It is not set in stone yet, but I will let you know, Burt said as he grabbed his hat and started for the door.

Jordan looked at him and as Burt was about to leave said, Maybe I can talk the investors into setting up air-conditioning in here?

Burt laughed and shook his head as he left.

Jordan thought about the world and things going on, and of Tonya. Yes, he was worried about a lot of events going on these days. His attention was mostly on worry for Tonya, however. If only. Yes, if only.

Germany

A mysterious figure sits in his chair, the smoke slowly rising in whisps into the air. Reports were coming into him from around the world. His plans were only just beginning to take shape. After many years, his dream of destroying Israel off the face of the earth might come to fruition. He only needed to sow the seeds of discontent a little longer. Even with the good news from the Middle East, and the chaos going on, he was still disheartened. He and a few others had been yearning for something that no one else on the planet could really understand. After many thousands of years, were they any closer to bringing back the ancient beings that inhabited the world? He knew the truth that had been passed down through the generations. He had been trained in ways that no one else dare to understand, as it might drive mere men insane.

He took another small puff of the lighted cigar in his hands. He could not understand the feeling he was sensing right now. For some reason, his very soul felt as if it were on fire. Something was about to happen, he thought. He could not place it but knew to the depths of his being that something big was about to happen. He would check with his man in the States who was monitoring the depths of space for any sign. He wanted to have answers but always kept hearing the same thing. No responses, no signs or signals from any sort of life-forms. At times, he felt he was pouring money down a rabbit hole that would never provide any relief or answers.

He had to impress on his man the seriousness of his work. He would call others from their secret group he had named Cronos to go with him. Yes, it was time for a visit, just to see what he was financing and to make a strong point.

He looked at the last report he had just received from some sources from the Middle East. He shook his head and knew he had to turn up the heat a little to light the flame. He knew he was destined for greater things than those who proceeded him had done. He was the one, he was the chosen one from history to witness not only the return of the ancient ones but the new world order. He would lead the world eventually, and no one would stop history from crowning him in this glory.

He would make his plans, but God had other plans for the world.

Part 1

Chapter 1

Eight months later

Abead of sweat dropped to the floor. The pulsating rhythm of his hand slamming into the bed rail stirred Nurse Gloria Robinson to burst through the door. She stared intently at her patient who was experiencing an inner pain that she had never experienced nor can fully understand. The intense internal pain that now manifested itself in physical outbursts could threaten his very life.

As she neared his sweat-soaked bed, she whispered quietly to herself, How long have you been like this, Jordan? She noticed that his hand is bruised and bloodied, knowing thousands of horrible memories were stirring through his mind like daggers into his soul. She pushed the call button for help.

This is Maria, the soft voice over the speaker said.

Maria, this is Gloria. Jordan is having night terrors again. I need some help stat. The last time, I was almost hurt while trying to wake him. She looked at her arm where the fading yellow bruise still brought back horrific memories.

Be right there, I will grab Tom as well.

Thank you, and please hurry, Gloria said in an urgent tone as she glanced at her arm, and then scrambled to think of the best way to help this poor man who had suffered through many similar episodes during his stay.

Gloria grabs Jordan's pillow that had fallen beside the bed during the shaking and thrashing of his body. She was about to put it back under his head when Maria and Tom came rushing through the door. Gloria motioned for them to each take a side around Jordan's bed.

Here, you hold his arms while I put this back under his head, Gloria said, looking at Tom with weary eyes.

Tom gently held Jordan's arms down with a little pressure as Gloria lifted his head to put the pillow under him. Maria was watching anxiously, as she could see Jordan and all of them were in for a rough night. Not his first, she knew.

There you go, Gloria whispered as she gazed at him with sincere compassion. She wondered in her thoughts if she was getting too concerned with this one patient who was helpless before her. This one was a troubled soul, she thought, but then again, were not most people these days who had to now deal with issues that they never thought of in all of history?

Gloria turned toward Maria. Okay, I will try to wake him. Just be ready to help if needed.

Maria nodded her head that she would be ready.

Jordan…Jordan. She gently tried to wake him. Finally, she gave him a stern shake on his shoulder.

Just as Gloria gave one very firm shake, Jordan raised up in a panic, screaming loudly, as if in some horrible pain that could not be expressed in words. His hands were holding onto the bed rails in a grip that could crush anything in its grasp. His head was a dark shade of red from the intense fear and pressure from the clutching of his body to the bed rails.

After a few seconds, the screaming stopped; he then looked around from side to side as if he was disoriented. He slowly came to his senses and cupped his hands over his face, rubbing his bloodshot eyes. He then looked at his hands, which were throbbing with pain from the repeated pounding on the bed rails.

Sorry, nurse, I know this must be growing tiring for you, Jordan said in a raspy whisper of a voice as he rubbed back his sweat-soaked hair. May I get some water? My throat is so dry, I can barely swallow. He let out a dry cough that seemed to bring about a little pain in his eyes.

Sure, I will go and get that for you. Lie back down until I return.

I do not think I will try to sleep again for a while. I have no desire to return to that dream I was having, he said while rubbing his neck near his throat.

Gloria looked at the relatively newer nurse, Maria, who was doing some paperwork on the incident. I will go get his water, and you can record all of this for Dr. Lanim's journal. Please note the time, date, and other pertinent info on Jordan's night terror.

Alright, is there anything else that can be done for him tonight? asked Maria.

No, I think that should be about it for right now. He has been here for almost eight months, and I have not witnessed multiple night terrors in one night, so we should be fine. He will have a hard time falling back to sleep anyway if this is similar to the other nights.

The three nurses left the room, and Jordan Spencer rose up to splash some water on his face. As he stood looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he cupped some water in his hands and threw it on his face. The splash of cold water sent chills through his body as if he were jumping into a cold pool of water. He was looking old and worn out, not the image he was used to. His life used to be vibrant and alive; now he was just a shell of his former self.

Oh, what a mess you've got yourself in, he said to himself while staring at a man he could not recognize any longer. He took a towel and slowly wiped the water off his face. He saw the bloodshot eyes in the mirror and could not believe a pair of eyes could look so red. He saw that his dark hair was a mess and tried to use his hands and some water to straighten it up to make himself a little more presentable. Hearing a noise in his room, he slowly opened the bathroom door to see that Gloria had just set down his glass of water.

Jordan looked at her with a sense of pity. Thank you so very much for everything. I really hope for both of our sakes that I can get out of here soon. I know that the nightly routine of waking me up out of that horror cannot be what you look forward to the most when you clock in for the day. He gave a small sigh, almost unheard. He truly was sorry for this. He stepped away from the mirror that was grieving him and lay down in his newly made bed to look Gloria in the eyes.

Well, Jordan, please do not feel guilty. If it were not you, there are many others out there now suffering through similar issues. Some patients have these same nightmares and can be much worse than you are having. I know that may be hard to believe given what you went through, but trust me, it has been extremely bad out there since that awful day. She looked down. I'm just thankful that I am not in the same way you know. After everything, it is no small miracle that more people are not dealing with it as you have been forced to.

Yeah, I'm just one of the lucky ones, I guess, Jordan said with half a smile.

You will get better, please believe that. You are already showing much improvement from the day you first came in. I think the doctor would have released you days ago, but we must get rid of those nightmares first, as you could very well injure yourself badly.

Jordan looked at his battered hand, remembering what brought him into this facility in the first place, and said to her, Yes, I have no desire to wake up again holding a gun pointed at my head. I knew after that experience, and dealing with these dreams, it was just getting worse. That incident showed me I could not handle this on my own.

Well, we are working on it. I know the doctor is working hard on your case. Not just because you are a world-renowned archaeologist either, but you are the first person he has treated that actually tried to commit suicide while in a dream.

Jordan then sat up, moving to the edge of his bed, lowering his head, and cupped his hands over his eyes. How bad is it out there, nurse? Eight months ago, when I came in here, the world just seemed in despair. I am sure that has not changed at all. Not with the loss of so many. He could tell the nurse was on the edge of tears. Jordan then asked her in a soft voice, Have they discovered anything about the disappearances yet?

No, nothing, nothing at all, she whispered as if to herself.

Jordan, sensing that this conversation was making Gloria extremely sad, decided to move the conversation back to his condition. Tell me, does the doctor still think that I am a danger to myself? I mean, besides the episodes of thrashing my hands into bedposts and all that.

She looked at him with compassion. He does think that you are getting better, but not out of the woods yet, I'm afraid. He knows that as long as you are awake, you are no danger to yourself. Asleep, well, just look at where you are right now. Tonight was just another example that there is a lot more work to do. I know it had been a couple days since your last night terror, but this one was particularly violent.

Jordan pondered on that but then tried to produce a half smile and said, Well, I am grateful for all you have done. Your kindness and caring are a rarity these days.

Gloria smiled back and then turned and walked toward the door. You know, someday I would like to hear your story. I know you have told the doctor all of it, but maybe you can share with me, you know, only if you want to.

Jordan nodded and smiled. I will do that. Maybe sometime when you are off the clock, come on by. It has helped me, sharing what happened that day you know. I know most people had similar experiences, but maybe a fresh pair of ears might help me get past the feelings that are causing this.

Gloria then left the room, and Jordan was alone to ponder on all the thoughts swirling in his head. As always, after a night like this, he was afraid to go back to sleep, but eventually he did.

After some time went by that night, a beam of light from the sun peeked through the shades of his window directly to his right eye, waking him from a deep sleep. He slowly woke up, rubbed the crud out of his eyes, and then he opened his eyes to orient himself to being awake. His hand was still hurting, and the bruising was more pronounced now. After cleaning himself up and taking a shower, he then put on his clothes for the day and sat back down on his bed to read the morning paper that is delivered once a day to his room.

He saw again that most of the paper was dedicated to the obituary pages, where the names of the vanished were slowly being reported, day by day. After reading the local news and the few local sports that were just now starting to be played after the loss of so many, he folded up the paper and placed it on his table.

When will it ever be normal again? he asked himself in a defeated, sad tone. Though the sun was still shining in his room, he felt only darkness around him. Nothing would ever be the same again, and he knew that just as much as he knew the sun would rise again tomorrow. Well, he hoped it would rise again; nothing was sure to happen normally anymore.

He used the online ordering system to order his hospital breakfast and sat in the recliner that faced the television. All in all, this hospital had many amenities that few others had, especially after the events of last year. Fortunately, in his short thirty-five years of life, he had acquired some wealth through archeology that many others had not achieved. This allowed him to come to this hospital that few could afford for any length of time. He knew that other hospitals were so short-staffed that he had to spend some of his wealth to come here to see Dr. Marcus Lanim. The noted doctor was world-renowned in the field of dream study.

He had been here for eight months now and had no desire to get back out in the world if the truth was to be known. What was out there now, with so many gone and so much chaos all around him? The thought really scared him more than any bad dream he could conjure in his mind. Was staying here a way to escape all that? Maybe, he thought, but he really did not care at the moment. He knew eventually his funds would run out, but that would be awhile, many years in fact, and maybe by then, the world would miraculously clean itself up. Oh, he knew that was unlikely, but that was what he was really hoping for.

A knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts and the self-pity he was having. Come in, he said, although not really wanting to see anyone at the moment.

Gloria walked in, no longer dressed in the hospital uniform that adorned her before. Now stood this five-foot-five beauty with wavy brown hair, and her eyes with shade of green were enhanced by the dark green sweater she was wearing.

Hello, Gloria, he said with a crackle in his voice as he had never seen her out of uniform before. She took that as a compliment.

Hello, Jordan. May I come in for a little while so we could talk?

He stood up from the recliner and offered it to her. He went back to the bed and sat on the edge of it. There were other chairs there, but the bed looked more comfortable for the moment. His feelings of seeing a beautiful woman had not been stirred since the last time he had been near… He did not want to think of her just yet though.

Gloria looked at him. As I was working after I talked to you last night, I just had to know more of your story. I know that I might not be able to help you, but maybe telling it again will release more emotion in you and help in some way. Besides, I am curious about your experience of that day. Everyone left on this planet went through the same events that you did, but of course in different circumstances and experiences. Some people have had to deal with very extreme issues and loss.

Gloria shifted in her chair, and it was obvious to Jordan that she was struggling with everything as well. She then said, The poor people that lost family, those who saw the destruction that happened soon after. All of that I know would drive any normal person to the physical and mental symptoms you exhibit. However, from what I have read in your file, you really did not lose anyone who was close to you. There were a couple nephews, a couple distant relatives, but no one really close to you.

Jordan looked at her. No, I did not lose anyone that I loved, or that was very close to me. Well, not family anyway. The sights I saw still haunt me though, and I think that is what haunts my dreams at night. I did lose someone I knew and worked with closely, however, and how that happened will forever change me. They both heard a knock on the door.

Gloria started to get up, but he waved his hand to show he would get up instead. Jordan opened the door and saw a man holding a tray of food. The breakfast he ordered was delivered, and he took the tray and placed it on the table beside the bed. He then looked at Gloria. Do you mind if I eat while we talk? The oats and eggs are looking particularly good today, and I am famished after last night.

Oh no, do not worry about that at all, Gloria said with a smile as she took out a notepad and pen from her purse.

Taking notes? Jordan said in an inquisitive voice.

Please don't worry, Jordan, just writing down the highlights. I talked to and asked Dr. Lanim this morning if it would help or hurt if I were to hear your story. He was fine with it and even said to take notes and see if you remembered anything different from the time you told him about that day. He would then add it to his notes, and maybe we can find something new that will help. Gloria started to put the pen to her notepad but noticed Jordan was not saying anything yet.

Jordan took a bite of his scrambled eggs and a drink of orange juice and then looked at her. Gloria, let me ask you something first.

Okay, shoot, she said with a smile.

What do you think happened that day?

Gloria's smile faded. You really think that I would know?

Just interested in what you think. I would imagine everyone has a thought about that day, and your thoughts are just as important as mine or anyone else's, he said as he took a drink of his coffee.

Gloria pondered the question. Well, I am not sure. There are so many theories out there that I have heard and read about. You know the ideas that are most talked about are by the scientists and the talking heads in the media. You also even have fringe groups out there that say it was aliens or other weird theories that cannot possibly be true. Some out there are also saying it was the rapture or even more wild thoughts like government conspiracies, with wild technology or something. I have heard some very strange things in the news and even some from friends of mine.

Yes, but what do you think? Jordan asked in a very sincere voice, trying to get to what she really thought.

Jordan, I think I am like many people that have no real idea about it. I really do not know. I do not believe in aliens. I also do not believe that God took some people with him somewhere as those religious people believe. I say that because of so many pastors, on TV, even those of local churches, are still here. Not only that, but there were quite a few in the prisons that disappeared. Some were convicted murderers, some were rapists. Evil people, and yet they vanished as well.

Jordan looked at her, nodding in agreement. Well, I don't think it was the rapture either. Primarily I say that since I honestly do not believe in a God at all. I would rather believe in aliens than some invisible power, but I also do not believe that some alien race has found us either. I mean, do not misunderstand me, I think there are beings out there somewhere in the vastness of space, but no evidence suggests they have ever visited our planet.

Gloria smiled and then asked him, What do you think it was, Jordan?

I have no idea either. I doubt we will ever know. Maybe that is part of my problem, you know. I am a scientist by heart. I like to find black-and-white truths out there, but this, this does not match anything that should scientifically have ever had happened.

Gloria put her head down. I know.

"But I am open to some government conspiracies as