This is part of a middle-grade fiction series about a group church-camp teenagers who experience a mystical phenomenon. It’s a silly and light-hearted series, but your middle-grader might also find themselves better inspired to practice the fruits of the spirit. If you’d like to read all the chapters, visit here.
“Maybe Tamar’s with Grandpa?” Mom said hopefully.
Fire and brimstone continued to storm the camp. Various men were trying to bring everyone together, but it was hopeless. There was no escape—the vehicles were all destroyed, and the road was impassible.
The cafeteria was gone, but the cabins were untouched. Thankfully—Tamar just remembered that Grandpa had been napping.”
“What’s happening?” Luke asked. “Is the world ending?”
“I don’t know,” Dad said. “But let’s get Grandpa.”
“I bet it’s a meteorite storm,” one of the boys said, a little too excited.
Everything was dark except where flames raged and streamed down. Tamar wondered if maybe the sun had blown up—could that happen? It must’ve. She tried once more to move forward, but she couldn’t force feeling into her lower limbs. She tried to scream out to her family to help her, but they didn't seem to hear her, and certainly couldn’t see her.
The flames were now all around her, but she wasn’t burning, and could just barely sense waves of heat rippling over her bubble, surging forward, unable to penetrate the tapioca.
Dad and Mom and the boys hurried inside their cabin. She watched her family hurry past her into the cabin, a mere fifty feet away from where she stood engulfed in flames and tapioca. She struggled to free herself, not knowing if doing so would return to her the use of her legs or if she’d be burnt the moment she was out of her bubble. It was no use anyway.
A burning stone whizzed into view from the shadows and spun toward the cabin her family had just entered. Power surged through Tamar’s chest and she blew. The fiery comet turned to ash and floated down. She was so happy at her success that she didn’t notice another ball of fire until it crashed into the cabin.
Noo!
This.
Was. A.
Dream.
Scratch that.
Nightmare.
Guilt and nausea stirred within. All week long she’d avoided being with her family, and now they were… dead? She tried to blow toward the cabin, and the flames were hardly tamed. She blew again, but now she saw she was only fanning the fire. She clawed at the air. She moved a little. Maybe she could swim through the air toward the… She stroked forward and managed to move only half an inch. Already she was sore. It was no use. She couldn’t make a difference moving that slow.
Tears scorched long paths down her face.
Bright lights, brighter than the fire, encompassed her as the angels from the cave swooped past Tamar. They weren’t angels. She could now see their faces and clearly hear their voices. Declan, Gretchen, Cameron, Rayne, and Faye. They too were enveloped in gobs of tapioca. Except, they could move.
The five melted out of sight down into the midst of the flames. Tamar held her breath… I may be paralyzed, she thought. But I can still help. In faith, she blew to where they’d disappeared. The flames abated… and out of them spurted a fountain of water. Tamar started, open mouthed, knowing she hadn’t caused that to happen.
Moments later, the five emerged amidst a stream of water, the cabin now dilapidated and black, but utterly soaked. Gretchen carried several of the little ones and sat them near the path. The rest of Tamar’s brothers, mother, father and Grandfather led and protected by the five youth.
The boys huddled on the browned grass, some of them whimpering, some of them exclaiming in awe. “Those are superheroes!” Tamar heard them say.
“Bless Elohim,” Grandma said. “Are you His warriors?”
“Go up the hill to the court and stay by the lake,” Rayne said. “You’ll be safe there.”
“We can’t go without Tamar,” Mom said.
“Maybe she’ll be there,” Dad said. But Tamar could tell by her Dad’s slumped shoulders that he believed her lost. He hurried his family up the hill where other campers were gathering.
“Where is Tamar?” Rayned said. “I didn’t see her inside, I looked everywhere.”
“I’m here!” Tamar called from the midst of her flames.
The youth group finally noticed Tamar. They ran to her, dodging another flame that shot from above.
“Tamar!?” Declan sputtered. “You’re—”
“One of us,” Faye finished. She was on her brother’s back. He flew toward Tamar, while Faye said, “Keep straight. A little right, yeah, like that. You can land now.”
“I can’t move,” Tamar said.
“Paralysis?” Cameron said. “I figured there’d be someone that would have that eventually.”
“Right,” Declan said to no one in particular, looking past her. His expression was dazed and lazy. Faye climbed off his back, and held his hand, and led him closer.
Rayne raised her hands and water rose out of the ground around Tamar, dampening it. The flames sizzled and steam whirled and settled around her immovable legs. Gretchen followed at the back. Her arms were bulkier than usual.
Cameron said, “Want me to push you?”
Tamar rubbed her sore upper arms. “Yeah, let’s give it a try.”
Cameron placed his hands on her mid-back and shoved. She floated easily enough with the tapioca several feet ahead and away from the burning cars. Cameron winced.
“I need to tell my parents I’m alright,” Tamar said.
“Don’t bother yet,” Declan said, his eyes closed now. “They can’t understand us if we tell them who we are when we’re like this.”
A slight breeze rose and bits of ash and pollen and debris circled around Tamar. Cameron fell to the ground. He stayed down until the wind passed away.
“His weakness is literally just weakness,” Faye explained. “He can’t resist the slightest tap or breeze or force.”
“What’s your gift?” Tamar asked.
“My eyes are super impressive,” Cameron said, not offering further explanation.
Several more fiery comets sprung from the air and landed around them, smoldering in large patches.
“We need to find out what’s going on,” Gretchen said.
“True stuff,” Rayne said. She twirled her fingers in small circles. Droplets of water moistened the air around them all—except for Faye, Tamar noticed.
“We’ve done a little scouting,” Cameron said. “I don’t think it’s a natural disaster, especially as everything further up seems untouched as of yet.”
A little of the cabin fell in with a sort of long, heavy thud. “My journal was in there,” Tamar lamented. “If it isn't burnt, it’s probably soaked. It’s irreplaceable.”
“So were your family,” Rayne crossed her arms.
“Yeah. But still.”
“I’d just be happy for the people saved. Stop whining about a silly book.”
“I’m not whining,” Tamar protested.
“It’s all right for her to be upset about her journal,” Gretchen butted in. “She’s not attacking what you had to do to save her family.”
“Oh.” Tamar looked at the bits of water clinging around Rayne’s fingers. “Yeah, I’m grateful to you.”
Rayne tosses her rainbow curls. “I’ll get you a new journal.”
“No need—” Tamar started.
Declan changed the topic. “I think we owe you an apology, Tamar.”
Tamar turned to him. His eyes were still blank, and he stared in the opposite direction as he spoke to her. “For what? And are you okay? You seem a little off.”
“I’m blind whenever I have powers,” Declan answered. “We all have a weakness in our strength, so that we remember to be stronger together.”
“So I’m not permanently paralyzed?” Tamar asked, relieved.
“Of course not!” They kids laughed in unison at her.
“We owe her an apology.” Faye reminded her brother. To Tamar, she said. “By the way, I told him he was wrong about you, Tamar.”
“Right.” Declan puckered his lips. “Sorry I doubted your salvation.”
“What’s changed your mind?” Tamar asked. “Me joining your… club.”
“Yes… No… I mean, let me explain.”
But at that moment Mr. Cowell joined them. “There you kids are! I’m afraid this is worse than we think it is—Tamar! I’m so glad to see you’ve joined us.”
“You … you see us?” Tamar asked.
Mr. Cowell nodded. “I was once like you.”
“The explosions seem to be coming from the cave,” Mr. Cowell said. “I couldn’t get close enough to tell for certain, but it does seem that way from this side of the lake.”
“Right,” Declan said. “We’ll go at once and check it out.”
“What about all the campers?” Gretchen asked.
“Don’t worry about the people; I’ll take care of them,” Mr. Cowell said. “You kids go figure out what’s going on.”
“Ok, let’s move out,” Rayne said.
“Let’s pray,” Declan said. “I have a feeling what we’re about to face is going to put us all to the test.”
Just as he finished speaking another mound of stone and fire collided with a cluster of trees.
“Yes,” Mr. Cowell answered. They bowed their heads, and Mr. Cowell began, “We thank you Lord for your protection today, and pray you grant each of us wisdom as we proceed to fight this good battle you have set before us. Remind us of your ultimate power, and keep our hearts unified to work together for your glory.”
Mr. Cowell told them, “Remember, you all are stronger together. Don’t any of you try to go off and be a hero.” He turned away, heading toward where most of the campers were now flocked.
“Let’s regroup,” Rayne said. “We have a new member now, and we need to figure out if we’re gonna take the road or cross the lake to get to the cave.”
“I saw a raft in a shack in the woods,” Gretchen offered. “I don’t think there’s been any flames that way.”
“Noted. Tamar, we all know what your weakness is, but what’s your gift?”
“I… my breath is really strong.”
“How is bad breath a superpower?” Gretchen asked.
Tamar blushed. “No, I can blow strong gusts of wind.”
“Oohh, cool.” Faye said.
“You’ve probably picked up that we each have a weakness and strength,” Rayne said. “Declan flies, but can’t see. So Faye goes with him everywhere. She creates fire, but moisture—water, steam, even clouds and tears—scorch her. Which means I gotta be careful around her, and Declan always keeps her a little bit away from me. Gretchen is super strong, but also has panic attacks if she’s left alone.”
“I’m very extroverted,” Gretchen explained.
“Because you’re paralyzed,” Rayne said. “We’ll need to make sure someone’s always with you, too. So Gretchen might be a good match for you most of the time, unless Faye is occupied, then Declan is also a good option. You and I could of course make the occasional good team. Cameron is out of the question.”
“Yeah,” Cameron rubbed his arms. “I’m actually in a lot of pain from pushing you earlier.”
“Really?” Tamar asked with incredulity. “I’m as light as a feather. The tapioca does most of the work.”
Cameron grinned. “But a feather can knock me over.”
Tamar wasn’t sure if she was supposed to laugh. “For real?”
“He’s not kidding,” Rayne said. “That’s his weakness.”
“Feathers?” Tamar asked.
“No, I’m weak. Anything, even the weight of a feather can knock me over.”
“Guys, the world is kinda ending.” Gretchen reminded everyone. “Who’s gonna go with me to get that raft?”
Faye volunteered, and the two girls went after it.
“Oh,” Tamar said. “I know what your gift is, Rayne. But what’s your weakness?”
She scowled. “Isn’t it obvious? I have no physical handicap, and this is probably because I find the very idea of having to always be wet and working with water to be an extreme annoyance.”
“Her weakness is arrogance,” Cameron joked.
Declan added, “We’re always coming up with something new to give her a hard time.”
Gretchen reappeared with a large raft, Faye at her side. The two of them were chatting. “I wish there was an eye shadow the color of the sky,” Gretchen was saying.
“Why?” Faye asked. “That would look horrendous.”
The raft was large enough to fit them all, and looked like it might normally take several of them to carry it. Gretchen carried it as if it were a notepad. Her makeup was perfectly intact, her hair smooth and neatly arranged. She wasn’t sweating this, especially with Faye at her side.
They walked to the lakeshore, Rayne pushing Tamar forward as they went, and Gretchen dropped the raft at the edge of the water. Faye helped Declan get on and Gretchen carried Tamar on board.
“Tamar,” Rayne said. “Do you think you can blow us from shore to the other side if you sit in the back? I can probably steer us from the front.”
“Sure!” Even though rock and fire continued to light the shadowy day, Tamar felt in a brighter mood. She knew God had made a way for faith to have the final victory today, and she was excited to be a part of this.
Cameron was the last one to get on. He and Faye sat in the midst of everyone to be safe from any moving winds and stray splashes. Once everyone was ready, Tamar blew. Rayne controlled the waters so they made a straight beeline for the other side. Tamar had never thought about how wide the lake was until now.
The raft moved rapidly with each breath she released. When she inhaled she felt the force of the world's winds caught up in her throat. She let it out, and blew, and they skidded across the orange-lit waters.
Gretchen jumped off first and pulled them all onto the shore. She assumed responsibility for moving Tamar. Faye jumped on Declan’s back, and Rayne stood as protector over Cameron. They wound their way through the woods, until they found the path and that led to the cave.
Tamar was at the front of the group, so she saw the man’s back first. He looked almost familiar…
“Stop!” she hissed.
Gretchen pulled Tamar back a ways, and the group of kids fled behind a large boulder.
It was Jason. He was hovering over a strange contraption, laughing—or weeping—loudly. He pumped a handle on the machine, then released. Fire and brimstone flew up from around him and exploded in all directions.
The next installment will be published on the first Monday of next month.
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