“So when you say bad, what you mean is really bad,” Yoni said.
A slight tremble rumbled underneath the enclosure. A sharp crack of thunder rang out and a huge fissure in the ground twenty feet from the entrance appeared.
“Yeah, I think I have to agree with Yoni. Really bad is a better description,” Jake said as he stared at the cracks beginning to appear in the ground across the enclosure.
While the appearance of the cracks was horrifying enough, each one was accompanied by a nightmarish screech, as if the earth itself was coming apart.
“We need to get that stone away from him,” Jake yelled, starting towards Gideon.
Laney tried to respond, but the ground had started to quake so violently that she was too busy trying to stay on her feet. Yoni put his arm around her waist. Together, the two stumbled forward.
Jake was ahead of them, but struggling just the same. Then the ground fractured directly under his feet.
Laney’s stomach plunged. “Jake!”
He started to tumble into the yawning crevice. Tom grabbed him by the back of his shirt and yanked him back before he pitched over the edge.
“Thanks,” Jake said.
“It’s the least I owe you,” Tom replied. Arms linked, the two scrabbled along the ground. Laney and Yoni struggled to follow them. It was like trying to walk on a trampoline when someone was jumping on it. You'd go forward two feet and get thrown back five.
Little by little, they made their way closer to Gideon. They were only forty feet from him when a huge fissure split the ground next to them. Laney peered down. It looked deep enough to reach the bowels of hell itself. She shivered at the thought.
Slowly, the group started to make their way around the yawning cavity. But if possible, the tremors increased in frequency and the cacophony of cracking was now almost deafening.
Laney and Yoni collapsed as the ground beneath them began to undulate like a wave. She looked ahead of her and saw Tom and Jake holding onto their piece of ground for dear life. Gideon stood in an undisturbed clearing not far away, his focus undiminished by the destruction around him. She knew they would never be able to reach him in time.
He’s going to do it, she thought in dismay. He’s actually going to destroy the world.
CHAPTER 86
Laney white-knuckled the ground below her to keep from being flung into one of the crevices that now dotted the landscape.
Gideon stood only fifty feet away in a clearing with a flaming object above his head. She could see his lips moving, but she couldn’t make out the words above the din.
The ground was bucking like a bronco. Her hands ached as she tried to hold on. She wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to.
Yoni leaned into her, his weight helping keep her from being flung off, but she could see his grip weakening as well. She didn't want to think about what would happen then.
Movement to her left drew her attention. With disbelief, she watched Henry continue doggedly towards Gideon. Somehow he managed to stay on his feet. With all his attention focused on the stone above him, Gideon didn’t notice Henry leaping from shattered ground to shattered ground.
With a final lunge, Henry made it to the clearing behind Gideon and, with a burst of speed, tackled Gideon to the ground. As Gideon lost his hold on the stone, it flew forward, landing at the very edge of the precipice. The ground mercifully quieted.
Laney tried to scramble to her feet, but it took a minute. Her ears rang and her limbs were still shaking. Pulling herself to her knees, Yoni helped pull her fully upright. “We got to go, Doc.”
She nodded, not able to speak quite yet. She stumbled along the edge of the crevice, her balance still off, following behind Yoni. Tom and Jake were getting to their feet behind her.
Across the gaping hole, Henry wrapped his huge arms around Gideon’s legs, keeping him from rushing to the stone. They struggled and Gideon was able to free one of his legs and kick Henry in the face. Henry hung on. Another kick to the face gave Gideon his opportunity, and he squirmed free.
Laney pulled out her Beretta, seeing Jake and Yoni do the same. She dropped to a knee, trying to steady her arms. She didn’t have a shot. After hanging onto the ground, her arms couldn't seem to stay still. Jake and Yoni didn't seem to be in any better a position.
Gideon sprinted for the stone. But, with her heart in her throat, Laney watched her uncle beat him to it. She hadn’t noticed him run into the clearing. Patrick picked up the stone and held it over the crevice.
Oh God no, Laney thought, jumping to her feet. She sprinted along the edge of the crevice, pushing her still wobbly legs to move faster, her eyes never leaving her uncle.
Gideon stopped short. “Do you realize what you hold in your hand, Priest? It could answer all your questions. It could justify all your sacrifices. With it, you wouldn’t have to worship God, you could be one.”