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Previously in Hidden Fragments…
Calen fled through the forest, barely escaping Slink’s pursuit. Guided by Marisa’s directions, he found a hidden cave and ventured deep inside, where he discovered a glowing underground lake. In its still waters, painful memories of his past failures and cowardice surfaced. Yet the lake showed him something greater: the suffering and death of a man bearing a cross, dying with words of forgiveness. Broken and humbled, Calen wept for the first time in years and felt a deep, unexpected peace. But his rest was cut short as footsteps echoed from the cave entrance.

Chapter 7

Tears and Transformation

“Hello, Calen… Are you there?”

Marisa’s voice echoed through the dark tunnel. Joy and relief welled up in Calen’s heart. There was nothing to fear. True to her word, she had come. And the footsteps… Slink hadn’t stopped her; they had not been his.

“I am here,” he called back, still basking in the overwhelming experience of the night before. “Are you alright?”

Stupid question. Of course she was alright, otherwise she would not be here.

He cast one last look at the lake. Dark now. The water’s ethereal shimmer was gone and the lantern had burned itself out, its oil consumed.

“Wait there,” he cried. “It’s dark in here. I am coming to you.”

He had to be careful as he made his way back, but the pale morning light at the cave’s mouth would guide him to Marisa.

Not a minute later, he saw Marisa standing near the cave’s entrance, her slender figure silhouetted against the morning sun.

“Oh, Marisa,” he cried, “I’m so glad to see you.”

He longed to hug her, but that wouldn’t be appropriate. Forcing his emotions down, he approached instead and said, “I’ve been worried about you. Slink didn’t trouble you or your grandfather, did he?”

She smiled. That was all the answer he needed.

“Come outside,” she said. “It’s chilly in here, and I’ve got breakfast.” She lifted the large bag that was slung over her shoulder. “We can eat in the warm morning sun.”

“Breakfast?” His stomach growled on cue, and he realized just how hungry he was. The cave’s atmosphere had been so overwhelming he hadn’t even thought about food. He grinned. “I’m starving. Thanks, Marisa.”

She nodded for him to follow, and a moment later Calen stepped outside into the bright morning sun. After a night in darkness, staring at the shimmering lake, stepping into the daylight was like bathing in light. Birds twittered loudly, as if to welcome him, the air was balmy and the scent of pine filled his nostrils. How good it was to be alive.

Marisa led him to a grassy knoll where she sat down and opened the bag. She pulled out a cloth and spread it over the grass, and within minutes she had laid out a simple but luscious breakfast: goat’s cheese, a sausage, bread, an apple and even a small jug of goat’s milk.

“Enjoy it,” she said. “You need to keep up your strength.”

“And… eh… Slink is really gone?” he asked as he sat down.

“I think so. He was in a rage and threatened us. But Grandfather managed to calm him down and convince him the goats in our room had been an unfortunate accident.”

“And he believed you?”

She shrugged. “I hope so. In any case, he left soon after; muttering curses under his breath.” She paused, then added, “He’s a dangerous enemy, Calen. But I think you’re safe for now. He came on foot; as far as I know he had no horse. But tell me…” She looked up, “… how did you fare through the night?”

Calen broke off a piece of bread, cut a slice of sausage with his knife and said, with hesitation, “It… eh… was most amazing.”

“What do you mean?” Marisa asked.

“The lake… it’s magical,” he said.

Marisa frowned. “Magical? What are you talking about?”

“The subterranean lake. It shimmers with this strange light and fills the mind with visions. Thank you for guiding me here. You must come here often since it’s such a special place.”

She shrugged. “I am not sure what you are talking about. I hardly ever come here.” She tilted her head, unconvinced. “I came here once or twice. It’s a great hiding place, since nobody knows it’s here and it’s far from the civilized world. I know there’s a lake in there, but it’s just dark and unpleasant. I’ve never seen it shimmer, and I’ve certainly never had visions.” Her eyes twinkled. “Maybe you fell asleep and dreamed it all?”

Calen shook his head. Marisa, of all people, would understand. “Hear me out, Marisa. I’ve had the most amazing experience and believe me; I did not sleep.”

And so, with the morning sun warming his back, he began to tell her everything. 

She listened, her mouth parting in amazement as Calen told her of the visions.

“It was so intense, Marisa. I had all these visions of my past. Not about the happy moments; only the wrongs I’ve done.”

His eyes filled with tears as he haltingly began to tell her of some things he had seen. Foolish deeds. Heartbreaking stories of his willful and selfish ambition.

“And it was all real, Marisa. Very real.”

He longed for better words, ones that might help her see and understand. But as he spoke, it dawned on him how inadequate his words were. At last he lifted his hands, in a desperate gesture, as if to drive the truth into her heart and said,

“But then these glimpses changed. They were no longer about me, but about a man climbing a hill.”

“What kind of man?” Marisa asked.

Calen stopped to look at her. She seemed genuinely moved. Maybe some of what he had said did resonate with her after all.

“He was carrying a cross,” he said. “A heavy one. He stumbled several times under the weight. Cruel soldiers kept pushing and striking him, and at one point they even forced an onlooker to help him carry it …”

Marisa gasped and whispered, “It was… Jesus.”

Calen leaned back.

“Who?”

Marisa did not answer his question. Her eyes were wide as she said softly, “Go on, Calen. Tell me more.”

“Well… eh… it was so bad. They threw him on the ground and spiked him to the cross with large nails.” Remembering the vision, his voice broke. “It was terrible. But then, while hanging there, he cried something about his work being finished… and he asked forgiveness for the very people who killed him.”

Tears now streamed down Calen’s cheeks. He did not understand why, but that didn’t matter. The tears simply felt right. In a small, trembling voice he continued, “And then, as he died, the sky turned as dark as the lake in the cave, lightning split the heavens and thunder rolled.”

Silence fell between them, heavy, almost sacred, until Marisa whispered, “And then?”

“Nothing,” Calen said. “Then it was over. The lake still shimmered, but the visions were gone.” He looked at her searchingly. “What do you think it could mean? It was stunning. I felt surrounded by holiness… by a goodness I’d never known on earth.”

Marisa’s eyes shone as she took Calen’s hand in hers and gently squeezed it.

As she did, warmth coursed through his body. Her touch opened a door in his heart that had not been opened before. A longing he had never known spilled out, a desire to truly live.

He hesitated, then whispered, “And yet, there were all these images of my mistakes, the shadows of my past. They came first, like foul reminders that haunt me to this very day. My sins… like black ink scattered across the precious pages of holy writings.”

Marisa laughed softly, the sound warm and without mockery. “That’s exactly what God was showing you,” she said gently. “We’re separated from God by our sin, but Jesus died on the cross to bring us back. He’s the door to the Father’s house. That’s what the Scrolls of the Ages are about.”

“Really?” Calen whispered, barely daring to believe it.

Marisa nodded. “God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. He’s the One you saw dying on the cross. By dying for us, He became the bridge that leads us home. The Scrolls of the Ages depict Him as the door to eternal life.”

“And… his name is… Jesus?” Calen almost whispered the name.

Marisa nodded. “Yes. His name means, ‘God with us.’ It means we are no longer alone.”

Calen lowered his gaze, then closed his eyes to take it all in. He drew a deep breath of the fresh morning air and asked softly, “But eternal life? That’s… a very long time.”

Marisa chuckled gently. “It is. But you didn’t hear the entire story. There is more.”

“Tell me,” Calen whispered.

“Here’s the wonder,” Marisa said. “After three days, Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered death itself. And if we hold on to Him, our souls will not die. Your soul is the real you. Your body will perish one day, but your soul will live on.”

It dazzled in Calen’s mind. He had never heard any of this, and yet it sounded so true. So right. But eternity … That was a hard concept.

“I don’t understand,” he said at last. “Aren’t we all living in time? And one day… well, will it not all be over?”

“Time is a peculiar phenomenon,” Marisa said. 

“It slays everything. From the moment a baby draws its first breath, it is cast into the river of time and carried forward until at last it comes to the portal of death, which is like a roaring plunge into the shadows of the great unknown.”

“Sounds a little scary,” Calen admitted. “I’d rather not think of it too much.”

“Most people don’t,” Marisa said. “What once was is no more. It has been that way throughout the ages and will continue long after you and I are gone. Everyone enters the river of time and will be swept forward.”

Calen scratched his head. “But is that all, and to what purpose? It seems useless, hopeless and without sense.”

“It is, if you don’t believe in the man who carried the cross. Jesus stands above the relentless river with His arms stretching wide from beginning to end. He sees it all. And yet, He remains unaffected by time.”

She paused for impact. “You see, He created time. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” 

“He did?” Calen shook his head in awe and remembered what Angus had said about the one true God, who created everything. Marisa squeezed Calen’s hand again. “He is not just hovering above the river of time. He is standing right in the middle of it, so everyone that streams by sees Him. He calls them to cling to Him, and if they respond He lifts them into His world of eternity where they will live unaffected by time and the inevitable portal of death.” 

Calen shook his head and felt a strange, unfamiliar excitement rush through his veins. Now all that he had seen in the cave started to make sense. “And that is eternal life?” 

“The hands that reach out are scarred with nails and lift the humble, broken man away from the flood of time. The cycle is broken, he will live forever,” Marisa said.

“Forever free from the river of time and its dreadful ending. Forever resting in the arms of the One who conquered death, Christ Himself, the Light of heaven.” 

Calen hardly dared to speak, afraid he would mar something of the sacred atmosphere that hung over the spot.

Marisa came to the rescue. “And it’s there for you too, Calen.”

He blushed. “But… I told you about all the bad things I’ve done.”

She grinned. “Yes, Calen. We’ve all done bad things. As I said, that’s why Jesus came. You heard Him say on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them…’ The Scrolls of the Ages are about forgiveness. Right now, in the river of time, it seems you are floating by Him. Just take His hand and see what He can do for you.”

More tears came, but now they were mingled with an overwhelming desire to yield to the wonderful Jesus he had seen in his vision; the same Jesus Marisa spoke of so freely and boldly.

“H-How do I take His hand?” he sniffed.

“Just talk to Him,” Marisa whispered. “Tell Him you want His presence and that you are sorry for all the wrong you’ve done. Open your heart with a soft prayer.”

“I-I don’t really know how to pray,” Calen admitted, feeling as helpless as a five-year-old.

Marisa let go of his hand. “I’ll have to check on something, but I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, you just talk to God in your own way. Tell Him what’s on your heart. Invite Him into your life, and tell Him you want to belong to Him.”

She got up and walked off, leaving Calen behind– stunned. But her words made sense and after meeting Angus, Asher and now Marisa and her grandfather, he realized what he truly wanted. He closed his eyes and began to pray.

Half an hour later, Marisa returned to find Calen with an enormous smile on his face. “Marisa!” he cried as soon as he saw her coming. “I did it… I did it! I prayed, and I believe in the God of the Scrolls of the Ages!”

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