Richard gazed into the darkness where Jessica clung onto the smooth pole. He started to yell out her name when a bright light flooded the window behind his wife. A strange illumination brightened the lazarette.
Richard watched as the light caressed his wife’s beautiful face. For a moment, he thought he’d seen an Angel. Jessica’s body seemed to glow as the light wrapped around her from top to bottom. Slowly Jessica turned her head toward the window. She gazed into the light as if it whispered to her.
“Jessica!” Richard called out. She didn’t acknowledge him. She stared into the beautiful light as if she had become trapped in a trance. Richard pulled Jim closer to him before he called out to his wife again, “Jessica, sweetheart! Look at me, Jess.”
Jessica didn’t turn. She didn’t move as she sat transfixed in the glow of the light. Richard heard her whisper toward the illumination. He couldn’t make out what she said over the roaring of the storm. He could only hear a muffled declaration as a single tear rolled down Jessica’s cheek.
Slowly Jessica turned from the window with glazed blue eyes. Her face became pale and emotionless. She didn’t blink, she didn’t even seem to be breathing, she sat perfectly still as she stared at Richard while he desperately clung to Jim. The light continued to form a type of barrier around her stagnant body.
“The Coming is upon us. We are the chosen ones, the witnesses, and the blessed that will behold its wonder. Rejoice in its birth. Because of its glory, a new world shall be formed. Pessum ire est inter nos. Pessum ire est inter nos. Pessum ire est inter nos.” Jessica said with an even tone, her deep southern patois was missing from the strange voice escaping her thin lips.