“May I come in?” the man in black said with a smile. “It’s awfully cold out.”

I didn’t know how to respond or how to react. He shuffled me to the side and all I could mutter was, “Wait here.” I ran through the low-lit halls and atop the white vinyl flooring that squeaked with every step. I caught Tony placing a yellow floor sign on the ground and incoherently exclaimed about the stranger I had seen.

“He’s at the north-end right now!? I’ll get Varner and Mr. Ellis! Go tell Sarah!” Tony said.

I sprinted down the hall without breath, and without traction. I slipped and slammed my shoulder into a set of lockers that echoed through the school. I scrambled to my feet and continued to the classrooms that acted as a dormitory for the students. I passed by the teacher’s lounge, Ralph had been setting for bed but had stopped by the doorway, listening to my chaos.

“What’s with you?” he asked.

“There’s a guy!” I answered with a heaving breath.

“Which guy?”

“A new guy!”

I sucked in as much air as I could and continued my marathon down the school’s halls. Behind me, I heard Ralph cock his gun and the receiver launch back, primed for death.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Sarah said with a yawn. There was a room full of students listening to Mrs. Cescov read them a story—they had all turned attention to the open door. Sarah saw the gun in Ralph’s hand and hurriedly narrowed the opening to not frighten the children.

“A stranger came up to me at the side door and he’s inside right now. I already told the rest,” I said.

“Okay, I’ll come along too. Just let me tell Julia what’s happening.”

Mrs. Cescov nodded with a stern face and locked the door from the inside when Sarah departed. The three of us raced down to the other side of the elementary school to hear a loud voice thunder through the cavernous space. “Who the hell are you, motherfucker!?”

“Sage, you got your gun?” Ralph asked beside me.

I checked my hollow jacket pockets even though I already knew it wasn’t on me. “It’s in my luggage.”

Ralph shook his head. “You dunce. When times get heated you have to protect yourself at all times.”

“Spare me the lesson, dork. I want to hear what they’re saying.”

“Please. I meant not to trespass and I know it is late in the evening but my intentions are not malevolent,” the man said with a more noticeable southern drawl. I could tell by his demeanor that he was on his backfoot—hesitant, cautious, but his voice uttered confidence that ripped through any apprehensiveness.

“What were your ‘intentions’ then?” Coach Varner asked.

The man puffed a stiff chuckle. “I’m a simple man who is on a journey to look for others.”

“Why didn’t you buzz-in or knock on the front door?” Mr. Ellis snapped.

“I tried. But I saw no person and the lights inside looked dim. I almost gave up hope until I saw the girl take out the trash. She can vouch for me if need be.”

Ralph and I were around the bend of the entrance but I hesitantly stepped out when he mentioned me.

“See!” said the man. “Sweetie, I’m sorry I startled you, but did I attack you in any way? Even when you were alone and unguarded with no protection and back turned to me, did I strike or grab at you? While you were taking a moment to feel the cold wind on your frozen tears from your rosy face, did I threaten you?”

Ralph turned the corner with gritted teeth. “You creepy motherfucker! Were you stalking her!? You sure as shit had a long time to stare at her, what else were you doing under that black overcoat!?”

The adults grabbed Ralph’s arms when he drew his pistol and pushed him aside to cool off while they continued to question the man. A white smirk flashed across the face of the stranger as he unbuttoned his coat. “The lord can attest I have no ill-will in my heart,” he said, parting the jacket open.

Our immediate gaze drew to the white clerical collar and the crucifix on his neck.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Tony belted out a groan. “Oh, great. The rapture happens and we still get missionaries knocking on our fuckin’ doors.”

* * *

The sun reflected off the white powder that fell in the night. Icicles dripped, puddles formed, and warm golden rays of lights shone through the windows of the school. Being up so early here brought nostalgic memories of being carried to the front steps of school when I was younger; I’d be napping in my father’s arms until the first bell rang.

My eyes were just as groggy as back then when I opened them. Ralph lay beside me like a drooling dog in his pile of blankets on the floor while I rose from the stiff cushions of the couch.

It was the morning after the priest had made his entrance. The faculty decided to allow the stranger to spend the night and sleep in one of the administrator offices. Although not under lock or key, the teachers rotated shifts in the night to supervise the man. However, when I went over to the offices, I noticed Mr. Ellis asleep behind a month-old hunting magazine.

I looked over at the closed-door offices and then back at the snoring bus driver. “You’re late for your route, driver! You got kids freezing outside wondering if they missed the bus or hoping you’ll never show up!”

Mr. Ellis woke in a startle with bloodshot eyes and rushed for the doors. His trance of muscle-memory and sleep deprivation snapped when he pressed his hands on the chilly outside doors. He turned around to see me laughing at the incident while he groaned and headed for the staff bathroom.

“Should’ve kept your ass in the cold!” I heard him mutter.

I stayed in the cafeteria for a moment and watched as the piles of snow burned away below the clear blue skies. More of the teachers began to awaken. Gladys headed for the kitchen with a yawn while Coach Varner and Mrs. Cescov started the coffee machine on a nearby table.

“Finally looks nice out,” I overheard the music teacher say.

“Maybe the kids will be able to play outside for once,” Varner said, pouring the boiling dark brown liquid into his mug.

“Only if that playground equipment dries up!” she scoffed.

I let out a small chuckle that made them aware of my presence. I gave them a nod when they looked over at me and the man pointed at his mug, asking if I wanted any coffee without a word spoken. I nodded and said a voiceless “Sure.”

Soon enough, a white mug with faded text that said World’s Okayest Math Teacher was placed in front of me while the teachers sat beside me.

“Who’s the math teacher?” I asked.

“It was Mrs. Damry. Until she decided to vanish into thin air like the rest of everyone else,” Varner said.

Mrs. Cescov took a long sip. “Like my son…”

“My wife,” Varner added.

“Maybe my brother,” I said, staring into the swirling cup of coffee.

Soon, the rest of the staff awoke, along with the majority of the children. Gladys served eggs, toast, shredded hash browns, and bacon on our trays in the early dawn. I had asked around what the plan of action for the day was and they had told me it’s been the same plan since day one of the apocalypse. “Keep the kids safe, occupied, and teach them a thing or two when you can.”

“Anything I can do?” I asked Varner.

“Give this to the priest, and bring your hothead boyfriend when you go, too.” He handed me a tray scattered with the leftover scraps of breakfast and I was sent on my way. I gathered Ralph, who was groggily trying to wake up, but ready to tussle with the priest if need be.

I knocked on the door with two taps of my pale knuckles and waited for a response. My ear was close to the door and I heard no footsteps. No voice. Not even a shuffling of movement. Ralph tapped his foot eagerly against the vinyl before banging on the oak door with a closed fist.

“Open up, creep!” he exclaimed.

Then there was movement.

The cold steel of the door handle turned and inside was the man dressed in black with a flashing white grin. His clothes were tidy and his hair was kept. It was as if he never took off his jacket or slept in the makeshift bed.

“Sorry,” he said in a soft voice. “I must’ve lost track of time while I was reading.” He pulled out a small book from the inside of his jacket, similar to that of a pocket bible.

“Well, here’s breakfast,” I said. “They didn’t tell me what else to do with you so I assume you’re either staying in this room or leaving the school.”

The man gave a small smile, “Oh, that’s fine. I appreciate the hospitality. I think I’m satisfied with what I’ve come here to do.”

“And what was that exactly?” Ralph said with an upturned chin.

“To know that others will be okay in this ever changing world. And I have found my answers. The teachers and students have a magnificent building that will hold for quite some time. These children are the future of the world now, and I’m thankful they have such a sanctuary to thrive in. It reminds me much of my own,” the priest said with a longing gaze.

“You have your own community?” I asked.

“I do! Not even 20 minutes away northeast here near Logfall Lake.”

“Isn’t there a church and some spooky graveyard near there?” Ralph inquired.

The man gave a small laugh, “There is a site for burials, yes, and it is where me and my commune are. Open fields, a well, gardens. It’s quite serene. Perhaps there you could find what you have lost.” His gaze pierced me like daggers but his eyes were as gentle as leaves.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and broke sight of the man. “What do you know of my loss?” I asked. I was eager to hear his words, but I was hesitant to listen.

“I see the chain of a cross upon your neck but I do not see the faith that follows your stride. You search for hope in a world out of reach from your grasp; yet you feel the string attached to both the ever-near and the far-off. I believe together we can pull this open stitch closed and sew together the parts whole. Perhaps we can reform ourselves for the better. You will join me in this calling, won’t you?”