“You’re the rapture?” says Belle, incredulous thick on her face and in her tone.

“Well, maybe like a vessel for the rapture,” I say. “It’s a theory, anyway. I mean, I’m trying to make sense of all this myself, but from everything I’ve been through lately, it’s the only thing that rings true. And I’m not even a religious person, so … like you said: God works in mysterious ways.”

“Hit them with some scriptures,” whispers Xeno. “Preachers love that.”

“Oh right,” I say, and I clear my throat. “Remember what it said in Luke? ‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in …’ nations will—Xeno, can you help me out here?” I hold my palm closer to the Brocks and all four of their eyebrows simultaneously raise.

“Once again, I have to do everything, “ says Xeno. Then, in a tone of voice that would rival all the great orators of all time, Xeno begins to preach:

“‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’"

“Yeah, what he said,” I say, pointing to my palm and nodding.

Doctor Brock’s jaw is touching the floor, and Belle starts blinking profusely like she’s about to faint again.

“And I beheld,” continues Xeno. “When he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.’”

“You’re doing good, buddy,” I say.

“Shut up, Jack, you're ruining the moment.”

I open my mouth to retort, then close it.

“‘And the kings of the earth,” continues Xeno, “‘and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.”

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“We did that,” I say.

There’s a pause. Then …

“‘Behold! I tell you a mystery’,” says Xeno. “‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."

At that moment the band on stage plays a very loud, and very timely trumpet noise that makes all of us jump.

I cover my heart and let out a nervous chuckle. I’m about to make a joke about perfect timings, but Xeno isn’t finished.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

“‘He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.’"

“Okay, I think that’s good, Buddy.”

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you…

“Okay,” I say. “We’re go—“

“‘… It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.’”

I clap my hands together. “Alright, well there you have it, folks. So what do you say?”

There’s a very heavy, very loaded moment of silence after that. Feels like we all stepped into a vat of awkward soup.

Gus sniffs at something on the ground and picks a small pocket sized book up from among Frank’s things. It’s a compact bible, I realize. He pads over to Doctor Brock and drops it onto the cot.

“Are you sure that dog’s not a super smart alien too?” I whisper to Xeno.

“Pretty sure he’s just a dog, Jack,” whispers Xeno, from the corner of his lips.

Brock picks up the Bible and looks at me. He seems to consider it for a moment. Then says, “How do I know you’re not lying? How do I know Frank is safe?”

I open my mouth to respond but no answer comes out. You know, that’s a great question, I say, looking at my hand for any semblance of an answer. I’m trying to think of a way to prove it.

“I’ve never actually been there, the place I sent Frank and Jeff. All I can think of is … you just gotta have faith, I guess.”

“Call them back,” says Belle. “If you can send them away you can bring them back.”

“I can’t”

“Why not?”

“It doesn’t work that way. It’s a one way trip. Unless I accidently sever you in half, then a part of you might come … back.”

Xeno groans.

Gus makes a whining sound and lowers his head.

I cringe. “Yeah, probably didn’t need to mention that part right now.”