Everybody's Daughter (6 page)

Michael regained his footing and looked up to see the gleaming light slipping through an old metal grate.

How did I get here? I don’t remember walking through the tunnel.

He took a few steps back in the direction of Northport.

A gust of moist hot air drove him backwards.

I’ve got to get back to Long Island.

The voice that drew him toward the tunnel’s entrance in the church hadn’t belonged to Leah. He was sure of that. Or was he?
I’m so confused. I shouldn’t be here. I have to get back to my daughter.

Again, he moved away from the grate. His legs wobbled and a sharp pain knifed through his side. He fell to his knees. The grate above rattled, first side to side, then up and down, finally bouncing like a hard rubber ball on a concrete street, caroming away.

A hand reached down inside the opening and lifted Michael up. “Who’s that?” He dusted himself off and spun his head like a merry go round. There was no one there.

Whose hand was that? Whose voice did I hear?

Michael looked down into the empty opening. He put one foot in but fire filled the entrance. He yanked his foot back and ran to the nearest alleyway. Trembling, he leaned against the wall.
Why can’t I go back?

He tried to compose himself.

Obviously there’s a reason why I’m here. I hope I can find Leah and make sure she’s okay.

He thought about Elizabeth again.
No. My life is back in Northport.
He jumped down into the tunnel and heard a hissing sound. In the darkness, a cobra slid along the ground, poised to strike. Venom dripped from its mouth.

Hiss.
The cobra arched upwards and sprayed, hitting the hem of his garment. He stumbled back out onto the street and grabbed his chest, gasping.

He took a quick glance behind him. The snake was gone. “I’m staying.”

Michael retrieved the loose grate and sealed the opening.
I need to make sure I remember which one will get me back
.
I’m not going to make the same mistake twice
.

He spotted a large rock nearby.
Perfect
. He felt a slight twinge in his back as he leaned down and pushed it over the entrance as a marker. Satisfied, he stood, rubbing his lower back.

Finding Leah and making sure she’s fine shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours
, he convinced himself.

He guessed it was late afternoon in Jerusalem. The sun shone a bright golden hue and its warmth re-energized him. The surroundings were as beautiful now as they appeared the first time he visited. He was confident now, sure of his intention and purpose, and unwilling to settle for anything less than a trip home to Northport with Leah.

I wonder if it’s only been a few hours since I left? Ever
y
thing’s the same. The town. The stalls.

The sound of his sandals clapping against the stones on the road added to his anxiety. Not wanting to attract the attention of any nearby soldiers, he tried to tiptoe as much as possible. Heading south, his shadow mimed his every move along the pale yellow walls of the buildings. He noticed the abandoned food market.

Probably closed for the Sabbath
. He was surprised they had taken down the archway sign. He shrugged off any concerns as he reveled in his return. His heart bounced around like a marble on a roulette wheel as his emotions danced with joy.

The sun’s rays disappeared and the sky turned a dull gray. A loud boom erupted. Michael didn’t mind the abrupt change in weather. He was excited to be in Jerusalem again.

This is history I’m living. Maybe I’ll have a chance to wi
t
ness the Resurrection.

“It’s so beautiful,” he said softly, despite the thunder.

Life is simple here. Dangerous. But Godly simple.

He made several mental notes to himself as he navigated the city streets. His mind operated like a camera, clicking on each of the buildings as he moved toward the area where he knew the aqueduct was located.

He stopped when he approached Pilate’s courtyard. Michael remembered the last time he was there, lost in the swarm of people, watching Jesus’ trial. But he couldn’t see the blood-stained steps.

They must have cleaned them
.
Or maybe this is four months later like my time back on Long Island.

He sprinted toward the aqueduct. Sweat dripped all the way through his robe. Or was it the light, misty rain descending upon his body? The robe clung to his back as he ran, bounding higher off the dirty stone road with every step. He slowed down as he neared Leah’s house, checking the front gate to make sure he had the right place.

The sky continued to paint the ground with moisture as he breathed in the sweet smell of the figs. Brown buds spotted the center tree, glistening like copper as the sun snuck through a fading cloud. He could hear the crackling of the fire. The aroma of lamb stew drew him in.

As he entered the kitchen, Michael heard Leah’s light footsteps on the floor above. He sneaked over to the steaming pot, but gasped when he reached for the spoon; it was scalding.

“Who is that?” Leah called out.

He didn’t answer.
I want to see the look on her face. I’ll surprise her.

He stepped onto the first rung of the ladder and stopped.
Should I hug her, kiss her, or maybe both?

Michael touched the top of the ladder with his hand. Leah’s back faced him as she arranged the dinner mat on the floor. He could smell her now and placed his hand on her shoulder.

She spun around and knocked several bowls over. One shattered into several pieces.

Backing up, she pushed him away with both hands.

He staggered, nearly falling to the ground. “Leah. Wait. It’s me. Michael.”

“Get out of here. Get out of my house,” she screamed.

“But, Leah. . .”

“I said leave.” She picked up a plate from the floor and held it toward him as if she were about to launch it. “I will smash this over your head if you do not leave.”

He put his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I do not want you here. You are not allowed in my house.”

“Why, Leah?”

Her face contorted in anger. “How do you know me? Stop using my name.”

He shook his head, trying to understand what was happening. “Maybe I look different to you. My hair’s longer now.” He turned around to show her.

“Leave.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but can we at least sit down and talk about this?”

“No.” She slammed the plate to the floor, shattering it into pieces. “Get. Out.”

He backed away toward the ladder, confused and frustrated. “What’s wrong?”

He looked at Leah one last time. Her eyes, shaded with rage and frightful determination, glared back. He frowned and climbed down the ladder.

Stunned, he walked aimlessly out into the courtyard. When he looked up, he saw her watching him from the second floor window. “I’m leaving,” he said, feeling resentment mingled with disappointment.

He began the long walk back to town.

What’s going on here? Why didn’t she recognize me?

Michael shook his head several times along the way. The streets were still deserted except for a man leaning against a wall, with his hands pressed to his face.

“Cheer up, buddy,” Michael said. “Your day has to be better than mine.” He touched the man’s shoulder as he walked by.

The man didn’t answer.

Michael reached the tunnel’s entrance with no problems. He struggled to move the heavy rock marking the grate, leaning his right shoulder into it. When it wouldn’t budge, he straightened up for a brief rest, puzzled. Bending down again, he pushed hard with both hands. The rock lay still.

What am I doing
?
I can’t leave until I know she’s safe from Marcus. Maybe that’s why Leah didn’t want me there. Is she trying to protect me? Was she trying to get rid of me so he wouldn’t hurt me?

Michael stared at the immovable rock.
Elizabeth. She’s a
l
ready lost a mother.

Again, he pushed with both hands. He stepped back and kicked on the grate next to it.

“Move on, mister,” shouted a soldier several feet away.

Michael panicked and ran into an alleyway.

I can’t get back now. That rock won’t budge. I’m being kept here for some reason.

The soldier’s shouting decided his next move.
“
Move on or you will die.”

With desperate strides, he tore back to Leah’s.

I wonder if Marcus hit or touched her. I may be the reason why she’s in danger now. I can change this. But I’ll need a weapon.

He became enraged with each thought, kicking at a loose rock, watching it roll toward an alleyway. His anger gave him strength as he grabbed it and threw the rock against the wall, splitting it into little pieces
.
He picked up a few and put them in his pocket.

The sun set amidst the lingering gray clouds. Michael saw lit lamps illuminating the windows as he pushed open the gate. He looked up to the second floor and saw Leah’s shadow projected on the ceiling. She looked like she was sitting at the dinner mat.

Was she alone? Was Marcus nearby?
What would he do then? How could he defend himself? Surely Marcus wouldn’t be without a weapon.
I’ll need more than a few rocks
. Michael looked around for a sharp branch from a tree that he could use to defend himself but found nothing.

A soft, low-pitched weeping shook him from his thoughts. He crossed the courtyard, tip-toeing into the house, stopping once more to listen
.

Is that Leah crying? I’ll hit him if he’s up there. If he has his back turned, I’ll pound him on the head until he’s dead.

With caution, he peered from side to side as he reached the top of the ladder. She sat alone in the corner hunched over, face in her hands.

“Leah, are you okay?” Michael asked as he stumbled slightly onto the second floor.

She lifted her head and gave him a puzzled look. “Why are you back? I told you to leave,” she demanded, wiping tears with her dark robe. “What do you want?”

No soldier. It’s just her.
He saw another dinner mat was laid out.
Who is she expecting?

“Leave, now.”

“Leah, please listen.”

“I will not listen to anything you have to say.”

“Okay, I’ll go, but answer this for me first. Are you in trouble? Did he hurt you?”

“How dare you. No one hurt me. Just go.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Then go.”

Michael paused. “I hope you’re safe.”

She didn’t answer.

He pressed on. “Let me help.”

“You could never help me,” she shot back. “No one can.”

“I can.”

She didn’t respond, but he could see her eyes were glued to the other mat.

“Leah, you don’t have to do this. I’m here now. I
can
help. We can help each other. You can come with me now and be safe.”

“I do not need your help.”

He noticed two cups filled with wine. “You don’t have to stay here.”

She grabbed a cup and hurled it at him.

He ducked as the ceramic figure smashed into the wall, the noise chilling his spine. He backtracked a few steps down the ladder.

She doesn’t want me here for some reason.
He thought again of the flames in the tunnel, and the cobra.
But I can’t get back to Long Island. I feel like I’m supposed to be here.

He saw her slumped against the wall. He gave up and left the house. Exhausted and overwhelmed, he waited by the aqueduct, and then walked back to the well near Leah’s home. It was deserted. Water. He needed water.

Trembling, he splashed water onto his face and sipped. Once composed, he decided again that he wasn’t going to sprint out of town and leave her. He recalled the night Leah held him on the rooftop. But why doesn’t she recognize me? She was still alone as he gazed up at the second floor. Yet this wasn’t the Leah he remembered. She was different – filled with anger and rage.

What happened between the time I was here four months ago and now?

It had to be Marcus.

He returned to her home and climbed the ladder again. She glared and picked up a large cup. Water splashed from it.

“You’re coming back with me,” Michael said. “We spoke about how much we loved each other. I am sure of this now. I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I can take care of you in my home.”

Her expression was filled with fear but she quickly replaced it with a stoic stance.

He took a small step toward her. “Do you remember what we said to each other on the roof?”

“I do not know what you are talking about.”

“It’s that soldier, isn’t it? I am not going to stand by and let him hurt you anymore.”

“You are scaring me.”

“How could you be scared of me? Don’t you remember what we meant to each other? What we said?”

She shook her head. Panic flared in her eyes.

“I know you’re frightened because of Marcus. But I’m not leaving you here with him any longer.”

He took a few more steps toward her.

“Do not come any closer.” She held her hand up. “If you do not leave my house, I will do what I need to do to protect myself.”

“I don’t understand. I’m not here to harm you.”

“I only know one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I must protect myself.”

She hoisted the cup above her shoulder and hurled it directly at his head.

A revolting stench, similar to that of wet animals mixed with rotting meat violated Elizabeth’s nose and made her slow her pace. Her stomach lurched and she gagged as the repulsive smell followed her through the tunnel.

The dusty mist that accompanied her on the last trip wasn’t present. The air had a cool, crisp feel to it.

���Dad,” she called out. “Are you in here?”

She wasn’t sure how long the trip was the last time but knew she had some distance to cover. Elizabeth willed herself forward through the darkness, her sandals slapping against the tunnel floor.

It wasn’t more than ten minutes when she heard noises in the distance. Unlike the previous journey, these weren’t the thundering, sharp sounds of an angered crowd or galloping horses. They sounded like a strong wind, whirling whistles against a window pane on a winter night.

A flash of light glimmered ahead as the tunnel narrowed. When she arrived near the end, it opened to form a small room. Light streamed through a grate.

Cautiously, Elizabeth whispered, “Dad, are you there?”

She peered out through the grate.

I hope you’re around here somewhere, Dad. I don’t want to be alone in this time period.

She recognized Jerusalem on the other side, bathed in the last light of day. If her father had come this way, he’d head straight to Leah’s, she reasoned. She listened for several minutes to determine if it was safe to climb out.

An eerie calm settled in the small room as she waited for the slightest sound. No soldiers were strutting about nor were there any people milling in the streets. It was too quiet. Had she come back to the same place? It certainly looked like the same street she had entered only a few months ago.

She noticed a strand of green string on the floor below her. She picked it up, remembering how her father struggled to free it from the grate the last time they were there. Elizabeth thought it would make her father smile when she brought it to him.
He came back to bring Leah home. I’ll find him at her house.

She tucked the string in her pocket and pushed hard on the grate.
Why isn’t this moving?

Standing on her toes, she used her shoulder to give it a hard shove.

Great. This won’t open.
She examined the next grate. As she reached up, the grate flew off. An unobstructed light tucked its way through the opening. It looked brighter. As her head poked above the ground, she gasped.

Was that a snake?

Climbing out onto the street, she felt a temperature change as she sprinted into the alleyway for cover. The street was filled with shoppers, bargaining for deals.

Odd. I didn’t hear any people before.

She squinted. The pleasant aroma of food reminded her about tasting Leah’s cooking again. Now, if only she could remember the way back to Leah’s house.

Elizabeth leaned out from the alleyway, trying to pick out some landmarks on the street that she could identify. Everything looked familiar. It seemed oddly safe, like she was taking her evening walk to Crab Meadow Beach. She could blend in with the many crowd clusters too.

Plunging back into the moderate darkness of the alleyway, Elizabeth believed that this must have been where Leah surprised her and Michael as they were trying to get back home the last time. If that was the case, she would only have to follow this path all the way to the end, and then she should be able to see the aqueduct in the distance.

Elizabeth half-skipped, half-jogged past the many shops as the sky softened to an early evening darkness. She hesitated before navigating west into the alley. It only led her again into an unfamiliar area. She thought about asking for help but realized that she didn’t even know Leah’s last name, or if she even had one. Or what her street number was.

They probably don’t even have addresses here.

Elizabeth made a crooked turn down every street, understanding that Jerusalem was surrounded by a wall. Twice she found herself at the wall but there was no exit. The falling darkness made her uneasy and anxious. She squinted to see the low position of the setting sun and recognized the aqueduct to her right.

After following the sloping waterway overhead, she recognized the memorable homestead. Everything around her seemed murky and foreboding. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure she wasn’t being followed. Before she could see if anyone was watching her, she sprinted to Leah’s home.

She stopped a moment to rest. Then with a burst of renewed energy she sped past the front of the concrete home and through the gate, causing it to slam loudly against the courtyard wall. She didn’t stop to re-latch it, dashing straight to the woman in the kitchen.

“I’m back,” she yelled, throwing her arms around her.

Leah spun around, eyes and mouth wide open.

“It’s me, Elizabeth.”

Leah shook her head, her eyes confused.

“Oh,” Elizabeth said, pulling out the cross and placing it around her neck. “I’ve come back. I was so lost. I never thought I would get here. Can you understand me now?” She held on more tightly.

Leah stumbled back, nudging her away so she could look into her eyes. She whispered, “Yes, but what are you doing here?”

“I followed Dad through the tunnel. Isn’t he here?”

“Michael?”

“Yes. He came through the tunnel. We were at the church and he went down in the basement and the trapdoor was back.”

Elizabeth looked over Leah’s shoulder to the ladder leading to the second floor. “Where is he?”

Leah dropped her hands to her side. “He’s not here.”

“What do you mean? He left before me. He has to be here.”

Leah looked confused. “I have not seen him since both of you left. I am glad he is not here. ”

Puzzled, Elizabeth asked, “Why would you be glad? I thought you cared about him?”

“I cannot explain it all to you at this moment.” Leah paced, rubbing her hands against her robe. “You should not be here either. It is not safe.”

“It’s never been safe here.”

Leah glanced out to the courtyard and toward the gate beyond. In the moonless sky, there were few shadows now, only deep, black darkness. She paused for a moment before grabbing Elizabeth’s hand and pulling her to the ladder. “Go upstairs. I have dinner made. I will bring it up to you. Stay away from the window. Please go quickly and do not make any noise.”

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked, her eyes searching Leah’s face for a clue.

“You returning. This is wrong. Do not fear, child. I will get you home soon.” She placed her hand firmly on Elizabeth’s back. “For now, you must listen to everything I tell you. Now go upstairs and do not make any sounds.”

“Why do I have to be so quiet?”

Leah’s face flushed, her eyes filled with worry and sadness. “He may see you and that would not be good for you or me.”