About the Author

My name is Terrell Young I am a recent graduate of Kent State University.  My last class I took there was a prose poetry class that provoked this hunger to write.  I was born and raised in a Christian environment. I am a Youth Leader at my church (Faith Ministries Christian Center in Lorain Ohio).  I also have a band called N.O.W. (Nation Of Worshipers) that I write for and sing with.  I just wanted to share this new gift God has given me.

For use of any material please contact Terrell Young via email or phone
tyoung3@kent.edu  or tlyoung1@student.malone.edu
330-280-2129

While You Were Sleeping ...

A short story by Terrell Young

I got the call about 12:30 am.  There was a fire at a small church outside of Philadelphia.  My partner is still on vacation so I had to go alone.  I could see the church from afar off the fire was dwindling away. I thought it was strange that I was the first to the scene.  No fire trucks no rescue no nothing just me.  I run into the stench of burning flesh. I yell to see if there were any survivors, no response.  I immediately call for back up and my radio goes dead.  I can’t wait any longer I bust into the church and I see… I see the most horrific sight.  I’ve never seen death look so, so- there were men women children all over. Perfectly still bodies in pews on the floors but none of them were burned, they where covered in this grey tent of soot all of them were bleeding from their eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.  I began shaking them hoping to find just one soul still breathing.  I failed miserably.  I start searching for ID’s on some of the men and found none my heart is growing with anger each passing second; I stop to scream into my radio I hear nothing but static. 

I see a room that is marked as “Pastor’s Study” I try to open the door and burn my hand; the knob is a searing iron, I step back and kick the door in.  I see a man dressed in a black robe kneeling in a fetal like position I call out to him but get no response, I go to shake him and I see he is bleeding just as they others only he is clutching something with both hands.  I turn him over and see it is a video tape with a label that says “Please Don’t Play” Thunder begins rolling over the scene angry drops of rain combat the desolate building lightning begins cracking her whip and suddenly there is darkness.  I am paralyzed with fear my radio begins to whisper static I’m trying to move but can’t, the storms orchestra begins a crescendo another crack and I fall over onto the pastor the tape falls to the floor beside me I look up and see his lifeless eyes staring right through me I am well beyond fear my heart is in my throat and as I try to look away then he blinks…

A shrill of a scream commands to come out of me but my body refuses.  Suddenly I feel a bone piercing chill that runs through my body I am surrounded by death but I feel a living presence of death near me.  The pastor starts to shake violently I am beyond fear I am wishing for death to take me and it does but I do not die… all at once a beam of light explodes through out the building and I find myself back in the service before the fire I seem to be outside of time all of my senses are active but I get no response from anyone I see.  The church is full of life but there are also these demonic being s or forces that are present that seemingly no one sees.  The spirit of death is leading me and I follow I see them singing shouting and worshiping but there is no response from the realm I am in.

Without warning a beastly command comes from a chief demon to attack them that are in the church.  They all start with the pastor hundreds of demons just overtake the leader as I’m seeing this happen the pastor’s face begins to change it looks as though he knows he’s being attacked but doesn’t know where it’s coming from.  Then another command from the chief demon and hundreds of demons enter the church and move toward the congregation.  There is chaos erupting but there is no sound.  I see all kinds of spirits anger, rage, lust, suicide, murder.   I begin to shout but no one can hear me death looks at as if to say there’s no use and I stop.  I am immediately overwhelmed sorrow and grief an aggressive weep comes over me as I see these attacks take place.  The demons have no regard for their prey women children it doesn’t matter.  All while this is going on I began to wonder where God is; does He know this is happening right when my thought unfolded death lead me right to Him Standing in the corner of the church there He was with tears streaming down his face.  Once death leads me to Him we both fell before Him saying Lord, Lord.  

With all the life out of my body I feel a gentle hand help me to my feet and strength comes upon me I felt the scars upon His hands and I knew how unclean I was.  With my head bowed down and no words being uttered He knew my thoughts.  He spoke in a still somber voice “ Yes I knew this day would come and it still grieves my heart for man has chose the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life over my love for him”.  I couldn’t help but wonder why He wouldn’t stop the demons from reeking havoc in the church of all places; again knowing my thoughts He spoke “My Fathers House was to be a House of Prayer but man has made it a den of thieves, I gave man dominion in the earth, I gave authority in My name but no one knows my Name or its power”.   I wanted to say Lord I seen them worshiping and calling out to You before I could finish my thought He spoke saying “these people worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me”.  Then I had no thoughts, all I could hear was my Savior weeping. 

We woke up; it was Sunday we were asleep…