Reed was pushed into a room and his blindfold was snatched away. He was then slapped.

Only the boss and the young man with the curly hair were with Reed. It was an abandoned classroom.

“What made you go to those people and spread lies and garbage?” the boss asked.

Reed took a deep breath. “It’s not a lie,” he said.

With greater force, Reed was slapped again.

The boss put his gun on the table at the front of the room. He took the young man with curly hair aside to the other half of the room.

“I want you to watch him, Pheo,” the boss said.

The boss left the room.

Reed lifted his head and opened his eyes. He was next to the table with the gun on it. Pheo was at the other side of the room.

Both Reed and Pheo noticed the gun. Pheo became alert but Reed put his head down and leaned on the chalkboard.

Pheo walked to the front of the room and took the gun from the table.

“I was listening to what you were saying at the village,” Pheo said.

The boss entered the room. “Get out here, Pheo,” he commanded.

Pheo enter the hallway.

“You left the gun on the table, sir,” Pheo said. “He was right beside it. We both saw it at the same time, but he didn’t go for it.”

The boss showed Pheo that the gun had no bullets in it.

“He must have known that I removed the ammunition,” the boss said. “He wouldn’t have gotten passed all guards.”

Pheo remained silent.

“We’ll deal with him in the morning,” the boss said.

The night came. Reed was huddled in a corner. Just as he was about to doze off, the door quietly opened.

The one opening the door was Pheo. “Keep quiet,” he said.

“What’s going on?” Reed responded.

“I wanted to ask you why you didn’t reach for the gun,” Pheo said. “I’m the one that informed the boss where you were. It’s because of me that you are here. I’m sure you’ve figured that out. Why didn’t you take me out for what I did to you?”

“You heard the message,” Reed replied.

“Is that how your Jesus behaved?” Pheo asked. “Isn’t that a bit foolish.”

“What happens to me is in God’s hands,” Reed said. “Also, Jesus taught to love. Shooting you in that circumstances would not have been showing you love.”

“I heard the story,” Pheo said, “but what are the details of what Jesus taught.”

Reed and Pheo talked through the night. The sun eventually began to rise.

Sometime in the day, Reed woke up from the little sleep he had. Pheo came into the room.

“Get up,” Pheo said. “I snuck around the village and found out that the authorities are on their way. I haven’t told the boss. I’m not going to. You and I are getting out of here.”

Suddenly, marching footsteps came towards the room. The boss entered with his men. Two of them grabbed Reed and took him outside. Pheo saw a pocket-sized bible where Reed was sitting.

Pheo left the room with the bible in his back-pocket. He came out and saw that the men had Reed in front of a wooden wall.

The men had their guns aimed at Reed. He had nowhere to run.

Pheo looked on in sadness.

“Have fun boys!” the boss cheered.

The screen turned off.

“What was done for your sins, Reed?” The Light asked.

Reed began to cry tears of joy.

“He’s laughing?” Nait said to himself.

The court doors opened, and light came in. Nait shielded his eyes. He heard someone walking in.

When Nait unshielded his eyes, he saw that someone in white stood next to Reed.

“They were paid for,” the man standing beside Reed answered.

The brightness became too much for Nait to bear.

“Nait,” The Light said. “The Gospel is shared with people in many different ways. It is a message truly of love. It is a precious gift from on high. There will come a day when the world will be judged in righteousness. It will be more thorough than all that you experienced here. Know that I love you dearly.”

The one who stood beside Reed was all that could be seen. The last thing Nait saw in the bright light was a glimpse of a warm, loving smile.