As old secrets collide with present dangers, Obadiah realizes one of his own has gone farther than expected. Meanwhile, Laric, Allen, and Zanna discover that the mystery surrounding Colin reaches back to one of Judah's darkest kings. And while heroes race to save lives, Antioch calmly watches the next phase of his plan fall into place.
Episode 26 | Mishkkanor| Reign of King Manasseh
As old secrets collide with present dangers, Obadiah realizes one of his own has gone farther than expected. Meanwhile, Laric, Allen, and Zanna discover that the mystery surrounding Colin reaches back to one of Judah's darkest kings. And while heroes race to save lives, Antioch calmly watches the next phase of his plan fall into place.
Obadiah stood alone at the edge of the ridge.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon, though he wasn't looking at the beauty before him.
He was listening.
Luk-el approached quietly.
"Something's wrong."
Obadiah didn't answer.
Luk-el followed his gaze into the distance.
"It's Asher, isn't it?"
A long silence.
Finally—
"He's still moving."
Luk-el frowned.
"You sent him for a name."
"I did."
"Then why hasn't he returned?"
Obadiah's expression hardened.
"He found more than I asked him to find."
Luk-el's wings shifted faintly beneath the surface of his earthly form.
"That's not good."
"No," Obadiah said quietly.
"It isn't."
The wind stirred across the ridge.
Not air.
Something deeper.
Luk-el studied him.
"Has he disobeyed you?"
Obadiah closed his eyes.
"He's made a choice."
"To do what?"
"To continue."
Luk-el stepped closer.
"Do we pull him back?"
Obadiah remained silent.
Because what he felt wasn't danger.
Not yet.
It was something subtler.
A path changing.
One decision becoming another.
"He isn't in danger..." Obadiah said at last.
"...yet."
Luk-el exhaled slowly.
"But he will be."
Obadiah nodded.
"Yes."
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Present Day — Baylor City, SC
Rachel Abner had barely finished grading the last history paper when a sharp knock echoed through the quiet house.
She glanced toward the clock. Nearly ten.
Another knock followed, softer this time.
Setting her red pen aside, Rachel walked to the front door and peered through the sidelight window.
Her breath caught.
"Colin?"
She unlocked the door without thinking.
The teenage boy stood on the porch, shoulders slumped beneath a soot-stained hoodie. His sneakers were blackened with ash, and his face looked exhausted, as though he hadn't slept in days. The frightened, awkward student she remembered from class was still there—but something in his eyes had changed.
"Colin... everyone's been looking for you."
He kept his head down.
Silence.
"Come inside."
He didn't move.
Rachel frowned. "Whatever happened, we'll figure it out. Let me call someone who can help."
His head snapped up.
"No!”
The word came out so violently it startled them both.
Rachel took a cautious step toward him.
The silver pendant hanging beneath his shirt pulsed with a dull crimson glow.
Colin flinched as though something had tightened around his chest.
Rachel hesitated and extended a hand.
"Colin?"
A sudden gust of hot wind swept across the porch.
The porch light flickered.
Rachel looked beyond Colin into the darkness.
Something moved.
A tall shadow detached itself from the night.
Its shape was almost human, yet wrong in every proportion. Smoke curled from beneath its feet, and its eyes glowed like dying coals.
Rachel opened her mouth to scream.
The Reaper crossed the distance in an instant.
A burning hand struck the side of her head.
Everything exploded into darkness.
Fire burst from his outstretched hands like liquid sunlight.
The front curtains ignited.
Flames raced across the ceiling with impossible speed.
Windows shattered one after another.
The Reaper vanished into the smoke as silently as it had appeared.
Colin staggered backward, horror spreading across his face.
The fire roared louder.
Sirens echoed faintly somewhere in the distance.
He turned and ran.
🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️
Across town, Allen stopped his car at the traffic light with Laric beside him. Zanna in the backseat looked up from the notebook in her lap.
"I found a little more on Manasseh."
Allen glanced in the rearview mirror. "Anything useful?"
"He was one of Judah's kings... but not a good one."
"How bad?" Allen said.
"He promoted idol worship, practiced sorcery, consulted mediums..." She paused. "The Bible says he led Judah farther from God than any king before him. He even sacrificed his own son."
Allen let out a low whistle.
"I can't get that pendant out of my head."
Laric looked over.
"Neither can I."
Silence.
Allen finally said,
"And Colin's wearing something from his reign."
Zanna nodded.
"I don't think that's a coincidence."
Laric stared through the windshield.
"Neither do I."
Allen looked over.
"You think that thing has something to do with Colin setting the fires?”
Laric didn't answer immediately.
Finally—
"I think..."
He searched for the words.
"...I think Colin changed after he put it on."
Allen frowned.
"You really believe that?"
Laric's eyes never left the road ahead.
"It fits. Every time we've seen him... he's been wearing it. Look what happened at the Community Center... and at his house."
"You think Colin knows what’s happening to him?"
Laric shook his head. "I don't think Colin knows much of anything anymore."
Allen nodded absently.
Then he froze.
A lone figure sprinted across the intersection ahead.
Even beneath the streetlights, Laric recognized the familiar hoodie.
"Colin!"
The teenager never looked back.
Allen threw the truck into park.
Both boys jumped out.
"Colin!" Laric shouted.
Colin disappeared between two houses before either of them could close the distance.
Then Allen stopped.
"Laric..."
Laric turned.
Orange light reflected across the neighborhood.
He recognized Rachel Abner's home engulfed in flames.
Fire poured through the second-story windows as neighbors rushed from their homes, shouting into their phones.
Laric's stomach dropped.
"No..."
He looked toward the alley where Colin had vanished.
Then back to the burning house.
For a split second, he had to choose.
Chase the boy...
...or make sure Rachel was safe.
🕊️ 🕊️ 🕊️
The flames climbed higher, turning the night sky orange.
From the darkness beyond the neighboring houses, three figures watched in silence.
Colin stood motionless.
The glow of the fire reflected in his eyes.
Antioch rested a hand lightly on the boy's shoulder.
"The teacher will be unavailable for some time."
He turned to Isis.
"The school will need someone to take her place."
Isis never looked away from the fire.
"I'm ready."
Antioch gave a slow nod.
"Good."
His eyes remained fixed on the burning house.
"The second move is complete."
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