for a moment, pointing toward the corridor before them. “This is a temporary holding area, one of many, where some of those cast out from God’s presence await the pleasure of their new master.”
“And what will he do to these people?” asked Serena, who was only beginning to realize that she would soon be among them.
“Do you really want to know?”
Serena only nodded.
“I cannot say what his specific plans are for you,” replied the angel, “but it is nothing pleasant, I can assure you. All I can tell you is that I was directed to bring you here, to this place, to await your sentencing.”
“Directed by God?” asked Serena.
Only silence answered her question. Then she realized the answer. “No, it was that terrible dragon at the mouth of that portal of darkness, wasn’t it? He somehow told you to bring me here, didn’t he?”
The angel nodded.
“And you listened to him? Did what he asked?”
Again the angel nodded.
“But why? Answer me that.”
“Because that is the way God would have it,” replied the angel. “Satan and God are adversaries, but they are, as you might say, on speaking terms. There are agreements, arrangements made between them, even now.”
“No way,” objected Serena. “How can that be?”
“It is, nonetheless, the case,” confirmed the angel. “Have you never heard the story of Job?”
Serena had heard of it many times, but had never actually read the Old Testament book. She knew the basic premise, however. The Book of Job tells how God allows the devil to afflict His faithful servant Job with all manner of curses to test his faithfulness to his Creator. Why? Because the devil had challenged God, claimed that if Job faced true adversity, he would not continue to be faithful to his Creator. By Serena’s way of thinking, it implied that God made a bet with the devil, at Job’s expense.
The angel continued. “Then you realize that there are lines of communication between the Creator and satan. Satan is, apparently, quite interested in you. The Father agreed to turn you over directly to him.”
That sent a chill up Serena’s spine. “But why is satan interested in me? What am I to him?”
The angel’s answer was slow and deliberate, well rehearsed, as if he’d spoken it a thousand times. “Satan is interested in all of humanity. Satan’s envy, his hatred of God knows no limits, child, and it deepened with the passing of time. He cannot strike out at God directly, however he can vent his wrath upon that thing which God loves most deeply, humankind. That is his interest in your kind. However, in your case, his interest would seem to be even greater. You are to have a sentencing hearing before satan himself. I do not know why.”
“That isn’t normal?” asked Serena.
“No, it isn’t,” confirmed the angel. “Satan does not have the time to review the case of every human condemned to this place. Some of the lost are dealt with by his many minions who take them to their predetermined place of eternal punishment, there to become just another soul among billions. There is no hearing, no trial, only quick retribution. Still others are never found by his minions at all. They drift through outer darkness as disembodied spirits until the terrible Day of Judgment. For you to have been brought to this place tells me that satan has something special planned for you.”
“Then God has thrown me to the wolves. He put me exactly where satan wants me. He did it to all of the people here. He has played right into satan’s hands, given him what he wanted. I was delivered to the devil on a silver platter. How can a loving God condone such a thing?” Serena asked.
The angel scowled. “God didn’t do this to you, you did this to yourself. God offered you a means of escape from this place, but you rejected it. By your own actions, your own rebellion, you chose to dwell in this place.” Again the angel looked down the corridor. “Come, we must get you to your cell.