Condemned by Christopher Renna (best biographies to read txt) 📗

screamed. He pulled at the wrist restraints, twisting his body from side to side and rising to his feet. He screamed that he could see the demon coming for him.

"We asked him to tell us what he could see. And Jared told us . . .

"The wall behind me is gone. It's gone! I can only see darkness. I can't see any light at all, but I can see the demon back there. I can see it walking toward me. It has black skin. Shiny, black skin. I don't see any clothes. It's pitch black with skin like a lizard, and it's ugly. It's so ugly. I don't want to see it. Its eyes are red and every time it breathes, I can see fiery air coming out of its nose and mouth.

"At this point," Father O'Leary said, "we asked Jared to recite the Lord's Prayer with us, which he had some difficulty doing because he was distracted by the approach of the demon. Then Father Bersani blessed him and sprinkled him with holy water before he and I recited the Prayer of Saint Michael.

"Jared continued to cry and scream in fear of the demon. He spoke of a great storm all around him, like a hurricane. And although his bedroom was still and silent, Jared's body and hair swayed and moved about as if a tremendous wind whipped around him. Water appeared on his body and face as though drenched by rain. There was no water in the room, or even on the bed itself. But the water continued to appear like raindrops pelting him.

"Father Bersani and I laid our hands upon him and prayed over him. Jared stared straight ahead, and he spoke of a vision. Yet he spoke as if his spirit, his soul, participated in the vision as he witnessed it. He said that he was running through a field of dark green grass, and all around him was blackness. The great storm continued to rage as he ran, but he didn't know if he was running toward something or away from it. But he felt like he was searching for something.

"Then Jared screamed that he saw the demon in the darkness. It was still walking toward him, but between him and the demon were his three friends. And Jared screamed out to them. He yelled their names, but they didn't appear to hear him. But he continued to scream warnings to them. He wanted them to run, but they simply stood in the field as if unaware of what was taking place around them. Then the demon started walking toward these young men. And Jared wanted to save them because he knew the demon wanted them as well."

Father O'Leary cast his eyes to the notebook. "Suddenly a great calm fell upon Jared. Although he still cried, he seemed completely at peace. His face and his exposed skin were illuminated by light. But neither the room nor the bed brightened. The light only shone on him. And we asked him to tell us what he was seeing. And he said . . .

"There's a creek at the edge of the field. And there's a field on the opposite side. It's green. There's no storm over there. The sunlight shines on the other side. It's bright and golden. It looks warm and peaceful. I'm walking to the creek, and I can see that the water is crystal clear. It's not very deep at all. I can see the smooth ground under the water. And there are gold coins everywhere in the creek. I can't even count how many gold coins are at the bottom. And now I see a wooden bridge. It's arched over the creek, leading from the bad field to the good side. And there's a man standing on the bridge. He's peaceful and beautiful. And he's wearing a white robe. And I think . . . no, I know it's Jesus. I can see Jesus."

Pausing, Father O'Leary gazed into the camera with tears in his eyes. "Father Bersani and I both laid a hand upon his shoulder and told him that he was in the presence of Jesus, that the divine power of God Almighty had blessed him. And we asked him to tell us what he saw. And Jared smiled. It was a lovely smile. He looked so handsome and peaceful. The wind and rain seemed to stop as he stepped closer to the creek, so his body no longer swayed with the storm. And he said . . .

"I'm looking at Jesus, and he's so beautiful. His robe is pure white. His hair is long and brown. He looks almost like the pictures I've seen at church, but not really. There's something different. But I . . . I know it's Him. My heart recognizes Jesus.

"He's looking at me. He's so peaceful. There's no storm at all but the ends of his hair are moving like a gentle breeze is in the air. He's looking directly at me and I say I need to get to the other side. I need to get my friends to the green field. But I don't think I can do it. They can't hear me. I don't think I can get to the other side. I'm scared for them. Something bad is going to happen if I can't get them over there. Jesus smiles at me. I can feel love and peace radiating from him. And when I look behind me, I can see the demon in the distance. Conner and Adam and Trevor are still standing there. I scream to them, but they still can't hear me. So I'm crying to Jesus, I can't get them over to the other side to save them! And then Jesus says . . .

"It is possible. And I'm crying because Jesus has spoken to me. But then I understand. It is possible. I can save them. I can save myself. I understand. I know what He means.