Old City, Jerusalem – Safehouse
7:00 P.M.
The apartment was dimly lit, its windows covered by thick, sun-bleached curtains. Nate's hands were still shaking. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving behind an unsettling awareness—they had barely made it out alive.
Leah paced near the window, peeking outside. "No sign of them."
Nate exhaled, rubbing his temples. "For now."
On the battered wooden table in front of them, the scroll rested untouched, still sealed in its protective casing. The lost Gospel of John.
"This is bigger than we thought," Nate muttered. "They're not just reacting to prophecy—they're making it happen."
Leah nodded grimly. "And they're just getting started."
Nate picked up his phone. More breaking news.
{ARMED CONFLICT ERUPTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER SUDDEN MILITARY ATTACK
NATIONS ON EDGE AS ESCALATION THREATENS GLOBAL PEACE
IS THIS THE SECOND HORSEMAN?}
He clenched his jaw.
The Second Seal. The Red Horse. War.
Someone was pushing world powers into chaos, piece by piece. And if they didn't stop it, the next prophecy would unfold like clockwork.
"Who do we go to?" Nate asked.
Leah didn't hesitate. "We need to find Professor Amir Rahim."
Nate frowned. "The historian? He disappeared two years ago."
She met his gaze. "No. He went into hiding."
Nate ran a hand down his face. Of course. Rahim was a religious historian who had once claimed the Book of Revelation was being manipulated. People called him crazy. But now?
Maybe he'd been right all along.
Leah grabbed a satchel and carefully tucked the scroll inside. "We need to move. Before they find us."
Nate nodded. They had one shot at stopping this before it spiraled out of control.
---
Jaffa Port – 11:45 P.M.
The old port smelled of salt and damp stone. The waves slapped against the docks, eerily calm despite the storm brewing across the world.
A lone boat bobbed near the pier. A hooded man stood beside it, hands in his coat pockets.
Leah exhaled. "That's him."
Nate studied the figure. He looked older, thinner than in the pictures—his beard flecked with gray, his eyes weary.
Rahim's voice was rough. "I hoped I'd never see that scroll again."
Leah pulled back her hood. "We didn't have a choice."
The historian sighed. "Then it's worse than I feared."
He gestured to the boat. "Come. We don't have much time."
Nate followed, but the unease in his chest grew. The moment they stepped onto that boat, there was no turning back.