The shorter guy-who told me his name was Dylan- was making a massive pot of soup. He was apparently in charge of the kitchen, because he put Morgan and Aden to work chopping vegetables, and I got the job of cutting a long French baguette into slices.

"Here you go." Dylan handed me a bread knife, giving me a toothy grin. "You may be destined to be the next Benevolent, but for now you can slice bread."

I gave him a mock salute, which seemed to amuse him, and set to work.

A few minutes later we were sitting in the squishy arm chairs with huge steaming bowls of soup and crooked slices of baguette.

"Man, I hope you rule the world better then you slice bread."  Dylan laughed. I must have looked panicked, because Beefcake slapped me on the back, nearly sending my soup flying.

"Don't worry, boy. Once the knowledge is handed down it will all be second nature."

"The knowledge?"

Beefcake looked pointedly at Aden, who shrugged as she blew on a spoonful of soup. "It's all been kind of a blur. I've only told him so much."

Beefcake smacked himself in the forehead, comically. "Yeesh, okay here goes." He turned to me again. "When the switch happens all the memories of all the benevolent before you are transferred to you. So you'll know how to do everything right away."

I stared at him in alarm. "So all this info will just magically bust into my mind? Won't that...change me? Will I get taken over?" It brought bad science fiction movies to mind. It was creepy.

"No, no" Beefcake said hurriedly. "You'll still be you...I think."

"Only smarter," Morgan chirped happily, and Aden snorted. "Won't be hard."

I shot her a dark look, spooning mouthfuls of hot soup while I digested this new information. In spite of Beefcakes protests, I couldn't help thinking - How was it possible to dump thousands of years of knowledge into one person's head and not change their personality? They were offering me unlimited power and knowledge here. I was going to rule the world for God's sake.

So why did it seem, more and more, that I didn't like the idea?

It took days to explore the entire church. I found it was best to wander about by myself, since the rest of my companions were growing more restless. It had become apparent that the other SUV was not coming to meet us. The other men hadn't contacted us, and when Beefcake tried to call them he eventually hung up, his face dark. No one would say it, but it was obvious they weren't coming. I explored the entire church, discovered what the inside of the confessionals looked like, (stuffy and oppressive) climbed the winding narrow staircase to the highest tower and rapped my knuckles on the brass bell (which reverberated loudly enough to rattle my brain in my skull) and walked through the leafy maze that was the vineyard (in which I discovered a hideous gargoyle fountain statue, who I named "Harold").

On the third day I found myself in the huge, auditorium-like main section of the church, standing by the alter, looking over a never ending ocean of wooden pews. Aden had gone to town with a few of the guys to get more groceries, and Morgan had vanished to god-knows-where...check that, hopefully god didn't know where.

Since most of the Malake ha-Mawet showed no inclination to babysit me, I went exploring even further. I had plunked away at the organ, pretended to preach a sermon to an invisible audience and now I was just pacing around, listening to the dull "thunk thunk" of my own footsteps on the carpet. The silence was a little unnerving, like, a holy silence or something. I guess big churches tend to give off that vibe. I sighed and sat down on the front pew and stared at the accusing arch-angel. He seemed to be pointing at me, telling me I was a coward. It was true. I'd never had the chance to ask Aden if she saw my sister hanging around. To be honest, I was afraid to. The idea that Sarah might be wandering the earth, stuck here as a ghost where no one could see her...I could feel something prickle the backs of my eyes and I told myself it wasn't tears. No, Sarah was somewhere on the other side, hanging out somewhere nice, giggling with Jessica, watching Jonny Depp movies and eating too much chocolate. I was determined to believe that, but still, just in case...

I cleared my throat, already feeling stupid.

"Um, hello?" Like I would get an answer. Idiot. "Sarah, if you can hear me, um, well...hi, for starters." I stumbled on. I sounded like a raging nut job, but it was just me and the invisible congregation, so what the hell...

"I want you to know that...well, that I'm sorry. Sometimes I feel mad at you, for leaving me behind to deal with mom." My weak laughter echoed back at me, eerie and pathetic. "I'm...I never meant it if I said anything. I was pretty devastated when...well, you know. I ranted at you, at God." I laughed again, and the sound was slightly hysterical, even to my ears. "And now look! He's trying to kill me!" I dragged one shaking hand across my eyes, surprised when it came away wet.

"Geeze, I wish you were here right now. I feel like everything is spiraling out of control." I shut my eyes and a few tears escaped. I hoped no one came in and caught me like this, crying and talking to myself. "Anyways, I don't blame you of course. Shit happens all the time. It's still lonely without you though."

I felt something then, a gentle pressure on my knee, a hand. My eyes flew open in shock. There was no one there and the pressure vanished. I rubbed my knee, wondering if my mind was playing tricks on me. Sometimes, if you want something badly enough your imagination can take over. Like when really religious people start seeing Mother Mary in their pop tarts. I stood up and shook myself. Why would Sara have stayed behind? She would be on the other side dancing in meadows of daisies or something. All the same, I threw over my should on the way out,"Going to bed now, love you sis."

It was stupid, but it made me feel better.