Chapter 4: Photographer

"It is 2003, 3rd of the 11th month. Are you sure you are ready?" A middle aged woman asked her son.

"Yes mom, just as I promised." Dylan Brown smiled at his mother in reply and kissed her on the cheek.

"You'd better be!" His mother replied to him.

Dylan went to his pick-up truck and took his camera stand to his truck. He was going out to take his photographs to a convention. He is very excited to present his masterpieces to the public and hopes that it may gain recognition from the judges and the audience.

Dylan is an amateur photographer that specializes in natural scenery. He takes pictures of landscapes, mountains, seas and his nearby environment. He is also a supporter of green peace and pro-environment movements.

His mother went out from the house and bid him farewell and he did the same. Dylan then entered his pick-up truck and then drove to the convention in the city. It will be a while before he would come back but he had already planned his trip and the souvenirs he may bring home after the convention.

He traveled several miles from home and reached the highway. He noticed that there seemed to be a traffic jam. As he looked at the time from his watch it was still 9:50 AM. The convention starts at 2:00 PM, so he was not worried about the time and was not in a hurry.

While waiting for the traffic jam to clear. Dylan noticed something peculiar. The atmosphere suddenly changed and the air around him seemed odd. The windshield of his vehicle was suddenly fogged. The drop in temperature suddenly gave him chills.

"What happened here?" Dylan asked himself and tried to open the window of his car.

Two figures that looked like people appeared in front of his vehicle. The two didn't seem to be friendly with each other and Dylan saw from his fogged windshield that they were trading punches.

"Is there some kind of a movie being filmed here?" Dylan opened the window on the driver's side.

As he opened the window the temperature went back to normal and the fog suddenly cleared from his windshield. One of the two figures who were fighting ran away to the left while the other chased him. Moments later three cops arrived at the scene and the two of them went where the two ran earlier.

When the coast was clear the cop was approached by a highway patrol and the two talked for a couple of minutes. After that the two went back to the sidewalk and then the traffic started moving again. The traffic jam took almost an hour.

The event etched on Dylan's mind as he continued to drive to his destination.

"I don't know what happened. That was not a shooting for a film."

At 11:00 AM, Dylan arrived at the stadium where the event was being held. As he arrived he was met by the organizers and the promoters as he was assisted to bring his works and photographs to the exhibit. He was thankful that he still made it hours before the time in order for him to prepare himself.

While he was taking his things from the trunk of his car, a huge man called his attention. Dylan looked at the man who was calling at him. The man was not familiar with him and he looked puzzled with the man smiling at him.

"Do I know you? I'm sorry, I do not mean to be rude or anything." Dylan asked suspiciously to the man.

"Oh, hahaha I apologize. I am pastor Felix from the Celestine Faith Movement. I am a fan of your photography and your works." The pastor explained to the suspicious Dylan.

"I'm sorry, as a man of faith I should have not treated you that way!" Dylan sincerely apologized.

"No, it's fine! Mind if I help you with that?" Felix offered.

"Sure, the more hands the better." Dylan accepted his offer.

Felix signals his followers to help Dylan with his stuff and help him in his stall for the exhibition. After the setting up of his stall, Dylan got his temporary pass from the manager and wore it with the sling. He went to the cafeteria and saw Felix with a group of people.

"Hello Dylan, would you want to come and join us?" Felix called his attention.

"Uh, sure!" Dylan nodded and then joined Felix and his friends in their seats.

"It is the famed photographer. How are you, I have seen your pictures from the lifestyle magazine."

"Yeah, you young man have a good talent at photography."

The chatter continued with Felix's friends as they ate their separate meals.

"By the way, you have a special somebody?" Asked a blonde young woman from the group.

"Oh, about that? I only have my mom. I do not have someone in my life yet. Maybe soon, but for now I am currently focused on my career." Dylan replied and felt bashful towards the lady.

"There's no need to be shy. She is Celina one of the members of our choir." Celina smiled at Dylan.

While the group was eating Dylan noticed that it was already 30 minutes past 12:00 noon. He finished the last bite of his sandwich and excused himself from the group. He hurried to his stall in the exhibition to find a lot of viewers of his photographs. Upon seeing the scene he felt satisfied that his efforts had bore fruit. He never thought that he'd gone that far and was recognized for his efforts.

Meanwhile, ten minutes before the convention started. Alex Hamilton arrived with a group of bodyguards. Felix came to the entrance to meet him personally and greeted him.

"My apologies for my late arrival." Alex said to the pastor.

"Oh, no you are actually on time. Please, come in the exhibit will start shortly." Felix escorted Alex to the high class seat in the stadium.

Alex had recognized a strange source of energy coming from the direction of Dylan's stall. He looked at him from the distance.

"Who is that man that occupied that stall over there?" Alex asked Felix.

Felix looked in the direction towards Dylan's stall and answered, "Oh, that's our new talent for this year Mr. Alex."

"A new talent?" Alex asked.

"Yes sir!" Felix replied at him.

"Interesting!" Alex replied at him touching his golden ring from his left hand. The ring shimmers with golden light as he did this.

"Brother Clement was right. The prophecy is bound to happen."