Secrets of Heaven

Hiss!

Gasps rippled through the group in front of the farmhouse. Even Hershel took a startled step back.

Maggie instinctively raised her hands to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. The man—this stranger—was staring right at her when he said her name.

"H-How do you know my name?" Maggie asked, genuinely stunned.

"I told you," Jason said confidently, arms folded. "I can tell fortunes. You didn't believe me, did you?"

Then he casually turned and pointed behind her. "And you—your name is Beth. Blond hair, younger sister, right?"

"Oh my god!"Beth let out a squeal and jumped back, hiding half her face behind her hands. "Is this a dream? Are you, like... a god or something?"

Everyone stared. No one remembered saying any names. They'd only been here five minutes—ten at most—and they had said nothing beyond pleasantries.

Hershel looked pale beneath his beard. His voice was rough when he asked, "Who are you, and how do you know so much about us?"

Behind Jason, even the members of his own group were exchanging confused glances.

Andrea leaned in close and whispered, "Jason… can you seriously tell fortunes?"

Jason smirked but didn't answer. Instead, he raised a hand and clapped it lightly. "Now, now. No need to be alarmed. What matters is that we're not here to hurt anyone."

He wasn't about to say, I saw you on TV. No one here would understand—and if he said it out loud, they might think he was crazy.

Still rattled, Hershel stepped back, clearly unsure what to make of this strange man who knew things he shouldn't. Without another word, he signaled the others on the farm, and slowly, they all retreated into the house.

With the tension easing, Jason and his group began setting up camp just outside the farm's fence. The area was quiet, isolated, and relatively safe—aside from a few secrets still hidden in the barn.

"I don't think the old man likes us much,"Dale muttered, leaning against the side of the truck as he watched Hershel disappear into the house.

"He looked like he wanted to call the cops—if there were still any cops," Dale added with a snort. "But the second you said you could tell fortunes, he looked like he'd seen a ghost. So… how'd you do it?"

Jason grinned and made a vague gesture in the air. "Everything is predetermined by fate. The secrets of heaven must not be casually revealed."

Just then, a ball bounced off the side of his head.

"Ow! Who threw that?!"

Carl peeked sheepishly from behind the car. "Sorry!"

Jason narrowed his eyes, feigning offense. "So it's you, huh? Watch where you're throwing, little man!" But he chuckled, rubbing his head.

Laughter drifted through the camp, but inside the house, the mood was much heavier.

Hershel sat on the worn sofa, hands trembling slightly as he lit his pipe. He stared out the window at the convoy parked near the edge of the property.

"Impossible," he muttered, almost to himself. "Absolutely impossible."

Maggie stepped inside just in time to hear him. She crossed her arms, leaning on the doorway. "You really shouldn't smoke so much. You always say it's bad for your lungs."

But Hershel didn't respond to that. He just kept staring out the window.

"That man…" he began slowly. "There's something mysterious about him. Maybe he can tell fortunes. Or maybe he's just a damn good liar. But either way, if he meant us harm, he wouldn't have needed tricks. Did you see that vehicle? Full of guns. And they have children with them."

Maggie walked over to join him, following his gaze. "Maybe they're just travelers," she said quietly. "They looked tired. And... he didn't feel like a bad person."

She didn't mention the way Jason had smiled when he said her name. Or how her heart had skipped a beat.

But it was there.