A Grave Situation (Part 1)

<p>"Glad that business is over,” Lucius said as he tapped the base of his spear against the huge stone in front of the tomb.</p><p>.</p><p>Justin nodded in agreement. “I just hope it doesn’t cause a revolt or something,” he said quietly so the other guards stationed nearby wouldn’t overhear.</p><p>.</p><p>“Nah,” Lucius replied. “Did you see how many Jews were at the crucifixion? Yet only a handful of them wept. Most were screaming, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ I don’t think the Jews are going to cause any trouble over this. Their leaders were the ones who brought him to Pontius Pilate to be crucified, after all.”</p><p>.</p><p>“Then why are we here?” asked Justin. “Why have this many soldiers guarding the sealed tomb of a man crucified as a criminal by his own people? It makes no sense.” </p><p>.</p><p>Lucius shrugged. “Some of the Jewish leaders are afraid his followers will try to steal the body—something about a prophecy he made about rising from the dead. But trust me, no one’s getting through this.” Lucius patted the heavy stone, then nodded toward the other soldiers. “Or us. Anyway, they say his followers scattered when he was arrested. Why would they risk it all now for someone who’s already dead?”</p><p>.</p><p>Justin let out a breath. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Even though standing guard outside a tomb still required his full attention—every Roman soldier knew that failing to fulfill his duty meant pain of death—he could still think of it as a break. No breaking up fights in the street or kicking beggars out of sight so prominent Romans didn’t have to look at them as they passed by. He could breathe the fresh air and listen to the breeze whispering through the trees—</p><p>.</p><p>Justin’s thoughts were interrupted as heat and light seared through every part of him. A scraping roar filled his ears, and he was knocked to his knees as the earth shook. He could hear the faint screams of the soldiers around him but couldn’t open his eyes in the blinding light. All he could do was throw his arms over his head unt