She sat down quietly on the frigid bench at the corner of this confined space that smelt like a mix of everything that could be called disgusting.
It was too bad that her loveliest gown was about to be forever smudged with the stain of dust mixed with moisture which coated the bench an inch thick.
The dark, slimy walls in this claustrophobic place loomed extremely high and the tiny sounds of rats scampering around echoed.

It was already slowly getting dark and as the atmospheric lights dimmed, Ella could slowly feel every glimmer of hope she'd had in the few hours she'd spent alone in this dungeon flicker off.

Nothing she did, no position she crouched or shifted into, could shake off the immense dread that she now felt swimming in her blood.

It was definitely hopeless. Her fate was sealed. Knowing it was her father who ordered it, she knew she was going to pay a full price if she ever expected to come out of here alive.

A bitter sob rose up her throat and she let it out.

It seemed as if the demons in her mind had somehow resurfaced and were now clawing at her and suffocating her.

This is my mess. This was entire my fault.

She knew she deserved the punishment she was receiving. Why did she have to drag the wonderful people that had stepped in her life into this problem?

She could imagine the agitation of her brother, and more so Deborah. Mr and Mrs Layson, who knew most of her life's story would be at a loss of what to do.

She remembered Matthew and another sob, much deeply rooted, rose.
That short bliss she felt was now a shut and locked chapter.
She should focus on thinking of how to escape this place. But her mind was a vagabond, and when she recall how tenderly he had looked at and spoken to her, she couldn't stop the louder wail and bigger tears that wriggled out of her soul. The walls amplified the sound of her wailing and she felt as if her own voice was taunting her.

The monsters of her past were finally catching up with her. There was no more running and hiding.
Just why did it have to be here and now when everything was already becoming perfect again?

Ella didn't wish to cry, knowing it wouldn't solve anything, but she did anyway, having nothing else to do to ease her sorrow.

"Jesus," she cried. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry for messing up. I caused this."

You have been forgiven. A long time ago.

Her ears barely heard the whisper and she almost dismissed the voice as her imagination.
Comfort, like a warm thick quilt, like a steaming cup of coffee in a icy room, washed over her.
This was real. He was here with her. In storm or calm. Ella's eyes pooled as His love washed over her again.

A metal door clanged far above and echoed down the passage.
It startled her, reminding her of the fact that she was a lone soul abandoned here.

Those armed men hadn't taken her to the Ivory Police Station as she had been expecting.
The drive had been long and confusing. At a point, she almost feared that they were either lost or this men were professional crooks who'd perfectly lied just to kidnap her. However, the logo—an engraving of two opposite fluids that swirled in a circular arc— at the peak of the single-storeyed complex they led her into silenced all her doubts.

The place, she had cursorily observed as they shoved her in, was more or less a secret location. No one moved around that area and there was a thick covering of foliage which blended well with the green paint of the building.

The bars they put her behind was situated at the extreme end of the building, down spiral flight of stairs, possibly the basement.

Obviously, she was an hardened prime suspect and as such, she deserved to be kept by herself. The loneliness and cold down here was unbearable but there was nothing she could do about it because the men who brought her in didn't as much as speak a word to her since they apprehended her. All they did was file in reports and updates to an unknown authority on the other side of their sophisticated gadgets.

The sound of feet drew near and Ella hoped it was someone who was there to bring her out.

"Hello?" she called when the sound faded away. Her voice had a tremor in it and she cleared it off to speak louder. "Anybody there?"

"Well, well, well," a silky voice drawled.

Ella's blood chilled. She wanted nothing more than for the walls to swallow her in.

"If it isn't the self proclaimed free bird who has finally come back to roost in her cage. How convenient?" Sound of clopping heels echoed as the speaker drew nearer.
"Life, indeed, is a cruel cycle."

Ella, even though she wished otherwise, could clearly make out the outline of his face twisted in a triumphant expression just on the other side of the bars.

She gulped as her heart bounced like a tennis ball against a wall.

He turned and motioned for someone to come. One of the men who had brought her in took out a key, unlocked the bars and left the place as if on cue.

Ella was standing on shaky feet that grew weaker by the second, breathing hard and trying to see if she could somehow suddenly disappear.

Her father stepped in and held his hands to his back as he slowly surveyed the place they held her bound in.
The walls seemed to tighten even more around her. The place suddenly felt crowded and stuffy.

Automatically, her mind recalled the two giant demons she'd had a glimpse of when she confronted him in his office. She couldn't help but strongly sense that they were with him again.

She tried to appear unruffled, but inside her she was an emotional mess.

"It isn't fit for a special entity as you to be here, don't you think?"

Ella didn't know what to think. Her head, throat and heart pounded as he began a measured circular prowl.
Her mouth was parched and she didn't even have any reply to give him.

He tsked and shook his head. "My, my, my. What a shame! I never wanted to resort to this, Aquifer, but you left me no choice."

"I would suggest you have a seat. We must get this all straightened out."

Ella remained fixed to the spot. With each passing second, she couldn't help the bile of disgust that rose in her chest against him.

He stared at her with steely eyes and seeing she wasn't going to sit, he continued, "Alright then. The first thing you must know is that nobody can ever find out where you are. This is a out-of-range zone hidden away even from the view of any GPS in the world. Meaning, nobody, not even your petty friends will be able to find you."

Well, Ella thought, trying to hold on to the last strand of hope she had. At least the Redeemer is omnipresent. I'm not completely unfindable. Or am I?

"And if you don't comply with what I'm about to tell you, you might just hear word that one of them has been decimated in a freak accident."

Ella's head shot up and her eyes met his glinting irises and the evil smirk he wore.
Was that a threat?
An image of Matthew, Deborah and Jeremiah lying on the floor in a pile, bleeding from several fatal wounds wriggled into her mind. Ella shivered involuntarily.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on any of them," she gritted out in what she thought was her toughest warning tone only to realize it came out more like a squeak of a mouse in front of a lion.

He scoffed. "Well, that all depends on you, as well as other variables. Now, let's get this over with shall we?"

She didn't reply.

"Oh, and before we continue, may I just let you know that there's not a speck of water near this vicinity. Just so you know that you trying to pull that stunt you did the other time will not work."

A place where there was no water? Ella couldn't believe it. In Ivory Island, that seemed almost like blasphemy. Where exactly was this place?

The man stopped and stood face to face before her. Ella couldn't stand his evil grin, but she didn't want her trepidation to be obvious to this dubious man.

The voice came again. Only this time, it was not an external whisper. It was a clear voice of the Holy Spirit in her spirit. "Whatever happens Daughter, do not respond to him with a word."

Noted, Holy Spirit. I just need your strength. It was a relief that He was with her even now. He was right when he'd told her that he would never leave her.
She relaxed even more as the image of her three guardian angels the Redeemer had shown her when she got baptized in the Holy Spirit popped up in her brain.
Ella managed a tiny smile.

Mr Drestor, you and your company are outnumbered.

A bit of courage mounted her and she stood upright and clenched her fists to subdue the trembling there.

"Aquifer," Mr Drestor called and Ella flinched at the sultry way he said it. "You're coming back."

He that lays his hands on the plough and looks back is not worthy of the kingdom.
She itched to slap the scripture across his face.

There's no going back Mister. I've given my Ife to the one who saved me and loves me for me, not because he wants to manipulate me.

Ella shut her lips instead and looked at him with a blank expression.

"The main reason for this charade is because the gods are angry that you betrayed them and broke the covenant. Who told you you could escape? There's so much you could accomplish. Come ride by my side in the wings of true power. Agree to their terms and we'll let you go without a scratch and all this will be cancelled out as a simple mixup."

Ella simply stared, the wheels in her mind churning fast.
No turning back, no turning back...

"But, note that if you don't agree willingly, you'll be forced. You'll be kept here without food and water and with plenty of torture to deal with. And who knows which of your friends would be the first to mysteriously commit suicide?"

She didn't utter a word even though she had many things to say.

No food? No water? Suicide? God, what's this?

"I'll advise you to think wisely. The gods have no time for patience. You have three days to consider their generosity. If you are adamant and refuse to submit, all hell will let loose."

He drew nearer, studied her face and leered over her.

"We wouldn't want that to happen now, will we, Sweetheart?"

His finger reached up and traced her chin.
Ella recoiled a bit and felt like puking.

He smelt nice and even looked like he cared in that moment. But behind all that pretty stuck up facade he put to the outside world, she knew he was evil. She'd seen that first hand.
He'd done things to her, in the time of her ignorance before she fled, that made her skin crawl at the memory.
The hate was till there bubbling inside her, and she felt unclean.

Out of nowhere, a trickle of pity for him flowed into her spirit. He was just as she had been a few months back.
Promised power and wealth by those demons that considered themselves gods, but was only a puppet in their hands.
Controlled. Manipulated. Used.

Her eyes softened and she almost cried, even though she didn't have the slightest idea why on earth she felt bad for this wicked man.

He stood silent for some minutes, studying her and expecting her to say something in reply.

When she didn't, he breathed out and said, "Keeping mute won't do you any good, Aquifer. Remember, you have just three days."

He left with a loud clank of the prison door slamming shut and a metallic clink of the heavy lock snapping into place.
His footsteps receded into the distance and then upward.

Ella could finally let out her breath.

You have to forgive him, the Holy Spirit said in a whisper.

Suddenly tired and drained, she slid her back down the wall and crouched on her knees as she wept.

"I don't know how, Lord. I don't think I ever can," she whispered back.

If you love me and cherish the forgiveness I gave to you, then you will.

"It's not going to be easy to forget Lord. He killed my mother in cold blood. He's abused me. He is a liar and a thief, not just to me but also to the innocent people of this Island. Or have you forgotten that he is affiliated with your enemies?"

I know. Forgive.

Ella cried louder this time as memories upon memory of what he'd done haunted her frail mind.

"I-, I can't Lord."

You can.

"Please help me. I can't do this by myself."

Silence.

"Are you still there?"

More silence.

She panicked. Had she grieved the Holy Spirit? Had she annoyed Him and driven Him off because of her stubborn disobedience?

"Lord? please..."

Always. You asked for help. I was fetching the right tool for you. Look down.

Ella looked and saw the faint glimmer of something on the floor. She picked it up and examined it.
It was a sort of necklace. Its pendant was the symbol synonymous to her father. The swirling fire and water.

Had he dropped it? How was this a tool to help her?

Forgive your father, Ella. I want to use you both in my kingdom. That symbol is going to be turned around for good. I told you I'll be with you through the waters and through the fire. I intend to keep every last drop of that word. You'll come forth as gold, Daughter.

Her mind protested. "I should forgive him?
You want to use him?
That man deserves to be struck dead."

Well, so did you.

Ella squeeze her hand about the necklace and squeezed her eyes shut as tears leaked out.

What would hating him accomplish? The man in question was her father and nothing could reverse that.

"Mr Drestor, I- I," Ella couldn't bring herself to say it.si easily. "I... for- forgive yoooouuu..." she whispered and broke into sobs.

"Despite all you've done, I forgive you for Christ's sake."
She bent her head and covered it with her hands.

Well done, Daughter. The Holy Spirit said after she had had a good deal of crying. Now you must pray for him.

Ella used her hands to wipe her face.

"Seriously? You do make hefty demands, don't you? I'm still trying to recover from the shock that I've just forgiven my nemesis and now you're telling me to pray for him?"

She imagined the triumphant, sweet smile of the Redeemer.
She smiled too as she noticed how light and free she felt.

Forgiveness. Letting go of the bitterness. True Love, even for one's enemy.
It did have it's good part. Was this how God felt when He forgave the world?

"Anything you say, Lord. Who am I to resist you? I might die of starvation in three days time and possibly be responsible for endangering the life of my friends, but at thy word, Lord."

She knelt down and began quietly to stutter out a hearty prayer for her father.

Night fell, the shadows thickened. She fell asleep on the cold floor with a prayer on her lips and her heart for everyone else that was in her radar of friendship, completely leaving herself out.

**********

Author's note: Hello my faithful, understanding and patient readers. Thanks for reading this chapter. 🤗🤍
Here, we had a taste of Miss Ella's experience in her specially customized prison.
It's a bittersweet feeling, really. 🥺🥺😭😭

But seriously, the highlight was how God made a demand on her to forgive the person she hated most and she did. In the words of one of my favorite Nigerian Gospel minstrels, JayMikee:
'Has someone hurt you really bad? Is it tearing you up inside? Think about what Jesus would do. If he can forgive, so should me and you.'🥺

🥳🥳🥳A special thanks to @BamBam707 for her wonderful review on my book (#WCWRC) and her help in directing me on how to go about rearranging the disorganized chapters of this book. @PjoCookie1 did help me much more practically in that aspect too. God bless you both. You're lovely sisters to me. 😍😍😍

And a quick reminder, clicking the bright orange star on this screen won't cause you finger cramps. It only brightens your world. ⭐⭐⭐
You might also want to tell a friend about this book; A shout-out on your message, a share in someone's PM, adding this book to your reading list, tagging a buddy in the comments section, anyone of these would do. And I'll really appreciate it. 😌🤗😁

Bye guys👋. The next chapter is brewing. I just hope it doesn't take too long to be ready. I'm back to school, so...

God bless you all. 💖💖💖