The sprinting lady calmed down by a micro-fraction of her initial, agitated state after ten minutes. She looked scared out if her wits, like a sleeping cat that got sprayed with water.
Poor chap seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating. Her gasps-per-second rate could have gone way over whatever scale measured that made up dimension.

Then, there was her eyes. Those round eyes that darted behind and all around the shadowed areas of the auditorium. A striking purplish color. Or was it indigo? The dark night seemed to deepen the shades of everything and this lady's dilated pupils were no exception.

"God, who is she? What would you have me do?" Pastor Mike prayed on and on in his mind, trying to find a bearing, a hint, a spark of instruction from God. But nothing still was forthcoming.

He couldn't have been more grateful that his wife was here with him. What would he have done to explain his stumbling into a lady that was so terrified in the middle of the night alone? Or rather, her stumbling into the empty church.

After some minutes of trying to pacify her and have her drink a cup of water, she relaxed well enough to speak.

"Young lady, what is your name?" he asked when he sensed it was okay to.

She looked up, the dripping sweat on her forehead, brow and chin causing her hair to stick to those places. Somehow she looked familiar.
Her gaze seemed like an attempt to determine if she could trust these people with any information about her at all.

"I'm Ella. Ella Macmillior. Though some call me Aquifer," she finally said after taking a deep breath. What made her say her secret name? Was she nuts?

"Macmillior?" That was Ruth. She took a closer look at the lady huddled beside her.

"Sorry to ask, but are you in any way related to one Mrs Kiera Macmillior?" Pastor Mike's memory clicked in sync with Ruth's. She definitely looked like a younger version of their church member.

Ella's breath hitched at the mention of her mom's name.
That was so quick. She didn't think anyone would know her mom so easily.

"Yes," she whispered, her head downcast. "She was my mother."

"Was?"

"She's dead."

"Oh dear God. We're so sorry to hear that. We really didn't know," Mrs Ruth said, sounding so sad and sympathetic. "When the follow up team tracked her address to check on her after she'd missed two consecutive services, they met an empty, locked house. We were so surprised and worried because the Kiera we knew would never leave so abruptly without telling anyone. All the ways of reaching her were cut off."

"She always asked to pray for her little girl," Pastor Mike said, staring intently at a shaken up Ella. "She was a wonderful woman, though a new believer. One of those little lambs that was willing to be discipled. Whatever happened to her?"

Ella could no longer hold back the sob that threatened to cut through her mouth. She wept in sorrow.
Her mom had been praying for her?

The knowing that she was embarrassing herself before these strangers, probably hiking up their suspicion about her, was there. But nothing she could do could restrain the dam that had burst in her.
Years of bottled-in pain, guilt and bitterness against her father—the very cause of all these—spilled over.

Ruth held Ella to her shoulder, cooed and patted her back as she rocked back and forth. "It's okay. It's okay sweetie."

If these people knew who she really was, they wouldn't call her sweetie, Ella thought. They'd probably call down the vengeance of their Holy God to come strike her. For she was the cause of her mother's death and of many others.

Pastor Mike sat on a chair opposite them, shaking his knees, praying in his mind and still desperately trying to get a message from God about all of this drama.
What was he expected to do? Why this? Why now? Now, he knew what Jesus felt on the cross as he cried out, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

"There's no reason to cry. You don't have to tell how she passed on if it hurts you so bad. I believe Kiera is with Christ in heaven. I too have missed her since the day she disappeared. The church misses her. This is disheartening," Ruth said.

"So, Ella, am I right?" Pastor Mike asked. She nodded her head as she wiped her tears with a Kleenex Ruth gave her.

"If I may ask, why on earth were you running like you were being chased by vampires at this ungodly hour of the night? You gave us quite a shock, you know?"

Ella's head shot up. If only he knew how close he was to the truth. She looked at his eyes. The brown orbs held a special kind of warmth and reassurance. Somehow, she knew she could tell them anything and not be condemned. It wouldn't hurt to ask if they held the key to her total liberty.

"Because I was almost caught again." She gulped before making the next statement. "By what you folks would term a demon."

She continued, not looking up to seeing their reaction lest she lost her nerve. The two listeners deadpanned. They had heard and seen much worse.

"I had a pact with these spirits. They called me Aquifer, chosen of the Seven Seas. I even have the supernatural ability to control liquid elements. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I've had it since my father initiated me through a," she grimaced, "a molestation into his cult. That was the open door. I was assigned severally to attacked the camp of Christians. I knew all this and that's why I never stepped a foot here even when my mom became born again, because I knew and could see the real fire of God here."

"But I never wanted to believe in God. I chose not to. If he cared at all, why then did he allow my mom, who was obviously loyal to him, to die?" She bit back tears and shook her head.

"The problem now is, I was almost killed by these demons. Not once. Thank goodness for a kind lady who rescued me. Her name's Deborah." Pastor Mike's left eyebrow cocked up and he shot a glance at his wife. Deborah? Still they kept mute, allowing her to pour it all out.

"They're after me. They want me back. But I'm done. I want out. Not after what Deborah has shown me. Not after several chances. Not after the Redeemer. But I don't know what to do. I feel stuck. Like I can never ever escape from them. Wherever they are I know they must be mad I'm even telling all of this. If I don't find real help, and fast, I'm in a deep soup."

Ella shook her head. "I just don't know what to do." Her tears fell on her cheeks again, unabated.

Pastor Mike shoved his freezing hands into his pockets and shot a somber look at Ruth. Then, he sighed once more.

Lord, now will be a perfect time to let me know what to do.

Do what I'd do.

But, but, how am I supposed to know what you'd do in a situation like this? It's not as if there an account in the Bible of what Jesus did when a terrified girl came barging into the Temple at the middle of the night.

You have my mind. And besides, I did encounter two cases similar to this. Remember when the Pharisees wanted a woman stoned? That's Ella right now with those demons on her trail. And also, Nicodemus came to me at the dead of night. This timing and circumstance is so my style.

Pastor Mike was stunned to silence. He could feel the triumphant smirk of Jesus over his head right now.

How do you always have the perfect comeback answers to everything, Lord? It's called been God, I guess.

~~~

In the spiritual realm, fierce angels with flaming swords guarded the four corners, the cardinals and entrance of the church.

The guardians of Pastor Mike and Ruth—warriors with rippling muscles peaking out of their silvery armour— were stationed by them, looking at the battered state of Ella's soul, yet with a knowing, expectant joy at what was to come.

As Griel had flew in, they all genuflected. It was a thing of rank. The heavenly host knew the dignity the Holy One had placed on the trio. They were also very close to the Captain Michael.
To reckon, the startling fact that not one, but all of the trio had been assigned for this simple girl was a great expression of just how much she was precious and fiercely loved by the Father. If only she could see and understand it.

~~~

Pastor Mike smiled to himself. He proceeded to place a comforting hand on the sobbing Ella.
She looked up at him, into his soft brown eyes that seemed to always smile, feeling waves of love pour out into her. Just like when the Redeemer came the first time.

"Ella, sometimes when we are between the devil and the deep blue sea, Jesus comes and bears us on his wings."

"I know you've been through a lot. Far more than most people. You've dabbled into some stuff I can see you regret now. And the worse part is that the enemy took advantage of your weakness and naivety and lust for acceptance. But now you want out. Or don't you?"

Ella slowly nodded her head, sniffing.

"There's only one way out. Jesus Christ. He is the one who can save and redeem you,"

Interrupting his train of words, she gasped as light flooded her heart.
"The Redeemer! Sir, I've heard so much about him. My mom. Deborah. And now you. I've even seen his form. Still I don't know why there's this stoppage on my heart from truly believing in him. I want to. Oh I want to have what you guys have. But it seems like I can't." The tears flowed faster than ever.

"No one knows this, but many times I've contemplated suicide to end this maddening cycle of trying to escape from me. What restrained me was that I'm unsure of what awaits me. What if death is also just a bigger trap?"

"Ella." It was Mrs Ruth this time. "There was a man in the bible that cried out to Jesus to help his unbelief. If you truly want to believe you can ask him to help you."

Before Mrs Ruth could even complete what she was saying, the intense emotions that swirled in her (aided by the fanning of the angels' wings) caused her to fall to her knees.

"Jesus..." she rasped out as the torrents of tears fell from her now-puffy and pale eyes. "Please, oh please, help me believe. Please make me free. I want... I want you."

It was like the turning of a mirage into a massive lake. Like the transformation from a white-and-black flat picture into a three dimensional model in sharp hues. Suddenly, an unexplainable faith that indeed the Redeemer had set her free exploded in her heart.

There were no fireworks or visions of a massive rescue mission like the first time she'd had a glimpse into the taste of liberty. It simply was this certainty, this unshakable assurance.

The Redeemer wanted her. And not for selfish reasons like her former captors. Why else would he come after her over and over again even when she had repeatedly ignored and pushed him out?
And he loved her, even after all her atrocities. He had totally forgiven her. That's why He is the Redeemer.

Her only thought as she knelt, with her heads bowed and great drops of happy, amazed tears splashing unto the marble floor of the church while wave after wave of his love billowing over her till she thought she could be swept off her feet, was, "Why did it take me this long for me to realize this?"

All the angelic host in the moonlit auditorium—including Ammiel and Haliel who had appeared by the side of their ward after decapitating those hooligans of demons to their rightful place—beamed big smiles of sparkling, white glory, rejoicing with the heavenly crew. The Lord's chosen was saved. This was a glorious homecoming.

Finally. 

The real war had just begun.

**********

Author's note: Sorry for the late update my faithful people. My preceding weekend was fixed for God. The refreshing feeling in God's presence cannot be compared to anything here on earth. Only He satisfies.

I can't begin to use words to explain how much I am happy that our dear Ella, heroine of this amazingly sweet yet slow story #COF, has finally come to her senses and has indeed embraced the light. 🥳🥳🥳🤩🤩🤩

This goes to prove that no man can come to the Father unless He draws Him, or in this case Her.

Now what next? Do you think the evil quarto, especially Dagon will back off, or will they keep pressing? Gasps! What of Mr D?🤔

On to more exciting news, guys! Who else reads Ted Dekker's books. I just began the Circle series (another reason I haven't had time to write much, sorry guys!) and OMG! I am simply hooked. Some people can write ehn🥺...

Anyways, watch out for more action waiting to explode.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
God bless you. 💖💖💖