Author's note: What's up, my darlings? How have you been faring? 🤗
I guess you're wondering why I am writing to you at the beginning and not the end of this chapter as I normally do.
Firstly, I am so sorry for not updating this book for a long while. Life and school has been really demanding and I am not certain of how regular update will be released. 🥺
For my faithful readers and fans, I thought to insert a small recap of the last chapter to refresh your memory, because I also had to re-read the previous chapter to know where I left off.😅
Mind, you, I intend to remove this intro/recap part in the future.

*In recap narrator's voice. Dramatic music ensues.*📯
Previously on COF. Ella was in prison, fighting despair. Her father, Mr Drestor came to cajole her to return her allegiance to the water gods in three days or less, else all hell would let loose. She didn't reply till he left, under the instruction of the Holy Spirit. A divine compassion for her father came which she initially tried to resist. She eventually forgave and prayed for him from her heart, after picking up the fire and water pendant that most likely fell from him.
*Dramatic music ends. Voice scrambles back to normal.*

I hope you'll be pacified by the interestingness of this chapter and that you'll forgive me for the extremely late delivery. I know it's not my best chapter so far (as my writing muscles are just waking up and doing some warm-up exercises 💪🦾); it sure needs a great deal of polishing. I'll be happy if you could point out anything wrong you noticed. 🙂

I pray that the message behind this chapter will sink in deep and you won't remain the same in Jesus' name. 😇

~~~

"It's been two days!" Deborah's voice shook, an uneven blend of rage and fear.

She set a tray that held fruit drinks and sparkling glass cups on the glass centre table, beside a saucer on which part of the chocolate cake of the wedding sat. Even as she placed it down, she knew the act of hospitality was all for doing's sake. Nobody in close range was in the mood for drinks or cake or petty talk for that matter.

In the spiritual corners, the guardian angels were levitating, their wings a buzz of light, listening to the conversation going on amidst their wards.

"Two whole days since poor Ella was carted away to God-knows-where." Deborah sighed, resisting the urge to shed tears.

"Jay, I fear greatly for her safety," she continued. "Why did this trial have to come at the peak of her spiritual and emotional recovery? Oh dear Lord, I hope we find her in time so she won't forfeit her faith. And her college admission. The registration starts in less than two weeks time." Deborah sat on the broad arm of the settee where her husband was seated.

Matthew and his father were seated on two separate couches on the opposite side with ruminating expressions moulding their faces.

In more accurate terms, it had been a day, twenty-three hours, some minutes and some seconds since Deborah and Jeremiah had become one flesh. Approximately two days since Ella was gone.

The couple had no time to even think about or consider proceeding with their previously planned honeymoon on a fancy yacht.
Day and night they had been in hot coals, trying to figure out what happened and where in the world Ella had disappeared to. Their sleep had been mostly short and restive. Most of the night was spent thinking and praying.

Mr Pegamon had been very helpful, making calls and asking questions from high ranking officials.
They'd taken the pain of going to almost all the security agency offices in the island and had even insisted on checking the cells to see if she was hid somewhere there. So far, they'd got no luck. 

Jeremiah exhaled deeply. There was nothing he wouldn't do to find out where on God's earth his sister was held captive. Even his work was abandoned. Momentarily, he hoped. Thank God he had his trusted PA, Fermi, and a board of trustees that could run Le Jave Corporation while he was away.
A number of them had attended his wedding and had witnessed the drama, so it was quite plain why he was unavailable. And besides, he still had his off-duty time because of his wedding.

"I was cork sure it was the legal seal of the state on that warrant. I checked it with my specs on. There was no way anyone could forge that seal. And besides the paper was embossed. I am certain. I am certain of that too," Mr Pegamon said as he stroked his chin contemplatively.

Matthew sat quietly beside his father, his hands steepled on his knees. His mind had been working furiously, day and night to see how Ella could be found safe and sound.
Things here in Ivory Island operated in a different way. If it were in the States, such an undercover operation would have been terminated and Ella's name cleared immediately.

What left him speechlessly confused was why Ella eyes had seemed to agree with the allegations they laid on her that day.
Was she truly the cause behind Mr D's hospitalization? If so, how, and why?

He had voiced out his concern. Jeremiah and Deborah didn't seem to have any clue if it was true or not.

"I just hope she is safe wherever she is," Matthew said softly, twirling a purple hibiscus in his hand. It was the same kind he tucked into her hair moments before the invaders came. It reminded him of her. And he had also been praying, seriously. For her. About her, mostly.

The TV was on, with the Ivory local news station on. A lady presenter was reading the news in the background. As there was nothing else to say and silence enveloped the living room, they listened in.

"The national campaign for the post of ruling presiding officer of Ivory Island has been intensified as the manifesto presentation and presidential debate draw nearer by the day. The candidates are doing their best to canvass for votes.
One such rally was held yesterday. Mr Drestor, who was seen to have come out from the hospital in a wheelchair after many weeks of slow recovery from the attack suspected to have been conceived by his competitors, seems to be in the advantage by all indications..."

Jeremiah's eyes narrowed at the screen. "Typical of my father. Pretending as the good guy in the public, while he sent his goons to scatter my day."

The words came out from clenched teeth with effort of trying to suppress his anger.
"I am sure it was intentionally planned. If those people had been trailing Ella all these while, that means they also had their eyes on us and my father is well away of my marriage. He could have come for Ella anytime he wanted. He was waiting for the right moment."

Jeremiah kept talking, his voice fervent.
"His private life is a total mess and I am still surprised how no one is bothering to ask any questions. His drama is playing out well. Ivory island will be in for a big shock if he ever manages to win this election. Who knows what he has got up his sleeves now? Why is he keeping my sister in secret custody?"

Deborah rubbed Jeremiah's shoulder to dissolve his tension. The news continued.

"Now, on to an urgent and rather disturbing weather report. The national geologists are beginning to propose an temporal evacuation of all the citizens of Ivory to the government. According to their claims from their recent observations, it seems like the dormant volcanic mountains from where the Klopr River originate are having an increase in crustal activity. The effect would either be a massive volcanic eruption or tremors travelling to the sea bed which could result in a tsunami."

"An evacuation? Is it that bad? What exac—" A knock interrupted Deborah's talk and  she stood to get the door. In came Mr and Mrs Layson. Short and brief pleasantries transpired.

"Any progress so far?" Pastor Mike asked as he took his seat.

"Nothing." Jeremiah said quietly.

Pastor Mike frowned. Nothing was not sounding good.
"What's going to be our next course of action?"

"I don't know anymore, Pastor. At this point, all I can say is that we have to just wait and hope that Ella will come out fine," Jeremiah said as he leaned in deeper into the couch.

"We definitely can't give up now," Mrs Layson said. "Remember what happened when Herod captured Peter? The church prayed without ceasing for him and when he came out they even couldn't believe it. Our prayers can go where our feet cannot."

"Yes, my wife is very correct," Pastor Mike said as he held her hand in his. "I know we have all been praying individually, but we need to get serious and rise up with one accord in faith if our prayers will begin to take effect."

"I totally agree, Pastor," Mr Pegamon's voice came in perfect rhythm. "In fact, now is the best time to bend our knees in serious prayers. Not only for Ella, but also for this country. Have you seen the news?"

"What news?"

"About the election and also the warnings for evacuation?"

"I've been current on the election. What's the ruckus about evacuation? Where to?"

"It's a threat of a volcano, or possibly a tsunami either of which can swallow up Ivory," Matthew said.

"What? That hasn't happened in ages! Last I heard of such was from my grandmother and it was part of the tales of her childhood," Mrs Layson said.

"This is not good," Pastor Mike muttered.

"There's a spiritual battle about to take place. Everything is coming to bits and pieces. I have been sensing it brewing ever since the time the Lord began showing me glimpses of Ella even before I met her. We have to pray," Deborah said.

"How about we start now?" Pastor Mike asked.

They agreed.

Hours passed. The company of saints prayed as they were led of the Spirit.
The angels were loading up their arsenal and sharpening their weapons. All that was left was a signal from above.

~~~

A baby,
Thrown in a river. Clothes bobbing on the waves. The cloth hit a rock and it cracked like an egg. Deep red viscous liquid moved out of the crack, slowly contaminating and filling the whole water. Faint distant screams. Red water. Heat.

Ella opened her eyes with a start. Her heart was beating so fast and sweat clammed her pits and brows. She groaned, sat up and shoved her hand into her hair to massage her throbbing scalp.

Her hand caught something in her hair. She pulled it out. It was a dried fading purple petal.

Matthew...

With the memory of her squashed hope at human love came several others of her friends.

What were they doing? Had they given up searching for her?

She tried unsuccessfully to swallow. Her mouth was drier than desert sand, reminding her that she hadn't had anything to eat or drink for almost two days.

Shoving her frame up, she remembered that she was not on a bed but on the cold bare floor of this dungeon. That explained why she felt sore all over.

What was that dream about, Lord?
I don't know what it means...

She'd been having greater sensitive to His voice ever since she chose to make the most of her time here. He, the Redeemer, was her only hope of an escape from this place and even though she had asked him, he made no mention of an escape plan. She was content to have him close so she didn't ask anymore.

Before she could process her disturbing dream properly, she heard a muffled struggle of protest come from above her. Soon, another pair of bulky men, different from the ones who had hauled her here, came in with another girl who was squirming against their hold. The said girl looked like a juvenile, with a hint of one bred in a golden castle with a golden spoon. Her expensive outfit and bag still slung on her shoulder said that much.

She was obviously scared but trying to act brave and bossy. From the looks of it, they had taken this girl by force.

They opened the prison harshly and threw her inside. Ella scooted away to avert the girl hitting her. The girl hit the floor with a thump and quickly stood back up, intending to stop them from shutting the door, but she wasn't fast enough.
She shoved the gag away from her mouth and screamed for them to let her go, holding the metal bars desperately and rattling it to draw their attention. Alas, those men had rocks where their hearts were supposed to be.

After some minutes of shouting and screaming till she her voice broke, she gave up, crumbled to the bare floor and began to cry.

Ella felt sorry of the girl. She looked eighteen or thereabouts.
What of her family?
Ella could barely see her face because it was poorly lit in this basement prison, but Ella could see her tear-blotched, brown eyes, round and nicely fitting her face, a rather aesthetic appeal in this doomsland.

When the wails turned to silent tear and sobs to sniffs, Ella shifted closer inch by inch.

"Hey!" The girl started and shifted away, still terrified and maybe annoyed that another person was intruding again. Ella didn't want that. She had to build a rapport with this girl if they would have any chance at escape or at least comfort.

"Don't be scared. My name is Ella. Sorry we had to meet under this circumstances."

The girl didn't speak, she just stared, obviously still shaken.

"Do you have any idea why they brought you here?"

"No," she said in a small voice and sat straighter.

"My," she wiped her face, "my name is Rouge Clatrava. You're El?"

Her voice when she wasn't screaming was a bit contralto, making her sound more mature in contrast to her gentle physique.

Ella smiled, thankful that the girl seemed to be open and ready to talk.
"El is just fine. What happened? Why are you here?"

The girl sniffed again and Ella could see a slight tremble move through her skin as she started. "I was on my way home from my school and all of a sudden these men came and bundled me into their vehicle. I struggled, demanding to know where they were taking me, but they knocked me out and gagged me. When I came around, I was being dragged into this place. Mom and Mister should be sick with worry once they discover I've gone missing." The last part was whispered with a hint of smug satisfaction.

"But seriously, I should have known better than trying to play rebel by walking a lonely path all by myself in the evening."

Ella didn't know what to say. She glanced at the bag this Rouge girl held, ideas forming, hope rising.

"What about you, El? Why are you here?"

Ella loved the way the girl called her El.
She smiled sadly.
"It's a long story. The summary is I have one more day to make a decision else I and several other people I care about will be in grave danger."

"I'm so sorry."

Ella studied her face. The girl looked so sweetly carefree with her reddish brown hair, much like hers, and her almond brown eyes above small pouting lips.

Lord, Why is she here? Who is she?

"Being sorry won't solve the problem dear," she continued. I know the Redeemer will rescue us because he has promised he won't leave our souls to rot in the pit."
Rouge's expression showed that she either didn't get who the Redeemer was, or she was simply out of hope of being rescued.

Ella nodded in the direction of what she held. "What have you got in your bag?"

"School supplies and books."

"I'm surprised they didn't confiscate your bag. Is there anything that could help us in there? Your phone?"

"Not really. Having a phone in school is against the rules so..." The girl had started to shuffle through her bag as she mumbled her reply. Ella saw something on the girl's right palm.
Struck, yet not wanting to jump into any hasty conclusions, she asked, "Pardon me, but can I see something on your palm?"

"No problem. You're not the first." The girl was actually proud of her rare asset

Rouge stretched out her palm and Ella took it and studied it closely. To any average person, it would simply look like a blotch of intertwined darker and normal skin color, similar to the Chinese yin-yang symbol. But Ella recognized it. It was the water and fire ensign.

Not knowing what to think, Ella began to discretely question her, all the while praying to the Lord desperately for answers in her spirit.

"Rouge, I know we haven't met for long, but can you tell me all that you know about this birthmark as you call it. It just might be the puzzle solution as to why you were kidnapped and maybe it could also be key to our escape, who knows?" Ella hoped she didn't sound too creepy.

Rouge eyes were rounded in confusion.

"You can trust me. Please. We're in this together. Literarily." Ella looked into her eyes.

Rouge began to relax and talk.

"My mom told me it had always been there right from the moment I was born. I don't know much about it."

"What about your father?"

She snorted. "You mean Mister? He doesn't care one tit about me. Always off and away to cater to this company and that contract. I'll bet he doesn't even know I have a birthmark."

Ella sighed and clamped a bunch of her hair in frustration.

She fumbled at her collar bone with her hand and got what she wanted. With a pull, the necklace came off. On it was the pendant she had seen that fell off from Mr D.

"Look closely at this."

Rouge collected the necklace and lifted it up, studying the artifact the best she could in the dim lighting.

"It looks like..."

"Yes, it's the same as the birthmark you have."

"Wow! But, how come you have it? What does it mean? Is this the reason we are both stuck here?"

"It most certainly is. Rouge, you have to be sincere with me now..." Ella hesitated, unsure of how best to frame this sensitive question. "Do you ever have... You know, what you'll consider strange experiences?"

Rouge frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, have you ever been aware of anything unnatural happening to or around you? Maybe like superhuman forces? Do you understand what I am saying?"

Surprised by what she was hearing, Rouges eyes rounded morr.

"Yes, yes, I think I do." Her voice lowered and she drew nearer as if she wanted to tell a secret. "It had always been restricted to my dreams, until one day I realized that by just thinking it, I could light my fireplace, or any other thing for that matter. It's scary at times. I was wondering one day what would happen if I lost control or something. I have never told this to anyone. You're the first. How did you guess?"

"Let's focus on solving this mystery first. Do you see things?"

"No, I don't think so. But sometimes I feel presences."

"Rouge, what's happening to you happened to me. The only difference is that mine was the ability to control water."

Rouge gave a blank laugh of disbelief.
"And here was I thinking you'd tag me crazy. Sweet roasted pork...  This prison experience is something else. Sounds like I'm watching a remix of the Legend of Avatar."

Ella just gave her a blank look. Rouge's mouth shut when she realized Ella was serious.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. It's just not funny. We're in big trouble here."

"Oh bother."

"We have one day left to set things right."

"One day? To do what?"

"From the look of things, you and I were chosen and marked from birth by  demonic principalities over this Island. I broke free by the Redeemer's help and now they're trying to get me back. I think you're collateral in case I flop."

"Chosen? They? Collateral? What in blazes are you talking about?"

Ella placed a hand in Rouge's shoulder to calm her down.
"It's hard to explain but there's no time. First, you need to be set free from the demons that plague you."

"Demons? As in Satan and monsters at night? Does that explains why I have unexplainable fear when I feel those presences and why I've been having occasional seizures at odd times since I was a child?"

Ella was surprised to hear that but it made sense now.
"Yes. I have the antidote. I want to give you now. Will you accept?"

"Anything that will get me out of here and in a less creepy situation will do."

Ella smiled. "Come meet the Redeemer."

"You mentioned that name before. Who's that?"

Ella's grin could literarily be seen for miles like the light of a beacon. " He goes by many names. I call him Redeemer because that's what he means to me.. He is more popularly known as Jesus."

~~~

Author's exit note: Don't forget to share vote comment! (I seriously can't wait to see your candid opinions about our newest face, Rouge Clatrava. Quick question, is the way I introduce new characters okay or just annoying because I noticed I never give any prior hint of the coming of a new character? I'll love your opinions guys).😃

See you in the nearest future with another chapter. Thanks for your support and presence here. ☺️

Love,
PeculiarPraise

More love,
The Redeemer.
💖💖💖💖💖