A beautiful Friday morning it was. The weekend was already looking promising, with the fresh air sliding freely around and early morning critters taking their own place in nature's music.

Matthew stood behind the railings of the upper terrace of his parents' house. Not that he didn't have his own apartment. He had a cozy one in a blocks of flats in the hubbub of Ivory Island.
He'd come to spend some time with them upon his mother's insistence.

He hadn't realized how much he'd missed his mother's recipes until he had tasted her seafood stew and garnished rice pudding again. He'd devoured the plate with relish and had even requested for more.

However, as he stared into space, his mind was not on food.
His mind was on that girl, Jay's sister.

He didn't know why, but he had a huge feeling the reason God had dragged him back to this hell hole of an island was because of her.

There was this feeling he had anytime he thought of her. Something he couldn't fully define. She just drew him... That's all he could say.
Could it be that he was simply mesmerized by her unique eye colour?
At first, he'd thought she was using contacts, but after close range glances at her, he realized that that was actually her real eye colour.

He hadn't gotten the chance to know much about her. In fact, the girl was recluse; she didn't speak unless spoken to.

Maybe he could cajole Deborah to help him unravel her mystery. It seemed Ella was free with Deborah.
Or would Jay mind if he began poking his nose and show interest in his sister?

What am I thinking?

He sighed deeply.
This was a day to Jay and Deb's wedding and here he was mulling over a girl he barely knew.

Jeremiah was so lucky to have found a girl like Deborah.
Matthew could actually feel the glow and joy radiating from his friend and it was rubbing off on him.

Could he also experience love of a woman? Not after...

"Matthew, how are you doing son?"

He spun around and saw that it was his father, Mr Pegamon. The man was still in his night clothes, with a mug of steaming hot coffee in his hand.

"Dad! Good morning," he replied with a grin and a bow.

"Morning, son. Had a rough night?" his father asked as he studied his face.

"I didn't sleep for long." Matthew rubbed his face. He must look really horrible for his father to have so easily detected his uneasy state.

"Anything on your mind? Care to share?"

"It's nothing. I've been thinking about why I am here. Why God insisted I come. I had plans to actually settle in the States, Dad."

"Well, I guess God heard my plea. I'm glad you're home, son," he said looking into his son's eyes.

Matthew's chest rumbled with a chuckle. "Dad, you do know I didn't come back here because of you and mom."

"Don't let your mother hear you. She'll be distraught. She's convinced it was her prayers that brought you back unhurt."

Matthew sighed. He knew what his parents were so worried about. He had almost died of depression after the last relationship he had been so committed to broke up.

"Dad. I love you both so much. Your care for me is something I would never take for granted. But..."

"Son, you don't have to say anything. I understand show you feel. That uncertainty of treading unto rough waters. I felt the same when I was about to give up fame and glory to gain Christ. All you have to do is just trust him and let him lead you."

Matthew sighed. He let the words sink in.

Trust him.

Let him lead you.

He should really do more of that.

"So..." his father trailed off as he put the mug to his mouth and took a sip of the coffee. "How, or should I say who, is she?"

"Who?"
There was only one person who was a 'she' on his mind right now, but his father couldn't possibly know...

"The girl who had you up all night."

Matthew faced his father and caught the twinkle in his eyes before the man took another sip of his coffee.
He looked at his father trying to decipher how on earth the man knew.
He quickly masked his shock with a scoff.

He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "How are you so certain that a girl kept me up at night, Dad?"

"I know my son like the back of my palm. Quit living in denial son. Same thing happened to me when I met your mom. Just make sure she's God's will this time around."

Mr Pegamon turned and walked back into the house while Matthew stared at him with his mouth slightly open, trying to process what just transpired.

No, no, no... He had to focus. This wasn't time to be distracted by any unnecessary ideas of another shot at romance. He had to uncover the mystery of why God brought him here.

As he stared back out the balcony, he tried to silence the thought that gnawed at his brain.

What if she's the mystery why you were sent back home?

Who are you, Ella Macmillior?

~~~

Burning Light Ministries auditorium was quarter full. The time was ten minutes to 6pm.

Ella and Mrs Ruth had come straight from Ruthie Store to the church for their weekly Friday prayer meeting.

Ella, in particular, had taken the time to fast that day. She knew she had to get directions for her life. She didn't want to be caught in the web of lies and vanities that many people chased. And being aware of the dark aspect of the spiritual world, she didn't want to be a prey ever again.

She hadn't tasted anything at all including water, and was feeling a bit weak though light and spiritually refreshed. The time she had spent studying the Word of the Redeemer was so reviving and full of hope. The highlight that really burned into her spirit was two verses of scripture.

Isaiah 43:1-2
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, he who formed you: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the water, I will be with you: and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flames shall not consume you.'

She'd been going over and over those two verses by reading it repeatedly, whispering it to herself and turning it in her heart.
The words just grabbed her. She knew there was something the Lord was trying to say, beyond the fuzzy, tingling feeling she had inside her as she let the words sink in.

She took her seat in a vantage spot that granted her a 360° view and scanned the hall.

The faithful saints who were hungry and thirsty for the real bread and wine of Heaven like her were begining to trickle in and gather together.

It looked like Deborah and Jeremiah were running a little late.

Well, tomorrow is their day, she thought. Of course they must be busy.
Oh and there they are...

The two lovebirds waltzed in and took their seats beside each other in their usual spot in the second row. Ella smiled back when Deborah waved on sighting her.

As she continued looking through the hall, she saw Matthew. He was seating close to the front but at an angle where she could see his profile.
She studied him without being too obvious about it.

His head was bowed and his jaws worked slightly. He was praying, whispering.

As if he sensed her checking him out, he raised his head and looked directly into her eyes.
Heat crawled up her neck at being caught and she quickly averted her gaze.

Oh gosh! Ella what was that? Now he'll think you're snooping on him.

Ella shook off the distraction and refocused her mind on the one who she had come to meet.

The program kicked off with Pastor Layson leading the opening prayer and Mrs Ruth leading the worship session.

The atmosphere began to build up to a crescendo of fervent worship.

"Just worship Him. He loves you. He delights in you. He treasures you so much that He gave Himself up for you. He wants to reveal Himself to you," Mrs Ruth whispered into the microphone she held with her slightly trembling hands.
The minstrel was on the keyboard playing soft strings. The atmosphere was thick with God's presence.

Soft cries of worship and repentance rose up like a beautiful symphony.

It was electrifying.
Ella was stupefied and laid prostrate on the floor.
Tears snaked down her cheeks and she just sobbed because she didn't have any words to describe the swelling in her chest.

"Ella..." a voice like the wind called softly.

When she lifted up her face, everything was gone. The church, the people, the sounds of worship.
It was only her. And this light that took on the shape of a man. This entire landscape was white but not in a bleak or empty way. The place sparkled.
But the personality's aura was far whiter and more glorious than anything that could be called white.

Ella gasped. She was actually seeing Him again. After so long. After that first unwarranted revelation of Him when she was on that altar about to be slaughtered to the water gods.

Now that she wasn't about to be killed at knife-point, now that she had studied about and accepted him as her Lord and Redeemer, seeing him like this startled her so much.

He was standing tall now and his features began to take a more real form the more she gazed at him. The light was hurting her eyes, yet she couldn't look away.
He was beautiful. Beautiful was a lame word to use. He was far beyond anything she had hoped for.

"Re... Redeemer?" She finally got her voice back, still the name came out her mouth like a careful whisper.

He smiled and she felt like she could die for the beauty of it.
With an arm stretched out towards her, he smiled and nodded, urging her up.

She stood slowly and took his arms in her hand. Like a catapult, she felt him and her being transported to somewhere else.
The feeling wasn't new because when she was in darkness, partly aware of her status as the vessel of the gods, she had experienced many astral and underwater travels/teleportation thanks to Mergirlina.
Those spiritual journeys drained her energy; this one made her feel so alive.

The movement slowed and stopped. They landed on top of a glassy sea. A crystal clear river was flowing at a side.

He didn't open his mouth. He didn't have to. She heard his voice speaking clear and distinct in her spirit.

"Ella Macmillior, you have been dubbed the title of the Daughter of the Most High, sent to take dominion over everything on and within the sea. I give you power to tread upon serpent and to crush his head. When you pass through the fire and through the flood, I will be with you."

"Lord, how can these things be? I can't figure out why you risked so much for me. I am indebted to you for all you've done."

"Remember, Ella, the eruption of the flames is at hand. The battle will be fierce. The reason why the enemy was so serious about nailing you down is because you were covenanted by your ancestors. But by coming into my own covenant, the old pact has been broken. You'll overcome. You have my backing."

"It's overwhelming..." she replied, heart thudding at the prospect of being in the middle of another spiritual battle.

The Redeemer took her hands in his. She saw the nail hole clearer.
He took her finger and directed it into the hole in his right hand. Power like electricity surged through her.

"I know, Ella," he said softly, "I've felt that before when I had to choose to die on the cross. A lot of times my people are afraid and worry unnecessarily because they don't see my plans. All they see is the raging storm. But I've come to make you see me so that you can rest assured. I love you and won't let any harm come to you."

Ella's eyes pooled. "Thank you, Redeemer."

"Meet your assistants." With a wide grin, he turned and it looked as if a big curtain was drawn.
Three fierce-looking, muscle-rippling angels in full glory were revealed.

Ella's lower jaw almost hit the floor and her eyes rounded.
She'd never seen an angel before. All she'd been used to seeing were demon spirits.

"Griel, the whirlwind; Ammiel, the thundering hammer; and Haliel, the shearer. They are your guardian angels," the Redeemer said, pointing to each one of them as he called their names.

The three bowed as their names were mentioned and said at the same time, "We are at your service, Chosen Daughter of the Most High."

Ella just gaped at them. Their titles fitted their terrible look.

She'd just been declared chosen. Again. By the Lord this time. What was the thing about her that both darkness and light seemed to want?

"They are warriors assigned to you. You'll need them soon," the Redeemer said.

"I'll send you back now. I'll always be with you. Don't forget what I've told you." He smiled at her again.

The three angels took their positions around her. Then she felt the fanning of mighty wings and her eyelids fluttered shut.

Sounds of human voices that initially was a faint him became clearer.
She was back in the church. And her mouth was speaking an unknown language.
For the first time, she was speaking in heavenly tongues.

**********

Author's note: Heyyo!!! All fans of COF, I heartily greet you and welcome you into the new year 2022. 🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊

Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope it was uplifting for you to read this chapter as it was for me to write. 🙇

We are closing in on the heat of the matter. The climax is at hand.
And does anyone else see what I'm seeing Matthew's heart is drawn o. What do you think? Do you feel their a good match? 🌝🌝🌝

Quick question: is there a particular character in this story that seems flat to you? Do you think the characters in this story speak and act like real life humans? Also, can you picture the descriptions in this story?

I need to improve in many aspects of my writing in this new year and I'll really need your help, guys.
So if you see any typo error, plot holes or mistake, scream it at me in the comments section. 😸

I sincerely apologize for the late updates, some people close to me have been pointing it out. It's just that my life is filled with so many activities and responsibilities. I need your prayers and support so I can be encouraged to update more and faster per week. 😞🙏

God bless you all. ❤️❤️❤️

I remain your amiable PeculiarPraise. 😁