Ella, as simply as she could, explained the concept of bondage because of sin, and the freedom Jesus offers. Rouge didn't feel anything dramatic, really.

It wasn't the first time she was hearing this type of sermon. She has heard the same thing several times. She had quite a few zealots in her school, who always ranted on and on about hell and heaven, whereas their lives didn't measure up to what they professed.

Occasionally, during festive periods, her mother had seen to it that she went to one of the highest populated churches in Ivory, where they barely grazed on the matter of sin and salvation.
It had confused her then. Why would anyone hand over his only son to be murdered for the sins of the entire world? It was pointless, and maybe a little bit foolish.

However, seeing the way Ella's face glowed with unspeakable joy when she spoke of Jesus—the Redeemer—made the guilt and loneliness, that had become almost second nature to her, more acute.

She wanted to have this same euphoria that made Ella so happy and calm even in her unfortunate situation.
Rouge knew all her tactics to be the sweet and innocuous princess everyone adored didn't work, not at school, not even at home.
Her father hardly knew her. Her mother, same. Her acclaimed friend—she herself knew—were pseudo.

She'd try this out. It wasn't as if she had any choice. If Jesus was the way, then so be it. Anything to get out of here. Anything to have this same bliss that Ella evidently possessed.

Repeating after a gleeful Ella, Rouge stuttered the sinner's prayer. She was shocked at how true the confessions were, how they were a mirror of her life.
As she repeated the words, it began to make more sense. It was as though there was an unlocking. The realization sank down to her deepest being.

Hah! This prison experience was divinely orchestrated. Peace flooded her heart.

Lightened, she smiled brightly, lifted up her head and said the saint's praise.

Beaming like a mega-firefly, Ella hugged her tight.
"Welcome home, sis. How do you feel?"

"Can't. Breathe," Rouge choked out.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just too excited," Ella said as she disentangled herself from the poor girl and gave an apologetic grin.

"Yeah..." Rouge coughed. "Actually, I feel excited too. And I haven't felt good in a long time."

Ella chuckled and wriggled her eyebrows. "It's just the beginning, Red. Wait till you see more."
Red—the English translation of the French hue—was the new nickname Ella had dubbed Rouge. Rouge didn't mind. Besides, it fitted her personality and was, not too surprisingly, Rouge's favourite colour.

Ella's stomach gave a muffled gurgle, indicating the advanced stages of acute hunger. She sighed and rubbed her belly. 

"Sorry, El. I, too, am so hungry, I could eat the stones here," Rouge said.

Ella's lips tipped up at the corners. "Well, guess what, Red? The Redeemer passed through that too when he fasted for forty days. It's an honour indeed to be a partaker in His suffering. When one is hungry enough, it's amazing how appealing stones become." Ella let out a dry chuckle.

"Wait, did you just say forty days?" Rouge gasped.  "I don't think I can survive that long without food and water." The prospect of going on any length of days without tasting anything was terrifying to Rouge. Good food was her mantra. If one could call any edible snack and fast junk good food.

"His was miraculous. He provided a template for us to know that he has been touched with the feelings of our infirmities," Ella said.

"A big miracle has happened already! Jesus redeemed me too. Despicable me. It's still too easy to be true, yet too real to deny." Rouge beamed up at Ella and then she sighed. "But till then, what are we supposed to be doing?"

"I guess we'll just wait on the Lord in faith."

"I have so much to learn." Rouge mumbled.

Ella smiled softly and reached out to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

They sat in silence for a while. Ella's stomach rumbled again.

"I guess this baby here is really in protest mode," Ella whispered. "I'm terribly hungry." It was the kind of hunger that made one shake involuntarily from the intensity of it.

As if a light bulb of a multi-dollar idea had just been switched on over her head, Rouge suddenly  snapped her fingers and began rummaging deep into the crevices of her bag.
"I think... Maybe I have a snack in here somewhere. Those bits I smuggle into class to chew on when I'm bored."
She opened a smaller zip at the back and brought out a packet of crunchy cookies.
Ella's eyes lit up and her mouth involuntarily salivated.

"Water?"  Ella dared to hope.

"Lemme see." Rouge's hand brushed on another... Cookie wrap?

"Two?" Rouge's eyes squinted in surprise. "I never bring two at once." She knew her greedy classmates would 'grab a bite' if they knew she had surplus or excessive snack. Sharing food wasn't her best hobby.

"Might as well say Jesus multiplied it," Ella said with a wink.

Rouge later found a bottle quarter-full with water. It was hot, but what choice did they have?

Ella blessed the oasis of food they'd found. As they crunched in sweet relief, Ella moaned in delight. "Oh girl, this is so good."

"My mom makes them every weekend in large quantities so I have batches to save up for school. She manages a large bakery downtown," Rouge explained.

As Ella munched gratefully on the last piece of cookie, she heard the Redeemer speak to her.
Her spine stiffened and she stopped eating, immobilized by the information.

Rouge noticed and took the same pose. "El? What's wrong?" she whispered.

"He's here..."

The sound of metal clanging overhead prevented Ella from talking further.

~~~

"Take your position brothers," Griel, the ringleader said.

The trio and the angel newly assigned to Rouge, whose name was Pagiel, surrounded their wards who had by then stood on their feet.

They lifted up their powerful, glowing wings, towering like a sort of semi-dome over their heads in the spiritual atmosphere.

The oppressive dark pressure of the approaching demons was intensifying but the warriors didn't let down their guard.
They held tight their weapons, poised for battle in the case of any confrontation.

The demons were tall, high-ranking giants of the underworld. Those hideous creatures definitely belonged to darkness with their talons and fangs.
They saw the angels and shied away from the light with scowls and snarls. Drat! It was annoying when these albino traitors interfered.

~~~

"Have you made your decision to come back?" Mr D asked Ella, picking his words carefully.

"I'm never going back, Dad. The past is in the past," Ella replied softly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Mr D looked startled at first. She had never for once called him Dad. Ever.

Then, he frowned so deeply, his eyes were buried beneath the crevices.
He looked as though he was boiling, wanting to say many things but stunned to silence.

He moved closer and spoke through clenched teeth, "You are going to regret this, Aquifer. You don't have much time left. We all don't!"
He looked alarmed, even scared.
It confused Ella.
Had those powerless spirits threatened him too? Was he in danger?

God, what should I do?

Rouge, cowering behind Ella throughout the exchange, let out a whimper like a cornered mouse.
Mr D eventually seemed to take note of her presence. His eyes skimmed over her frame with satisfaction.
Ella turned instinctively and looked at Rouge. She saw recognition and fear written all over Rouge's face as he sneered in her direction. 

"Thanks to the gods, there's a backup plan," he finally said.

His eye caught her backpack and the wrappers of cookies they had been eating. Ella scolded herself for not being swifter and smarter to have hidden them.

"You've broken your fast so soon? Ha! Might as well be the last meal you'll ever have till the flames arise. I hope you enjoyed it."

He pranced, leering at them. "You made your choice. There's no turning back now. In a few hours, it'll all be over and you'll be to blame for whatever consequences will come."

Ella remained mute. Rouge was shivering slightly. Mr D gave one last smirk of victory and left them.

Ella turned to Rouge and held her close. The girl's eyes were dilated as though she was reliving a horrifying event.

Ella's face furrowed in concern. "Red? Are you okay?"

"I- I know that- that man," Rouge shakily said.

"Everybody does. He's the presidential candidate," Ella deadpanned.

"No. Beyond that. He is my father's supposed friend, but I one day discovered he was having and affair with my mom. He knew and came up to sweetly threaten me."

"Oh no!" Ella knew where this was heading. Her mom was also a victim of this man's charm and antics.
"Did he... Did he ever touch you?" Ella asked carefully, gritting her teeth.

"No. Not physically. But sometimes I see him in my dreams." Rouge was crying now as she remembered.

Ella pulled her close and allowed her to shed cleansing tears. "Shhh... It's all over now." Some tears escaped her eyes too.

"But, El, did I hear you call him 'Dad'? And he called you a name, Aqui-something?" Rouge asked, looking up at Ella's face

"Unfortunately, he is my biological father. It's all a long story, Red. We don't have much time to tell the tale tonight. Because tonight, we're going to usher God into our situation with Jericho praise. The enemy must must not win this battle!"

~~~

Ten minutes to midnight.

The spiritual center of the seven seas.

Dagon sat on his throne. All the minions were alert and ready for the emerging.
Leviathan, Behemoth, and the Queen of the Coast were also ready. 

This was the moment they had waited for ages and generations for. Dagon drank in the sheer triumph that would soon be filled to the brim.
Too bad those scrawny humans were oblivious, sleeping blissful, unaware of the monster that was about to pounce on them. They'd be shocked. And it would be too late to do anything.

He stared into inky blackness with cold eyes and rolled his scepter. With a heave, he shoved it on the altar in the depression carved there.

The demons began their crazed chant. Dagon cracked a deadly smile.

Out of the belly of the underwater mountain, the lava awakened. Hot, golden-red, viscous fluid began to bubble up. Slowly at first. Then it picked up speed.

~~~

Griel, Ammiel, Haliel and Pagiel—the burly guardian angel of Rouge that was assigned to her the moment she gave her life to Christ—were still in the prison, floating inches above the floor.

They watched with pleasure and joy as the two girls worshipped God in different postures.

Kneeling. Facing the cold wall. Laying prostrate. Standing with arms uplifted. Singing from their spirit.

They'd been at it for a while. The two worshippers. Female versions of Paul and Silas.

In the spiritual realm, their worship kept ascending from their mouths like wisps of sweet smelling incense. The vial of power that each angel bore was getting filled as more and more of the presence of God was accumulating in the space.

They were very desirous to join in. But no. Tonight was for warfare. For the clash of principalities. For the total reclaiming of the King's territory. They'd join the heavenly choir later.

"How much longer?" Griel asked, itching to get in action.

Ammiel, whose eyes were fixed on the rising level of the power on the vial, replied, "Just a little more and we'll proceed."

"And the others?" Haliel asked, stroking his shearing blades that hung from his sides. "Have you alerted them? Are they prepared?"

"Yes, brother," the soft voice of Pagiel said, "On my way here, I made sure to drop the parcel for the other members of the crew assigned to this mission. In fact, I am certain the others are overseeing the stirring of their wards. I'm guessing that the intercession of these saints is part of what's filling up our vials so fast." 
One could mistaken Pagiel for a cupid. He had a soft touch to his form. His own special power was the fiery arrows. His golden bow was hung across his broad chest.

"Alright," Ammiel said as their vials ran over. "It is time."

Griel flew closer to Ella because her spiritual ears were more open that time. "You're getting out of this prison now. Tell Rouge God is ready to use her," he said.

Ella lifted herself up with effort and scooted over to Rouge who was rocking on her knees, pouring forth worship.

"Red," she whispered as she squatted beside the girl, "God is set to do mighty things through you. Will you trust him?"

Even as Ella said it, her heart thudded.
Getting out of the prison? Sure, she'd felt that impressed in her spirit so strongly. But how was that ever going to be? This place was a fortress out of the reach of civilization. The odds were highly against them. But... Trust and obey. That's what the Redeemer had said when she'd encountered Him face to face.

Rouge nodded. Her face was smeared with tears. "Oh, El, I saw Him. I saw the Lord. He told me He is the consuming fire. He said a fire goes before Him and consumes all his enemies." Her voice was shaky.
She picked herself up slowly and took a deep breath.
"I think I know what he wants me to do."

Her eyes became filled with determination. Her hands trembled slightly. She raised it up towards the direction of the metal bars.

"Jesus, I don't know how this works. But I choose to trust in you. Set us free tonight. Save us, O Lord, the consuming fire!"

Her eyes were closed. Suddenly, she burst forth into unknown tongues. She was vibrating and crying softly like an unseen force was upon her. Ella could feel it too. It was the Holy Spirit.

Ella gasped in awe. Her eyes were wide open. She had seen magical shows, but nothing could compare to what she saw happen.

A large streak of blue-violet fire came out from Rouge's palm and lunged at the bars.
Like when a smith used a controlled electric furnace to melt tough ore. 
It was all too fast. It seemed too unreal.

When a large hole had been melted away, the fire ceased, alongside Rouge's tremor and tongues.

Ella was shocked to a statue.
Her former water powers was nothing compared to this.
Surely Jesus' power was the ultimate, highest, super power.

When Rouge finally came to and pried her eyes open, her jaw slacked at what God had done.

"No. Way! What in the world happened here?"

Ella shook out of her statue state and said with tears brimming in her eyes, "Girl, that was the best Holy Ghost baptism the world has ever seen!"

"Really? Oh my goodness! This had never happened before." Rouge exclaimed as she moved closer and examined the hole in the closely spaced metal bars.

It was large enough to allow for one thin person to squeeze through. The jagged rims were still red hot but were cooling down rapidly. The liquid form on the floor was starting to cool down and solidify as cakes on the ground.

Rouge was moved to her marrow. She wanted to leap out and proclaim on the mountains that indeed her God was the real deal.

"Yes!" Ella squealed as she held Rouge's shoulder. Her face became serious. "And I can sense this is our cue to move. We don't have much time."

Rouge picked up her bag and threw it out. She passed through carefully first.
Smiling, with adrenaline still pumping in her veins, she held out her hand to Ella.

"Come on, El. Hurry."

**********
Author's note: It's sizzling hot, peeps!🔥🔥🔥 We drawing closer and closer to the climax of this story. 🤸🤸🤸
I'm so so excited...🤩🥳

I could go running and racing, hair flying, heart pounding, and finally feeling...🤭 This is where this story is headed for. 💥💥💥

What think ye of Pagiel? 😇💌

El and Red are so rocking it, baby! Y'all will agree that Rouge's baptism and prison break was the best stunt yet in this story. And guess what? There's more coming. 🤭😋😄
But wait, what of the guards outside? What if they awaken? And how on earth would these two girls navigate out of somewhere they don't even know in the middle of the night?😟

Anticipate the next update. It's gonna be lit.😜

Don't forget to smash that star, flood my notifications with your sweet comments and get the groove moving.😌😌😌

Love you all.😍
May the angels of God stand beside you.👼

~PeculiarPraise💖 .