I kept my gaze downcast as we walked into the camp, the corner of my eyes catching the curious stares from the other people around us. A large bonfire was lit amid the circle, and around it were men, all armed even as they ate.

Whispers and some loud remarks filled my ears, making me all the more dazed of what was happening.

"Captain!" My head jolted upwards. A woman in uniform rushed towards the man beside me, a wide smile upon her face as she wrapped her arms around him.

I respired in awe, fascinated as I got to see her face. With the conditions they lived in, it was a low possibility that she could have worn any sort of makeup, but the way her skin seemed to glow was breathtaking. Full rounded eyes, a straight nose, and full lips the color of cherries. It was as though I was looking at an actress.

"Nerissa," Eli spoke, returning her embrace and letting her go with what seemed to be less than a second. It was obvious how fond she was with him, how coldly he had responded to her almost made me feel bad for the girl.

She released a breath and shifted her gaze towards me, her smile fading away as our gazes locked.

"Who's this?" she looked at me from head to toe, a brow raised as she did so. I bit the inside of my lip. She wasn't very pleased. She only rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to Eli.

"Sherah," he replied.

My gaze flung up to him, surprised as I heard my name from his lips. How did he know my name? I scurried my mind, recalling all that had happened since the shooting in the church. No. I don't remember telling anyone my name. How could he have...?

"Did you take her to serve the other men?" Her gaze remained on him.

"No, she is to serve me." I gazed away, releasing a breath as I heard his words. So, I am to be a maid then. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Did I just time travel back to Ancient Cordillera?

"But, you have me, Eli," A scoff escaped my lips. Exactly! Why take me when he has this woman right here just waiting to serve him?

He released a breath and looked at her, only to lift it again as he began to walk away. Reluctantly, I followed behind him, walking along with the others at his word. I wanted to look back to that girl, but receiving another soul-piercing glare was something I wouldn't risk as of the moment.

"Welcome back, Captain!" A man met us, hand up to a salute as we approached, "I see the operation was successful! A lot of goods had been brought back!"

"Yes," he spoke, "This should teach those lunatics not to meddle with our business."

"Indeed, Captain!" The man spoke in assent.

"Not only were food taken," I heard a man from behind speak, stepping forward as he did so, "We also have a new woman."

The people's gazes were fixed toward me, and at his word the men around the fire stood up, all gazing towards my direction. I lowered my head in haste, apprehension surging my veins as I sought to hide my face away.

Oh Lord, please... please let this not happen to me.

"Damn!"

The man walked towards me, a whistle in his lips as he ran a hand on my back. My skin crawled in disgust.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed, panting as I looked at his soiled and sweaty countenance. The other men around me began to chuckle.

"I sure am gonna enjoy you tonight," He stretched his hand towards my face. In a snap, I turned in defense, stepping away from the horrid man as far as I could. Seconds ticked ... I felt nothing. Silence overcame the circle. What happened? I lifted my gaze slowly. Another man now gripped his outstretched arm.

"You won't," Authority emanated from his eyes, strength manifest in the way his arm gripped the other. "Haven't I made it clear already?" Slowly, his gaze made its way to me. I swallowed. "She's mine,"

---

I sat silent, counting each breath as each moment passed by. I now sat inside a tent, a dwelling who's owned by the one who's repeatedly said I was his'. I swallowed hard, nervosity gripping my very soul with each sound I heard. Never in my life had I felt so afraid. I always thought I knew what fear was, but only now do I realize, those experiences were nothing in comparison to this one.

A gasp escaped my lips, gaze shifting upwards as the tent's flap stirred. A woman peeked through the entrance, and upon spotting me, she made her way to my direction. The dim tent didn't give me much chance to see her face, but as soon as she neared, doe-like eyes came in contact with mine. She looked so gentle, so kind. A stark contrast to the uniform she wore. Now to me a sign of murder and great violence.

"You are Sherah, yes?" I heard her ask.

"Y-yes," I breathed, "How did you know?"

"I heard Captain say it earlier," She shifted forward and placed a bowl before me, "Here, eat. You must be starving."

I gazed down at the soup-filled bowl, a few pieces of meat in its midst. I felt my stomach grumble. I am starving. I lifted my gaze to her. "T-thank you."

In a snap I took the bowl, lifting it to my mouth as I bit into the meat. For a moment I felt as though my taste buds came to life, igniting a strange sensation in my mouth as I chewed.

It didn't take me a lot time. The soup-filled bowl now lay empty before me. Slowly she reached to my hand, taking the bowl gently from my grip. She seemed so different from the others, and the more I looked at her the more I wondered.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Cresilda," She replied. She released a breath and was about to stand when strangely, she paused and looked at me once more. "I know it's painful," She whispered, "When I was taken two years ago, there was nothing else I wanted more than death,"

I blinked in astonishment, "Taken?"

"Yes," She breathed, "Just like you I am a captive too. I understand. I understand if you feel as though all hope is gone."

I felt a tear slide down my cheek, the pain again engulfing my being. "How could you have survived being here for years?"

I saw her take in a breath, releasing it slowly as she gazed at me intently, "You are a missionary, yes?"

I knit my brows in wonder, "Yes, why?"

"Just hold on to the message you intended to speak," She smiled, "That is the reason why I survived being here."

"You're a believer?" I shifted forward, mind in a pool of thoughts as I considered her words.

She nodded, lowering her gaze as she did so, "God-" She paused, "God is the only reason why I chose to live despite all this." She gazed afar and resumed, "He is the only reason why I still believe in hope, hope that someday, I will be free again."

A set of tears escaped my lids once more, the truth that her words held sending my being a wave of guilt. She'd been here for years, yet her faith was established. I came as a missionary, but where was my faith? "W-what do I do? What do I do now?"

She anchored her gaze on me, eyes intent as she did so, "First," She lowered her head and lifted it again. "Forgive,"

I felt as though my heart was wrenched in two at her word. I was struck speechless, a lone tear sliding down my cheek as her word seemed to echo endlessly in my head.

Forgive?

I swallowed with difficulty. I grew up being taught of the value of forgiveness, it was a word I knew. I heard it preached often, I learned how to preach it myself. It was the whole message I placed my life around. But why? Why did it seem so hard to do? I respired in dismay. I am such a hypocrite. Lord, how? How can I?

Slowly I saw her stand, taping my hand briefly and walking towards the tent's exit. I could only watch as she lifted the tent's flap and walked out. Silence once more reigned in the tent, and with this, I recovered my thoughts.

Pain writhed in my heart like a storm, the body of my father flashing before my eyes. Heartless. They were all so heartless! I sucked in a breath, a burden so heavy weighing down my very soul as Cresilda's word reechoed in my head. How? How could I ever bring myself to forgive such a murderer?

I hung my head in defeat, sobs now escaping my lips as I thought. Oh, Jesus, Jesus help me. I can't do this. I can't do this on my own!

An image of a hill flashed across my clasped lids. Three crosses lay atop it, the middle carrying ... The Son of God. The Son of God  hanging on a Cross betwixt two criminals.

Your sin nailed him there...

The words of my father ringed in my head, the memory of when I first saw him preach in a mission crossing my mind.

You have killed him!

Incessant tears fell from my eyes. I brought my palms to my face, feeling the warm tears against my skin as I did. I have, indeed I have... but He forgave me.

Lord, please... please give me the strength to live what I had always thought I knew.

My gaze lifted, taken aback as I heard the flap stir. Immediately my heart raced. It was him. The mere sight of him enraged me, and the thought of having to forgive him seemed to drain all life from my being. How Lord? Please show me how.

I wiped the tears from my face, gazing away as I saw him sit in front of me. My chest heaved heavily, the nervosity intensifying the longer the stared. With much courage, I met his gaze, releasing a breath as I did. His elbow was upon his thigh, gaze forward as he seemed to survey my whole form.

He stirred, sending me a wave of fear as he moved closer. Oh Jesus, Jesus please, please deliver me!

"P-panga-asim," I whimpered, but he paid no heed. Instead, he lifted his arm, wrapping it around my waist with his gaze still upon me.

I shut my eyes forcibly, moving away as I felt his other hand on my neck. He moved closer, and all the more I felt my body shudder. Oh Lord, please, please help me. Deliver me, please. Please, please, please...

My mind chanted the word, but all the more he moved forward. I felt his breath upon my face. Panic gripped my very core. I felt a tear escape my lids.

"I-in Jesus Name!" I blurt out.

My lids lifted, darkness filling my perception as I felt him halt. I panted for breath, turning my head towards him in wonder. He only looked at me, wordless as he did. In a split of a second, he pulled away, stood to his feet and walked out of the tent.