'Fear begins to creep in. ‘No, pastor! No, not me,’ you say, ‘I want the easy way! The joyful path! I want to live life on my terms and prioritize my desires over the Sacrificial Lamb. Oh, it’s okay, a simple repentance prayer wipes it all away! No need for suffering,’ he declared. ‘But let me tell you, my friends, those are lies being fed to you by the many fallen angels called demons.’

  He paused, cleared his throat, and continued, ‘Earth is our trial, our mission, our learning ground, before we step into the kingdom of heaven where our Elohim dwells.’ With another pause, he stated, ‘There is a certain kind of joy that can only be found in suffering. Do you hear me?’ the teacher’s voice grew intense, ‘There is a certain kind of joy that can only, only be found in suffering …’

  As the blaring alarm clock shattered the silence, I found myself alone in the chamber. Luminous had left, presumably before the wake-up call. I rubbed my eyes and squinted at the clock — 5:25 AM.

  Suddenly, the door swung open, and Jace burst in with an outfit, shoes, and a makeup bag in hand.

  “Up, up, uppity up you go,” Jace sang.

  I regarded her with a puzzled expression.

  “Come on,” she insisted, “you need to be ready before six in the dining hall.”

  “Why?” I questioned.

  “That’s what the Master wants.”

  My eyes widened and my legs turned weak as I recalled last night’s events.

  “UP!”

  I complied, removing my nightgown. Jace handed me the outfit, and I slipped it on, with her fastening it in the back. I walked over to my vanity and brushed my hair before she started to style it. She braided the top half into a fishtail braid while leaving the other half untouched. After that, she applied my makeup and placed matching shoes at my feet.

  I slipped them on and examined my reflection. The silk white dress had short sleeves, a V-neck, and trailed past my feet. A transparent fabric covered the slit in the dress, revealing my thigh. The dress was elegant, a standard in the world I now inhabited, but still showy. My makeup was neutral, with a smoky cat-eye look. I walked over to Jace and whispered my gratitude, to which she responded with a smile.

  “You look stunning, just as the Master desires, especially for today’s occasion,” she complimented.

  My anxiety surged. “What’s today’s ... occasion?”

  “You’ll see,” she smiled again, adjusting her glasses. She opened the door and checked my clock. “You’d better hurry; it’s almost six.’’

  I took a deep breath, collected my composure, and ventured into the dining hall. Everyone was streaming in and taking their seats. I noticed Aeromonas and Sabrina in their usual places, but Luminous was conspicuously absent.

  Theodore, who typically sat beside me at the end of the table, stood by the entrance, kissing the ‘children’s’ hands as they passed. It struck me as odd; I hadn’t seen him do that before. Once everyone was seated, he stood before his chair.

  He smiled at me, and I reciprocated, but he then addressed the room, “Due to an unfortunate circumstance, we’ve run out of fresh water.” Gasps and shocked expressions rippled through the crowd. “But don’t worry, my children; we have a replacement on the way. In the meantime, avoid all water sources.” He sat down and prompted the expected response.

  “We sip and eat lightly,” the assembly echoed.

  I glanced at the table, noting it wasn’t as full as usual. There were only croissants. I grabbed one and tore it apart. Inside, I found eggs, cheese, and small pieces of bacon. But as soon as I grabbed mine and glanced back at the plate, it was empty. Everyone had one.

  The side door on the right side of the room swung open, and Luminous entered. Instantly, I noticed that something was off. His posture had changed, shoulders slumped, and he avoided eye contact. His face wasn’t freshly shaved, but he’d changed into white like everyone else.

  “My apologies for being late, Father,” he mumbled, “I lost track of time.”

  His father studied him for a moment. “Should I be concerned about you?”

  Luminous deflected, glancing at me, and inquired, “Are they on their way?”

  Theodore nodded.

  He took another look at me and asked, “Why is she dressed differently?”

  Theodore cleared his throat. “She is our trophy; we need to make an impression.”

  Luminous glanced hesitantly at Aeromonas before asking, “Was this your idea?”

  She shrugged and admitted, “I just planted the thought in Father’s head.”

  For a brief moment, panic flashed in his eyes, then he rubbed his jaw in frustration. My heart began to race as I felt my chest tighten. What did this mean? Why was he so upset? Aeromonas despised me. What had she done? I turned my head rapidly, assessing the other girls in the room. They all wore short white silk dresses, even the favors. I clasped my hands tightly in my lap, suddenly losing my appetite and feeling queasy. I couldn’t stop fidgeting, squeezing my fingers over and over.

  Luminous pushed his plate aside, his voice firm, “Suddenly, I no longer have an appetite.”

  “Eat,” Theodore commanded. “Nothing will transpire under my wa —”

  “Are you going to oversee the proceedings?” Luminous interjected, shaking his head. “She orchestrated this deliberately.”

  “Luminous.” Theodore’s tone carried a touch of authority, and he tapped his fingers together gently. “I believe it’s best if you take a moment to collect yourself before you risk embarrassing both of us.”

  Luminous grabbed his drink, what appeared to be red wine, and took a sip. His eyes held a contemplative look, but his intentions remained a mystery. He raised his glass toward his father and said, “This collects me.”

  He started to rise, but Aeromonas firmly seized his arm. I could see the pressure in her grip as she said, “If you get up, Luminous, and do what I think you’re about to do, it will break unity.” She smirked at him and added, “Please, don’t tell me you’re developing feelings for a favor who isn’t yours.” A sly smile played on her lips as she took a sip from her glass.

  Luminous responded, “I don’t know what you mean, Aeromonas.”

  “Prove it to me. Throughout the entire choosing.”

  I puzzled over the term the choosing.

  Luminous gazed at me with a sense of dejection, then turned his eyes away and cleared his throat. He transformed into character, saying, “Challenge accepted, sister.”

  The bell resonated, signaling an hour’s passing. Theodore rose, issuing an order, “Now, take your places. Enter the foyer.”

  Uncertainty gnawed at me, and by Luminous’s demeanor, I could tell this wasn’t a favorable turn of events. Despite my nerves, an unusual calmness prevailed. I observed everyone closely as the keepers arranged the servants from shortest to tallest.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  When it came to placing Theodore’s favors, the keeper on duty directed them to the right side. However, when it was my turn, he took hold of my arm and positioned me dead center. He gestured for the individuals behind me to spread out, ensuring the arriving guests would see all of Theodore’s ‘children.’ I refrained from considering myself one, as I knew who my true father was.

  Theodore stepped forward, positioning himself a short distance in front of me. Glancing back, I saw Luminous, Sabrina, and Aeromonas aligned behind the servants. The grand doors swung open and were secured into place. As the sunlight streamed through, it illuminated our figures. My eyes widened, and I stifled a gasp at the sight of so many people seemingly accepting this.

  I stood motionless, but my breathing betrayed my unease, quick and shallow. No, Lord. No. I pressed my lips together, containing the weight of my anguish. Several gazes fixed upon us, and as the last person entered, a keeper closed the doors.

  “Welcome, my esteemed guest. As promised, we present a fresh selection. Once I step aside, feel free to choose your ‘trophy.’”

  I inwardly gasped. Swallowing hard and casting my eyes downward, I thought, Did he just say ‘trophy’? I don’t understand. I’m a favor. I’m supposed to be protected from this. I - I can’t. Lord?

  Each entrant into the castle scrutinized us all, and soon, they began to make their selections. This, I realized, was what Aeromonas had meant by ‘The choosing.’

  As each person chose a servant, they handed over substantial sums of cash — big chunks, not in fives, tens, or twenties, but all in hundreds. Once the money changed hands, a keeper would step forward, collect the payment, and then escort the guest to their assigned chamber.

  A man approached me, attempting to hand me his cash, but he was intercepted by another, and then another, until Theodore came to stand beside me. He stated firmly, “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but she is not for sale.”

  Whew, thank you, Lord.

  “What?” one protested, “I’ll double it.” The others chimed in, but Theodore remained resolute.

  Theodore listened intently as the man in his fifties, with grayish hair, leaned in and whispered, “Half a million. Take it, or I walk out and never come back. Which will mean, I take my colleagues with me.”

  Theodore hesitated, murmuring under his breath, “That’s quite the offer.” He cleared his throat before adding, “Give me a moment.”

  The man looked at me, then nodded. Theodore walked away from me, heading toward Sabrina, Luminous, and Aeromonas. I took the opportunity to steal a glance behind me. I saw Luminous with a determined expression, hands in his pockets. His sister gestured wildly toward their father, as if he were insane to refuse, while Sabrina stood with her arms crossed, appearing resigned.

  Theodore turned around, and I quickly averted my gaze. When he reached us, he smiled at the man and nodded. My heart plummeted like a ship sinking to the ocean floor. I closed my eyes for a moment. Could death save me? All I had to do was run toward the wall and try to escape. A bullet to the head seemed more worth it than getting raped.

  The keeper took the cash from the man, and I walked on faith to the chamber that was once mine, before I moved. I was instructed to enter first, prepare myself, and then lay down on the bed. The keeper ensured I was left with nothing but my underwear. A thousand doubts raced through my mind, and my face fell. My hands trembled, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

  “It won’t take long,” the keeper reassured me. “Just breathe. It will all be over soon, and your reward will be far greater than this.”

  I pursed my lips, staring at the diluted figure before me as my eyes welled up further. Panic coursed through me, and a wave of faintness washed over me. I sat on the bed, already feeling violated. Why is money valued more than a person? Why am I enduring this? Oh, Maddy. Just endure this. I gasped audibly, covering my mouth, as the man who’d bought me entered the chamber.

  I looked up like a deer caught in headlights. As he closed the door, I kept my gaze fixed on the ground.

  I heard him remove his clothes, then he approached me, wearing only his underwear.

  “Is this your first time?” he asked.

  I nodded slightly.

  “It will be all right. I’ll be gentle.”

  He touched my thigh, and I instinctively moved. I heard him chuckle softly before his hand found its way to my hair. He ran his fingers through a strand of it, signaling for me to lie on the bed. I bit my lip as hard as I could, even though it stung. I sank my teeth so deep, I felt it tear. That’s how much I despised being alive.

  He got on top of me, and as I knew it would be worthless to fight physically, so I fought in my mind. Please, Jesus. Stop this. I felt his hands start to pull off my underwear. I started to squirm as the weight of him started to get heavy, and it was becoming hard for me to breathe.

  He whispered things ? terrible things in my ear, that were unimaginable. I felt my tears continue to roll off my temple and down into my hair. The wickedness that was wrapped around this man’s heart was palpable. Just about when he was ready to take what was mine, his eyes grew wide, and his face turned beetroot. He groaned, then grabbed his chest.

  I laid there, speechless with my mouth open. A shuddery breath left my lips as he fell on top of me.

  “Oh, my gosh,” I cried in a whisper. “Oh, my gosh. Oh.” My hands shook as I let out a scream. “Please, s-someone …” My mind was so scrambled that I couldn’t speak properly. “S-somebody help!” I tried to push him off me, but I was too weak. My body had undergone so much panic, it tired itself out. “Someone!”

  A keeper opened the door and ran toward us. He pushed him off me and checked the guy’s pulse as he asked what happened.

  I shook my head, feeling crazed. “I - I don’t know. He grabbed his chest – h – he … just fell on me.”

  Another keeper came in and threw the sheets off. She observed the bed and said, “There is nothing here she could have killed him with. The bed is clean.”

  The keeper next to the man checked his pulse again. “He’s dead all right. Call it, he must’ve had a heart attack.”

  I closed my eyes and started to cry. The woman keeper walked up to me and handed me a robe, saying, “It is all right, love. Put it on and go straight to your chambers for clean up.”

  I didn’t hesitate. I pushed my arms through the sleeves and tied it around me before I ran out of the room. I ran down the hall, and into the foyer where some people were. I stopped and caught my breath while walking steadily toward my chamber.

  People were staring at me because I wasn’t in sync with their dresses, but I didn’t care. I finally made it to my chamber and opened the door swiftly. I closed it,and as I searched frantically for the lock, I realized I’d forgotten there were none. I turned around and grabbed the chair from my vanity. Dragging it over, I pressed it against the knob and took several steps back.

  In my own mind, I let out several whimpers and thanked my savior above for protecting me. There was no way this was a coincidence. The man that was now dead looked healthy. He was rich enough to pay for his health, there should have been no reason to cause this. However, he did die. He died because I called on my savior to save me, and He did.

  I sat on the floor, rubbing my eyes until they hurt. I let out several sobs before I heard a clearing of the throat. I quickly looked toward the noise and saw Luminous at the top of my stairs.

  My chin quivered, a fragile defiance in my eyes as I mustered the strength to demand, “What are you doing here?”

  He sat in eerie silence, fingers pressed thoughtfully against his mouth. His posture was stooped, and a turbulent storm brewed in his eyes.

  My voice, though strained, pierced the air as I pressed harder, demanding an answer. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did he ?”

  “Rape me …” I shook my head vehemently. “Get out,” I cried, my voice laced with a fiery determination, “Get out of here!” His stubbornness only fueled my anger. “What is wrong with you?” I demanded, my words laced with bitter disbelief. “Did you truly think you could waltz in here and somehow make it all right ... Did you expect me to listen to your delusional justifications and say, ‘Oh Luminous, it’s all right. The challenge was a success!’” I shook my head with vehement resolve. “I will never settle with this. As long as I breathe, this place and everyone in it who supports it will be a stain on my soul.”

  “Is that truly how you feel?”

  “Is my voice not loud enough for you to sense it?” I scoffed, my shoulders squared, radiating ire. “Maybe this will etch it into your memory!” I surged past him, darting toward the shelves. With every ounce of determination, I seized a handful of books and hurled them at him. “I loathe this place,” I seethed, sending another projectile sailing. “I despise your family,” and again, “I hate you … ” One more, “and every single thing about you!”

  He deftly sidestepped the incoming barrage, his frustration boiling over. “I acknowledge how wretched this has been for you! I never anticipated he would stoop so low! Not toward a favor, especially, one like you.”

  “You knew. She dared you! You understand the choosing.” I shook my head, a bitter smirk playing on my lips. “Do you wish to unlock me?” I shrugged. “Here’s the truth: the Holy Spirit resides within me. That’s why I am different.” He stared, mute, as I declared, “And this place ... it incites His wrath. I am here with one purpose: to rescue those trapped here! I have to remember that, no matter what trials I face, He will deliver me from them.”

  He moistened his lips, mustering the words. “You’re merely clouded by what transpired. You’re different because you don’t like being told what to do.” His cautionary tone took a more ominous turn, “Natural causes are what killed that man, and unless you want to get sent down below, I’d keep your intentions to yourself, favor.”

  “Whatever,” I replied, weariness heavy in my voice. It all felt so futile. Every utterance, every movement, even the act of keeping my eyes open.

  As the storm of my fury abated, I surveyed the chaos I’d wrought, drawing labored breaths. Collapsing to the ground, I felt utterly drained, both mentally and physically. I was exhausted to the marrow.

  Luminous approached and knelt beside me, gathering the discarded books from the floor. He sighed, voice heavy with remorse. “I am profoundly sorry, Madeline. No one should endure such a trial in the name of a favor.” He reached out to assist me, but I swatted his hands away.

  “Don’t touch me.” When he tried once more, I pushed him away forcefully, my voice a razor’s edge. “I said, don’t touch me!”

  Then, out of nowhere, he swept me into his arms. I considered wriggling free, but deep within, I knew God’s plan transcended my own desires. He gently placed me up on the bed and tucked the covers around me. I buried my face into the pillow, listening as he crossed to the couch.

  Instead of departing, as I so fervently wished, he settled upon it, muttering darkly, “For this, Madeline, she will pay.”