My entire body convulsed with frustration, but I knew I couldn’t just stand there idly. Dang it! I sighed in exasperation and berated myself for being caught up in this absurd situation that Luminous had orchestrated. I groaned as I stormed out, my cheeks burning with embarrassment at the unwarranted exposure, yet seething with anger at Luminous for setting me up.

  “Luminous,” I called out, my voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. He spun around, surprise flickering in his eyes as the keepers paused in confusion.

  “Call it off, please,” I pleaded. “There are far better ways to handle things. This is just reckless.” My gaze shifted, catching Claudine wide-eyed and trembling. I bit my lip, hoping my plea would penetrate Luminous’s stubborn urge to gain revenge. “Please …”

  Luminous tilted his head, a myriad of emotions playing on his face as our eyes locked. “How long have you been there?” he snapped. Then, with a snarky laugh, he added, “You are sneaky.”

  “I was here first,” I admitted with a nonchalant shrug.

  He gave a condescending side grin, then said, “Favor, I’d advise you to leave.”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head, “If you continue with this …”

  “You’ll what?”

  Blinking rapidly, I stammered out, “If you do this, I will break unity.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  I wet my lips and decided to play a different version of Russian roulette. I uttered, “You know I will, but I know you won’t let me.”

  He gave a hard swallow because he knew I was right. I continued, saying, “That’s why you nudged me at the table the first night I was here. It’s why you stopped me from stepping into the dining hall with a different dress on, it’s why you poured water over my face, trying your best to bleed from me the truth …”

  Claudine, still trembling, lashed out at me. “You are such a freak.”

  Luminous shot her a glare that could have turned steel into butter. Then he said, “That ‘freak’ just saved your life,” turning back to me, he commanded them, “The both of you, get out, and never speak to me again. If you do, I promise you, it will be your last words.”

  Claudine assisted Clyde, and they scurried out with the keepers like mice fleeing a predator.

  “Who else is in here?” Luminous bellowed. “Come out, the hour is over!”

  Pauline timidly emerged, and Douglas descended the stairs, both with wide eyes and rapid breaths.

  “Go back to your chambers,” Luminous ordered, irritated. As Douglas tried to pass, Luminous grumbled, “Hand me the necklace, Douglas.”

  “Oh.” Douglas fumbled it out of his pocket and handed it over with shaking hands.

  “Thank you,” Luminous acknowledged him, “for fixing it.”

  “Y-y-you’re welcome,” Douglas stammered and shot me a glance before making a swift exit.

  I gestured toward the door, stating, “I should go too.” With a sigh, I began to leave, but Luminous stepped in front of me.

  “Do you want it?” he inquired, presenting the necklace.

  Glancing up at him, I twiddled my fingers and replied, “Oh, the necklace. Of course, it’s beautiful.”

  He circled behind me and gently moved my hair aside. His fingers brushed my neck as he fastened the necklace, and hesitated for a moment before succumbing to the impulse to kiss my neck.

  Feeling the electrifying sensation, I swiftly turned around, lips pressed together. “Thank you for the necklace, and for listening to me,” I murmured, eyebrows furrowed. “I’d better get back to my chambers.”

  “I’ll walk you there,” he insisted.

  Uh, no. That wouldn’t be a good idea. But, of course, he wouldn’t listen to me. This was all a part of his plan in trying to fantasize my mind. “I’d like to go alone … ,” I said gently.

  “Nonsense,” he dismissed, refusing to yield. “Some servants and keepers can get carried away. I want to make sure you get there safely.”

  “Fine, if you insist,” I acquiesced, walking over to the window and opening it.

  “What are you doing?” he questioned.

  “I’m going in another way,” I replied, kicking off my shoes. “I’m not strolling through those halls after what I witnessed.”

  He approached, saying, “All right, I guess we’re doing this.”

  With my shoes in hand, I gracefully climbed out the window, jumped, and landed on my bare feet. Glancing back, I saw him struggling to get out. “In my world,” I said, “this is called sneaking out.”

  “Climbing from a window.” He chuckled under his breath as he finally joined me on the ground. “Ah, that was awful.” Looking at me, he inquired, “Why not just use the front door instead of the window?”

  “You wouldn’t want your parents to catch you.”

  “My parents don’t mind.”

  “Right,” I said, rolling my eyes as I started walking to the front of the castle. “Unless you try to sneak out of the castle walls, then they would.”

  He quickened his pace to match mine, asking, “Did you sneak out a lot where you’re from?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You seem pretty adept at it.”

  “It’s easy to do,” I said and laughed under my breath. “Only an uptight person would think it’s a difficult task.”

  “I am not uptight.”

  I shot him a look. “Right. Says the man who kisses women without warning and lets keepers beat their best friend. You’re not uptight – that’s an ass.”

  “He betrayed me. What am I supposed to do?” He grimaced defending himself. “Besides, I had to find out who was messing with you. Now, I do.”

  “You could let it go and never talk to them again.”

  “That’s your world-view perspective, and about the kiss, every woman I have kissed without warning quite enjoyed it.”

  “Now you can add an ′almost′ to the start of that comment.”

  He chuckled under his breath and smiled. “You are incredibly stubborn.” I arched a brow and silently acknowledged that he might have a point as we continued walking. He added, “I think you are lying, Madeline.”

  I halted abruptly before questioning, “About the kiss?”

  “Yes,” he affirmed.

  I didn’t want to delve into that topic, especially if it led to him attempting it again. “What made you stop the keepers?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you told the keepers to have their way with them, which would have ended up with them dying, but you stopped it.”

  “What makes you think I wanted to kill them?”

  “From the way they were handling Clyde ...”

  He finished my sentence, “They were being taught a lesson.” He paused, then walked away, stating, “Just because I like you, doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything.”

  I stood there, my mouth agape, internally questioning if he’d genuinely admitted to such a thing. Ha, ridiculous. There was no way in heck he could like me or care for me as he claimed with his idiotic plan.

  Unable to contain myself, I blurted out, “Who’s the one lying now?”

  He pivoted and stopped. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re lying to me,” I said with a nonchalant shrug, finding myself releasing pent-up thoughts into the air. “It’s hard to believe you like me when your words and actions consistently convey disdain.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “I didn’t like you at first. I am confused. Shouldn’t you feel at least a bit of satisfaction knowing you changed my mind about you?”

  “Wow.” I laughed under my breath and nodded as I remarked sarcastically, “Just because you ‘like’ me doesn’t mean I feel the same way. You clearly can’t recognize rejection when it’s right in front of you.”

  “Mhm.” There was a brief pause before he confidently stepped closer, saying, “I think you do like me, Madeline, and you’re afraid to admit it because you don’t like this place. Why else would you remember the times I’ve saved you from breaking unity?”

  I ran my hand through my hair before I tried to justify his reasons, but he said, “Let me clarify this ...” He advanced, and I instinctively took a step back as he approached me. “You are not good. Yet, you act like you are better than everyone else here. Didn’t your Jesus tell his disciples – not one person is good? Mhm, I believe it was in Mark, chapter ten. I’ll even quote it for you, ’Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. ’No one is good – except God alone ...’”

  My eyes widened in astonishment, utterly unprepared for such a profound statement from him. He continued, “We are all destined to fall, according to your God. That’s why you need a Savior; that’s why Jesus Christ died. And I’ll bet you my life that your world is not better than mine. Yours is vast, making the atrocities seem distant, whereas mine is in one place, right in your face. Light and darkness coexist for a reason. So, who are you to judge what I am just because your heart posture is different than mine?”

  Taken aback, my mouth hung open. I couldn’t help but think, What in the heck just transpired? Did I really just get condemned by the man I considered an enemy? But, I realized, he wasn’t the enemy; demons were the enemy, flesh was the enemy. For a fleeting moment, I spoke to Jesus in my mind, looking down at the ground. I have been so resistant, so pushy toward the people because of their deeds and this place. I haven’t been doing what you have been wanting me to do. Have I?

  I swallowed hard, then, I said, “Thank you. You’re right.”

  He blinked several times, seemingly caught off guard. He expected me to lash back at him, but deep down, I knew he was right. As I walked past him, I reflected on my actions. I’ve been running away from the table when Jesus calls all sinners to eat at his table. No matter how dark this place is, Jesus still loves them. This is why I am here – to let them know the way out, to love them even if they don’t understand it. It wasn’t just about leaving this place. It’s about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. They either didn’t know, didn’t believe it, or had somehow forgotten.

  As he walked me back to my chamber, we didn’t say much. I was flabbergasted at the fact that he knew the word of God from memory. But even the demons knew the word of God and they shudder. I didn’t know him at all. I knew he tolerated this place because it was all he’d ever known, but I still didn’t know him, and did I want to? For the sake of his soul, yes, I did.

  We stopped at my door and, hesitating, I mustered up the courage to ask him something I never thought I’d ask. “Luminous?” Glancing into his eyes, I asked, “Would you like to meet me tomorrow in the gardens after breakfast?”

  His smile was small but noticeable. “Yes.”

  “All right,” I looked down at my feet, then back at him, saying, “as long as you promise not to surprise me with any more kissing.”

  He laughed under his breath, “Goodnight, Madeline.”

  Guessing that was a no, I pressed my lips together. Then I opened my door, saying, “Good night.”

  Closing it behind me, I leaned my back against it, thinking to myself, Lord, I need clarity. Feeling in my heart that I needed to read my Bible, I picked it up, waiting on the Lord for that clarity as I read His Holy word. Eventually, the waiting made me nod off to sleep.

  Beads of sweat roused me from my slumber, signaling a shift in the atmospheric dance within my room. Sitting up, I gracefully slipped my hands into the sleeves of my gown, using the fabric to dab away the perspiration that clung to my face. In the dimness of the night, I noticed Pauline shifting in her sheets, emitting a soft groan.

  As my gaze wandered around the room, the nocturnal stillness enveloped us. Suddenly, a fleeting image flashed across my mind — the vivid recollection of Abigail’s words, beckoning me from the recesses of my memory.

  Abigail, with a mischievous grin, had once mused, “I wonder what our husbands will be like.” She twirled in a field of flowers, envisioning her ideal mate, “Mine will be tall with manners, tan with meekness, and handsome with a daring hand.” Playfully, she turned her attention to me, predicting the qualities of my future spouse, “You’re incredibly shy, innocent, and obedient.” With a tap of her lip, she added, “I’m beginning to think that he might be the complete opposite of you ...” Her laughter echoed, and she shrugged.

  “That’ll just mean you have to be the one to bring him to the Lord. What a story to tell. I can’t wait to hear it ...”

  A solitary tear traced its path down my cheek, I swiftly brushed it away as I swung my legs over the chilled floor. I sighed, the contrast between the cold floor and the stifling heat in the room made me ponder why it was that way. Opening the window, I craned my neck to welcome the cool breeze. Staring at the stars, I whispered, “What a story to tell ...” echoing Abigail’s words. “Only in heaven could I share it with you, but then, once I arrive, would it matter anyhow?”

  Returning to my bed, I closed my Bible, cocooned myself, and pondered the oddly tranquil air. The wind caressed my face, and as I drifted back into sleep, an unexpected peace settled within me.

  In the midst of my dreamscape, a sudden, piercing scream shattered the tranquility, tearing me from the realm of slumber. My eyes snapped open, locking onto Pauline, who was frantically swatting at something on her bed. The room was plunged into darkness, and my heart raced as I fumbled for the night lamp switch. When the soft glow illuminated the scene, my gaze collided with a horrifying sight – a legion of eight-legged invaders crawling across my sheets, a nightmarish parade.

  Pauline’s panicked cry filled the room, “Shut the window, Maddy! They’re coming from there! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.”

  In a desperate attempt to rid myself of the arachnid intruders, I flailed and squirmed, my fear palpable. “Don’t you know I am deathly afraid of ... spiders!” Each spider’s departure from my bed was met with a mixture of revulsion and dread.

  Crawling to the bed’s edge, I observed in horror as more spiders floated through the window, their silken threads acting like eerie balloons. Upon landing, they joined the exodus, as if desperately trying to flee our room.

  “Pauline,” I said, my voice trembling, “they seem like they want to leave our room.”

  Terror gripped her, and she clutched her sheets as if holding onto her very life. “What am I supposed to do about that?”

  “Please, just get something and open the door ...”

  “Oh heck ...” She covered her mouth, paralyzed by fear. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  Realization set in as I understood that I had to confront my fear and open the door. Panic crippled me. “Lord,” I cried out, “make them go out the window, not in.”

  Suddenly, an inexplicable reassurance washed over me. The words of Deuteronomy 3:16 echoed in my mind, urging me not to be afraid.

  Tentatively stepping off the bed, I cautiously approached the door. As I moved, the spiders scattered, unveiling the floor beneath my feet. With a trembling hand, I reached the door and swung it open. As I witnessed them covering the halls, the spiders formed a peculiar line of three, an unbelievable sight.

  Their strange formation piqued my curiosity, and I gestured for Pauline to join me. Where are they going? I thought.

  “I am not going,” she protested, still clutching her sheets.

  “Come on. Aren’t you curious?”

  Shaking her head, she responded with a touch of offense, “Don’t make me go ...”

  “This,” I whispered, “is a wonder of the Lord.” With a reassuring smile, I ventured out of the room, eager to follow the mysterious procession of the yellow-backed creatures.

  Pauline’s footsteps echoed behind me, and as she walked beside me, she couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. All I could manage in response was a wry smile. As we passed the watchful keepers, their gasps and puzzled expressions followed us, even amid their attempts to thwart the arachnid invasion. The sheer multitude of spiders created a chaotic scene, making it impossible to discern if any had met their demise. While their presence seemed non-threatening, the alarm in the air spurred them to quicken their pace, hinting at an unknown destination.

  Navigating through my familiar surroundings, they traversed the hallways, bypassed the foyer, and entered the corridor where I’d discovered the secret passage that Luminous had revealed to me. My curiosity heightened as we observed their descent down the stairwell, the same stairs that had tempted me with thoughts of leaving in the past.

  Descending in their wake, we watched as the spiders aligned along the walls, their purpose shrouded in mystery. Furrowing my brows, I pondered their peculiar behavior. Then, to my dismay, they commenced spinning webs at an astonishing pace. Panic gripped me as the realization dawned – they were sealing off the escape route.

  “Oh no,” I whispered to myself, my mind racing. Lord, they’re going to block the way out.

  “What are they doing?” Pauline questioned, her confusion evident. “This is so odd.”

  Frustration welled up within me, and I couldn’t help but express it aloud, “Are you serious ...” I scoffed under my breath, thinking, ugh. Now, what do we do, Lord?

  Pauline looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Turning around, I stormed up the stairs, leaving her in the wake of concerned keepers rushing downstairs. She caught up halfway and grabbed my arm. “Maddy, do you know something I don’t?”

  I turned around to face her. “Luminous showed me a path down there with a secret hidden door that led out of this wretched place, and now the stupid spiders have taken residence there.”

  She widened her eyes and blurted out, “You knew there was a way out this entire time and didn’t think to tell me?”

  “It was sudden, and I couldn’t just flat out tell you. We couldn’t get in there anyways …” Frustration lingered as I grappled with explaining the spiritual aspect to someone who’d just started embracing faith. “You wouldn’t believe me, even if you knew.”

  “Well, you never tried to tell me, so how do you know?”

  I looked up, then back down at her before explaining, “There is a hidden door down there that is invisible to both of us.” She furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head in disbelief. I let out a sigh, shrugged my shoulders once, and slapped my hands against my thighs. “See, that right there.” I pointed at her. “That look is why I didn’t tell you. You don’t believe me because you can’t see it.”

  “I mean – it’s only a wall, Maddy …”

  Turning around and not wanting to discuss it further, I walked off, saying, “Well, it’s not the way out anymore. So just leave it be.”

  Suddenly, screams echoed from down the secret path. I widened my eyes, stopped in my tracks, and turned around, heading back down to see what was happening. A keeper flew past me, trailed by spiders. I covered my mouth, heart racing, wondering what was going on. As I descended the stairs, I found a keeper lying on the floor, spiders crawling all over him.

  Another keeper, trembling, tried to touch me, but I backed away, seeing spiders crawling over him too, biting relentlessly. What had changed? They hadn’t harmed anyone on their way here, so why the sudden hostility?

  “Maddy,” Pauline cried, “it’s time to leave.”

  “But the people …” I hesitated until a spider spat venom at me.

  “Maddy! We need …” She stopped talking, yanked me back, and, held my hand. She pulled me forward as we ran back up the steps.

  Out of breath and terrified by their sudden aggression, I couldn’t fathom why the spiders had turned from mysterious protectors to lethal creatures. Feeling like they were crawling all over me, I shivered at the thought. “I knew I hated spiders – I knew they were all little devils,” I blurted. “Even if they’re being protective.”

  “Not so friendly anymore; His wonder just became a deadly wonder.”

  Partially closing my chamber door, I rushed to the window and locked it in place. Hearing Pauline close our door, I clung to my pillow on the bed.

  Throughout the night, my thoughts raced, perplexed by why God would permit such an event. The only explanation that crossed my mind was that He intended to block the exit route. After witnessing what happened to the keepers, I knew no one would venture down there, and with the passageway filled with spiders, their webs would make it impossible to get through.

  This marvel of His left me in bewilderment, unable to comprehend its purpose.