“I don’t care how it happened! Find them!” Theodores’ anger radiated, a force with every word. He stormed past us, seizing the statues of Baal. With a vehement toss, they sailed through the doorway, plunging into the fountain, his shoulders heaving in sync with his wrath.

  As he pivoted, a startling transformation occurred on his face, reminiscent of our first initial encounter. I gasped inwardly; his countenance now bore the marks of profound fatigue — sunken cheeks, pallid complexion, and creased skin. The sacrifices were gone, and his vitality was slipping away.

  “I know what you said! You forsake me! I forsake you!” he bellowed, addressing the demon plaguing his mind. “He will have to be good enough.” His head sank into his hands. “Please, give me more time …” His gaze shifted toward us, and he demanded, “Every single person will meet at the fountain at three am.”

  Weak and faltering, keepers grabbed him, leading him away to his clandestine retreat. Eager to witness where they were taking him, I attempted to step forward, only to be intercepted by Luminous, blocking my path.

  “Might I have a word?” he enquired.

  “Of course,” I replied, feigning detachment from his father’s distress.

  “Alone,” he added.

  Nodding, I followed him, anxiety gnawing at my insides. As we traversed the unknown route, thunder echoed above, prompting me to ponder whether they’d safely returned to land; the ocean’s waves could be unforgiving. Upon entering a room, he closed the door behind us, revealing what appeared to be his quarters.

  “What is this place?” I asked.

  Ignoring my question, he shed his suit jacket, draping it on a rack before settling into his chair.

  The chamber exuded a personal touch, akin to his father’s office yet distinct. Dark blue walls, black wooden floors, expansive bookcases, a divan, and a desk adorned the lower level. A spiral staircase suggested his bed occupied the second floor.

  “It’s my chamber,” he replied, focused on shuffling papers aside.

  “It suits you, I suppose,” I remarked, my gaze wandering over the walls lined with books, pondering the volumes he’d devoured.

  His eyes remained fixed on his desk, exuding a sense of calm. Suddenly, he slammed his pen down, snapping my attention to him. A long sigh escaped him, and when he looked at me, a fierce stare accompanied his words, worry etched in his eyes as he said, “What did you do, Madeline?”

  I refrained from responding and walked to the window, arms folded across my chest, watching the rain cascade outside.

  “I know it was you,” he asserted, adding, “How am I supposed to protect you from breaking unity if you keep breaking it?”

  Turning to him, I offered him a light smile, muttering, “The rain has such a calming effect on me.” My gaze returned to the downpour, and my smile widened.

  He pressed on, “I saw a firefly in the chamber below. The pregnant women - that is the only place they could escape here from, and you knew about it.”

  Feeling his panic oddly comforting, I replied, “I don’t know where they went. I am deathly afraid of spiders.” I didn't lie, I had no idea where they landed and I was afraid of spiders.

  His jaw clenched. “You can throw things, destroy the statues for all I care – but when it comes to my father’s life, that’s when I step in. You stopped a crucial ceremony.”

  Anger replaced my peace. “You’re acting like I put them there and it’s crucial to kill unborn babies so your father can live. That is beyond selfish – beyond unforgivable, inhuman.”

  His widened eyes betrayed his knowledge of the babies’ fate. Furrowing his brows, he struggled for an excuse, finding none sufficient for their impending fate. “So, I am supposed to just let my father die,” he said in a sorrowful voice.

  Arms folded, I asserted, “That is the natural thing to do – the natural course of life.” Licking my lips, I added, “Is that all we came here for, to question me?” Sympathy mingled with anger in his eyes as he stared at me. “All right then,” I declared, “I will escort myself out,” heading for the door.

  “Sit down,” he ordered sternly.

  I halted and turned around. “This is over.”

  “It isn’t over until I say it is.”

  Raising my eyebrows, I stated, “I told you –”

  He interrupted, “Sit down, Madeline,” gesturing toward the chair. I hesitated, pondering if it was the right choice. “Please,” he said, “So I can explain something to you.”

  Resignedly, I sat down and listened as he chose his words carefully. “I guess I should be applauding your effort,” he began. “You brought seven new people here. The mate choosing will recycle, and my father will regain his strength.” Shaking his head, he continued, “This set us back a couple of stepping-stones, but it didn’t ruin this place.” His eyes, locked onto mine, shifted to the window and back at me.

  The change in his demeanor puzzled me. Did something happen? Was he misled by his false god again, or was his father threatening him? The man before me seemed different from our interaction on the roof last night. He said, “I can’t accept my father’s death, Madeline. Would you?”

  “You’re made to accept it. You can’t stop death.”

  “Our efforts have worked thus far.”

  “And have gone on for long enough.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Leaning in, I gathered my confidence and responded, “Let me explain something to you, Luminous.” I studied his face for a moment, weighing whether it was the right time to speak. Conflict brewed within me as I addressed this enigmatic man. “My God has heard the cries of this place. Light at the end of the day will always win. It will always be victorious ? even when it seems like darkness is winning.”

  His fingers traced against his mouth as he listened. I continued, “There are some things I will never tell you, even, even in marriage.” Shrugging my shoulders, I clarified, “At the end of the day, if I am blamed, you will get the blame also. You are the one who showed me the way out.”

  He blinked rapidly, rubbing his jaw fiercely. As I urged him, “Turn a blind eye – go against unity – go against this wickedness that I know can leave you if you allow it.”

  Suddenly, something in his eyes manifested, making them turn black. He stood up, slamming his hands on the desk before flipping it on its side. My eyes widened as his papers cascaded down, and the sound of wood chipping echoed.

  Breathing heavily, he rushed toward me, leaning over as he grasped the back of the chair. I widened my eyes as I held my breath.

  Gasping, he confessed. His voice cracking, “I can’t let him go, but I can’t lose you. I don’t know what to do, and it is tearing me apart.”

  I found myself gripping the back of his neck, holding his face in my hand. Slowly, he knelt on the floor in front of me as I reassured him, “You can do this. You’re fighting a battle right now, but you are strong enough to know what’s right and win. I won’t give up on you, neither does the Lord.”

  His eyes welled with tears, and his cheeks turned pink. He gasped again, lowering his head onto my lap as I ran my fingers through his hair.

  Suddenly, as if the Lord had instantly thinned the veil between the seen and unseen. A black lizard with red eyes stared at me with hate I had never felt before. Possessing arms and legs like a human, with a snake’s tongue, it began whispering into Luminous’s ear, eliciting a visible reaction of disgust from him.

  “Ssshe will abandon you … Ssssshe will curse you and your family … Ssshe could never love you, the way you love her … Luminoussss.”

  I gasped, frozen in fear as if time had stilled. The sight of that hideous creature held my eyes captive.

  The demon continued its torment, urging him, “Kill her, choke her -” Its red demon eyes locked onto me with intense hatred, and it opened its mouth wide, screaming, “Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”

  I blinked, and it was gone. However, immediately afterward, Luminous’s hands wrapped around my neck as he pulled me off the chair. Slamming my body against the floor, he pinned against it. A glaze of unrecognizable look hit me, a look in his eyes so fierce my entire body began to shake seeing that it was the demon. My body stiffened as he pressed his against mine, his fingers squeezing my neck harder, as the pressure in my head began to hurt.

  I gasped, desperately digging my nails into his hands, feeling my airway close up. My feet struggled against the floor, attempting to gasp for more air, but it wasn’t coming. Just when I thought I was about to take my last breath, he released his grip, slamming his fist against the floor near my head, exclaiming, “I can’t. I won’t listen to you! Madeline, leave!”

  Without hesitation, I scrambled out from under his body as large breaths escaped. His head rested against the floor as I shuddered to catch my breath. My entire body trembled, and I sensed him battling the entity God had shown me. My heart trying to leap from my chest, I stared at him.

  He struck the floor again, raising his voice, “Get out!”

  I rose and fled to the door, glancing back momentarily to see him crouched on the floor like a ball, as if the demonic presence was digging its claws into his back. Despite what he’d just done, compassion filled my heart; it wasn’t him but the demon manipulating him with lies. How could I leave him?

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  Hesitating by the door, I contemplated approaching him to offer comfort through this apparent struggle. However, the Lord thundered in my soul, giving me a feeling I couldn't resist that urged me to flee. I pried my fingers from the door and left. My gut twisted and gurgled, leading me to the nearest trash can where I fell to my knees, gripping it with trembling hands, and vomited.

  I leaned my back on the wall, pressed against it. Tears began to stream down my cheeks, uncaring if anyone was around (thankfully, there wasn’t). “Oh, my gosh,” I sobbed. My hands trembled before me, and my gut twisted again. “What the heck was that, Jesus? I am so terrified!” I breathed out several deep breaths, finally finding the perfect breath to calm myself down.

  In a rush, I retreated to my chamber, desperately seeking answers in my Bible. I needed some insight into what had just happened, a glimpse into the Lord’s plan.

  After delving into His word, my attention was drawn to Ezekiel 36:26, which resonated, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

  A gasp escaped me as I covered my mouth. It struck me — You're trying to help him, but Luminous has to accept Christ. The change in him, the struggles, all traced back to this, transformation. He didn’t know how to grapple with the demon that had held sway over him since the beginning.

  An urgent plea escaped me, “What do I do next, Lord? How can I help him? What do I need to do?”

  As I beseeched the Lord, a sudden revelation hit me like a slap to the hand. The Holy Spirit brought to my recollection, Matthew 17:21, “’But this kind of demon does not come out except by prayer and fasting.’”

  I sighed, rubbing my swollen teary eyes, How am I supposed to fast when I can't?

  The day dragged on with my day keeper, since Douglas wasn’t here anymore, I tried to find Pauline but for some reason, I couldn’t find her.

  I went about my day, alone, and periodically, spoke to God. I prayed for my family about the things here that were happening, and I prayed about the way out. I prayed for Luminous, the entire family, and even Claudine.

  I thought of seeing Luminous again, yet, each time, the Lord told me no. I had to resist it – resist a feeling for him that approached my heart.

  Before this place captured me, I longed to fix the broken. But his type of brokenness couldn’t be fixed by me. I had to wait for the Lord and watch Him work in his heart from afar until He said otherwise.

  Dinner approached, and so did my night keeper. I turned my head to look at her. She did exactly what the other keepers did. Man, I thought, she is really good at keeping cover. The keepers stood the entire dinner and observed everything per usual.

  I glanced at Theodore, who was slumping in his chair. He looked so sick, he just stared at his plate with disgust. My heart, oddly started to feel pain for him. I furrowed my brows and looked at Luminous who was eating in silence. Claudine, Clyde, and Pauline, we all just ate in pure silence.

  Amid the family’s silence drifting them apart, the servants chatted on as if everything were normal. I cast a fleeting glance at Pauline, wondering where she’d been, but my questioning had to wait until dinner was over.

  Where could she have disappeared to? Was she searching for Douglas? Had she managed to slip away unnoticed? I should’ve seen her before we left. And come to think of it, why didn’t I ask her to join me? Everything was unfolding too quickly. I pressed my temple, frustration mounting. Stupid. Stupid. UGH. What a terrible friend I am. My mind completely spaced when we all were rushing out to the boat. Come to think of it, I didn't feel that Pauline needed to come and I didn't know why.

  I turned my gaze back to Luminous, the profound sadness in his eyes broke my heart as he observed his father’s deteriorating state. The emotional burden became overwhelming. My heart was too fragile for this influx of feelings. I tossed my napkin onto the table and hid my face.

  God, I implored silently. Why do I feel sympathy for Theodore? My vision blurred as tears welled up, and I wiped them away hastily while keeping my head lowered over my plate. Victories are typically joyous, Lord, I continued in my thoughts, but I didn’t know they could be so profoundly sad at the same time. Or is it just me who feels this way? Why, when they're causing hideous things to happen? They still act, it's still done by their hands.

  The dinner bell chimed, and his children expressed their gratitude and departed, giving him a kiss on the cheek, in case he were to die in his sleep. His sickness was moving rapidly, all he did to suppress it was use demon power that wasn’t everlasting. As I got up, I wasted no time leaving, either. I needed to unravel the mystery of my unexpected feelings. I couldn’t fathom why I had sympathy for them.

  The adversary stood before me, and I was filled with an unexplainable compassion. I needed answers. Was it because he’d chosen the wrong path? Did my empathy stem from the knowledge of his impending demise and the awareness of where his final destination lay? Or was it the result of Baal’s deception, a lifetime of being led astray?

  Once in my room, I was finally alone. I turned to the word of God, fervently seeking my answers. The restlessness within me was too great; I couldn’t simply retire for the night with this burden on my heart. Flipping through pages, I read: Proverbs 24:17, ‘Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.’ I proceeded to read on and felt the urge to flip to Mathew. I read: Mathew 5:43-45, ’You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’

  Settling back in my chair, I pondered deeply. So, this is the normal sheep feeling — it’s okay to experience compassion towards those who persecute you, to love them and pray for them even when they’ve committed the darkest sins against you. Reassured that Jesus was within my heart, I wiped my eyes and chuckled in relief. A sniffle escaped, and weariness began to wash over me.

  Although I contemplated pestering my night keeper with questions, the allure of rest proved stronger, weighing heavy on my eyes. Before succumbing to slumber, I praised the Lord, knowing, His answers never came back void.

  My keeper gently pushed me awake. “Hey,” she said, her voice urgent, “It’s three.”

  Without a second thought, I rose, rubbing my bleary eyes as I stumbled out of my chamber. Half-asleep, I shuffled down the hall, passing the foyer when I heard a unified chant.

  I blinked rapidly, my vision clearing to reveal a multitude of people kneeling around the fountain. Red candles and white roses encircled the water’s edge. My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open as I realized they were worshipping Baal. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach.

  A keeper standing at the door motioned for me to approach. I joined her, and she instructed me, her voice stern, “Walk to the fountain and pray to god.”

  “What?” I protested, shaking my head. “That depends on who you’re talking about, and from the looks of it, that isn’t my God.”

  She persisted, “Master wants us all to fast until noon and pray.”

  Again, I shook my head. “No, I’m not doing that.”

  In response, she drew her baton from her belt and struck the back of my thigh. I hissed, feeling the sting radiate.

  “Now!”

  “You can hit me with that as much as you want!” I shouted. “I will not do this.”

  Her hand lunged at me, attempting to force me to the ground, but I resisted. The commotion I caused seemed to stir only one person – Luminous. He moved swiftly, slamming her against the door.

  “Touch her again, and I will beat you with it until you die,” he threatened. He turned to me, gripping my arm, guiding me to the side. “Madeline ?”

  “It’s not happening,” I stated firmly, yanking my arm from his grasp. “Don’t touch me! I don’t care what happens to me. I will not do it.”

  “It breaks unity.”

  My eyes widened, my voice sharp. “I don’t care!” He furrowed his brow, looking away from me as I continued, “Do what you feel you have to do, Luminous.”

  He pondered for a moment. Then, as he began to unbutton his shirt, he said, “This is my apology. I should have never laid my hands on you like that. Please, forgive me.” He handed me his shirt, and I hesitated. “Take it,” he said in a rough tone. I shook my head until he grabbed my hand and placed his shirt within it.

  He left my side, and I walked toward the door’s threshold, watching as he moved into the crowd. The chanting fell silent, and I walked around the people, observing his actions.

  He raised his voice over the hushed crowd. “I take the place of the favor standing ? for breaking unity.”

  Sabrina pressed her ear against Theodore’s moving lips. “He declines,” Sabrina conveyed for Theodore's silent response. “Step forward, Favor.”

  A keeper pushed me, and my heart pounded as if it was desperate to break free from my chest. Each step was a torment, my feet sliding reluctantly across the harsh bricks. I knew exactly what was about to unfold.

  Another keeper wheeled out a cart fitted for lashings. My eyes widened, memories of Aeromonas’s screams of agony flooding back. I held my breath for a moment until I reached them.

  “Father,” Luminous said, “she is not getting on that pole, I won’t allow it.”

  Theodore's eyes glistened, hands clenched, body hunched in his wheelchair. The ALS was destroying his body. Once more, Sabrina leaned in to listen to Theodore. She bellowed, “Bring him forward!”

  I scanned the area, trying to discern who she was referring to. Bring who forward? My eyes darted through the crowd, anxiety gnawing at my gut. Who. Is. She. Talking. About?

  Minutes later, a keeper forcibly led him forward, a bag shrouding his head, obscuring his identity. He was brought onto the deck and bound to the pole. Dried blood marred his bare chest, dressed only in pants.

  “Luminous,” I whispered urgently, “who is that?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice strained.

  The keeper removed the bag, and a horrified scream tore from my throat. “No!” I sprinted toward the lashing cart, fingers clawing at its sides, desperate to reach him. A keeper seized me around the waist, pulling me away. “DOUGLAS!” I turned, digging my nails into the keeper’s face. “DOUGLAS!”

  “Maddy! Maddy!” Douglas’s voice rang out, miraculously clear, without a hint of a stutter. He continued, “I see Him, Maddy! I see Him, the One you talk about!”

  The keeper howled and released his grip. I realized he’d fought me all the way back toward the rear.

  Amidst the chaos, I could hear Douglas shouting, his voice resonating above the chants, “OH! It is magnificent. I receive you, Jesus Christ. Receive me under your bosom!”

  I strained to move through the dense crowd. I had to push people aside to make any progress. “Douglas!” I screamed, hoping he could hear me above the tumultuous din.

  Sabrina strode onto the lashing cart, her hands raised in devotion to her god. She offered thanks and addressed the crowd. “LOUDER!” her voice commanded, “Let him hear your faithfulness!” A plaintive cry followed, “Let this sacrifice be enough! Heal our master who serves you faithfully.”

  “NO, NO, NO!” Tears streamed down like relentless waterfalls, blurring my vision, yet I pressed on.

  Torch in hand, Sabrina intoned, “HAIL, BAAL!” before dropping it onto Douglas’s feet, coated in tar.

  “No!” I urged people aside, throat burning, arms aching. “Get out of my way!”

  As flames consumed his form, there was no scream, only laughter, and praises to the God of creation, echoing in eerie contrast to my desperate cries. The sky darkened, thunder resonating above, yet no rain fell. Desolation etched into every inch of my face as my knees met the ground, hunched over, tears soaking the earth. Before me, the lashing cart blazed in its terrible glory.

  The chant continued, a relentless hymn, while all I could do was weep for my dear friend. Guilt gnawed at me, knowing that, no matter how hard I’d tried to save him, the outcome was beyond my control.

  Raindrops splashed onto my shoulder, gradually evolving into a steady drizzle. The sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears, prompting me to look up. Theodore loomed over me, his presence commanding. He knelt to my level, his hand firmly grasping my chin, coercing me to meet his gaze.

  Through my swollen, teary eyes, Theodore’s features were a blurred amalgamation, but I knew that his very presence was a testament to his miraculous recovery, thanks to the dark forces that fueled him.

  “Douglas,” he intoned with deceit, “sacrificed himself for his master.”

  Rage surged within me, although I found myself rendered speechless, the desire to rend the truth from his face almost unbearable.

  “Do not fret,” he disclosed. “While the others are freed, they shall remember naught of this place.”

  I rubbed my eyes, meeting his gaze again, this time noting tears welling in his own. Perhaps they were tears of relief, gratitude for the fleeting reprieve he’d been granted. “Would you prefer to forget, Maddy?” he inquired.

  I can’t do this, God. I can’t. The memory of witnessing my dearest friend consumed by flames would always be a torment beyond measure in my brain. I understood then that I couldn’t combat this malevolent power — it was far too potent. I can’t carry out what you’ve called me to do, I confessed to God, my words known only to Him.

  “Do you long for the pain to end?” he pressed.

  The rain had come too late; he was now ash and cinder. God, why did you let the rain come too late? My faith crumbled under agony, and the desire to obliterate it all was overpowering. “Yes,” I breathed, barely audible. “Yes, let me forget it all.”

  A smile played on his lips as he gently brushed my face...