Escape to Love

by Vanessa Miller

  “I’m on it,” Steven said as he disappeared.

  ***

  Jay was leaning on the nurse button like an addict, needing a fix. Something had happened to Renee. He had to get out of this hospital so he could go find her.

  The nurse came in the room shaking her head. “Can you please get your finger off that buzzer. We already gave you your pain medicine and your breakfast.”

  “I want my release papers,” Jay yelled at her.

  “Just hold on. We’re working on them. You’ll be out of here soon enough,” she said as she stormed out of his room.

  Soon enough wasn’t good enough for Jay. His ribs were all taped up, his back was still hurting, but he found the strength to pull the covers back and get out of that hospital bed. His clothes were folded on the chair next to his bed. The shirt he’d worn to church now had blood stains splattered on it. He put it on anyway, and then moaned and groaned as he bent down to put his pants on.

  He caught his breath as he stood up and put his shoes on.

  Steven stepped out of the room ahead of Jay with his sword. He felt the demonic forces approaching and he was ready to slay as many of them who dared to get in their way.

  12

  “I have your sister,” Marlin said as he held his cell phone to his ear.

  “I want to speak to her,” Ram said.

  “And I want my money. I bet you’ll be able to approve my loan now, won’t you?”

  “Let me speak to my sister!”

  “Let’s talk about my loan first.”

  “I had nothing to do with your loan being denied. It’s not our fault that your credit profile is jacked. Stop borrowing money that you can’t pay back.”

  Ignoring him, Marlin said, “Instead of the million I originally asked for, I now want five million. I want it wired to an account in the Bahamas, and I want it by end of business day.”

  “I’m not doing anything until I can speak with Renee.”

  Marlin put the phone to Renee’s ear. She immediately said, “Don’t give him anything Ram. Don’t put your job in jeopardy.”

  “I can’t just not do anything, Renee.”

  “Trust God. Tell dad and Carmella that I went to church this weekend. I gave my life to the Lord. So, I’m good. Do you hear me, I’m okay whatever way this turns out.”

  Marlin snatched the phone back and told Ram, “I have her tied up with a gun to her head. Does that sound okay to you?”

  Ram sounded as if he was crying as he said, “No. Please don’t hurt her.”

  “Get me my money.”

  “Okay, but even if I could somehow get the loan approved, we wouldn’t be able to wire the money until tomorrow at the earliest.”

  “Then I guess you’d better work your magic.” Marlin hung up the phone.

  “Why can’t you leave my family out of this. They have nothing to do with anything between us.” Her hands and feet were tied to the bed post. But she didn’t need her hands and feet to fight Marlin. Renee’s weapon of choice was prayer and praise.”

  “What has gotten into you. I’ve never known you to be so aggressive. Do you really want this to be between you and me, because I don’t think you can handle it.”

  She didn’t respond to him. Renee had something better in mind. Although she hadn’t attended church much since going off to college. She had memorized the 23rd Psalm while in youth group. Back then, she couldn’t imagine a situation where knowing the 23rd Psalm would come in handy, but she was sure glad she’d taken the challenge “The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”

  “Shut up!” Marlin screamed at her.

  ***

  “Marlin has Renee, Dad. He just called and asked me to approve a five million dollar loan before he will let her go.”

  “Oh my God,” Ramsey said as he sat down, looking as if he’d life had dealt him a blow that he might not recover from.”

  “What’s wrong? What happened? Carmella asked as she entered the family room.

  Ramsey put the phone on speaker and asked Ram to repeat himself. Carmella sat down next to her husband and Ram voice was shaky as he recounted his conversation with Marlin.

  “The blood of Jesus. Father we need you,” Carmella said.

  “There’s something else. Renee wanted me to tell you and Mama Carmella that she attended church yesterday and that she gave her life to the Lord. So, she said that she’s okay.”

  Tears flowed down Carmella’s eyes as she turned to Ramsey and said, “Our prayers have been answered. God is with her Ramsey, we don’t have to worry.”

  “I believe that God is with her, but I still want my baby-girl back home. Can you go online and order our tickets to the Bahamas?”

  “Of course,” she agreed with Ramsey and then told her step-son, “Ram, we need you to call your brothers and sister and tell them to pray like never before. You’re father and I are going to the Bahamas to bring our child back. The devil can’t have what God has blessed us with.”

  ***

  Cynda and Keith had arrived home from their trip to the Bahamas. They were unpacking there clothes when Cynda turned to her husband and said, “Something is wrong.”

  “The kids are fine, hon. You told them they could stay an extra night at Isaac’s and Nina’s house, remember?”

  “I’m not talking about our children.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Do you remember that girl I prayed for at church on Sunday?”

  “The one that you believe God sent us to the Bahamas for?”

  “Yes, she reminds me so much of me at her age. I was so insecure and broken after my mother died, that I allowed things to happen to me that no one should have to endure. When that young lady came down the aisle, God showed me the things she has suffered. She is free from all of it now, because she has allowed the precious blood of Jesus to wash her clean.”

  “But you’re still feeling a burden for her?” Keith sat down next to his wife.

  “I can’t explain it, but I see her in a very dangerous battle that could cost her everything. I think we should pray for her and get a prayer chain started.”

  “Okay, you call Nina and ask her to get the prayer chain at their church going and I’ll call the leader of our intercessory prayer team and ask her to get the chain going on our end.”

  After making the phone calls, Cynda and Keith came back together and got on their knees. Keith began the prayer, “Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy. We praise You because of how you changed us and made us new. We praise You for doing the same for our dear sister, and we come to You now, asking for You to protect Renee. Send your warrior angels on her behalf. Whatever seen or unseen danger that has tried to come near her, we ask that You find a way of escape for her...”

  ***

  “Why don’t you just go on and shot me?

  “How can you ask me something like that,” Marlin protested. “Do you think I enjoy what I’m doing? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “That’s laughable. They caught you at my job with a gun.”

  “It wasn’t for you.” He sat down on the bed and gently ran his hand along the side of her face. “You’re beautiful. From the moment I saw you I had to make you mine. All I ever wanted was for us to be happy together. If you could forgive me, I gladly take you with me.”

  Did he think she was Boo-Boo the fool? Marlin had done nothing but torment her. Her life had become a nightmare. She’d even contemplated killing herself because of all that he had done to her. And he had the audacity to ask her for forgiveness. She’d sooner spit on his grave than give him such a thing. She knew full well that Christians were supposed to forgive, but she was new at this thing.

  “You can’t do it can you?” Marlin stood back up, with the saddest look on his f
ace she’d ever seen. “You lay there praying to God and quoting scriptures, but when I ask for forgiveness, you deny me.”

  She turned away, not able to face him. He had her tied up and still had the audacity to ask something of her. No, she wouldn’t do it. He would be burning in hell before she even thought about forgiving him. “You did me so wrong? I fell in love with you and that meant nothing. You were ready to pass me around to anyone who asked as if I was some toy to be trade.”

  “You were only too happy to spend my money when it was rolling in. Why shouldn’t you help me when time got hard? You knew the real estate market had taken a nose dive. I was losing money right and left. I had to make a few deals.” Marlin stared at her, trying to see if his words were sinking in. He then said, “It’s not like I wanted to share you with another man. But I had no choice. Can’t you see that it was the only way that we’d be able to continue our life style.”

  “I would have gladly returned everything you purchased for me, if I could just have my dignity back.”

  “You’re such a cry baby.” Marlin mimicked her, “If I could just have my dignity back.” Then he exploded. “What about my dignity. What about the fact that a man’s self-worth comes from his earning potential and I was losing contracts right and left. But you don’t care nothing about that do you?”

  She looked him dead in the eye and said, “I care about the baby you beat to death. You killed my baby and you never even said ‘I’m sorry’. I could have forgiven you for the rest, but for that, I hate you.”

  “Isn’t hate a sin?”

  He’d struck a nerve with that one. Because making it to heaven should be every Christian’s dream, but hating Marlin might be the only sin that could possibly keep her from making it in. She prayed that she’d have enough time left on earth to find away to forgive Marlin because today certainly wasn’t the day. “How can you dare talk to me about forgiveness after everything you’ve done. You’re despicable and evil and I hate you. Dear God help me, but I hate him so much.” Tears rolled down her face as the hate she felt seemed to wrap itself around her and refuse to let go.

  ***

  Long black tentacles massaged hate into Renee’s brain. “That’s right, remember everything he did to you. Remember everything that every man you trusted did to you. Don’t ever stop hating Marlin. He did you wrong.”

  “Let her go,” Arnoth said as she entered the room and took out his sword. He had been preparing himself for this battle and was determined that Renee would not lose the faith she had just declared because some demon wanted to fill her with hate... not on his watch.

  “This is not of your business,” the demon told him

  “Oh, it’s my business.” He pointed to Renee and said, “She belongs to the Lord, and you’re demon hide belongs to me.” Arnoth sliced through the tentacles that had wrapped around Renee’s mind and then he took his sword and embedded it straight into darkest park of the demon’s being. It immediately disappeared.

  One of the angels high-fived Arnoth. “Now that’s how you slay a demon.”

  “Let’s go to work,” Arnoth said as the two angels dismissed all of the demons that had been egging the situation on. Now they only had one more to deal with. But he was big daddy of them all and he was hiding inside Marlin. They would have to find away to get him out... and then they would slay him too.

  13

  “Take me to the Atlantis, please,” Jay said as he jumped in side a taxi cab. Steven rode on the hood as he watched for demonic forces that would try to stop them from getting to Renee on time.

  The cabbie headed towards the Atlantis. About ten minutes into the drive, when they were just a few miles away the tire blew out and the cab swerved. “What in the world,” Jay said as he was swung from one side of the car to the other.

  “The tire went out,” the cabbie yelled back as he expertly stopped the car and then got out and looked at his shredded tire. “I just bought that one. No way it should have blown out like that.”

  Holding onto his rib cage, Jay got out of the car. And viewed the damaged. “Do you have a spare?”

  “Ya man.” The cabbie opened his trunk and took the tire out. He leaned the spare against the car and bent down on the ground, taking the shredded tire off reached for the spare and it went rolling down the street like it was going fifty-five miles and hour.

  “Aren’t you going to go get it?” Jay said.

  The cabbie scratched his head. “You see how fast it left? I couldn’t catch that tire if I wanted to.”

  Jay could see the Atlantis in the distance. He figured he’d be able to walk there before this cabbie got his act together. “How far on foot to the Atlantis.”

  “It’s about a mile and a half away.”

  “I don’t have time to wait for you to figure something out. I’m going to walk it.”

  “What about my fair?” the cabbie asked.

  Pulling a ten out of his pocket, Jay handed it to the man and told him, “That’s all you’re getting. Next time make sure you’re tires aren’t rolling on worn out treads.”

  As Jay headed down the street Steven was busy fighting off the demons that had attacked the cab. He had his hands full and was only thankful that the people of God were praying.

  ***

  “What’s taking so long with getting the answer on my money?” Marlin yelled into the phone.

  “I’m working as fast as I can. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”

  “Your job isn’t to know something... it’s to make something happen, for your sister’s sake.”

  “How is Renee?” Ram asked.

  “She getting on my last nerve. So, if you know what’s good for you. You just might want to get me that money quick and fast.” Marlin hung up and turned back to Renee. “Can you believe that? I don’t think that brother of yours cares whether you live or die. I should have dated your sister. None of them would want her dead.”

  “None of them want me dead either. My family loves me.”

  “Yeah well, I can’t tell.”

  “What happened to you? Why are you so evil?”

  Marlin started strutting the room as if he was the king of the world. “Didn’t nothing happen to me. Nobody is dumb enough to mess with me, because if they do, I always find a way to win.”

  “Like how you’re getting back at my brother right now for beating you to a pulp? You could have went to any bank for a loan. But you’re doing this to get him fired, or worse. But I’m praying to God that you’re wicked plan for my family will not prevail. You don’t have dominion over us. We belong to the Most High. He will take care of our light work.” She looked him up and down with disgust written all over her face.

  “I’m nobodies like work, baby. Believe that.” He walked back over to the bed and squeezed her cheeks with his thumb and index finger. “Keep talking and I’ll show you how much pain I can inflict on you.” He hand traveled down the length of her body.

  Renee squirmed, trying to get away from his prying hands. “Don’t touch me. Don’t you ever put your hands on me again.”

  “And what if I want to touch you all day long? You belong to me, I can do whatever I want to you.”

  “Untie me and I’ll show you what I’ll do about it.”

  Laughing in her face, he said, “I can hardly believe that you’re the same girl who used to cower at the lifting of my hand.”

  She started to respond to that, but door open and Jay holler her name. Oh no, oh God, don’t let this be happening. “Run Jay, get out of here,” she screamed.

  “Where are you?” Jay asked as he searched the suite.

  “Don’t come back here. Run!”

  “Looks like I’m killing two birds with one stone today. Tell me God isn’t on my side,” Marlin said as he picked up his gun and headed out of the bedroom.

  “Thanks for joining the party. You saved me the trouble of going to the hospital to finish you off.” Marlin raised his gun.

  “Renee, are you okay?�
� Jay asked as he stared down the barrel of the gun that was trained on his chest.

  “She’s better than you are,” Marlin said as he pulled the trigger.

  The bullet lifted Jay off the ground and flung him against the back of the sofa.

  Marlin ran back into the bedroom and untied Renee’s legs and arms. “Come on, we’ve got to get out of here before someone calls the police.”

  “Where is he? Please let me see him.” Renee was crying uncontrollably as they entered the living area of the suite and she saw Jay stretched out on the floor. “Oh God no!” She pulled away from Marlin and ran to Jay’s side.

  Jay’s eyes were fluttering. She put his head in her lap. “Don’t die, Jay. Don’t leave me.”

  “Y-you’re okay,” was all he was able to get out before his eyes closed.

  “Nooo!” she screamed. “Why did you come after me? Why didn’t you just wait at the hospital?”

  “Get up. Let’s go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “I will put a bullet between his eyes if you don’t get up and stop all that crying right now.”

  Renee believed that Marlin would do just what he said. She couldn’t let him shoot Jay again. Because she was still holding out hope that Jay could survive this blow. But if Marlin shot him again, then it would be over, and Renee wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She stood up and said, “Let me call an ambulance for him and I promise, I’ll go with you, wherever you want to go.”

  “There’s my obedient pup. But I’m not calling the an ambulance.”

  “He’ll die if you don’t.”

  “That’s exactly what I want him to do... die. Now come on.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the hotel room.

  ***

  Carmella and Ramsey arrived at the hotel at two in the afternoon. They went straight to the police and informed them that their daughter had last been seen at the Atlantis and they had received a call from her kidnapper this morning.

  Officer Corey asked, “Did the kidnapper tell you that he was calling from the Atlantis?”