THE SHADOWED ONYX: A DIAMOND ESTATES NOVEL (37 page)

Joy lifted the rope over her head and shot a look at Mom as the car door opened.

Mom stepped out of the car wearing her ratty flannel comfort-pajamas, phone pressed to her ear. Was she calling the cops? Would Joy be checked into a mental hospital?

“We’ll have her there as soon as possible. We’re leaving now.” Mom pressed a button and dropped the phone into her front pocket. She turned to face Joy.

“First I was scared. Then I was sad. Now?” Mom shook her head, looking like she was ready to breathe fire. “Now I’m just mad.”

Dad clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles white and his face ashen. Joy knew he’d never forget the sight of his daughter with the noose around her neck, about to kick that ladder aside.

Mom rubbed her head. “Joy, we’ve done all the talking there is, I think. You’re going back. Now.”

“What do you mean,
now?”
She knew where.

Mom took several deep breaths. She closed her eyes. Counting to ten? Or praying?

She opened her eyes and leveled her gaze at Joy. “Look, I don’t understand the level of your pain, obviously.”

“I feel like we did you a disservice by letting you come home right now.” Dad shook his head. “You even said you weren’t ready.”

“And Stella …?” Mom eyed Dad. She’d probably make him pay for that one for a long time. She’d lay much of the blame there. An easy scapegoat. Mom was only human.

“If you stay here, you won’t make it through this year.” Mom sobbed. “If you go back, you have a shot.”

Joy’s shoulder slumped. She nodded. “I had planned on going back, not this way of course. But I guess everything’s different now.”

“Yes. Everything is different.” Dad stared straight ahead.

“Look. Joy, I don’t want this to sound cold. I don’t want you to be fifty years old talking about how your mom sent you away. But as a mother who will stand before God one day to answer for you, and answer about what I did to protect you, I have to send you away. Today. Right now.”

Joy leaned her head on the headrest in front of her.

“It feels different this time, Mom.” Joy sighed. “It feels like there’s no hope. Like you’re kicking me out and don’t expect me back.”

“No, it’s not that. I’m desperate for you to come back. But for
you
to come back. The you I know and love. You’re barely a shadow, a dim reflection, of the Joy we once knew. I want
her
back. I’m terrified, and I have no idea how to help you.”

Mom swiped at a tear with the back of her hand. “And you know what?” She whipped around to look Joy in the eye. “I’m so angry at the enemy of our souls who has his claws in you. You’re under a cloud and can’t see a way out. And I’m mad.”

Dad nodded again. “So, yes, we’re going now. There’s not a moment to waste. Ben is meeting us in Sterling.”

“You mean right now? What about my stuff?”

“We’ll swing by the house and I will go in to grab what you need. But yes, we’re going now.” Mom stared straight ahead.

“Why does it all have to be so hard?” Joy leaned back as the words from
A League of Their Own
fluttered through her brain.
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard … is what makes it great.”

“What about Stella’s funeral?” Joy whispered as the car hurled down I-76.

“I think we’ve had enough funerals around here. We’re going to skip it this time.”

Could they do that? Just not give someone a funeral? Especially when that someone had no one else. “You sure you won’t regret that decision later?”

“We’ll memorialize her in our own way.” Mom’s jaw clenched. “But no. We won’t regret it.”

Exits passed and the distance narrowed. The mile markers flew by like taunts. Finally they pulled off at the rest area where Ben waited.

Mom climbed out and opened the door for Joy.

Dad raised a hand toward Ben.

Ben nodded but kept his distance. Probably giving them a moment to say good-bye.

“Okay, Joy baby, give us a hug.” Mom pulled Joy tight and held on with all her strength. “Hey.” She pulled her daughter back so she could peer into her eyes. “Please be safe. Please promise me you won’t hurt yourself.”

“I promise.” Joy hugged Mom again.

“I love you, I’m praying for you every single moment of every single day. Please embrace the program with all your heart when you get back. Let it in.” Mom raised her hands to Joy’s face and pulled her close. “Let these people help you. Please promise me you will.”

Would she ask that of Joy if she knew what the consequences would be?

“I love you, Daddy.” She leaned forward to accept his strong hug.

“I love you, too, princess.” He hadn’t called her that since she was a little girl. She rested in her father’s embrace as long as she could.

“Love you guys.” She turned and walked away.

Would she ever see them again?

T
ime to get down to business. Joy, come with us.”

Joy followed the team to the prayer room without a word.

Mark reached out for Ginny’s hand. Alicia moved nearer to her husband.

What was happening?

Ben moved to the center of the room. “Please, everyone, form a circle. Joy, you come stand in the center. We’ve gathered here today because, well, we’re tired of this nonsense. If you are in agreement, we are going to pray once and for all, with the authority given to us by Almighty God, and release you from the strongholds on your life.”

Joy’s knees wobbled. She reached out for support. “Can I have a chair?”

Mark rushed to the side wall and grabbed a folding chair. He popped it open and slid it up to her legs.

Joy collapsed into it and took several deep breaths. “Do you guys have any idea what you’re up against?”

Ben smiled. Alicia nodded.

Mark punched the air. “Yes. We know. And we’re sick of stepping aside, waiting for you to figure out what needs to happen. We should have done this a long time ago, but we’re going to make up for it now.”

“Mark’s right about one thing.” Ben stepped forward. “We are sick of stepping aside and letting evil win. But I don’t agree that we should have done this sooner. It won’t work without you, Joy.”

Mark nodded. “Very true.”

She looked down. They were going to make her say it.

Silas moved so he was in view. She looked away.

He shifted into view again.

He wouldn’t give up. Joy looked into his eyes. They held a message. Those piercing blue eyes she’d once loved so much said:
I. Dare. You
.

Ben crouched down. “So. It’s up to you. Do you understand what’s been happening to you? Do you understand what we’re asking you to do?”

She nodded.

“Do you believe in your heart Jesus Christ is Lord?”

She nodded.

Silas snarled.

Oh no. She might as well have finished the job in Grandpa’s garage. It would have gone better that way than how this would end.

“I need you to say it out loud, Joy. Romans ten tells us to confess it with our mouths. Do you believe in your heart God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that He wants to do the same for you?”

Silas gnashed the air. The hair on his back stood straight up.

What could she do? Yes! She believed. But …

Silas lifted his face and howled.

Joy’s hair swirled back from her face. “I don’t know if you understand, but I’m in actual danger right now.” Her voice trembled. “Actually, we all are.”

“Yes, Joy, you are in grave danger. We get that.” Alicia rubbed her shoulder.

Joy shook her hand off. Not the time for comfort. “No! I don’t mean spiritual danger. I mean real physical danger. All of us.”

Alicia stepped back as Silas was joined by some friends.

“Only you.” Ben sighed. “You see, when I put my faith in Jesus, then He became a shield about me … and Ginny and Alicia and Mark and every other girl in this place who has surrendered to Him. We need not worry about the battle that rages all around us. We know the winner. Our God is mighty to save and shield us as our protector.”

Ben’s words made sense, but his voice droned on and on as Joy watched Silas assemble an army.

“That protection is assured the minute you surrender to Jesus.”

“Fine. But it’s that minute between saying I want to and actually doing it that terrifies me. Like right now.” Joy trembled. Her whole body shook, and her knees knocked together. “They’re coming for me.”

“Then do it, Joy. No more talking about it. Who is your Savior?” Ben grabbed her hands. “Who’s your Master? Say it!”

Silas roared. Foam flew from his jowls. He led the pack as they inched toward her.

Why couldn’t she see the rest of the battle if she could see this part? Was it possible? If she said His name?

“Say it, Joy! Who do you choose?” Ben’s face strained.

The others prayed.

Silas was ready to charge.

Joy could still back out. She could still make it okay, but one more step, one more word, and that was it.

“They’re coming for me.”

“Then let them come, Joy, let them come.” Ben put his hands on her head. “Father God, please place Your protection around this girl. Give her the freedom to turn to You. Lift the burden of fear from her shoulders. Make it easy for her to turn her eyes upon You. Shield her …”

Too much. Joy jumped from the chair. It clattered to the floor as she ran from the room. She glanced back. The wolves calmly walked toward her, but they didn’t seem in any hurry.

She had to hide. Could she hide from Silas?

Maybe she could. It was at least worth a try. Legs shaking, ready to vomit, she stumbled down the hall.

Ben’s office was locked. The library? No, no place to hide in there. The dining room? No, that wouldn’t work. Ooh, there was a closet at the end of the hallway. But it had been locked last time.
Please be open. Please be open
. Joy chanted as she tried the handle. It opened easily. She stepped inside and shut the door then flipped the lock. Safe for the moment.

Stepping back, away from the entrance, Joy lost her footing and tumbled down, down, down. Like Alice. Her body bumped along a stairway. What would she find at the bottom? She slammed into a hard, flat surface and felt around for a clue. It was another door. What could be in there? Somewhere good to hide, hopefully.

She tried the handle, and the door swung open to darkness. Joy didn’t care what the place was. She’d go in so she could get as far away from Silas as possible.

If only she knew where Silas was.

Wait a second. What an idiot. Silas showed up wherever he wanted to. He was toying with her right now.

She reached behind her. Should she go up? Or keep going? She couldn’t see anything at all. How could she step into a room with no knowledge of what it was?

She felt the walls. Oh my. What was the purpose of such a narrow passageway? And the ceiling … so low, she’d have to hunch over. No way she could handle that.

Pieces of the wall crumbled off into her fingers. She sniffed the residue. Dirt. What was it, some kind of escape tunnel for the monks? Was there a secret door or another way out? Joy patted the dirt walls and inched her way deeper into the tunnel. Her breathing grew shallower as her sense of confinement grew.

She clawed at the earth above her. Nothing. She’d stepped into her own grave.

What was that sound? It came closer. Yep. There it was. Silas and his friends had found her. Well, doubtful they needed to search. But there they were.

Joy backed up. Please let there be a way out.
Please
.

She gasped for air but a cloying, decayed, consuming stench filled her nostrils and her lungs, squeezing out the life-giving oxygen she so desperately needed.

Her back banged against something. She felt behind her. A door! She reached for the handle and pulled. Locked. She slumped to the floor and curled into a ball as the snarls grew closer. She’d lost. No question about it.

She sucked rotten air into her lungs. When would it be her last breath?

There he was. Staring at her. Standing in the doorway in the midst of a green glow, like an aura. The light glinted off his eyes. He was alone. Come to claim his prize.

Joy drew her knees in tighter to her chest.

Any second he would pounce, and when he did, it was over.

She could almost hear the power exerted as Silas readied himself for attack. Every muscle in Joy’s body tensed. She crunched as tightly as she could.

What did she have to lose? Her reason and desire pushed through the shroud of darkness and broke down the lies she’d been told.

Pray. Now. “Jesus! God, please protect me! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Joy shouted His name over and over. She couldn’t think of anything else to say. Hopefully it was enough.

She waited for the attack. The battle was on—all around her. Anything could happen.

When would it come? She listened. The space around her was silent except for her own gasping for air. And the repetition of one word.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus
. Her hands sweated as they clenched her hair and held her body curled into a ball.

Maybe the attack would never come. “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.”

A light flashed through the doorway.