NO ENGAGEMENT RING

Chapter 18

On Luke's urgent call from the passage, Jonathan had reacted immediately. Something

needed his attention. Rushing to the scene, he had been sorry that Hannah had seen this. From

the ashen look on her face, he knew she had never been exposed to situations like these. She

was going into despair.

Gripping her arm firmly, he called out, "Hannah! Just keep your focus on Jesus." But he

could tell that she couldn't hear him. So he prayed against every dark and evil spirit in order to

counter their attack on Hannah.

Feeling Jonathan's hand on her arm, Hannah looked at him. He was saying something but

she couldn't make out what it was. It was getting cold and a heaviness gripped her. Things

were starting to look grotesque. She felt hopeless.

She wanted to scream out, "Help, me!" but the words wouldn't come out. Jonathan' lips

were moving but still she couldn't hear anything.

Suddenly the hand on her arm changed to that of Jesus. A calmness covered her and she

heard a gentle voice say, "Pray for her Hannah!"

Mobilised, she murmured a prayer for the girl until the dark lifted and an unsurpassable

peace enveloped her and everything around her.

By that time, paramedics were all over the place. Gently they pried the girl's hand from

hers as they tended to her. One of the paramedics saw to Hannah, cleaning off the blood and

checking for any cuts on her hand.

"Just making sure that there is no chance you could be exposed to HIV," the paramedics

explained as Hannah stared at the paramedic, unable to comprehend his actions.

Hannah's mind was whirling. Why would the paramedic say that?

As soon as the paramedic was done, Jonathan lifted her up and held her against him,

whispering that it was alright. It didn't take the paramedics long to get the girl onto the

stretcher and take her to the ambulance.

As they stood watching the ambulance drive off, Hannah asked, "Who would do such a

thing? She is just a child." Her voice was filled with anguish.

Heartbroken for her, Jonathan took her in his arms and held her. "I'm afraid men are cruel

when they don't get what they want."

"Where did she come from?" Hannah looked up at him, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"She might have been running away from a brothel or a sadistic client."

"You mean she was a..." Hannah could not voice the word.

"Probably a sex slave," Jonathan said with sympathy.

"Oh no!" Hannah was close to tears. "She seems so young."

"She probably is," he confirmed.

"That's the reason why the paramedic mentioned HIV," Hannah said realisation dawning.

"Yes," Jonathan said carefully. "But there is no need to worry about that."

"Certainly not," Hannah said passionately. "God is our protector and since He wants us to