Redemption

Chapter 9: Assurance

I spun around to face the muscular man in a skin tight white v-neck. His hair was wet and dripping down his torso. A pair of black sweat pants hung carelessly on his hips. I looked up to see a sedated Harry smirking. His emerald eyes stared down at me, but there was something wrong...his pupils were abnormally large and the white around the emerald had little red streaks. I've seen this before.

I responded to the observation without hesitation. "Harry, are you on drugs?"

His smirk widened as he released a chuckle. "What makes you say that?"

"I don't know...maybe the fact that your eyes are bloodshot and you're in a good mood?"

"I'm always in a good mood. People just piss me off."

"I don't feel comfortable with you acting like this..." I said nervously.

Harry laughed and stumbled back a bit. "You're so innocent. It's kinda hot."

I gasped. An hour ago, this misogynist was yelling at me and ordering me around and now he was attempting to flirt with me? This is not okay.

"Get out of my room." I yelled, more with fear than anger. I had a slight idea of what this man was capable of sober, but I didn't want to know what he could do while under the influence.

Harry sneered as he headed for the door. "You're like a scared little dog - all bark and no bite. See you in the morning, princess."

The door slammed behind him as I jumped at the sudden noise. Of all the rooms in this house and I had to be put near the abusive crackhead. Great.

I waited until I heard his door close before I relaxed. I thought of several escape methods. I had three options: the first would be to grab my suitcase and run for the door. The only problem was that I'm unfamiliar with this house and if I could escape, I'd have no idea where to go. I'm trapped in a foreign country with no money and no street smarts to get me around.

The second option would be to play along with this little "hostage" game and escape at the appropriate time. This situation also left me stranded in a foreign country with no help.

The third option would be to kill myself. Yeah, it's a little morbid but it sure beats dealing with these psychos. Who am I kidding? I can't commit suicide. I'm not brave enough to harm myself and I know God wouldn't want that. So what would God want? Would He want me to stay and take the abuse while my family is frantically searching for me?

I unzipped my suitcase and dug around in search of the answer. My hands grabbed the key to my problems.

My Bible.

God, tell me what to do.

I closed my eyes and let God guide my fingers. I opened a book in the New Testament - II Timothy. I skimmed the page and found a highlighted verse. I read II Timothy 2:3 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

I read the verse over and over. So God wants me to play along? At this point, all I can do is pray for my safety and shine the light of Christ...this is probably the hardest thing I'll ever do. Sure, I've been around heathens who made a joke of Christianity...but I've never lived with them. How does God expect me to be kind to these monsters? Maybe they aren't all monsters...but Harry is.

I placed my suitcase on the windowsill beside my bed. I took off my shirt and changed into a pair of leggings. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and crawled into the silky sheets. Before I got comfortable, I closed my eyes and prayed.

Lord, I need You to help me be strong. I'm scared. I don't know what to do. Please guide me and help me control my tongue. I know I can say certain things that might be inappropriate. Help me to speak kind words and speak for You. God, I pray for Harry and Louis...they need You more than I do. Forgive them for they don't know what they do. Thank You for Liam and for Niall; they aren't so bad. I pray for my family...give them comfort and help them to trust Your divine plan. And God? Be with Allen...I don't know what he's done to get me here, but whatever it was...forgive him. I love You and please make this stay bearable.

It wasn't longer after my prayer that the anxiety left my body and I fell asleep on the tear stained pillow.