I cast a disgusted glance at the long gold-plated mirror. Jace was transforming my face as if I were a pristine doll. She applied foundation a shade lighter, making me appear paler than usual. Mascara, eyeliner, and a subtle touch of pink eyeshadow followed. To top it off, she added two plush, pink circles of blush on my cheeks. Before she finished, she coated my lips with sticky clear lip gloss, brushed my hair, and placed a large pink bowband on the side of my head.

  I turned to the side and let out a sigh. My outfit seemed like something out of Alice in Wonderland. The dress reached my knees, flaring out, with pink and white stripes reminiscent of a candy cane.

  “This is the most radical — ,” I began.

  “Are you embarrassed by how I’ve dressed you?” Jace interrupted.

  I furrowed my brows and blurted, “Yes, I look hideous.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Well, for the Master ... trust me, he will love you.”

  I almost felt nauseous again. As I reached to scratch an itch on my brow, Jace slapped my hand and handed me a wooden Chinese chopstick.

  She said, “You wouldn’t want to ruin my design, now, would you?”

  I snatched it from her and rolled my eyes. This is where you’ve led me, God, into some twisted fairytale nightmare. They’re all insane, Jesus. It’s like they don’t know what reality really is, Holy Spirit.

  Pauline walked up to me, looking equally strange. Her stripes and bow were blue. “This is psycho.”

  I shook my head. “We have no choice but to play along until we can find a way out.”

  “What way do you see, Maddy?” She rolled her eyes and scoffed under her breath. “Pray our way out?” She walked to the door where Tauriel was and muttered, “Look what your God let happen to Abby.”

  I reached out to stop her and justify who my God really was, but then I felt a tug and remembered Matthew 13:15, ‘For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ I understood that her heart was too hardened because if it weren’t, she would know that the Lord was overseeing our situation.

  I sighed again and walked by her side. We followed Jace and Tauriel into the area they called the center. Cobblestone buildings encircled a large fountain, which was initially beautiful, but my heart ached when I realized the centerpiece was a false god, and people were prostrated before it, uttering words in worship. I suddenly stopped, feeling a pang in my heart as I recalled Psalms 135:15-18, ‘The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.’

  I couldn’t believe it. Frowning, I began to breathe heavily once again. Every fiber of my being screamed, FLEE, FLEE from this dreadful place. Doubt seeped into my mind, thoughts swirling. I don’t understand. Is this hell? God, have you sent me to hell? Did I die? Did I die and end up here? I clasped my head with both hands and crouched down. God, please get me out of here. As I started to wail, my cry pierced the atmosphere. In an instant, Tauriel seized my arm and forced me to stand. I tried to scratch his hand and pry it off mine. “No, please!” I pleaded. “Just kill me. I can’t take it anymore. Please!” He paid no heed and pulled me along.

  The twisted fantasy they envisioned was earth-shattering. This sight was so out of place, even my flesh aligned with my soul. Regardless of the abundance of oxygen around me, the air was oppressively heavy.

  I had only glimpsed the depth of wickedness in this place, and I wished for death. Knowing all, just as the Lord does. How deeply must He grieve? The bitter truth was, this was just one location among thousands that remain undiscovered. If I wept at the sight of such evil in one place, how many times does the Lord weep for all the others? What I witnessed was the very reason for God’s wrath throughout the Old Testament, and, if you can believe it, I’m certain Jesus weeps today.

  Innocent souls devoured, and there was nothing that could be done, or so I thought. What happens when a faithful daughter is ensnared, Lord? I pondered as I approached the white castle. Are you really with me?

  The guards swung the massive bulk doors open, and as we began to enter the castle, Tauriel halted. He didn’t step beyond the threshold. I wondered why, but at the same time, I didn’t care; I was just relieved to be away from him. Turning my head forward, I took in the colors - hues that evil considered royalty: red, black, and white.

  We walked down a long hall, draped in red and white linen hanging from cedar poles in the ceiling. White brimstone covered the floor, while white marble pedestals supported statues of Baal. Another grand double door stood before us, adorned with a delicate silver floral design. The handles had circular knobs, and as the guards pushed them open, we entered another room with an expansive dining table.

  Candlelight stood as the centerpiece, surrounded by a buffet of food. The tablecloths, as lavish as everything else, bore the same floral design as the door. Instead of silver, this design was in red and white. Sitting at the far end of the table was a man. To his left was another who resembled him, but he was much younger. To his right was Chad, who wore elaborate striped attire just like us, but instead of a dress, his long red sleeves sported puffy candy cane stripes on his shoulders. His face was also adorned with makeup; even his cheeks were rosy, and his lipstick was a vivid red.

  Next to the younger man sat a woman in a sleek, black lace dress. She had cascading red hair, and her complexion was pale, with large green eyes. The woman beside her had a bit more weight to her frame. She donned a black dress shirt with billowing lace sleeves. Her hair was long, straight, and brown. Her skin had a tan hue, and her eyes were brown.

  As I approached Chad, I got a clearer view of the older man and the younger man. The younger one had dark, slightly curled hair on top. He was pale, much like the red-haired woman. His eyes were a mix of bluish-green, like raindrops. His jawline was defined, and he appeared to have a light stubble. He wasn’t large or small but had a healthy look. As for the older man beside him, he appeared very aged. Wrinkles lined the lower edges of his eyes and around his mouth. His hair was white, and his complexion seemed slightly gray. What struck me most were his piercing blue eyes. His posture was slouched, unlike everyone else who sat with straight backs.

  We reached our seats, and in an instant, the old man perked up. He straightened his posture, and the wrinkles beneath his eyes seemed to vanish. His hair turned slightly gray, and his skin appeared as if his heart had finally started pumping blood. My eyes widened at this sudden change; my heart raced as if trying to escape my ribcage. That can’t be possible, I thought. What in the world just happened? It was as if some magic had breathed fresh life into him. My jaw dropped partially in response to this astonishing transformation.

  He lifted his arms and stretched. “AH!” he exclaimed. “Doesn’t that feel good?” His arms fell back to the table, and he patted the younger man’s hand. Before he could say another word, he turned his gaze toward Pauline and me. His stare was unnerving, and he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off me. It left me feeling uneasy. “Now, Son,” he said, still looking at me. “Why don’t you be a gentleman and pull their seats out for them?”

  His son didn’t hesitate, and without complaint, he did just that. Once he pulled the chair out for me to sit, his father raised his hand.

  “You,” he said, pointing at Chad. “Scoot over, I want her by me.”

  My breathing quickened as Chad changed seats. As I sat down, holding my breath, I glanced at the tableware, afraid to meet the eyes of the old man and the others in the room.

  “Look at me,” he commanded, so I did. “Are you afraid?”

  I nodded, a silent admission.

  “You’re wondering what this place is and how you ended up here, yes?”

  Again, I nodded.

  He rose from his chair, revealing his towering height. He must have been about six feet. Slowly, he began to walk past each person, explaining why we were here, as if I didn’t already know. I knew, I just wanted to hear it from his mouth. Maybe, just maybe then, it would seem real, like I wasn’t asleep and in hell. He raised his hand over the people. “This is my son, Luminous.” Then his hand moved to the brown-haired woman. “My wife, Sabrina.” Lastly, the red-haired woman, “And my lovely daughter, Aeromonas.” Then he placed his hand on his chest. “I am Theodore.” He paused for a second, and with a serious face, he said, “And all of you are our dinner.”

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  Chad instantly passed out. Pauline’s eyes widened, and the spirit of fear gripped every feature of her face. I closed my eyes briefly, in shock. Then, as if it were a joke, Luminous started to laugh under his breath, followed by his mother and sister.

  With a wide grin on his face, Theodore said, “I am only kidding! We aren’t cannibals.”

  I sighed in relief as I continued to listen.

  “We are a powerful family,and you are here so we can maintain such power. Do you understand?” He detected our confusion when there was no reply. “It means you are a sacrifice. As long as you live here, we gain more power from our god.” Again, we didn’t say a word. He laughed under his breath. “I mean, we can’t keep it a secret from you, so we had to show you.”

  “By trapping us and forcing us into sex trafficking,” I blurted out.

  He tsked his tongue. “No. No, my dear, we do not use that word.” He paused, then said, “You are entertainers … beauty to the eye … pleasers of the flesh.” He walked up behind me and leaned in my ear. “You are servants … to me.”

  I placed my hands on the table and squeezed the fork in my hands, contemplating a move, until I remembered Exodus 20:4: ‘Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I am…’ A kick from under the table jolted me out of the rest of the verse. I looked in the direction of the kick and saw it was his son, Luminous. I glared at him, while he only stared back at me.

  “Father,” he said, “our new arrivals must be exhausted from the long trip. Let them eat so they can be escorted to their chambers.”

  I felt Theodore’s breath against my hair for a moment longer, then he left my side and sat down in his chair. I glanced down at my plate, feeling nauseous, so I pushed it forward. “May I be escorted to my chamber then?”

  “You haven’t eaten,” Luminous answered.

  “I’m not hungry.” I couldn’t eat this hellish food. Not after everything I witnessed.

  “After a long —.”

  “I said, I’m not hungry.” I clenched my jaws together and gazed at him again.

  His laugh under his breath seemed offended. He placed his napkin on the table and said aloud, “If one servant doesn’t eat, then all the servants will not eat.” His eyes went past my left shoulder, and he gave a nod.

  All. What did he mean by all?

  The person he nodded at behind me opened the far door to the left, and I heard several heel clicks approaching the table. Another door opened to the right, and I saw a procession of men coming to the table as well. I could hear them whispering in wonder to each other about who we were as they all took their seats.

  Theodore got up and spoke to the young adults like me, Chad, and Pauline. “My dear children, have I not been faithful to you since you’ve arrived?”

  “You have, Master,” they said in unison.

  “Do you not get what you want for being my servants?”

  “We do, Master.”

  “Are you happy where you are?”

  “We are very happy, Master.”

  “Today, we’ve brought you two darling little sisters and a little brother.” He smiled and, with his hand, presented us. “Here they are, welcome them.”

  They all smiled like robots and said, “Good afternoon, sisters, brother. We welcome you.”

  “You all may dig in,” he said with a smile. Then, as his “children” filled their plates with food, before they could even take a bite, he said to them, “Na-hu-hu.” He glanced at me. “What do we do when your sister or brother refuses to eat?”

  His children said, “We do not eat as well.”

  I glanced at everyone and saw dissatisfaction on their faces as he said, “One of your little sisters has refused to eat.” All their heads turned to Pauline and me. “Please, tell your brothers and sisters why you are not hungry?”

  I hesitated, too shocked for words to flow from my mouth until he slammed his hands on the table and demanded I answer.

  “This is not a fantasy, this is illegal, and you are stripping people of their free will. Forcing them to give in to your wicked malicious intentions. I will not eat your food — I would rather die.” I felt courageous and grabbed my plate of food and tossed it onto the floor.

  Theodore glanced at one of his guards and said, “Give her what she wants. As for the rest of you, my children, what do you say?”

  “Goodnight, Master.”

  I rose from my seat, and a guard began to lead me out of the dining hall.

  “Just so you are aware,” he said to me before I left his sight, “requests like this affect the entirety, and there are three that I will not grant. Next time, I would implore you to think before you make a request.”

  I turned around and followed the guard, all the while hearing Theodore’s ‘children’ rise as well. About two minutes later, I heard the line of women behind me as the guard continued to lead me to my chamber. I caught the hushed whispers and a few disdainful scoffs.

  “Who does she think she is?” they said. “I guess tonight we starve.”

  “Did you see the way Luminous looked at her?” one spoke.

  “She’d better not get in my way,” another said. “I think we should teach her a lesson.”

  “Yes,” they agreed, “a lesson.”

  My heart pounded hard against my chest, and the knot in my stomach kept growing like a tumor. Finally, the guard halted at an old-looking door. He gestured for me to enter. Without hesitation, I threw myself against the door and slammed it shut. I moved to lock it, but as my eyes scanned for the lock, it wasn’t there.

  “You won’t find any locks on the door, servant.”

  I widened my eyes, and my heart raced even harder. This time, I feared I might suffer a heart attack. I slowly turned and saw Luminous sitting in a maroon chair in the corner.

  “We do not keep my brothers and sisters locked within the walls of the castle.”

  I tightened my jaw, tears started to form in my eyes. “W-Why are you in my chamber?”

  His face was straightforward. No emotion was found. “You know, your little stunt back there made him think you were rather interesting …”

  I scoffed, “That wasn’t my intention.”

  “It doesn’t matter whether it was your intention or not, servant.” He formed a cunning smirk. “You allured my father. You made yourself a mystery that he needs to unlock.” He creased his brows for a moment, then said, “I intend to unlock you myself, first.”

  I exhaled and wet my dry lips. “My impression of you and this place is not flattering.” I stepped back when I saw him stand up. He was tall like his father. “I get that you must feel like you’re unstoppable from what was displayed back there …” Suddenly, courage breathed once again in my soul. I stepped toward him, which was something I would never do, and said, “You may have the looks and the power, but I see you for what you really are, and I’ve only just met you.”

  “What do you really see me for?”

  “You love control, and you’re possessive.”

  He found that interesting as he worked up another smirk. He sat back down, and crossed his legs, blinking at me. He gestured for me to sit on the bed. To that gesture, my breathing slowed, but I did.

  He asked, “I am possessive, you say. How?”

  “Well,” I shrugged my shoulders. “You said you were going to unlock my mystery first. You’re in my chambers.” I paused and shook my head. “I don’t even know how you got here so fast, and then at the table, you kicked me.” As if I felt I had some favor with him, I bluntly said, “I don’t interest your father as much as I interest you.”

  He exhaled, rolling his eyes. “You’re wrong.”

  I looked back at him. “Am I, though?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me how I am, Luminous.”

  “I see you as a threat.” He looked me up and down. Clenching his jaw, he murmured, “Someone who isn’t supposed to be here, and I don’t know why.”

  I started to breathe heavily again as he stood up and made his way over to me.

  “You bother me, and you talk too much. Just looking at you, my anger is stirred, and I don’t know why.”

  I gasped at the revelation. When light entered a room, darkness fled. Jesus’s light was what stirred him up. “I don’t know what you mean.” I wasn’t about to blurt out that I belonged to God. No, for His reason to put me here, I needed to be hidden. “If you hate me so much, then leave.”

  His eyes searched my face. He lifted his hand to touch me, then with hesitation, he creased his brows. “I am here to tell you that you’ve gained favor with my father, so you know. With women he has favor upon, he doesn’t allow them to become his servants, but you will reside here and do other things until he is done with you.”

  Or until God has finished what He intends to accomplish here, I thought.

  He placed his hands to his sides and glanced at me another time, before eventually leaving. I could finally breathe. I closed my eyes and thanked God for His faithfulness.

  “Favor,” I whispered aloud, with tears gliding down my cheeks. “Your favor is good, God. Thank you.”

  I got up and glanced around the room. There was a big arched window on the back wall. To the left wall was my maroon bed, which was surrounded by ceiling-high drapings. Next to the nightstand was a vanity. A wardrobe was on the right wall to the far left next to the maroon chair, and on the far right of the wall was a desk, and a chair. Other than that, the room was bare.

  I sat on the bed and took off my shoes. I didn’t feel comfortable with the door not being locked, so I grabbed the chair and wedged it against the doorknob, making sure it was secure. If anyone tried to come in, it would alert me and give me a moment to collect myself. Once I finished securing my room, I thought to look out of the window for any chance of escape. However, as I approached and glanced through it, I saw people still worshipping the fountain. My spirit ached at the sight. I turned away from the hideous scene and decided to peek into the wardrobe.

  Inside, I found a variety of dresses in different colors and an assortment of shoes. I closed the doors with frustration; they really thought material possessions could buy freewill. It was horrifying! Next, because there wasn’t much else to do, and I wasn’t leaving this room, I decided to lie down on my bed and try to get some sleep.

  I closed my eyes and recited the Lord’s prayer. Afterwards, I continued to commune with the Father and asked Him a question. “Father, as Pauline, Chad, and I are here in this wicked place, you have granted me favor here. Please Lord, do the same for Pauline and Chad. Have mercy on them, too.”

  Soon after my prayer, I began to think of my parents and my little brother Kord. Oh, how terrible and anguished they must feel, not knowing if I am alive or dead. By now, they must know Abby was murdered. They probably think I was, too. I sighed, regretting my last interactions with my parents.

  Dad, I should’ve hugged you tight and told you how much you mean to me. I miss you, Mom. I miss you so much. I should’ve listened to you. Please Lord, grant me your peace and guide my mom to find me. If you are going to reveal anything, let it be to her. Cupping my hands over my eyes, I started to sob. As I did, the peace of God enveloped me. I cried so hard, my eyes hurt, and as I laid my head to rest, the comforting peace of God lulled me to sleep.