Page 42 of Forged in Deception

Karlin’s jaw tightened momentarily at the mention of the Lord, but a moment later, she nodded. A look of determination had replaced the fear on her face, even as Destiny continued to cry and shout at invisible bad guys through the window.

“Just drive carefully, okay? It’s dark.”

Karlin said nothing, but nodded firmly again as she put the Jeep into gear and started down the worn dirt road.

For several minutes, Asher focused on keeping Destiny calm as Karlin drove. When they reached the main retreat site, she stopped, hopping out of the car and racing into the small office building.

While he waited for her to return, he rolled down the driver’s side window, letting in some fresh air. Once again, he heard a strange sound in the distance, carried by the breeze. He couldn’t quite make out what it was, but he hoped it wasn’t anything to do with the other patients or Dr. Bajwa. Hopefully, with Destiny gone, he’d had the good sense to cool it with the jungle drumbeats and let everyone calm down.

Before he could decide what it was, however, the sound abruptly went quiet, leaving only the swishing noise of sand blowing against the ground.

Karlin returned to the Jeep, her hair windswept as she clicked her seatbelt on.

“I called 9-1-1 from the landline and grabbed my cell, just in case I need to get ahold of Bajwa once we have service,” she explained, breaking a stretch of silence as they started driving again. Even Destiny had gone quiet now, though she was still breathing hard, her eyes roving in fear.

He took a deep breath, pausing for a moment as Karlin navigated over a particularly treacherous section of rut-filled road. Now was as good a time as he was likely going to get.

Asher steeled himself for Destiny’s reaction as he placed a hand on her shoulder. To his relief, she didn’t react violently. In fact, she didn’t even flinch.

“Look, she’s being more docile than you usually are,” he joked, glancing over at Karlin.

“Shut up.”

She didn’t take her eyes from the road, but he could see the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. He smirked at her before turning back to Destiny.

“I’m going to pray for you, okay?” he said, trying to read the woman’s eyes.

It was impossible to know what she was thinking, but he did know that she loved the Lord, and whatever chemical imbalance, or demon, or whatever else had taken up residence in her mind, He was there within her heart.

“Lord Jesus Christ, please have mercy and help your servant Destiny. Please free her and all others suffering from mental illness or demonic influence. Please help her to regain control over her body and her mind. Please help us to reach the hospital safely. Amen.”

He felt self-conscious as he noticed Karlin stealing a couple of glances in his direction. He had never had a particular gift for offering prayer in front of others, but he knew that God was still listening, no matter how clumsy his words might have been.

For several more minutes, the car was quiet.

“Look,” Karlin said, interrupting his thoughts. “I think she’s falling asleep.”

She was right. Destiny’s eyes were drooping, and her breathing had slowed significantly.

Thank you, Jesus.

Up ahead, Senera’s main compound came into view, along with the flashing lights of an ambulance. Relief filled him, and when he looked over at Karlin, he could see that she was actually smiling.

Maybe he hadn’t failed anyone after all. They’d made it, and Destiny was going to get the help she needed. Everything was going to be all right.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

THE WOMAN

BEFORE

The woman waited.

Tonight, she was especially excited for what was to come. It was special.

She could feel it, even as she drifted away, even now that the hut that surrounded her had been replaced with trees and flowers of a dozen colors. A waterfall tinkled somewhere to her right, the water dancing against gleaming white stone.

---