Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Come up here, Melody,” Bishop Abel spoke. “We’re about to make an announcement.”
A shiver ran through me. Reluctantly, I stepped forward but not quite beside him.
He cleared his throat, “as we move into our season of renewal, revival, we’re reminded that restoration is possible for everyone. We had a request from one of our disciples. After prayer, we the bishops have been given guidance from God.” His head turned to his far left as a figure emerged from the shadows.
Logan Connell.
My stomach dropped being in the same room with him again.
Logan had been my first boyfriend. My first kiss. My first heartbreak and the first taste I had of mistrust.
He was charismatic and charming. Kindness oozed off him in the beginning. Then behind closed doors, the times when no one was around, he became someone else entirely.
Controlling.
Jealous.
Manipulative.
Forceful.
Mocking.
And violent.
“After discussion with Logan, he had been in a deep fast. The Lord spoke to him that he needed to allow Melody here a chance at reconciliation and forgiveness from him for her misdeeds when they were mere kids. He understands maturity and wisdom now.”
The words hit my brain but didn’t register. My misdeeds? What the Hell did I do? He crossed the line, I didn’t. Bishop Abel was still speaking on the gift Logan was giving me in his forgiveness but the sermon was lost to me.
My world shattered as he gleefully shared, “We will be celebrating the healing and connection of Melody and Logan in marriage this coming Sunday.”
What?
How?
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. They couldn’t do this to me. As my husband he had all authority over me.
“We feel strongly the Lord will bless this covenant.”
“No,” I whispered. Lyric rushed to my side, “shh,” she squeezed my hand. “No,” I said a little more firmly.
Logan’s eyes locked to mine, full of cockiness, like I already belonged to him. Bile rose up inside me.
“Melody,” Bishop Abel began.
“No,” I snapped. “This isn’t happening. Anyone but him.” Tears began to stream down my face warm against my cheeks.
Bishop Abel gave me a stare that sent fear through me. “Child, you have already wronged him once. This is the Almighty’s lesson in humility. Now accept your path and learn your place. God will bless you for your obedience.”
Obedience? God wouldn’t put me into the hands of a monster. This couldn’t be real. Even knowing beforehand about the gathering being to give me in marriage, I never could have prepared for this.
For him.
I couldn’t do this. Death would be better than being married to Logan.
I needed to leave.
I needed to run.
Hide.
Flee.
There was no place far enough away.
Lyric was right. We had to leave. And it had to be now.
2
MELODY
Eight-forty-eight in the morning I sat in the old pick-up truck outside of Lyric’s house. The old c-10 Chevy had seen better days, but it was my dad’s old truck and only had one purpose now—for me to take care of my brother in an emergency. This wasn’t an emergency for him. No, it was critical for my life.
As Lyric emerged from the single-wide trailer, I grabbed my small duffel bag hopping out of the vehicle and moving to her car. I had prayed all night that my brother didn’t have an episode today. I needed him to be okay until someone else got home to care for him. The guilt ate me up inside, but I also knew this was the only way to escape the future Hell awaiting me as a wife to any man in our community, but especially the one I had been assigned.
Her eyes were puffy and red. That isn’t what got me wound tight. No, it was the marks on her neck. It looked as if she had been strangled.
Who put their hands on her?
Did BJ do that? Why?
I had too much fear running through me to ask though. Instead, we both silently settled into the car and took off as if we were headed to the bank like her husband expected.
We made it out of town and both of us seemed to let out a breath. The heaviness weighed on us until we finally crossed the state line. With every mile behind us, the fear lessoned and excitement for the possibilities took its place.
We weren’t safe, but were we better than where we began? I wasn’t sure, but I knew deep inside we had to do something and this seemed like the only option.
I couldn’t say we would ever be truly safe. The guilt kept nagging me inside with every mile. I hated leaving my baby brother behind, but I knew if I stayed in a matter of days I would be married and most likely never see him again anyway.
Logan hated my family. He hated that I was always watching my brother, even when my parents were home to handle his needs. Very specific needs that Logan couldn’t understand. His allergies were truly life threatening. The smallest contact with an allergen triggered his throat to close up. I couldn’t help but be worried.