The Soul Redeemer: From Victim to Victory (27 page)

T
hey hadn't yet cleaned up
from lunch when a white SUV drove up to the house.  "Ohhhh nooooo," Sam objected.   

"What?  Who is it?" Nicole's heart had begun to pound in fear.

"My daughter.  Every body just be quiet.  Maybe she'll go away."

"Sam!" Nicole reprimanded.  There was a knock at the door.  "Are you really going to ignore her?"

The knocking continued, and then a female voice commanded, "Dad?  Open up.  I know you're in there," she said as she tried the door.

"Really, this is nonsense!" Nicole said, and she went to the door and opened it.

Sam groaned as if in pain as the beautiful young woman on the other side of the threshold gasped, then stood speechless, staring at Nicole with her jaw hanging down in obvious shock.

"Hi, I'm Nicole.  In spite of your father's obvious rudeness, please do come in."

The jaw closed.  That was a good sign.  "I take it that your dad doesn't often have company.  But really, please come on in."

"Daaaad?" came the response as she stood unmoving on the other side of the door.

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly in resignation as he finally stood to his feet and walked over nearer to the door.  "Come on in Abigail."

"But dad, she looks just like…"

"I know it.  What are you doing here?"

Abigail glanced over at her father then back to Nicole.  "I didn't know I needed a reason to stop by my dad's house.  I guess I should always call first, even if I've never had to do that before.  I'm sorry to interrupt…Maybe I should just go."  She was now glancing back and forth between Sam and Nicole.

"Don't be silly," Nicole said, and she reached out and pulled Abigail into the house.  

Sam asked, "Where's Aaron?"

"Asleep in the back seat.  I'll check on him in a moment."  She kept staring at Nicole even though she was conversing with Sam.

Nicole shut the door and asked, "Who do I look like?"

Sam ignored her question.  "Abigail, this is my guest, Nicole.  Nicole, my daughter, Abigail.  I need some coffee."  He went back and sat down at the dining room table.  "Maria?" he called out.  "Is there any coffee left in the pot?"

"Maria?  Who's Maria?" Abigail questioned.

Maria popped out from the kitchen.  "I make a fresh pot, Mr. Sam.  It will be ready soon."  She looked at Abigail with her piercing dark eyes and smiled.  "Hi Miss Abigail.  I am Maria.  You like coffee?"

"Yes, thank you.  And you can call me Abby," she said as she looked from Maria back to Nicole.

The two ladies joined Sam at the table.  Neither said anything, just looked at him in silence.  He was trying his best to ignore them by looking down at the empty table in front of him, then up at the ceiling. 

Finally, he jumped up and began to pace.  Two pairs of eyes followed him back and forth.  After a couple of trips across the length of the room he stopped and said, "Ok, fine.  You win."  He looked at Abigail.  "She's David's granddaughter.  Our cousin.  She's here because she was in a bit of trouble and I'm helping her out until she can go back home." 

Abigail looked at Nicole, then smiled and held out her hand.  "Nicole.  I'm sorry that you are in some trouble, but I'm very glad to meet you."

Nicole took her hand and looked into Abigail's eyes, then pulled her into a quick embrace.  "I'm very glad to meet you too."

"Now see!" Sam exclaimed.  "This is exactly what I was trying to avoid!  All the gushy feelings!"

Looking back at Nicole, Abby smiled, "Don't mind him.  He's a softy at heart.  He's just afraid that the tough shell around his heart will get penetrated and he might actually have to become human again, right Dad?"

Maria came into the room with a tray full of steaming coffee mugs, cream and sugar and spared Sam from answering.  She passed out the coffee and then joined them at the table.

"Is somebody going to tell me who it is that I resemble?" Nicole asked. 

"I thought you were a ghost at first.  You look like my grandma Donna.  I mean when she was young," Abigail answered.

Nicole turned to Sam. "I look like your mother?"

"Han's genes must have been strong."

Nicole looked down and suddenly realized that she was still wearing Abigail's clothes.  "Oh Abby, I hope you don't mind my borrowing your clothes.  I left in a hurry with only the clothes on my back and they were quite dirty."

Abby smiled.  "Not at all.  Help yourself to anything you find, and if you need anything else, let me know.  I'll bring some more by..." she glanced at her dad…"but I'll be sure to call first just to make sure I'm not interrupting…you know, since you're starting to see women again."  She winked at Nicole.

Sam ignored the teasing comment.  "I'll go check on Aaron."

A moment later, he came in carrying a sleepy, but awake, little boy.  He sat down with Aaron on his lap, cuddling him. 

"Hey Sweet Pea.  Look.  We're at Poppa's house," Abby lovingly spoke to her son.  He yawned in response and began to move his right leg, swinging it back and forth. 

"He's adorable! Abby.  How old is he?"

"Six.  He's small for his age."

Aaron was beginning to squirm.  "You want to play with your Legos, buddy?" Sam asked.  He sat Aaron down on the ground and he crawled over to a wooden box, opened it and began pulling out toys until he found the ones he was looking for. 

Maria had been sitting quietly listening.  Now she asked, "Aaron has weak legs?"

"That's it exactly Maria," Abby answered.  "He's been to a lot of doctors and they can't tell me specifically what's wrong other than that his bones and muscles are weak.  He goes to therapy three times a week and we have leg braces that we put on him every day for several hours.  He can actually walk short distances when he's wearing those, but he doesn't like them.  They are uncomfortable for him and he can crawl faster without them."

Aaron looked at his mother and made a sign.  She said, "Ok buddy, let's go to the bathroom."  She picked him up and carried him down the hallway.

"He doesn't talk either," Sam said.  "But otherwise, he seems fine.  We've learned to understand his expressions and he uses sign language.

After a moment, Aaron was back at play and Abigail and Nicole were getting acquainted.  No one noticed that Maria had gotten up from the table and joined Aaron on the floor…that is, until they heard a sweet little voice explaining that the Lego men in the space ship were on their way home to see their mommies. 

Three heads turned and watched as Aaron miraculously stood up on his two legs and walked a few steps to the toy box where he rummaged through it until he found what he was looking for, then turned and walked over to his Grandpa with the train whistle in one hand and his space ship in the other, just like he had been doing it his whole life. 

"Here, you blow the whistle grandpa, and the space ship will land like this," he explained as he handed the whistle to Sam then raised the Lego set high into the air and made a wooshing sound as he brought it slowly down to the floor. 

It was like the atmosphere had suddenly changed as the glory of God's presence filled the room and no one dared move for fear of breaking the beauty of the moment.  There was a sense of awe and wonder and reverence, and the room was enveloped within a sweet aroma. 

Sweet peas.  Yes, that was definitely the smell!  Sweet peas were Nicole's favorite flower and she would know their fragrance anywhere.  Yet she didn't see any sweet peas.  She recalled that Abigail had called Aaron "sweet pea" a little bit ago, but this was more than just a memory of a smell that was manifesting as a result of a suggestion.  This was a manifestation of God's presence. 

"Blow the whistle now, Grandpa."

Sam jumped up from his chair smiling joyously and blew the whistle as loud as he could!  That broke the spell and suddenly Abigail was down on the floor embracing her little boy who was still standing.  Great sobs came from her, and Nicole saw a little arm go around his mommy's neck. 

"It's ok, Mommy.  Jesus said that it was time for me to walk and talk now.  So you don't have to be sad anymore Mommy."  He patted her back in an effort to comfort her.

"Oh Sweet Pea, I'm not crying because I'm sad.  I'm crying because I'm so happy!"

Aaron looked up at his grandpa as if to question the truth of that statement, like it didn't make any sense.  Sam just shrugged.  Aaron shrugged back and just kept patting his mother's back until she finally let up on her grip of him, yet held him at arm's length and looked into his eyes.  "What happened, son?  How is it that you are walking and talking?"

"Maria asked me if I wanted to, and I said yes in here," he answered as he pointed to his heart.  "Then she asked Jesus to come and set me free and make me well.  And He did."  Aaron smiled.  "I love Jesus.  He's so cool!"

It was as if they suddenly thought of Maria.  Sam got up, and as he walked toward the amazing woman who was still seated on the floor of his living room, tears began to stream down his cheeks.  He stopped in front of her, and then dropped to his knees. 

"Maria, please forgive me for doubting you.  You have done nothing but selflessly give of yourself since I first met you.  I can never thank you enough for praying for my grandson!  Thank you."

Maria reached out a hand and wiped the tears off his cheek.  "Mr. Sam.  Of course Maria forgive you.  But let us thank Jesus who does this mighty miracle for our little Aaron."

"Of course, you're right."  He stood to his feet and pulled Maria up.  "Let's all thank the Lord together for this great and mighty miracle!" 

Sam picked up Aaron and they gathered together in a circle with their arms around each other and praised their heavenly Father for His awesome love and care. 

Nicole thought about Jake and missed him so much!  But she also realized that her heart was being bound to a part of her family she never would have known if she hadn't been in this unexpected situation. 

Little Aaron was healed because an unexpected friend had come with her to this unexpected place and prayed for him. 

And the truth of it all burst into her soul like a welcoming flood in a very dry desert.  God was with her in this wilderness!  He had shown Himself to be full of power, might and love once again, and the incredulity of it all erupted from someplace deep inside her and a language of love and praise for her soul redeemer came pouring out of her mouth. 

The gift of tongues that she had prayed about for so long had finally been bestowed upon her in the least expected of times.  She would trust Him with all of her heart and would not lean on her own understanding.  She committed to acknowledge Him in all her ways, and chose to believe that He would direct her path.  Hopefully towards home, yet she was willing to cling to Him and to trust and rely on Him no matter what.

L
ater that afternoon
when Abigail and Aaron had gone, Sam excused himself.  Nicole decided to take a borrowed Bible and find a quiet place to connect with her Savior.  She lay back against a rock looking up at the Tetons and the clear sky that had come after a time of dark, oppressive storm clouds and rain.  "Lord you brought the rain to refresh and water the land.  I trust that You will bring clear skies to my life after these times of oppressive clouds have gone."  She opened the Bible to Psalm 23 and heard her Master's loving voice. 

"Nicole, don't be afraid of the rain that will come, for this cloud of oppression will not be moved until its rain has fallen.  It may feel like a flood, but it is for cleansing and healing, not for destruction.  Don't look at the waves.  Look at Me and I will lead you beside the cool waters and will restore your soul.  I will lead you in righteousness and safety, and even though you will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it is only a shadow and you must not fear any evil; for I am with you.  I will protect and comfort you, and I will deliver you.  I give you My rest."

She had become so relaxed in the presence of the Lord that it took her a moment to realize that she was being called by a human voice. 

"I'm here Sam," she called out.  She got up and started back toward the house.

Sam met her part way.  "Come with me.  We've been given a directive."  He led her back into the bunker and closed the door behind them.

"I spoke with my contact and he wants us to go to Chicago."

Nicole's mind was whirling.  She wasn't used to so many changes in such a short amount of time.  "Because of Rosie's Bar and Grill?"

"Yeah.  He checked into it and is sure that Daemon is there.  We are hoping that through him we can get a lead on the location of the clone op."

"So that's the plan?  You're looking for the clones?"

"Those are my orders at present."

"What are you going to do when you find them?" Nicole asked.

Sam was silent for a moment before answering.  "That's not for me to say at this time."

"Is that your way of telling me that you don't trust me with that information or are you saying that you don't know?" Nicole drilled.

Sam looked at her rather sternly.  "Look lady, you are going to have to decide to trust me.  You've got to stop turning on me when I don't give you exactly what you want."

Nicole looked steadily back at him, and then relaxed.  "You're right Sam.  I'm sorry.  I guess my emotions are still all over the place.  When you talked about finding the clones, a million questions went through my mind and about as many emotions."

"Apology accepted.  Trust that for now, all you need to know is that we need to find the location of the clone operation and put a stop to the plans the programmers have of sending them out into society at large.  There are a lot of questions we don't have time to go into; however, you will be given information as needed.  Now, are you with me in this?"

"Yes of course.  When do we leave?"

"Soon.  But Nicole, there are a few things we need to take care of before we can go to Chicago."

"Ok, what?"

"I want you to meet the man I told you about first.  He'll be able to make sure that there aren't any open doors that you're unaware of before you come into possible contact with Daemon or other Freemason or Illuminati programmers."

"How can someone who doesn't even know me know if there are open doors or not?"

"He's an ex-programmer for the Illuminati who escaped their system, one of the few to be able to do that, and now he works with us.  After some of the things you told me, I thought I better call him, and he is adamant that he meet you, and ordered me to bring you as soon as possible."   

"He ordered you?  So he's your superior?"

"Basically, yes."

"Wow.  What would an ex-Illuminati programmer want with me?  I'm fine."

"Nicole, Joel is also a deprogrammer and will be able to make sure that there's nothing left hidden inside your programming that could compromise your safety or our operation."

"All this talk about programming!  I don't like it, Sam."

"I'm not trying to scare you.  I'm trying to prepare you," he replied.  "Just the fact that Daemon was able to gain such control over you so easily tells me that we need to do everything we can to make sure that that doesn't happen again.  Do it for my peace of mind, ok?"

"What's this guy going to do to me?  I don't want to be hypnotized or anything like that."

"I can't tell you what he'll do, but I assure you that he is a Christian and trustworthy.  He can be a little intimidating, but I trust him with my life.  I'm asking you to trust him with yours."

Nicole sighed.  "Let me think this through a minute Sam.  What if I refuse to see him?  What would happen?"

Now Sam sighed.  "There's another thing I didn't want to have to tell you, but maybe it's for the best.  I'm suspicious that Daemon may have implanted a tracking device somewhere in your body while you were unconscious.  If that's the case, we need to find it and disable it.  Joel will be able to help with locating and removing it.  That is, if my theory is true."

"Ok, this is getting weirder by the minute!"  Nicole shook her head as if trying to clear away the nightmare.  And then a thought occurred to her.  "Sam, where would they have hidden a tracking device?"

"Could be anywhere.  Most likely in your back, shoulder, arm or neck.  Possibly in your thigh or hand."

"The night after I was with those two," Nicole recalled, "I woke up because there was a bump on my neck that was irritated.  Itching, but also burning a little bit.  I just thought it was a mosquito bite.  How big would one of those devices be?"

"Not big.  They can be about as small as an ant or grain of rice."  He opened a drawer and pulled out a device.  "Let me see the spot."

Nicole stood up and turned her back to him.  She lifted her hair and pointed to the spot on her neck.  He held the device over the spot in question and decided that he would not tell her that he was certain he was seeing a microchip.  There was no use in causing her anxiety when there was nothing he could do about it at the ranch. 

"It's hard to tell," he said.  "But it's possible.  We just need to get to Joel asap."  He pulled something like a metallic patch out of his desk along with some duct tape.  "If there is a chip in there, this will block or at the least scramble any signal that might be transmitted.  It'll be uncomfortable, but I think it would be a good idea to cover that area just in case, ok?"

"Ok."  She pulled her hair out of the way and let Sam cover the spot in question.  Realization began dawning on Nicole and she sat back down with a dazed look on her face.  "Sam, if there is a device, how long before they could track me here?"

"Good question," he said.  "Can I check your eyes?"  

She looked up at him and opened her eyes wide in answer.  He must have been satisfied because he walked back over to his chair behind his desk, sat down and continued. 

"I asked myself that same question, and under normal circumstances, I'd say they'd be able to track you all along the way.  They should have been here by now.  So either I'm wrong about the device, or the Holy Spirit is blocking the signal.  There have been enough miracles that I'm thinking it's the later.  Either way, I know that the next step is to go see Joel.  He'll be able to give us the answers that we need."

"I'm scared Sam."

"I'm sure you are, and understandably so.  But don't be afraid of Joel.  He won't make you do anything you don't agree with.  His goal will be to make sure you are free from the enemy's control so that you won't be vulnerable to them anymore, but he'll work
with
you and won't try to control you.  He'll want you to stay in control." 

He paused a moment and leaned forward.  "I believe that it's going to be ok, Nicole.  God's been directing our paths and protecting us, and I know He'll continue to.  So what do you say?  Will you go?"

"Nicole, remember…."
  She closed her eyes and her time with the Lord came to her mind. 
"This is the way to go.  Walk in it, and when you are afraid, trust in Me."

She opened her eyes and said, "You know what, Sam?  I believe you're right.  Yes.  I'll go."

He smiled.  "Good girl!  Our plane leaves for Washington D.C. in..." he looked at his watch…"two hours."

"You already got the tickets?  I better go let Maria know what's going on."

She left the barn and saw that the clouds were gathering once again in preparation for another storm.  A picture of her life at the moment.  She didn't see Maria when she stepped into the kitchen.  "Maria?  Where are you?  I have news," she called out.

Maria popped her head out from the laundry room door.  "I am here, my Nicki."  She came into the kitchen carrying a basket of clothes to be folded and set it on a chair at the table.  "What news?" she asked as she picked up Nicole's jeans and began to fold them. 

Nicole reached for a shirt and began to help fold as she answered.  "We are going to Washington D.C. in a few hours.  I'm glad you got the laundry done.  We'll need to pack a few things.  I hope that Abigail won't mind me borrowing a few of her clothes.  I'll make sure I replace everything."  She looked up at Maria and saw that she had stopped folding the jeans and had become very still.  While she watched, a tear appeared in her eye and began making its way down her cheek.  "Maria, what's wrong?" 

Sam walked in the back door and was headed for the coffee pot when he realized how quiet it was.  Becoming uncomfortable he said, "Uhhh, it looks like I'm interrupting something here.  I'll be back later." 

"No Sam.  Please stay.  I was just telling Maria that we need to get ready to go.  She must be sad."

Maria suddenly looked up with strength of will and an air of peace that had not been there a moment ago.  "Miss Nicki, Mr. Sam, Maria can not go with you."

Surprised and confused, Nicole asked, "Why would you want to stay here alone?"

Maria smiled, stepped close to Nicole and took hold of both her hands.  "My job is complete here now.  Jesus, He loves you so much."  Maria gently laid her soft hand on Nicole's cheek.  "He wants you to know that He is always with you and will help you.  You are never alone.  The path you are on is difficult, but His Spirit is strong in you.  You have been trained for such a time as this.  There are many who are relying on you to be His hands and feet.  Rescue those who are being led away to death.  This is the path you are on.  It is time for Maria to go…there will be others.  Have no fear Miss Nicki. 
Strengthen limp hands.  Steady weak knees.  Tell those who are terrified, 'Be brave; don’t be afraid.  Your God will come with vengeance, with divine revenge.  He will come and rescue you.'"
(Isaiah 35:3-4, GW; Proverbs 24:11)

Nicole noticed that the room that had been darkened by the storm clouds outside had suddenly been lit up as if a light had been turned on.  The light increased in brightness until she had to close her eyes against the intensity of it.  Maria had let go of Nicole's hand and she heard her say, "Goodbye my little Nicki." 

Nicole opened her eyes and the room had returned to its former darkness.  Maria was gone.  She stood there in shock, trying to comprehend what had just happened. 

Without moving she called out, "Saaaam?"

"Yeah….I saw."

Slowly she turned around to face him and said, "Maria was an angel!"

"Yeah, she was." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jake had taken a few days off of work to stay with Nicole, and by the afternoon of this second day, he was more concerned than ever.  Jake went outside and called Casie who came over right away when she heard the concern in Jake's voice.  He didn't put his concerns into words….he wasn't even sure how to do that. 

Casie and "Nicole" sat out on the front deck to visit.  After about fifteen minutes, Nicole expressed that she was very tired and needed to go lay down.  When she had gone back into the bedroom, Jake walked Casie out to her car.  Before she even said anything, Jake could tell that she was disturbed.

"I don't know Jake.  Something's very wrong.  I mean like more than a little bit.  I don't know what to think and I feel like I just need to go home and pray before I say anything else.  But be careful!"

"Thanks Casie.  Be in touch."

She gave him a hug, and as she drove down the driveway and out of sight, he realized he didn't want her to go.  Well, it wasn't her; it was the Presence that surrounded her. 

At that moment he became aware that one of the things that was especially troubling to him since Nicole had come home after the ordeal was that something seemed to be missing.  Casie had brought it back with her and it felt as if it was leaving with her.  It was the presence of God in a direct, almost tangible way that had been in his wife and was in Casie.  Of course he knew that God was there and that He was living within himself.  However, Nicole had set the stage in their home through her love and relationship with Jesus as Casie did, and he realized that that was gone.  As he walked back to the house, he felt that he was entering back into that emptiness, only worse, for his wife was not herself and he had no idea what to do.