Marked Souls

by Adrienna Turner

  “Thank you for sharing that Word of Knowledge, Dr. Pastor A. Dollar. Sorry, he still has to leave tonight for a meeting tomorrow in Fort Worth, Texas. But it was a pleasure to have you as our guest tonight. We love you and most of all I love you. Thank you again,” Pastor Betty waved to him and blew a kiss.

  Pastor Dollar closed his hand into a fist as if he caught her kiss in the air, jokingly. The crowd continued to clap and call out his name, “Pastor Dollar makes the crowd holler!” Pastor Betty Bates yelled on the microphone as her congregation followed with this speech to say farewell to Pastor A. Dollar. He waved and exited the building.

  Pastor Betty called Sondrea up next, “You’ve already been introduced to this beautiful voice! Sondrea, come on up, please!” As she sang, I Surrender All, the crowd roared. She slowly stepped off the stage with the help of Bernard and sat next to him as they watched the next act. The finale included Sister Martha and her choir singing, Holy Spirit Come. As an encore, she finished with two songs with her fraternal twin sister Mary.

  Pastor Betty gave closing statements and offered anyone the opportunity to come to the altar during benediction. There were some newcomers in the audience who staggered to the altar for special prayers and receive salvation. Martha and her sister, Mary, prayed for the members in the church. Twenty souls gave their lives to Jesus Christ. One of them that stood out for Sondrea was Lavonne. She lightly shook her head, amazed to see her there. She rushed through the crowd and embraced Lavonne snugly. “I’m so glad to see you,” she whispered.

  The song on reverb replayed in the sound speakers on the podium. Sondrea echoed the song in her head, “I believe God.”

  The chorus played again and again in Sondrea’s ear as she sang to the words softly, “I believe God. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. I believe God. I receive God.”

  Lavonne hugged Sondrea again while she sang softly, resting her head on Sondrea’s shoulders, and weeping. Then, Sondrea laid hands on her. “Do you have anything that you want me to pray for?”

  “Yes, please, dear sister,” Lavonne lowered her head and positioned her palms together.

  “Go ahead.” Sondrea said.

  “Please pray that I’ll fulfill my future goals as an attorney. The law firm where you saw me this morning, before you exited, is paying for my day classes at UCLA.”

  “That’s good news, sis!”

  “I want to do well in my studies and make my mother proud too.”

  “Lavonne, your mother has to be proud. Congrats to you before I start praying on your behalf. So good to see you,” She embraced her. Lavonne leaned on her shoulder.

  “I’m so excited to hear that the law firm is paying for your tuition at one of the top colleges in the U.S. like tuition reimbursement?” Sondrea said gleefully.

  Lavonne slightly nodded on her shoulder.

  Before Sondrea started to pray, she whispered, “God has already given you the provision for this new venture in your life. The path He has already set for you specifically and will fulfill it. But remember, this is for you, and to give your Father glory.”

  “Amen,” They said in unison.

  Sondrea then spoke softly in Lavonne’s ears, praying for her future ambitions and goals that are within God’s will for her life. Bernard walked up behind Sondrea and gently embraced both ladies. He picked up the prayer as Sondrea paused, adding, “Messiah, Lord, we know you break walls and bring healing as we turn to you. Amen.”

  He planted a wet kiss on Sondrea’s lips once she let go of Lavonne. She knew it was the things she shared from her heart with him during their pillow talks. He smiled widely.

  CHAPTER 7

  False Religion and Prophets

  Roya Whitmore

  Roya, still wary, had agreed to a family outing at a new church Sondrea had bragged about to anyone who would listen. The name alone had her curious: Greater New World Church. She collected her thoughts. If Sondrea gave her life over to Christ, this must be the real deal. She was a little reluctant at first, but she gave in to Sondrea’s manipulative pleading and begging. She could hear her words still ringing in her ears,

  “Please Roya. You need to get out! And church is the place to be. I went to your church meeting a few months ago.”

  “True, but…,”

  “Roya, I know that you need to get out. You only live for work, and your family, and hardly any time for yourself.”

  “Girl, please,” Roya shooed her.

  “God has His hand over this place—Greater New World Church. Yes, I know that you relied so strongly on the Alliance Crusaders for Christ, but it was Jewel who was there to help you relocate to Los Angeles.”

  “You forgot that I already owned a home in Los Angeles with Solomon. This one he chose to keep for business associates,” Roya shot.

  “I love you sis, and can’t imagine what you suffered when they tortured you.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Roya shooed her.

  “Sorry. Know that all your family loves you and all of us want the best for you.”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,” Roya said, dismissing her platitudes as an attempt at getting under her skin.

  “I really want you to check out this church. Please for me. Ple-ee-ase!”

  Roya carefully listened to Sondrea’s endless speeches about how greatly involved she was in this particular church and that she became a member “only a month ago, and I’m so excited about it.”

  “Girl, it’s amazing,” Sondrea gushed.

  “What, the church?” Roya teased.

  “Yes. I’m a member. I sang in their church choir. But that night was amazing.”

  “What night, Sondrea?” Roya folded her arms.

  “Girl, you may have to take a seat. There’s so much that’s happened since I last saw you.”

  “Oh, this is catch up time now? You had my number,” Roya flopped on the sofa.

  “I guess I deserved that. You know I was building my music career.”

  “Yep, fully aware. And you signed to a new recording company. I guess you had to move on after Sol died,” Roya leaned back and put her elbow on the armrest.

  “Is Joy here?”

  “You’ve been here for like twenty minutes and still didn’t realize that neither Sunny nor Joy is here,” Roya blew up.

  “Wassup with the anger?” Sondrea joked.

  Roya knew she was serious about that last statement. She had to know that it was a difficult move, to leave her horrific and unbearable memories behind, and relocate back to California. “I know you’ve grown close to Mom. Why didn’t you stay here, in the—?”

  “Beverly Hills,” Sondrea finished her sentence.

  Roya nodded.

  “I had to grow up. Get my own crib. Had a baby, you met her, at that safehouse.”

  “Yeah. A-kee-rah.” Roya enunciated every syllable.

  “Yes. Akira.” Sondrea dropped into the recliner and rocked herself.

  “Is this—" Roya started to speak.

  “Not Bernard’s baby.”

  “He’s your fiancé, right?” Roya asked, she rose forward. “Where is he? I hope he’s not taking his own tour of my home.”

  “Nah. Before we got here, he agreed to step outside awhile to let us chat.”

  Roya waved and crossed her leg over the other, then slapped her knee.

  “I didn’t even notice, Geez. Go invite the man in.”

  “I only moved a few miles from Beverly Hills. I moved in with Bernard.”

  “How long have you known this man?”

  “Long enough.”

  “Evading the question, huh? What do you have to hide, Sis?” Roya felt she was up to her old ways.

  Sondrea shrugged and lifted her hands. “Nothing.”

  “Okay. Big sister is going to have a word with you. You’re going like a whirlwind, acting like a bigshot, changing your lifestyle, leaving your baby, God knows where, and you’re expecting everyone to march to your drum? Time to slow down. You’ve got a lot of life ahead of you and y
ou’re going to make some mistakes. The biggest one is not watching out for your baby’s future!”

  Sondrea responded in a huff. “So much for your babies’ futures! What right do you have to lecture me?”

  Roya’s eyes watered with sorrow, and a couple of tears formed dark streaks down her cheek. “Every right, Sondrea. My babies were safe with Sunny, and furthermore, you never heard that we were out after a year of hiding, enjoying ourselves in a park when we were all captured. Besides that, what do you think a whirlwind of decisions did to us? Don’t you think I learned something there? We did everything we could to safeguard them.”

  “Better alive than dead.”

  “Better with Jesus than dead for eternity,” Roya sniffed, and patted away her tears. “Well, Sunny told me you ran into Lavonne, at the law firm.”

  “News travels fast. Yes, I texted Sunny.”

  “I see. You stay in touch with Sunny, but not me.”

  “I haven’t seen Lavonne since…,”

  “Yeah, the church meeting a few months ago. And then when you lived with Mom in Florida, then us, and at the court thingy. It’s not like a huge deal, and you could have called me,” Roya blurted.

  “Okay, you got me, Sis,” Sondrea admitted.

  “I take it that Lavonne is doing pretty good.”

  “Yes, UCLA, and law firm is helping with her tuition. She wants to be an attorney,”

  “Good luck,” Roya said sarcastically.

  “I don’t really like this new Roya you’ve become,” Sondrea fired back.

  “So, Lavonne lives in Los Angeles too.”

  “Yes, and she works at a respectable law firm.”

  “Come on, Sis. Quit being so brutish and rude,” Sondrea rose out of the recliner. She raced to the front door, and paused before closing it behind her, “I hope to see you, and my sisters, at Greater New World Church this Sunday. Peace and blessings.”

  Roya opened the door and watched her walk to the truck. Her heart ached. She did want to see Lavonne again.

  It is a blessing to be connected to all my sisters, and Mom, again. Blood is thicker than water. We could be so close, and stuck together like honey on honeycombs, and go through thick and thin, and trustful that iron sharpens iron. I need them more than they need me, and they’ve got no clue. Live their own lives. If they go, we’ll be there, too.

  All the lovely ladies, Sondrea, Sunny, Joy and Roya rode in a white Infinity QX60, while Bernard drove them to Greater New World Church. Jewel trailed behind them in a platinum Mercedes Benz. Lavonne staggered into the church a few minutes after service began, having driven herself to the church. The usher found Lavonne a seat at the back of the church. The church was packed and no more seats were available in the pews.

  Roya wasn’t in tune with the singing portion of the service. She was observing everything and everyone around her. She had no idea what they were singing. Her discerning spirit gave her warning when she watched the deacons walk to stand at post near the entrance and exit doors. They silently watched, not singing, not participating, and acting generally like armed guards. She shook her head. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve brought guns to church!

  Sondrea stood next to her, clapping and singing to the music. Roya plastered on a smile for her when she looked at her. She turned around to see how happy Sunny seemed to be with the worship and praise. Jewel and Lance were sitting two seats away from Roya and Sunny in the same pew. Sondrea’s fiancé, Bernard, sat next to Sondrea and seemed to ignore her excitement over the worship.

  Roya had a strange feeling about Sondrea’s fiancé. She turned her nose up at him. She felt like she’d seen him before or met him somewhere. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Then, she looked at the expression on Sunny’s face, and she appeared to be into the singing too. Sunny tugged at her shoulder and arm, wanting her to get into the music.

  Sunny whispered, “Roya, it’s okay. I remember that your husband loved this song.”

  “Okay,” Roya said, feeling melancholy.

  “I also recall singing this song with Sondrea. It’s good to be back in a regular church again,” Sunny clapped her hands lightly.

  “Mom, Dad loved this song,” Joy added. She joined in clapping.

  Roya smirked. She resented Sondrea’s potentially happy future as a bride while she dealt with being a widow. Then, she glanced over at Sunny again. She seems so content, Lord. Thank You for Sunny, who loves You dearly, and seems so happy with her life. She never complains. She’s so happy taking care of us. Could I just be content with You?

  Roya couldn’t feel the Holy Spirit in the place. Lord, tell me. Shouldn’t You be a part of this congregation?

  She noticed the choir members, all dressed in white gowns, with a cream-colored sun cross imprinted over the burgundy breast pads on each side of the gown. The people clapped and cheered the choir on after each song. She wished she could run. The choir swayed from side to side in motion to the music as they sang. She stared at the choir for a brief moment. She had a gut feeling something wasn’t right. Lord, what are you saying to my spirit? Is something wrong with my attitude? My whole family seems to be enjoying this. Am I grieving?

  Not even the little ones got justice. I can’t contact the police because they’re also working for the Task Force. She remembered Sergeant Miller, who worked as an undercover cop. He had started as a police officer with the city police department, yet, he’d been conscripted as a Task Force Special Ops. But he’d also put his life on the line for her sake, helping her get out of her cell safely. Maybe it was her ignorance and prideful manner. She felt as though God had left her.

  When a woman approached the pulpit, Roya saw a bright presence come over her. She gazed around, but it appeared that no one else seemed to be aware of it. After looking back at the podium, she sat back, and listened. “God has not left you. God didn’t leave you after your husband died, or when your children died. He’s always with you. He’ll never forsake you. God doesn’t want you here.”

  “Me?” She said in a whisper.

  “Go. Get up and walk to the bathroom, and slip out the back door.”

  She rose from her seat.

  “Mom, where are you going?”

  “Bathroom. Do you have to go?” Roya pretended that she had to use the restroom.

  Joy shook her head no.

  The voice of the angel returned, “There are men standing guard at the entrance door. However, there’s a side door near the bathroom adjacent from the main office. These are false prophets following a false religion; they’re not worshipping Jesus Christ.”

  Roya gasped. She held her hand on her chest. She stepped out to the aisle, and then put her finger up to be excused to the bathroom.

  The voice still spoke to her thoughts, “They’re worshipping the Messiah of this world. You know him as the Antichrist. Yet, some are fooled and believing he is the “angel of light” and think they’re worshipping God.”

  She continued up the aisle near the platform. The deacon in all black pointed to the bathroom entrance. She followed his lead. She turned back and winked at Sondrea in the audience.

  Roya obeyed the Spirit that alerted her to leave. How can I warn my family? They’re so scattered among the congregation; it would create havoc. Lord, protect my family, Please? Are you still there?

  “Yes,” she heard the voice in her spirit. Why are the songs familiar, but my spirit isn’t acknowledging it?

  The voice responded, “They are using subliminal messaging. Those who listen know it is not God’s spirit in this place.” Roya prayed that the angel would alert them too.

  Roya had her iTouch phone in her purse, and wanted to warn Alliance Crusaders for Christ. There was also a team in Los Angeles. She’d alert them to rescue her family. She noticed the hard stares coming from the guards on post and the deacons in dark suits at the entrance door as the angel warned her. She put on a fake smile, “Excuse me sir, I did sign language to know where the bathroom was, the guy over there directed me
.” She pointed ahead in the opposite direction. “Just going to the restroom.”

  The man in black pointed and gave her brief directions to where the restrooms were in the building. Without her knowledge, the deacon-imposter received a signal on his wireless headset locked on his right ear. Roya presumed he sent an alert signal to the Washington D.C. headquarters. This is why I didn’t leave the house. Ugh, why did I let Sondrea talk me into coming here?

  A minute later, before Roya reached to the bathroom door, the angel appeared again. He said, “Roya. Your sons are in trouble. The demons in human form have discovered their location and will track them down to harm them.”

  She entered inside, checking the booths, no one inside. “Jesus,” She whispered.

  “While inside of the bathroom, text the Alliance Crusaders for Christ, and let them know that there are men on guard here, along with security cameras and speakers. Tell them you’ll need to be picked up and then do as I commanded you before.”

  She reached for her phone in her purse. She texted ACC as requested.

  The angel spoke and appeared in view, “I’ll guide your path. There’ll be others to help you out of this place.”

  Roya opened the door to exit the bathroom quietly, first looking down the hallway for anyone checking up on her.