Excerpt: Child of the Enemy

Allison has just met members of her extended family, who embrace a faith she's never encountered before.
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ALLISON

I wasn’t too surprised to find the group praying not long after Venu’s exit. While everyone from my family that I had currently met accepted my doubt over the act of prayer and an invisible God, nothing that had happened had impacted their beliefs in things. If Bryan hadn’t been with me for the past week, I would have brushed off their unshakeability to the fact that they hadn’t gone through everything I had. Yet Bryan hadn’t lost his faith. He seemed even surer that his God was listening, even when things continued to unravel at alarming rates.
I’d seen other kids that Marla had taken turn to their faith in trying times. Most had threatened Marla or myself with the wrath of their god for taking them. Yet nothing had ever come from these frenzied threats, which had strengthened what Marla had informed me of early on – there was no god. No matter what the culture or language stated, there was no god. People were always behind the supposed “acts of god.”
I examined the group that represented my family again. They’re the only ones who haven’t lost hope. Who still believe. A long-buried memory suddenly surfaced. That’s not true...

Venu’s ransom call hadn’t gone as expected. He had read the script as instructed, while Marla monitored the phone call via speaker phone. I was close by because my nanny had just left, and Marla had declared it was time I learned what she did. This was only the third call I’d heard made – but it was very different from the many others I would hear in the following year.
His father asked a question in their native tongue. I’d heard the phrase twice earlier in the phone call. Marla got angry, aiming her weapon at Venu. “English!” She roared.
“Yeah, Dad,” Venu answered, obediently switching to English. “I’m fine.”
The dad turned his attention to Marla. “If you harm him – ”
Marla pointed to the next part of Venu’s script. She still held her weapon on him. Venu took this in and replied, “They say I’ll be returned safely. If you don’t sign with the PPO.”
Dad wasn’t happy. “What?”
Venu continued reading. “Break off your agreement with them.” He gulped. “Or else.”
“I will not be strong-armed into a deal with the devil! You tell Rynval – ”
“You have a week to break off the ties. If the PPO starts sniffing around...” Venu trailed off, deciding not to read the rest of that sentence aloud.
At this point in the other calls I’d heard, the parents started crying and agreeing. Venu’s dad was clearly cut from a different cloth. “No. You have a week, lady, to surrender my son unharmed.”
Marla had gotten nervous and ended the call. She had Venu call him back a few days later with more details. The dad had listened to all of them without the strong comments that had frightened Marla. After Venu finished reading the list, his dad had replied. “We’re praying round the clock, Venu. We haven’t given up hope. Don’t you give up, either.”
“All right, Dad.”
“He is Almighty, Venu. He can do anything.”

My thoughts returned to the present as the prayer ended and we migrated back to the servants’ room. I couldn’t help but notice the differences between them and Marla. These people had accepted their circumstances in stride. Marla had raged when things didn’t go according to her plans.
This group accepted the new rules without blinking. Marla had always tested her limits. If someone had told her not to leave the room, she would have sent someone to go see what lay beyond the door.
These people told the truth no matter what. Marla lied her way out of any scrape.
Perhaps the biggest difference between both sides was their strength. Marla relied on her intellect, combat training and her ever-present weapon supply to show her superiority. This group found their strength in each other, and also in a God that they felt never left them.
I had told Bryan at the start of our trip that God wasn’t real. Prayers didn’t work. While Bryan had seemed surprised by this revelation, he hadn’t been disturbed. My lack of faith hadn’t stopped him from praying along the way. He’d taken to praying for me, too, when he thought I was asleep.
Bryan had insisted that prayer did work. He had prayed for our safety that first night at the Bandit hideout. He had prayed for us to find our families. Oddly enough, it had happened. Our group had prayed for safety as Marla had blown our cover. Not one of us had been hurt in the encounter.
Whenever Griffin, Bryan, his dad or Mama had gotten scared, they had prayed. And while I didn’t understand why they were praying to someone who clearly wasn’t there, it was clear they had a different view of things.
Some of Mama’s last words to me came to mind. “Now, I don’t know what’s gonna happen next for you. But I know that God’s still in control. And you’re still in His hands. Which means you’re in the safest place of all.”
Bryan had prayed we wouldn’t be separated during the auctions. The one time it looked as if it would happen, a commotion had been caused elsewhere. And somehow Bryan and I had wound up in Venu’s path, which had in turn put us in touch with more of Bryan’s family.
“I trust God, Allison. He hasn’t ever lied to me. And He told me you’re going home.”
A new thought dawned on me. If this works out somehow...we’ll be going home. Just like God told Mama.
As the adults began talking, I silently gathered up the scattered papers, still considering the depth of this faith that seemed to define everyone around me. No offense, but I’m still not sure what’s going on. If You’re really out there, would You mind showing me? Have Venu arrange for my safety or something? I mean, I know this is sort of my family, but it doesn’t feel like it yet...
I was still defining the parameters of my “test” when I heard the door to Venu’s room open and close. Conversation stopped as someone walked in. Venu was not happy, and looked older than his ten years. I knew from my first visit that conversations with his brother often left him like this.
Venu took a seat on one of the empty beds. He sighed deeply. “My brother did some checking.” Venu looked at Bryan’s mom. “He says you’re an agent.”
She sighed heavily, but nodded. Venu wasn’t happy, turning his attention to Bryan. “So that means you’re the son of two PPO agents.” Venu sighed again. “Since you’re already here and he’s ticked, that’s really not good.”
Bryan’s mom hugged Bryan closer. “It’s gonna be okay, baby. Remember that.”
It was clear Venu didn’t agree, but he decided to move on. He looked at the Kenuvian. “You’re Minister Tyl, right?”
“I am.”
“You did Dad’s funeral.”
“I did. He was a good man.”
Venu didn’t want to chat about his dad. He never did. “Since you were just here to translate, you’re free to go.”
The minister nodded and Venu moved on, turning to Hunter. “And you’re with her?”
“I am.”
“So the PPO sent you, too.”
“Yes.”
Bryan’s mom tried again. “We didn’t know they were here. We were just trying to gather information.”
Venu nodded. “I know that. But he doesn’t believe it.” Venu turned to me. “I reminded him of who you were. He liked Marla as much as I didn’t. So he’s agreed you can stay here with me and be my servant like we talked about.”
Venu gestured to Bryan, his mom, and Hunter. “They’re probably going to be shipped out soon. I know they’re your friends and everything and I tried...” Venu trailed off for a moment. “But this was the best I could do. I’m sorry.”
A strange feeling blossomed inside me. A lack of worry. A freedom from concern.
Peace.
A voice that was not a voice echoed inside my head, naming the alien emotion. I suddenly remembered my earlier conversation with the God I didn’t quite believe in. As the incredible feeling radiated throughout me, I found myself answering Venu.
“Thank you, Venu. You’ve been a good friend.” I glanced over at Bryan, his mom, and Hunter. They were afraid, but they seemed happy that I would be okay. I pointed toward them as well, hoping for more confidence. “But...they’re...my family.” I walked over by them, noticing all three were holding hands. I took hold of Hunter’s free hand and continued. “I just found them. And I’d like to stay with them.”
“But Allison – ”
“It will be all right, Venu. I don’t know how, but...God said we’re going home. And I think I’m finally starting to believe that.”
Venu shook his head. “But God’s not real. If you stay with them...you’ll be in danger.”
“Your dad believed in an Almighty God, Venu. One who could do anything. They do, too. Apparently we’ve been wrong. He is real.”
“But...but if you do this...I can’t protect you.”
“God can.”
Venu sighed, sensing the battle was lost. “The guards are waiting outside.”
I gave Venu a hug as the adults held a whispered conversation. “You’ll see. It will be all right.”
We were escorted down the stairs and into another little servant’s room. This one didn’t connect to anywhere but a small bathroom. The guards noisily barred the other entrance.
But as we surveyed our surroundings, I realized the alien sensation was still with me. I was still at peace. I wasn’t afraid. And as Hunter, Bryan and his mom settled down and took seats on nearby beds, I realized they weren’t afraid, either.
I sat down beside Hunter on the bed, facing Bryan and his mom. All of them smiled at me. Hunter gave me a gentle hug. “You know what, kid? You are just like your mom.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
Bryan’s smile widened. “Told you so.”
I returned the smile, not having to ask what he meant. It really didn’t matter. He had been right all along.