The Last Hope

By Jordan Evans

Antonia is a fifteen year old girl who lives in the future. As the story unfolds, she discovers that her mother is a spy for the KGB. Her mother is given a mission that will change their lives forever: they must find the last known copy of the Bible. This story of adventure, friendship and family will keep you on the edge of your seat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jordan Evans
• Release date: May 25, 2011

Jordan Evans

Jordan Evans published her first novel "The Last Hope" in 2011 at the age of ten. She lives with her parents and five siblings in southwest Colorado. Before she ever created this book she despised writing. Now she is enjoying writing and is thinking of writing more novels in the future. Besides writing, she enjoys playing with her American girl doll; playing tag; jumping on the trampoline; and having Bible studies with her mom.

Book preview

The Last Hope

by Jordan Evans

Published by Curly Girl Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Jordan Evans

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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This book is available in print at most online retailers

Dedication: This is for all the people in the world who don’t have the Bible.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

1 Nightmares

2 A Promise

3 The Secret

4 When Life Gives You Lemons

5 Russia

6 Take Me With You

7 Foreign Land

8 Unstoppable

9 Reunited

10 Mali

11 Waiting

12 Mom

13 The Dome of the Rock

14 Escape

15 Prayer

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Prologue

Mommy! She was running pell-mell through the jungle. On her back was a small girl. That desperate cry came from me, Antonia. I was three years old at the time. We had come to Cuba as missionaries from Russia hoping to tell Muslims and villagers about Christ. Now they think we’ve gone too far. That’s why we were running for our lives through the jungle. I tugged on Mom’s arm. Mommy, where’s Daddy? I asked.

She quickly swiped at some leaves in our path. Ann, Daddy said for us to go, remember? He’s running away too. She started to swipe a leaf out of her face, when… Boom! Mommy abruptly turned her head and we started to hear the agonized screams of our friends and neighbors. We heard the guns’ rat-a-tat-tat echoing in the jungle. She yanked me from her back, held me close, and started to run even faster.

She pushed past leaves, flies swatting into her face as we ran. Mommy started to lose her breath. I looked down at her bare feet, which were all bruises and cuts. We heard heavy boots pounding behind us. I looked up at Mommy’s face. She had sweat running down her forehead and looked horrified.

Abruptly we stopped. Mommy got down on her knees and started to crawl onto a rock. Her breath was hot on my face. Mommy grabbed a piece of the rock and pulled herself up, then sat up and laid back on the solid stone surface. She grabbed me and put me back in her lap.

Her breath started to slow and she looked down at me. Ann, you need to be very quiet for Mommy, okay? she whispered.

I whimpered, Then, can we see Pappy?

She sighed. Yes Ann, then we can see Pappy, she whispered. Mommy froze. Someone was coming.

We heard the rustle of leaves as someone approached. Did they know where we were? She then quietly put me off of her lap and stood up. She put her left leg behind her and crouched. She curled her hands into fists and put them under her chin. Mommy then froze.

Pssssst! We heard the rustle of leaves.

Who’s there? She whispered.

Hey, it’s only me, the leaves parted and there stood a small boy who looked around five. He had dark black eyes and light brown skin.

Prayer! Mommy gasped. Don’t ever do that again! she whispered.

Sorry Mrs. Sarah, I wasn’t trying to scare you. Prayer’s family was from India. They had met in New Delhi and gotten married after a whirlwind romance. After they married they had moved to Cuba to tell others about Jesus.

Prayer shifted uncomfortably. Mrs. Sarah, I think the Muslims have gone. Mommy picked me up and frowned.

Are you sure? She whispered.

Yes, Mrs. Sarah.. I know they’re gone because I was hiding by the road and I heard a lot of voices. Than it got quiet and I heard a man speaking, I think they’ve had enough for now. Clear out, men. Then I heard a lot of running, and then silence. Than after they left I saw some people walk out of the jungle, he whispered.

Well, are you sure? Mommy whispered.

I’m sure Mrs. Sarah. he whispered. I could tell he was getting a little annoyed.

Mommy took a deep breath, Well, then I guess we should get back to the village. He grinned, showing a row of perfect teeth, and then he turned around and started to run. Mommy took a deep breath and started to run after him. I jiggled in her arms as we ran down the same path we had fled on before. Mommy stumbled over a rock. I screamed.

Honey, you’ve got to be quiet, Mommy said. I closed my mouth and stifled a sob. She put me back in her arms and started to run after Prayer. Mommy stopped for a minute to get her bearing.

Prayer? Mommy shouted.

I’m over here! He shouted back. Mommy quickly started to run in the direction of Prayer’s voice. I squirmed as we stopped suddenly.

Where are we, Mommy? I asked.

We’re back home, Ann, she whispered. She quickly moved some plants out of the way. Mommy took a deep breath and stepped out on the dirt road. I looked around. There were ashes everywhere.

All that was left of our church was ashes, wood, and rubble. There were bodies all over the road. There was blood everywhere, pools of it dotting the street. Mommy put me down and took my hand. We walked over to a small group of children with some elderly ladies watching them. Mommy quickly changed her language to Spanish.

My Mommy talked to them in Spanish for a little while than she turned to me Ann, Mommy is going to go help clean up. While I am gone, you are going to have to stay with the children. Okay? she said.

Then can we go get Daddy?" I whimpered. She got down on her knees and hugged me.

Yes, then we can get Daddy, she whispered in my ear. I smiled. She grinned back and than kissed my cheek. She stood up and started to jog over to the people that were cleaning up the bodies. I walked back to the small, huddled group. I saw children all around me. They all stared back at me. All of them were crying. Some of them were rocking back and forth with a blank expression on their faces.

I squinted into the darkness. Is that just me or is that Prayer? He was across the street babbling to the elderly ladies in Spanish. All they did was keep frowning and nodding no. Finally, he stopped and walked back into the group. He sat down and put his head in his lap. He began to weep softly.

I ran over to him and touched his shoulder. He quickly jerked his head up, Go away! He whimpered.

But what’s the matter?

He slowly raised his head showing red eyes and a tear- stained face. I can’t find my little sister, he whispered. His eyes looked empty, almost hopeless.

I stood up. Well, I can find her. I said. He moaned and turned his body away from my feet. I turned to go with one thing on my mind. I had to find Abishta. I started to go all around the group asking if they had seen her.

Some of them just ignored me. Others just nodded their head no. I was starting to give up when I went up to the older girls. All of them were holding on to little ones. I went up to the oldest-looking girl. Um, Look, I am looking for a little girl named Abishta. Do you know where she is?

She frowned. Let me check. She turned towards the girls and started to whisper with them. I sat down and waited. Finally she turned around holding a small girl with caramel skin like her brother’s. Her eyes were the color of a perfectly polished black stone. She clung to the girl for a minute still unsure.

Finally her arms relaxed and she smiled. Ann she said. The girl holding her put her down.

Now, Abishta, stay close to us, okay? The girl said, turning to me. Oh, and what’s your name?

Antonia I said.

Okay, you are a good helper. she smiled. Then she suddenly frowned. You need to stay close to us. She raised one eyebrow, Got it? she said.

I frowned. But, I’m almost four, I said puffing my chest up.

The girl chuckled. You still have to stay close to us.

I sighed, Yes, Ma’am but, what’s your name?

Francesca, she smiled and turned back towards