The Runaway

By D. L. Edgett

There is a horrific and demonic battle going on right now to steal and deceive your immortal souls. Unsuspecting Rachael, a runaway, finds herself caught up in the midst of a battle beyond anything she could have known possible. As she is trapped alone on a mountain in a serene place, things take a terrifying turn as she struggles to escape alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490804231

D. L. Edgett

Dianne Edgett is a born-again Christian, a former Sunday school teacher, a constant Bible scholar, and a Special Olympics advocate. She is also the mother of four adult children, grandmother to many, an educator, and a researcher. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education, special education, and preschool, with a minor in history. She and her husband, Craig, live on ten quiet, wooded acres in South Range, Wisconsin, where she writes books and music and sews dolls with Bible verses for missions around the world. When she is not writing or making dolls, she and her husband enjoy cooking, gardening, and playing music on her Q-Chord.

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Copyright © 2014 D. L. Edgett.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0424-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0425-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0423-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013914070

WestBow Press rev. date: 3/5/2014

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Rachael

Chapter 2: The Departure

Chapter 3: The Journey

Chapter 4: Subterfuge

Chapter 5: Underground

Chapter 6: The Reality

Chapter 7: Run!

Chapter 8: No Fear

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ, who laid his life down for me so I might live and be His gardener.

Here’s one of my seeds …

Also to my husband, Craig Edgett, who believed in me and in this book.

And to my children, now grown, and all our grandchildren, and others too many to name, who encouraged me to write.

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews 1:14 (KJV)

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Psalm 91:11 (KJV)

Introduction

T HERE IS a horrific and demonic battle going on right now to steal and deceive your immortal soul. If you are not armed with the knowledge to fight and overcome the powers of darkness (Satan and his fallen angels), you will be lost forever.

Therefore, Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:11–13 KJV).

But God has a plan.

And Rachael will soon find herself in the middle of the battle.

Chapter 1: Rachael

A COLD WIND blew through the heavy, wet fog that tried to hug the ground as a lone figure darted out of the woods and into the deserted parking lot, gasping for breath. Swirls of mist blew around her as she looked over her shoulder to see if she was still being chased.

Dashing behind one of the large green dumpsters located at the far corner of the parking lot, she crouched down, shivering and teeth chattering, as she listened for the sound of running feet. Her curly brown hair clung in wet ringlets around her face as her alert, brown eyes glanced back and forth in search of the gang of teenagers who had once again tried to catch her.

It had been almost 2 a.m. when she sneaked out of the house, and she had been out for so long that she now had no idea what time it was. All she knew was that she needed to get home and sneak back in before her family woke up.

She really didn’t know why she took off like this, but she enjoyed the adventure of meeting friends at night. Those who could get out of their homes without getting caught met up and went for long walks together, talking the night away.

Her cousin, Tommy, used to disapprove of her going out alone at night to meet these friends, but since his death almost a year ago, he could no longer act as her conscience and advisor. She still expected to see him waiting up late at night to let her in the duplex home their families shared, but that was in the past and over with. She still missed him and the way he would scold her when she stayed out late. She understood. He worried about her.

Enough of that, she thought to herself. I have to get out of this mess and get back home soon!

Suddenly, she heard the sound of running feet coming toward her from across the parking lot. Crouching down as close to the dumpster as she could get, she watched as the gang of kids rushed by and disappeared into the dense fog. Sounds of muffled voices sounded out as they searched for her and faded away into the misty night.

Phew! Too close, but I got away this time, she thought as she silently rose and slipped away into the dense blowing fog toward her home.

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Half an hour later, Rachael was back in her own bed with big tears silently running down her face. Why me? she wondered. Why do all the kids make fun of me? No one likes me except the friends that I meet outside at night. I’m even an outsider at church when the youth group gets together. I don’t have any friends there either, and they’re supposed to be Christians! Why am I always on the outside?

"You’re not alone. We like you Rachael."

Those voices again! Why do I always hear those voices? There’s no one here in this room except me. Who are you? she whispered into the dark.

"We’re your friends. We like having you around."

She looked around the room trying to see where the voices were coming from, but it was too dark. Frightened, she sank deeper under the warm covers and whispered, Go away! I don’t know you! You’re not real!

"Oh, we’re real, all right. There’s nothing wrong with you. We’re here to help you. We’ll keep you safe."

Please, she sobbed, "leave me alone! You’re frightening me!"

"Don’t be frightened, Rachael. We only want to help you. Only a few special people are allowed to hear or see us. You are one of them. But we’ll go away for now. Good night, Rachael."

I must be half awake, she thought to herself. I’m only imagining those voices. They’re not real … can’t be real … she muttered as she drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

It was late the next morning when Rachael woke up to find bright sunlight streaming through the ruffled, yellow curtains onto her bed. The fog from the night before had melted away, and the light breeze blowing in from the window smelled fresh and moist. She took in a deep breath of the fresh air, stretched, and yawned. She smiled to herself as she heard her mother softly singing out in the kitchen,

Jesus be the Father in our home.

Lead us in the way that we should go.

Your love brings us through the good and bad.

Jesus be the Father in our home.i

Rachael liked that song. It was one that her mother had written and they even sang it at the church once during the offering. She got up and began to get dressed as her mother started the next verse.

It’s hard to raise Your children

in this world of sin and woe.

I’ve always done my best, Lord,

but it’s a long, hard way to go.

Your guidance here is needed,

and Your comfort more and more.

I know I’m only mortal,

so Jesus lead our home!

She walked into the bathroom to wash up for the day, humming along with her mother as she continued.

You’ve stayed with us through bad times,

where no one else would go.

You’ve laughed with us in good times,

and warmed us with Your glow.

Whatever lies ahead, Lord,

I know that we can face

as long as You stay with us,

and keep us in Your grace.

Brushing her hair, she glanced into the mirror and grimaced at herself. Her eyes had shadows under them from being out all night, and her hair had frizzed from the damp air.

She could hear her little sister, Beckey, join in with her mother on